"What exactly do you want?" Natsuki Minamiya asked impatiently.
She was getting tired of talking with the young man before her—he was full of nonsense and seemed to take her for an idiot. Perhaps it would be best to just leave him be; he didn't seem dangerous, and she could always keep an eye on him from a distance.
"I just told you," Shichen replied. "Could you take me in? I'll do anything you need, as long as you provide me with a place to stay." Putting on a pitiful look, he gazed at her hopefully.
He needed to latch onto Natsuki's coattails, after all. Knowing more or less what kind of person she was, he didn't bother hiding or scheming. Honesty was always the best policy.
"…" Natsuki glanced away.
She had to admit, seeing a handsome boy looking so needy almost made her want to agree on the spot.
But was this guy some sort of succubus? Letting him roam the city freely might be a danger for innocent girls.
But having him stay with her… She was used to living alone.
"Maybe I should report you to higher authorities and let them decide what to do with you."
"Don't—way too dangerous! What if some shady types target me? I'd get locked up and researched, and in a panic, I might do something really bad. You wouldn't want that."
"?" Natsuki furrowed her brow.
Something about his words felt… off.
This guy was unbelievably persistent. She never should have approached him in the first place.
"…You really want me to shelter you?"
"Yes!" Shichen nodded vigorously.
"No hidden agenda?"
"Well, because you're cute, if that counts."
"…" She ignored that answer. "So you'll really do anything?"
"I can do housework, and I can teach classes."
"Teach? You're a teacher?"
"Pretty much."
"So can you brew black tea?"
"That I can absolutely do!" Shichen replied confidently.
Previously, he didn't just make coffee at his café; he also served black tea to customers who wanted it. At the mention of tea, he recalled that Natsuki liked black tea—this could come in handy.
"Quite sure of yourself, huh?"
"Just telling the truth."
"So about everything else you said…" Natsuki mused.
"I'm truly from the East. My name is Shichen—shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Shichen… You're not making that up?"
"I swear to the heavens! That's my real name—if I'm lying, call me a dog!"
"…" Natsuki couldn't help a faint twitch at the corners of her mouth. A childish type of oath, indeed.
"How old are you?"
"About twenty-five?"
"You're only twenty-five? What's with the True Ancestor aura, then?"
"It came about by accident. Not really useful."
"An…accident, huh."
That did sort of fit. A True Ancestor mainly had beast-vassals powered by magic, but there wasn't a scrap of mana on him. If her Binding Chains didn't work but he had no real powers to threaten her, maybe he was telling the truth.
"All right, I can take you in, but we need a few conditions."
"No problem!" Shichen agreed at once, eyes shining.
"…First, you do as I say."
"Got it!"
"Second, you can't wander around on your own without my permission."
"Understood!"
"And you'll stay with me. But there will be a curfew."
"Stay together? That's amazing!" Shichen said, excitement creeping into his tone.
"You—" Natsuki shot him a glare. "Behave yourself!"
"Right." Shichen nodded, looking chastened.
"You're not some pervert, are you? Taking an interest in me?" Natsuki asked. Even with little experience in such matters, it was apparent he was quite taken with her—and she could see the spark in his eyes. It was a novel sensation, someone openly showing her such interest.
"How could I be perverted?" Shichen objected. "Didn't you say you're twenty-two—a grown woman?"
"Don't call me that so casually!" Natsuki nearly smacked him with her lace fan in exasperation.
"But if you're so small and adorable, why shouldn't I be interested?"
"You really are a pervert. No wonder I can't just leave you in this city." She shook her head wearily.
"Okay, I'll follow your rules."
"Lastly… you have to brew black tea for me every day."
"Leave it to me. I promise you'll be addicted to my tea-making skills."
"Huh." Natsuki let out a cold laugh, then pointed her fan at him.
Without warning, a purple magic circle bloomed under Shichen's feet, mirrored by one behind her own back. "Let's go," she declared.
Natsuki turned to step into her magic circle. Her figure vanished, along with that circle.
Shichen glanced down at his own—a spatial teleportation circle, presumably. He was eager to experience dimensional transfer. But…
Just as the circle touched his feet, it shattered like glass.
Pop!
A sharp, crystalline sound echoed, and the runes disintegrated.
"…" Shichen stood dazed, staring at his feet. Now what?
He worried she'd left him behind. Sure enough, in a moment another circle reappeared in front of him, and out stepped Natsuki, her diminutive figure materializing once again.
"What the hell is going on?" she demanded.
"Sorry… magic seems ineffective on me," Shichen answered awkwardly.
"…?" Natsuki studied him in confusion.
"I have this trait—magic immunity. It just doesn't affect me."
"You're immune to magic?" she repeated, incredulous. "Another hidden ability, is it? No wonder you dare waltz into the Demon Sanctuary."
"I really was just teleported here involuntarily."
"Whatever," Natsuki grumbled. "We'll just walk. Come with me."
Since she'd decided to take him in, she didn't need to overthink. She led the way out of the alley.
"Yes, ma'am," Shichen said, trailing after her.
Emerging on a lively street, the pair drew looks from passersby. After all, a man and a girl stepping out of an alley midday… People briefly wondered if something shady was going on.
But a moment's glance showed a presumably "grade-schooler" and a "high-schooler"—impossible. They were too young and also too conspicuously attractive, so most onlookers assumed they might be siblings.
"Hurry," Natsuki called back, glancing over her shoulder at Shichen. All the stares annoyed her; she'd experienced it countless times, but it was still uncomfortable.
"Sure," Shichen quickened his pace to walk beside her.
Natsuki watched him from the corner of her eye, thoughts racing.
Only now did she realize she'd hastily agreed to let him stay with her, despite him possibly being a pervert. Could he have charmed her somehow? No, she wouldn't be so easily affected—more likely, she found his knowledge intriguing enough to keep him close.
Besides, he seemed dangerous—staying at her side was the best way to prevent him from causing trouble on Itogami Island. And the local government was annoyingly uptight; she didn't want them messing with him. Magic didn't work on him, so who knew what else he could do?
The True Ancestor aura radiating from him made her uneasy. Beast-vassals were known to have immense destructive potential. If he truly possessed a True Ancestor's beasts, that could devastate the island. Better if she kept tabs on him personally. He admitted he found her cute, so maybe she could use that.
Above all, she'd been living alone a long time and was tired of it. Maybe it was worth having someone around for a change.
She just hoped she wouldn't regret it.
~~~
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