"A child who looks like you?"
What Raiden Makoto had thought would just be a lighthearted jab at Ei's lack of mora suddenly turned into a shock.
Was there really another girl in this world who resembled them?
"T-that was just…"
If it were Makoto asking, Ei normally wouldn't hide anything.
But explaining that her consciousness could separate from her puppet body, and that she moved around in a little form that looked like a child…
That was embarrassing beyond words.
If she admitted it, Makoto would laugh at her forever.
"S-someone who looks like me… a child…"
After weighing the humiliation, Ei chose not to tell the truth.
That body only existed in reality.
Makoto could never leave the dream, so she wouldn't see it.
At that moment, Yae Miko lifted her tiny fox paw.
She had personally witnessed Ei's return from the Plane of Euthymia.
Of course she knew what that "child" was.
And since Ei was so desperate to hide it… she wanted to say it all the more!
"Do you know something, Miko?"
Makoto's gaze fell on the fox in her arms.
Could it be? It wasn't like her sister had a child…
With that temper of hers, what man could even stand her?
Ei's glare shot daggers at Yae Miko— the kind of glare that promised a new fox-fur coat.
The little fox froze.
Fine. She wouldn't say it.
She couldn't fight Ei anyway.
But she didn't need to say it herself.
Someone else could.
Her paw, instead of gesturing in the air, now pointed toward the Tenshukaku.
Makoto noticed the change instantly.
So Ei really wanted to hide something.
Since when did her sister keep secrets from her?
"…If you don't want to say, then I won't ask."
Makoto sighed.
Her little sister had grown up.
She had her own thoughts now.
As the elder sister, she shouldn't pry.
But she underestimated Ei's fear of embarrassment.
The closer the person, the more unbearable it would be to have them see her shame.
"Does Mr. Su Ran know?"
The sudden question made Ei's whole body stiffen.
Know?
He knew better than anyone.
That body had been made by him!
Of course he knew!
Yae Miko could be threatened.
But Su Ran?
What leverage did she have?
Self-destruction? Impossible.
She had just gotten Makoto back—she wouldn't trade that for anything.
But if Makoto asked Su Ran directly… he might actually tell her!
"H-he doesn't know!"
Ei forced herself to stay calm, but her pounding heart betrayed her.
"…Is that so?"
Makoto gave her a long, doubtful look.
Ei nodded furiously.
Her sister was, after all, still her sister— and, frankly, a muscle-brained one.
Not great at seeing through lies.
Except… this lie had a gaping hole.
"Didn't you just say a man was carrying that child? Wasn't that man Su Ran?"
Ei froze.
No excuse came to mind.
She had dug this pit for Su Ran, but ended up burying herself in it too.
"Then why was he carrying a child that looks so much like you?"
Makoto's tone was still gentle, but her gaze pressed harder and harder.
Even her softness could corner Ei.
"H-he…"
Ei's cheeks flushed red.
Her secret was moments from exposure.
If Makoto found out, she'd never live it down.
"…Alright, alright. I won't ask anymore."
Seeing Ei so nervous and flustered, Makoto grew nervous too.
That child… surely it wasn't connected to Ei?
Her sister was too clueless—good at nothing but fighting.
Aside from sharing Makoto's face, what qualities did she have?
No man would actually fancy her… right?
Makoto looked at the pink-furred fox in her arms.
Yae Miko was still pointing her paw at Tenshukaku.
Makoto's expression turned strange.
"You mean… that man was Su Ran?"
The fox nodded.
"The one who turned Ei into… that child was Su Ran?"
Makoto pointed at her panicked sister.
This time, the fox glanced at Ei— and nodded firmly.
All hope of denial was gone.
Her foolish sister— she hadn't even told her own elder sister before entrusting herself entirely to a man?
To the point of having a child?
Makoto hadn't even prepared herself to be an aunt yet!
True, Su Ran was intelligent and talented.
But Ei?
Could she really handle a man like that?
Wouldn't she just be toyed with?
No… judging from what she had seen at Tenshukaku earlier, Ei was already being toyed with!
Always on the receiving end of his tricks.
And hadn't Su Ran also claimed he was pursuing some girl named Kamisato Ayaka?
Makoto would have to see just how remarkable this young lady was— that she and Ei both had caught Su Ran's eye.
Makoto conveniently forgot she had just been calling Ei clueless and hopeless a moment ago.
"Ei, let's return to Tenshukaku first."
"Wait—I want two more bottles of dango milk to go."
If she was going to meet her "niece," she had to bring a gift, however modest.
This would do for now.
The child should like it.
~~--------------------------------------
To read 30+ future chapters head over to patreon:
patreon.com/YonkoSlayer