Chapter 94

It was late at night, and the clock had just passed midnight.

I was in the living room, sitting with a being that resembled a girl on my lap—this artificial spirit maiden. I couldn't even ask her to get down, while Miralca and the princess sisters sat on the opposite sofa, their gazes fixed on me.

"…There’s no need to explain, is there? Dick, were you deceiving us?"

This look—Miralca’s eyes, the same as when she had misunderstood me and Eileen and kept her distance. There was no trace of emotion, and the feeling of being completely shut out. I didn’t want to go back to those days, but explaining the true nature of the girl made me feel as if my face was on fire with embarrassment.

‘This girl has Miralca’s magic in her, so she’s kind of like our daughter.’

If I said something like that with a serious face, Miralca might use an annihilation spell in her shock, potentially destroying half of the guild house. I had been gradually renovating it since I moved in, and it was almost the perfect home. If it were to be destroyed now, the damage would be immense, both mentally and physically.

"Well, um, this girl is my daughter, but it’s not just that…"

"I understand that much. Are you making fun of me? I know that a man can’t have a child without a woman."

"That’s why it’s different, Miralca. It’s not what you’re imagining…"

"Imagining…? What exactly are you imagining? Please be specific. If you’re right, I’ll consider leniency."

If she thinks I had a child with someone, that’s a mistake, and I want to say that I’m innocent. But saying that might just anger her. So, what should I do—relying on everyone’s help to prove I’m not lying is the only way.

"Master, it’s best to be very careful in your explanation, as it might only add to the confusion. Miralca, please listen calmly. Your master has not deceived you."

"But… this girl looks like Dick, and she’s been calling him ‘Daddy.’ If you still insist on making excuses, I’ll annihilate you."

The situation was tense—here, I had to show sincerity. If I explained things in order, she would understand.

"Wait, Miralca. I’m not lying. I’ve always tried to tell you the truth. Please listen to me."

I looked straight at Miralca. She looked back at me, but after blinking a few times, she turned away.

"…If you say so, then explain. Why is there a girl who looks like you and is so attached to you? If she’s not your child, who is she?"

I explained how I had gathered everyone’s magic during the battle with ‘The Serpent,’ and how the leftover magic from the ‘Legion Burst’ had overflowed beyond my capacity.

"…You inherited everyone’s magic from that time… Does that mean, my magic is included?"

"Yes. Usually, when I use ‘Small Soul,’ it just creates a ball of light that moves according to my will. But this time, for some reason, it took on a human form."

After my explanation, the way Miralca looked at the girl changed—she was still confused, but her gaze had softened somewhat. Manarina and Timis were impressed.

"So, you don’t have a child, Master Dick… This girl is a spirit you created. Is there such a magic?"

"I always believed you wouldn’t do something like that behind everyone’s back. But a spirit… the more I look at her, the more she seems like a human girl."

I feel the same. The girl sitting quietly on my lap felt and had a body temperature just like a human—so much so that even though she’s a spirit, I feel a strong sense of her being my daughter.

"Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? Oh, do you want to get down? Where are you going?"

The girl got off my lap and walked over to Miralca. I wondered what she would do—then, she plopped down on Miralca’s lap.

"What? Is Daddy’s lap too hard and uncomfortable?"

"No, you’re my mommy too, and I want to be spoiled."

"Wh-What are you saying? I’m your…?"

Miralca then noticed—while the girl’s hair was silver, the tips were the same golden color as Miralca’s.

Miralca took the hair in her hand and examined it, then looked at me, her face turning red all the way to her ears. Seeing such a sweet and embarrassed reaction made me blush too.

"…It seems… I was mistaken. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions."

"Master wouldn’t fall so easily. We all know that."

"…Yeah, you’re right. Dick…"

The master had a somewhat pensive look on her face.

—Back when she was still despairing over her immortality, she once almost made a mistake.

It was touching to know she cared for me so much. But that care came from a wish to end her eternal life, which she had given to someone she had taught and nurtured.

If I hadn’t refused her back then, I might have accepted her wish. But if I had, I would have regretted it. Now, the master has chosen to live—how glad I am that she didn’t give up that possibility.

As I thought about this, Miralca, perhaps thinking I was deep in thought, spoke in a flustered manner.

"…Dick, I’ve been meaning to ask… Are you, perhaps, afraid of women? Because I always say radical things…"

"No, no… I’m not afraid of women at all. It’s more about timing and circumstances. If I were afraid of women, my guild would be all men."

My explanation seemed to satisfy Manarina and Timis. It seemed they had genuinely thought I might be afraid of women—though it might be an old-fashioned view, I believe that relationships are a lifelong matter and shouldn’t be rushed or decided on a whim.

"That’s true… The Silver Water Jug has a higher ratio of women, I think."

"Lia also said that this guild is welcoming to women and easy to work in because Master Dick treats everyone equally."

I’ve never chosen guild members based on gender; I’ve always based it on ability. There are many older men in the branches, and if you consider all the branches in the kingdom, the gender ratio is probably about even.

"…Dick, you’re a great master. I think you’re more suited to be the Grand Guild Master than I am."

"No, no… I’m just normal. Don’t flatter me too much; I’m not a saint or anything."

"…I think you’re a saint. You’re completely immune to temptation… No, I haven’t tried my hardest yet."

Verlene let that slip. She had occasionally tried some outrageous ‘services’ to win me over and get back her talisman, but recently she’s been too busy to do so. However, after the Julius incident, she seemed ready to try again.

"Phew…"

"Even spirits yawn… Dick, I understand the situation, so I won’t punish you. Be grateful."

"Thanks. It’s good to talk things out, Miralca."

"If she’s my daughter too, I can’t show too much irritation."

The girl remained on Miralca’s lap, seemingly very comfortable. The master and Verlene looked a bit lonely, but the girl seemed to sense this and was likely to be affectionate to all the mothers equally.

"Can I talk to the mommies a bit more? I want to know more about Daddy."

"Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to only pamper Miralca. I want to spend time with the girl too."

"Think of a name for her, Dick. We’ll think of one too."

"Ah, yeah… I’m not good at that, so I’ll leave it to you all."

As the women went to the master’s room, it suddenly became quiet—until I heard the sound of water from the bathroom.

It seemed Eileen had come to borrow the bath. I needed to introduce her to the girl as well, but I would explain carefully to avoid any misunderstandings like with Miralca.

◆◇◆

As I sat on the sofa thinking of a name for the girl, Eileen came out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair, acting as if she were at home. She was only wearing a nightgown, and her well-toned legs were hard to ignore.

"Sorry, Dick. I thought about being considerate since it’s late, but I came to borrow the bath."

Eileen lived nearby, so she sometimes came over to borrow the bath if she missed it at night. Our bath is heated by a magic stone that seals the power of a fire spirit, so it’s quick and easy to use.

"Since I’m a man, please be properly dressed when you come out of the bath."

"Prepared? Ahaha, Dick, you don’t mind seeing my legs, do you? I always fight in dresses."

Eileen pulled at the hem of her shirt as she sat on the sofa, and I felt like I was holding back a lot. Should I make her understand that I’m a wolf in man’s clothing? I don’t intend to scare her or anything, and I can’t match her strength as a demon, so I understand why she’s not wary of me.

"Anyway, you promised. I went on the errand to the Orland family, so I want to thank you. Modestly speaking, you could at least dry my hair, right?"

"I was going to, but please button up a bit more."

"…Say that again, Dick. ‘Button up’ sounds more manly than usual."

"I can button them for you. I might touch some unrelated areas, but it’s involuntary."

"Sorry…!"

Eileen obediently buttoned up. I understood that it was tight, but leaving it open could be problematic when drying her hair.

Seeing Eileen waiting meekly, I felt deflated.

"No, I’m the one who’s sorry, for saying something threatening."

"Wh-What? I was the one being silly, so you don’t need to apologize."

"Well… It’s just that… If you show me that, I’ll notice, and touching unrelated areas isn’t something I don’t want to do. So, I shouldn’t even joke about it."

Thinking she might be confused by this, I went behind her and, as usual, adjusted the temperature of the heat wind spell to dry her pink hair.

—In the process, my hand accidentally touched her horns, which I usually avoid.

"Ah… Dick… That’s no good… The horns are sensitive…"

"Ah… Really? I’m sorry, I didn’t think they were a weakness…"

"Not a weakness… The horns are important for generating power during demonization, so being touched… is…"

Eileen’s gesture, looking back at me, seemed a bit different from usual.

"…If you really want to… you can touch them…"

"I won’t force you if you don’t want to, but if you say that, I do want to touch them."

Feeling like she was expecting something, I gently touched Eileen’s small horns—so small they looked like hair accessories made of shells or something.

"…Ah… …Ah…"

"It seems to be okay if I touch them gently… These are demon horns…"

"…Dick… You’re good at touching horns… I’m surprised…"

Just a gentle touch, and I noticed Eileen’s skin was flushed and she seemed to be trembling slightly.

—Maybe the horns being sensitive doesn’t mean they’re a racial weakness.

"A, Eileen… Your hair is almost dry. Is this okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Thanks… I still have about nine more times to pay you back, though."

"Quite a lot… But it’s no big deal. I’m sure you’ll use them up eventually."

"…I’ll lend them to you again before you use them up, so don’t hesitate to borrow. I’m always free."

Eileen, with her fluffy dry hair, turned to me and said this.

—Even though everyone was in the master’s room, and I knew they weren’t far away, I couldn’t take my eyes off Eileen.

"…Dick… I’m glad you’re safe. I was really worried…"

She was talking about how I had lost consciousness after the battle with ‘The Serpent.’

I wanted to apologize for worrying her and thank her. Eileen, as she turned to me, closed her eyes and gently pulled my hand—

"Ah, Mommy! Mommy, what were you doing with Daddy?"

"Wh-What? What?"

Eileen was first surprised by the voice, then by being called ‘Mommy.’

The girl seemed to have come to call me—Eileen looked at me and the girl, blinking her long lashes.

"…Fuuuuuuu…!?"

Eileen’s reaction was watched by everyone who had come to see, and they seemed embarrassed on her behalf.

"…I understand the explanation, but… in essence, she’s Dick’s and our child… Should I let her call me ‘Mommy’?"

"Since my magic was used, is she also my daughter…?"

"Big sister, if Father finds out a child was born without marriage, he might abdicate and let Dick take the throne…!"

Is the throne of this country so easily swayed, I wanted to point out, but since the king had indeed said he wanted to give the throne to me, I couldn’t completely deny it.

"Nice to meet you, Mommy Eileen♪"

"…Ah, the tips of her hair are the same color as mine… Only demons can have this color…"

The others would likely react the same way. This was a necessary rite of passage. However, while Sherry’s black hair is included, it seems my color isn’t.

"Also, the same eye color as Dick… Daddy and Mommy… Dick and me…"

Her eyes seemed to be the same as mine. Ah, that’s why it feels so familiar.

"…I think this girl can probably do something close to demonization. She should have Eileen’s power too."

"Y-Yeah, that’s what I thought. My daughter… But, I haven’t done anything with Dick, so calling her a daughter seems like a big leap…"

"Actually, she’s a being that combines our powers and Master’s. While not as powerful as the main body, she should easily surpass SSS rank."

"Eileen, this girl is our daughter, so let’s raise her together. Even though she’s just born, she’s already inheriting our personalities and is a very good child."

—Is she inheriting only the problematic parts? I’m a bit worried, but from what I can see, she seems bright and straightforward.

As a father, I need to think about how to raise her. As the master said, unlike a human baby, she’s already born with the knowledge and personality inherited from us.

"Daddy Dick, if there’s anything I can do, just tell me. I was born to help Daddy."

My daughter said this without any hesitation. But there’s one important thing I need to confirm.

"You were created by my magic, but I don’t want you to think only of me. I want you to be an individual, find what you want to do. Of course, you’ll live with us, and you’ll always be family."

The artificial spirit girl listened to me intently. Though she looked young, her eyes showed that she understood me well.

"Thank you, Daddy. But I love you so much, and I’m happy to hear that. At first, I want to think only of what will help you. I was created to gather everyone’s feelings and help you."

—Is this girl really my creation? She’s so honest, straightforward, and too considerate of her parents.

Is this the awakening of paternal feelings? And it’s not just me; everyone else feels the same.

Miralca walked over and hugged the girl from behind.

"Mommy Miralca, you’re warm… What’s wrong?"

"…I didn’t like children much, but a girl this earnest makes me want to protect her."

"Hehe, thanks. Mommy, I can use about half of your magic. So, let’s do annihilation together again, okay?"

"…!"

This must be the most delightful thing for Miralca to hear from her daughter. Her reaction was clearly very emotional.

"