Alice could probably guess why Klein was so distracted.
But she was powerless to remedy the situation, so she could only let herself slump down, suppressing her weak breaths, and whispered,
"If there's nothing else, you'd better stay away from me now. Hmm... five meters isn't enough, at least ten meters. Keep at least ten meters away from me, but don't leave my sight."
"...Aren't you going to take some potions or something to recover?" Klein couldn't bear to see her forcing herself to stay awake and couldn't help but ask.
"Potions... there's no need to waste them. I'll be fine after a rest. Oh, wait, did you hear what I said? Stay away from me if you're not okay."
"The safe distance has increased from five meters to ten meters... has the range of your charm ability expanded? Then I think it should be fine. But you, you don't look like you're alright..." Perhaps relying on the Gray Mist World and the Mind's Breath Earring that clears mental influence, Klein appeared unhurried and asked out of humanitarian concern.
Alice looked up, staring at him with a strange look in her eyes for a long while before finally letting out a sigh before the concerned expression on his face collapsed.
"Idiot...do you smell a strange fragrance?"
Uh...he tugged at his collar somewhat embarrassedly, suppressing his shame as he asked, "Is it...body scent?"
"Strictly speaking, no, what you smelled was the residual scent of my dissipated magic..." Alice shifted her gaze expressionlessly, looking in a direction leading to an unknown void, and whispered, "But its effect might be more...more intense than that uncontrollable charm...it's too early for you to experience such a strong stimulation, and smelling it for too long might..."
" Might?" His throat bobbed, and he unconsciously pressed on, his eyes unable to leave that beautiful face that rarely showed any vulnerability.
"Hmm..." She seemed to struggle for a moment about how to phrase it, but ultimately chose the more straightforward approach.
"It will generate cravings and desires. For me."
—Huh? Klein's expression froze, only managing to squeeze out a meaningless murmur before Alice's words echoed in his mind.
For her…
"I personally don't care, I'm just afraid you'll say you feel strange later, and then cry and beg me to help you get rid of it…" Seemingly regaining some composure, Alice smiled wickedly, using her unconvincing and poorly worded remarks to assault Klein's already fragile mental defenses.
As a result, she almost effortlessly enjoyed watching him blush and retreat in a pathetic manner.
What kind of erotic magic is this?! I've never heard of a magician with this kind of setting! She… Alice, is she actually not human, but a demon with a human appearance… like a succubus?
No, she doesn't have horns on her head, nor wings or a tail behind her, it shouldn't be like this.
Wait, if she has a way to conceal her racial characteristics, then not seeing her horns and tail seems reasonable, and having an alluring aura is even more reasonable…
Klein's mind was in turmoil. He fled to a distance where he couldn't smell the strange fragrance anymore, and clutched his pounding heart, letting his mind wander to all sorts of random thoughts, even concocting a few rather unhealthy little conspiracy theories.
Of course, the theme of these little dramas was basically that Alice played the despicable mastermind, while he, fast asleep, played the pitiful victim…
What could he do? After all, the public's impression of succubi is that they do bad things while people are asleep!
Klein encouraged himself.
But after ten minutes, Alice regained her usual demeanor, walking calmly to his side as he paced back and forth. She wasn't sweaty, and the alluring fragrance was no longer around her.
She had even changed back into a light, everyday dress and boots, and the strange staff with golden runes around it was nowhere to be seen. Seeing this, Klein mustered his courage and tentatively asked a question, earning a surprised glance from her.
"Me? What do you think makes me look less than human?"
...Not really.
He was too embarrassed to say it directly, so he could only remain silent and stick to his position.
"It's because of the characteristics of my residual magical aura..." Alice seemed speechless, paused for a moment, and then said irritably, "Then why didn't you suspect that I was a non-human race before? Have you ever seen anyone more beautiful than me? Have you ever seen anyone who can use spells similar to mine, who can bring people into the Mirror World? No, right?" I
've also never seen anyone more vain than you... Klein thought to himself, but he couldn't refute her statement.
Indeed, if I were a non-transmigrator who knew nothing about the D&D worldview, it would indeed be difficult for me to associate those fantastical races that were detached from ordinary human lives... Unfortunately, I can't tell you the real reasoning process...
Since Alice had already given a clear answer, Klein decided to stop while he was ahead, no longer dwelling on this question that would offend her, and obediently followed her out of the Mirror World.
Back in reality, the two walked together along the evening sidewalk until they entered the building at No. 2 Narcissus Street.
Seeing her brother and the girl returning home side-by-side, Melissa, initially surprised, suddenly looked a little embarrassed. She turned and tugged at Benson's sleeve, whispering,
"Oh no, is dinner going to be too monotonous? Including Alice's portion, it doesn't seem enough for the four of us..."
"I didn't expect Klein to win his girlfriend back so quickly... I thought they'd be giving each other the cold shoulder for a few more days," Benson sighed, oblivious to the situation.
"Benson, listen to that! Is that what an older brother should say?!" Melissa, the youngest of the three siblings, glared at her eldest brother.
Fortunately, the situation Melissa feared didn't occur at the dinner table that evening, because Alice went upstairs to get a small basket of sandwiches, adding them all to the main course, explaining that they were leftovers from lunch.
By arguing that "it will spoil if we don't eat it soon and then we'll have to throw it away," she successfully dispelled Melissa's concerns about avoiding the food. Everyone at the table tasted the white bread toast, fresh lettuce, fried eggs, and cooked meat.
"I like being able to eat so many different flavors at once, and it doesn't seem complicated to make," Benson commented after swallowing a crunchy piece of lettuce. "Next time I plan to try the same thing with oat bread. Klein, you'll be the first lucky one to get a taste!"
Apart from Alice, who knew nothing about Benson's cooking, who smiled politely, Klein and Melissa both looked horrified and exchanged a glance.
Melissa quickly responded,
"No, Benson... I think I prefer the soft texture of white bread in this dish. Using oat bread ruins the overall balance... um, we need to conserve food, we can't waste it."
"How can developing new recipes be considered wasteful? Don't worry, I've completely mastered making this sandwich. If I don't make it well, I swear to the goddess, I'm a curly-haired baboon!" Benson insisted confidently.
Hearing this, Klein sighed with a heavy heart:
"Benson, I think you'd better not be so optimistic... I don't want to wake up one day and find a curly-haired baboon wearing your pajamas walking out of the room across from mine. Just thinking about that scene is terrifying, it might give me nightmares for weeks..."
"Don't you think much of my cooking, Klein? I remember you loved my beef and potato stew when you were little, how come you're so disgusted with your older brother now..." Benson said sadly.
"But you can't deny that Klein's cooking is indeed more delicious." Melissa decided to stand on the side of facts and truth. "Benson, I think you could have a good discussion with Klein about the secrets to improving your cooking skills. Maybe you'll meet someone you like soon."
Benson, however, remained unhurried and chuckled,
"It's alright, I'm not in a hurry to think about my own affairs. But Klein… needs to work harder. He needs to save enough money to have the confidence to consider engagement and marriage."
As soon as this topic came up, Melissa's attention was indeed drawn to the expenses her brother would need for his engagement and wedding.
She counted the time on her fingers and unleashed all her firepower on the innocent Klein. Klein didn't know whether to respond or interrupt, so he could only cast a pleading look at Alice, who was sipping her soup and watching the show.
When Melissa worriedly mentioned the class distinctions of wealthy families, Alice leisurely wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, offering comfort to her sister who was living a life of motherly toil:
"Melissa, have you forgotten what I said before? I ran away to the Kingdom of Loen, where the family's influence couldn't reach me. Although there were some twists and turns along the way, at least now I can freely decide my own future... and my parents are no longer here, so I don't have to worry about my father sitting up in his coffin, angrily accusing Klein of abducting his daughter."
...Hiss. I asked you to help save the day, not to add fuel to the fire!
If looks could express the embarrassment Klein felt at this moment, he would have glared at Alice's long dress until it burned two holes.
However, unable to get a word in edgewise, he could only exchange a silent glance with Benson, revealing a genuine, bitter smile of camaraderie.
—Speaking of which, it seems like his family's dining table hasn't been this lively for almost a week.
After mentally calculating how long Alice had been living in his house, Klein realized with a slight sense of awe that although she had only been a guest at Moretti's house for three weeks, she had already won over the three siblings, including himself.
It was almost...
almost real.
She wasn't lying; she had indeed come from afar as a noblewoman to the Kingdom of Rune, and miraculously, a spark of affection had ignited between her and the unremarkable Klein Moretti. And she had indeed... like every girl in love, considered engagement, marriage, and even the distant future...
Unfortunately, Klein had seen her face when she lied without batting an eye, and knew that if he trusted this heartless and ruthless witch, he might be sold out and still think she was a good person...
No, he didn't mean she wasn't a good person! It was just that her sense of good and evil was too vague for him; she was more like a free spirit who acted on her whims and personal whims.
It's a pity, all that she said was a lie, an illusion...
Wait, why did I say "a pity"? Sensing something was wrong, Klein frowned, somewhat troubled.
The leisurely chat after a hearty meal always flew by, and as it drew to a close, Alice, with a slightly serious expression, straightened her hands and softly indicated that she had something important to tell the three siblings. Even Klein felt a little nervous,
though he could vaguely guess what she was going to say.
"In about a month, I should head to Backlund. As for the reason..." Under Melissa's astonished gaze, she gave a somewhat helpless smile, "September is the start of the new semester at Backlund University. As a freshman, I have to go there for the entrance ceremony and then spend a full semester there."
Having pushed all the blame onto a non-existent "family elder," Alice successfully ended this early farewell devoid of any sentimentality, and encouraged Melissa to study hard and strive to also enter this prestigious university in the City of Hope to receive a better education.
Melissa's slight melancholy transformed into motivation. After helping clear the dishes and utensils, her eyes lit up as she took out her workbook and stationery and immersed herself in serious study.
Similarly, Benson, in order to improve himself and land a better, more "generous" job like Blackthorn Security, gritted his teeth and began studying the grammar books Klein had used in the past, as well as the extremely soporific classical literature textbooks.
Thus, the task of washing dishes fell to Klein, the only idle person present.
However, Alice kindly followed him into the kitchen, causing the brother and sister, who were secretly glancing at the "couple," to breathe a sigh of relief and have a more optimistic view of their upcoming long-distance relationship.
—Of course, in reality, Alice was far from being truly kind enough to help Klein with the housework.
She stood empty-handed to the side, smiling as she watched Klein put on his apron, completely ignoring his resentful accusatory gaze.
"You seem to have something to ask me?"
...How dare you say that!
Klein angrily grabbed the dishcloth and began scrubbing the plates vigorously, imagining Alice's innocent, pure face in his hands, which he could knead and shape at will.
"You...you said you're going to Backlund for university? Is that true?"
But as soon as he opened his mouth, his energy faltered, and the questioning tone he had prepared vanished.
Alice's answer was exactly what he expected:
"Guess."
I guess your purpose in going to Backlund isn't just to experience university life." Klein suppressed his itching curiosity and made a calm guess.
She merely snorted at this:
"Why can't I go to experience university life and do something else on the side?"
I think your "on the side" might be the key point!
Klein swallowed his complaints with aggrieved feelings, his hands working non-stop to wash the dishes piled up in the sink one by one, deciding not to argue with this cunning witch any longer and to quietly be a pragmatic, domestic good man.
Time flowed quietly, and soon it was 10:30, the time when the Moretti family turned off the lights and went to bed.
Everything seemed to have returned to the familiar past, the bizarre experience during the day like a dream, leaving no trace.
"Well then, goodnight, Klein."
Faced with her gentle and serene smile, Klein was momentarily dazed, before returning a soft smile that he himself was unaware of.
"Okay, goodnight, Alice