Ten minutes later, Ranni stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white bathrobe.
The first thing she saw was Yukino sitting on the sofa with an irritated expression, while Luo Yu sat beside her looking helpless.
"What happened here?"
Luo Yu was just about to explain when Yukino suddenly reached out and covered his mouth.
"You're not allowed to say anything! Nothing happened!"
"…"
Ranni looked at Yukino.
Wasn't that the very definition of drawing attention to it?
Even though Ranni hadn't intentionally listened while bathing, it was obvious from the scene before her that something had definitely happened between the two while she was in the bathroom.
Still, if Yukino didn't want to talk about it, then so be it.
The fact that Yukino hadn't stormed off already proved she wasn't actually that angry.
Ranni narrowed her eyes slightly and walked over with elegant steps.
She sat down between Luo Yu and Yukino, took out her game console, and turned toward Yukino.
"It's still early. Would you like to play a game with me?"
Watching Ranni detach a Nintendo Switch controller and hand it to her, Yukino hesitated.
"I… I don't know how to play."
"Maybe Luo Yu should play with you instead."
"It's fine. Even if you don't know how, you can try."
"After all, we're just passing the time."
Ranni paused before adding with a faint smile,
"Or would you prefer that I ask my King what exactly happened earlier?"
The amusement in Ranni's eyes was unmistakable.
Sure enough, the moment she said that, Yukino stared at her in disbelief.
Did she know?
Or didn't she?
Or had she simply guessed something?
The more Yukino thought about it, the more she felt like her brain was about to overheat.
In the end, she stiffly accepted the controller.
Meanwhile, Ranni took out the Switch dock she had somehow brought along, connected it to the television in the living room, and launched Mario Kart on the large screen.
Under Ranni's guidance, Yukino began learning how to play.
As for Luo Yu, he happily remained on the sidelines, watching the two girls enjoy the racing game.
Yukino had rarely played games before.
But after Ranni patiently guided her through the controls, she gradually began to enjoy the experience.
For the moment, the awkward events between her and Luo Yu faded into the background.
Ten minutes later, just as the second race ended, Yukino's phone rang.
She set down the controller and picked up the phone.
Seeing Haruno's name on the screen, she hesitated for two seconds before answering.
"Haruno?"
Hearing Yukino's voice, Haruno sighed in relief.
"Yukino, where are you right now? You're probably with Luo Yu, right?"
"Yes. Do you need something?"
"Well… not really."
"I'm just a bit bored."
"So I was wondering if I could come over and hang out."
Yukino held the phone and looked toward Luo Yu and Ranni.
"My sister wants to come over. Is that okay?"
Luo Yu, who was browsing on his phone, nodded casually.
"Of course."
"It's still early anyway. Tell her to come."
As he spoke, he stood up and walked toward the suite entrance to open the door.
Haruno had heard Luo Yu's response through the phone and immediately sounded delighted.
"Great! I'm coming over right now!"
After leaving her room and walking down the hallway, Haruno saw the door open.
Standing there was Luo Yu, dressed in a bathrobe.
"Oh my… it seems we're dressed the same, Luo Yu."
Haruno had also just finished showering. She was wearing a bathrobe as well, her earlier banquet makeup gone.
Without cosmetics, her face looked even fresher—yet her beauty remained striking.
The two sisters truly possessed natural beauty.
For them, makeup was merely an embellishment.
Even without it, they were stunning.
"Come in," Luo Yu said. "Wandering around the hallway in sleepwear isn't a good look."
Haruno laughed as she stepped inside.
"It's fine. This is the luxury suite floor. Hardly anyone comes here."
Entering the living room, she saw Yukino and Ranni still playing their racing game.
Haruno raised an eyebrow slightly before walking over and sitting beside Yukino.
Yukino glanced at her sister but said nothing, continuing to focus on the controller.
Haruno watched the screen with a smile.
"This is rare."
"Yukino actually playing video games."
Yukino controlled Toad and threw a mushroom item at an opponent ahead.
"Since I'm free, I can try something new."
Then she added,
"Haruno, after everything that happened today, shouldn't you be resting?"
"Hehe, I'm fine."
"I was a little scared at first."
"But once Luo Yu and Miss Ranni appeared, I stopped worrying entirely."
Still smiling, Haruno turned toward Luo Yu.
"By the way, Luo Yu… earlier in the banquet hall, how exactly did you defeat that blond sorcerer?"
"Oh, that."
Luo Yu took out the dark box that stored Spirit Ashes and summoned Latenna the Albinauric.
A woman with a pale body and faint glowing aura appeared, seated on the ground with a large bow in her hands.
Both Haruno and Yukino stared at her with curiosity.
"Latenna the Albinauric," Luo Yu explained. "One of the Spirit Ashes I use in battle."
"But unlike the others, Latenna willingly abandoned her body and became a spirit ash."
Hearing Luo Yu's explanation, Latenna smiled gently and shook her head.
She nodded politely toward Yukino and Haruno, then turned toward Ranni and offered a respectful bow.
To the sisters' surprise—
She spoke.
"My honored King, I did not expect you to summon me again for battle."
Luo Yu smiled.
"You're my companion in battle, after all."
"In fact, I've been thinking about finding a way to restore your body someday."
"If that happens, the Albinauric weakness might disappear as well. You could finally walk on your own legs."
"That would be wonderful."
Because Latenna had never learned the language of this world, she and Luo Yu spoke in the language of the Lands Between.
Haruno and Yukino couldn't understand any of it.
Still, Haruno stared at Latenna with fascination.
"Wow… that's incredible."
"She abandoned her body and became something like this?"
"And she's quite tall too."
Luo Yu chuckled.
"Among the Albinaurics, Latenna was already among the more capable ones."
"Unfortunately, Albinaurics are born with physical flaws. Her lower body lost its ability to move."
"The giant wolf that once served as her mount also died."
"So she had no reliable way to travel."
After allowing Latenna to rest for a moment, Luo Yu dismissed her.
"As a magical archer, Latenna has extremely powerful long-range attacks."
"Once she uses magic arrows, their power increases significantly."
"Even dragons would find her dangerous."
Among the Spirit Ashes Luo Yu had strengthened, Latenna's combat ability ranked near the top.
The only ones stronger were Black Knife Tiche and the Mimic Tear.
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