"Phew... It's done. Now, all I need to do is..."
Before the Alchemical Array, looking at the array in front of her that was now fully prepared, Castorice's exquisite and beautiful face showed a seriousness she had never had before.
Before starting the alchemy ritual, Castorice turned her head to look at Lumina behind her.
"Uh..."
Then Castorice saw the two of them, pressed tightly against each other.
They were embracing, their bodies pressed close together... Big Sister Herta had one arm wrapped around Sister Lumina's waist, while the other hand kept wandering on Sister Lumina's thigh.
Her head was resting against Sister Lumina's collarbone, and Sister Lumina, in response, wore a doting smile... The two of them, in this posture, were like a couple deeply in love.
"..."
For a moment, Castorice was slightly stunned, and then countless looks of envy appeared in her eyes.
Castorice was very envious of Herta, envious that she could engage in a series of intimate behaviors with Sister Lumina anytime and anywhere.
Big Sister Herta is both powerful and elegant, and she is also a major figure in the Cosmos, just like Sister Lumina... They truly are a match made in heaven.
And as for myself... perhaps I am just a passerby on the long journey of Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta?
After their journey in Amphoreus ends, will I... perhaps be unable to see Sister Lumina again?
Castorice felt some reluctance, but it seemed... there was nothing she could do.
Whether in terms of status or strength, Castorice was far, far too different from Sister Lumina and Big Sister Herta.
They were simply not of the same kind.
In Castosice's heart, she couldn't help but feel a bit down.
But no matter what, at least... for this period of time, Castorice would never give up!
She would not give up every single chance to be with Sister Lumina!
However...
Thinking of this, the light in Castorice's eyes dimmed a lot again.
After this embrace, will there be an eternal farewell... After I become the [Death] Demigod, will I really still be able to see Sister Lumina?
"No, no! I will! I will definitely be able to see Sister Lumina again!"
Soon after, the moment the negative emotions appeared, Castorice remembered the words Lumina had said and hurriedly banished this negative emotion from her heart.
She took one last look, deeply engraving the posture of the two in her mind at this moment.
Hmm... Speaking of which, why is there another collar on Big Sister Herta's neck?
Is she sick?
Seeing the green collar on Herta's neck, Castorice felt a bit confused and worried at the same time.
After all, Sister Lumina had said before that this collar was a device for treating illnesses.
If you are sick and wear this collar, no matter what the illness is, you will recover quickly.
At first, Castorice could not believe it about this miraculous collar.
After all, curing physical ailments by wearing a collar was somewhat like a fairy tale.
But the fact that Big Sister Herta completely returned to her normal state later could not be faked... This collar of Sister Lumina's really could cure diseases.
Understanding this, Castorice felt a bit worried now. She worried if something was wrong with Big Sister Herta.
Hmm... With Sister Lumina around, there probably won't be any problems, right?
After understanding this, Castorice took one last look at the two embracing figures and reluctantly withdrew her gaze.
"Whew..."
She fixed her eyes on the Alchemical Array and took a deep breath.
"Let the ritual... begin."
"[The project is complete; my words end here]"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
As Castorice's voice faded, a series of sounds echoed along with the appearance of the array.
The loud noises disturbed Lumina and Herta, who were still embracing.
"Alright, have you touched me enough? Castorice is about to start the main event, so we should move on to the next step."
Seeing Herta's hands still moving despite the noise, Lumina spoke with a hint of helplessness, signaling Herta to let go if she was done.
Of course, let go even if you're not done.
"The next step?" Hearing this, Herta's hands stopped all their movements.
Even her head, which had been resting on Lumina's collarbone, slowly moved away.
She looked at Lumina's flawless, beautiful face, her expression thoughtful for a moment before she asked very seriously: "For the next step, are we taking off our clothes and proceeding to some more in-depth exploration?"
Lumina: "?"
Upon hearing Herta's words, Lumina was stunned for a moment, her lips twitching slightly. She simply didn't know how to respond.
Sob, sob, sob! How did my dearest, smartest Madam Herta become like this?!
How did she become an "erotic little brat" who keeps making such outrageous statements!
Give me back my former clever and intellectual Madam Herta!
Facing Herta's words, Lumina screamed continuously in her mind.
Although... Lumina knew better than anyone else why Madam Herta had become like this.
Because this was a result Lumina had personally brought about.
If Lumina hadn't performed that series of miraculous operations, Madam Herta wouldn't have turned out this way.
Of course, Lumina would never say such words out loud.
She only needed to know it in her heart.
"Nothing to say? If you say nothing, I'll take it as a yes." Seeing Lumina not answer her question, Herta began to take off her clothes right in front of Lumina.
Lumina: "???"
At the sight, Lumina was instantly stunned.
Watching Herta start to undress, continuing until the color of her underwear was revealed, Lumina spoke up to stop her: "Eh, eh, eh! Wait, wait, wait! Don't take them off!"
Just speaking up definitely wasn't enough. Lumina also hurriedly reached out, pressing down on Little Herta's small hand to stop her ongoing actions.
This Little Herta was truly crazy.
If you're going to undress, you'll undress, but at least you should do it when the two of us are alone, right?
What does it mean for you to undress here?
Stelle, Mem, and Castorice are still on the scene, you know. Do you want to show them your naked body?
Or... Madam Herta has successfully awakened a special fetish, which is to like to display her... well, display her most "mature" side in front of people.
But then again.
Thinking of this, Lumina lowered her head slightly, taking a quick look at Herta's chest.
Hmm... there is still a curve, not as flat as she looks when wearing clothes.
This size is actually just right.
For a girl, this size is just enough to be held in one hand...
After all, a girl's palm is slightly smaller than a boy's.
Lumina estimated that her own palm was probably about the same size as Herta's.
It would definitely feel very comfortable...
For a moment, Lumina's thoughts once again wandered back to what she had experienced in the grove.
Hmm, remove the "definitely."
It would feel very comfortable!
"What's wrong? Do you want to touch?" Seeming to sense Lumina's slightly longing mood at this moment, Herta spoke softly, like a medieval...
"No touching. If I'm going to touch, I'll do it when we get back."
Before she could even finish describing Herta's current appearance, Lumina had already decisively and cleanly refused.
She stated that she would touch her after they went back, but under the current circumstances, Lumina would rather die than touch her.
"Is that so?" Hearing this, Herta's expression didn't change. "So you mean, I can touch you after we get back?"
After speaking, Herta glanced at Castorice, who was currently practicing alchemy, and then, before Lumina could even open her mouth, she took the initiative to say, "Then let's go back now."
"Looking at the young lady's posture, there's definitely no problem."
"In that case, as 'adults,' we don't need to stand aside and worry about her for nothing."
Although Herta held no hope for this, she still said these words with a face full of anticipation.
"That won't do. As guardians, we must stay by the children's side no matter what happens."
Just as Herta had anticipated, Lumina very simply and decisively rejected this option.
"Alright, then we'll discuss this matter when we get back." Understanding Lumina's thoughts, Herta didn't ask for more trouble.
She had already refused, so what else could you do?
She was now fully focused on that young lady, so what could Herta do?
Could she just tie her up, drag her back, and throw her onto the big bed in the dark room?
This was clearly an extremely unrealistic possibility.
Although Herta liked to dream, she didn't know her dreams had become like this.
This was something you wouldn't even dream of doing... Hmm, not even in Penacony.
Oh, perhaps it would be possible in that so-called [Ena's Dream].
After all, in [Ena's Dream], the contents of the dream seem to be customizable.
Since it could be customized, nothing was impossible.
"Right, right, right. We'll talk about it after we get back. After we get back."
Hearing Herta's words, Lumina nodded in extreme agreement.
Talk about it after we get back... That's what was said.
But if Lumina didn't have any thoughts on this matter after they got back, then it might be: "What? What 'talk about it after we get back'? What matter? What's the matter? How come I don't know about it?"
"Did I ever say anything about this? Little Herta, are you sick or something?"
In any case, you could say whatever you wanted, but in the end, the right of final interpretation rested with Lumina.
If Lumina didn't agree, then she didn't agree. If Lumina played dumb, then she was playing dumb.
This is how people with power are so unscrupulous.
No matter the issue, when someone talks to you nicely on the surface, it's actually because they think highly of you.
Otherwise, with her strength enough to overturn the entire chessboard, how could she be here chatting and laughing with you?
It would just be that kind of... hmm, how did that saying go?
The one that's most popular on the internet, oh, it's called: "I don't eat beef."
See a pretty girl you like, and just kidnap her home. Kidnap every one you see... hmm, it seems there's no difference between that and Lumina's current behavior?
Although their actions look the same, there's actually a big difference.
After all, others just kidnap them without a word, while Lumina politely spends some time with the pretty girl, captures her heart, and lets her be kidnapped by Lumina willingly.
The difference between the two is still very large.
Thinking about it this way, Lumina is actually quite "civilized."
"You..."
"Shh... Little Herta, don't speak. Castorice has already entered an important phase, don't disturb her."
Herta was about to say something, but Lumina beat her to the punch, cutting off the words she was ready to speak.
Herta: "..."
Why don't I ever see you taking an interest in this kind of thing on a regular day?
Herta lowered her eyes, tossing out a somewhat exasperated complaint in her heart.
She truly felt zero interest in a game like this, which was just like children playing house.
By the same token, Herta felt Lumina was the same.
Aside from pretty girls, nothing else could spark her interest.
She was simply too lazy to respond to her right now.
Thinking of this, Herta felt a wave of gloominess again.
This state of wanting to get something, but being unable to obtain it no matter what, made Herta feel very, very uncomfortable and very, very bitter.
If the thing she wanted to obtain was truly just a thing, then Herta would have already started calling people for help.
But unfortunately, the thing she wanted to obtain was actually not just a thing.
It was a person.
And a... heart that could only contain one person.
-
"When can you take this thing off for me?"
Herta tugged at the collar around her neck, a wave of displeasure sweeping through her heart.
Gritting her teeth, she asked Lumina.
Herta wouldn't let the gazes of those around her matter because of this one collar, but... she couldn't get past the barrier in her own mind.
Wearing this collar, being led by Lumina like a pet in her hand, gave Herta the feeling that she had been completely subdued by Lumina, like a plaything in the palm of her hand, without any ability to resist.
Without a doubt, this feeling was definitely wrong.
Herta had been constantly denying this feeling, but as long as she wore this collar, such a feeling would always bubble up in her heart...
This feeling was very strange, and Herta was convinced it was impossible for her to have such a feeling.
So the only possibility left was Lumina.
This had to be a trick Lumina had pulled!
She's so shameless, actually wanting to use such a degrading method to make her submit.
Little Lumina, let me tell you.
Absolutely, impossible!
Herta didn't say it out loud, but in her heart, she was mounting the most fierce resistance against the rule of the Lumina Dynasty.
She was ready to fight the dark forces Lumina led to the very end.
"?"
But...
Faced with this strange look from Herta, a big question mark appeared above Lumina's head.
She seemed a bit puzzled as to why Herta had become like this.
As for this bizarre change in Herta, Lumina was completely in the dark.
If Lumina knew what Herta was thinking, the corners of her mouth would surely be twitching nonstop.
Herta was purely falsely accusing her; this collar was just a plain collar, and besides "looking good," it had no other functions.
To think a simple collar could let Herta's mind fabricate such an "epic drama," Lumina couldn't help but want to give her a big thumbs up.
And offer a hearty praise for that little head of hers.
As expected of Madam Herta, her little head was truly "nimble."