Chapter 671 - 671: [671] : Getting Started with Her

Credit where it was due, Runeas's experience on Itogami Island had been on a steady upward trajectory since day one.

Day one: beach resort and ocean views. Day two: shopping sprees and arcade mayhem. Day three: total immersion in the wonders of cinema.

Every single day introduced something the Underworld had never once offered her. No oceans. No arcade cabinets. And certainly no mind-blowing science fiction with production values that made demonic magic look like community theater.

Granted, the Underworld did have movies of its own. But the plots were formulaic, and the "special effects" were just real magic cast on set. If a script ever called for something on the scale of a Forbidden-class spell, the production would quite literally become hazardous to the cast's health.

In short: Underworld cinema was a genre where "explosive performances" sometimes meant actual explosions, and "the role of a lifetime" wasn't always metaphorical.

Anyway. Back on track.

Bokue's plan for Day Four had been straightforward: introduce Runeas and Chysis to the full spectrum of Human World cuisine. Street food, fine dining, everything in between.

However—

"Lady Runeas... Lady Runeas? Lady Runeas?"

The scene cut to the walkway outside the Keystone Gate's indoor shopping complex. Chysis stood holding two parfaits, bending slightly at the waist, peering into the face of the crimson-haired twin-tailed girl in the school uniform and miniature crown who was leaning back against the safety railing, staring into the middle distance with the unfocused eyes of someone whose soul had temporarily left the building.

The ancestor had been like this for a while now. Arms on the rail behind her, gaze fixed on something a thousand miles away, completely checked out.

Two or three full seconds of silence ticked by before the reboot kicked in.

"Huh?? Oh... Chysis, you guys are back."

Runeas blinked rapidly, snapping back into the present like someone jolted awake from a daydream.

"Yeah, we are."

Chysis held up the two parfaits, then glanced at Bokue beside her, who'd already started eating his with a small spoon. She handed one to Runeas.

"There was a bit of a wait, but Bokue said it's because today's a weekday, so the crowds are lighter than usual."

Her expression shifted, the warmth in those gentle eyes giving way to a touch of concern.

"But more importantly, Lady Runeas... when we got back just now, you looked completely spaced out. And honestly, you've seemed distracted all afternoon. Is something on your mind?"

"It's not... it's not anything serious..."

The mention of her own absent-mindedness brought a faint blush to Runeas's cheeks.

She turned away, looking past the walkway railing, across the atrium, and through Keystone Gate's enormous floor-to-ceiling glass facade. Outside, the evening sun was sinking toward the horizon, bleeding fiery oranges and deep golds across the sky.

The twin-tailed girl pursed her lips.

"I was just thinking about what you mentioned this morning. Well, technically noon. The beauty treatment thing. I guess I've been a little... curious about it. Excited, maybe. Something like that."

Ah.

Despite the roundabout phrasing, the core message was simple enough once you stripped away the embarrassment: Runeas was so eager to try Chysis's "beauty secret" that she'd been unable to focus on anything else all day.

"Is that all~"

Chysis's smile carried a subtle undercurrent that would've been invisible to anyone who didn't know the full story. As someone who understood perfectly well what the "beauty treatment" actually involved, hearing Runeas confess she'd been daydreaming about it all afternoon was... well, it painted a certain picture. One that Chysis found privately delightful.

"In that case, why don't we head back early today?"

Chysis made the suggestion without missing a beat.

"There's no point in forcing yourself to enjoy something when your head's somewhere else. That defeats the whole purpose of having fun in the first place."

"If we leave now, we can get through dinner and start the prep work earlier. That way we can begin sooner tonight~"

"Yes! Let's do that! Let's head back right now!"

Runeas agreed before the sentence was fully out of Chysis's mouth. But then she hesitated, tilting her head.

"Wait, prep work? There's actual preparation involved?"

"Of course~"

Chysis adopted the patient, guiding tone of a teacher walking a student through a complex lesson.

"Remember what I said this morning? The treatment only works properly if you bathe thoroughly beforehand. It's absolutely essential to be completely clean, or the results suffer. And I do mean completely clean. Every. Single. Inch."

"On top of that, the bathing process alone takes about two hours if done right. But if we leave now, we should be able to start the treatment itself around nine."

"Got it! Then what are we standing here for??"

All patience officially exhausted, Runeas spun on her heel and made a beeline for the elevators.

"..."

Bokue stayed where he was, exchanging a look with the crimson-haired woman beside him.

"Chysis-nee, you're not seriously planning to..."

"What's the harm~?"

Chysis hid her smile behind her fingers, eyes glittering with mischief.

"It's your fault for being so incredible. Let Lady Runeas experience it for herself. I have a feeling she'll be absolutely hooked. And once she is... that means every woman in House Gremory will be..."

She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air with a soft, knowing laugh.

...

❁❁❁❁

Time skipped forward to nightfall.

Eight o'clock sharp. The sky beyond the villa windows had turned fully dark.

Inside the second-floor bedroom, Chysis sat on the edge of the bed, a quiet smile of anticipation playing on her lips, listening to the sound of running water coming from the en-suite bathroom where Runeas was diligently following her instructions.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A gentle rapping at the bedroom door.

Chysis looked up. The handle turned, and the door swung open to reveal the familiar silhouette of the young man she'd been expecting.

"Oh, Bokue. You're early."

She raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

"I thought you'd be with Rias and the others tonight. What happened?"

"They said two back-to-back nights of going until midnight wiped them out. Everyone wanted to turn in early."

Bokue shrugged, crossed the room, and sat down on the bed next to her. His arm found its way around her waist with the casual ease of long practice.

"Fufu~ I suppose Rias-chan and the others really can't keep up with you on their own."

The crimson-haired beauty laughed softly, leaning into him and resting her cheek against his shoulder. One slender finger traced lazy circles on his chest.

"Well then, since you're here, let big sister fill in tonight. Lady Runeas is still in there washing up, so in the meantime..."

She tilted her head, lips parting to suggest they get started without waiting.

"...why don't we warm up fir—KYAAH~!"

The last word never made it out. Bokue had already scooped her off the bed, drawing a bright, delighted yelp from her as he carried her across the room and pressed her back against the bathroom door.

The impact produced a solid, muffled thud.

On the other side of that door, Runeas was still soaking in the tub, conscientiously scrubbing herself clean as instructed, when she heard the sudden bang against the door from outside.

What in the world?

Before she could even open her mouth to ask what happened, a voice filtered through the wood.

"G-gentle... be gentle..."

Hold on. Was that... Chysis??

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