Ughh… So I learned that most of this was basically a set up by Mother…
I had thought that some of the people around me would be upset by Mother’s actions but apparently no one was.
Even Emilia felt beholden to Mother since she had basically protected her ship and even helped her root out the traitors as well. She was already glad that Mother wasn’t asking her any favours for doing so and simply accepted it quietly.
Odeta also had no complaints since she saw the entire thing as one big adventure with me and she didn’t really care that it was a set up.
Katsuki was also fine with it since passing that test basically cemented her place as my personal maid which, for some reason, pleased her to no end.
Surprisingly, even Lisa also had no complaints about it because she already foresaw something like this in one of her visions even though it never gave her a specific timing of it happening. Thus, she was already prepared for such an event.
Mouuu… Even though I honestly did have fun on this trip, I can’t help but feel a little sulky that I was put through all of that…
But seeing how happy everyone was, including the fact that it helped me to meet with Delmare and reunite withArdi… I can’t get angry either.
But still… Still!!
Mnnnn!!!
“Ara, ara~ My little one really is the cutest~”
“Mommy bullied me…” I pouted, even as Katsuki was busy washing my hair in the bath.
“Ara, ara? Mama is sorry~ What does Mama have to do to get my little one to forgive Mommy?”
I continued to pout, averting my gaze from Mother.
“Ahahaha~ Sister Aster is so cute~ And here I was being surprised by the fact that Sister Aster was actually the young Mistress of the Nilm Family!” Ardi laughed.
Delmare’s eyes sparkled as she floated beside the Amrap in the bath, “Aster really is amazing~”
Right… Both of them didn’t know about this until just now as well.
Everyone was currently in the bathroom since Katsuki was really insistent on bathing me, which pretty much led to everyone just deciding to take a bath together.
It wasn’t even because I smelled or anything since I do clean myself regularly thanks to having Hydromancy magic, it’s just that she really missed serving me apparently.
“Mistress, please lift your arms~” Katsuki requested while trying to wash the area under my arms.
I obliged her while still ignoring Mother who was trying to get my attention from the side.
Mother came up to me and hugged me from the side, “Mmm… Mama is really sorry for doing that, but Mama did not think that my little one would be caught up in that explosion… Will my dearest little one forgive Mama?”
Ughhhh… She said it with such sincerity too…
“O… Ok…” I muttered, feeling a bit shy now.
“Ufufufu~ Mama prepared some cookies for my little one as an apology too~ Here you go~” She giggled, pulling out a cookie out of thin air.
Waaahh!! I love you Mommy!! Nom~
“Ehehe~ It’s been so long~ Watching Aster eating sweets through a screen is certainly different than watching her eating them right in front of me~”
I think I vaguely heard Lisa talking at the side but I was too engrossed in the cookie to care about what she was saying.
“I am done, Mistress~” Katsuki announced after I finished the cookie, my personal maid sporting a clearly satisfied expression on her face.
She then bowed to me before leaving the bathroom, giving us privacy.
Mother then took me by the hand and guided me to the bath, joining the other girls in the water.
The only other people missing here were Emilia and Odeta, the former because she needed to take back control over her ship and let everyone know she was back. In addition, she wanted to take her own time to torture and punish those that had betrayed her.
By the look of glee on her face, I doubt she would be going easy on them.
In Odeta’s case, she was simply brought along because Emilia needed some muscles just in case there were anymore dissidents, which the Amrap was quite unhappy about since she wanted to join in on our bath.
But when Emilia offered her some flowers that she could give me afterwards, she was more than happy to assist the Nekomata.
Submerging myself in the water with Mother behind me, the others soon converged upon me to cuddle up to my side.
I was put on Mother’s lap while Ardi and Lisa took my flanks, Delmare then swam up and laid herself down on my lap.
“So… Are you going to introduce us, Aster?” Lisa asked, nodding her head at the Siren in front of me and the Amrap on the other side.
Oh, right, after everything that had happened, I forgot… I even forgot to check Ardi’s stats this entire time.
Let’s start with Ardi’s stats first!
[Name: Ardiolyta
Title: Head Trainer, Big Sister, Captain
Race: Amrap
Gender: Female
Current Mood: Relaxed
Stats:
355 Strength𝔬𝗏𝑙xt.𝗇𝓔t
208 Dexterity
226 Endurance
38 Magic
Skills:
Hunting (Tier 3), Cooking (Tier 1), Tutor (Tier 3), Navigation (Tier 2), Sailing (Tier 1), Leadership (Tier 2), Martial Skill-(Axe Proficiency (Tier 3), Unarmed Proficiency (Tier 3), Sword Proficiency (Tier 2), Dagger Proficiency (Tier 1))
Magic Skills:
Geomancy (Tier 1)]
Ohhh~ She definitely grew stronger since I last saw her!
Although I must say that it’s surprising to know that Odeta’s strength actually surpassed Ardi’s.
I had thought for sure that Ardi was the stronger one, though I suppose her comment about only being able to be defeated by her little sisters made sense now.
Putting that aside for now, I went ahead to first introduce Ardi to everyone here, telling them of how I met her when she was attacked by that wyvern.
In return, I introduced Ardi to Mother and Lisa whom she was meeting for the first time. I also mentioned Katsuki to her as well and told the older Amrap that she was my personal maid that I rescued from her family.
I then moved on to introduce Delmare, whom I made sure to let them know was actually a Siren which surprised Ardi quite a bit.
“What?! She’s an actual Siren?!” Ardi gasped, her eyes widening comically in surprise.
I scratched my cheek sheepishly, “Umm… Yes… That’s why you might notice that I don’t let anyone else in my room when it was just the two of us… Because she would be singing to me…”
Now it was Lisa’s turn to be surprised, “Eh?! Aster was listening to a Siren’s singing?! Are you alright?!”
I tilted my head at her, “Ummm… Of course I am… Why wouldn’t I be alright?”
Lisa looked me up and down, “You aren’t still under her song’s effects, right? Are you sure you’re not being controlled?”
Ah… That’s what she was worried about huh… Umm… I suppose I should tell them?
“I… Learned a skill that allows me to be immune to the effects of her singing.”
“WHAT?!” Both Ardi and Lisa both gasped the moment they heard what I said.
“Umm… Yeah… I learned it after hearing her sing once…”
Mother patted my head, “Ufufufu~ As expected of my little one~ Mama is so proud of you!”
I felt my own cheeks flush as I got a little embarrassed from Mother’s praise.
Ardi looked at Delmare who was fidgeting while feeling a little shy from the attention she was getting from everyone.
“Are you sure she’s a Siren, sister Aster?” The older Amrap asked.
Delmare poked her fingers together, “Would you… Umm… Would you like me to sing for you?”
Eh? Isn’t that a little dangerous?
Surprisingly, Ardi let out a bark of laughter, “Wahaha! You know what?! Why not? I’ve never actually got the chance to really listen to a Siren’s singing either! So this would be a good chance too! Let’s hear it!”
Lisa also nodded, “I’m also interested in that too! Could I trouble you to sing for us?”
I blinked at them, “Are you sure? Wouldn’t that make you all attack her because of her singing?”
The Infrid giggled, “In that case, could I trouble Aster to wake me up if I were to lose myself? I only love you after all~”
I blushed again at her confession, “I… I suppose so… Are you sure about this though?”
Ardi slapped her chest, causing her chest to bounce, “Ahahaha! Of course we are! Despite the obvious effect of a Siren’s singing, I’ve heard that it’s actually really beautiful! So I must listen to one while I have the chance to do it safely!”
I looked up at Mother to see what she thought and she gave me a smile, “Isn’t that fine, my little one? Mama is here after all~”
Mmm… Alright… I believe Delmare was also hoping that she could find more people that could listen to her singing which was why she suggested it in the first place.
I turned back and nodded at Delmare, the Siren nodding back at me in turn to show that she was ready.
She pushed herself up from me to sit at the edge of the bath, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself before starting to sing.
At first, Ardi and Lisa simply sat there and listened to her song without showing much reaction, making me think that they somehow also managed to avoid being affected by it.
It was then the two of them slowly turned their heads away from Delmare and towards me with a weird look in their eyes.
I barely realised what was going on before the two lunged at me, their intentions clear as day as they started groping me.
Why me?!!