The minor incident on the Herta Space Station did little to disrupt the tranquil happiness Zao Wu now felt in his daily life.
Although, from time to time, an invisible, incurable wound deep within the boy’s heart would still ache faintly.
But as long as Zao Wu thought of the gentle and kind Sister Kafka… It seemed that even the most unbearable pain and sorrow could be silently endured, just by calling her name.
Zao Wu never spoke of this pain to anyone on the Stellaron Hunter team.
He would instinctively worry about others.
But he never wanted others to worry about him.
—o— Returning to the evening Zao Wu was currently experiencing, inside Kafka’s room.
After spending a great deal of effort meticulously maintaining the gorgeous coats in the wardrobe, Zao Wu, dressed in an elegant and handsome butler’s uniform, finally had a moment to spare.
He let out a long, deep breath.
“Hah…” Next up was the intriguing pair of stockings lying on the sofa.
The mere thought of them sent a strange wave of nervousness through Zao Wu.
And yet, he hadn’t indulged in any strange fantasies.
Nor had he done anything a bad boy would do.
In the end, the boy could only conclude that it must be because Sister Kafka was… simply too important to him.
Therefore, anything related to her would trigger Zao Wu’s shyness and apprehension.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
Then, with a composed expression, he walked toward the lounge sofa in Sister Kafka’s bedroom.
The boy lowered his head and gazed downward, biting his lip.
He reached out with slightly trembling fingers, touched the magenta pantyhose, and carefully pinched the fabric.
The moment he held them, their fine, delicate texture left him in awe.
The color of the stockings was not oversaturated, giving them less of a flirtatious feel and more of a mature allure.
Their thickness was likely between 30 and 40 denier, a medium-thin style.
Paired with a cinched black leather hot pants, a thigh garter that gently squeezed the flesh, and boots of varying lengths, this was Sister Kafka’s most common outfit.
Did Sister change before she went out?
If so, why don’t I see any other discarded shirts or shorts?
If not, then why were only the stockings taken off and left here?
Could it be that after wearing them for a while, she broke into a light, fragrant sweat… And that made Sister Kafka feel uncomfortable, so she took them off?
But something like that was impossible to determine by sight alone!
This presented a dilemma for Zao Wu in his role as butler, leaving him at a loss.
Should he take them to the laundry room to be washed?
Or should he fold them neatly and put them away in their proper place?
Perhaps Zao Wu didn’t need to struggle with this at all.
It was, after all, a very simple matter.
He just needed to smell them to know.
Yes, smell them… What!
Smell Sister Kafka’s…!
Faint white steam began to rise from Zao Wu’s head as it overheated.
He was clearly a very smart and quick-witted child, yet when it came to matters concerning Kafka, he would inexplicably become slow and clumsy.
Though, this side of him was also quite adorable.
I-If it’s just one sniff… it should be fine, right?
Zao Wu’s heart pounded in his chest.
Contrary to what many might imagine, the boy’s current feeling was far from excitement—that would be too strange.
Kafka’s significance to Zao Wu was extraordinary.
She was the first woman he saw when he opened his eyes.
She was the radiant embodiment of his aspirations.
Their relationship could not be simply summarized by the cliché tropes of a romance novel.
Therefore, what Zao Wu felt was mostly embarrassment… The boy quietly swallowed.
He didn’t bring the magenta stockings closer to himself; rather, he bent down with an almost pious reverence.
Zao Wu’s jade-white face drew closer and closer to the stockings.
He was just about to reach the distance where he could detect a faint fragrance… —Click.
The sound of an unlocked doorknob being easily turned came from behind the boy.
Along with it came the languid question of a mature, alluring woman.
Kafka squinted, one hand on her hip, the other raised, the long, slender tips of her fingers lightly tapping her rosy, lustrous lips.
“Zao Wu?
What are you up to in my room~?” Ting… The sound of a soft thread snapping was heard.
It was the boy’s hand, which had tensed up too much from nervousness.
He had torn… Sister Kafka’s stockings.
At that moment, Zao Wu’s mind went completely blank, a ringing sound filling his ears.
The boy stopped thinking, turning to stone.
Perhaps right now, he shouldn’t be here, but floating in the boundless expanse of space.
For a long while, Zao Wu lost all consciousness.
Until a faint, sweet fragrance enveloped his body.
From behind, Kafka wrapped him in an intimate embrace.
Even every breath she exhaled seemed to bloom like an invisible, bewitching rose in the air.
The warmth transmitted through her soft body gradually revived the boy’s heart.
“Why, not even a welcome for me~” “Hmm, did you break the stockings…?” Kafka noticed something was amiss.
Zao Wu’s body was trembling uncontrollably in her arms.
She smiled and gently ruffled the boy’s soft white hair as a gesture of comfort.
“Silly boy, it’s alright.
It’s just a pair I’ve already worn.” “We’ll just throw it out later.” What Zao Wu considered a monumental disaster… In Kafka’s eyes, was something that could be dismissed so casually.
She squinted her fox-like, cunning eyes, looked around the room, and nodded continuously.
“Mm, it’s so clean and tidy.
Thank you for your hard work, my little Zao Wu, helping me clean my room every day.” Kafka leaned in close to the boy’s ear, a teasing impulse bubbling up as she blew a soft puff of air.
Zao Wu’s fair earlobe instantly flushed a cherry-red.
“Is there any reward you want?” “As long as it isn’t too outrageous, I’ll grant any of Zao Wu’s requests~” “…” Kafka hadn’t even used her Spirit Whisper.
But in that moment, the clumsy and shy Zao Wu was utterly mesmerized by her.
He had no idea what kind of request to make of his own will, his body and soul, his very emotions, completely bound by the invisible threads wrapped around Sister Kafka’s fingertips.
And he was willing.
However, he couldn’t keep Sister Kafka… waiting for too long.
“Could… I save it…?” Zao Wu’s response was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
“What did you say?” “Save it… Can I?” “You want to save the reward?” Kafka found that she understood this child less and less.
What does he truly want… Still, this was also very interesting.
“Of course, you can.” “When you decide what you want, just come and find me.” “I won’t lie to you.” Like a bad woman addicted to lying.
She made a promise without thinking.
But no matter what, Zao Wu trusted her.
“Thank you… Sister Kafka.” “It’s nothing.
It’s getting a bit late today.” Zao Wu thought Kafka was telling him to leave and hurriedly replied.
“I’ll leave right n—” —”If you don’t mind, Zao Wu, you can stay and rest for the night.”