Not good. Not good at all—this is *terribly* bad!

Stuck alone with that woman Mavis? Nothing good could possibly happen.

Maur instinctively bolted for the exit.

But the door stood behind Mavis—and there was no way she’d let him slip past.

Thankfully, the flying house had waist-high windows on all four sides.

The designers never imagined anyone would jump out, so no barriers guarded the sills.

*Just leap from the window!* Maur thought. *It’s barely airborne. At this height, wind magic would make it perfectly safe.*

He estimated the altitude at roughly ten meters—lower than the window in Evelyn’s Mage Tower.

But would Mavis ever let him escape that easily?

After finally securing this private moment, Mavis simply stood by the door, smiling.

To outsiders, they appeared at opposite ends of the room—the farthest distance possible.

What no one below could see: tentacles slithering from beneath Mavis’s voluminous robes, swiftly carpeting the floor.

They coiled around Maur’s calves, entangling him, sealing off escape.

Agile and lightning-fast, they scaled his legs before he could react—

deftly unfastening his belt, yanking his pants down in one smooth motion.

"Oh my~ Pants dropped already."

"Jump now, and the whole Royal Capital might spot you trouserless…"

The waist-high sill sat just above his belt. With everyone gazing upward, standing still hid his plight.

But leaping out like *this*? Maur refused to imagine it.

Mavis let out a soft "hehehe."

She knew he was trapped—from the moment she stepped inside.

Yet she couldn’t resist teasing him further.

"Did you know, Maur? A fully grown Swamp Behemoth’s true form dwarfs a small human city~"

"I’m not mature yet, but my tentacles reach *far* beyond your imagination~"

"Try escaping, and I’ll bind you midair for all to watch me…~"

Doing that in the Royal Capital? Impossible.

But in the Endless Mire? *Delightfully* fun.

She’d ensure no witnesses… yet being teased in open wilderness?

Thrilling for him, surely. Maybe he’d beg from sheer shame.

*Pity. Not yet.*

*Once we return to the Endless Mire…*

The tentacles coiled around Maur trembled with anticipation.

"Y-You bastard! Pervert!"

If anyone else said it, Maur might doubt.

This was the Royal Capital—*who* would dare?

But coming from *that* perverted Mavis? He believed it instantly.

His pants tangled at his ankles. Jumping was impossible.

"Good boy. Just like that," Mavis cooed.

Her tentacles reached the long-coveted spot.

Tiny plump mouths and soft tongues sprouted along their lengths.

"Relax, Maur. Didn’t you want to admire the festival from above? Enjoy the view~"

"Look outside. Lilith and your little fox-girl follower are still visible~ Wave hello?"

Trapped but defiant, Maur snapped, "Shut up, you bastard! Too many words! Who’d wave like an idiot?!"

His bravado lasted seconds.

A familiar sensation washed over him. Heat flooded his cheeks.

True to Mavis’s words, he saw the "silly dog" and Tabitha below—

eyes locked on the flying house, ready to charge at the slightest sign of trouble.

*Don’t show a thing.*

*…Damn you, Mavis!*

Maur’s face burned crimson.

Mavis strolled to another window, keeping her distance.

She spotted Lilith and Tabitha below and gave a cheerful little wave.

"Now, Maur—do your best. Don’t let them notice *anything* amiss."

"It’d be quite troublesome if they did."

Chin resting in hand, she admired the scenery.

"At this speed, fifteen minutes to peak altitude."

"Manage it by then… and I’ll let you go today~"

Normally, fifteen minutes was far too short.

But today’s schedule was tight. She’d make do.

Half-breeds had razor-sharp noses. Without proper cleanup,

those two watching Maur would surely detect traces.

Mavis sprouted more tiny mouths and tongues.

Each worked diligently.

…

Meanwhile, at the flying house event entrance—

Lilith and Tabitha watched the vessel carrying Maur ascend slowly.

"M-Master Maur and Young Master Mavis never got along… Is it really okay leaving them alone together?" Tabitha fidgeted, clutching her skirt hem.

Lilith’s face stayed expressionless, but regret prickled inside.

*She knew what Mavis…*

*Surely she wouldn’t act in broad daylight…?*

*…Right?*

If Mavis tried anything, they’d spot it instantly.

And since boarding, Mavis had kept maximum distance.

So why was Maur’s face so red?

Hm? Why was he trembling?

…

Twenty minutes later, the flying house descended.

Maur shoved past Mavis and jumped down first, expression grim.

"Master Maur, are you unwell? You look a bit—" Tabitha began, worried.

Before he could answer, Mavis stepped down behind him, voice dripping with delight:

"Oh yes~ Maur nearly fainted just now~"