Chapter 83: Beli: Could you two keep your nighttime activities down? (Patreon)

In all these years, very little had ever made Hoshimi Miyabi uncomfortable. Today, though, something did.

For some reason, whenever she looked at Remielle and Beli sitting beside her, Hoshimi Miyabi felt like she was facing her own mother.

The two of them were about her age. So where did this sense of being watched over by elders come from?

Hoshimi Miyabi didn't know, and she didn't understand…

Still, the feeling wasn't unpleasant. Hoshimi Miyabi actually rather liked it.

"All right, you two, eat something yourselves. Hoshimi Miyabi can't finish this much…"

Musachi looked at the mountain of food piled on Hoshimi Miyabi's plate and said, a little helplessly,

What are you two doing, raising a hamster here?

"What comes next is… the training of clearing every last bite from the plate."

Hoshimi Miyabi glanced at Musachi, then said it with a perfectly serious face.

"Pfft… all these years later, and your family tradition hasn't changed a bit, huh?"

Beside her, Remielle couldn't help giggling at Hoshimi Miyabi's words.

It couldn't be helped. That sort of thing really did run in the family.

"Hm?"

Hoshimi Miyabi's ears twitched. She looked at Remielle in confusion, not understanding what she meant.

"It's nothing."

Remielle shook her head.

She only thought it quietly to herself.

The people of the Hoshimi Family really did seem to be stamped from the same mold.

Especially this Hoshimi Miyabi. Not only was her temperament a lot like that person's, her strength was outrageous too.

Remielle had seen Hoshimi Miyabi's record. Even back in the old days, a record like that would have been outrageous.

All she could say was that talent really was unreasonable sometimes.

Noted: the Hoshimi Family's little shorties are all formidable!

Musachi saw this and rolled his eyes, then turned to the three little ones beside him. "So, how is it? Tasty?"

"Delicious! Sister Beli's cooking is amazing! So good! They're all simple dishes, but they turn out this tasty! Mmph!"

Sunna nodded and praised her happily.

Beli, sitting nearby, couldn't help smiling.

"As expected of our resident cook. Seriously impressive!"

Musachi gave her a thumbs-up.

"Mm… how nice. I wish I had a sense of taste too."

Aria sat with her charging plug in, gazing at everyone with a touch of envy.

Compared with the others, an Intelligent Construct like Aria could only plug in for show, a ceremonial meal.

"I remember Intelligent Constructs can eat too, right? Qingyi can."

Musachi suddenly thought of Qingyi, who was no different from an ordinary person.

He had seen Qingyi drink tea, after all.

"It's not the same. The technology Miss Qingyi uses is really complicated, and the two of us were built for different purposes."

Aria shook her head as she explained.

"Mm… too bad. If that girl were still around, she could help you. Let's leave it for later."

Remielle looked at Aria with a smile.

"Who?"

Musachi's curiosity was piqued.

"Sunbringer, of course! With her ability, she could absolutely remodel Aria to be just like a normal person. She once built a machine indistinguishable from a real human, you know. It's just that even now nobody has been able to learn that technology, and she never had any intention of teaching anyone."

Remielle said it with a bright smile.

With the others present, Remielle didn't reveal what Sunbringer's ability really was. For the three little ones, knowing too much would do more harm than good.

"Y-you mean Miss Sunbringer, the first Void Hunter of the Marcel Group? Mmm… would someone that important really care about an ordinary robot like me?"

Aria brightened for a moment, but her eyes soon dimmed.

"Hehe, don't worry. She looks cool and aloof, but really she's just socially anxious and afraid to talk."

"How do you know that?"

Hoshimi Miyabi had been listening to their conversation. She paused her training and looked at Remielle with curiosity.

"Uh… I'm guessing. Aren't a lot of people like that? They say 'cool and aloof,' but really they just have social anxiety around people they're not familiar with. Around people they know well, they loosen right up. Beneath that cool exterior hides a secretly lewd heart, you know~ Sunbringer is no exception!"

Remielle propped her chin on her hand and said it with a smile.

"Let's skip this topic. Badmouthing a Void Hunter is… not really okay."

Aria said, a little guiltily.

Musachi, meanwhile, had grown curious about Sunbringer's ability.

If her ability or technology could help Aria, could Aria go from a robot with "love" in her name to a real… xx robot?

To put it grandly, that would be…

As he thought this, Musachi found himself staring at Aria beside him.

Her projection was still active. Her pink hair wasn't tied into its usual four-strand braid. Instead it had become two silky pink twin tails drifting lightly behind her.

Those eyes, as if sparkling with starlight, paired with her delicate, cute, spirited little face, made her look especially alluring.

Hmm…

Come to think of it, in appearance Aria was actually the most mature of the three little ones, wasn't she?

If Sunbringer really did remodel her, it wouldn't be out of the question…

No. Stop. He couldn't think any further.

Musachi shook his head, flinging the strange thoughts out of it.

Keep thinking like that and he'd turn into Shock Boy…

"Speaking of which, does electricity actually have a taste?"

Something occurred to Musachi, and he asked out of curiosity.

He had heard Little 78 complaining these past two days that the voltage had been fluctuating at night, and the taste had gotten worse along with it…

"Taste?"

Aria blinked, then explained with a smile.

"It's less a taste and more a feeling. Like 220 volts is like normal food, not too soft and not too hard, suitable for most people. But 110 volts or lower feels kind of bland and tasteless, and it feels like it drains away really fast after you charge."

"What about voltage above 220?"

Musachi's curiosity grew.

"It feels more stimulating, like biting into a chili pepper. Of course, that's all just how it feels. The actual energy doesn't increase or decrease because of it. And high voltage isn't something ordinary people can withstand. I've had modifications done, so I can handle higher voltages, but the safe voltage for a regular Bangboo is still around 220 volts."

"There's a whole science to it…"

Listening to Aria, Musachi felt like he'd learned something new.

While they chatted, Hoshimi Miyabi finally finished her training and cleared every scrap of food off her plate.

Once she was done, she didn't say a word. She picked up the melon beside her and headed for the kitchen.

"What are you doing?"

Musachi watched curiously as she walked toward the kitchen.

"Cutting the melon."

She said it flatly.

A moment later, in barely the time it took to grab a plate, Hoshimi Miyabi came back out carrying a plate of melon slices and set it in front of everyone.

"Eat."

Hoshimi Miyabi said softly, then looked at the people around the table.

"Is this for us?"

Sunna stared at the scene in astonishment.

"There's nobody else here."

Hoshimi Miyabi's face was as expressionless as ever.

"Food tastes better when it's shared."

As she spoke, she picked up a slice of melon herself and nibbled at it in small bites, just like a hamster.

Musachi couldn't help smiling at the sight.

Hoshimi Miyabi seemed much less robotic today.

Was it because of the atmosphere here?

In truth, Hoshimi Miyabi didn't know either.

Normally she only relaxed in front of her father and mother. But as time passed, she found she could start to relax around Musachi too. And for some reason, with Remielle and Beli it felt like meeting old friends, and she felt unusually at ease around them.

"By the way, tomorrow I have a clearing mission in Hollow Zero and I need your help. It starts at ten in the morning."

Dinner was over and it wasn't very late yet. Hoshimi Miyabi stood at the shop door looking at Musachi. She was about to wave goodbye when she suddenly remembered something and said it flatly.

"Got it. I'll be at Scott Outpost on time."

Musachi nodded with a smile.

"Bye-bye, Shopkeeper! We're heading home too~"

Not long after Hoshimi Miyabi left, Nangong and the others waved to Musachi with beaming smiles.

"Mm, be careful on the way."

"Don't worry, I'll protect them~"

Aria said cheerfully from the side.

Compared with the other two little ones, Aria's combat strength was nothing to sneeze at, and ordinary people couldn't handle her.

Back when the three little ones took commissions in the Hollow, Aria was the one who played the main attacker.

With a thunder powerhouse like her up front, they could basically strut through the Hollow as long as they didn't run into a Notorious Ethereal.

Musachi closed the shop much earlier than usual today. With the three little ones helping, Ellen had been openly slacking off as well.

By now she'd probably already parted from her good friends and gone home, right?

He locked up the shop and went upstairs, where Remielle and Beli sat on the sofa, Remielle hugging Beli's arm. Musachi raised an eyebrow.

"Beli isn't planning to go back?"

Musachi asked curiously.

It was already late and she showed no sign of leaving.

"Mm, sorry for the intrusion."

Beli nodded, a little embarrassed.

Staying at someone else's home still made her feel awkward.

"Hehe, no need to apologize, Beli. You can just share a room with me, and you don't need his permission. All right, all right, I'll get you pajamas. Go wash up first."

Remielle smiled at Beli and handed her the pajamas and toiletries from the bedroom.

"Mm."

Beli nodded lightly and headed for the bathroom.

"You've gotten pretty bold, haven't you? Have you stopped even considering me, the head of this household?"

Once Beli had shut the door, Musachi pulled Remielle into his arms and spoke with a grin.

"Hehe, as the lady of this house, there's nothing wrong with letting someone stay a night, is there? And… aren't you pretty happy about it yourself? My Beli is a big, big, big beauty, you know~"

Remielle smirked wickedly and glanced at Musachi.

Musachi rolled his eyes.

"What are you talking about? I'm a gentleman!"

He said it with righteous conviction, his face full of justice.

"Mm-hm, I believe you. But…"

Remielle quietly leaned her lips to Musachi's ear and whispered,

"Beli is actually much bigger than she looks, you know~ She's just always been in the habit of wearing a chest wrap. Unlike me."

As she spoke, she pulled open her collar, revealing the black lace-trimmed underwear beneath.

"Tsk…"

Hearing Remielle's provocative words, Musachi's mind instantly painted a picture, and he sucked in a breath.

If it looked that impressive even with a wrap on, what about when it came off?

"Tempted?"

Her eyes shimmered as she leaned into Musachi's arms and asked with a smile.

"No. I told you, I'm a decent man."

Musachi said solemnly.

"Pfft, liar~ Like I don't know you."

Remielle rolled her eyes, then looked at Musachi with a smile and said,

"During the two days I was gone… somebody came over, didn't they? Let me guess… Cecilia?"

At those words, a cold sweat broke out down Musachi's back.

He was too guilty to say anything, and from his reaction, Remielle understood at once.

"Hehe, looks like I guessed right~"

"Aren't you… angry?"

Musachi looked at Remielle warily.

"Angry? Well… it'd be a lie to say I'm not jealous at all. Even a generous beauty like me has a possessive streak. But because of how wavering my heart was before, and for some other reasons too, it's not as if I can't accept this."

Remielle looked at Musachi, her expression complicated.

"If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be wandering New Eridu alone. I thought there was no place for me in this era, but now it doesn't seem so bad. In this world, I only have you and Beli."

Hearing her words, Musachi fell silent, not knowing what to say.

The slightly heavy mood didn't last long, though. Soon Remielle was back to her playful self.

"By the way… guess how I knew Cecilia had been here?"

Remielle asked with a grin.

"From the sheets?"

Musachi was curious.

That day he really hadn't expected Remielle to come back so suddenly, and it had left plenty of loose ends.

"Nope. The sheets were only part of it, and I wasn't sure. The answer was right there in the riddle."

Remielle rolled her eyes, then pointed at the trash can in her room.

In an instant, Musachi understood.

Damn it, how had he forgotten that?

He'd washed the sheets, the duvet cover, everything, but he'd forgotten to throw out the trash…

Which meant the trash can that day still held the little umbrellas that he and Cecilia had used…

Thinking of this, Musachi scratched his head.

A hundred precautions, one oversight…

"I'm done."

A moment later Beli came out of the bathroom. Musachi turned on the TV and picked up a controller.

"Hehe, I'll go wash up too."

Remielle winked at Musachi, then hurriedly grabbed her pajamas and ran to the bathroom.

She was afraid Beli would notice something off.

Musachi, unruffled, wiped his damp fingers, then sank a three-pointer, tossing the wad of tissue into the trash can.

There was only one sofa by the TV. After hesitating for a moment, Beli sat down next to Musachi, though she kept some distance between them.

Then, drying her hair, she watched him play.

Yeah, he was terrible.

Honestly, Musachi wasn't normally this bad, but with someone beside him constantly distracting him, there was nothing he could do.

Fresh from the shower, Beli gave off a faint fragrance. It was light but pleasant, gentle and refined, just like the woman herself.

And now that she'd changed out of her clothes, her real figure had finally shown itself.

She was only a hair's breadth behind Remielle in size!

He could only say that people in New Eridu were just too well fed. Or maybe, as Agents, they had to work in the Hollow, so long-term training plus all kinds of nutrition left them all in pretty good shape…

The Agents around Musachi proved that point too.

Come to think of it, was Rina (Alexandrina Sebastiane) the biggest because she could magnetically levitate and didn't have to exercise much?

Musachi muttered to himself as he swept a glance at Beli from the corner of his eye while she wasn't looking.

"Sorry, my room isn't set up yet, so I can only crash at your place."

While Musachi was playing his game, Beli suddenly spoke.

"Ah, oh, no problem! Since you're Remielle's dear friend, you're my dear friend too, so stay as long as you like! Even if you want to stay forever, it's fine!"

Musachi thumped his chest and said it earnestly.

Beli chuckled and nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll leave once I'm settled. I don't want to intrude on your and Remi's life here."

Before long, Remielle came out of her shower. She threw her arms around Beli, then glared warily at Musachi.

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"Am I that kind of person?"

Musachi pointed at himself, the picture of innocence.

"Yes."

Remielle nodded without a second's thought.

"Enough, Remi. Musachi has been very polite."

Beli said with a soft laugh.

"Well, look at you, Beli. You've known him for how many days and you're already taking his side? I'm jealous!"

With that, Remielle stuck her tongue out at Musachi, then pulled Beli into the bedroom and locked the door.

They hadn't seen each other in so long that they had plenty to talk about.

Musachi didn't say anything. He just turned off the TV, took a shower, and went back to his room.

It was still early and he had no pajamas to change into, so he lay on the bed scrolling his phone and browsing Inter-Knot to see if there was anything fun.

As it turned out, there was.

[Damn Rampage Gang, you just wait! You dared break your daddy's hand, don't let me see you next time!]

Hollow Raiders often clashed with one another, and quite a few of them started flame wars on Inter-Knot. Clearly, the original poster of this thread was one of those.

As soon as the thread went up, the comments below heated up.

[I've prepared two sets of excuses!]

[Even a two-faced one?]

[Holy shit, how embarrassing for the Armory. How do you get a broken bone from the Rampage Gang?]

[LMAO, is that all the Armory's got?]

[So how did it break? With the history between those two, a clash should've ended in more than a broken bone.]

[Barrett: It's nothing, I just hit those idiots too hard and accidentally sprained my wrist. A couple days' rest and I'm fine.]

[???]

[???]

[Wait, bro, you broke your hand punching people. What must the other guys look like?]

[I give up. I came to watch a flame war and got a flex instead!]

[Barrett: @Rampage Gang, don't let your daddy see you in Hollow Zero, you little dick. If I see you again I'll rip your hood off!]

[Damn, so arrogant, I love it!]

[Wow, Big Brother Barrett is so cool!]

[Barrett: Sis, add me.]

[Can't a sis who brings her little brother along?]

[Get lost! Say something disgusting again and I'll twist your head off!]

Looking at the replies under the thread, Musachi couldn't hold back his laughter.

These Hollow Raiders really were a colorful bunch…

Still, the conflict between the Armory and the Rampage Gang was getting more and more intense. Any day now, those two might stage something big in the Hollow.

Compared with the overbearing Rampage Gang, Musachi naturally leaned toward the Armory. After all, he could tell those guys weren't bad at heart. The other side, who could say?

As time passed, the chattering from next door gradually quieted.

Musachi checked the time. Mm, Remielle should be coming over soon, right?

Sure enough, after another half hour of waiting, Remielle quietly opened the bedroom door and slipped inside.

She had barely stepped into Musachi's room when the impatient Musachi pulled her straight onto the bed.

Remielle let out a small gasp, then whispered,

"Quiet! Beli just fell asleep next door!"

She kept her voice low, like a thief.

"Then it's up to you, Remielle. You don't want Beli hearing the two of us, do you?"

As he spoke, Musachi looked at Remielle in front of him and pressed down on top of her.

He'd been bottling up a stomachful of fire all evening and hadn't let it out yet.

Now that a little lamb had finally been delivered to his mouth, how could he not devour her whole?

…

An hour later, Musachi sat comfortably on the edge of the bed, looking at Remielle, who lay covering her mouth and panting. He felt the urge for a cigarette.

Though he didn't smoke, a cigarette would have been fitting right about now…

But while Musachi felt satisfied, Remielle was far from it. She wrapped her arms around him from behind and murmured softly in his ear,

"Finished already? My darling, the night is still long. Today has only just begun~"

…

On the other side of the wall, Beli buried her head under the blanket.

She couldn't sleep. She couldn't sleep at all!

Damn it, could people please let her sleep in the middle of the night!