"Well then, we shouldn’t delay, let’s get started right away!" Aqua couldn’t wait any longer.
With Adam’s help, she had finally tricked — no, recruited — a new Familia member, so of course she was eager.
"Come on, take off your clothes!"
"Eh, EHHH!!!" The inappropriate declaration made the pure and shy Yunyun blush bright red, "W-why do I have to?!"
"Why... because I need to inscribe the Falna on your back."
"That doesn’t mean I need to take off my clothes!"
"Oh! You misunderstood, you don’t need to take off your pants, just your top." This idiot Goddess of Water clearly missed the point.
"B-but... even so..."
"Come on! Stop wasting time, hurry up!"
"Ugh..." Yunyun’s eyes turned into spirals as she nearly burst into tears.
How could anyone expect her to undress in front of others — and worse, there was even a man present!
"Um... sorry, I’ll excuse myself." Though Adam was curious about Yunyun’s status, he thought it better to step away for now.
He turned and headed up to the mansion’s second floor.
Seeing him disappear upstairs, Yunyun finally relaxed a little and reluctantly removed her top. Though still embarrassing to undress in front of everyone, at least there were no men present. That made it somewhat acceptable.
Meanwhile, Adam went to find Beatrice on the second floor.
The process of bestowing the Falna should have been simple, but with Aqua handling it — whether due to conversion issues or the complexity of other-world knowledge — it became rather complicated. He decided to wait about half an hour before returning.
He arrived at the Forbidden Library and opened the door.
There sat Beatrice in a luxurious, enormous chair, elegantly turning the pages of her book, thoroughly absorbed in its contents. Even after 400 years, this Great Spirit’s love for knowledge remained undiminished.
"Adam?" Beatrice, immersed in her book, only noticed her contractor’s presence when he picked her up.
"It’s not bad. I must say, this chair is very comfortable."
"Of course it is — it’s the lord’s chair, after all."
To ensure Beatrice’s comfort, Adam had provided her with the finest accommodations possible, which prompted complaints from Megumin and Aqua about a newcomer receiving better treatment than them.
"Why did you come up here instead of staying downstairs with the others?"
"Well, there’s a reason."
"Is it about that new child?"
"Of course I do." Sitting in his arms, Beatrice complained despite her evident happiness, "You’re all making such a racket downstairs, I can’t read in peace."
"Haha, sorry about that." Adam apologized, patting her head as compensation, "But Beatrice, I’ve told you before — you shouldn’t always hide away in your room."
He expressed his disapproval of her constant seclusion.
"I know the knowledge of this other world fascinates you, but you need to go out, interact with others, get some fresh air."
"Interact... like how you bathe with those pretty girls?"
"Eh?" Adam hadn’t realized she knew about that.
Apparently, despite staying in her room, Beatrice remained well-informed about everything happening in the mansion.
"What, is Beatrice jealous?"
"Do you think I don’t care about you anymore because I bathe with others?"
"Hmph, I don’t care what Adam does!"
Though she said that, her puffed cheeks clearly showed she was jealous and wanted her contractor’s comfort.
"Hehehe, hahaha, HAHAHA!"
"W-why are you laughing..."
"Because... Beatrice, you’re so cute!" Without hesitation, he pressed his cheek against Beatrice’s soft face.
This tsundere Great Spirit had been staying alone in her room reading, worried that being too clingy would burden Adam, despite her own loneliness.
"Silly Beatrice, I’ll never abandon you." He held the petite Great Spirit tightly in his arms — so tightly she could barely breathe.
But she didn’t mind. She didn’t dislike his embrace. It was close, and warm.
"Since we have some time before the others are done, shall we enjoy a relaxing bath together?"
"Wh-what... what nonsense are you saying!" Beatrice blushed red, lightly hitting his chest with her small hands, "Adam! Is this all you think about? It’s unbearable!"
"I made time to spend with you specifically because I knew you were feeling left out."
"I don’t want that kind of compensation!... Well, if Adam really insists, I... I... I suppose I could agree."
Making a 400-year-old Great Spirit say such embarrassing things.
Beatrice had used all her strength, and not wanting Adam to see her blushing face, she buried her small head in his chest. Her bright red ears, however, completely gave away her feelings.
Super Mushroom, where are you when we need, uh...
But he wasn’t desperate. This small loli was extraordinarily cute, but he could contain himself. He genuinely just wanted to take a relaxing bath with her, as this was more common than it seemed.
He had just bathed with four women — all pretty and three quite shapely (sorry, Megumin) — and even then he had kept his primal instincts in check. He certainly wouldn’t do anything inappropriate with Beatrice.
Just as he was about to head down with her to the bathroom, they heard surprised shouts from the hall below.
"This is incredible—!"
"What’s wrong?" Beatrice lifted her head, looking toward the door as if she could see through to the floor below.
Adam shook his head, "I don’t know, but that sounds like Aqua."
He suspected it must be something about Yunyun’s Falna that had shocked her. After a moment’s consideration, he decided to investigate.
"Looks like our bath plans will have to wait."
"Hmph." Beatrice turned her head with a small huff.
"By the way, Beatrice, why don’t you come downstairs with me?" Adam suggested, "It’s a good chance to meet our new companion, and I can introduce you to her. How about it?"
"No, it’s too troublesome. I won’t go." Beatrice flatly refused.
Though she hadn’t met the person who had interrupted her intimate time with Adam, she had already formed a prejudice and wanted nothing to do with her.
"Ah... alright." If she didn’t want to go, Adam wouldn’t force her, "I’ll come back later then."
With Beatrice’s soft huff, he left the room.
Going downstairs, he found everyone gathered around Aqua, pointing and gesturing at a piece of parchment.
"What’s wrong, Aqua?" Adam asked, "Why are you so excited? Is there something special about Yunyun’s status?"
As soon as she saw him, Aqua excitedly waved him over to look at Yunyun’s status board.
"Come quick, come quick, Adam!"
"Oh, seems Yunyun really has potential..." Taking the parchment, Adam examined the stats.
[Crimson Demon Crown]
• Enhances own magical power
• Enhances magic of those of the same race
• Converts magic essence consumed by magic users of the same race into mental energy and absorbs it!
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