Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 495 You Wanted To Laugh? Laugh Now

In the midst of the fervor, an agreement was swiftly reached, no one bothering to ponder its validity.

Then, a different voice attempted to interject.

[ReasonableDude]: Um… shouldn't our focus be on more critical matters? Such as her bloodline or perhaps her abilities? What exactly is the subject of this discussion?

[LightBearer]: I concur with the previous commentator. This is quite unproductive. If we are to discuss anything at all, it ought to be about Goddess Alice!

[SaintessDevotee01]: At last, a voice of reason. Goddess Alice is deserving of far greater attention.

[SaintessDevotee01]: Indeed, precisely. Goddess Alice is the absolute best.

[SaintessDevotee114]: I've been advocating for this from the very beginning. No one can measure up to her.

[SaintessDevotee302]: It's not merely her strength; she genuinely cares for people. That is what truly counts.

[SaintessDevotee778]: Exactly, right? Power isn't the sole criterion. Her character alone elevates her above all others.

[SaintessDevotee990]: I fail to grasp why this is even a point of contention. Goddess Alice is unequivocally the individual everyone in this gathering should be discussing!

[GoddessEmilyFanClubMember8823]: What nonsense are you lunatics spouting? Goddess Emily possesses superior strength, purity, and talent compared to Saintess Alice. There is simply no comparison to be made. Either cease your nonsensical "Goddess Alice" chatter or depart.

[SaintessGuardian77]: Raw strength is not the ultimate measure. Goddess Alice demonstrates greater kindness, dedicating her precious time to healing and tending to the vulnerable and injured. That is of far greater significance.

The adherents of Alice and Emily commenced their heated exchange.

Amidst their escalating argument, a new comment appeared:

[SaltyMage]: My heart aches that the infernal Isaac is involved with my Goddess Alice. Their union is akin to a lowly toad harboring desires for a majestic swan.

[SaltyMage]: There is no conceivable way that Goddess Alice would willingly associate with him. He must have resorted to blackmail, forcing himself upon her.

[CalmObserver]: That assertion cannot possibly be true. Goddess Alice remains untainted! She is a Saintess. It is utterly impossible for that scoundrel to compel her into any dishonorable act.

[LoreReader]: My dear friend, from whence did you procure this notion that a Saintess must maintain her purity? You've been immersing yourself too deeply in fictional tales.

[CollegeStudent]: I fear the observation from the user above holds merit. Isaac persistently lingered around Alice during their academy days. At that juncture, he lacked any significant backing and could only trail her like a subordinate. However, in the present era…

The chat feed continued its relentless, dizzying scroll, with fresh comments perpetually eclipsing the older ones from view. While some participants engaged in endless debates, striving to vindicate their own interpretations of events, others merely fanned the flames for their own amusement.

It seemed that the more outlandish the assertion, the greater the attention it commanded.

…

Celia POV

"Hahahahahaha!"

Celia was positioned on her stomach, her legs playfully kicking in the air as she fixated on the screen.

Her laughter, long since unrestrained, erupted in spasms that convulsed her entire frame, compelling her to press her face into the pillow simply to regain her breath.

Isaac was situated a short distance away, his posture rigid, his tolerance wearing thin. He had only consented to remain because she had vehemently insisted that she would miss crucial updates if he did not permit her release from the Mirror Dimension.

While his intention was to penalize her by leaving her confined, the prospect of her enduring misery alone proved unbearable, prompting his decision to stay with her. Now, that decision was under review.

"Could you, perhaps, cease this laughter for a moment?" Isaac inquired, maintaining a controlled tone, though an unmistakable undercurrent of irritation was present.

Celia lifted her head slightly, directing her gaze toward him, her eyes glistening from excessive laughter. She attempted to offer a reply, but the mere recollection of what she had just perused caused her to succumb to mirth once more. Her shoulders quivered as she plunged her face back into the pillow.

"I'm unable to cease," she managed to articulate after a few seconds, her voice still tinged with amusement. "They are utterly sincere in their beliefs."

Isaac offered no response. He was already privy to the source of her amusement, a realization that only amplified the situation.

Celia pushed herself upright onto her elbows, her smile persistent.

"They hold the conviction that Emily is pure and blameless. Furthermore, they are under the impression that it was you who relentlessly pursued Alice throughout the academy," she stated, attempting to regain her composure.

She paused, scrutinizing his expression before proceeding.

"They even went so far as to suggest you acted like a mere follower back then."

The instant her words concluded, she lost all capacity for restraint. The laughter surged back with renewed vigor, and this time, she made no effort to suppress it.

Isaac's expression grew somber. It was evident, without a word uttered, that he found no amusement in the situation.

Celia, however, could not contain herself.

Celia maintained close relationships with both Emily and Alice, engaging in conversations whenever their schedules permitted. She was privy to the nature of the "requests" Emily would make of Isaac, and it was Alice who had actively pursued Isaac during their academy years, actively fending off other girls interested in him.

If anything, Isaac was the most virtuous individual present.

The sheer irony of the situation was overwhelmingly amusing to Celia.

"I said stop laughing," Isaac repeated, his voice firm.

"And what if I don't? What are you going to do about it?" Celia retorted, a playful glint entering her eyes as she looked at him again. She tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile.

"Will the lecherous Isaac use some questionable method to make me behave?" she quipped, attempting to maintain a serious expression. However, the slightest twitch in his demeanor broke her composure, and her laughter erupted once more, louder than before.

Isaac exhaled slowly. Then, with an unexpected swiftness, he made his move.

Behind him, soft, fox-like tails materialized. They moved with an agility that belied their size, swaying once before executing their task. Two of them swiftly wrapped around Celia's wrists, pulling her arms above her head and securing them before she could react. Another pair expertly bound her ankles, ensuring she couldn't escape.

Gradually, Celia's laughter subsided. "...um, Isaac... what are you doing?" she inquired.

"Didn't you want to laugh? I'm helping you," he replied.

Before she could form a response, the remaining two tails lifted her clothes slightly, exposing her midsection and began to tickle her. Simultaneously, Isaac's hand joined in, playfully tickling her exposed armpits.

For a fleeting moment, Celia froze.

Then, she erupted into uncontrollable laughter. "Isaac—! Stop—" she managed to gasp between fits of giggles. "I'm sorry—just—stop—"

Her body instinctively thrashed as she tried to break free, but the restraints on her wrists and ankles remained unyielding. Every attempt to squirm only intensified the ticklish sensation. Her laughter escalated into a torrent, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to draw a full breath, her pleas becoming choked fragments.

Isaac maintained a deliberate, steady rhythm, ensuring she experienced each second of her predicament. For him, it was a simple lesson being taught. When he finally ceased, Celia lay exhausted, her chest heaving as she struggled to recover her breath, too spent to even utter a word.

A smirk of satisfaction played on Isaac's lips. He briefly glanced at her before turning his full attention back to the livestream, his expression instantly sharpening as he focused on the ongoing battle. The clash between Florathi's team and Avery's group struck him as unusual.

'They're not targeting Emily,' he mused internally.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze narrowing as he dissected the unfolding events. If their intention was to neutralize Emily's taming ability, they should have prioritized defeating Sera swiftly. Once Sera's skill was nullified, they would have pursued Emily relentlessly. Yet, they were deliberately prolonging the engagement.

'Sera's sudden appearance here suggests she isn't Florathi's primary objective.'

'They are likely focusing on Eleanor or Avery.'

'But why?' The question echoed in his mind, unresolved.

Just then, he felt a sensation on his hand. Looking down, he saw Celia biting him, her eyes still teary as she glared defiantly. It was her attempt at revenge for the tickle torture Isaac had inflicted. Regrettably for her, Isaac's stats were far too high; he felt no pain, let alone any injury.

A smug smile spread across his face.

Celia recognized the futility of her 'attack.' She probably appeared as nothing more than an adorable hamster to him. Without a word, she reached into her storage ring and produced the Heaven-Reversal Moon Elixir.

Isaac's expression shifted dramatically. "Wait, don't—"

But it was too late. She had already acted, swallowing the Heaven-Reversal Moon Elixir without hesitation. A triumphant smirk graced her lips as she met his gaze.