Chapter 212

"Yes, some people criticize her for 'not doing her job properly,' others think she's wasting tax money, and there are even more offensive things said... Our city is different from yours. But she has never given up."

For the first time, Lapith's gentle expression turned somber.

"That's going too far..."

Efnir didn't know what to say, after all, this was a matter for Suzuda City, and had nothing to do with Xijing City.

As a fellow agent, Efnir could understand the girl's feelings.

"Agents aren't that rare in our city. Compared to you, we're probably more like 'professionals,' which is probably one of the reasons."

Lapith softened her expression. "So she's been wanting to see you again, saying she wants to learn from you."

"Have I met her before?"

"She told me about you, saying that she met you once in the Beyond the Boundary region. As for her... after returning to the city that time, she immediately started clamoring to debut as an idol. I think that's probably when it started. As an idol, she's imitating you."

"I see..."

Efnir felt a little uneasy. She couldn't really remember who the other person was; someone she had only met once could only leave a very vague impression.

Please take these words as my personal opinion.

Lapith paused, then sighed softly.

Then she slowly opened her mouth and said something that surprised Efnir: "Because... actually, 'that idol' is my lover."

Lapith looked at Efnir and smiled calmly.

"I'm a little jealous of you, but you're still my lover's idol. If possible, would you like to do a tour in our city? Of course, it could be an official invitation."

113. Ward

When Efnir brought a box of hot food to Yukina's hospital room, Yukina was sitting quietly on the bed, her joy undisguised.

There was no one else in the room, and the curtains were drawn, but some light was letting through, so the room wasn't too dark.

"Naoko, you're here~"

"Hmm, are you waiting for me?"

Efnir casually closed the door and sat down on the bedside, placing the lunchbox aside. Yukina then deftly moved closer, saying, "No, I'm afraid Naoko just misses me."

As she said this, Yukina's lips gently met Efnir's lips, and Efnir closed her eyes, responding cautiously.

Their lips brushed against each other, like vanilla pudding; their sweet breaths mingled and caressed each other, the long, lingering breaths gradually becoming warm and moist. Soon, a blush rose on their cheeks.

"Mmm..."

Efnir gently pushed her away, and Yukina reluctantly ended their intimate moment. Efnir was also somewhat unsatisfied, her tongue licking her lips, her heart filled with a dazed feeling as she held the warm, soft body in her arms. But now was not the time to leisurely rest.

Are you feeling better?

"I feel much better now, I think I can go back to the team!"

"No, that won't work."

Efnir rejected the offer without hesitation.

"We'll have to wait until you've recovered a bit more. It's not a time when we're short-handed, so you should just rest here."

"Oh..."

Yukina responded in a muffled voice and nuzzled against Efnir's neck.

Where is the music?

"She went to get her medicine."

"Oh... I should thank her in person."

"Hehe... Naoko would be very happy if she thanked her in person." Yukina chuckled. "By the way, who was that person who came with you earlier?"

"You know, Lapith, the head of Suzuda City."

"It's her... She really does look different from the file. It seems agents always have two identities."

Yukina gently stroked Efnir's waist, her lips brushing against the beautiful curve of Efnir's profile before gently resting against Efnir's neck, her nose twitching as she inhaled Efnir's scent.

The smell of blood.

"Wait, I only changed my coat, don't get your clothes dirty."

"It's okay, I don't mind."

Yukina persisted and tightened her grip, so Efnir, afraid of hurting Yukina, had no choice but to give up.

"I brought you some food, I'll..."

"Naoko," Yukina nestled her face in Efnir's neck, naturally raising her arm to slide across Efnir's shoulder and neck, "Come closer."

"What's wrong?"

Efnir moved closer, but Yukina didn't answer. Instead, she leaned in again and kissed Efnir, silencing Efnir half-finished words.

"Hmm..."

This kiss was much more intense than before. For a moment, Efnir felt as if her breath had been sucked away, and her arms involuntarily tightened.

As Yukina felt the sudden tension in the body of the person in her arms, she intensified her attack. Taking advantage of Efnir's accommodating kiss, Yukina half-embraced and half-leaned on her, pressing down on her while gently biting and sucking on Efnir's tongue, greedily demanding Efnir's breath, and lightly turning Efnir down onto the bed.

"Hmm..."

Efnir let out a soft moan as Yukina's lips slid to Efnir neck, her soft little tongue licking and teasing her until Efnir's whole body went limp.

"Wait a minute, my clothes are very dirty..."

"It's alright, Naoko, don't resist, just leave it to me," Yukina nestled her face in Efnir's neck, breathing softly, her eyes as gentle as silk. With practiced ease, she unbuttoned Efnir's collar, simultaneously massaging Efnir waist and legs with precise and just-right pressure. But before she could continue her assault, Aivenir suddenly cried out, "Ouch!? That hurts!"

Efnir released her grip on Yukina's soft waist and, taking advantage of Yukina 'Yukina pain, gently helped her sit up.

"--You little pervert! Now is not the time for this!" Efnir panted, giving Yukina a resentful look, and loosened the rumpled collar straps a little. "I came to check if you were feeling better. I have another mission waiting for me later--Alright, come and eat."

Efnir brought over the lunchbox.

Yukina licked her lips and giggled, "Y-yes--I'm a pervert, Naoko is pure and innocent~"

"Say it again?"

Efnir blushed for a moment, her cheeks still flushed, and the deliberately annoyed expression she put on only made Yukina find it exceptionally alluring and adorable.

However, Yukina's tone changed, and she gave a soft snort, "Naoko, you've hugged other girls behind my back, haven't you?"

"Huh?" Efnir's hand holding the lunchbox paused.

Suppressing a laugh, Yukina awkwardly took the lunchbox from Efnir's hand, staring intently into Efnir's eyes. Her fingertips slid down Efnir's cheek and lingered on Efnir's neck. "You smell like another girl."

Efnir paused for a moment, then subconsciously pinched her collar and sniffed it.

There was a faint, unfamiliar scent, but it was mostly the lingering fragrance of Yukina and the blood from the battle—a scent that would be impossible for an agent to detect if they were to deliberately look for it.

Efnir thought about it seriously for a moment, and quickly remembered that she had indeed held Anilas in the underground space.

Thinking of this, Efnir's expression immediately turned strange.

"Yukina... that's because..."

Just as Efnir was about to explain, Yukina interrupted her, "Alright, alright, Naoko, you don't need to say anything, of course I know—wow, it smells so good!"

Yukina lifted the lid of the lunchbox, and fragrant steam rose out.

She sniffed it, immediately picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, smacking her lips happily, showing no trace of her usual awkwardness, which almost made Efnir laugh in exasperation.

"So, all you do is block your sister, huh?"

"Wasn't I just worried about you?"

Efnir feigned displeasure, Yukina remained defiant.

"You're so pretty and have such a great personality, there are tons of men and women eyeing you," Yukina Yukina, picking up some greens, mixing shredded meat and rice grains together, and bringing it to Efnir's lips. "What if someone tries to steal you away if you don't keep a close eye on things?"

Yukina's voice was light and airy.

"You're my only sister."

Efnir put the chopsticks to her lips, raised her eyelids, and met a pair of watery eyes.

She always felt that... Yukina's words had a hidden meaning.

Efnir avoided eye contact with Yukina and continued, "Don't overthink it. I'm not that easily fooled."

"Who knows?" Yukina smiled gently, her fingers fidgeting as they slipped under the hem of Efnir's skirt. "I think... it's very simple!"

Efnir choked.

"I'm not a casual person, it's only because of how I feel about you..."

Efnir suddenly stopped mid-sentence and looked away.

Seeing that Efnir's expression was unnatural, Yukina relentlessly moved closer to Efnir's cheek and blew hot air into her face repeatedly.

"Hmm? Because of what? Because Naoko had inappropriate thoughts about my sister from the very beginning?"

As Yukina spoke, Efnir's face grew increasingly flushed. Yukina put down the lunchbox and pressed Efnir against the edge of the bed, bringing her lips to Efnir's neck and gently licking it.

"She even wanted to do those things with me..."

Click--

Just then, a crisp, unusual sound came from outside the door, and the door creaked open slowly— Kanade Kotone stood in the doorway, holding a tray of medicine in her hands, standing stiffly straight.

Efnir and Yukina, who was on top of her, both stiffened at the same time.

Kanade Kotone's face was already flushed red, and facing the two people in such an indecent position on the bed, she could only manage a dry smile.

"The door... the door wasn't closed properly... I... I didn't hear anything..."

114. Underwater

When Efnir arrived at the rendezvous point, Lapith and the members of the Funeral Bird were already waiting there.

"These are all the people I have here."

Lapith was followed by Trilice, Lin, Krilina, and others, while the other members of the Funeral Bird would travel with Anilas.

"Please wait a moment, we still need the assistance of the Engineering Corps."

Except for Canary and Yukina, who were still recovering from their injuries, all the members of the Main Sequence Star Squad participated in this operation. They and the Funeral Bird members packed their equipment and headed to the armored vehicle to wait.

Only Efnir and Lapith remained in the waiting area outside the car.

A gentle breeze carried the scent of grass and the thick smoke of gunpowder from the open fields into the city, while gunshots could be heard from time to time outside the temporary outpost.

In just two days, the manpower and ammunition consumed in the Maesakagawa area had reached an astronomical figure, and with the arrival of follow-up troops, this number is increasing at an alarming rate.

The good news is that there are no signs of Apostle counterattack yet, which means there will be no more fighting and death. Maesakagawa, an important satellite city that accounts for nearly a quarter of the grain production of Xijing City, has once again returned to the control of Xijing City.

"Nami, how are things on your end?"

Efnir communicated with Shinomiyami Nami and learned that Shinomiyami Nami was still integrating Engineering Corps members.

"Okay, no problem, we'll leave in five minutes."

With a sigh, Efnir hung up the call, only to find that Lapith was standing to the side, watching her with great interest.

"Efnir from Xijing City, may I ask you a question?"

"What? Please just say it."

Lapith waved her hand, "No need to be so serious, it's not related to work, just casual conversation."

"Am I being serious?" Efnir touched her face.

"Yes," Lapith smiled. "Although you're so cute that even a fierce expression doesn't seem scary, it looks like a murderous expression to me."

"... If that's the case, I'll be more careful in the future. Maybe I've been a bit too tense lately."