Weakened Edelweiss
"Nene, how is White Night doing?"
Sitting in the living room, Ning Yin answered a call. "It's Xiao Hei. What unfortunate timing. If you're looking for Xiao Bai, then..."
"...He died again?"
"Yes, yes, after all, it was that Pair of Wings."
Glancing toward the bedroom, Ning Yin held herself back from saying more, even though she really wanted to share it with Hei Nai. "All right, Xiao Hei. I'll contact you when Xiao Bai comes back."
"All right. Ask him later..."
"Okay, I got it."
After exchanging a few perfunctory words, Ning Yin hung up on Hei Nai and called toward the kitchen from the living room, "Xiao Niya, has Xiao Bai not recovered yet?"
A pale blue glow of Magic Power spread out.
Bronya drew on a small portion of her Magic Power reserves and revived White Night ahead of time.
"Yo, Ning Yin. What did you need me for?"
Even after dying once, White Night was still as carefree as ever. He casually sat on the sofa and greeted Ning Yin.
Emmm...
"Say, Xiao Bai, haven't you died too many times? Could there be something wrong with your mindset?"
Seeing White Night act as though nothing had happened, Ning Yin felt worried. "How about... I go easier on you next time?"
"What are you talking about? Haven't I always been like this?"
White Night waved a hand, signaling Ning Yin not to worry, then naturally changed the subject. "All right, down to business. Was the Chairman looking for me?"
"It's nothing much~"
Ning Yin's petite body sprang up. Without the slightest hesitation, she hopped over and sat beside White Night. "It's about the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival. Are you still planning to take part?"
"Mm-hm, why wouldn't I? Besides, Dawn Academy is joining this year too, right?"
White Night shrugged, phrasing it as a statement. Ning Yin looked over at him. Emmm...
"You brat! So you knew all along, huh? How could you not tell me something like that?!"
She immediately pounced on White Night, and the two started wrestling. As for the difference between men and women? They had a life-and-death friendship. What did something like that matter?
"I told you my predictions aren't accurate."
"Excuses! Take this!"
After they messed around for a while, a rich, sweet fragrance drifted over. Bronya came out carrying an Apple Pie. "You two should have had enough fun by now."
"Is it done, Xiao Niya?"
As she spoke, Ning Yin nimbly got up. Taking advantage of her size, she gave White Night a light hop and stepped on him once more. "Bring it over so I can have a taste~"
"No, Ning Yin."
Bronya stopped her, then took out a smaller portion. "This one was prepared for Xiao Ai. Ning Yin's is here."
Emmm...
Although the two looked more or less the same, with neither being defective, the portions...
"Xiao Niya~"
Ning Yin immediately threw herself at Bronya, shamelessly acting cute. "There's no way you can eat all that. Share a little with me~"
"..."
The bedroom door opened, and White Night and Ning Yin were thrown out. (obedient.jpg) "Bronya needs to take care of Xiao Ai. Ning Yin, go play somewhere else."
"Hey, hey, this is my house!" Ning Yin stomped her feet, though only for show.
"All right, Ning Yin."
White Night handed Ning Yin a small piece of Apple Pie. "Here, Bronya left this for you."
"...Hmph. Don't think you can buy me off with this." Ning Yin crossed her arms and turned away. Combined with her petite frame... she looked rather cute.
"Just tell me whether you want it or not."
In an instant, the Apple Pie in White Night's hand vanished. Ning Yin was already taking small bites. "Of course I want it. Why wouldn't I? This is my spoil of war."
"Mmm, it's pretty good. I didn't expect Xiao Niya to have this kind of skill. Next time, no matter what, I'll make her prepare some for me."
Emmm...
Fine, as long as you're happy.
Soft light spilled through the window onto the snow-white bedsheets. Edelweiss was already breathtakingly beautiful, but at this moment, she seemed even more sacred.
"Mmm..."
Her lovely brows furrowed slightly.
Little by little, Edelweiss opened her eyes. Supporting herself with one hand, she slowly sat up from the bed. "This is...? I see. So I lost."
"No, Xiao Ai. After that sword strike, White Night died outright~ So Xiao Ai didn't lose."
Bronya moved closer, carefully helping the still-weak Edelweiss up with one hand and smiling apologetically. "Sorry, about the strength of the Spirit Armor..."
"A loss is a loss. There's nothing wrong with admitting it." Edelweiss shook her head, interrupting Bronya.
Having changed out of her light armor, Edelweiss was no longer the sacred Valkyrie she had been before. Instead, she had a soft and graceful air about her. "But White Night... did you say he died?"
"Don't worry. White Night has already finished his timer. Mm, it means reviving in game terms."
Bronya looked perfectly calm as she took a pillow and placed it behind Edelweiss's back. "Don't worry about White Night. He... ah, sorry, I'm used to saying that."
"My life is tough. I'm not that easy to kill."
As she spoke, Bronya leaned down slightly, raised an index finger to her crystalline lips, and smiled gently at Xiao Ai. "Of course, Xiao Ai has to keep it a secret for me~"
Too, too close...
For a moment, Edelweiss recalled White Night's confession. Bronya and he were also the same person... Almost imperceptibly, her delicate face flushed.
Just as Bronya had said, stripped of all her glory, Edelweiss had never even been in a relationship. She truly was an adorable girl.
"All right, Xiao Ai. How do you feel? Bronya hasn't really handled a shattered Spirit Armor before."
Since they were Pair of Wings, Bronya could not take her to a hospital. She had handled everything herself. "Xiao Ai, try and see if you can materialize your Spirit Armor?"
"..."
"What is it? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Concerned about Xiao Ai's condition, Bronya failed to notice her shyness. Seeing Xiao Ai remain motionless, she could not help leaning closer to ask.
"N-No."
Edelweiss was a little flustered. She slowly raised one hand, its fair skin gleaming in the sunlight.
So beautiful... But Bronya only sighed inwardly and did nothing improper.
A flash of Magic Power glimmered, and the Platinum Sword condensed into being. But only for a moment...
Crack~
A crisp sound rang out. Like shattering glass, the Spirit Armor broke into specks of light that scattered through the air.
Affected by it, Edelweiss's body tipped forward, and she fell right into Bronya's embrace.
Her pure, snow-white hair spilled down and intertwined with Bronya's slightly curled silver hair, creating an incomparably beautiful scene.
"Are you all right, Xiao Ai?"
Their bodies were pressed close together. With just a slight tilt of her head, Bronya could see Edelweiss's delicate, fair neck, and even... the deep valley below it.
Emmm... It doesn't seem as deep as Bronya's? No, this isn't the time to think about that!
Bronya held Xiao Ai's soft hand, then carefully helped her lean back against the bed. "Sorry, Xiao Ai. Bronya didn't think this through."
Apple Pie
"I had to try eventually."
Edelweiss shook her head, showing no intention of blaming Bronya. She stretched out a hand and loosely clenched it twice in the air. "It's been a long time since I felt like this."
Emmm...
Bronya merely watched without saying anything. White Night was the one who had shattered Xiao Ai's Spirit Armor. That was why she had sent White Night away. Otherwise, it would have been even more awkward.
"Don't blame yourself, Bronya." Xiao Ai noticed her expression and instead comforted Bronya.
Then, a wisp of Magic Power ignited at Xiao Ai's fingertips. "Also, I'm not as weak as you imagine. It's just harder to draw on it, but I can still fight."
As long as she did not touch the Spirit Armor, even if it had weakened somewhat, Xiao Ai's Magic Power reserves were still enormous. And on top of that, there was the power of fate from the Demon domain...
Would anyone really be foolish enough to provoke her? Though her combat power had dropped somewhat, she was still among the strongest.
"Don't worry. I can take care of myself."
As she spoke, Xiao Ai supported herself with one hand and tried to rise, but Bronya pressed her shoulder and made her sit back down. "No. Bronya will take care of Xiao Ai."
"Would you like something to eat? Bronya prepared Apple Pie. Xiao Ai's body is fine, so there's no need to avoid any food."
A machine floated over. Bronya took the Apple Pie from Heavy Rabbit and thoughtfully cut it into pieces. "Of course, if Xiao Ai doesn't like it, Bronya can prepare something else."
"There's no need for that. I'll just have a little and..."
Halfway through her sentence, a sweet fragrance rushed toward her. Xiao Ai silently swallowed the rest of her words.
A fair little hand picked up a piece of Apple Pie and elegantly placed it in her mouth...
"Mmm!"
It was delicious.
Xiao Ai sped up slightly, eating in small bites. But... gradually, her movements seemed to slow again?
Bronya rested her chin on her hand and watched her with an exceptionally gentle gaze, a tranquil smile hanging on her lips.
In her memories:
"Does Bronya like sweets too?"
"Not particularly. But I started learning how to make them a long time ago. What do you think that was for, Xiao Ai~?"
Edelweiss looked at the Apple Pie in her hand, then at Bronya beside her, wearing that tranquil smile...
She was also a pastry chef. She knew very well how much effort it took to reach this level.
Thinking of that confession from before, Edelweiss could not help feeling her heart flutter.
Because of that, the already delicious Apple Pie seemed to carry another flavor—the purest sincerity! Her heart felt warm.
"Bronya."
Her voice carried a hint of shyness.
Edelweiss lowered her head slightly and ate in small bites like a little animal. Her pure, snow-white hair fell naturally, concealing her faintly flushed cheeks. "Um, could you not look at me like that?"
"Sorry, it's because Xiao Ai is too cute." Bronya came back to herself, withdrawing her gaze while still slipping in a flirtatious remark.
"..."
Silence followed.
After all, Bronya had never pursued a girl before. In the quiet atmosphere, she did not know what to say. "Come to think of it, what kind of requirements does Xiao Ai have for her other half..."
"Sorry, was that too direct? Emmm... If you really don't want to answer, it's fine to ignore it."
"Of course, Bronya still hopes... No, what is Bronya even saying?"
"Mm-hm~"
Seeing Bronya stumble over her words, Edelweiss could not help laughing softly. "So Bronya gets flustered too. But that's how it should be. That makes you seem more like a girl."
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