80 Back to my castle (2)

"Aren't you a few days late? Did you take a detour?"

This was the first thing that Lia asked when I saw her again, but I brushed off her question with a smirk.

"Sorry, did I worry you?"

"Hmph, don't you already have one puppy wagging its tail for your return?"

"What, did you want to welcome me first?"

After a long glare, Lia replied, "...It seems you're the same as usual. Let's go."

Before she turned around I was sure I caught a glimpse of relief in her eyes, but even if I confronted her about it she would never admit to it.

Once we were in her bedroom/office, Lia explained what happened to my castle and Count Tusk's territory with occasional input from Jeanne.

"So his lineage is done for."

"Well that's the fate for a noble family unable to protect its people. Do you want to help them on account of your friendship with him?"

"As if. This is a result of their own choices. I only sent Chad there to make sure the enemy didn't get off easily."

"I'm glad that you can think like that. So, would you mind explaining the extra member?"

"I guess. Introduce yourself."

"My name, Aishie. Nice to meet you."

"Oh my, what a cute one." said Lia.

From the side of my eye I could tell that Jeanne agreed with this compliment. While I watched the two girls fawning over it, Aishie secretly asked me a question.

"Elios, are they, normal?"

"Normal? Well, I guess in some ways. Why do you ask?"

Aishie didn't answer, instead it jumped from my head to the floor before transforming.

"Amazing..."

"How cute!"

From a small red fox, Aishie turned into a little girl that was barely out of the toddler category. She had long straight hair like Jeanne's that fell to her back, as well as pink eyes like Lia's that brought out her supreme cuteness. Aishie stayed expressionless, but the way she innocently tilted her head at our reactions was already doing explosive damage.

'So she used them as examples. A bit exceptional for that then.'

Maybe it was because she was younger and I didn't need to be on guard as much, but I found it hard to hold back the smile that tried to surface when I looked at her.

Oh, and she was also in a robe like Jeanne's but though it fit her size it still looked bigger than her, which was even more adorable.

'Damn it! Is that dumb father's spirit haunting me?'

I subtly turned away from her but Aishie then climbed onto my lap. She was in complete human form so there was no fluffy tail wagging in front of my face, but for some reason I wished there was.

'I must still be tired.'

"Wow, Elios can I keep her?"

"Eh?"

As Aishie grabbed my pants and Jeanne teleported in front of us, I similarly cautioned her in a wary tone, "Lia, I know you like collecting cute girls but I need you to please restrain yourself."

With a gasp she asked in astonishment, "What kind of person do you think I am?"

"A sexual predator."

"Woah, I'm shocked."

"Am I wrong?"

"...Anyways, I'm not just interested in her because she's really cute. I don't know about you but even though this is obviously a transformation I can't see through it."

'Now that she mentions it.'

Even though many races of demons could take human form, it was normally easy to tell that it wasn't their true form. Whether it was an extra appendages or their aura, there was always something that proved that they weren't naturally humanoid. However, this wasn't the case with Aishie. Even with my Dragon Eyes of Truth, I was unable to see through her disguise.

'Could this be that Perfect Transformation skill?'

It was definitely surprising, but since I was also technically an exception it didn't move me that much.

"It's impressive but is that really your only reason?"

"Well, no. It's also because she's not affected by my charm."

It was rare for her to find a cute girl that she could be herself around so I began to understood her excitement.

"Hmm, Aishie, does this predator look pretty?"

I spotted a crack in Lia's smile, but I ignored it as I waited for Aishie's answer. She had a perfect human transformation but still responded with telepathy so only I could hear her.

"Not sure. Looking at her, feel uncomfortable."

'Ouch. Good thing she didn't hear that.'

"What did she say?" Lia asked with a hopeful expression.

Unable to absolutely crush her hope, I replied, "It seems that she's able to resist it somehow."

I had a good idea of why she possessed resistance towards Lia's charm but that was sensitive information.

I believed that it was either her Endurance skill or Hermit title.

[Hermit

Earned by one who has abstained from the seven pleasures for fifty years.

Resistance and, based on circumstance, immunity, to all abnormal mental conditions.]

Not a title for a child to have but at least it was useful.

With a bright expression Lia tried to bring up her previous request, but I quickly shot her down.

"So then-"

"You're not getting her."

"You don't have to abandon her, just bring her when you visit."

"I'd rather not. Though I won't go into details I'm supposed to be something like a guardian for her, I can't bring her around someone like you."

"Don't you trust me?"

"Not with cute little girls. Why do you think I never leave you alone with Kaili when you come to visit?"

"So it was on purpose!" Lia exclaimed, as if I had wronged her somehow.

"The fact that it bothers you means I did the right thing."

"You-!"

"Both of you. She's sleeping."

Stopping our argument with unparalleled solemnity was Jeanne who kept her eyes on Aishie who had dozed off on my lap. She tried to hide it, but I knew she was also fond of cute things, but less possessive than Lia so unlike this horny demon I could trust her with Kaili and soon Aishie as well.

Since we didn't want to wake her, we switched to telepathy through our own methods.

"Witch, is the castle in good enough condition to comfortably house us?" I asked.

"We've managed to clean up but since there was a lot of damage on the top floors it's an unstable environment that I wouldn't recommend."

I knew how Jeanne thought of Lia so she wouldn't exaggerate to make sure I didn't go see it yet. In this case I would have to...

"Lia,-"

"Yes."

"I didn't say anything yet."

"You don't have to. You're staying right?"

On one hand I was glad that she grasped my intention, but my guard went up as I saw her staring at Aishie.

'Looks like I won't be sleeping tonight.'

With Lia's permission I was able to stay in a room with Aishie and Jeanne. I told Jeanne that she didn't have to stay, but she was 'enthusiastic' about guarding us so I didn't make it an order.

As I laid in bed while petting the head of Aishie who was on top of my chest, I glanced at Jeanne who sat by the door. Although she thought she was doing a good job of hiding it, even without reading her mind I knew that there was something bothering her.

'Hah, what a high maintenance familiar.'

Although she certainly did a good enough job for me to overlook her emotional instability, I wished that this was like puberty for her and she would grow out of it soon.

We were heading into the climax of our revolt so I didn't want any unexpected troubles, therefore I wanted to take care of this as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, no matter how fast I could think, the mind of girls was still a complex mystery to me. I could read deeper into her mind, but then she would detect my intrusion and it would be harder for me to resolve the matter.

'It would be easier if she just told me her concern. Hmm, she can resist the effects of drugs if she's serious so a truth serum won't work. Maybe if there's a way to lower her guard...'

As I thought of how to help my familiar and kept my guard up against a certain predator watching us from the shadows, the night continued.