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Cynthia had finally had enough of the humiliation, and pushed Emilia off with all her strength, making her crash on her back on the bed in a burst of giggles.
Looking at her partner's burning red face, Emilia really couldn't contain her smile. "You're so cute, Cynthia."
The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes as she saw how her partner turned around to lay her head on her lap, as if she hadn't just been pushed away. Looking at Emilia contently breathing directly against her belly as she wrapped her hands around her slim waist, she couldn't help but shout. "Shameless!"
"Ehehe…"
Cynthia groaned. "I hate to admit it, but you've really surpassed all my expectations when it comes to being a villainess."
Emilia smiled, looking proud. "High praise from my baby… I'm happy."
The raven-haired girl couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Stop that!"
"Ehehe… okay. What about my question, though?"
The emerald-eyed girl blanked. "What?"
Emilia giggled. "I feel so peaceful and soothed here on your lap. Let me snuggle against your belly until you remember…"
Cynthia could feel her face burning in shame, and tried her best to recall Emilia's question as fast as she could. 'W-What was it? Ohhh, right, one percent of energy in terms of mortal lifespan, was it?'
Emilia looked like she was about to snooze, her eyes closed as she breathed gently against her belly as she lay on her lap, so Cynthia couldn't help gently nudge her. "D-Don't sleep! A-Anyway, about your question… it depends on the mortal's longevity. For a short-lived species that lives for around a thousand years, maybe only around half a century or so? If they normally live for around a million years, it would be extended by fifty thousand. Un, something like that."
Emilia grasped the hand that Cynthia had nudged her with, and rubbed it against her cheek as she thought about it. 'So for humans, it should be around five years for every one percent, meaning that having sex with me increased Dixie's lifespan by almost a year, right? Not bad.'
From her understanding of how the inner world worked, any followers she took in would already have been able to accompany her for a very long time, in theory. However, this method would allow her to actually boost their lifespan… as long as she had sufficient energy, that is.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was lost on a completely different tangent. "Of course, even if someone captures you and manages to drain some of your blood or stores it away, you don't have to worry so much about it. It only takes a few minutes for all the energy to flow back to your body."
Although Cynthia had a remote understanding of human mating, it was all very theoretical knowledge. The volume of sexual fluids exchanged should never exceed a few milliliters in most humans, as far as she was concerned, so it was impossible for her to think of 'sex' as the reason Emilia lost so much energy.
Besides, her partner had already admitted that she was 'injured', and while Emilia could be very naughty, she would never lie to her partner.
So it was no wonder that Cynthia believed that Emilia had been injured, which is what caused her to lose so much energy, and also led to such questions. "Don't worry. All the spilled blood, all the torn tissues… it will all try to get back to their source if possible. The only way to really make you lose energy is by moving you too far away too quickly, or by immediately consuming it. I'm guessing you were moving quite fast when you got injured, right? That's why the energy was lost?"
Emilia looked confused for a moment before she realized that Cynthia must have misunderstood. Well, she hadn't exactly clarified the matter yet, so it was her own fault. She couldn't help but bury her face in Cynthia's flat belly, feeling a little embarrassed. "Actually… the loss of energy was from Dixie drinking my blood."
Cynthia couldn't help but smack her partner's head in annoyance. "Idiot!"
When she thought about it… it really wasn't impossible. Since she could bite Emilia's lip and make her bleed, wouldn't that mortal barbarian bimbo be able to do the same?!
'That stupid bimbo actually dared to bite my villainess and drink her blood!' The mere thought infuriated Cynthia, and she smacked Emilia again, making the girl giggle into her belly. "In the future, you must definitely not allow such a thing!"
Emilia nodded. "I-I get it. Don't worry, Cynthia. I understand how precious our energy is. We only have half a percent, I definitely won't waste it."
Although her partner remained in such an embarrassing position, Cynthia felt that Emilia's words were sincere enough. "Un. Until the missions are completed, this energy is only there to heal you in emergencies. You're not allowed to waste it!"
Obviously, Emilia wouldn't be herself if she stopped teasing her partner. "Of course… Also, since it's so precious, next time I summon you, you're not allowed to make that veil, understand?"
Cynthia's face immediately burned red, though with the girl on her lap, and already holding one of her palms against her soft cheek, there was little room for her to strike. She could only smack her head again, which was just as ineffective as before, only making the girl giggle.
"Idiot! You dare molest me like this, and now even dare order me around?! Stop giggling!"
Emilia giggled again, as if determined to infuriate her partner to the maximum extent possible. "Don't get so angry, baby. I'll definitely cover you properly, and close my eyes before doing so. Promise."
Cynthia frowned as she thought about it, but Emilia really hadn't broken any of her promises, so she could only nod. "Fine, and you better stop it with that annoying nickname—"
Emilia finally turned her head up and away from Cynthia's belly as she stared at her partner with a grin. "About your punishment…"
"Eek!" Cynthia jumped, almost managing to throw Emilia off, but thankfully she had a firm grip on the girl's waist.
She couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't worry. I really liked the taste of your lips, and my baby is so adorable, I'll clear it off for now."
"Argh! Who's your baby?!"
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~ To be continued ~
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Bonus chapter for powerstones!
Thank you for all your support! :>