Chapter 370: Tricked You, We've Already Done It
The luxurious cruise ship hosting Vatler's party was docked at the pier in the newly rebuilt harbor area.
Even from afar, the opulence of the cruise ship was unmistakable, shining like the morning star among the many vessels.
Yukina recognized it instantly with just a glance.
The party was scheduled to start at ten o'clock in the evening.
Even now, a large number of invited guests could be seen, dressed in splendid formal attire, walking up the gangway into the ship in pairs, appearing elegant and composed.
It was clear they were a group of distinguished individuals with special status.
At this moment, Mahiro and Yukina had also arrived at the pier as promised, preparing to board the ship along with the crowd.
Dressed in a black suit and with his handsome features, he stood out prominently among the many guests.
However, compared to his usual elegance and ease, tonight's slightly open-collar style made him look more like a suit-wearing ruffian.
Yet, even more stunning was Yukina.
She wore a blue-toned evening gown with a conservative cut at the chest.
In contrast, the tailoring from shoulders to back was quite daring.
The lightweight fabric perfectly outlined the contours of the girl's figure, while beneath the gorgeous ruffled miniskirt, her snow-white, slender legs were revealed.
It was enchanting and breathtaking.
Her originally youthful and vibrant aura gained a touch of delicate charm, even a hint of subtle allure, thanks to this gown.
At the very least, compared to the mature wealthy ladies and many invited celebrities, she was no less impressive.
In fact, she was even more radiant than them.
The only regret was that Yukina still carried Snowdrift Wolf, which she never parted from in daily life.
However, it wasn't the usual black instrument case she carried on her back, but a handheld hard-shell instrument case.
This slightly disrupted the aesthetic harmony of Yukina's appearance.
Mahiro wasn't particularly bothered by this, as his gaze had been fixed on Yukina's chest from the start.
"Is it really that big?"
He was quite puzzled.
The suit he wore now and Yukina's evening gown had actually been mailed over by the Lion King Organization in the evening.
It seemed they were specially prepared for this banquet.
Not only did they fit Mahiro's measurements perfectly, but they even included Yukina's size specifications.
He still clearly remembered the measurements listed.
Height: 156 cm, B76-W55-H78-C60
"It's actually a C cup... unexpectedly well-endowed... But is it really that big?"
From Yukina's appearance, it was completely unnoticeable; it felt like she should be about the same as Nagisa Akatsuki.
Unbeknownst to him, all his murmurs clearly reached Yukina's ears.
Instantly, the girl flushed red, glaring at him with embarrassment and anger, then reminded him with a coy reproach:
"Yotsuba-senpai! It's our turn to board the ship now!"
"Huh? Yeah."
Mahiro nonchalantly withdrew his gaze, pretending nothing had happened, and extended his arm for the girl to hold.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, they boarded the luxurious cruise ship named "Oceanus Grave II" like a pair of intimate lovers.
Throughout the entire process, Yukina's face remained flushed red.
She didn't understand.
Why did the Lion King Organization have to mail those things directly to my senior? Couldn't they have sent them to me instead?
Otherwise, he wouldn't have seen such embarrassing things!
Even the style of the underwear that came along with the evening gown was clearly seen by this perverted senior!
On the ship.
The lights were dazzlingly bright, the cuisine lavish and abundant, and the hall used as the venue was so spacious it almost felt like an illusion—as if they weren't on a ship at all.
Over a hundred invited guests, all prominent figures, gathered together, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.
But Mahiro, one of the guests, stood out as rather unconventional.
After boarding the ship, Yukina had shaken off her earlier shyness. Even without any experience attending such banquets, the earnest girl didn't falter.
Instead, she tightly clung to Mahiro's arm, staying close by his side.
And she watched as Yotsuba-senpai, dressed in splendid attire, rejected all social interactions, showing no interest in conversing with others. Instead, he acted like a glutton, devouring the buffet dishes with gusto.
To him, these foods held far more appeal than getting to know these boring people.
However, there were also quite a few tactless individuals who, captivated by Yukina's beauty, tried to approach and strike up a conversation.
Yet halfway there, those who attempted to get close mysteriously vanished, without him even needing to lift a finger.
"Oops, I slipped."
Just as Mahiro was reaching out for a whole lobster, a figure suddenly stumbled toward him.
Immediately, she squeezed between him and Yukina, forcing the two of them apart.
The young woman before him stood nearly 170 centimeters tall.
From the youthful innocence of her pretty face, it was clear she was just a teenager in her teens. Her chestnut-colored long hair and fair skin, along with her captivatingly graceful features, drew attention.
Her slender, well-proportioned figure perfectly complemented the fitted evening gown she wore.
Normally, a beautiful girl like this would have caught Mahiro's eye, but at this moment, he remained completely calm.
"My apologies, I accidentally slipped."
The long-haired girl immediately apologized, but her attitude was quite perfunctory, lacking any genuine remorse. Instead, there was a faint hint of hostility directed at Mahiro.
Mahiro couldn't help but sigh softly in resignation.
"Tell me, is playing these childish games really that fun?"
"Hmph, as long as it works. I absolutely won't let your lecherous hands touch Yukina!"
At this moment, the girl's demeanor seemed to say, "If you dare touch Yukina again, I'll take you down with me."
However, her rather hostile words snapped Yukina back to reality. She looked up at the other girl and let out a surprised exclamation.
"Sayaka!"
Yukina was taken aback by Sayaka's sudden appearance—not the kind of surprise from a long-awaited reunion, since they had already met earlier at noon.
But she hadn't expected to encounter her again at such a formal banquet!
And in this manner, no less…
Yukina seemed to realize something and immediately glanced cautiously at Mahiro.
Seeing that he seemed completely unconcerned, Yukina finally relaxed slightly. She really wanted to say, "Seriously, Sayaka, you're too bold!" But Sayaka hadn't noticed any of this, instead shifting her attitude in an instant.
From brimming with hostility to a dazzling smile spreading across her lovely face, the murderous aura emanating from her whole body transformed into a gentle, affectionate presence, like cold winter turning into warm spring.
"Yukina, Yukina, my Yukina! So wonderful, I finally see you again! I wanted to chat properly with you midday, but that awful guy delayed our reunion! By the way, Yukina, have you been well lately?"
Holding Yukina tightly in her embrace, she looked like sisters reunited after a long separation, her eyes narrowed like a dog receiving its owner's affection. She was simply overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
"Um... um, I've been fine..."
Faced with Sayaka's enthusiasm, Yukina seemed somewhat overwhelmed. Although she was very happy about the reunion, the feeling of awkwardness was even stronger. Because, back in Takagami Forest, she hadn't been very adept at handling this close friend's fervor.
And Sayaka completely disregarded Yukina's reaction, affectionately pressing her cheek against Yukina's hair:
"Yukina, listen to me, those Elders are really too much! They actually pushed the task of monitoring such a perverted lecher onto you while I wasn't there—you poor thing! How could the Lion King Agency's executive department treat my Yukina so harshly!"
"Um, Sa... Sayaka, please don't do this." Yukina seemed unable to handle it.
"It's fine, Yukina, it's all okay now. If that pervert dares to touch even a single finger of yours, I'll eliminate him immediately."
This girl seemed to have entered some strange state, completely disregarding who might be around, freely expressing her affection and longing. Even her words grew increasingly excessive.
Mahiro, who had originally wanted to watch this reunion drama, also couldn't bear it anymore. With a cold expression, he grabbed Yukina's wrist and pulled her to his side.
"What are you doing with someone else's companion without permission?"
Yukina, finally freed from Sayaka's embrace, seemed to relax, but hearing his words, her whole body tensed up again.
"It's you again! You obstructed my reunion with Yukina midday, and now you're trying to interfere again! Don't touch Yukina with your vulgar hands, you perverted lecher!"
Sayaka, noticing the person in her arms had vanished, glared fiercely at Mahiro.
"If we're talking about perverts, your behavior fits that description better, don't you think, Kirasaka Sayaka?"
Mahiro smiled, then added with a pitying tone, "Besides, Yukina is already pregnant with my child, so why shouldn't I touch her?"
"What?! Yotsuba-senpai, what, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
Yukina was terrified by his words. When had she become pregnant with Yotsuba-senpai's child? Why didn't she know about it?
And Sayaka, who had originally looked fierce, was even more frightened by his statement, her face turning pale.
"You... you... dare to defile the pure Yukina, I... I'll kill... kill you."
Sayaka, who had somewhat lost her senses, was ready to act, but the next moment she was stopped by Yukina.
"Yukina... why? Why are you helping him?"
"Sayaka, calm down, I'm not pregnant, everything was just Yotsuba-senpai tricking you!" Yukina said frantically.
"R-really?"
Upon hearing her explanation, Sayaka's mindset recovered a bit, but before it could stabilize, Mahiro smiled slightly and interjected:
"Of course it's fake, Yukina-san is deceiving you? After all, we've already done this and that together."
With this statement, Sayaka, who had barely regained her composure, collapsed once again.
"D-done?! You... you two!"
She retreated two steps, clutching her chest, her widened eyes filled with disbelief.
"That's not true! Yotsuba-senpai, please be serious!"
Yukina desperately tried to argue.
But Mahiro shrugged and casually retorted:
"Where am I not serious? Don't you remember what happened that day in the men's restroom, when we were squeezed together in a stall?"
"!!!"
Upon hearing this, Yukina's body instantly stiffened, her originally fair face instantly turning crimson, as if blood could drip from it.
At this moment, she truly had no way to argue.
She was even more ashamed, feeling utterly mortified!
That day, to avoid others, she indeed behaved too intimately with Mahiro, and... and even hugged him.
But it didn't reach the level of pregnancy and childbirth!
However, her reaction didn't appear that way to others.
Many guests had already heard the arguing here and gathered with an attitude of watching the spectacle.
Then they heard the shocking words spoken by Mahiro.
Everyone present felt astonished, their eyes constantly shifting between Yukina and Mahiro.
Is this really something you can hear without paying?
Will they be silenced afterward?
Many people present knew Mahiro; rather, at their level, it would be strange not to know Mahiro.
They also clearly understood how terrifying Mahiro truly was.
Thus, many had already started to reconsider, regretting boarding this cruise ship.
"M-men's restroom...?"
Sayaka blinked, turned to see Yukina unable to refute, and immediately collapsed.
"Wah, you must be lying to me, right? My pure Yukina, how could... how could possibly conceive a child with such a scumbag pervert like you! It's all fake, everything is fake! I don't believe it! Wuwuwu, I don't believe it!"
Well, she cried.
And cried quite miserably, tears falling like they were free.
"Stupid senpai, look at what you've done, you've made Sayaka cry."
Yukina glanced reproachfully at Mahiro, then like a sister, embraced the crying Sayaka in her arms, gently patting her back.
"Don't cry, don't cry, it was just a trick."
Despite being younger and physically smaller than Sayaka, Yukina's demeanor resembled that of Sayaka's elder sister.
"R-really?"
After being comforted for a while, Sayaka finally stopped crying, but still looked up at Yukina with teary eyes, like an abandoned puppy, pitifully hoping for a positive response from Yukina.
"..."
Yukina looked at Sayaka and nodded with a hint of guilt.
Even she herself didn't know where this sense of guilt came from.
What she didn't expect even more was that Mahiro would choose this moment to interject again.
"I was lying. Actually, I won over your Yukina on the very first day she came to Itogami Island to monitor me."
As he spoke, Mahiro's lips curled into a malicious smile.
"Yotsuba-senpai, please stop talking, okay?"
Yukina's tone carried a note of pleading.
She didn't understand why Yotsuba-senpai, who usually almost never conflicted with others, harbored such malice toward Sayaka.
Even when she herself had offended him before, it was just a fight and then no further conflicts occurred.
But when it came to Sayaka, it seemed to be a different story.
"I-it's okay, Yukina. I won't believe a word from this pervert."
Sayaka sniffled, still not forgetting to glare fiercely at Mahiro.
"Really? What a shame then."
Mahiro said it was a shame, but the malicious smile on his face remained unchanged.
The reason for targeting Kirasaka Sayaka was simple—he simply found this girl very amusing.
Due to her childhood experiences, Kirasaka Sayaka suffered from severe mysophobia and androphobia, which had even extended into pseudo-lesbian tendencies.
Although it had lessened considerably now, when facing such a person, Mahiro couldn't help but feel a strong interest.
Not to mention that Sayaka had repeatedly spoken disrespectfully to him.
If circumstances allowed, he would even like to give Kirasaka Sayaka a big hug.
For someone with androphobia like her, such a hug would surely be quite stimulating, wouldn't it?
Seeing Mahiro and Kirasaka Sayaka so hostile toward each other, Yukina couldn't help but cover her eyes, shaking her head helplessly as she changed the subject:
"By the way, Sayaka, why are you on the Duke of Ardeal's cruise ship? You used to be in the Foreign Affairs Division, responsible for multinational magical crimes, right?"
Not only to change the subject, Yukina herself was also very curious about why Sayaka would appear here.
Logically speaking, her daytime role as a messenger was already an exception.
For a banquet like this, Sayaka shouldn't have appeared, especially considering how carefully she seemed to have dressed up.
Not only had she applied light makeup, but she was also wearing a beautiful evening gown, just like Yukina.
"I'm on a mission right now."
The comforted Sayaka replied softly and gently, a complete contrast to her previous hostile attitude.
"Mission?" Yukina asked in surprise.
"Same as you, Yukina. I took on the job of monitoring a Vampire—keeping watch over the Duke of Ardeal. Ensuring the citizens of Itogami City aren't exposed to danger—that's my mission."
After hearing Sayaka's casual explanation, Yukina finally understood the situation.
Just as Yukina had come to Itogami Island to monitor Mahiro, Sayaka had also been assigned to monitor Vatler and boarded this ship.
So that if Vatler caused harm, she could eliminate him.
"Then I'm curious. Since you're supposed to be monitoring that snake charmer, why did you launch that prank-like attack on me during the day instead of properly carrying out your surveillance mission? Do you think the world isn't chaotic enough and needs me to stir things up?
Or perhaps you wanted to use my hand to eliminate Vatler?
Or maybe you intended to use me to kill the First Progenitor behind Vatler, the Lost Warlord?"
As he spoke, Mahiro had already crouched in front of Sayaka, calmly and playfully bringing up the past.
However, his words made everyone present gasp in shock. Many had already begun to distance themselves, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
Even Yukina was filled with astonishment.
She looked at Sayaka and Mahiro in disbelief.
She had always thought the conflict between Sayaka and Yotsuba-senpai during the day was due to some misunderstanding. She had even wanted to apologize to Yotsuba-senpai on Sayaka's behalf.
But it turned out that it was actually Sayaka's deliberate action!
Suddenly burdened with such a heavy accusation, Sayaka paled, her lips trembling as she struggled to explain.
Yet she still stubbornly retorted:
"Hmph, isn't a perverted scumbag like you someone everyone wants to eliminate?"
"Sayaka!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yukina interrupted her friend, then adopted a slightly stern expression to admonish her:
"Sayaka, don't cause trouble for others like this. Who would be responsible if it led to a major disaster?"
Sayaka, knowing she was in the wrong, replied softly and weakly:
"It's just that he looked so smug... I only meant to tease him a little... Who knew he'd take it so seriously and blow it out of proportion... I'm sorry, Yukina, don't be angry. I know I was wrong..."
As she spoke, Sayaka lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.
But this reaction left Mahiro feeling somewhat bored.
He had thought the girl would stubbornly insist on her stance to the end.
She gave in a bit too quickly...
However, just then, another voice chimed in.
"This won't do, Miss Kouyama. I may cooperate with your work, but that doesn't mean I'll allow you to offend my guest."