Chapter 250: Tony, Who Loves to Dance on a Minefield
Kasugano Sora, sitting quietly inside the small shop, froze. Wasn't this a bit too much? The front door was actually glowing! A brilliant, blinding light poured through the frame, utterly terrifying in its intensity.
At that moment, however, Sora's mind wasn't filled with fear. A single, sharp thought cut through her astonishment: was her chance to fulfill her wish about to vanish? Damn it! How infuriating!
Lucifer, on the other hand, was delighted. Every guest from another world was a living map, a walking encyclopedia of a reality she had yet to explore. The night was already more than half over, and this was the first new arrival—a truly memorable occasion.
"Hey! Ren! I'm here again!"
The moment Lucifer heard that boisterous voice, her expression shifted. She knew that tone all too well. It belonged to that master of overthinking, Tony Stark.
Just as Tony strode through the doorway and Lucifer prepared a witty retort, she saw a woman following close behind him. While not breathtakingly beautiful, she was undeniably pretty, with an air of sharp competence about her. It was Pepper.
Pepper's eyes scanned her surroundings, a look of deep curiosity on her face. Everything about this place felt magical. From the moment she stepped through that radiant doorway, she had felt it. The fact that she could keep her eyes open amidst such a blinding light was, in itself, a miracle.
It's often said that most humans are visual creatures, and Pepper was no exception. Her gaze swept over the clean, tidy interior of the shop, and she nodded in silent approval. Then, following the direction of Tony's voice, her eyes landed on Ren and the two women beside him.
Pepper offered a polite, professional smile. "You must be Mr. Ren. I often hear Tony mention you. He says you're a very good friend and an excellent chef. I'm Tony's secretary; you can call me Pepper."
Ren was momentarily taken aback, then a warm smile spread across his face. "Then I'll have to thank Mr. Stark for the high praise. I have to admit, I didn't expect you back so soon, Mr. Stark. And you even brought your secretary along."
Hearing this, Tony grinned. "Of course. Pepper is my most capable assistant. She keeps my entire life in perfect order."
"Pepper?"
Lucifer's interest was piqued by the familiar address. If she wasn't mistaken, this 'Pepper' was none other than Potts. And if that was the case, the relationship between these two was far from simple.
Pepper shot Tony an exasperated look, about to say something, but he had already found a seat and settled in. He simply smiled back at her. "I think the name is perfect."
A sly smile touched Lucifer's lips. "So, you and Miss Potts are…?"
Neither Tony nor Pepper admitted or denied it, their shared silence speaking volumes. Lucifer glanced at Ren, then, for reasons only she understood, she covered her mouth and let out a soft chuckle.
Ren looked at her, puzzled. "Lucifer, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
Lucifer certainly wasn't going to admit that she had just been reminded of Ren calling her 'Little Queen'a moment ago. Seeing Tony so casually call his assistant'Pepper,'she couldn't help but think that Ren was just as much of an incorrigible flirt. And yet, was she the only one who had received a nickname?'Little Queen' felt like such a junior-level endearment, too.
Pepper's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh my! You are Miss Lucifer… no… Lady Lucifer?"
Lucifer gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'm not in Hell right now, and your world is different from ours. Just treat me as a normal person. One of the shopkeepers."
Pepper was slightly startled by the casual admission. Tony leaned in and whispered something into her ear, then shot Ren a knowing look—the kind of look men share when they think they've figured everything out. Ren could only return it with an exasperated sigh; it was clear Tony's overactive imagination was running wild again.
After Tony's whispered, and likely fantastical, explanation, Pepper relaxed considerably, her apprehension towards Lucifer melting away. As she settled, her gaze fell upon Kasugano Sora.
With her health fully restored, the faint, malnourished pallor that had once clung to Sora's complexion was gone, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow. This newfound vitality made the already doll-like girl even more beautiful.
Pepper's reaction was like that of a child spotting a gorgeous doll in a shop window. A bright, genuine smile lit up her face. "Ah, this child is so pretty! As beautiful as a little doll. Right, Tony?"
Tony Stark glanced over at Kasugano Sora, a brief flicker of appreciation in his eyes. He smiled and nodded. "Indeed. She's a rare kind of exquisite. Ren, as expected of you."
Seeing Tony flash yet another one of those 'we-men-understand' smirks, Ren decided it was best to simply ignore the master of misinterpretation.
As someone from a country known for its unrestrained enthusiasm, Pepper was naturally warm and forward. She smiled and waved at Sora. "Hello, little girl. What's your name?"
"Hmm…"
This sudden burst of energy was a bit too much for the inherently introverted and shy Kasugano Sora.
Ren spoke gently, his voice a soothing balm. "Don't worry, Sora. They don't mean any harm. It's just a personality trait common to where they live. There's no need to be concerned."
Kasugano Sora gave a small nod and whispered, her voice barely audible, "Kasugano Sora…"
Pepper nodded, her smile never wavering. "So cute. Maybe this is why I shouldn't be around little girls; I always start thinking my future daughter could be this adorable. Sora, do you live here in Mr. Ren's shop too?"
Kasugano Sora puffed out her cheeks slightly at the question, but still answered with a reluctant, "Mm…"
Ren breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had been so worried about Sora. Now that her most pressing physical problems were solved, and with Cerberus around, he was sure her social anxieties would eventually be corrected as well. 'Although,'he thought with a grimace,'I might be starting to regret that a little…'
"It must be lively with so many people living together," Pepper continued warmly. "But Sora seems to be doing very well. Your complexion looks so healthy. So cute."
Kasugano Sora whispered, "My body just recovered its health…"
"Eh?"
After Ren provided a brief explanation, Pepper nodded in understanding. "Then you're incredibly lucky to have met Mr. Ren and Lady Lucifer. Sora, if you want to confirm your current physical condition right away, you can."
"Eh?"
Tony smiled, tapping the sleek watch on his wrist. "I installed a simplified version of Jarvis on my new watch for this trip. I wanted to study the power of traversing dimensions. It's saved to the cloud, and it can run a full diagnostic scan."
Sora asked, her voice laced with suspicion, "But an examination usually requires a lot of…"
Tony waved a hand dismissively. "Don't underestimate one of my proudest creations. Jarvis! Detect body data, summarize health status."
[Okay, sir.]
[Detection complete. Data uploaded.]
Tony Stark glanced at the results displayed on his watch's holographic interface, and his brow furrowed slightly. "This isn't quite normal…"
Kasugano Sora stiffened.
Pepper leaned over, read the summary, and shot Tony an exasperated look. "Tony didn't finish his sentence. The report's conclusion is that you're abnormally healthy. Normal humans always have some minor ailments, but Sora, your physical health has no flaws whatsoever."
Sora's eyes lit up with a brilliant, hopeful light. "Then… I won't get sick so often anymore?"
"Theoretically speaking," Tony chimed in, recovering, "illness has nothing to do with you anymore. Your body is in perfect health."
"Mm!" A radiant smile, pure and unrestrained, finally bloomed on Sora's face.
Lucifer shot a sidelong glance at Tony. If Pepper hadn't been present, she would have absolutely called Cerberus out to give the billionaire a few swift kicks. That man just loved to dance on a minefield.
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