“Th-this kind of thing…”
Lonis’s pretty face flushed red. She might have been a bit of a pervert, but she’d never imagined putting a collar on her partner.
But given the situation, if she didn’t put it on…
“If you don’t behave, don’t blame me for what happens!”
“Huh?”
“I was going to take you to the bathroom, but if you’re going to be this disobedient… Hehe~”
Even though her body had become that of a little girl, Elucia’s face still carried the same unmistakable air of authority she’d had as a young woman.
And to Lonis, wearing a collar was still better than being tormented by not being allowed to use the bathroom.
So, though she was reluctant, the girl could only grip the collar tightly with her index finger and fasten it around her own neck.
(Th-this is so embarrassing…)
The little metal lock clicked shut, and Lonis closed her eyes in embarrassment.
But it wasn’t like she’d imagined. The pure white collar did constrict her breathing a little, but wearing it around her neck wasn’t all that uncomfortable.
If anything, the skin beneath it felt gently protected. It tickled a little, and made her feel strangely safe.
…
“Mm, nice. Now you’re starting to look like a proper slave maid.”
“Ugh…”
“All right, let’s go.”
“G-go where…?”
“To save the world, of course. That’s our mission.”
“S-save the world?!”
Lonis froze. She hadn’t expected to hear those words from Elucia.
“Are you stupid? What did you think you came back to life for, if not to save the world? To let me train and torment you?”
“Uh…”
Lonis was too embarrassed to admit that was exactly what she’d thought… After all, so much had happened lately that she’d completely forgotten her original purpose: saving the world.
“I’ve turned into this… Can I still save the world?”
“Of course you can’t. That’s why you need me to lead you.”
“Huh?!”
“To be precise, you set your own stats way too low… so I, your partner, ended up becoming really strong. Your job is to warm my bed, give me massages, and cook for me every day. Put up with me teasing you, give me something pretty to look at, and be my dress-up doll!”
“Waaah…”
Every word Elucia said felt like a judgment, making Lonis want to burst into tears.
She really had given the silver-haired girl a body like this because she’d had those sorts of thoughts… But she’d never imagined their roles would get reversed!
And this black-haired little girl was even more aggressive than a boy. If things didn’t go her way, she’d bully Lonis without a second thought.
“Did you hear me? If you did, bark ‘woof’ once.”
“Th-that kind of thing…”
“Looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson. Then you won’t be allowed to use the bathroom until tonight. Hehe, I really love watching pretty girls who can’t hold it in~!”
“Waaah… Woof!”
…
…
…
After barking, Lonis looked utterly defeated.
She knew that no matter how hard she struggled, she’d never escape the clutches of this little girl.
(Just how horribly is she going to treat me?)
“See? You can be good after all. Come on, puppy. We’re moving out.”
“Uh…”
And so, led by her collar, Lonis followed Elucia as they made their way upward.
The surroundings looked much like the underground laboratory from before. Everything was still in ruins, and even the stairs had been worn smooth by time.
The difference was that the passage was narrower and the walls less ornate than before.
…
As they walked, Lonis began to feel a trace of chill in the air.
(Are we getting close to the surface…?)
Lonis raised her head. She had a lot of questions for Elucia, but she was afraid of being teased, so the silver-haired girl decided not to ask.
At last, after an hour of walking, the two of them reached a pitch-black iron door. It looked like the kind of security door you’d find on a vault, and it had no fewer than three keyholes.
“Take this. Don’t freeze to death.”
“Huh?”
Lonis was startled when Elucia tossed her a little sachet.
Lonis didn’t know how it had been made, but the moment she held it in her palm, an indescribable warmth spread through her body. It was as cozy as being wrapped in warm velvet.
Meanwhile, Elucia walked up to the iron door and inspected it.
“Oh no. Has it rusted shut…?”
Elucia put every ounce of strength she had into opening the iron door. A freezing wind, carrying snowflakes with it, rushed into the passage.
“I-it’s so cold!”
Even though she’d been prepared, Lonis still shivered from the cold.
Outside the door, a fierce blizzard raged. The howling wind swept across the dark mountain ridge, covering everything in white.
“All right, come on out.”
Elucia stepped into the snow as if she couldn’t feel the cold at all.
“Huh… Come out? Just like that?”
Lonis was dumbfounded. She was still wearing high heels with open toes and a short dress, and her stockings didn’t look warm at all. Wouldn’t she freeze to death the instant she went outside?
Seeing the silver-haired girl hesitate, the black-haired little girl frowned again and snapped,
“I gave you the Warding Warm Jade, and you still don’t want to come out?”
“Huh?!”
“In that case, I’ll strip you naked and make you, you perverted masochist, trudge through the snow in nothing but your underwear!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Afraid of making Elucia angry, Lonis hurried outside.
She’d felt a little cold in the passage, but strangely enough, the moment she stepped into the snow, she couldn’t feel the cold at all.
Even with her bare feet in the snow, it felt as if she were stepping on a ball of cotton—just a soft, pillowy sensation.
Elucia’s Lolita boots, with their high platform soles and waterproof design, came in handy in the snow. Her steps were steady, and she looked as if she were walking on level ground.
“Damn it. By rights, my slave Lonis should be carrying me.”
“Huh…?!”
“But I’ll let you off this time, since you don’t have enough strength. Honestly, you useless masochist—you’re nothing but a burden. What can you even do?”
“Ugh…”
…
…
Even though Elucia kept humiliating her, Lonis couldn’t talk back.
She had terrible stamina and was panting after only a few steps, seriously slowing them down.
Still, Elucia didn’t leave Lonis to fend for herself in the snow. Instead, she patiently waited for her to catch her breath.
Lonis occasionally slipped on patches of ice, but that was when the collar came in handy. Like a climbing rope, it made sure she couldn’t go tumbling down the mountain like “Guruguru Roll-Down-the-Mountain-kun.”
And so…
After several hours of travel, the two of them reached a stretch of exposed rock.
It was now high noon, and Elucia was getting ready to camp.
