Chapter 35 – Copper and Cotton Candy.

Morning in the duplex apartment began with an unusual revelation at the breakfast table.

The group's priestess, hitherto known as Lyra, placed a printed form on the table, her expression slightly embarrassed, yet full of determination.

"Commander Diana…" The priestess began, fidgeting her hands on her skirt. "…today I am going to the Citadel's Central Registry to officially register my name change."

Diana took a sip of tea, looking at the girl. "Another name change?"

Rhea, who was serving bread at the table, laughed softly. "That's the third time you've changed your name this month!"

The priestess gave a timid smile, fiddling with the amethyst on her staff.

She had never hidden her past in the living world from the squad. Her human parents were miserable, abusive people who treated her like a useless burden and an unnecessary drain on food. The original name given by her parents carried memories of screaming, isolation, and violence.

Ever since arriving in Hell, frequently changing her name had become her way of cutting ties with the past and reinventing her own identity.

"I hate that old name…" The priestess said softly. "But this time I picked a permanent name. A grand, beautiful, elegant name to fit our faction!"

She displayed the filled-out form with pride: Aurelia-Elysia.

Diana read the new name on paper.

"Aurelia-Elysia…" Diana assessed in a serious tone. "Sounds like a brand of high-tier elixirs. It's an excellent commercial name. Approved."

Rhea and Kael burst out laughing at Diana's purely financial analysis.

The squad walked to the sector's Central Registry and paid the official name change fee, celebrating afterward with sweets in the plaza.

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[NAME CHANGE AND CELEBRATION EXPENSES]

- Registry Fee + Sweets in Plaza: -2 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze Coins (250 Bronze).

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 77 SILVER COINS (7,700 Bronze! / 7.7 GOLD COINS!)]

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Seventy-seven silver coins stored in the vault. And the squad's priestess was now officially named Aurelia-Elysia.

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Market Plaza - The Secret Meeting

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While Diana was at the registry counter collecting the stamped document, Aurelia-Elysia, Kael, and Rhea sat at a sidewalk cafe table.

Aurelia-Elysia leaned across the table, fixing Rhea with a conspiratorial look.

"Rhea…" Aurelia-Elysia whispered. "…you're in love with Commander Diana, aren't you?"

Rhea choked on her fruit juice, turning red all the way to the tips of her wolf ears, which flattened in pure embarrassment. "W-What?! Aurelia! Have you lost your mind?!"

"No point hiding it, wolf girl!" Kael laughed aloud, scratching his neck, blushing slightly. "Everyone in the squad sees how you look at her! And to be completely honest… even Aurelia and I have a massive crush on the Commander. She's strong, beautiful, protective, and looks after us like no one else."

Aurelia-Elysia nodded. "Exactly! The Commander has that vibe of someone who wants to possess and hoard everything… so having a harem of loyal members around her would fit her 100%! The problem is something else…"

Rhea adjusted her blue overcoat, curious. "What problem…?"

"The problem…" Aurelia-Elysia sighed dramatically, "…is that Commander Diana is an absolute functional illiterate when it comes to romance. If you tell her your heart beats fast for her, she'll think you're under a poison blood spell."

Kael burst out laughing at the table. "Worst part is it's true! We need to give you some flirting tips to see if that ice block wakes up!"

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Ivory & Silk Residence Balcony - Late Afternoon

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Back at the duplex apartment, Operation "Flirt with the Commander" commenced on the balcony.

Aurelia-Elysia and Kael watched hidden behind the living room curtain, providing moral support to Rhea.

Diana was sitting in the balcony armchair, studying a Third Circle dungeon map while sipping hot tea.

Rhea approached slowly, holding the tea pitcher. Following "Step 1" taught by Aurelia-Elysia, Rhea poured the tea and, as she handed over the cup, let her fingers slide lovingly across Diana's hand, meeting her gaze with a sweet, alluring look.

"Diana…" Rhea whispered in the softest voice she could muster. "…my chest feels so warm and my heart races so fast when I'm close to you like this…"

Diana froze.

She dropped the map on the table, grabbed Rhea's wrist with an expression of absolute concern, and slapped [Analysis Vision] right on the wolf girl's face.

"Is your heart rate erratic?!" Diana asked, visibly alarmed. "Did that pink slime poison from the last dungeon leave residual side effects in your circulation?! Aurelia-Elysia! Bring a Detox Elixir immediately!"

Aurelia-Elysia banged her forehead against the living room wall in sheer despair. Kael covered his mouth to keep from roaring with laughter.

Rhea sighed, her face bright red with embarrassment. "It's not poison, Diana… never mind…"

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Ten minutes later, Rhea attempted "Step 2" recommended by Kael: direct aesthetic compliments.

Rhea adjusted her new silvery overcoat, did a charming little twirl in front of Diana, and tossed her silver hair back.

"Diana…" Rhea said, blushing. "…do you think I look pretty in this overcoat? I dressed up completely especially for you today…"

Diana pulled her reading monocle from her pocket, adjusted herself in her armchair, and examined Rhea's overcoat with a terribly technical, clinical eye.

"The fabric alignment at the pauldron is excellent." Diana assessed with total seriousness. "However, the stitching on the left side needs an extra leather strap to boost slash resistance by 5%. Overall, it's efficient gear. Good investment."

Rhea buried her face in both hands, sinking her head into the chair back on the other side of the table, defeated.

Aurelia-Elysia and Kael stepped out from behind the curtain, cracking up, unable to contain the comedy of the situation any longer.

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—Unbelievable…

The System's voice exploded in Diana's head, the interface floating with laughing text in the corner of her vision.

—Diana, you dense brick devoid of sensitivity… they are flirting with you!

Flirting…? Diana replied mentally, clueless. What are you talking about, trash can?! They are demonstrating a high level of morale and squad loyalty! A united squad operates 30% faster in combat!

—My God, you're hopeless. The System mocked.

Aurelia-Elysia sat at the table beside Rhea, laughing at Diana's surprised face, and decided to lay all her cards on the table.

"Commander…" Aurelia-Elysia said with a mischievous smile. "…if you ever decide to create a 'Harem of Greed' with the faction members, know that the three of us are already volunteer candidates, okay?"

Diana blinked her dark eyes, totally blind to the romantic connotation of the comment, interpreting the phrase strictly through the filter of her mathematical greed:

"Harem…?" Diana adjusted her jacket collar with a proud posture. "If you mean an Inner Circle of Retained Elite Guard, absolutely. My goal is to hoard at least ten master-level subordinates under my direct command before we reach the Fourth Circle."

Aurelia-Elysia, Kael, and Rhea collapsed laughing on the balcony.

Diana's greed and romantic blindness were so absolute, so pure, and so incorrigible that living together in the apartment was a constant comedy.

Final Notes:

More comedy! And romantic development-