"Emilia?"
Eralda's voice carried bewildernt.
How was that not-so-gifted-at-magic Emilia managing to reach her across worlds?
"How can I be sure it's really Emilia?"
Cautious, Eralda tested her.
"Eralda-san, do you still rember ?"
This ti, it was a man's voice.
Eralda did have so impressions. It belonged to the one who claid to be Emilia's landlord.
"Rei Ao-san?"
"That's right, it's . Emilia just got back, and I told her you'd tried to contact her. I used a few thods to reconnect with you."
"…"
"He used a few thods"—it sounded so casual. Yet Eralda knew cross-world communication was no easy task.
"Seems Rei Ao-san is not so simple."
"Heh, I never said I was an ordinary person. But that's not what matters now. Emilia has a few questions for you."
Bringing the conversation back on track, Emilia flashed Rei Ao a grateful look.
She asked, "Eralda, you told before not to trust the Church. What's going on?"
"The Church is suspicious. Ever since you disappeared, they suddenly turned on the rest of us. I'm currently under house arrest."
"What?!"
Emilia's face went rigid. She couldn't fathom why the Church would do such a thing.
"I haven't fully investigated the specifics yet, but for now the Church is close to pinpointing your location. Emilia, you must be cautious of them—they aren't trustworthy."
Eralda once again sounded the warning.
"Understood."
Emilia would rely on her own judgnt. If she t Church mbers, she would verify for herself whether they were as Eralda claid.
"Oh—Eralda, is there anything I can do to help Ente Isla from here?"
"Sorry, with our worlds separated, I'm powerless for now. Plus, I'm planning to free myself from house arrest and try traveling to your world. With how things are shifting to the east in Ente Isla, hiding in another world is obviously best. Emilia, why do you want to co back now?"
"…"
Emilia's heart skipped a beat. All of a sudden, she realized she might not want to return so badly anymore. As for the reason…
She snuck a glance at Rei Ao by her side, then bit her lip and said haltingly, "Because…this world doesn't have Holy Power!"
It was a decent excuse.
"Oh? Then how are you managing to speak with ?"
"In each world, there are different forms of energy. The sa is true of this one," Rei Ao interjected. "Crossing between worlds isn't that hard, actually. In fact, I can take Emilia back right now."
"???"
She appeared both shocked and sowhat panicked.
"Hmph, Eralda, pay him no mind—everything has a price!"
She tried to brush it off, even though Rei Ao hadn't yet ntioned what that price might be. This guilty deanor made Rei Ao break into a faint smile.
He played along. "You're correct. The price is mainly in the form of a trade."
"Phew, I'm not fully certain what's going on, but I can guess it's not so simple. If that's the case, we'll leave it here for now. Once I actually break free and manage to get to your world, I'll try contacting you again."
"Rei Ao-san, thank you for your help. And thank you for taking care of Emilia."
"No need for thanks. I look forward to eting you."
Rei Ao grinned widely. Then he hung up, turning his attention to Emilia with obvious amusent.
"What's this? Earlier you were anxious to get ho—now you don't want to go?"
"…"
Emilia avoided his gaze. "Y-you opening a portal across worlds must co at a price…"
"Mm, the price is only the split second it takes to open a cross-world gate."
"…"
"Hearing that, you're not tempted? You're not demanding a trade for to send you back?"
"!!!"
At those words, Emilia's eyes flashed red with anger. "Are you that eager to kick out?!"
She pouted like an abandoned wife, full of grievances.
"Whew, now you're actually turning it around on ?"
Rei Ao clicked his tongue. He'd thought about teasing her, but now he couldn't tell if she was genuinely upset or only pretending.
With no better option, he took out his trump card. "Stop talking nonsense. Next on the agenda, you owe the price of our last deal, rember?"
"…"
Silence. The tone of the conversation abruptly shifted. Emilia, realizing what was about to happen, felt her body heat up. She could sense her face flushing fiercely. Still, she tried to stand tall.
"Fine, let's just get it over with!"
Rei Ao cut the chatter. He pulled her into his arms and planted his lips on her rosy mouth. From the initial awkwardness to gradually succumbing to his provocation, it took Rei Ao only seconds to get her there.
Emilia probably didn't notice that she'd wrapped her arms around his neck willingly, letting out soft sounds. In that haze, she felt sothing was off. She sensed an absence. She realized that apart from kissing her, Rei Ao wasn't doing a thing—no roaming hands on her waist, no slipping down her belly, not even reaching for her bra-less chest.
This experience, so different from before, made her itch all over with restlessness. She reflexively squird, trying to draw his attention, but to no avail.
This sense of missing sothing left Emilia increasingly uneasy. She shoved Rei Ao away with sudden force and demanded, "Why are you just kissing ?!"
"Huh?"
Rei Ao put on an innocent face. "Didn't our deal say one intense kiss? What else is there besides kissing?"
"Er…"
That made Emilia recall. Skin contact and…further exploration…wasn't part of the bargain at all. But…but…she wanted that sensation. Right now, her whole body felt tingly and uncomfortable.
Lost in the heat of the mont, Emilia glared at him and said, "I'm allowing you to do what you did before!"
"Oh?"
Rei Ao gave her a aningful smile. "Mind describing exactly how you want to do it?"
"…"
Embarrassed enough to want to dig a hole and bury herself, she could scarcely describe such a thing. So she simply grabbed Rei Ao's hand, placed it against her unntionable chest, blushing furiously, and barked, "Like this, you jerk!"
With that, she lunged forward, clinging to him with another deep kiss.
Heh heh. She's been thoroughly ensnared!
~~~
200 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!
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