"Long time no see, Altria."
"Although you invited me to the lab a long time ago... I've been busy with the band's tour recently, which is why I only managed to come see you now. I apologize for the delay."
A slender and graceful beauty, around five and a half feet tall, emerged from the elevator entrance of the laboratory.
She was wearing a mysterious and luxurious trench coat in the distinctive style of the McNewdeau family, with a small violin case that contrasted greatly with her stature hanging behind her.
Her face was beautiful, with an expression of calm composure, revealing a maturity and indifference far beyond her peers.
As for her figure, it was slender to the point of being unbelievable. But upon closer inspection, it did not quite reach the level of being thin, but rather displayed a round and delicate form like that of jade and bamboo.
If one had to describe her, she was like the legendary moon palace fairy Princess Kaguya, born from a bamboo node, exuding fragility, sweetness, and elegance in every movement.
"My little Michael, so cute!"
At the sight of Michael, Oedipus's eyes lit up like a hungry wolf seeing a lamb, and he pounced directly towards her.
But Michael simply raised her hand slightly, and a magician's hand grew out of her, stopping Oedipus in his tracks.
"Oh!"
"Darn it, taking advantage of me not being able to use magic to bully me, huh!"
Oedipus touched his nose in frustration, puffed up his cheeks, crossed his arms indignantly, and turned his face away.
"Hehe. You've offered your angel to the family. It wouldn't be right to use magic in front of you, so I won't use it."
Michael opened her arms, hands outstretched, giving Oedipus a big hug.
Michael's embrace felt like a sun-soaked duvet, soft and warm.
"Michael, you're my best friend."
Oedipus reciprocated with an equally warm embrace, wrapping her arms around Michael.
"What about Abdiel?"
With a playful smile, Michael leaned in next to Oedipus, teasingly asking in a soft voice.
"Well, of course, Abdiel too. But, that guy has been acting a bit strange lately..."
"Anyway, let's not talk about that now. Let me take you to a café around here first, the pastries there are delicious..."
Oedipus seemed reluctant to bring up Abdiel, swiftly changing the subject. She took Michael's hand and led her towards the depths of the laboratory.
"Altria, what's that in your hand?"
Michael noticed something in Oedipus's hand.
"Oh, this?"
"This is a lunchbox my boyfriend gave me... I haven't had a chance to wash it after lunch."
Oedipus replied.
"You have a boyfriend now?"
Michael furrowed her brows slightly. For some reason, she had a bad feeling in her heart.
"Yeah, and he's a foreigner."
"Oh, speaking of him, I'm so mad about him. Later, I must tell you all about him."
---
"Little Oleg."
"Um... how should I put this."
"I've run into some problems in my research that are not so easy to solve."
"Haha, after much thought, I found it more reliable to ask for your help."
"Would you be willing to help me?"
"No... no, of course it's not a troublesome task. It's definitely something within your capabilities."
"For example, um, could you help me get some slices of angel meat? Of course, it would be best if it's Beelzebub's."
"What? You're asking me why as a researcher I can't do this myself?"
"Ah, let's not go there."
"We foreign researchers are not even allowed close contact with angels, let alone being permitted to take slices of their meat for research."
"Little Oleg, can I entrust my hope to you?"
---
In a corner of the laboratory, Oedipus and Michael sat in a café on the street, where sentimental jazz music played continuously.
They leisurely smoked cigarettes, sipping the rich coffee in their cups.
Watching Oedipus vividly imitate her boyfriend in front of her, about to drink her coffee, Michael couldn't hold back and sprayed the coffee out.
"Pfft... Hahaha."
"So, did you agree to his request?"
Michael took out a handkerchief she carried and elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth. But even so, she couldn't help but shake with laughter, unable to control her delicate body.
"How could I! I immediately and unequivocally refused."
"What does he mean by entrusting hope to me... he has no idea how dangerous angels really are."
"Cutting pieces of them is the same as spanking a tiger."
"Besides... now that I can't use magic, I can't even pull out a hair of Beelzebub, so how can I steal meat for him."
Oedipus complained resentfully.
"So that's how it is, hehe."
"By the way, when did he say these things?"
Michael picked up a spoon, cut a piece of cake on the plate, and then asked Oedipus.
"Just yesterday, when we were lying in bed together."
"Originally.... it should have been the day we... um, did those things... but as soon as I refused to help him, he became unhappy, turned his back on me, and slept."
(๑•̌.•̑๑)？？
Oedipus finished, and Michael's expression revealed a trace of astonishment.
