It all began when I contacted Iris to tell her I was almost there.
『I see, I see. You’ll definitely be surprised when you see your house』
She said something that only made me uneasy, so I hurried straight back to my house.
And what awaited me was not bad, but a completely changed home…
Now then… where should I even begin pointing out the absurdities in front of me?
1. Lord-sama, wearing nothing but low-rise cloth barely covering the indecent parts, collapsed in front of my gate.
2. My house had grown larger, and while the neighboring house was gone, two new buildings had been erected. What’s more, there were no walls separating the gardens, turning all three into one shared estate.
3. A small beast-eared girl, seemingly Iris’s shinobi, was standing at my gate.
Those ears and tail… a tanuki, maybe? Could she be a tanukikin?
That tail was fluffy and magnificent.
Yes. Let’s start with number three.
「Heeey. You from Iris’s place――」
「Wait just a second! Why are you ignoring me!?」
As I tried to pass by Origol, she suddenly sat up and grabbed my leg.
Hey, let go. People will think I’m one of your perverted associates.
「First of all! Don’t you think you should comment on a beautiful girl wearing something like this!?」
「Think about your age…」
「That’s not the reaction I wanted! And that’s not even the issue here, is it!?」
No, it’s nothing but an issue.
Even if it were indoors it would be bad enough, but outdoors? For the lord herself?
Won’t her approval ratings drop? Couldn’t this even lead to a recall and removal from office?
「Fine, fine. So what is it then?」
「That’s so halfhearted! Shouldn’t you be taking off your shirt and gently covering me? I worked so hard for your sake, onii-chan!」
「For my sake…?」
Was this supposed to be a heartfelt gag to welcome me home?
If so, then I was wrong not to recognize it.
I needed to give it a proper evaluation.
「…Four points」
「Out of ten!?」
「No, sadly out of one hundred」
「That’s terrible! Too cruel! I’ll just explode with grief and release my emotions in sorrow!」
「Go ahead. So, why did this even happen…?」
「Oh, you want to hear? Well then――」
「Welcome back…! Iris-sama is waiting inside! Please, this way!」
「…O-oh」
Origol was cut off and left sulking by the little gatekeeper girl, but thanks to her I was allowed inside.
-0-
「Hehe… uhehehe」
「Hey, don’t laugh like that」
「But look at me. I’m being carried princess-style right now, you know? Of course, a smile would spill out」
Since Origol looked too pitiful sulking outside, I reluctantly decided to let her in.
It wasn’t because I wanted to touch a half-naked Origol.
I wasn’t excited by skin as soft as a child’s or its texture.
I wasn’t, so please stop glaring at me from behind with those sharp eyes.
「Oh my, welcome back」
「Ayame…san?」
Standing beyond the door was Ayame-san.
It was Ayame-san, but she was wearing casual clothes with an apron, a rare sight. That unusual appearance made me unconsciously speak in a questioning tone as I committed the scene to memory.
「Perverts are drawn to each other, it seems. You can leave that one lying around anywhere」
How insulting. Don’t lump me together with an S-class pervert like her.
「What the hell did you do…」
「I didn’t do anything! By the way, right now Ayame-chan isn’t wearing――」
「I’ll kill you」
Without mercy, Ayame-san dropped her elbow on her and followed it with a threat in a tone cold enough to freeze one’s spine.
Origol gave a voiceless scream, then went limp.
Seriously… what on earth did she do to make Ayame-san hate her this much?
I had no choice but to hand Origol over to Aina and Renge, telling them to put her to bed in my room. I left them with a recovery potion and asked them to make her drink it once she woke up.
「Now then, let’s head to Iris-sama. She will explain everything」
-0-
Following Ayame-san, we arrived at what, for some reason, was my own workspace—the alchemy room.
When I opened the door and stepped in, a cool breeze brushed my skin.
「Fuwaaah… this room is far too comfortable… If only there were some ice, it would be perfect…」
Uh…
「Oh. You’ve returned already. Well then, I would like to eat ice cream in this room」
「No, let me point something out first」
「You want to ‘push’ me down in this outfit, don’t you… you pervert!」
「That’s not what I meant!」
Why the hell is Iris dressed the same way as Origol!?
She at least had some sort of jacket on, but it made little difference. If anything, it made her look even more like a pervert.
There she was, dressed like that, sitting in my work chair with her legs spread out as if she owned the place.
「Iris-sama! Now that the master of the house has returned, please put on some clothes!」
「Hmm, but I thought it was fine to wear something comfortable on a day off… very well. I suppose I must. Forgive me, but could you wait outside for a moment?」
「Yeah, I can’t focus with you dressed like that anyway. Fine…」
-0-
After being sent out of the room for a while, Iris came out wearing a dress. I asked Wendy to prepare some tea, and we headed to the living room.
「Fufufu! Well, how about it? Surprised?」
「Of course I’m surprised… So, you’re going to explain, right?」
「Do you mean about the house? Or about my outfit?」
「Both are on my mind, but let’s start with the house… It changed way too much while I was gone…」
「Indeed… Let’s just call it a surprise!」
「A surprise? Well, yeah, I was definitely surprised… but give me a proper explanation…」
I leave for a trip, then come back to find the grounds expanded, new buildings added, and even gatekeepers standing around!
…It doesn’t make any sense.
「Hmm. First, the building to the right of the terrace is my personal residence. I’ll be using it whenever I’m active in Einzheil」
「…That’s fine, do as you want. But why the hell is the yard connected?」
「Why, you ask… because everything except that mansion is now your land」
「…Excuse me?」
「To be precise, it looks like my estate, but it’s actually your property」
「I’ll need more details than that…」
Preferably with a reason included…
「Some people doubted the nature of our relationship. This was meant as both a warning to them and an apology. Consider the extra land and expansions my way of making amends」
「Apology for what?」
「Because my people caused you trouble. Protecting your daily life is a given, but I prepared a separate apology as well」
「That’s… appreciated, but at least talk to me about it first…」
「Nishishi. Sorry. I just wanted to see your surprised face」
「You…」
Yeah, she doesn’t feel sorry at all.
Come on… I might have had my own circumstances, you know?
Well… actually, no, I didn’t.
「Sigh… Then what about the other building?」
「That’s the residence for servants and gatekeepers. By the way, I’ll station several of my shinobi there, so it won’t be a burden to you」
「Hmm, but Shiro’s already handling security」
「And if you’re away, like this time, there will be times when Shiro isn’t here, no? Protecting you is important, but safeguarding your house is just as vital」
「That’s true, it helps… But aren’t those shinobi supposed to guard you, Iris? Is it really fine?」
Wouldn’t stationing her shinobi here weaken Iris’s own protection?
「Those children need rest as well. And this way, if something happens to you, they can respond immediately」
「You don’t really need to go that far for me, though…」
「Since coming here, Iris-sama has been sighing ‘not yet, not yet’ several times a day, waiting for you」
「Ayame-san too?」
「Who knows」
At least lie and say yes!
Ayame-san can be so cold.
「Oh, and by the way, I selected gatekeepers who are fine with being petted」
「Seriously!? Thanks!」
If I can fluff a tanuki girl’s tail, you should have told me sooner!
Ehehe, Iris-sama, you’re so mean!
「…You seem the most delighted about this. It’s a little frustrating」
「He was always like this, wasn’t he? Just letting those children greet him would’ve been enough as thanks」
「That may be true…」
Fluffy! So fluffy! Ahhh, the fluff!
…Phew. Looks like I lost my composure for a moment.
-0-
After I calmed down and was serving ice cream in the living room, a knock came at the door.
「Oya, you’ve returned. It feels like it’s been a long time」
「Dama?」
「Yes. I was involved in this construction project. Iris-sama, all processes, including the final checks, have been completed without issue」
「I see! Well done. I’ll have someone deliver your payment later」
「Understood. Even so, I never imagined you would be this close with Iris-sama… as expected of you…」
I feel like there’s heat in Dama’s gaze, but that must be my imagination.
Yes, definitely my imagination!
I’m normal, so don’t look at me like that!
「Well, of course. He is my favorite, after all. Be sure to tell Darwin as well. If he lays hands on what is mine, I will not forgive him」
「What a pity. I was aiming for him too, you see…」
Don’t aim for me…
If it keeps Dama off my back, I’d rather stay under Iris’s protection forever…
「Well then, excuse me. Let’s go out to eat sometime」
「I refuse!」
「How cold of you…」
「He is my favorite」
「Already trained, I see… A shame. I would have liked to be the one to do it… truly unfortunate…」
Leaving those terrifying words behind, Dama walked away.
Every time I meet him, I feel his gaze on my ass, and it sends shivers down my spine…
「So, you’re liked by men as well, it seems…」
「Don’t you start saying scary things too…」
「So even a pervert like you draws the line at men」
「Because Master loves girls」
「…And you’re all fine with serving such a master?」
At Ayame-san’s words, Sorte, Shiro, and Wendy stopped eating their ice cream and glanced at each other.
Then, as if rehearsed, they turned to her and spoke in unison.
「Hmm. Because he’s lord」
「Because he’s my lord」
「Because he’s Master」
Couldn’t you at least defend me with something more specific…?
-0-
「Onii-channnnn!」
「L-Lord-sama, please calm down…」
「At least put some clothes on!」
Dama had just left when Origol came charging in.
Honestly, this guy is so energetic…
「Hmm, what’s this? The pervert has arrived.」
「Onii-chan, move aside! I’ll drive this guy out of here! Leave it to me! I won’t let them make you into a dog of the state!」
「I keep telling you, that’s not it…」
「How could I believe that?! Why would onii-chan even know Iris-sama?! Probably they noticed how amazing you are and came to recruit you, but too bad! Onii-chan is completely charmed by me!」
When, where, how, and why did I become charmed by you?
「Just earlier, you were touching my little chest the whole time, right? You’re satisfied with a small girl like me! Now hurry up and get out!」
「Wait! Stop making things up!」
Ah, no, wait, Ayame-san, it’s not like that.
I prefer mature women.
I’m not some pervert who gets excited over little girls, so please don’t try to protect Iris!
Also, that’s not “oppai”…be careful with your wording.
「Sigh… what a nuisance. How about another match, then? If you lose now, things will get serious…」
「Fine by me! And why are you wearing clothes?! That’s against the rules! I bet Ayame-chan is still not wearing any panties!」
「I already put them on.」
Huh? Does that mean she wasn’t wearing any until just now?!
She wasn’t wearing any under that apron earlier?!
I wish you’d made that more obvious…
「Grrrrr…! Fine, let’s do it! I’ll accept any challenge!」
「No, just calm down. Iris and I aren’t in the kind of relationship you’re imagining…」
「Onii-chan?! You’re already on a first-name basis with her?!」
「Okay, settle down… If you keep making a scene, I’ll call Souma-san and Walkas-san.」
「Okay. I’ll behave.」
Just mentioning the guardians’ names made Origol instantly quiet down.
After explaining the situation, it nearly fell apart multiple times, but through persistent talking, I finally managed to make her understand…
But why do I have to feel so exhausted right after getting back…
「Onii-chan! This snack is delicious!」
…Her appearance is that of a little girl, and if you forget her actual age and personality, this kind of thing is kinda cute…
But the fact that she probably knows exactly what she’s doing makes it feel almost like a scam.
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