The moment those words left her mouth, Nan Shi and Yuenina both turned to stare at Xi Xi, their gazes chilling to the bone.

“That was just a relatively advanced spell,” Yuenina said darkly.

“Exactly. It’s a secret magic passed down through our family line. It’s normal that you’ve never seen it,” Nan Shi added, sounding completely unconcerned.

“Ho~ really?” Xi Xi slipped back into that infuriating tone. “Pervy fox, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Living with them is ex-treme-ly dangerous. One little mistake, and you could literally die.”

Qiu Li'er froze slightly, then heard Yuenina continue, “What about you? You’re human, yet you can turn into a spirit body. The title ‘Ghost in the Magic Web’ really does suit you.”

Xi Xi shot back, “Is spirit-form really some kind of hard magic to learn?”

The atmosphere between the three of them instantly turned razor-sharp, while Qiu Li'er, stuck in the middle, was completely lost.

Why can’t I understand what they’re talking about?

[Idiot. They’re actually the same kind of thing as you.]

‘The same as me? Wait, are we all fox girls?’

[...]

[Forget it. Too lazy to explain. Figure it out yourself.]

The system dropped that line with startlingly human indifference, then gave another chime.

[Ding~ Your mission has been updated.]

[The three girls have fallen into a dangerously awkward standoff. As the one who caused all this, you’ve avoided it long enough. Isn’t it time to set a decisive example?]

[Mission 1: LOLI is the best! Ignore Nan Shi and Yuenina, grab Xi Xi, and rub all over her.]

[Reward: Xi Xi Affection +100]

[Mission 2: We’re more than just friends! Shake off Xi Xi and throw yourself into Nan Shi and Yuenina’s arms for a good rub.]

[Reward: Nan Shi Affection +100, Yuenina Affection +100]

[Mission 3: Women only slow down my draw speed! Ignore all three of them and leave alone to train.]

[Reward: Strength +100, Magic Power +100]

[Mission 4: I want them all! Find a way to resolve the conflict between the three of them, and show them what true friendship looks like!]

[Reward: Awakened Ability: “Friend of Maidens”]

There it was again. That familiar, agonizing multiple-choice question.

She skimmed through it quickly, ignored the first three missions outright, and focused on the last one.

Resolve the conflict between the three of them?

Qiu Li'er scratched her ear. Honestly, she did have some self-awareness. She knew all of this had started because of her.

But she was just a weak little fox girl. What could a little fox girl possibly do? Blame herself for being too cute?

Still, after thinking it over, it wasn’t like there was no solution.

It was just that the method might be a little extreme...

Time began to flow again. Just as Xi Xi was basking in her own smugness and getting ready to mock them some more, Qiu Li'er suddenly wrapped her arms around her and lifted her up in a princess carry.

“Eek! Pervy fox, what are you doing?! H-hurry up and put me down!”

Xi Xi was so startled by the move that her whole face flushed red. At a total loss, she kicked her little white-stockinged feet helplessly.

“No squirming.”

Qiu Li'er flipped the naughty loli around in her arms and made her hang against her body. Then she said righteously, “At your age, you should know better than to pick fights with your big sisters. That’s wrong.”

“I told you already, this detective is older than all of you! And I’m protecting you, pervy fox! Your two friends are dangerous. If you stay around them, sooner or later you’ll—mmph mmph mmph—”

Before she could finish, Qiu Li'er raised her right hand high and started wildly kneading her soft little cheeks.

“Ah! You pervy fox, you actually dared to hit me—mmph mmph mmph—”

That snowy, delicate little face changed shape freely under Qiu Li'er’s hand, like she was kneading dough. The skin was so soft and tender that just rubbing it felt amazing.

“Mmph mmph... let go, or I’ll go tell your Teacher Xi that you bullied a little loli...”

“Go ahead and tell Teacher Xi. I’m not scared.”

Qiu Li'er paid no attention at all to Xi Xi’s threat.

“But a bratty little loli like you definitely needs to be taught a proper lesson.”

Xi Xi glared at her with watery eyes, embarrassed and furious. “You fox really have a death wish! Even Sister Feng has never pinched me like this before... mmph mmph...”

“That’s for your awful attitude in online chats! That’s for threatening me with violence! That’s for looking down on fox girls! That’s for attacking my roommates!”

“Waaah... stop pinching me... if you keep going, I’m gonna pass out...”

Hearing the naughty loli’s whimpering pleas for mercy, Nan Shi and Yuenina were both stunned. They had never expected the usually sweet and adorable Qiu Li'er to have such a fierce side.

“Little Nina, I think Little Fox is kind of terrifying right now...” Nan Shi whispered. “Should we add another mode? ‘Fierce Fox Mode’?”

Yuenina nodded. “We should. Her appearance is highly deceptive.”

Even though Little Fox was scaring them a little right now, watching that arrogant little loli get shut down felt incredibly satisfying.

Of course, Qiu Li'er wasn’t actually that fierce. Even if she looked a little silly on the surface, she knew very well that the best way to resolve a conflict was to redirect it.

So she made the call on the spot and grabbed Xi Xi’s little face for a thorough kneading. Besides, Xi Xi really was way too annoying. She honestly deserved a bit of punishment.

It was just that... Qiu Li'er discovered those little cheeks felt really, really nice in her hands, and before she knew it, she’d gone a bit overboard.

Under her, Xi Xi’s face had already been rubbed bright red. Even with all her magic power, she was powerless against that hand on her cheeks.

“Uwaa... stop pinching... they’re gonna swell up...”

H-how did this happen?

Xi Xi’s little head was in complete disarray. She was just a mere fox girl. With one raise of her hand, she should’ve been able to send her flying...

So why...

Why couldn’t she bring herself to resist at all?

Why did getting her face kneaded actually feel... kind of good?

Just like in that lewd picture...

Xi Xi closed her eyes and carefully recalled one of the images she had secretly saved.

It was also a girl punishing another girl. Only, in that one, the punishment was aimed at the butt. But the girl being spanked wasn’t crying at all. Her face was red, and she was actually smiling.

So this was what Qiu Li'er meant?

Right now, she was just like in that lewd picture. All she had to do was experience the joy in it.

I see...

Even while risking being attacked, Qiu Li'er still wanted to help her understand. She really was such a gentle fox girl.

Xi Xi closed her eyes. Instead of resisting, she started rubbing her little head against Qiu Li'er’s hand, actively matching the motion.

From that moment on, she felt like her whole being had somehow ascended.

And on top of that, she awakened a very strange new trait.

“Mmh~ keep going. A little harder. This actually feels pretty nice.”

[Ding~ Side Mission “The True Meaning of Happiness” has been completed.]

[Mission Reward: Xi Xi Affection +200, Strength +100, Magic Power +100, Charm +100. Rewards have been delivered.]

[Notice: Xi Xi’s affection toward you has advanced to “Yearning”]