Marionette's ears briefly twitched at Lillian's words.
"Panties?" Marionette furrowed her brows at her, then tilted her head, "What panties?" She asked with an innocent expression.
Lillian's face twitched at her words, "You have my panties don't you?"
Marionette became silent. Lillian sighed at this, then facepalmed, "Whatever... Just return it back to me whenever you can." She waved her hand dismissively.
Marionette gave a nod. An unusually strong one as she walked Lillian back to her room before leaving.
She soon made it back to her room, nonchalantly glancing at its interior to figure out if anything was out-of-place. After finding nothing wrong, she immediately made her way towards the bathroom.
A dozen or so minutes later, she exited it in a new pair of pyjamas with a towel on her head. She let out a soft moan before tossing it into the laundry basket inside. She then froze and turned to go back into the bathroom.
She stared into the laundry basket — now filled with the clothes she had worn on the trip, as well as the towel. Then, suddenly, it became filled with clothing too small to fit her. It was dyed a dark red and had a putrid iron smell.
It was Lillian's clothes.
Marionette stared blankly at the torn clothes before holding one of them up — the hoodie. It looked to be quite damaged — no longer suitable to be worn. And it even looked to be permanently stained with the foul crimson liquid.
She sighed, dropping the hoodie.
Thump...
She now wondered what to tell Lillian. She did say she was going to return it back to her once it was cleaned, but considering that these weren't... appropriate clothing any more, it didn't seem right.
She thought it over before coming to an idea. What if they were to go out the day after tomorrow to go shopping?
Once the word shopping popped into her mind, she held her chin. She remembered Lillian had wanted her to buy something else besides the black odachi for her. But it seems she might've forgotten.
Marionette stood before the washing machine, having just carried the laundry basket to it. The Academy was fortunate enough to supply each dorm room with one. As expected for such a prestigious academy.
She then rolled her eyes, "Filled with weak and spineless nobles, though." She muttered to herself, staring back into the laundry basket and narrowing her eyes. Something was missing.
She pulled out her hand, raising it just before her face and pinching the air. Between her index and thumb, a particular white undergarment appeared. It was made with an exceptionally soft fabric and had an elastic waistband.
It also had a childish image of a rabbit displayed around the area where the cooch was hidden.
This was... Lillian's panties...
As Marionette stared intensely at the white undergarment, still pinched between her fingers, silence drew into the laundry room.
"..."
Eventually, curiosity got the better of her.
Sniff...
Her nose twitched at the familiar scent lingering on the undergarment. But to a much more concentrated degree. Just before she moved her face into the panties, she pulled away and dropped it into the basket.
She then walked out of the room, shaking her head at how extremely inappropriate she was.
After she left, the laundry room's light was switched off but was soon switched on as Marionette wandered back into it. She reached into the basket, retrieved the panties, and left.
She needed something to survive the next two days with, after all. No matter how inappropriate it may be.
***
Meanwhile, that was happening, Lillian was staring curiously at the Black Maw — the black odachi, which was in her hands. She couldn't help but feel confused as she raised it, swinging it around.
But of course... It was sheathed and swung gently enough to not break anything. She already trashed this room before because of the Trial, although unintentional...
"I swear you are a lot lighter now..."
She didn't believe the sheath had any weight-reduction properties, so she immediately ruled that out. So it must be something having to do with one of its enchantments. And she knew exactly what that was...
[Hunter's Triumph]. An enchantment that causes the sword to resonate with wielders, who had been able to prove their strength. Although the odachi wasn't there when she defeated it, it seemed it sensed she did.
"Even so... It's not a noteworthy decrease in weight." She pouted, then sighed, "Y'know what...? Any little thing helps." She tossed it back into her Mana Realm and moved into her room and collapsed onto her bed.
She ran her fingers along the surface of her soft blanket, then clutched one of the rabbit plushies on her bed and brought it into her arms.
"So soft..." She rubbed her face into its white furry stomach. She then looked down at the black turtle-neck sweater she had been wearing.
"Hm... When should I give this back, I wonder?" She ran her fingers over her chest, feeling the textures of the sweater. Although it was a bit big... It was extremely comfortable.
She then quickly sat up and headed off towards the bathroom. She should probably go freshen up before preparing dinner. She also had to be ready for when Marionette comes over for food.
***
"Thank you for the food as usual, Lilly." Marionette said, wiping her face with a napkin, having just finished her plate.
Lillian nodded with a smile, "No problem." She then got up and took away the plates to the kitchen. After reaching the sink and putting them in, she deliberated whether or not to do them before shrugging, "Meh... I'll just them tomorrow."
She soon returned back to the living room to find Marionette staring at her intently. Lillian tilted her head at the gaze and asked:
"Is something wrong?"
"... Would you like to go out with me the day after tomorrow for some shopping?" Marionette asked.
"..." Lillian grinned teasingly, "It sounds like you are asking me out on a date, y'know~..."