“Ruined… completely ruined…”
“My lifelong reputation as a macho man…”
“Um… Wuming…”
“You actually look really good in that outfit… You don’t have to be so…”
Right now Wuming was crouched in the corner wearing the bunny girl costume, looking like she was questioning her entire existence as she picked at the seam between the wall and floor.
“She saw it…”
“My macho image… gone…”
“Serena saw everything…”
Wuming sank into deep despair. Appearing in front of Serena like this—she was definitely going to be misunderstood.
Maybe Serena would think she was secretly into some unspeakable hobbies.
“Um… Wuming…”
Serena wanted to comfort her, but she had no idea what to say.
Saying “You look great in that outfit” or “You’re so cute wearing it” would probably backfire spectacularly and make Wuming spiral even harder.
“Serena…”
Wuming suddenly spoke up. Though she didn’t turn around, her voice was filled with determination!
“You’ll keep this secret, right?”
“You definitely won’t tell anyone else, right?!”
“…”
Of course Serena would never do that. A scene this erotic and adorable—how could she possibly bear to share it with anyone else!?
This cute version of Wuming belonged to her alone!
She’d take this secret to the grave!
So Serena quietly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Wuming from behind, and whispered softly into her ear, promising she would never breathe a word to anyone.
“As long as Wuming wants me to keep it secret, I’ll protect it forever. I won’t tell a single soul.”
“Not even Crosti.”
Serena vowed earnestly.
“…”
After hearing Serena’s promise, Wuming took a deep breath, gently disentangled herself from the hug, stood up, and finally turned to face her.
Her little face was still flushed red, though not quite as intensely as before.
She gave Serena a relieved smile.
“Then it’s a deal. You absolutely can’t mention this to anyone else, Serena.”
“And if possible… I’d like you to forget this ever happened, Serena.”
That was probably impossible…
Serena’s mouth twitched slightly, but she still couldn’t figure out why Wuming had suddenly put on the outfit in the first place. Was she just admiring herself in private?
“By the way, Wuming…”
“Why were you wearing that outfit?”
Serena couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked outright.
“…”
***
“Hey, hey, Viviti.”
“What do you think?”
On the other side of the ocean, Youming and Viviti were enjoying the hotel’s luxurious breakfast while admiring the cosplay photo Wuming had sent.
As expected—her kid looked good in anything!
“What do I think? Show me already!”
Viviti sat across from her, gnawing on a steak, looking at Youming like she was hopeless. How was she supposed to know without seeing it?
“Can’t you just come over here…?”
Youming passed the phone across the table and continued eating her spaghetti.
“Hmm…”
Viviti stared at the photo and fell momentarily silent.
“…90 points.”
“Only 90? Shouldn’t it be 100?!”
Her kid looked so erotic and cute—anything less than 100 was unacceptable! Wuming was the cutest in the world!
Wait—hold on!
Youming suddenly shook her head hard and stared speechlessly at Viviti across the table.
“Who asked you to rate it?! I meant—did you notice anything off?!”
That was what Youming really cared about. She’d asked for the photo precisely to test her.
“You mean the part where someone’s clearly hiding in the house? I thought you’d already figured that out and were asking about something else.”
Viviti handed the phone back, picked up her breakfast plate, and moved to sit beside Youming.
“You could’ve just said it straight…”
“I was worried your ghost brain might overload.”
Viviti rolled her eyes, then pointed at the photo.
“This angle was obviously taken by someone else. The framing, the composition—there’s no way she did this alone. Someone had to have suggested it.”
“So your kid probably really does have a special someone. This photo was taken by her partner.”
“But… what if she just asked a friend to help take it? That’s possible too, right?”
“What kind of person do you think your kid is…” Viviti gave her an exasperated side-eye. How could she even come up with such a dangerous theory?
“Her wearing this and asking a friend to photograph it? That’s impossible. Your kid isn’t the type to casually do something like that.”
“…Yeah, you’re right. She wouldn’t even wear it in front of someone else, let alone ask them to take pictures.”
“Then is she your kid or mine…?”
Viviti looked utterly done. She knew Wuming better than this horned ghost girl ever could—anyone would think Wuming was her secret love child.
“Of course she’s mine!”
“I was just testing you! All those episodes of Conan you watched weren’t for nothing, right?”
“…”
Meanwhile, back with Wuming—
She had already changed out of the bunny girl outfit and back into her usual clothes. Now she and Serena were resting on the sofa, playing games together.
“I really need to buy some bug spray. Otherwise who knows when another eldritch abomination will show up and cause chaos like this again.”
The embarrassed Wuming from earlier was completely gone—like a different person entirely.
“Serena’s really amazing, you know.”
Suddenly, for some reason, Wuming brought it up, making Serena look at her in confusion.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because… you stomped a cockroach to death. That’s super impressive, Serena.”
“…That’s it?”
That’s how you give a compliment?
“And also—you’re amazing at holding back your urge to drink blood. Not to mention you’re really good at taking photos too.”
Wuming showered her with praise. Serena really had helped her a lot.
“In short, you’re super amazing, Serena.”
Hearing that, Serena’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Being praised so directly by Wuming made her feel shy and fidgety.
“I-It’s… not really that amazing…”
“I just thought… the way Wuming looked at that moment was so cute… so beautiful… that the urge for blood just… wasn’t as strong anymore.”
Serena turned to Wuming and gave her a warm, gentle smile.
“I’d like to see more of Wuming like that.”
“Thanks for the treat tonight, Wuming.”
Loli bunny girl—10/10!!!
***
After finishing breakfast, Youming and Viviti returned to their presidential suite.
“Viviti.”
“How about we book tickets home right now?”
Back in the room, Youming said it straight to Viviti, who looked at her with an expression that screamed I knew it.
“You’re in that much of a hurry?”
“Of course I’m in a hurry!”
Youming declared firmly, leaving no room for argument.
“I have to go back and see what my kid’s girlfriend (wife) looks like! I need to decide if I approve or not!”
“My kid finally—finally—took that step!”
Youming was practically bouncing with excitement, itching to check out of the hotel, book a flight, and rush back to see her child’s partner.
“Calm down, your highness.”
“I know you’re excited, but your kid clearly doesn’t want you to know she has someone yet.”
“Haaah—?” Youming drew out the sound dramatically. “Why wouldn’t my kid want me to know about something happy like this?”
“How should I know? Maybe there’s a reason she can’t tell you yet, or maybe she wants to surprise you when you get back.”
Viviti wasn’t sure.
“Then wouldn’t it be better to go back early and get the surprise?”
“Don’t rush. Do you really want to end our trip so abruptly? We’re on the last country—why not enjoy it properly before heading back to receive your kid’s surprise?”
“Maybe that’s exactly what your kid is hoping for.”
Hearing that, Youming deflated like a popped balloon and flopped onto the bed. Now that she knew her kid had someone, all she wanted was to go home and see.
“But I’m so impatient… I want to see the ‘surprise’ my kid prepared for me.”
“And besides! They need my protection, don’t they?!”
The thought made Youming sit bolt upright again. If the family curse couldn’t be escaped, then she would break it herself and secure their happiness.
Whether that meant sending them somewhere safe to live or something else—she would protect Wuming in her own way!
“I think your kid can handle herself without you worrying this much.”
Viviti, on the other hand, looked completely unhurried—not because she wasn’t the mother, but because she believed Wuming was far more capable than this horned ghost girl gave her credit for.
“You don’t need to over-worry. If your kid really runs into danger and messages us, I’ll transform into a dragon and fly you straight back.”
“Until then, just ride around the country with me on the motorcycle.”
“…Since you put it that way.”
Youming reluctantly agreed to finish touring the country before heading home.
“What’s the plan?”
Youming asked. After all, this was a free trip—no tour group. They could go wherever they wanted.
“Of course we’re riding the motorcycle to hit all the famous spots. Mount Rushmore, national parks, that sort of thing. Then swing back through Vegas before you go see your kid.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“No time to waste—let’s check out and hit the road right away!”