The soft white light faded within the secret base deep beneath the manor, and Ikaros, Wanda, and A2 appeared out of thin air.
The shift through space brought a brief moment of disorientation, quickly replaced by the relief of returning to an absolutely safe place.
Seeing Wanda and the other two return safely, Loren's face broke into a gentle, caring smile.
"My beautiful wives, welcome back!" Loren said as he rose and walked toward the three of them.
"I never expected those two old bastards, Mephisto and Zarathos, to interfere and put you in danger!"
Loren stroked the three women's hair, his voice steady and filled with concern.
Hearing Loren's words, the three women were deeply moved.
Wanda leaned against Loren's solid arm, feeling the reassuring support of his presence. Her taut nerves finally relaxed completely.
"Master, please don't say that. This was what we were supposed to do. We don't think it was hard at all!"
"Yes, Master. It is our honor to share your burdens!"
"By the way, we were only able to return safely this time thanks to Master sending little sister Ikaros to help us. It was all thanks to Ikaros that those two old ghosts were scared off!"
"That's right! Master, Ikaros was a huge help this time. Otherwise, with just the two of us, we really wouldn't have been a match for those two old ghosts, Mephisto and Zarathos."
Hearing A2 and Wanda claim credit for her in front of Loren, the already shy Ikaros immediately blushed and waved her hands repeatedly.
"Sister A2, Sister Wanda, please don't say that. Those two old men didn't retreat because of me alone. They were wary of the strength we would have if the three of us joined forces.
If it had been just me alone, I