[75.5] Caught in the Act

[Author's note: This part of the chapter is back to Reika's point of view.]

They both froze and turned to look at me. I had my arms crossed as I stood in the doorway of the courtyard glaring at them. Behind me, Lene and Rose were standing behind me.

Rose bowed her head as she held back tears, "I'm sorry! I tried to watch Lene, but she's so fast! I turned away for one second and she went and woke up Master!!"

Lene put her hands in the air, "Lene got bored!"

I narrowed my eyes, "So? Who is this?"

The new demon stepped forward brimming with youthful innocence, "Hello! I'm Koale! They brought me outside!"

I blinked in surprise, "Oh… Hello, Koale. My name can't be understood, but you can call me Master, Mother, or Great Fairy. Whatever you like. I have no preference anymore." 

He giggled, "I will call you Mother! I've never had a mother!!!"

I was speechless, "I see…"

He looked around curiously, "I like it here! There is a moon and trees everywhere!!!"

Lene cheered, "Yes! I also like the moon and trees!"

Koale grinned, "And rocks! You can't forget rocks!"

Her face lit up, "Rocks are fun to throw!!!"

His face lit up as if replicating her, "I should try that!!!"

"My name is Lene!"

"Hello, Lene! I'm Koale!"

She grabbed onto his sleeve, "Are you going to be my brother now?"

"Does that make you a sister or a brother?"

"A sister!"

"Then yes!!!"

"Awesome!"

He imitated her tone with a bright grin, "Awesome!!"

Rose stared at him slackjawed, "I'm… I'm Rose…"

He waved at her, "Hello Rose! I'm Koale!!!"

She flushed shyly, "Mmmn… It's a nice name."

"Thank you! I like Rose!"

She flushed a deeper shade of red, "I… I like Koale too…"

He too blushed, "Are you a sister or a brother?"

She fluttered her eyes at him, "Neither… Something better…"

"Oooh… I like better."

I stared at the two's exchange feeling like something was off, "Um… Rose?"

She turned to smile at me, "Master… I like him. He has absolutely nothing in his head."

"And that's… A good thing?"

She nodded furiously.

I let out an exhausted sigh, "Okay… Um. Rose and Lene, can you show him to a spare room?"

Lene led the charge, "Room next to me!!!"

Once the three were gone, I turned to Asmonious, Lovi, and Bale with a frown.

"You three… Follow me." After I led them to the courtyard, they stared back at me anxiously. I crossed my arms, "Can you two explain to me why you snuck out of the barrier? And don't lie to me."

Lovi and Bale looked at each other anxiously, neither one daring to break the silence. 

I turned away from them and narrowed my eyes at Asmonious.

He buckled immediately, "We were getting revenge for Lovi."

"Revenge?!"

He looked at me in a panic, "B-But we didn't kill anyone! We just scared her father a bit! That's when we found Koale and brought him back. He's Lovi's half-brother and was locked up in a basement. I don't think his father ever let him out."

Lovi nodded frantically, "That's right! We did a good thing! We saved him from being locked up!!"

I let out an exhausted sigh, "And Bale, why are you with them?!?"

He answered honestly, "I was hoping to prove myself to Lovi so she would marry me."

My eyebrow twitched, "E-Excuse me?"

Lovi slapped his back, "Are you trying to get us into more trouble!?"

I narrowed my eyes at them, "So I am to understand that you all snuck out without telling me to go on a mission of revenge? Do you realize how stupid that is?!"

Lovi whined, "Master, I know it was dangerous, but-"

"I'm disappointed in you, Lovi! You knew it was dangerous and you didn't think to tell me?!" I looked at Asmonious, "-And you."

Asmonious couldn't stop trembling as he felt my eyes upon him.

I frowned, "Don't lie to me. Why did you let them go? You're usually the responsible one!"

"I-I was worried about them…" He bit his lip and answered obediently, "I'm also not as close to Lovi as I am to Lene, Rose, and the twins… I thought this could… Bring us closer."

Lovi looked at him in shock, "You… You wanted to be closer to me?"

Even I was shocked by his sudden admission.

He averted his gaze from both of us but didn't explain further.

However, I knew what he wanted to say.

Every demon, even half-demons, shook when he looked in their direction. They were all afraid of him and avoided him.

For no good reason.

Lene couldn't see the look so it never bothered her, Rose saw him as her savior so she ignored it, and the twins were too young to acknowledge it.

That only left Lovi and Atta.

For Atta, she didn't understand simple relationships so she stayed her distance. But with Lovi, she was always unconsciously avoiding him due to that instinctual fear.

Asmonious was bright and observant. Of course, he noticed she was doing so.

Lovi shared a look of guilt as she pondered his words.

I let out a sigh, "I understand why you wanted to go, but that doesn't excuse why you didn't tell me."

He opened and closed his mouth, but couldn't speak. 

It was then that Lovi blurted out, "I begged him not to tell you. I was worried you wouldn't let us go!!!"

I glanced at Asmonious, "Is that true?"

He nodded grimly.

I noticed his panicked expression and recalled the earlier days that we spent in the cave. I wanted to yell at him and give him a harsh punishment, but because of that look…

I couldn't bring myself to do any of that.

I let out a defeated sigh, "Come here."

He stepped over to me anxiously, not daring to raise his head.

 I reached my hand out to pat the top of his head.

He raised his eyes in surprise, "Master?"

I smiled at him, "You did good in protecting your sister. I'm proud of you for that. However, what you three did was very, very dangerous. What if something happened to you? What could I do? I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for you! Do you understand how dangerous that is?!"

The three spoke in unison, "-I understand."

I crossed my arms in a huff, "Then you understand you three need punishments."

Lovi looked up at me in distress, "But we saved a life-"

I glared at her, shutting her up. I continued, "Do you understand?"

The three nodded, "-I understand."

"Good. For Lovi, I'm giving you more homework and you must do it under my supervision."

"-WHAT!?!"

I ignored her outburst and continued, "For Bale, you are grounded to the village. You're not allowed to come here for an entire month."

Bale cried out, "BUT I NEED MY LOVI-"

I looked at Asmonious, "-And for you."

He flinched.

What can I do to punish him?

He will do anything I say without it actually being a punishment…

I could take away his painting set, but that seems too cruel.

Well… I might as well benefit from this situation.

"You're going to be on diaper duty and potty training duty."