***

As they rested, the topic of Yomite's "Posterior Vulnerability" also known as "The Heavenly Butt" became the subject of light-hearted jokes and teasing among the group.

To the surprise of many, even Rosaria joined in with a few words of her own, agreeing the term fit him well.

Hu Tao leaned in close to Fischl, grinning mischievously. "So, Fishy-Fishy, I always knew you liked it. You steal glances at his butt from time to time~"

Fischl's cheeks flushed crimson, and she sputtered indignantly. "I-I assure thee, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung was not interested in such...vulgar matters!"

Hu Tao, however, wasn't about to let Fischl off the hook that easily.

With a playful wink, she continued her teasing. "Oh, come on, Fishy-Fishy I know you better than anyone now, you are a secret pervert~"

Fischl's blush deepened, and she crossed her arms defensively. "Thy words are as baseless as they are vexing, Hu Tao. The Prinzessin der Verurteilung has far more pressing matters to concern herself with than the...physical attributes of her lover. The world we inhabit is a place of shadows and fleeting desires, a land where lust reigns supreme, and true love is cast aside like a withered rose. I refuse to succumb to the seductive allure of carnal passions, for I know in my heart of hearts that they offer but a fleeting and hollow solace! None shall stop me!"

Despite her best efforts to feign disinterest and the heartfelt speech she just gave, Fischl couldn't help but steal a quick glance in Yomite's direction, her eyes momentarily drawn to his "form", and immediately looked away.

This did not go unnoticed by the ever-observant Hu Tao, however.

"Aha! I caught you looking!" Hu Tao crowed triumphantly, pointing an accusing finger at Fischl. "You can't deny it now, Fishy-Fishy! All this true love nonsense! You're just a lewd girl~"

Mortified, Fischl turned her gaze away, her face burning with embarrassment. "I... I was merely ensuring that Yomite was recuperating properly, as any responsible member of our party would do. Thine accusations are most unbecoming, Hu Tao!"

Hu Tao burst out laughing, which drew the attention of the others.

No one knew what was going on between the two of them, but judging from Fischl's reaction, it seemed like Hu Tao had finally gotten under her skin.

Fischl bit her lip, unable to look at Hu Tao for fear of further embarrassment. "Thou dost mock me, Hu Tao, and I doth not appreciate it. I will not stand for such slanderous statements, even if it means I must resort to the use of meine fists."

"Whoa! Hold on a minute here! Fishy-Fishy, you can't hit someone just because they call you a perv~"

Fischl, her pride wounded by Hu Tao's relentless teasing, couldn't let the matter rest.

With a huff, she took off after Hu Tao, who had sprinted away with a mischievous laugh. "Hu Tao, thou shalt not escape the wrath of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung! These fists shall humble thee greatly!"

"You can't get mad just because we are together more often than you two are~"

"This Prinzessin holds no jealousy within the tender heart of hers! Only anger!"

"It seems like my Assistant needs to help you with some pent-up stress then~"

"Hu Tao! You!"

The two darted through the corridors, Fischl's determination to catch Hu Tao momentarily overshadowing her embarrassment.

Their playful chase caught the attention of their teammates, who couldn't help but smile at the scene.

Meanwhile, Barbara and Rosaria found themselves in a quiet corner, taking a break from the antics of their friends.

The two couldn't have been more different - Barbara, the cheerful and energetic idol, and Rosaria, the stoic and aloof nun. Despite their contrasting personalities, they had developed a surprising friendship.

"Sister Rosaria," Barbara began, her voice full of energy, "How do you think we're doing so far? I'm really impressed with how well everyone's working together! We have almost reached the end and beat the entire thing!"

Rosaria glanced at her, her expression cool but not unkind. "We're doing better than I expected, considering the circumstances. But we can't afford to let our guard down. Something tells me the 12th floor will be quite different from the rest."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know for sure, I'm just assuming based on the pattern we've seen so far. Enemies were tougher and stronger than we expected. If we come across anything worse on the 12th floor, we'll need to be prepared for it."

Barbara nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a smart idea. Thanks for the tip, Sister Rosaria."

She held out a hand, but Rosaria declined, preferring the comfort of silence over physical contact.

Barbara hesitated for a moment, then lowered her hand, understanding Rosaria's preference for personal space. "I'm sorry..."

"No need to apologize," Rosaria replied, her tone gentle despite her stoic nature. "We all have our own ways of expressing things. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not that kind of person."

"..."

"..."

"...You can lie to yourself, but I just don't believe that. Everyone needs love!"

This time, Barbara, didn't take no for an answer.

She wrapped her arms around Rosaria, giving her a warm hug.

"I don't care," Barbara said with a smile. "We're friends, and that means showing each other love and support. Besides, a hug never hurt anyone."

"..."

Rosaria stiffened at first, unused to physical affection, but gradually she relaxed and accepted the embrace.

They stayed like that for a few moments, but soon, Rosaria sighed softly and stepped back from the embrace.

"..."

"..."

"Well...I guess we should head back to the others."

Rosaria gave a slight nod, her eyes still focused on the distance.historical

As they walked back to the rest of the group, Barbara couldn't help but smile at Rosaria's aloof demeanor.

Despite her cold exterior, Barbara knew that Rosaria genuinely cared for her.

Rosaria on the other hand, had different things on her mind.

With the break coming to an end, Yomite called everyone together. "Alright, girls, it's time to continue. Let's see each other at the end of the 12th floor. Good luck."

The group exchanged nods and words of encouragement, and they once again parted.