Chapter 713: Mother and Daughter Reunited

Seeing A Qiu’s nearly petrified expression, Lolth finally burst into laughter.

"What makes you think I absolutely need to kill you?"

Lolth addressed the bewildered girl before her, amusement still dancing in her voice as she spoke.

A Qiu gingerly touched her face, confirming she’d reverted to her ordinary form.

Stretching her limbs, she pressed fingers to her neck to feel the steady pulse, then flattened a palm against her chest to monitor her heartbeat.

Alive. Entirely unchanged except for the vanished supernatural energy.

Only after this self-examination did she respond to Lolth’s inquiry.

"But…my ‘gift’ was innate. To extract it…"

"You’d have to…well…separate it from my vitality…"

Her words tangled into incoherence.

"Are you truly certain this worked?"

Though her sword domain had been transferred without her awareness, the reality remained difficult to grasp.

"Observe my current form and our surroundings—sense them properly," Lolth commanded, gesturing at her shimmering silhouette veiled in roseate mist and dancing flames. "As you rightly noted…I’m extraordinary. This state transcends normalcy."

"Your perception isn’t flawed…merely your deductions too restrained."

Lolth tapped her own collarbone with deliberate emphasis.

"My transgressions against reason exceed your wildest estimations by a hundredfold."

Before A Qiu could react, enthusiastic clapping erupted behind them.

"Bravo! Such audacity! Magnificent!"

The turtle’s shell rattled as Naivee applauded with gelatinous plap-plap sounds.

"Must you always interject?"

Kanor exhaled in exasperation, delivering a light kick to the creature’s carapace.

Regaining composure, A Qiu hesitantly raised her voice.

"Could I…borrow a blade?"

Lolth arched an eyebrow. "Nostalgic after your loss? Don’t expect restitution."

Yet her gaze flicked toward Isabella.

The knight unfastened her belted sword and tossed it toward A Qiu.

The girl reached eagerly—

And missed.

The scabbarded weapon slipped through her insubstantial fingers to strike her forehead with a dull thunk.

"Yowch! That smarts!"

A Qiu let out a startled cry.

The clang of a knight’s sword hitting the floor accompanied her pained exclamation.

Yet after gazing at the fallen blade and gingerly running her fingers along its surface,

A radiant smile blossomed across her face.

"Aha—ahahaha! It’s truly gone now!"

Tina observed the scene before turning anxious eyes to Isabella.

"Gods, you’ve turned the Sword Saint of Seychelles into a fool! What’ll we do?"

Her suspicious gaze then sharpened as she reconsidered.

"Hold on—you’re from the Ryman Empire… This wasn’t some elaborate scheme, was it?"

Isabella shot Tina an exasperated glance.

"Must you always spin wild theories? You infected me with this nonsense when I first came to Hillenbrand Town. I’ve mostly recovered, yet you persist!"

"Nobody gets their wits knocked out instantly. More likely Lolthlinda’s ‘talent extraction’ addled her mind."

"Still, we must prevent Seychelles’ authorities from discovering this… troublesome indeed."

As Isabella mused, Naivee side-eyed Kanor.

"These two seem permanently stuck in paranoid delusions… Chronic aftereffects of trauma?"

"Adapt to it," Kanor replied with an airy shrug. "Haven’t you grown accustomed yet?"

Meanwhile, Lolth pressed her palm against her forehead.

"Must you constantly stir drama? She’s not mad—just overjoyed at solving her lifelong dilemma!"

Her words were punctuated by incoherent babbling from A Qiu’s direction.

The Guardian Sword Saint of Seychelles—or perhaps former Sword Saint—now sat poking her blade with glazed eyes, spittle gleaming at the corner of her mouth.

"…Did I actually break her mind?!"

Genuine panic flashed across Lolth’s features—until A Qiu suddenly erupted in laughter.

"Ah-ha! Fooled you!"

She slapped the floorboards in merriment.

"You stared at me like I’d gone simple! Consider this payback!"

Her triumphant grin sparkled with mischief.

"Seems I’ve discovered my new passion! Playing pranks feels wonderfully exhilarating!"

Lolth’s eye developed a slight twitch.

"Wonderful… Now I regret saving you."

Waving dismissively, A Qiu adopted a solemn expression.

"Now now, no need for harshness. You’ve done me an immense service… I’m indebted beyond words."

"If I were still the Sword Master of Seychelles and a demi-god Superoperator, I could pledge you my services as I did before… But now, I’ve become nothing at all."

"Yet I remain destitute in possessions, so any form of repayment you desire would be acceptable."

At this point, A Qiu pressed her hands against her passable yet unimpressive chest.

"Well, upon reflection, I do possess some measure of allure. Being a succubus, perhaps you’d… take me for a night?"

"I’m versatile in preferences and unrestricted in methods… Oh, and this would be my maiden experience!"

As A Qiu spoke, she lightly touched her index finger to parted lips, fluttering lashes to craft an alluring yet endearing expression.

Rather than stirring desire, this display failed to elicit even the faintest spark of joy from Lolth.

An icy shiver instantly crawled up the spider goddess’ spine, half her body stiffening with numbness.

Two piercing gazes materialized against her back – their sources required no speculation.

"Cease this mischief at once! Such words border on repaying kindness with malice…"

Lolth responded with a strained smile.

"You’ve already stated that ‘divine authority’ itself benefits me… That suffices completely!"

"Moreover, this matter truly costs me little effort – no empty courtesy, as you witnessed…"

"My earlier actions required minimal exertion."

As Lolth spoke, A Qiu nodded thoughtfully.

"So it appears… Hence my initial astonishment," she murmured, sighing. "It seemed effortless, but is such ease truly possible?"

Lolth merely shrugged at this.

"Honestly, it’s simpler than forging three divine energies into composite essence, fashioning mechanized armor for combat."

A Qiu blinked in bewilderment.

"You accomplished this?"

"Completed mere days past," Kanor interjected with an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "My master’s prowess transcends mortal comprehension!"

"Enough frivolous praise. Setting aside my affairs… What now becomes of you?"

Lolth redirected the conversation toward A Qiu.

"Uncertainty remains. Perhaps continued employment at the pastry shop…"

Her gaze drifted toward Lolth.

"Assuming the establishment survives this day’s events."

"Speculation serves little purpose," Lolth sighed. "Yet you remind me – crucial matters await attention."

The spider goddess exhaled purposefully.

"All remain outside—Isabella, accompany me within."

Her focus shifted to the named attendant.

Isabella started momentarily before responding in tremulous tones.

"…The anticipated moment arrives?"

"Alright, don’t be nervous," Lolth reached for Isabella’s hand, "This moment was inevitable."

Tina appeared perplexed.

"What’s happening?"

Though she’d vaguely surmised the prophecy’s first line might concern Isabella…

The princess’s demeanor left Tina utterly bewildered.

Why would Isabella feel such apprehension toward a mere pie shop?

"Well…this should be my mother’s establishment, correct?"

Isabella’s words hung in the air.

Lolth gave a soft nod.

"Precisely. Therefore…only Isabella and I shall enter."

At this declaration, the group exchanged glances of dawning comprehension mixed with astonishment.

"I see…"

Having known Isabella for years, they were aware of her familial circumstances—how her mother departed during her early childhood.

This matter weighed heavily on the princess’s heart.

Among them stood A Qiu, who’d only met Isabella that very day…yet paradoxically possessed clearer insights than anyone else through her direct acquaintance with the absent matriarch.

"Truthfully…I remain uneasy."

Clasping Lolth’s hand before the shop’s sealed door, Isabella felt faint tremors in her fingertips.

"Understandable after years apart, but still…embrace this joyfully. It’s a reunion to cherish."

Lolth hesitated briefly before adding,

"My apologies for withholding this. Our prior encounter was accidental, but…" Her gaze met Isabella’s unclouded azure eyes, "I swear upon witnessing her then—she radiated health, contentment, and profound happiness."

Isabella bit her lip.

"Though relieved for her wellbeing, my anxiety intensifies…What if…" Her voice faltered. "What if she abandoned me from dislike?"

Lolth shook her head gently.

"Impossible, Isabella. She spoke of you last time—I sensed her enduring love."

The dark elf squeezed the trembling hand.

"Now cease requiring my comfort! Shouldn’t I be the nervous one? You’re meeting your mother while I…" She trailed off meaningfully.

Crimson flooded Isabella’s cheeks as comprehension dawned.

"Then…let’s proceed!"

Using embarrassment as fuel, she thrust open the weathered door.

There…

Beyond the threshold stood Ms. Anno clad in simple household garments, waiting precisely behind the entrance.

She gazed at Isabella and Lolth, her face blossoming into a heartwarming smile of contentment.

Before Isabella could compose her fluctuating expressions and speak through her emotional turmoil, Ms. Anno cheerfully took the initiative to break the silence.

"The front door of my shop… isn’t exactly soundproof."

"I heard every word you two just exchanged."

"How wonderful…"

Her tone carried genuine warmth as she spoke, effortlessly bridging the years of separation without a trace of estrangement.

The blush spreading across Isabella’s face soon engulfed her entire countenance, seemingly traveling through their clasped hands to tint Lolth’s cheeks as well.

The two girls who’d spent considerable time steeling themselves found their composure crumbling instantly under this remark.

"Wh-what… what are you implying!"

Lolth’s voice involuntarily climbed an octave higher.

But Isabella’s adjacent outcry surpassed hers in pitch.

"Why would you lead with that, Mom?!"

"To ease the tension, naturally," Anno chuckled, tenderly caressing Isabella’s cheek. "My, how you’ve blossomed."

As befitting a Grand Knight, Isabella’s physical development surpassed her mother’s considerably, now standing a full half-head taller than Anno.

"Come now… let’s get inside."

Mrs. Anno shifted aside from the doorway, ushering Isabella and Lolth into the establishment.

Although the pie shop wasn’t open for business, the freshly scrubbed floors and meticulously arranged furnishings testified to recent preparations.

A central table in the main room already bore steaming teacups when Anno guided them to their seats.

"You’ve inherited your eyes and hair from that hapless father of yours… beautiful…"

Rather than sitting, Anno remained standing beside Isabella, fingers gently tousling her daughter’s locks.

The doorway interlude had dissolved most of Isabella’s anxiety, leaving her feeling like the eight-year-old who once reveled in such maternal gestures. Gathering courage, she finally voiced her long-held question.

"So… why truly? Why remain in the Republic of Seychelles running a pie shop?"

"At first I believed you’d stopped loving Father… or me… but now…"

"Clearly that wasn’t the case at all."

Isabella’s murmured words drew a flicker of remorse across Anno’s features.

"Forgive me, Isabella… for letting you harbor such thoughts."

"My departure back then… was truly unavoidable."

"I’ll make no excuses – as your mother, I failed in my duties."

"As for the reasons… now isn’t the time to explain."