Two hounds, with skins made of pink cottons and leathers, materialised out of the magic circles. They had buttons for eyes and stitches for smiles, and their wobbly tails wagged enthusiastically upon meeting her and Nyxia.
Mel could almost feel a breeze brushing against her cheek, before eying the bedside beside her.
Nyxia's tail, while facing the two bubbly, cute hounds, also gave a little twirl, in contrast to her indifferent expression, holding enough dignity not to seem too eager.
The Witch chuckled, satisfied at such a sight. "Wanna pet them?"
Her pet shuddered, her tail swishing faster. "Yes. My lady..."
A pleased smile spread across Mel's face. "Good girl. I love honesty like this. It only makes me love you more."
A soft, faint pink flushed the maid's cheeks before she nodded. For the first time, she forgot her manners to thank 'her master' for the kindness.
Awkwardly, the maid kneeled with her master, their hands still clasped together as she petted the hound. The cotton-soft fur felt bizarrely cold yet puffy, its button eye gleaming with pleasure under the maid's touch.
A weird sense of kinship swelled within the maid, knowing the hounds she cared for served the same master as hers, the same she cherished, and perhaps, even more.
[ !!! Detecting hints of affection from the cat girl Maid Nyxia! ]
[ Would the Host like to view her
Mel pressed a finger to her chin before shaking her head. "No. In fact, don't ever show my maid's favourability until the end."
Her mind is filled with the imagery for the trope of 'maid pushing down her maiden in a flare of jealousy'.
While the Witch of Lust is a pervert who would like to push down even her most loyal maid in the most efficient and fastest manner, she's also a romantic trope-lover who dislikes her love life being dull, unimaginitive, and predictable.
Favourability shall only be used on her fellow Witches! To ensure a good ending! But for her maid? Mel would like to surprise herself one day.
Mel contemplated as she headpatted her maid, who held back a hitch of breath. The heartwarming scene of headpattings: Doll hound patted by the maid, and the maid patted by their masters, induced crippling insulin into Mel's heart.
She coughed twice, steeling herself. "My maid. It is time to order a pursuit of Wrath."
The maid glanced up, her voice trembling with unspoken disappointment. "My-my lady..."
The Witch eyed Nyxia's grey eyes, glimmering with a need for affection, then at the Hounds' button eyes, as if admonishing their owner to deprive them of their comforts.
She sighed in (a willing) defeat. "Just a bit more." Headpat supremacy it is.
The 'Headpat' chain lasted for 5 minutes, accompanied by occasional whimpers of the cat maid and purring of the hounds.
-----------
After satisfying her 'pets' instinctual urges, Mel and the maid finally relinquished the Hounds' tasks.
The Witch watched admiringly as her paper hound leaned down and sniffed at the scent, before turning and shaking its head.
Mel frowned a little. The shaking of heads did not mean the hounds couldn't track the
She glanced at Nyxia. "How do you feel about carrying the
Her cat maid nodded enthusiastically.
The Witch then watched as her maid obediently picked up the
Extremely goofy. Extremely cute. Mel chuckled at the maid's neutral expression, the cat's tail swaying in sync with the hound's tail, like sibilants on a trip.
She petted the other hound beside her, enjoying its purrs. "I will have this one contact me in case of any accident. Remember. Though you will only return to the
The reasons for two hounds instead of one are for reassurance. Apart from tracking
Against Wrath's disruptive slash skills, a
The maid's ears snuggled against the hound. "I understand. I will protect your mission and your summons at all costs."
Mel's eyes blinked at the voice of renewed resolve, before a soft smile curled up. "Don't overexert yourself. I have told you. You're just as important as my plan to seduce the Witches."
The catgirl's lips gaped, then closed. A grateful utterance caught in her throat, yet her selfishness resurfaced at the last moment.
"My Lady." She bowed her head. "I thank you for your good treatment."
Strange. Usually, she would insist that Mel treat her as a pet, as a Master would to her summon.
Being the observant seducer, Mel merely played with the catgirl's ear, twirling it against her thumbs. "Of course. As Master would to her pet."
Her Master... or rather, her Mistress's murmur sank into her ear like an intoxicating lure, stirring something unrecognisable to the humble maid.
As her ear twirled more under Mel's touch, she gripped her chest against her pumping heartbeats, the hound above her shoulder tilting her head at such a gesture, innocently curious.
The Witch smirked at such a noticeable change before she summoned a
-------------
Stepping out of the portal revealed the inn room to Mel, the one they had been living in for 2 days during the exam.
It was a simple layout of a desk, a bed, and a bedside table. The candle chandelier sprinkled warm lights across the room, casting a cozy glow that made the wooden walls glimmer with an inviting warmth.
She stretched her arms, mana tendrils seeping back to switch for her human form. "Whew... what a long day."
Mel exclaimed before flailing her arms down, letting out an exhausted exhale. In merely one day, too much has happened for her brain to process everything.
[ The Host is recommended to have a well-earned rest! ]
She faced the System with a foxy smile. "Thank you, my partner."
Then that smile turned into a mischievous grin. "Come to think of it, I haven't showered in a while. System, would you like to join and watch? You have always been quiet while I shower, after all."
Perhaps out of respect? Out of a need to follow tradition? Either way, the Witch of Lust couldn't resist offering 'her' here.
She watched as the System panel flickered, as if hesitating.
[ Can I? ]
Mel placed a hand over her chest before puffing it out proudly. "Of course!" Her partner would have the first honour to witness her complete nakedness! Even Lila hasn't seen her naked before!
[ But I have already peeked, Host... ]
Eh? A confusion flashed through Mel's mind, even faster than Wrath's slash. Peeked? Does that mean every time she showered, instead of respect, the 'System' has always been-
"Ah-hahaha..." She covered her cheek, feeling the slight heat. "It's fine. We're both girls after all!"
The blush on Mel's cheek was not out of embarrassment, but out of sheer excitement.
She! It was she, out of all people, who witnessed her naked first! Mel felt a sense of poeticness? Dramatism? Romanticism? She couldn't quite put it, but she thought it was rather fulfilling that the innocent her would be so naughty!
[ It was a joke. Host. This System fully respects your privacy! ]
A disappointment dawned upon Mel's expression as she sulked. "Really?" She felt it was a shame. All her happiness seemed to deflate in an instant.
[ But if I may, this system will chat with you in the bathroom! No peeking, of course. ]
Mel's eyes squinted in skepticism, approaching the bathroom door. "Do peek. I allow it."
[ I would humbly refuse. ]
The Witch of Lust's eyes widened in a slight surprise. "It's rare to see you so determined to reject me."
[ Of course! It would be too selfish of me otherwise! ]
[ And Host's first bathroom session should be with Envy or another lover! Don't you think? ]
She blinked at the panel's suggestion, before staring up at the ceiling as if she had realised the universal truth.
"Hm..." Mel mused. "You're right. Video Call kind of thing is fine, but... I do want my first bathing experience to be with Lila..."
Bias? Perhaps. But the meaning of firsts held great importance to Mel. While she was lustful and excited at the idea of the 'System' potentially joining her in the bath, she thought it far better to bathe and rub against each other than to chat!
So she smirked at the 'System', taking out a bathrobe from the inventory. "Then you should simply teleport here, no?"
[ ... : ) ]
"Okay, okay." Mel laughed out loud. "I'm joking! Do tell me if you're tired or bored, okay? It can't be healthy holding up in a room for too long! ]
[ Duty calls. You merely don't understand how to slack off properly, Mel. ]
"Oh really?" Mel's expression softened. "Guess you'll have to tell me when we meet."
A silence was perpetuated in the room as Mel leaned on the door to await a response.
A strange sense of nostalgia washed over the Witch of Lust. Perhaps it was Wrath's unexpected awakening that made her feel more sentimental.
[ Of course, Partner. ]
A warmth swelled in Mel's chest as she entered the bathroom for a bath. For some reason, just because of the System's one promise, she no longer felt the day was confusing anymore.
-----------------
Bathing and chatting with the System was a unique experience for Mel. The System chatted with her about many things. From the
Of course, she didn't neglect to ask for Lila and the capital's safety, though she was repeatedly assured everything remained fine! Even the teachers didn't suspect 'Mel' as a
How convenient! Mel wondered who in the World would help her so thoroughly!
After she finished her bath, she switched to her sleepwear and went to bed. Tonight is another good night!
That did not extend to the next morning, however.
As the dawn's light shone and her eyes flickered open, Mel noticed something, or rather, someone heavy on her body.
So she blinked. Widened her eyes. Then blinked again before rubbing her eyes off the dust to make sure.
And she stared, hard. Hard on Lila, who was straddling her with the puffiest, cutest pout on her face.
Holy. Mel screamed inside. She mustered up all her restraints not to push her down and kissed her hard.
Her Lila must be mad at something! Or why else would she be in such a... peculiar position?!