While Speed Symboli kept inspecting her, Eternal Meteor was studying the woman right back.
Older—yet her back was still perfectly straight. Deep brown hair and eyes. Clothes that screamed "expensive" just from the texture of the fabric alone. And that natural aura of authority in her brows and gaze.
Just one look told Eternal Meteor this person was not small-time.
She couldn't make sense of it. Someone like this wouldn't come looking for her, right?
Probably she was here for Rudolf.
Still, she had no idea why the woman wasn't saying anything—just standing there, staring her up and down.
"Excuse me… may I ask what you need?"
Eternal Meteor repeated herself, slightly louder, trying to snap her back to reality.
"You're Eternal Meteor, aren't you?"
That wasn't what Eternal Meteor expected at all.
This "big shot" really was here for her.
But how did she even know she lived here?
The answer came with the next sentence.
"I'm Speed Symboli."
Eternal Meteor's eyes widened. Her relaxed posture straightened instantly.
Her white head whoosh—pulled back into the doorway. And the security door, which had only been open a crack, swung fully open.
"Please—come in. Come in."
But the moment the door opened wider, Speed Symboli frowned.
She could clearly feel cold air spilling out of the apartment into the hallway.
And the building's corridor heating had been turned up specifically for winter, so residents wouldn't feel even a hint of chill.
Against that warmth, the cold inside the apartment stood out even more harshly.
"Ah… please wait a second. I'll turn the heating on."
Noticing Speed Symboli's expression, Eternal Meteor padded away barefoot—pat pat pat—toward the wall panel.
That soft footstep drew Speed Symboli's attention to Eternal Meteor's feet. Seeing she wasn't wearing slippers, Speed Symboli strode to the entryway shoe cabinet.
Her sharp eyes swept over the shelves.
Just like before—only two pairs: one set for her, one set for Rudolf.
"That's… something."
Eternal Meteor muttered under her breath while tapping the touchscreen to turn the heating on. She honestly couldn't guess why Speed Symboli had come to see her.
Was it because she'd gotten too close to Rudolf?
Like some cheesy soap opera—here's money, leave her?
Whatever. Guessing here wouldn't help. She'd probe carefully and find out.
But when she returned after turning the heating on, Speed Symboli had already changed into slippers and was looking at her with slightly raised brows.
That gaze made Eternal Meteor's scalp prickle.
What now? I didn't do anything, did I? Why does she look like she wants to kill me?
Don't tell me there isn't even a "take the money and go" option—she's just going to dump me in Tokyo Bay? This is a horse-girl world, hello?!
"Did Rudolf not buy you slippers?"
Speed Symboli's question cut cleanly through Eternal Meteor's spiraling paranoia.
Eternal Meteor's brain stalled for a couple seconds before she understood. She looked down at her feet; her big toe even twitched upward twice on reflex.
Damn it… I got scared and totally forgot.
Embarrassment crept onto her face, a faint blush.
"N-no, I… I do have slippers. I just forgot to put them on because I panicked."
"Aren't you cold?"
"Uh… maybe I'm used to it? Haha… haha."
She couldn't exactly admit she'd watched too many horror movies last night and tried to sneak to the door to check the peephole like a creep.
Eternal Meteor scratched her head with an awkward laugh, then dashed to the bedroom to put on slippers.
Speed Symboli remained where she was, chewing over the words she'd just heard.
Used to it…
That was a word that made her uncomfortable.
Eternal Meteor soon came running back, feet stuffed into obviously oversized cotton slippers that flopped slightly with every step.
It couldn't be helped. Anything that truly fit her foot size was the little-kids kind—covered in cartoon prints or soft rubber decorations.
Those designs looked so childish to her that wearing them felt like humiliation play. Just imagining it gave her goosebumps.
"Um… have you eaten breakfast?"
"I have."
"Oh… then I—uh…"
Eternal Meteor swallowed the words "Let's eat together" back down.
But she was genuinely hungry. Eating breakfast with Rudolf every day had made her body used to it—skipping it now felt wrong.
Watching Eternal Meteor fidget nervously—glancing toward the kitchen every other second—Speed Symboli felt an odd urge to laugh.
Really… a kid you couldn't bring yourself to dislike.
"It's fine. Go ahead and eat first. No rush."
"Okay. I'll make something simple."
That surprised Speed Symboli. She'd assumed Eternal Meteor meant she'd grab something ready-made.
Instead, Eternal Meteor went straight into cooking.
Speed Symboli sat at the table and watched her in the kitchen—standing on a small stool while handling ingredients—thinking quietly to herself.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 132)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter95)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 95
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 155
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 62
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 62
Uma Musume: I Want All 65
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 41
Supernatural Multiverse 45
My Harem Is Indescribable 35
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 46
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