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"Can you keep it down?" Herta said from beside you. She'd been sleeping like a rock lately, so you're surprised Yumi's silliness could wake her. You were also worried she was pushing herself too much.
"Silence! I find myself in discourse with your spouse and Master, delving into profound matters that echo with the whispers of the astral spirit of his niece. Sort of!"
"Darling, you want to check up on Aneko's soul?" Herta looks at you with tired eyes.
"Not particularly. Yumi's been the one talking about that." You respond to Herta.
"I could always just make a prayer to check up on a soul." Herta yawns out. "But it'd take lots of mana and there's a chance it doesn't work..."
"You worthless goddess. If there's a chance it won't work why would you bother suggesting it? Did your bitch-brain stop working already?" You admonish Herta.
"Ah~" Herta seems happy from your scolding. "I love you, honey~" She contentedly goes back to sleep.
"You two are weird." Yumi comments. You give her crystal a few shakes in response.
>Yumi's offer to help was a rare one, even if it came out of her own arrogance. You'd see what the ghost girl could do. Under your supervision, of course.
>Have Herta pray. Though a part of you fears she might be overworking herself with this...
>Let sleeping foxes lie. You think Ayane has suffered enough, there was no reason to chase after something that might be best left alone.
>(Write-in)
===
The next day came and went, the sun slowly setting over the horizon after another day of work. You'd been overseeing Cattleya's work, 'rewarding' her when necessary. She was nearly finished now, and the foundations for connecting to other telegraph lines would be available.
But your mind currently isn't on that.
You sigh, thinking about yesterday's events.
"Heya, Master!" A voice startled you. You turn to look at a rapidly appearing woman with freckles. She was around as tall as you were, had fairy blood in her veins, and was a decent beguiler. "What're you looking so sad over?" Mel asks, curiously.
"It's peaceful." You responded. Things are going smoothly. A little too smoothly. You expected there to be monsters or bandits to attack, but none came. It was disconcerting.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Mel said to you. "Like something's gonna happen."
"Yeah." You said. She looks at the distance to the sunset. Riverdale lies somewhere in the horizon. Whatever plans Forthwythe, Rostchilde, or anyone else might have, you can only wait and brace yourself.
