Chapter 20

"Though it may seem strange to introduce ourselves again, the three of us are members of the Demon King extermination team. Therefore, Beatrice... we can secretly bring the Demon King here to release you."

"Are you the Demon King extermination team... 'The Adorable Calamity,' 'The Silent Exorcist,' and 'The Seductive Demon God'?"

"Hehe... I guess that's pretty well-known after all..."

Aileen seemed embarrassed by these nicknames, blushing and rubbing her cheek. Someone who saw her in her martial attire must have called her 'seductive,' but she thought it was an exaggeration.

And since I'm keeping my identity hidden, Miralca didn't count me.

Thinking about it, I visited this mansion as Dick to prepare for our stay, so Beatrice might have noticed. However, since undead beings weaken during the day, she might not have seen me as Dick.

"If Yuma sets up a barrier, she can block the power that attracts your spirits. Then, even if the owner of the mansion is no longer from the Stollen family, I think we can coexist... Sebastian seems to want that too."

"Miss Miralca is right. If you allow it, I would like to continue using this mansion to welcome guests."

Beatrice remained silent for a while, looking surprised.

She shed tears without saying a word. An undead being, she shed real tears.

She waited for the Stollen family to return, as per the contract, even though they were supposed to never come back. I can only imagine what she felt during those years. She must have been very lonely.

"Really... will you not purify me, someone who has caused so much trouble to humans, and leave me as I am?"

Yuma stepped forward in front of Beatrice. Even without doing anything, her purification power enveloped her body—yet, even approaching such a Yuma, Beatrice was not purified.

"I understand how purely you have been waiting for your master. Your soul is not yet ready to be called to heaven."

"...Ah... Ah..."

Beatrice, who had been suppressing her emotions, knelt down and covered her face.

Yuma knelt on the floor and embraced her from the front.

The Reisqueen being comforted by the priestess—this rare scene made me glad I brought Yuma.

I never expected this mansion to have such a secret. The reason spirits gathered here was also unexpected, and I learned a lot this time.

Beatrice cried for a while but eventually calmed down and stood up again.

"I showed you such an embarrassing sight. I've never cried in front of anyone..."

"Crying seems to consume magic power... Beatrice, you're getting thinner again? Are you okay?"

"...I know I'm not in a position to make such a request, but could you supply me with some essence? I might disappear again when morning comes."

Miralca is very averse to being drained of essence by a Reis. Irene also said it felt cold, and if Yuma were to directly absorb sacred power by draining essence, she would be purified without a doubt.

So the only option left is me—no, Irene. But she gives me a thumbs-up.

"Sebastian can use healing magic and has a lot of magic power, so a little essence should be fine, right?"

"Since we're both women, I should supply the magic power... but I'm sorry, I don't like the cold feeling."

"Thank you for your concern. If it's okay with you, Sebastian, could I have a little...?"

By 'draining essence,' it means touching and absorbing it. That shouldn't be a problem. It will recover in a day, so it's not a loss.

"Yes, if my magic power is fine, please use it as much as you need."

"...Then, I'll come back later. I need to prepare a bit first."

Beatrice's form faintly thinned. She probably needs some preparation to drain essence.

"That's one part done... I can finally rest."

"Miralca, Yuma, want to talk in the room? Yuma, you're feeling better, right?"

"Yes, please. Sebastian, please take care of Beatrice."

The three of them left the attic and returned to their rooms.

Looking around, this room had no bed, just a desk, bookshelf, and a small lantern.

Undead beings probably don't need to sleep. I locked the door and returned to my room.

◆◇◆

After taking off my mask and taking a bath, I was relaxing in my room.

A long day was finally over. All that's left is to provide essence to Beatrice so she doesn't disappear.

She said she would come after preparing, but I wonder what kind of preparation. While thinking about it, I sipped some wine and lay down on the bed.

After a while, I sensed someone in the room.

The door didn't open, so Beatrice must have come through the wall. I sat up.

And when I saw what was in front of me, my thoughts completely stopped.

In the lantern light, Beatrice stood, hugging herself shyly. However, she wasn't wearing her black dress. She had a headpiece on, but the negligee she wore was even thinner than what Miralca had on, barely covering her.

"Bea... Beatrice, what happened to your clothes? You should put on a coat...!"

I jumped up, but Beatrice only smiled with her blue and gold eyes narrowed.

She can probably float, but she approached me step by step. Then, she removed her hands from her chest—through the thin fabric, I could see her human-like coloring in the lantern light.

"This is my first time draining essence from a man... Sebastian... no, Guild Master, since I'm receiving my first essence from you, I want to do it properly as a Reisqueen."

She knows my true identity. Then, there's no need to pretend to be a butler—deciding this, I stopped acting.

"Did you see through it from the moment I came to prepare? Did you go along with my act knowing it?"

Beatrice blushed and smiled at the change in my tone. Despite being an undead being, her human-like gestures made me realize how deep the world of demons is.

"I understand you didn't want them to know your true identity. Well, Yuma, specifically. The other two already knew about the Guild Master."

"...My name is Dick. I'm the Guild Master of 'Silver Water Jug.' I wanted to help Yuma in the background because she wasn't feeling well."

"But I think they will find out eventually. They might be more moved to learn the truth later."

"I didn't mean it that way... but you're right. I want to turn this place into a guild retreat and invite Yuma back. It would be too complicated to keep up the butler act, so I'll have to reveal myself anyway."

"I think it's a waste that you only wore the mask as a butler today. It suited you very well."

Beatrice took the mask from the bedside chest and held it to her face—every gesture seemed designed to manipulate men.

Then, removing her mask, Beatrice walked up to me with a determined look and extended her right hand.

"But... I think your face without the mask is the one I want to see more."

"I don't think so. My companions have much better faces."

"Everyone has their preferences. I like your face, Dick."

"I was wondering how you would drain essence... you're not going to do it like a succubus, are you?"

Beatrice didn't answer. Her hand reached for the buttons of my nightshirt and undid one.

"...You didn't answer my question."

"Today, I'll only touch. It won't hurt... but it will take time to drain essence just from my palm..."

"Then, increasing the contact area... that's a bit too straightforward... are you sure? We just met today."

I could imagine how she planned to drain my essence, even if I'm usually slow to catch on.

Beatrice undid two more buttons and then touched the ribbon at the front of her negligee. If she pulled it, the front would open, revealing her bare skin.

"Spending nights alone in a mansion that only attracts spirits must be lonely, even for a Reisqueen. After ten years, just a little bit..."

"...I see. If that's the case, I can't refuse."

At that moment, I had a shallow misunderstanding.

Since Reisqueens have no physical form, they can't be touched. So, even if she wanted to share a bed, there would be no need to think of it as a man and woman sharing a bed.

I knew this wasn't true the moment she undid my buttons, but I still gave her permission to proceed.

She smoothly undid the ribbon. The now loose negligee was just a decorative piece of fabric barely covering her white, translucent skin, almost revealing her naked body.

"...I'll drain a little essence throughout the night. It's just for essence, so there's no need to feel guilty in front of the others who are resting in other rooms."

After explaining this matter-of-factly, Beatrice tried to remove her headpiece—however.

"That's fine. You can take it off later."

"...Yes. If that's what you prefer, Dick... no, Lord Dick."

I don't think there's a reason for her to show such respect, but she even addressed me as 'Lord.' Despite telling her to keep the headpiece on, I felt a bit out of place.

When I felt she would do anything I asked, men tend to lose control. I'm no exception, but thinking of the three others sleeping under the same roof, my self-control kicked in.

"We're just sharing a bed. That's how you can get essence, right?"

"Yes. I'll touch you a little, and if necessary, do more..."

"...Are you sure? I mean, I can't hold back that much..."

Trying to joke to regain my composure, Beatrice's hand slid down my neck to my collarbone and started undoing more buttons.

"I knew from when you were in your butler's uniform. Among the Demon King extermination team, the most well-trained body belongs to... Lord Dick, I assume..."

"I'm just a drunk and don't take care of myself. I don't train as much as I used to."

I can neutralize alcohol, so I don't get fat from drinking. I work a certain amount every day, but it's just prep time.

If I have to say, I constantly use enhancement magic to put strain on my muscles. This way, I'm always training even while serving drinks to customers at the counter. For a lazy person like me, learning enhancement magic as a child was a true blessing.

"...Do you need to take everything off?"

"To shorten the time, we need to increase the contact area..."

I didn't ask if she really would, as it felt unrefined. She leaned over me and gently lay on top of me.

Even though she can pass through matter, the touch was real. It wasn't cold—maybe Reis only feel cold when attacking.

Her heartbeat was so real, she was no different from a human. Her chest, a perfect size to cup in my palm, pressed against my chest.

"Reisqueens are no different from having a physical form... they're so complex."

"The more magic power I have, the more I can materialize. You might think undead beings don't have body temperature, but I can adjust to match, so you don't feel cold... Lord Dick's body is warm..."

"Miralca said she was surprised by how cold she was, so please stay warm in the future."

"...What's your relationship with Miralca? Did you deepen your bond in the extermination team... but it doesn't seem like you're close..."

"Don't pry too much or she'll get angry. Well, we're just acquaintances... why do you look so happy?"

"Hehe... That's a private matter, so I'll keep it a secret."

A young demoness summoned against her will and bound to a mansion.

I decided to help her, but why am I in this situation?

Thinking about it, I waited for the distant morning, covered by Beatrice, under the pretense of supplying her with magic power.