Chapter 86. Turn Him Into My Shape
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"Mmm~ So, the Mystic Eye Collection Train wants to steal away my dear brother," Reines said elegantly as she sipped her tea, "and they're after more than just his lousy bloodline; they want his spirit too."
Reines gracefully continued sipping her tea.
"Then I guess I'll have to turn my brother's spirit into my shape before they can get to him."
"Huh?" Gray tilted her head, completely puzzled by what Reines was saying. Being so innocent, she looked to Cyd for help with pleading eyes.
Cyd's expression became very complicated. He wasn't one to delight in corrupting the pure, especially someone like Gray, who was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. The thought of staining that purity with strange ideas... it just didn't sit right.
"You should just tell her, oh noble and pure hero~" Reines smiled, her face full of amusement. "Don't deceive Gray, such a simple child~"
Unfortunately, Reines was the kind who delighted in such things.
Toying with two innocent souls at once was just too much fun~
"Ahem, Gray, come a little closer," Cyd cleared his throat as he leaned in to whisper in Gray's ear.
"Mmm..." Gray blushed and instinctively shrank back, but when she heard Cyd's first words, she... froze. Her eyes lost their sparkle.
Huh... Is this the doorway to a new world...?
"No, no... This can't be right! There's no way this is right!" Gray jumped up, slapping the table, steam rising from her head and causing her hat to lift slightly. Her gray ahoge spun like a propeller, and her eyes started spinning in circles.
"Turning Master... turning Master into... into Lady Reines' shape? That's just wrong in every way! You're siblings!"
"Ahem, we're not related by blood, and even if we were, it wouldn't matter," Reines raised an eyebrow slightly, amused by how much more intense Gray's reaction was than she had expected.
"Th-then there should be... there should be love!" Gray's brain, overheating, caused her to start stuttering.
"It's fine. My brother is a masochist; he loves being shaped by others," Reines continued, saying things that would make Lord El-Melloi II spit blood. "Especially in front of me. I think it's about time he accepted it."
"Mr. Cyd..." Gray pitifully tugged at Cyd's sleeve. He was the one who opened the door to this new world in front of her, so he had the responsibility to close it.
"Ahem, well... El-Melloi II, in front of Reines... does have a bit of a, well, let's just say, a submissive streak," Cyd measured a tiny gap with his fingers, "Just a little bit... submissive."
"Submissive?" Gray blinked, puzzled by yet another term she didn't understand.
"Well, Gray, I don't think we're here to discuss what shape El-Melloi II should take," Cyd said as he picked up a snack and popped it into Gray's mouth.
The smooth texture made Gray instinctively close her eyes in delight, her ahoge stopped spinning, and she let go of Cyd's sleeve.
"What a shame, I was hoping Gray would suggest turning my brother into her shape," Reines grinned. "Ah~ I can't wait to see Gray and my brother's expressions~"
Are you a demon?
"Hm? Mr. Cyd?" Gray looked at Cyd, confused as he suddenly covered her ears.
"Ahem, it's nothing," Cyd patted Gray's head. "Have you calmed down now?"
"Yes," Gray's face turned red as she hastily pulled up her hood, this time simply trying to hide her blushing face.
"So, to prevent my brother from being turned into the shape of the Mystic Eye Train," Reines crossed her arms, "you two should stop him from going."
"Um..." Gray hesitated, unsure whether she should mention the stolen relic.
"The relic was stolen," Cyd bluntly revealed.
"Just as I thought, otherwise my brother wouldn't get involved in this matter," Reines sighed, resting her face on her hand. "After all, right now, my brother's spirit is completely shaped by that Heroic Spirit."
...
Although there's no flaw in her logic, why does she have to phrase it in such a misleading way?
Steam started rising from Gray's head again.
Please, spare this innocent child.
Cyd sighed as he rubbed his forehead. Now he finally understood why El-Melloi II always had a pained expression whenever Reines' name was mentioned.
"Well, I suppose it's time to discuss serious matters," Reines snapped her fingers. "To prevent you two from making a mess of things..."
"Anyone who dares steal El-Melloi II's relic will get more than they bargained for," Cyd snapped his fingers as well. "Right, Gray?"
"Yes! I'll definitely help Master retrieve the relic!" Gray clenched her fists.
"Alright then, to make sure you don't mess up, I'll give you some advice. The guests there are of two types: buyers and sellers. Some people go there because they can't stand their Mystic Eyes and want to get rid of them," Reines rubbed her forehead. "Well, at least you won't kill anyone."
"Don't worry, at most we'll catch the culprit and bring them to El-Melloi II for him to kick a few times," Cyd said with a snap of his fingers.
"So, the team is decided—just you and Gray," Reines nodded. The invitation allows for two followers to accompany him. With Cyd, the card of strength, her weak brother wouldn't have to worry about his wisdom being overturned by force.
"No, although I'll be going, it won't be under the invitation's slot," Cyd took out Hades' helmet, tossing it in the air with a mysterious smile. "We need to give El-Melloi II a wild card."
"Indeed, that would give us an additional asset," Reines nodded slightly, then smirked. "But there's one thing my dear brother can't easily increase."
"Money," Cyd said, spreading his hands.
"Though he's been trying to raise funds behind my back, hehe," Reines didn't finish her sentence, but Cyd suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for El-Melloi II.
"You should take this," Reines pulled a black credit card and a phone from her pocket, placing them on the table. "Don't give it to him right away—hand it over when he's truly desperate."
"Say... are you two really from the same family?" Cyd scratched his chin, questioning reality. "El-Melloi II spends his days fretting over some ridiculous debt, while you casually pull out a black card... Are you sure he doesn't owe you money?"
"This is just necessary expenditure to maintain the family," Reines said elegantly as she enjoyed an expensive dessert in her special customer's booth.
"El-Melloi II will never pay that off."
"Ah~ Isn't that perfect?" Reines took a delicate sip of her tea, "That way, my brother's spirit will eventually take my shape."
"Sh-shape!"
Gray's ahoge shot up again.