Chapter 239: Subtle Atmosphere Between Two Girls
"Let me touch your tail."
"Huh... eh?"
In the mansion, on the second floor, inside Susan's room.
"Silver Mask has arrived?"
At the doorway, Susan's face lit up with joy.
Since the incident last night, Susan had been thinking about how to thank Silver Mask.
She was also wondering if Silver Mask would visit today.
Unexpectedly, Silver Mask appeared so quickly.
"I... I'll go right away!"
Susan, still in her black nightgown, walked outside hurriedly.
"Susan, your clothes... your clothes!"
Seeing that Susan forgot to change, Emma quickly reminded her.
"Huh?"
Susan realized she was still in her nightgown.
Her face turned slightly red as she rushed back to her room.
Not long after, Susan, now wearing a black dress, left her room in a hurry.
Susan quickly left the mansion and headed to the pavilion in the courtyard.
"Silver... Silver Mask, is it enough?"
"Not even close yet. This feels amazing!"
"Is it really that good?"
"Of course! This is the happiest moment of my life."
"Ugh, I... I can't take it anymore!"
The voices coming from the pavilion made Susan, who was walking along the path, wear a peculiar expression.
The voices belonged to Alisa and Silver Mask.
"No way, could it be that Alisa and Silver Mask..."
Susan's face turned slightly red as she slowed her steps.
She bent down and hid behind a flower bed, sticking her head out to peek at the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, Susan saw Alisa and Silver Mask.
Alisa was sitting on Silver Mask's lap, her hands pressed against his chest, her whole body leaning into his embrace.
"Susan, what are you doing there?"
At that moment, Silver Mask suddenly turned his head toward her.
Susan froze, embarrassed, and awkwardly stood up.
"hehe, Silver Mask, that tickles!"
Alisa's laughter echoed from the pavilion, catching Susan's attention as she moved closer.
When she got a clearer look, Susan finally understood what was happening.
It was a matter of perspective earlier.
She thought Alisa was leaning into Silver Mask's embrace.
But in reality, Alisa was simply sitting on Silver Mask's lap, and her fluffy white tail was being kneaded by him.
"Uh... Alisa, what are you doing?"
Susan curiously asked as she walked into the pavilion.
Li Meng let go of Alisa's tail and gave her waist a light pat.
Blushing, Alisa got up from Li Meng's lap.
"I'm thanking Silver Mask!"
Susan glanced at Alisa's fluffy tail, then smiled knowingly.
Sitting by the stone table, Susan gave Silver Mask an amused look.
"Silver Mask's tastes are quite universal, huh?"
People from that world all seemed eager to pet beast-eared girls.
Susan remembered her first impulse upon seeing Alisa was much the same.
After getting to know Alisa, she had indulged that urge.
"Who wouldn't? I could die happy!"
Silver Mask's exaggerated words made Alisa blush.
She glanced at her tail, wondering if it really had that much charm.
"Silver Mask, thank you so much for last night. If not for you, our fate would have been terrible."
While they wouldn't have died, they would have experienced something akin to death.
Of course, Alisa and the others didn't know that.
The feeling of being decapitated was anything but pleasant.
Susan's words darkened Alisa's expression.
Her identity meant those around her could never enjoy peaceful lives.
"Haha, we're fellow travelers. I couldn't just watch you get killed. As for those two guys, don't worry—they won't be a threat to you anymore. However, you probably won't have an easy life ahead either."
Alisa turned to look at Susan beside her.
"Susan, you should leave with Silver Mask. Staying near me is dangerous; I'll only drag you down eventually."
Last night, they were lucky to be rescued by Silver Mask.
But luck wouldn't always be on their side.
Even though Earl Bard would likely strengthen the mansion's defenses after this incident, as Silver Mask said, peace was unlikely around her.
Susan shook her head and grabbed Alisa's hand.
"Alisa, are you implying I'm useless and can't even protect myself?"
"I... I didn't mean that."
Alisa shook her head quickly and tightly held Susan's hand.
"Susan, you're clever. You think of things I can't. Earl Bard even said you're my benefactor. If not for you, we wouldn't have been able to get Silver Mask's help. Susan, you know that's not what I meant."
Li Meng watched the two girls grasping each other's hands and gazing into each other's eyes with great interest.
The scene was truly beautiful.
He could tell from Susan's eyes that she genuinely cared for Alisa.
Whether it was as a close friend or something more intimate, Li Meng couldn't say.
Li Meng didn't interrupt the subtle atmosphere between them.
"I won't leave. Alisa, you can't make me go."
"But... but..."
"Alisa, I know what you're trying to do. Let me stay with you."
"You could... die!"
Susan smiled and shook her head.
"I'm not afraid!"
Having experienced death repeatedly, Susan wasn't afraid anymore.
It was precisely because she knew she couldn't truly die that she chose to stay and help Alisa.
The two girls exchanged smiles, understanding each other without words.
Susan turned toward Silver Mask.
"Silver Mask, are you leaving?"
Li Meng stretched and stood up, gazing at the surrounding flora from the pavilion.
His voice echoed through the pavilion.
"People like us always have things we must do. Girl, just enjoy your new life and do what you want. When I need you, I'll come find you. And if one day you need me, I'll appear by your side."
Things he must do?
Susan pondered as she watched Silver Mask's back.
Travelers wouldn't come to this world just to experience life.
It seemed Silver Mask knew something.
But Susan didn't plan to ask.
She didn't know if she had anything she 'must' do.
For now, she only wanted to help Alisa.
"Um, Silver Mask, how old are you?"
Beside her, Alisa gave Susan a baffled look.
Why would Susan suddenly ask Silver Mask's age?
"Haha, back home, you'd probably call me 'uncle.'"
Susan was about fifteen years old, while Li Meng was almost thirty on Earth.
Perhaps due to her young age, Susan's thoughts were still relatively simple.
If it had been an older traveler, their mindset might have been much more complicated.
With great power and freedom often came temptation to commit evil.
Although Li Meng leaned toward the darker side, he could also choose good.
At least toward a little girl like Susan, he wouldn't let himself be the villain.