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“The solution is quite straightforward.” Yaeger gave a calm look towards the towering pile of suggestive novels and stated.

“What’s the solution?” Irene’s eyes lit up with eagerness, focusing intently on Yaeger.

“First, let me inquire. Do these books truly hold value to you?”

After a brief moment of thought, Irene’s cheeks turned pink. “Well… each of these books holds sentimental worth to me, so yes, I do treasure them. My reluctance to burn them isn’t merely because they are suggestive in nature!”

Yaeger thought skeptically, ‘That’s hard to believe. You’re quite the impassioned Saintess,’ as she rolled her eyes.

“Honestly! This one marks the tenth anniversary, this one’s out of print, this one is…” Irene, seemingly worried that Yaeger was not persuaded, began detailing the significance of each book.

“Alright, alright, I understand their value,” Yaeger interjected swiftly. “Returning to the matter at hand. Should you trust me, I’m willing to safeguard these books on your behalf.”

“Store them for me?” Irene, hesitating slightly, blinked. “I have no issue entrusting them to you. However, how do you propose to remove them from here?”

The floor was scattered with nearly a hundred erotic novels.

“I’ll simply place them in my spatial ring,” Yaeger explained, showcasing her ring with a hint of pride.

Observing the exquisite ring, Irene’s eyes gleamed with envy, nearly drooling.

‘How I wish I owned a spatial ring myself!’

Alas, such a rare commodity couldn’t be acquired with mere money.

“I’ll safeguard these novels for you. Whenever you wish to peruse them, simply visit me. Let this be our secret.”

Yaeger placed deliberate emphasis on ‘secret.’

‘A secret… shared between us. A forbidden matter… Ah, snap out of it! Irene, where is your mind wandering off to~!’

Shaking off her thoughts, Irene affirmed with a glance at Yaeger, “Yes, our very own secret!”

“Rest assured, they’ll be well-protected under my care.” With a serene smile, Yaeger proceeded to gather all the books into her ring.

“Henceforth, none but you and I will be privy to this secret.”

“Absolutely! This lifts such a weight off my shoulders!” Irene, clearly uplifted, nodded vigorously.

The swift resolution to her long-standing dilemma was unexpected, marking a truly fortuitous day.

“Now that your quandary has been addressed, perhaps you could assist me with mine,” Yaeger suggested, having secured the books.

“That’s alright, although it may take a bit longer than usual this time. My energy hasn’t fully recuperated,” Irene explained.

“How long will it take?”
“Five or six hours.”
“That’s too long,” Yaeger said, patting her shoulder. “How about… I borrow your company for half a day?”

Collecting materials in the Canyon of the Dead takes at least half a day, not to mention the travel time back and forth. Rather than waiting here, it made more sense to bring Irene along and have her charge it en route.

“Travel?”

‘Is this like a honeymoon trip?’ Irene’s cheeks flushed instantly, her mind racing with vivid scenes of playful tumbles in the carriage and frolics in the wilderness and on the beach.

“What do you say? Fancy a little journey with me?” Yaeger reached out to gently caress her head as she inquired softly.

“It’s… a bit problematic. I can’t be away from the church for too long…” Irene, coming back to reality, expressed with a hint of regret.

“It’s all right, it’s just half a day. Think of it as a brief escape for relaxation,” Yaeger persuaded her.

“That’s true… No, I still can’t do it!”

She was certainly captivated by the idea. Yet, venturing out was genuinely inconvenient for her. Because if the Saintess was spotted traveling by others, it could lead to trouble if the church became aware.

“Are you truly unable to?”

“Truly, I can’t. Perhaps… you could leave the Holy Spirit Shard here with me? I’ll recharge it as swiftly as possible.”

Irene lowered her head, her gaze turning vacant.

“No.” Yaeger refused.

“Why not? I wouldn’t steal your things,” Irene said, puzzled.

The Holy Spirit Shard was undeniably valuable, yet given their friendship, Irene naturally wouldn’t contemplate stealing from her.

Yaeger pursed her lips. “It’s not that I’m worried you’ll lose it. It’s just that I need to use it soon and can’t afford to wait.”

“But even in a hurry, you’d still have to wait that long,” Irene said, even more baffled.

“I’m saying I need to take this fragment and travel somewhere far away today,” Yaeger clarified.

“I see, I understand. Then, I’m afraid I can’t be of help,” Irene responded.

“You truly can’t?”
“I genuinely can’t.”
“Not even by sneaking out?”
“Sneak out… No, no way. Being caught would be terrible!”
“Then it would be okay if you weren’t caught, right?” Yaeger reached out, placing her hand on her shoulder. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

As she felt the gentle touch, Irene’s previously calmed face flushed anew, her head feeling as if it were steaming. Her mind went utterly blank in that instant.

“Please?” Yaeger’s plea whispered into her ear, causing her body to tremble, nearly swaying her into agreement.

“No, absolutely not!” Fortunately, just as she teetered on the edge of consent, she snapped back to her senses and refused.

“Are you truly unable?” Yaeger whispered, her lips almost touching her ear, the warm breath tickling and oddly comforting.

‘Oh no, my legs have turned to jelly, and my brain feels like it’s melting~’

Her legs weakened, and like one intoxicated, Irene found herself entirely leaning against Yaeger.

‘She smells so wonderful, I adore it~’

“Are you sure you can’t?” Yaeger pressed with a tight hug, asking once more.

Upon hearing this, Irene nearly conceded yet again. She was on the cusp of refusal when she caught sight of Yaeger, casually swaying her hand adorned with the spatial ring.

‘Is she… threatening me? But we’re friends, aren’t we? Friends shouldn’t threaten each other.’

“Can you truly not?” Yaeger inquired once more, her tone softer this time.

Yet, to Irene, it sounded like a whisper from a demon.

‘A demon, undoubtedly a demon! Sob sob sob, I’ve befriended the wrong person!’

In that moment, Irene was filled with regret. Aware that she was consorting with what seemed a live demon, she had still entrusted her with her blackmail material.

‘Sob sob sob, I must’ve been bewitched! Her beauty made my legs buckle and my senses flee. I’ve brought this upon myself!’

Irene wanted to cry.

“Come, let’s venture out together. We have plenty of time,” Yaeger insisted, tightening her embrace.

“Alright, alright. I’ll figure something out!” Overwhelmed by the gentle embrace and sweet scent, Irene capitulated.

‘She hasn’t coerced me. I’m choosing this willingly!’ she affirmed to herself.

“Excellent. It’s getting late. We should depart from the Cathedral,” Yaeger released Irene. “Oh wait, you should dress yourself first.”

Upon those words, Irene glanced downwards, only then realizing she was in her quaint undergarments all this while. Her face flushed deeply, as if steam were billowing from her head.

“Waaah!” She emitted a startled yelp.

“No need for alarm. It’s not as if I haven’t seen such a sight before,” Yaeger remarked nonchalantly.

“Oh, is that so… Not at all!” Irene retorted with a pout.

‘How dreadful of you. You truly don’t understand women.’

Once Irene was clothed, they departed. Yaeger enveloped her in an embrace and executed a [Double Jump] to exit the cathedral.