Right now, Zeroy didn't think this was a good chance to confess.
After all, her confession would also be a love confession, and that needed the right place and atmosphere.
So, she had to hide her unusual reactions.
"What's wrong?"
Patchouli's voice brushed Zeroy's ear, warm breath grazing her sensitive auricle, tinged with faint magical ripples.
Her lips nearly touched Zeroy's earlobe, violet hair mingling with golden strands, the glow of magic circles painting a surreal tableau.
Zeroy jerked her head aside, ears reddening as she quickly pulled away from Patchouli's almost-touching lips.
Her voice held a hint of guilt, yet she forced calm. "N-no… nothing… just don't speak right at my ear, it's sensitive."
"Alright."
Patchouli's reply was brief, voice as steady as water.
As Zeroy averted her eyes, Patchouli's expression stayed composed, violet eyes glowing with reason. However, her lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile—like a researcher savoring results, or a hunter pleased with captured prey.
The "research" continued, circles spinning around them, runes cloaking their subtle exchange in mystique.
"—!?"
Kuroka's golden pupils trembled as her eyes widened.
She was here—yes, she was here.
The research took place in the hotel's sitting room. Zeroy and Patchouli hadn't bothered making her leave.
So she had seen everything.
At first, she was curious, watching Patchouli use incomprehensible magic to study the Longinus.
Then, she was confused.
This… was this body check proper?
She couldn't say. It just felt strange.
Perhaps too intimate? Yet maybe still within bounds.
Now, however, she understood.
Like a flash of insight, everything clicked!
It was yuri! It was yuri!
Her master—the great boss—was being touched up and down by the witch!
Earlier, she hadn't seen clearly. Yet now Patchouli wasn't even pretending!
She finally grasped what had felt off.
Even with the same gestures, the same touches—exams with pure intent and ones laden with other feelings looked different.
Emotion seeped into the details, like microexpressions. Others might miss them, yet the difference could be felt.
And as a high-class devil, Kuroka could see those subtle shifts.
The witch hadn't hidden it much, either.
And she recalled last night—why Patchouli's opinion of her seemed poor.
After all, she had practically thrown herself into Zeroy's arms, nearly kissed her.
No wonder. Forget being disliked—it was surprising she wasn't outright crushed.
Wh-what to do? Lady Zeroy seemed completely oblivious to the witch's moves. Should she warn her? Or act?
Wait…
Why wasn't Lady Zeroy resisting? This clearly wasn't a normal examination anymore.
Could it be… she was enjoying it?! Was Kuroka part of their play?!
Kuroka fell silent, uncertain.
She couldn't read the pair at all.
Then she caught Patchouli's gaze, that faint smile on her lips.
A provocation. A warning. A claim.
"…."
Kuroka nervously raised a hand, waving lightly, trying to show harmlessness.
Misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding! She had no impure thoughts!
But… yuri? Interesting.
Kuroka fit Patchouli's understanding perfectly: as a nonhuman, she wasn't much concerned with a partner's gender.
As long as children could be born. And with modern magic, even same-sex couples could manage that easily.
"…."
Patchouli was only testing Zeroy's reaction to her touches, mapping her sensitivities. So when the time came to bend her, she'd know the key spots.
She never meant to put on a show for the cat, nor reveal yuri outright now.
Thus, the "examination" was short, shallow.
When Patchouli let her go, Zeroy's odd reactions faded quickly, her composure returning.
Mostly, she had just been shy, uneasy—she hadn't really felt much more.
Smoothly, they moved on to the next matter—
After finishing the "check," Patchouli prepared to leave.
She would follow her divination to claim a Longinus.
And Zeroy once more expressed concern.
"Really can't go together?"
Patchouli shook her head. "I'll be back soon."
"…Alright."
Rejected again, Zeroy now looked worried, tinged with disappointment.
Patchouli felt a stir, and reached out to pinch her cheek.
"…."
Zeroy puffed her cheeks in mock protest.
"I'm off."
"…."
After she left, Zeroy sat on the sofa, deep in thought.
Kuroka, seeing her master contemplative, didn't disturb her.
She became a black cat, curling on Zeroy's lap, tail swaying gently, purring in contentment.
Silent, letting herself be petted.
As a pet, she knew how to give emotional value.
Zeroy stroked her absentmindedly, still mulling.
It felt… she really should find time to confess to Patchi…
To take advantage of being the same sex for closeness—that wasn't right.
Yet she couldn't just walk up to a girl and blurt, "I'm into women! Now we're close!" That was too weird.
And just because she was yuri didn't mean she liked all women.
So, to her, the same affectionate gesture—
If she had no feelings, it was fine.
If she did, then the nature changed—into exploiting the same-sex bond.
Zeroy thought back on her time with Patchouli.
They'd had plenty of affectionate moments. She often held Patchouli in her arms.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]