What was it?
She stared in confusion, then looked up at Lynn's (▼ヘ▼#) expression, steam rising from his head.
Then, puzzled, she reached out.
"..."
"..."
Sitting cluelessly on Lynn's lap, Alice lifted her head in bewilderment and looked at him like a child who had done something wrong.
"Older Brother..." she asked.
Lynn was still (((;꒪ꈊ꒪;))), his hands shaking as though he had polio. And just as he had expected, countless system notifications instantly flooded his ears.
[Ding! Your stress -10] [Ding! Your stress -10] [Ding! Congratulations! You have triggered the special milestone Achievement: Wonderful Super Experience (II). You have received a reward of 300 base experience.] [Wonderful Super Experience (II)] Special milestone Achievement: awarded when the host successfully takes his second firm, steady step toward manhood... Congratulations! You have received permanent bonuses: constitution +2, staying power +2, endurance +2.
A rapid-fire series of system notifications rattled through his ears.
Lynn: "..."
Alice still gazed up at Lynn in bewilderment. Already a little frightened by what she did not understand, she grew even more anxious at his silence and lack of a response.
Finally.
After who knew how long.
Lynn took a deep breath and looked down with an incredibly complicated gaze at the frightened Alice in his arms. Then he reached out, patted her back, and shook his head, saying tenderly:
"It's all right. Don't worry about it. Just remember not to touch it again, Alice. I'm not blaming you."
Lynn did his best to soothe Alice, who was as frightened as a startled fawn.
And finally, after a string of softly spoken reassurances from Lynn, Alice's panic slowly eased just a little.
More than getting hurt herself, she feared Older Brother ignoring her. His silent expression just now had truly frightened her.
Even so, Alice