Chapter 596

Chapter 603: The Unhappy Witch, The Unhappy Goddess (Please Subscribe!)

At the same time, face-to-face, Victorica noticed Izay suddenly zoning out and couldn’t help but wave her arm in front of him.

“Mr. Izay, what are you pondering? So deep in thought?”

“…To put it simply, I’m thinking about what you just said…about how you plan to leave.” Izay snapped back from his thoughts and honestly revealed his inner musings.

“Ah…this is something even I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.” Victorica chuckled with an “unhoho” and shifted her gaze to the side.

“Isn’t it a bit too early to worry about the future right now~?” she continued.

Honestly speaking, Victorica’s sense of novelty for Orario hadn’t worn off yet.

Considering leaving would be at least after she had wandered around for a few days.

She had previously mentioned half a month as being long because she rarely stayed that long in the countries she traveled through.

There were various reasons for this.

Such as the country being too rigid and boring, lacking anything novel, or not finding inspiration for her writing.

Or more directly—sometimes she left those countries because she was wanted and had to lay low.

As for Orario, Victorica believed she could stay at least a week…

After all, there was so much money!

It needed to be properly splurged on!

But hearing Izay’s words earlier, it seemed like he was somewhat looking forward to her departure?

Could he be worried that she might cause trouble in Orario?

Like bullying people with her powerful abilities!?

If so, Victorica felt she needed to correct Izay’s perception of her.

She, a pure-hearted traveler witch with no criminal record in Orario and impeccable conduct, how could she threaten the city’s safety?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Victorica even began contemplating how to shape her harmless image.

Izay slightly picked up on her thoughts and waved his hands. “That, I don’t have any desire for you to leave sooner…it’s just that when the topic came up, I couldn’t help but think further. It’s purely curiosity.”

“Hmm, I understand.” Victorica nodded calmly at Izay’s explanation, seemingly comprehending. But then her tone abruptly shifted as she launched an attack on Izay. “However, Mr. Izay…peeking into a lady’s thoughts isn’t very gentlemanly, is it? You’ll make me fear you.”

“Eh, fear?”

“Fear in every sense, even misunderstanding. Like Mr. Izay being some lewd character who likes to speculate on women’s thoughts.”

“This is quite a terrifying misunderstanding, Miss Victorica, do you really think this way?”

“It’s hard to say…”

“Let’s look at the facts; earlier, it seemed like you exposed your emotions in front of me yourself.”

“Ah la la~? Are you saying I’m the type who likes to show off, Mr. Izay!?” Victorica’s tone grew dangerous.

“No, I absolutely didn’t mean that, please don’t misinterpret my words, Miss Victorica.”

“Tch…”

Unable to resist, she let out a soft tongue click.

In conclusion, the witch was currently embarrassed by her previous self-indulgence.

With this mindset, she decided to find some excuse to tease Izay, trying to make him experience the same embarrassment.

In other words—the common saying—”I can’t be the only one awkward!”

Unfortunately, Izay wasn’t falling for it at all, leaving Victorica quite frustrated.

This guy had excellent dodging skills; she couldn’t lure him in!

Finally, carrying both embarrassment and a bit of displeasure in her heart, Victorica took her share of Valis and left.

Since she couldn’t alleviate the current awkwardness, she might as well escape it!

Adhering to the principle of “out of sight, out of mind,” Victorica temporarily bid farewell to Izay.

“Somehow, I feel a sense of victorious joy…was she trying to trap me just now?” Watching Victorica’s graceful and curvaceous back, Izay couldn’t help but feel happy.

Especially noticing the small action of the witch softly clicking her tongue, it made him feel even more pleased.

But it was merely pleasure.

Similar to the satisfaction of winning an argument with a close friend.

Just that.

Izay didn’t linger in happiness for too long and quickly left the Guild Hall.

…

Twilight Manor, Loki Familial Group Headquarters.

“Damn Ares, invading Orario at such a time, forcing me to put aside my work to play house with him. What’s up with that guy…he still doesn’t learn, declaring war for revenge despite knowing the power gap between us!?”

As soon as he approached the mansion gate, Izay heard the familiar voice of a certain goddess ranting inside.

He asked the doorman to open the door for him, and with the heavy stone doors moving aside, the front courtyard of Twilight Manor came into view.

—A rather desolate headquarters.

Missing the usual vitality, only a few people were active in the yard.

The most conspicuous among them was the red-haired goddess complaining while holding a ceramic jar with the cat-eared girl.

“Back home already, and you’re chirping away like that…got that much energy?” Izay ignored Loki’s irritable mood and naturally walked over to tease her.

“Is that Izay!? You’re back from your mission?” As Anqi noticed him, she immediately switched her expression of helplessness towards the goddess to a welcoming smile for her returning companion.

In recent days, Loki had sent Izay on a mission, which wasn’t a secret within the faction; everyone knew about it.

Though curious about the content of the mission, considering Izay’s strength, no one worried about him getting into trouble.

Just missing Izay meant there was no one to lead the teasing of Refia, so they hadn’t seen the little fairy pouting much these days.

Anqi felt a bit regretful.

After all…the faction favorite exists to be teased, right~

Anqi’s relationship with some people improved, and her thoughts gradually became mischievous…

“Hoohoo—!?”

A step slower than the catgirl, Loki turned her head to look at the approaching blonde youth, drawing out her tone with tactical backward lean.

“I thought you weren’t planning to get involved in this invasion war, Izay. After all, you had the chance to slack off…what? Changed your mind?”

“No, I still want to slack off once, but I didn’t come back for this.”

“Then why did you come back? Not continuing your adventures outside?”

Right now, Loki didn’t care what Izay was doing outside, as long as he stayed far away from Ais, she was happy.

Though judging from her leaky little cotton-padded jacket, Ais, this happiness was only temporary.

But it was better than always being unhappy, right?

This was Loki’s only way to console herself.

Tsk!

Thinking about it now, Loki was still furious!

She had raised that Ais carbon for so long…and the adorable gentle Haruhi-chan…and they were taken by the same “pig”!

And that “pig” was also raised by her.

With both sides being important to her, Loki was powerless against the current state of her garden being invaded.

“I came back to update my Ability Values…they’ve accumulated enough.”

Izay casually stated, causing Loki and Anqi to catch their breaths.

Snap—!

The cat-eared girl slipped, and instantly, a rich aroma of wine spread across the courtyard of Twilight Manor.

“My Soma brand divine liquor!!!”

And there was the wailing cry of a certain goddess.