“Ella, little sister~ I’m back~”
“Huh? Who is this?”
Long blue hair cascaded to her waist. Black hotpants and a white crop top accentuated her tall, upright figure. Her face showed no expression, lips pressed into a straight line, blue pupils coldly meeting Yiwen’s gaze.
“Isn’t this…”
“Wonderful! You’re finally back, Sister Yiwen!”
Ella rushed over to Yiwen in three quick steps. Ever since realizing she had to look up at the older woman, she had started treating Yiwen like a big sister.
If Shuang Ling was the scary big sister, then Yiwen was clearly the gentle neighborly one who had watched her grow up—extremely kind.
“Let me introduce you. This is Shuang Ling. She just woke up from the culture tank, so let’s have her join our team too.”
As Ella spoke, her eyes stayed locked on Yiwen. She blinked rapidly, eyelids fluttering like butterfly wings.
Please, don’t say anything wrong right now! If she slips up, the humanoid tyrant Shuang Ling might do who-knows-what.
I’m begging you! Please understand my hint! People who blink like this are either idiots or in my current situation! Hurry and read between the lines!
Yiwen looked at Ella’s exaggerated winking face. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
“Miss Shuang Ling?”
“Understood. No problem. More people means more strength. The more the merrier.”
“Right… Haha… Today we’re all one big family, Shuang Ling.” Ella let out a long, silent breath of relief in her heart. She turned to Shuang Ling and forced a bright smile onto her face.
“Yes. One family.”
Shuang Ling’s voice drifted down from above her head, still aloof and cold. Her expression didn’t change in the slightest. Her lips remained pressed flat, and her pupils carried that faint chill.
Ella could clearly see the subtle disgust and contempt deep in her eyes—not directed at her, but at Yiwen.
Can you please hide that look of disgust and contempt?! Seriously, how did I ever create someone like this?! Aside from the great figure, she’s nothing but a neurotic swarm fanatic!
“So what now?”
Ella quickly steered the conversation, making sure Yiwen and Shuang Ling wouldn’t exchange any more unnecessary glances.
She stood between the two of them—red-haired neighborly big sister on her left, blue-haired warmonger on her right—feeling exactly like a slice of luncheon meat squeezed between two pieces of bread.
“Haah, unfortunately…”
Yiwen lowered her neck and shook her head, her tone turning dejected.
“We don’t have enough money left. We already spent everything we had on the bombs to destroy the Insect Nest. We can’t even afford the cheapest ship.”
She pulled the last single coin from her pocket.
“Then why don’t we just stay here at the transfer station?”
The words slipped out of Ella before she could stop them. After all, she was the Insect Mother. Even without her Insect Nest, her first instinct was still to find a corner to huddle in, squat down, and avoid trouble.
“The nobles at the transfer station won’t allow it.”
Yiwen tucked the coin back into her pocket and looked up at Ella. Her red pupils held the helpless look of an elder.
“Nobles? What a grand title! What gives them the right to be nobles?!”
Ella’s voice rose. Her silver brows knitted together.
“Because they built the transfer station.”
“This is their territory. They won’t allow swarm creatures like us to live long-term in this floating city.”
“Their territory, huh…”
Ella’s voice instantly wilted.
“Then never mind.”
After all, she herself had never allowed anyone onto her Insect Nest in the past.
Cough, cough! That was the old her! Not the current her! We’ve already cut ties!
“So what do we do?”
She turned back to Yiwen.
“Find a way to earn some money, then buy a ship.”
“How?”
“Ella, are you a walking encyclopedia of questions?”
Now it was Ella’s turn to feel awkward.
“Sorry, Sister Yiwen. You know how it is. For the past ten years the swarm arranged everything for me. I’ve been spoiled into an infant~”
“Why are you using that cutesy ‘nya’ verbal tic? You don’t actually think you’re adorable now, do you, former tough guy?”
Yiwen’s red brows rose. Her look said she was staring at an idiot.
“You do remember you used to be a man, right?”
“I remember.”
Ella lifted her chin. Silver hair swung from her shoulders to her back. A strange flame ignited in her crimson pupils.
“So I want to do the manliest thing in the world.”
“What?”
Yiwen let out a silent sigh, already bracing herself for the most ridiculous answer imaginable.
“Becoming a submissive girl!”
Ella planted her hands on her hips. The hem of her black robe swept across the floor, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
“The one thing only a man can do!”
Shuang Ling stood beside the culture tank, blue pupils fixed straight on the back of Ella’s head.
She told herself—this is all part of Your Majesty’s act. Your Majesty must have her reasons. Your Majesty is the supreme Insect Mother. Your Majesty could never actually be this embarrassing. Impossible.
She took a deep breath and swallowed the urge to cover her face.
“So how do we make money?”
Ella finally dropped the chuuni pose. Her hands fell to her sides as she stared straight at Yiwen with silver eyes.
“I actually have an idea.”
Yiwen tilted her head. The smile that curved her lips sent a chill down Ella’s spine.
“It just requires a little sacrifice from you, Ella.”
“Huh?”
Ella blinked.
………………
“Work at a maid café?!”
“I refuse!!!”