Chapter 125: To The Mansion (2)


    Mmnya Latte is


    There was Iris, uttering sleep talk with a strangely sorrowful expression on her face.


    <em>Slurp.</em>


    Youll get a crooked mouth sleeping like that.


    Even though a nket wasid out, the floor of the workshop was still cold.


    Should I wake her up? Or just let her sleep? If I just let her sleep, it might be better to move her to the bedroom


    While pondering internally, Elisha covered her mouth with an exasperated expression.


    Master how did this happen?


    Why are you so surprised? She might just be resting because shes tired from work.


    Ha, but Ive never seen her sleeping on the floor when shes tired! Above all, look at her face! What kind of dream would make her cry.?


    Elisha stomped her feet anxiously.


    Maybe it was the vibration that bothered her. Iris also frowned and iled her arms.


    Uh youre a monster


    Im a monster?


    Elisha looked shocked and stumbled.


    No, its just sleep-talking. Dont be hurt by this. Im going to move Iris to the bedroom, so step aside for a moment.


    Deciding it was better to let her sleep properly, I picked up Iris along with the nket.


    Uh-huh.


    She wasnt very heavy, probably because of her small stature. She fit snugly in my arms.


    Wrapped in a nket, she somewhat resembled a baby. Just as I was about to ascend the stairs


    Mm Uh


    Maybe she was disturbed by the noise. Or perhaps she felt difort when I lifted her.


    Iris squirmed inside the nket and then slowly opened her eyes.


    <em>Yaaaawn</em>


    Her delicate eyshes rose, revealing her blue, jewel-like eyes.


    Huh?


    It seemed she wasnt fully awake yet. Her focus wasnt clear.


    Awake?


    Master?


    I didnt mean to wake you Do you want to sleep more? Well be at the mansion until tomorrow anyway.


    Wait a moment. If Master is here, then the others


    Iris, still half-asleep, hurriedly looked around.


    After noticing Ca, Elisha, and Faye, whom she was meeting for the first time, she slowly looked down at herself.


    Currently, Iris is wrapped in a nket, resembling a baby swaddled in a sack.


    Ah.


    Realizing her situation, Iriss cheeks began to turn red.


    It could be embarrassing to be seen asleep, especially in this position.


    Moreover, Iris had a bit of aplex about her underdeveloped body.


    Iris, who had been stiff, soon took a deep breath with a determined expression.


    Huh!


    Then, like a turtle hiding in its shell, she pulled her limbs and face into the nket.


    Now, the nket looked like a mere bulging lump, from which faint snoring sounds could be heard.


    <em>Snore Phew</em>


    .


    .


    .


    The snoring was seemingly awkward.


    Everyone at the scene looked at each other and nodded silently.


    Yep. Lets pretend we didnt see this.


    <hr>


    Holding the nket-wrapped bundle, I headed to the parlor.


    Pretending not to know about Iriss earlier state was one thing, but waiting for the now wide-awake Iris to get up seemed inappropriate.


    After asking Pam from the elf family to prepare some simple refreshments, I gently ced my hand on the nket bundle on my knee.


    <em>Squirm.</em>


    Perhaps sensing what was toe, the trembling inside the nket grew.


    Of course, that didnt mean I nned to stop.


    Quickly unraveling the rolled-up nket with rapid hand movements.


    <em>Eek Eeek!</em>


    Iris inside tried to resist with a squeal, but it was a futile struggle.


    By now, my strength stat was 14. Considering the maximum level was 30, that wasnt a small number.


    Maybe I was as strong as a well-trained average person.


    Anyway, without using magic, Iriss slender arms couldnt do much against this strength.


    So, the nket was easily unwrapped.


    As I almost finished unraveling the nket, Iris suddenly became docile. Wondering if she had given up, I continued.


    <em>Rustle. Rustle.</em>


    Iris, limp like a deeply sleeping person, breathed rhythmically.


    Aha? Changing tactics?


    Hey, Yandel! Tactics, you say. Are you suggesting the Master pretended to be asleep after being caught sleeping on the floor from sleep-talking and even showed a vulnerable side, losing the dignity of the eldest? That cant be! Shes not a child!


    .


    Elisha, seemingly trying to save her teachers face.


    You are the worst.


    Me?!


    Yep. Instead of shielding, she hit her with a shield.


    <em>Gah!</em>


    Look at that. Iris wasnt sleep-talking. She was curling up on myp, looking like she might cry with her eyes tightly shut.


    Gently extending my index finger towards Iris


    <em>Poke.</em>


    Iris, wake up.


    Uh


    A soft moan. Her cheeks sank in, like pressing down on top-grade pudding.


    How could someones cheeks be this soft and squishy?


    After pressing a few more times to savor the feeling, my finger slid to the side.


    I was aiming for the nape of her neck.


    <em>Tickle. Tickle</em>.


    Hee!


    As I gently scratched with the tip of my finger, Iris twitched her mouth but still showed no sign of waking up.


    At this point, I was feeling slightly stubborn too.


    You wont wake up even now? Eh, eh.


    *Heek! Heehee! Haaah.*


    Despite my fingers teasing, Iris squirmed around but stubbornly kept her eyes closed.


    Did she miss the perfect timing to wake up, or did she decide to pretend to be asleep till the end?


    Anyway, it was clear that tickling wouldnt wake her up.


    Feeling the soft touch of her neck, I sighed deeply.


    Iris. Ill ask onest time. Wont you really wake up?


    <em>Umm Hmmnya</em>


    Awkwardly mouthing words, Iris pretended to be sleep-talking to avoid answering.


    Theres no choice. I didnt want to go this far.


    Slowly moving my fingertips from her nape upwards


    Neck, jawline, lips, cheeks, and ears.


    ?!


    Iris began to shiver just from my touch.


    Among the already sensitive elves, Iris was particrly sensitive around her ears.


    It was obvious what would happen if her ears were targeted now.


    Just as I was about to gently caress her ear cartge


    Th-thats enough! Stop it, Master! Im awake! Ill get up! Didnt you say there was someone you would introduce today? Please, anything but the ears!


    Iris quickly opened her eyes, shaking her head.


    Her voice sounded quite desperate. But


    Its toote. Calmly surrender your ears!


    <em>Yikes!</em>


    <em>Tickle. Tickle.</em>


    Iris quickly melted away under my touch.


    Thats too much! Really too much, Master!


    Is it really too much, or is it Iris who asking for it with her whole body?


    I never did such a thing!


    How can I resist teasing someone whos pretending to sleep with clenched teeth?


    Master Its something even a child could endure.


    Compared to Iris, I might be a child, right?


    <em>Eek!</em>


    Iris, unable to find a retort, wiggled her hips in dissatisfaction.


    Limited by her ve Mark, this was the most rebellion she could muster.


    Did Iris know? She was still on myp, and her soft hips kept stimting me.


    Id like to head straight to the bedroom, but we hadnt properly greeted Faye yet, our main objective today.


    I wrapped my arms around the bouncing Iriss waist, and with my chin, I pressed down on her small head to keep it still.


    Then, smiling, I asked Faye


    What do you think, Senior Faye? Now you see, Iris isnt that difficult to get along with, right?


    Um Shes rather cute.


    Faye nodded awkwardly. Iris, responding to her reaction, murmured in a pained voice.


    Ugh Master. Ill stay still now, so please let me go.


    Okay.


    Iris let out a sigh and straightened up as I let her go.


    <em>Phew.</em> Its been a while, my pupil. And Miss Lindelheit too.


    Elisha and Ca nodded lightly in response.


    Then, naturally, Iriss gaze turned to where Faye was.


    Pleased to meet you. I am Iris Sylvan Banatis. If you find it ufortable to hear informal speech from a ve, I apologize. But as I only speak this to my master, I cannot afford to use formal speech with others.


    Its its okay. Youre much older than me, Iris, and considering your deep connection with our junior, the usation of spirit summoning must be a false charge, right?


    Faye stumbled a bit, but she showed the utmost friendliness she could muster.


    It was really heartwarming to see them trying to get along.


    Oh, the social skills of Faye were progressing so much.


    But Iris, feeling troubled, clenched her mouth shut.


    Um Miss Iris?


    She even avoided eye contact.


    It wasnt surprising. After all, Iris did try to summon a spirit.


    It was only an attempt, but she was close to actual summoning, wasnt she?


    Sensing something wasnt right, Faye asked in a worried voice.


    Its a false charge right?


    Eventually, Iris, unable to hold out any longer, sought my help.


    Ma-master. Please help


    However, this essentially meant admitting her guilt.


    <em>tter!</em>


    Yikes!


    Faye noisily pushed her chair back, creating distance.


    And all Iris could do in response was


    <em>Hmph.</em>


    to pout.