"Patchi!"
Before Patchouli had even finished speaking, Zeroy's silver-bell-like voice rang out, unable to hide her excitement.
The next second, a strand of golden hair flashed quickly across Patchouli's vision, and a surge of energy rushed at her. Before she could react, Zeroy had already tackled her into a full embrace.
Both of them tumbled onto the golden sand, raising a small cloud of dust.
"Patchi, Patchi, I just love you so much~"
Zeroy's arms wrapped tightly around Patchouli, her cheek rubbing against the witch's face, neck, and hair with childlike affection, openly expressing her fondness.
Golden hair spilled like a waterfall, covering half of their faces.
"Hey—! You…"
Pinned down on the sand, Patchouli's violet eyes flickered with momentary shock. Her long purple dress fanned out in a graceful arc as they fell, like a violet suddenly in bloom.
She had expected Zeroy might pounce in her excitement, but being directly tackled to the ground went beyond her prediction.
Caught off guard, her first instinct was to push Zeroy away.
Yet, when she raised her hand, she realized Zeroy was already clinging to her, rubbing against her relentlessly.
Unrestrained warmth brushed against her face; soft golden strands swept over her neck, tickling her skin.
Patchouli's cheeks flushed faintly red, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes.
"Y-you! Calm down already!"
She tried to scold her, using the cold tone of the Magician of the Seven Luminaries, but as the words left her lips, her voice unconsciously softened. What should have been icy detachment carried a trace of helplessness—and indulgence—she herself failed to notice.
Even her attempt to push Zeroy away turned gentle, more like a token pat on her shoulder.
Zeroy remained oblivious to the fact that Patchouli's resistance wasn't resistance at all.
Still overjoyed, she refused to let go of Patchouli.
"Patchi, you're amazing! The Hell Prototype and everything! How could I not be excited~"
She lifted her head, golden hair sliding down to reveal a fair cheek, her eyes filled with pure joy and intimacy.
Patchouli let out a quiet hum, her violet gaze shifting away from Zeroy's overly fervent stare, the faint red on her ears half-hidden in the candlelight.
Feigning composure, she busied herself with tidying her messy hair, masking her subtle emotions. Her tone was deliberately indifferent. "…Even if you're excited, you don't have to jump on me like that. Look at how rough you are. Can't you be more composed? When you actually become Lord of Hell, will you still act this way?"
"So what? Even if I really was, it wouldn't matter."
Zeroy brushed it off, leaning on Patchouli even more.
"I am who I am. I'll do as I please. Putting on appearances for outsiders is one thing, but for my own people, why would I ever pretend?"
"Besides, Patchi doesn't hate it anyway. I can tell."
"No, I hate it very much."
"Liar."
"Hmph…"
Patchouli turned her face away.
"Alright, enough. Get up already. Don't you want to test the Hell Prototype's effects? And your body is still covered in wounds—it's time you treated them."
Against the Shark of the Sand Sea, Patchouli had escaped unscathed. Zeroy, on the other hand, bore plenty of injuries.
Her offensive style often left her grazed by the sand-born tentacles. Their jagged teeth, like chainsaws at high speed, had carved numerous cuts into her body.
One glance at her now was enough to see she was in a battle-worn state, though the injuries were all superficial.
"The wounds aren't a big deal. They'll heal on their own soon enough. I want to check the Hell Prototype first—"
Zeroy stood up and picked up the black ring that had fallen to the side.
"Pour your mana into it, then imprint your mark."
"Alright—though, Patchi, why did you suddenly prepare this surprise for me?"
Instead of immediately following Patchouli's instructions, Zeroy's curiosity drifted elsewhere.
After collecting so many materials for so long, she had thought Patchouli was preparing some kind of incredible weapon or magical tool.
Who would have guessed it was actually for her?
"Surprise? I haven't once hidden what I was working on. You're the one who didn't notice."
Patchouli's tone was cool.
"But you never explained either."
"That's because you never asked."
"Mmm…"
Zeroy stared at Patchouli for a while, her expression gradually shifting into something subtle—a peculiar smile, something along the lines of =w=
"What's with that face?" Patchouli frowned slightly, displeased.
"So Patchi has a tsundere side after all. How cute."
"Tsundere?"
"Basically, saying the opposite of what you mean. Obviously caring, obviously fond, but pretending not to out of embarrassment."
"…Hah. Me, saying one thing and meaning another?"
Patchouli suddenly gave a cold laugh.
"Save your dreams for when you're asleep."
"Mhm~ Patchi, you slipped. Even though you always look so calm and detached, in truth your coldness leans more toward quietude and serenity, not sharpness."
"To put it simply, it's like offense and defense. Your coldness is defensive. That's why expressions with an offensive edge, like that cold laugh, are extremely rare."
Which meant her reaction just now was definitely an attempt at covering up.
"Too sweet, too naive, Patchi~"
"..."
Patchouli fell silent, quietly staring at Zeroy, whose nose was proudly tilted skyward.
"Ahem. Alright, alright, let's start working with the Hell Prototype."
…
"I'm back~"
Zeroy, with Patchouli at her side, stepped out of the teleportation circle into a small manor.
Her voice had barely rung out before the sound of small footsteps quickly echoed through the halls.
Then—
"Big Sister!"
"Goddess!"
"Master!"
"Lady Zeroy!"
Four voices, four different titles, four little figures.
Little Roy, and the loli trio—those three children Zeroy had saved upon first arriving in this world.
At the sound of her voice, all four rushed out together and threw themselves into Zeroy's arms.
They were still small, or else Zeroy could never have held all four at once.
Even now, she could barely manage, arms spread wide to loosely gather them in.
"Here, I brought you some gifts."
Zeroy pulled out a chest filled with exotic flowers and fruits.
These were things she had collected during her travels—all delicious, each with unique traits.
Some even possessed special abilities, granting great power when eaten.
Of course, that only applied to ordinary people. For someone of Zeroy's level, they had little effect.
...
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