On the same night that Niv had returned on her own, Hel and Sebas had already noticed unusual movements among the beastmen.
So, as a precaution — to prevent Heim City from falling — Hel began preparing for a possible evacuation.
The ancient goblin ruins underground were, without question, the best refuge.
However, moving nearly twenty thousand people from the city into the goblin ruins was no small feat.
To make that possible, Hel had ordered Niv to return to the ruins and command the mechanical spiders to dig a massive underground tunnel that could serve as an evacuation route.
Now that Niv had come back again, that could only mean one thing — the tunnel was complete.
Still, Hel wasn't in a hurry to evacuate the townsfolk.
The goblin ruins were a secret — and would remain the people's final fallback point.
Hel also planned to handpick only those who were loyal to her, and once they entered the ruins… they would never be allowed to leave.
That was the only way to keep the secret buried forever.
"Master, there's something I forgot to report earlier."
Niv wrapped her arms around Hel's and sat beside her on the bed.
At first, Hel kept some distance between them, but seeing this, Niv quietly scooted closer… and closer… until her whole body was pressed against Hel's side.
Only then did she speak again, clearly satisfied.
"During your absence, Niv went to Light Industrial City C56 and seized control of it through system override permissions."
"How did it go? You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"No. The city's Ascension Core was only at Tier Four strength, and its authority level was one rank lower than mine. Taking over was simple.
This time, I secured five Tier Four units, forty Tier Three units, four hundred Tier Two units, and four thousand Tier One units.
Among them were over four thousand snow elf lolis. Would Master like to personally… train them?
After all, the last group of snow elves mostly perished in battle. You didn't get to enjoy them much, did you?"
"W–what are you even saying?"
Hel rubbed Niv's head in exasperation, puffing her cheeks.
"Do I look like that kind of person to you?"
Niv stared at Hel seriously for a long moment before replying with absolute certainty,
"According to data analysis, Master's lolicon tendencies have been statistically confirmed. Even if you deny it, you can't escape the truth."
"I swear—"
"Don't worry, Master. Those snow elves are just instinctive dolls. Their souls are incomplete. So even if you… break them, there's no need to feel guilty.
Of course, you can also break Niv if you wish."
"Stop. Stop right there!"
Hel immediately clamped a hand over Niv's mouth. She had no idea where Niv was picking up this kind of nonsense — the girl was getting more and more corrupted by the day.
If this went on, Hel didn't even want to imagine where the conversation would lead.
"I'll deal with them later — hey, hey, stop licking my hand!"
Hel glared at her glistening hand in disgust before wiping it off on Niv's sleeve. Once her hand was dry, she pretended nothing had happened and quickly changed the subject.
"Let's… talk about something else."
"Then, Master, I've recently designed several new dresses. Would you like to—"
"No. Absolutely not. But you can wear them and show me."
"As expected. Master is a lolicon."
"That's slander!"
"If Master isn't a lolicon, then why won't you wear a cute dress yourself?"
"How does that even make sense?" Hel groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.
She honestly couldn't understand how Niv's logic worked anymore.
"Because Master is adorable — and would look very cute in a dress."
"No, thanks."
Hel quickly stood up, trying to create some distance between them.
She had the ominous feeling that if this conversation continued any longer, something bad was bound to happen.
But Niv, who had been clinging to Hel's arm the whole time, was suddenly pulled up as Hel stood. Losing her balance, she stumbled — and fell forward, pushing Hel back onto the bed.
Their small bodies pressed together, chest to chest, their faces only a hand's width apart.
Hel could even catch the faint scent of irises from Niv's hair.
A few loose strands fell over Hel's cheek.
Niv instinctively reached to brush them away — but her fingers brushed against Hel's skin instead.
A jolt shot through her body like lightning.
Her chest — or rather, the Philosopher's Stone that served as her heart — throbbed wildly, like a trapped, fluttering deer.
"N–Niv?"
Hel called softly.
But Niv didn't respond. Her eyes shimmered, a faint mist of warmth glimmering in their depths.
Her face inched closer and closer, until Hel felt something soft and warm graze her lips—
Just then, a loud knock shattered the silence.
"Young master, the personnel assignments within the city are complete. Here's the expenditure report and task list — I'll need your approval."
Outside, Lily knocked lightly on the door — but to her surprise, the door slowly swung open from the inside.
And what she saw left her frozen.
A white-haired little girl was on top of her young master.
"Who goes there?!"
Startled, Lily's eyes widened.
She thought an assassin was attacking Hel — after all, she had never met Niv before.
She immediately prepared to rush forward, but Niv turned her head toward the door.
The moment Lily saw her face — that delicate, porcelain-like face framed by pale hair — she froze.
A lock of hair slipped down her cheek, hiding the bridge of her nose, adding a soft, languid beauty to her features.
"This… this can't be…"
Lily stood there motionless, eyes wide, tears welling without warning.
Even as they spilled down her cheeks, she didn't move — afraid that what she was seeing was just a dream.
After staring for a long moment, she finally stepped forward, trembling, until she stood beside Niv.
Her throat tightened. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice, but when she finally spoke, it came out choked with emotion.
"S–sister…? Sister… is that really you? Are you still alive?"