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Near the forwarding base (you consider officially naming the place with how many times you've used it) you feel a mana presence. It was for half a second, but it was still enough to make you and Herta nervous. You get your Shellstrike Gauntlets ready and motion Herta to prepare herself.
"You'd better show yourself." You warn as the gauntlets turn into a shotgun.
"Eeep! W-wait, it's me!" A high pitched voice says wildly. Almost instantly the form of Mel reveals itself. "Don't shoot!" Her hands are raised.
"Mel? What are you doing here?" You cautiously lower your [Custom Special] as you look her over. It was your beguiler wife alright.
"I'm not stalking you!" She says a little too desperately. "I was just, uh, curious why you brought the specter with you when you said you wanted to test out the clankers." Well, you aren't surprised, Mel is a very attentive woman. "I thought you were gonna see how well a ghost could possess a machine, and I wanted to help just in case it went bad." That would've been an excellent idea to do too instead of just trying to sneak out with Herta by your side and Yumi in your pocket.
"Hey, I'm not just 'the specter', you foolish quarter-fae!" Said Yumi, outraged once more. "We are here on a ghost seeking mission! And I am the terrifying force known as-"
"Mel, I'm impressed." You interrupt the ghost's tangent. And you continue on despite Yumi's further protests. "I could only sense where you were for an instant, and even then I wasn't sure who it was. You've been practicing pretty hard, haven't you?"
"Weeell, hehehe~" Mel bashfully looks away and smiles at your compliment. "I've been working off of what you last taught me, and I've thought about your recommendations... w-what I'm saying is, thank you for letting me rely on you in this too, Master~"
"No problem." You give her a genuine smile. "You've been making me proud."
"You're gonna spoil me you if you keep on cherishing me like that, haha~" Mel blushed. "Not that I mind."
"That's a natural response!" Herta zealously gives speaks her mind. "It's completely understandable for any woman to be instantly overwhelmed by Master's sheer presence!"
"Eh? I mean... sure?" Mel seemed a bit confused.
"I like to imagine Master completely enveloping me whenever he orders me around!" You can see sparks shine in Herta's eyes. "His every command being like he's pushing me down and tearing my clothes off and-!"
"Anyway since you're here, why don't you join us?" You suggest. "I can explain on the way." Someone as inquisitive as Mel would likely figure everything out if she just went back. You wanted to avoid worrying Ayane if you could help it. And having someone that can perfectly hide everyone wasn't a bad thing. "Also please lower your hands now."
After sharing the situation with her, she readily agrees to not talk about any of this if you find nothing. You really hoped she'd learnt from last time and wouldn't let this slip out like with the rings.
