Seeing that Siloque was serious, Inafa’s small face flushed a deep red. She had originally only intended to watch Siloque decline with an embarrassed smile, after which she, as the master, would magnanimously allow them to stay.
Before Inafa could react, her thick-soled boots had already been removed. Her small feet, clad in black silk stockings, were being calmly observed by the black-haired youth before her.
“You… you pervert, idiot! Moron! Dummy! You brain-dead, stu—stu—stupid human!”
She tried to stomp on Siloque, but he simply pinched her foot gently with his right hand.
“The arch is moderate, and the curves are small and exquisite; your feet are beautiful.”
There was nothing lewd in Siloque’s gaze; it was the serious look one might give to a supreme work of art. He raised his head, meeting Inafa’s eyes.
“Inafa, don’t move around. I don’t want you to fall and get hurt.”
“Guh… To actually like the feet of a young girl like this, just how thirsty is this stupid human…”
Inafa was both angry and ashamed. She considered whether she should kick Siloque again but feared her other foot would also be caught.
“Kahahahaha! Boy, you certainly are bold! But I don’t hate it—you need that kind of momentum to push down your master! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! I was wrong, I was wrong!!”
Through two layers of fabric, Inafa was forcefully pinching the flesh of Tiana’s thigh.
“Brother, this… this isn’t very good, is it?”
“I suppose so… Hill, Tiana, could you two step away for a moment? I’m about to start licking Inafa’s feet, and she might feel embarrassed with you watching.”
“That’s not the issue here!”
Faced with the siblings’ remarks, Inafa lost her nerve. Her eyes shimmered as she used her vampire strength to break free and pull her foot back.
“Stupid human, I’ve already seen your sincerity! I understand it deeply!”
Inafa wore a complex expression that looked like a mix of cowardice and bluffing. She glared fiercely at Siloque while putting her shoes back on.
Did she not ask me to lick them? Siloque said with a hint of regret, “You didn’t have to be so polite.”
He felt his arms being lifted; it turned out Hill was grabbing him and dragging him away. Oh my, I simply wanted to lick Inafa’s feet; everyone’s reaction is quite an exaggeration.
His sister whispered cold words into his ear, “Brother, you should know when to stop your jokes.”
Tiana, who had been acting as a chair, chuckled. “With you all here, Master won’t be too bored.”
“We’ve played enough. For now, let’s handle the cleanup.”
“You really are a thick-skinned human,” Inafa said indignantly.
Siloque observed Inafa’s body, and she reflexively covered herself with both hands in a defensive stance. Because Inafa’s [Black Cat] form didn’t last long, some of Andre’s and the others’ belongings were left behind, but Siloque was in no rush to scavenge. There were more important things to do.
“Inafa, how is the wound on your stomach? Did the silver weapons they used leave any lasting effects?”
“How do you know they injured my abdomen when they attacked?”
Inafa looked down at her clothes. The clothes she wore while sleeping were different from what she wore now, so there shouldn’t have been any visible damage.
“I guessed.”
“…Whatever. Heh heh heh.” Inafa elegantly brushed her hair back. “Don’t underestimate me; I’m no ordinary vampire. An injury of that level vanished long ago. There isn’t a single mark left on my body. It’s perfectly fine.”
“That won’t do.”
“Ha? You—”
It should be fine. It’s a pity I can’t touch her little belly, though.
Siloque gathered his thoughts and looked around. The originally smooth white marble tiles of the hall had become uneven, marked by the dragon claw prints Tiana had left during the previous battle. Half of the crystal glass on the large chandelier overhead had fallen, and the ceiling was in a wretched state.
Perhaps noticing Siloque’s gaze, Inafa took the initiative to suggest, “Such an ugly sight in this house is hardly suitable for hosting guests… Tiana, take the siblings to rest. Leave the cleanup here to me.”
Inafa tried her best to display the magnanimity of a castle master. However, as her gaze swept across the ruined battlefield, her face showed melancholy, and her tone betrayed heartache and sadness.
“What are you saying? Of course we’re going to help you clean up the site.”
Siloque bent down, placing his hand on the beautiful white floor tiles.
“…I am the castle master. How can I let guests work? Go, go, go! Go lie down!”
Inafa pouted to show her dissatisfaction and made a shooing gesture. Her pride didn’t want others helping her clean up the aftermath. It was because her own abilities were insufficient that the castle her mom left her had become so battered. She hadn’t protected it well, and she hadn’t fulfilled her duties as the master. Even if she summoned Blood Spirits to help, it would likely take three days to repair.
“Lodging fees,” Siloque said. “Think of this as the lodging fee for us staying in this castle. Because Inafa looks like she’s about to cry, and looking at you like that makes my heart feel heavy.”
“Huh?” Inafa lowered her head slightly, looking troubled.
“Ah, Hill understands.” The pale-gold twin-tailed girl wore the expression of a famous detective. “Illyon, you’re a tsundere. It’s okay. With Hill and Brother here, this castle can be renovated for you in no time.”
“…Tsundere? What an annoying-sounding word. I’m not boasting, but what can two tiny humans like you do? You’ll only be in the way here.”
Inafa made a final attempt to make them comply with facts, let out a “Hmph,” and turned her head away. Speaking of which, what has this stupid human been kneeling on the ground for since a moment ago? He isn’t secretly licking my boots, is he?
Curious, Inafa looked down, warily moving her hips back. Siloque pulled an A4-sized piece of paper printed with a Magic Circle from his pocket, placed it on the ground, and pressed it down with his hand.
With the rapid sound of earth and stone walls colliding, the uneven white floor tiles flattened out like falling water, becoming smooth once again. The entire floor of the hall was as polished as new. The previous pits, dents, and dragon claw prints had all disappeared.
“Eh?”
For the second time, Inafa made a dumbfounded sound. She rubbed her eyes, opened them again, and stomped hard on the floor to confirm it was all real.
“You’re lying…”
“There it is! Brother’s [Master Builder Skill]! How is it, Illyon? This is something only Hill’s brother can do.”
“Kahahahaha! Boy, I didn’t think you could manipulate rock. You’re a mage! Seeing how you predicted so many things before, I thought you were a shaman.”
Tiana, acting as a chair, tapped the cool floor with her large tail to check the hardness. Inafa looked up and saw that the cracks in the ceiling were still there, and the hole leading from the basement to the hall had not disappeared either. Recalling Siloque’s actions from before, when he had made a chair for her, she had assumed it was magic that manipulated mud and rock.
It should be… magic, right? But it wasn’t that “cheating” magic. To restore an object, he had to touch it with his hands. At that possibility, Inafa felt her thoughts were somewhat absurd, and her mouth felt a bit dry.
“Haha, it’s impossible. A human having [Alchemy]—”
“You guessed right. It is [Alchemy].”
Inafa’s face turned pale, and she couldn’t help but gasp. “…Are you able to manufacture matter without touching it as well?”
“Yes, but my magic precision is too low, so I can’t generate things from thin air as I please. Just now, I had to use the magic circle on the paper to help; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to readjust the shape of the floor tiles.”
Seeing Siloque answer so honestly, Inafa was somewhat speechless and surprised. “Impossible! The legendary World-Creating Magic that can create all things… Didn’t it disappear 500 years ago!”
“Illyon, why are you so excited?”
“Stupid human… No, Siloque.” Inafa ignored Hill and stared intently at Siloque. “I have no interest in how you got it. But let me warn you: do not expose this magic casually. Call it earth manipulation or stone-altering magic, but do not call it [Alchemy]. That is, if you don’t want to bring a fatal disaster upon yourself.”
Siloque, however, gave a relaxed and gentle smile. “I understand. Inafa, I’m telling you this precisely because I trust you.”
Inafa froze, then said, “…Hearing such words from someone who wanted to lick my feet just a moment ago is really subtle. The feeling is truly complicated.”
“Ugh, the way Inafa is looking at me is a bit stinging,” Siloque sighed.
Hill, on the other hand, nodded with satisfaction. Why is my sister so happy to see her brother being disliked by a loli?
“Heh, idiot… I only reminded you on a whim. It’s not like your death concerns me anyway—just don’t die in my house.”
She turned her back to Siloque. One of the best ways to deepen a relationship—both parties holding each other’s secrets and leverage. Though, it wasn’t exactly fair. After all, I know Inafa’s secrets perfectly well.
“Okay, Hill is ready. Let’s set aside skills and magic for now. Illyon, let’s start the grand cleaning! Witness the [Out-of-system Housekeeping Skills] Hill has cultivated at home!”
Hill was already holding a broom and a dustpan, along with nine large trash bags.
“Hmph… Since you’re so determined, I’ll accept. Use this as your lodging fee.”
Inafa jumped down from Tiana. The gold-haired, gold-eyed vampire was surrounded by a red, tassel-like light. A bandana appeared on her head, and she tied on an apron and gloves.
She looked quite experienced, this castle master. Although Inafa had a haughty personality, she was a hands-on pragmatist. Even though she could order the Blood Spirits to work, she usually cleaned every corner of the castle herself.
Inafa said in a slightly higher pitch than before, “Hey, stupid human, that big hole in the floor—I’ll trouble you to fix that too. You can do it, right?”
Siloque helped Tiana up, ignoring her foolish comments like, “Being Master’s chair is very comfortable; she hasn’t sat on me in a long time.”
“Of course. I’ll use [Alchemy] to repair the damaged areas, so I’ll leave the dust and debris to you all. Tiana, let me borrow your back; I need to reach the ceiling.”
“Understood! Boy!”
“Hey, stupid human! The only one who can give Tiana orders is me, her master!”
And so, through a grand cleaning session, the relationship between two humans, one dragon, and one vampire became a little bit closer.