Leaving Hades' sight, Ultear returned to her room on the battleship.
She sized up Blake, who was following closely behind her, with a playful smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Blake, I really didn't expect you to agree so readily. That's not your style. I thought you would strongly object or try every means to escape 'Grimoire Heart'."
Blake lowered her head slightly and said respectfully, "Lady Ultear, you worry too much. It is my honor to serve you. I will do my best in the future to do what a maid should do and will never let you down."
Her tone sounded incredibly sincere, making it impossible to find any fault.
But Ultear knew her and knew her heart was definitely not as submissive as it appeared on the surface. However, Ultear also knew that Hades was likely still monitoring their every move, so now was not the time to say too much.
Might as well take this opportunity to discipline her properly.
Ultear no longer hid the true emotions in her eyes, chuckled triumphantly, and began to make things difficult for Blake unceremoniously.
"Since you say so, then practice how to be a qualified maid first." Ultear waved her hand casually, and a huge wooden box appeared in front of Blake. "These are the clothes I've changed out of over these days. Take them and wash them clean."
Blake picked up the box with difficulty. The heavy weight made her already stiff expression even uglier.
(Where did this guy get so many clothes?!)
"By the way, hand wash them all. No magic allowed~"
"Don't go too far!"
Blake finally couldn't hold it back. She glared at Ultear discontentedly, but her body honestly dragged the heavy box, shuffling step by step out of the room.
"Detestable Ultear!"
In the battleship's laundry room, Blake scrubbed the clothes in her hands vigorously while muttering curses through gritted teeth.
Once, twice, three times... She mechanically repeated the washing motion, while her mind frantically conjured up various images of torturing Tike and Ultear—she imagined punching them fiercely in the face, kicking them hard in the stomach, letting them taste the humiliation and pain she had suffered.
She could only vent in this way.
Blake's original plan was to use Hades' power to break the damn "Human Subordination" magic between her and Tike, regain her freedom, and reclaim Lucia, who was controlled by Tike.
But just before meeting Hades, her body suddenly became transparent for a moment. That feeling of impending death chilled her from head to toe.
Blake realized then and there that this was Tike's warning to her.
If she dared to act rashly and reveal any unfavorable information to Hades, Tike would make her die on the spot without mercy.
Thinking back carefully, Blake increasingly felt that even someone as powerful as Master Hades might not be Tike's opponent, nor could he save Lucia from Tike's hands.
So, Blake decisively abandoned her previous thoughts and chose to save her life.
After all, that brat was different from her; he was a good person (probably...), and wouldn't attack her again now that she had submitted.
Blake's greatest wish was to survive with her sister Lucia; nothing else mattered.
---
"Thirsty..."
Tike mumbled softly, opening his blue eyes.
He had just used magic on Blake, and his already dwindling magic power was almost in the negative; he urgently needed to replenish energy.
(This should last a while.)
Tike gently broke free from Ur's embrace, trying not to make any noise to disturb her rest, then opened a portal to the nearest water source.
—The women's bathhouse located directly below the hotel.
It was late at night, and the entire bathhouse was empty, except for Lucia soaking alone in the spacious large bath.
"You're still washing?" Tike saw Lucia at a glance and couldn't help but complain, "Do you think you can abuse yourself just because you're made of wood? Soaking for so long, aren't you afraid of getting waterlogged?"
"Nyah nyah nyah! None of your business!" Lucia made a face at Tike. "You perverted brat, sneaking into the women's bathhouse in the middle of the night, are you plotting something untoward against me!"
Tike curled his lips and said disdainfully, "Come on, I can make as many dolls like you as I want; what's so rare about it? I'm just here to drink water, no time to deal with you."
Lucia covered her face with both hands, pretending to be shy, her voice becoming sugary.
"How annoying! You don't want to drink my bathwater, do you? What a pervert!"
Tike shook his head with a look of disgust.
"So smelly, definitely get diarrhea if I drink it. Forget it, I'd better go drink outside. At least the seawater outside is cleaner than this."
Lucia subconsciously sniffed herself, then stood up abruptly from the water, glaring at Tike angrily.
"Where does it smell! You're the one who smells! Your whole family smells!"
Tike couldn't be bothered with her. He opened the portal again, his figure flashing, and fell directly into the cold seawater.
"Phew... refreshing!"
---
The next day, Tike woke up early.
"Tike, you look in good spirits today."
Lyon was also awake. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he noticed Tike's radiant appearance but immediately wrinkled his nose.
"Why do you smell like sea fish? Did you go to the seaside last night?"
Tike grinned, revealing white teeth. The sunlight on his face made him look even more vibrant.
"Yeah, couldn't sleep last night, so I went for a night swim in the sea. It was fun!"
Lyon shook his head helplessly and complained, "You guy, running to soak in seawater in the middle of the night, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Tike patted his chest, somewhat dismissively.
"I'm in great health! I trained in the ice and snow for so long without catching a cold; how could swimming cause any trouble?"
Although he said that, Ur still reached out and touched Tike's forehead, then touched her own to compare.
"It's okay, not hot. However, since Lady Porlyusica is here too, it's safer to let her have a look."
Tike rubbed his stomach and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Mom Ur, I'm hungry. Can we eat first before going?"
Hearing Tike's pitiful spoiled voice, Ur's heart melted completely. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she said dotingly, "Okay, okay, eat first, go after you're full."
After happily finishing the meal in the room, Ur took Tike and knocked on Porlyusica's door.
After learning of their purpose, Porlyusica first measured Tike's temperature expressionlessly. Confirming he didn't have a fever, she said coldly, "Nothing wrong, very healthy."
Ur breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her hurriedly: "Thank you, Lady Porlyusica, sorry to trouble you."
Seeing Ur about to take Tike out of the room, Porlyusica suddenly called out to them.
"Wait."
Ur and Tike stopped in confusion and turned to look at Porlyusica.
Porlyusica looked at Tike. Although her expression remained cold, there was a trace of expectation in her eyes.
"Kid, do you want to consider studying medicine with me?"