Two hours later, the Yamai sisters, now too exhausted to even lift a finger, were unceremoniously dropped onto the floor.
Tears and drool trickled down their cheeks, their bodies twitching faintly from muscle memory.
"I-I feel like I'm gonna die…" Kaguya's voice was faint and wavering.
The relentless tickling had left every inch of her body feeling thoroughly tortured, especially her abdomen—sore and aching from constant laughter, as if she'd done ten thousand sit-ups.
"Agreed."
Yuzuru managed to keep her tone somewhat steady, but she too could barely muster more than a couple of words.
Only then did Dark Amber, who had been disciplining them while simultaneously working on her tablet with glasses perched on her nose, finally lift her eyelids.
"I did warn you, didn't I? Disobedient little lab rats get punished."
"Dammit…! Snake-sis is practically a devil!" Blurted Kaguya, having regained a sliver of strength thanks to her superhuman physique.
Her remark drew Dark Amber's gaze: "Hmm?"
"A d-devilishly curvaceous beauty!" Kaguya hastily corrected herself.
However, her quick save didn't let Dark Amber off the hook. Instead, Dark Amber responded with a 'kind' smile and asked, "Did you truly mean those words?"
Her current role card was a mixed bag. Power-wise, it was undeniably strong, but… in terms of figure, compared to her pre-MANTIS days as a human scientist, Mobius clearly had more to offer back then.
Unfortunately, she was now in her MANTIS form, and worse, the already-diminished version.
Hearing this, Kaguya broke out in a cold sweat as she looked at the other girl.
The girl with long, deep green hair had skin pale and delicate like freshly fallen snow, so pure it made one want to reach out and touch it.
Her features seemed lifted from a painting, yet far more three-dimensional than any artwork; calling her 'beautiful' felt like a shallow, superficial description.
But more striking than her looks were her eyes—a mix of multiple hues, overall pink, and utterly unlike any human's.
The vertical pupils, far more menacing than round ones, gave off an intense predator vibe. Just meeting her gaze brought the illusion of a python coiling around your body.
Yet, it wasn't just those eyes that made Kaguya sweat bullets. More importantly, it was the other's figure—slender and petite, even wrapped in that white lab coat.
The well-proportioned calves emerging from the coat, crossed delicately and sheathed in black stockings that hinted at the skin beneath, along with the ankles so slender you could practically circle them with one hand, all made the term 'devilish figure' sound more like a sarcastic joke than a compliment.
Compared to Dark Amber, Kaguya herself fit the 'devilish figure' label much better—curvaceous, full yet not bulky, brimming with youthful vitality.
Though neither of them could hold a candle to Yuzuru nearby.
"S-Snake-sis…" Kaguya stammered.
"No desserts for either of you this week. Afternoon tea is cancelled too." Dark Amber slid her tablet into the side of the case she was sitting on, then shifted her long-held sitting posture.
Her previously sideways legs swung forward, and she crossed them, adopting a casual leg-over-leg position.
"Whaat!?" Kaguya, who had assumed the punishment would be the end of it and had been looking forward to soothing her wounded body and soul with delicious sweets, widened her eyes and hurriedly sat up.
"No way! How can you just snatch away someone's happiness like that, Snake-sis!"
"Appeal. Yuzuru finds the reasoning for sharing the punishment unconvincing." Yuzuru, who had been trying to keep a low profile, also sat up.
"Yuzuru! You traitor!" Kaguya glared at her as if betrayed.
"Denied. Rather than letting you test boundaries repeatedly, I prefer to make sure you never dare a second time."
Dark Amber ignored their protests, simply riding the case out of the room. "If something like this happens again, I'll tell Gray Serpent to replace all your lunches with black bread."
Faced with her tyranny, the two seethed in silence, not daring to speak up until she was completely out of sight.
Only then did Kaguya finally burst out, "Damn it! Snake-sis didn't show any mercy at all! Heartless, abusing Spirits!"
Yuzuru, more cautious, didn't speak immediately. Instead, she looked toward Yoshino, who had been hiding behind the sofa all this time. "Reassurance. It's safe now, Yoshino."
Kaguya remembered they had company too. Pushing herself up on still-wobbly legs, she forced a proud and nonchalant demeanor.
"Hmph! Don't think a little of this can shake Kaguya of the Yamai! Mere earthly desires? A Spirit won't be defeated by such weaknesses!"
"I'm sorry… Kaguya… Yuzuru…" Yoshino finally emerged from behind the sofa, speaking softly. "It's all because of me… you got punished…"
"We were planning to go out anyway. Helping you pass a message to Bianka was just convenient!" Kaguya said dismissively.
"But…" Yoshino didn't seem comforted. Even though all three had been involved in the idea, only two had been punished. It left her with a sense of luck, but also guilt toward the other two.
After a moment's thought, she offered, "You can have my cake later, Kaguya and Yuzuru."
"Wha!? Are you sure about that!?" x2.
Yoshinon, who had been silent until now, started waving her arms excitedly. "Yoshino! That's the happiest time of your day! Are you really okay with giving it up!?"
Kaguya had been thinking the same thing, but hearing Yoshinon say it out loud stirred some dissatisfaction.
Before she could say anything, Yoshinon continued, "A noble being like Miss Kaguya would surely disdain taking such happiness from Yoshino. Wouldn't that tarnish her impeccable character?"
"Huh?" x2.
Yoshino blinked, then looked questioningly at Kaguya.
"O-of course!" Kaguya's proud smile strained at the edges, but she held it firm. "I would never take another's happiness!"
"…"
Even Yoshino could see how forced the orange-haired girl's words were. After a long pause, she said, "Even though… cake is delicious… if Yoshino eats it alone… it's not as tasty anymore."
"Yoshino wants to eat yummy cake with everyone…"
Hearing this, Kaguya's already taut resolve snapped completely. Anxious to settle the matter before anything else went wrong, she declared, "Then I shall make an exception and share it with you!"
"Concurrence. I will also partake in the sharing." Yuzuru stated flatly.
"Yoshino is just so kind, isn't she~" Yoshinon never missed a chance to praise Yoshino.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.