Chapter 180: Sharna Alice
"Wow!! Seems like something quite fun is happening..."
"Heh heh, of course..."
I pretended to smirk and rubbed my Chin, my eyes fixed on that beautiful figure.
"Hmm... who could it be...?"
"Nonsense, who else could it be but 'her'?"
I turned my Gaze to the Target's flowing hair, which was even more dazzling than gold. Even in the dim tomb, it still emitted a Glow like the Sun that made it impossible to look at directly. Sometimes, I really suspected there was some special structure inside these strands of hair that was different from Ordinary People.
However, "she," who was always decisive and resolute, now seemed to have encountered some great Problem. She kept pacing back and forth at the Entrance to the Fourth Floor, her sea-blue eyes sparkling with a crystalline luster as she looked at the Entrance. Her two rows of long eyelashes fluttered a few times, looking eager to try, but then she suddenly seemed to remember something and shook her Head desperately, her golden hair flying everywhere. Then, she muttered to herself and paced back and forth a few steps, looking quite dejected. After that, her eyes landed on the Entrance again...
"'Who' is she? What is she doing walking back and forth there?"
The Voice by my ear still had the tone of an untamed curious baby, causing a pair of troubled eyes shimmering with silver Light to flash through my Brain.
"That would be..."
I subconsciously turned my Head, impatiently glaring at the source of the chirping Voice by my ear, but the next moment I froze.
Who else could it be but that Millennium Little Ghost, who was even more sleep-loving than a Pig, practically draped over my shoulder with her mouth slightly leaned in?
"You..."
We stared at each other, our Faces pressed close, our noses almost touching. I could even clearly count the curved eyelashes on the upper and lower lids of those silver eyes.
"Surprised?"
The Little Ghost exhaled a faint fragrance, brushing against my lips, warm and ticklish.
"..."
I was so stunned I could barely say a word.
"Surprised?"
The Little Ghost's eyes widened further. A compelling Presence suddenly emanated from her clear eyes, her Gaze becoming increasingly troubled. This was a rare sign before she got angry.
"Haha... Alice, when did you wake up? Why didn't you say anything?"
Feeling that invisible Pressure, I asked with a forced smile.
"As of the first Voice I spoke just now, I had been awake for 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 46 seconds."
Alice reported the Time flatly in a mechanical Voice, her pink cherry lips subtly pouting.
"You had the Time to count, why didn't you call out to me?"
I looked at the sulking Little Ghost, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Wow!! Is it my fault?"
Alice let out a short exclamation of surprise, tilting her Head and looking at me with a confused Expression.
"Of course."
I unceremoniously pulled this fragrant Ghost into my arms.
"Woo~~"
Even though she obediently lay in my arms, Alice still let out a mournful cry of unwillingness.
"Little Ghost, what's with the dejection!" I gently stroked her beautiful hair the color of a cold moon.
"When I just woke up, I thought you would notice within ten seconds. After ten seconds, I thought you would notice within 100 seconds. After 100 seconds, I thought you would notice within five minutes. After five minutes, I thought you would notice within ten minutes... The Result was I kept counting until 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 46 seconds."
The Little Ghost complained sadly in my arms.
"If I hadn't made a Voice, you wouldn't have noticed me for your whole life, would you?"
She raised her Head from my arms, looking at me with the Gaze of a Kitten who seemed to know it was about to be abandoned.
"No, I definitely would have noticed you within 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 47 seconds..."
I affectionately kissed her smooth little forehead and held her even tighter.
"Mm... ah..."
This answer, which couldn't even fool a child, made the Little Ghost reveal a satisfied smile. She gently wriggled her warm, soft body in my arms, found the most comfortable position, closed her eyes, and let out a soft moan that was either approval or comfort.
In that moment, I felt as though I held the entire world in my arms, temporarily forgetting the figure at the Entrance.
"Who?"
Naturally, our almost self-oblivious behavior attracted the attention of the figure pacing at the Entrance.
"Wow!!"
The Little Ghost shrinking in my arms was startled by this majestic shout. Her flexible body quickly twisted and wriggled out of my arms, slipping with a sound into the Necklace inside my Cloak.
Is there a Candidate Saintess as timid as you? I fiercely cursed the Little Ghost in my Heart, patted my Buttocks, stood up, and strode out.
"Sister Sharna."
Opening my arms, I pulled that figure into a hug. It had been months since we last met, so a hug was in order first.
"Oh, you, why are you always like a child who won't grow up?"
"Because you're my Older Sister." I blinked at her, intoxicated by the elegant scent of her body so close. Is this the smell of maturity? Heh heh, as expected. Compared to Alice, that willful Little Ghost—
Uh—, it's really hard to compare...
Sharna sighed as if in Helplessness, but her slender arms wrapped tightly around me in return. She had indeed been startled just now, not expecting herself to be so lax that she didn't even notice someone approaching to such a Distance. However, the familiar address that followed was like a ray of Warmth, adding a touch of Warmth and color to her cold and boring life over the past few months.
"As expected of my Younger Brother, Sharna's Younger Brother, you've finally arrived here."
Sister Sharna held me, just as I had treated Alice, gently stroking my cheek with her slightly rough small hand. A gentle and proud Light flashed in her resolute Gaze.
"Heh heh..."
Facing such a gentle Older Sister, my Brain was blank, and I just kept chuckling.
"Oh right. Who were you with just now? Why didn't she come out?"
Sister Sharna curiously cast her Gaze behind me.
"Ah..."
I was about to introduce Alice, but unexpectedly, the Necklace in my arms suddenly thrashed a few times as if protesting.
"Uh— was someone there? There was no 'one'!!"
Urged by Alice, I answered subconsciously, but tears were flowing in my Heart— You untamed Little Ghost, you actually made me deceive my most respected Older Sister. Just you wait.
"Strange, I clearly sensed two Auras. Could it be some error because my Spirit was too focused just now?"
Sharna's sea-blue eyes narrowed tightly. Normally, with her personality, she would never easily deny her own judgment, but now she showed a vexed Expression, seemingly blaming herself for being too engrossed and making such a big oversight.
It was none other than her most important Younger Brother who said that sentence.
Seeing Older Sister believe me so easily made me even more awkward. This wasn't her usual style. At the very least, she should have imperiously forced me to swear an oath like, "I guarantee there is absolutely no one else around, or may heaven and earth strike me down," right? Wouldn't that make me feel even more guilty?
"Oh right, Older Sister. What are you doing here?"
Her hesitant Expression from just now surfaced in my Brain.
"Oh right, you came at just the right Time..."
Sister Sharna seemed to remember some important Matter, and excitedly grabbed my shoulders, shaking me a few times.
"Younger Brother, I am officially telling you now. I am going to kill Andariel."
She stepped back a few steps, put away the smile on her Face, and revealed a very serious Expression, speaking to me as if reporting some important News to a Superior.
"Uh..., huh...?"
Faced with her sudden startled behavior, I finally couldn't help but let out a Questioning Voice.
Facing my confused Gaze, a big Question Mark also appeared above Sharna's Head. Then, as if she suddenly understood something, the calm and gentle blue Ocean from just now suddenly became turbulent with crashing waves.
"You... couldn't... have... forgotten... what... you... said... could... you...!!"
She suddenly reached out with both hands and pulled hard on my Face, stretching it outwards.
"Di-did I say something?"
The answer was even harder pulling.
After a long while, she finally released her hands. I quickly rubbed my aching cheek and secretly checked if it had been pulled wrinkled. Meanwhile, Alice in the Necklace suddenly let out a burst of giggling laughter.
"Serves you right. Who told you to always pull my cheek? You got your lesson now."
I could almost hear her triumphantly shouting from inside the Necklace.
Be triumphant. Be triumphant. You'll know you were wrong later.
"Sigh..."
Sister Sharna's lonely sigh suddenly came from beside my ear.
"I bothered about this for so long, and I didn't expect you to completely forget."
Her Gaze towards me held unspeakable indignation and disappointment, like a girl stood up by her boyfriend on Christmas Eve.
What exactly did I say? Seeing her dejected Appearance, my Heart ached. I desperately racked my uncooperative Brain, and finally recalled something.
—"Before you kill Andariel, be sure to notify me first."
This was something I had once Instructed Older Sister, a casual remark made out of worry that she might rashly challenge Andariel alone. I didn't expect her to keep it in Heart and regard it so highly, hesitating and pacing even when she had arrived at Andariel's Door.
"I'm sorry, and also, I received the notification, Older Sister."
I fiercely slapped myself across the Face and lowered my Head in regret.
"You idiot, why are you so careless with yourself."
What came from beside my ear was Older Sister's gentle scolding. A pair of cool small hands lightly stroked my burning cheek. I looked up in surprise, and what greeted me were her eyes, which held both gentle reproach and an unintentional hint of shy joy.
"Older Sister and Younger Brother... Wow!! Could this be the legendary, very lewd and violent incestuous love that often appears in royal families?..."
Alice's continuous exclamation transmitted directly from the Necklace into my Heart.
"..."