After three days aboard an airship, followed by further travel by train from the airport, we finally arrived in the Dentora District—home to the legendary assassin family, the Zoldycks.
From here, the dead volcano Kukuroo Mountain could be seen. At its foot stood the famous front gate known as the Testing Gate. Once you made it this far, all that remained was to follow the road down toward the base. Apparently there were sightseeing buses running along the route, but time was precious. Running would be faster.
These past three days had been nerve-wracking. Even if I could move through the air using aura, continuously traveling a distance that took three days by airship was impossible. In the first place, that technique was just a momentary burst of aura to perform a boosted dash—it wasn't true flight.
In short, while traveling by airship, all I could do was wait. I had no choice but to stretch out the stiffness that had built up during my hospital stay. …There was a chance I might need to go all out, after all.
As I kept running along the road toward Kukuroo Mountain, a massive gate eventually came into view. So this was the Testing Gate. Beyond it lay the entire Zoldyck estate.
There was a small hut beside the gate. It looked like someone was inside—was that old man a guard or something?
…Probably not. No offense, but he didn't seem strong enough. If you were guarding the Zoldycks' gate, you'd need someone with considerable ability.
It looked like he'd noticed me. Perfect. Someone like him might know about Gon and the others. I should ask.
"Ah—hey there, kid. What are you doing in a place like this? It's dangerous here, so you should go back… Ah, right, a sightseeing bus should arrive in about an hour. You should take that and head home."
…What a kind person. To worry about a suspicious stranger in a place like this.
But unfortunately, I couldn't do that.
"Excuse me. I wanted to ask—about three weeks ago, did… around three Hunters come here?"
"Hm? Oh, Gon and the others? Yes, they did come."
So they really had come. I'd hoped, just maybe, that they'd changed their minds.
Well, even if he'd said they hadn't come, I probably wouldn't have believed him.
"Are they still with the Zoldyck family?"
"…Young lady, may I ask your name?"
My name? Why did he need to know that?
"My name is Aisha…"
There were Nen abilities that activated upon learning a name, but… well, whatever. He probably wasn't a Nen user. And even if he were, most abilities with conditions like that could be neutralized by my [Boss Attribute].
Just knowing my name alone wouldn't amount to much. It should be fine.
"—! I see. So you are… my apologies. Please wait a moment."
Huh? Why did he suddenly become so polite? And it sounded like he knew me. What was going on?
Leaving me confused, the old man went back into the hut. It sounded like he was making a phone call…
"Thank you for waiting. The masters of the house are expecting you inside."
"…What? What are you talking about? More importantly, could you answer my previous question?"
"I'm very sorry. I've been instructed not to say anything myself…"
The old man frowned sadly as he spoke. He was clearly employed by the Zoldycks. There was no way he could disobey their orders.
In short: if I wanted information about the three of them, I had to go inside.
The fact that he knew about me was probably information extracted from Gon and the others… damn it! Could they have been tortured?!
There was no way those three would sell someone out so easily! But this was an assassin family—it wasn't impossible.
…If that was the case—
"I understand. I'll go inside."
"I'm very sorry. A butler from the mansion is already on the way to escort you, so please wait a little—"
"No, that won't be necessary."
I stood before the gate and reinforced my entire body with aura. Placing my hand against it, I slowly began to push.
Zoldycks… if Gon and the others were subjected to cruel suffering—if they lost their lives—
You'll pay an appropriate price.
Slowly, but surely, the gate began to open. I faintly heard someone gasp behind me, mixed with the sound of the opening doors.
That was only natural. The heavier the door one could open, the larger the gate that responded. To see a girl like me opening all of them—anyone would be shocked.
"N-no way…"
"I'm short on time, so I'll head in myself. Please excuse me."
"Ah—w-wait! Please follow the road toward the mountain! You should reach the mansion that way!"
I nodded in response and began walking toward the mountain.
.
…I'm being watched.
Ever since passing through the Testing Gate, I could feel a faint—extremely faint—gaze upon me.
Even I had trouble noticing it. Such perfect Zetsu. This level of presence suppression might rival even Netero. As expected of the Zoldycks—truly worthy of their legendary name.
They weren't making a move… yet. Watching for an opening? It seemed they were just observing.
I could ignore them until they acted, but given this level of skill, it was probably a member of the Zoldyck family.
In that case, it'd be faster to talk to them directly. If they were Zoldycks, they'd know about Gon and the others.
I doubted they'd answer honestly—but it was better than doing nothing.
If they were hostile from the start, then so be it. I'd fight with everything I had.
Using En, I confirmed that no one else was within a one-kilometer radius. If things turned hostile, it'd be best to reduce their numbers before it became many-against-one.
…Their surveillance loosened! Now's my chance!
◆
Three days ago, I received a call from that old man Netero.
He said that a girl named Aisha would be visiting this house soon.
He told me to treat her with the utmost hospitality. From the way he spoke, it seemed she was close to the three who had taken Killua and left. If we had harmed those three, the Zoldyck family might have suffered tremendous damage.
I don't believe that old man underestimates our strength. Which means that girl is under the protection of someone even stronger than us—
Most likely Netero himself.
Indeed, that old man is strong. Even I can't read his next move from the flow of his aura, and Hyakushiki Kannon (100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva) is impossible to evade.
If I had to choose, I'd rather fight the Phantom Troupe that Silva mentioned a thousand times over than face Netero seriously.
If we harmed Aisha, Netero would become our enemy—that interpretation made sense, but it didn't quite fit the way he spoke.
Rather, it sounded more like Aisha herself would be enraged if the three were harmed—and would retaliate against us.
Which meant that girl possessed power great enough to threaten us.
If that were true, she might even rival Netero.
A girl that young, possessing such strength? Normally, that'd be unthinkable.
…Unless she just looks young. Maybe she's actually older than Netero?
In any case, I'd already ordered everyone on the estate—family and butlers alike—to treat a girl named Aisha with utmost respect if she arrived.
If Netero was that insistent, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious.
If she came with hostile intent, that'd be another matter—but there was no reason to create unnecessary enemies. Worst case, we'd end up opposing Netero himself.
And to be honest, I was curious. A girl that even Netero went out of his way to warn us about.
.
It should be about time for the girl to arrive.
I had Milluki check the passenger list for ships entering the Padokea Republic, and the name "Aisha" appeared on today's airship.
I could wait for her at the mansion… but I'm curious.
I think I'll hide near the gate and observe what she's capable of.
Ho. Impressive.
She's opened up to the Seventh Gate—without even reinforcing herself with aura.
She certainly looks like a girl. Mid-to-late teens, perhaps. Though with Nen users, apparent age means very little.
At a glance, she looks only slightly older than Killua. And yet she opened seven gates without aura reinforcement—that's genuinely astonishing.
It's starting to seem more likely that Netero meant she truly had the power to threaten us.
I won't say she's stronger than us—but the atmosphere she gives off isn't that of an ordinary person.
Coming here was the right choice.
…And since she isn't even cloaked in aura, maybe she's one of Netero's hidden disciples.
If she were to properly master Nen, she'd certainly go far.
She's heading toward the mountain. She doesn't even flinch at seeing Mike—her nerve is solid.
My curiosity's been satisfied. I'll head back to the mansion. The butlers can guide her from here.
And so I withdrew my gaze—my awareness—from the girl.
—
In that instant, she took my back.
—
"Please don't move. If you do…"
To think she'd take my back in that brief moment.
No—what's more shocking is that she noticed me at all.
Given my profession, I'm quite skilled at erasing my presence.
I won't yield to a threat like this, but what concerns me is that she has her palm pressed against my back.
No blade. No joint lock. Just a palm.
Which means she can deliver a blow from this position that could threaten my life.
Nen? Martial arts? Or both? Hard to say—but that's the most reasonable conclusion.
"…"
"I have questions. Answer them honestly, and I won't take your life."
I see. She took my stillness—caused by thought—as acceptance of her threat.
Very well.
I was already planning to treat her as a guest, and I was in the wrong for spying on her. And she's surely asking about those three.
There's no need to hide anything.
Still… sensing my presence, and taking my back without me noticing.
If she's truly as young as she looks, that's terrifying.
◆
"I'm very, very sorry!!"
I was currently bowing deeply with all my sincerity.
After that, I used Shukuchi (Earth-Shortening Step) to take the old man's back and questioned him. He told me that Gon and the others had already left with Killua.
His aura and eyes showed no sign of deception.
When I asked Zebro (apparently a groundskeeper, not a guard), he apologized, saying he'd been ordered not to speak.
With Zebro, it was easy to tell—his aura made it obvious whether he was lying or not. He was telling the truth.
Emotions show easily in aura. Subtle emotions are hard to read unless you're highly skilled, but agitation is clear enough.
Which means… what I did was barge into a house that intended to welcome me as a guest, then threaten the resident who was monitoring an intruder—with force.
…That's a crime, isn't it?!
Ugh. How did things end up like this?
"Well now, no need to worry. It's my fault for letting an assassin get taken from behind."
…Right. Assassin family.
They're strong, sure—but surprisingly human. He's even forgiving me like this. I always imagined assassins as far more bloodthirsty.
"You look puzzled."
"Ah—well, I thought assassins might kill someone like me for trespassing."
…That was pretty rude of me.
"We kill for work. We don't like needless slaughter. And you're a guest."
Killing for work…
I don't really understand it. How can someone kill so easily, without hesitation?
I couldn't do it. Killing as the end result of a battle—I might accept that as a martial artist. But killing outright…
If I'd grown up in this world from the start, would I understand?
…No. Thinking about this is pointless.
I grew up in a peaceful environment far removed from murder. They grew up alongside death. Of course I wouldn't understand them.
More importantly—how did they know I was coming?
"May I ask… why am I considered a guest? Even if you heard about me from Gon and the others, I don't understand why you'd treat me this way."
It didn't make sense. Gon and the others didn't know where I was. And they wouldn't know that I'd learned they came here.
"Hm? Didn't you hear? Netero informed us that you'd be coming."
…So that's it.
That bastard knew Gon and the others were safe, didn't he? And instead of telling me, he told the Zoldycks to welcome me.
Heh… if he'd just told me from the start, I wouldn't have needed to come here at all!
Damn you, Netero. I'll make you pay for this.
"Well then. The butlers should arrive soon—perfect timing. I'll escort you to the mansion myself."
I wanted to leave as soon as I knew Gon was safe… but after what happened, and since they'd prepared hospitality, refusing would be rude.
"Alright. Thank you."
"…Invited by an assassin family and following along calmly. You've got nerve."
If you asked me after the adrenaline wore off—I'm internally terrified, you know?
.
And that's how I ended up being invited to the Zoldyck residence.
What an absurdly vast estate. Just getting to the mansion took forever. That huge building I saw along the way? Turns out it was servant housing.
So rich it's laughable. Is it true that evil deeds really do bring in money?
After thirty minutes of running—not walking—we finally arrived.
Thirty minutes at speed. What kind of garden is this? You could fit a small country in here.
And it's enormous.
Compared to this, the servants' residence looked like a shed. Calling this a "mansion" feels disrespectful. This is a lord's estate.
"We're here. Go on in."
"…Excuse me."
Following the old man inside, I saw many people who looked like butlers—well, they probably were butlers.
They all bowed politely, but every one of them subtly and carefully monitored my every movement.
As expected of the Zoldyck butlers. Every motion showed incredible skill.
If I showed even the slightest hostility toward the old man, they'd throw their lives away to stop me—without hesitation.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll have drinks prepared."
The guest room I was led to was surprisingly calm.
I'd expected something flashy—golden furnishings, priceless art—but this was much more restrained.
I prefer this, honestly. I don't like overly gaudy places.
Still, the furniture was clearly top-class. The chair's comfort was unreal.
As I enjoyed it, a female butler brought drinks. Tea, judging by the aroma.
"No need to worry. There's no poison in yours."
"…So there is poison in yours?"
If you think about it literally…
"Indeed. We Zoldycks mix poison into our food as a habit."
"…This house exceeds my expectations."
Overcoming poison—the greatest weakness of Nen users. Do these people even have weaknesses?
Maybe I should increase my own poison resistance too. My [Boss Attribute] blocks Nen-based poison, but not ordinary ones.
"An assassin dying from poison would be a bad joke."
"I suppose so."
"Ah, I forgot introductions. My name is Zeno Zoldyck. Killua's grandfather."
"Ah—right. My apologies. My name is Aisha. I don't have a surname. I met Killua during the Hunter Exam."
I can't use my mother's—well, my father's—surname. I don't even know my mother's maiden name. And not having one isn't inconvenient.
"…Aisha. What is your relationship with that old man?"
"Netero?"
I hesitated briefly, but if it were something secret, Netero would've warned me.
"We write 'strong enemy' and read it as 'friend.' You could call us rivals."
"…You sound serious."
I nodded. Netero surely thought the same of me.
"Are you truly as young as you look?"
"…How old do I look?"
He was probably asking whether I was far older than I appeared.
That was understandable. Claiming to rival Netero at my age would sound absurd.
"Seventeen or eighteen, perhaps. Just by appearance."
"Too bad. I'm not that old."
"So then—"
"—I'm thirteen."
"…What?"
"I'm thirteen now. I'll be fourteen this year. I'm just a bit early-developed."
Zoldyck shock face acquired. That alone made it worth it.
"…It's not a lie, is it? 'Terrifying' doesn't even begin to cover it."
Well, I did bring my past life's experience with me. But I won't tell him that.
I took a sip of tea. It wasn't poisoned, after all.
"Thank you. …This is delicious."
I prefer coffee, but this tea was incredible. If I'd tasted this first, I might've become a tea person.
…Hm? Someone's approaching.
"It seems someone's arrived."
"Father, I'm coming in."
A tall, powerfully built man entered—nearly two meters tall. Same hair color as Killua, with a feline, predatory look.
If Killua was a cheeky cat, this man was a ferocious lion.
"Silva… Aisha, this is Silva Zoldyck. Current head of the family. Killua's father. Treat her well."
"I know. I'm Silva Zoldyck. It seems Killua was in your care."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Aisha. Killua was very kind to me."
Social courtesy—even with assassins.
"…I see."
He scanned me from head to toe, then seemed satisfied.
He was strong. Easily top ten among those I'd met. Zeno included.
My personal strength rankings had just been reshuffled. What a terrifying family.
"Killua spoke about you. …He looked happy. I'd never seen him like that before. Thank you."
"…I enjoyed being with him too."
So Killua talked about us happily…
That makes me want to see him again even more. Maybe pat his head a bit. Like a bratty little brother.
"It's dark now. You should stay the night. I'll introduce the rest of the family at dinner."
"Ah—no, I couldn't possibly impose—"
"Don't be silly. This is the first time Silva's ever invited a stranger to dinner."
"That was unnecessary, Father."
Yeah, I really can't imagine him doing that.
But at this point, refusing would be rude.
"Then… I'll accept your hospitality."
"Good. I'll have someone show you to a guest room."
A night at the Zoldyck estate.
How did it come to this?
◆
"...What do you think?"
"She seemed completely natural, yet I couldn't find a single opening. She's clearly very used to tense situations."
To be able to remain that composed while inside our home—she must have survived her share of deadly encounters.
"What about you, Father?"
"I can't say for sure without seeing her Nen, but… it was the right call not to antagonize her. Of course, if we have to kill, we will—but she's not someone I'd want to make an enemy of without good reason."
So Father sees it the same way. At that age, someone who makes us think like this… they exist, but they're rare. The man I faced when I killed a member of the Phantom Troupe was one of them.
"I tried having a bit of fun and erased my presence to observe her, but the moment I let my guard down, she took my back."
"…Getting old, Father?"
"I'm active for life!"
I know. It's not that Father has gotten old—it's simply proof of Aisha's ability. Judging by her appearance, she's older than Killua. Even so, late teens at most—being generous, maybe early twenties including her being a Nen user.
To reach this level at such a young age… calling it mere talent doesn't do it justice.
"Don't be surprised—she's actually thirteen."
…Hard to believe. About the same age as Killua. From what I've heard, she's under the protection of the Hunter Association Chairman. Perhaps she's a treasured disciple.
"I'd like to see her true strength, Nen included."
"She opened the Testing Gate up to seven."
…You should have said that earlier. Her body is thoroughly trained. She doesn't rely solely on Nen.
"She didn't seem to be using Ten yet, but she can definitely use Nen."
"Yeah. There wasn't the slightest stagnation in her aura. If she could do that without knowing Nen, she'd be a natural-born actor."
Unless someone can deceive even their own heart, that's impossible. Even people who haven't awakened to Nen still have their aura subtly influenced by emotion. Aisha's aura, though freely flowing, remained perfectly constant. It's safe to assume she understands Nen.
"She also referred to Netero as a worthy rival. They've probably crossed hands many times."
"…I'll take what you say with a grain of salt, Father."
"I didn't say it—Aisha did."
So she's not his disciple? I've never fought him myself, but Isaac Netero is the only man known to have fought Maha and survived. From Father's stories, he's likely counted among the strongest Nen users in the world.
And she calls him a rival…
"…Could you beat her, Father?"
"…Hard to say. I wouldn't say I can't win. But—"
"But you wouldn't say you would win either."
If an assassination request for her came in… it wouldn't be worth the price.
"If we didn't choose our methods carefully, there might be an opening…"
"Her personality?"
We've barely interacted, but she probably can't abandon those close to her. The fact that she stormed this place for Kill and his friends proves that.
Exploiting that sentiment might make assassination possible.
But—
"If we did that, Netero would definitely step in. I'd rather avoid making an enemy of that old man."
"..."
As expected.
Well, fine. There's no assassination request for Aisha anyway.
There's no need to assume killing her from the start.
…Still, it doesn't hurt to think ahead in case we ever become enemies.
"Making her a bride, though…"
"Impossible. She might be able to kill enemies, but she's not the type who can accept killing as a profession."
"…True. When I mentioned the family business, her expression darkened slightly. It'd be ideal if we could make her an ally, but…"
Bringing her into the Zoldyck family is almost certainly impossible.
Well, if we're incompatible, forcing it would only create discord. There's no need to invite internal strife.
"As long as we don't provoke her unnecessarily, we should be fine."
"Yeah. That's probably best. A bit boring, though."
"We're assassins, not martial artists."
"I know that without you telling me. Who do you think raised you?"
That's right—we're assassins. Not martial artists competing for strength. Being strong is good, but there's no need to flaunt it, nor to make enemies without reason.
…Even so, I couldn't deny that part of me agreed with Father when he said it was boring.
"Master!"
A butler hurried into the room—Hishita, I think.
Noisy. What is it?
"What is it?"
"Th-that is… Madam is heading toward the guest's room in a terrible rage…"
…That's not good.
◆
"Please rest here for now. We'll come for you once dinner is ready."
"Thank you."
I was shown to the guest room, and… just like with the reception room, I didn't expect the Zoldycks to even have a room specifically for guests.
It feels like it's rarely used. There's no dust or grime, so it's clearly cleaned regularly, but I can't imagine many visitors coming here.
Now then, waiting until dinner is fine, but what should I do in the meantime?
The room has a large bed, an impressive wardrobe, a fine vase with beautiful flowers, expensive-looking paintings, and even a bathroom and toilet. But there's no TV or books, so there's nothing to pass the time with. Inside the wardrobe… as expected, it's empty.
So, what now?
Hm? Someone's approaching. Is dinner ready already?
…No. There's anger in this presence. This isn't calm at all.
It's hard to believe they'd suddenly turn hostile, but given where I am, I naturally put myself on alert.
Then the door burst open, and a woman stormed in.
"You! You're the vixen who seduced my Kill!"
…Huh? No—who is this woman?
She was wearing a chic black dress, her face wrapped in bandages except around her mouth, with some kind of bulky goggles on top. That strange woman burst into the room and started shouting furiously.
"Eh?"
"Because of you, my precious Kill ran away from home! How are you going to take responsibility for that!?"
No—your son left of his own will, didn't he? I met Killua after he'd already run away.
I tried to argue—
"Silence! Illumi finally brought Kill back, and then he ran off again with those nobodies!"
By "nobodies," does she mean Gon and the others? That's harsh.
"You used that body to seduce Kill, didn't you!? That has to be it, you bitch!"
"Bitch!? No, I didn't seduce him—"
It seems the insults were actually aimed more at me…
"I was told by Father-in-law and Silva to treat you as a guest, so I won't harm you. However…"
She deliberately paused.
"If you ever try to flirt with Kill again, I'll have you assassinated using the full power of the Zoldyck family! Do you understand!?"
"Uh, yes… even without being told, I have no intention of flirting with him…"
"Oh!? Are you saying Kill isn't charming!? How rude, you insolent girl!"
What am I supposed to say, then? For starters, I've lived several times longer than you.
"Anyway, make sure you remember what I just said."
With that, she stormed out of the room as forcefully as she'd entered.
…Ugh, I'm exhausted. What was that woman's deal? So that was Killua's mother…
Once, Killua jokingly asked me if I wanted to trade mothers—but after seeing that, he might have been more than half serious. She's definitely tiring to deal with… Still, there's no doubt that she loves her son. Her way of showing it may be problematic, but that much was genuinely admirable.
That said, I really don't want to get involved with her any more than necessary.
Ah… I want to leave this place as soon as possible.
◆
What the hell—since an important guest is coming, the whole family has to eat together with them? Eating with family is fine, but having a meal with some stranger I've never even seen before is a hassle beyond reason.
In the first place, it's rare enough for guests to come to our house at all. Eating together on top of that—hasn't that never happened before?
I vaguely remember Dad saying something about a guest coming three days ago, but I wasn't interested, so I half-listened. Jobs alone are more than enough when it comes to guests. What kind of idiot would actually come all the way to our house?
Ugh, I just want to get back to my game already. I still have unmade figures too. I want to finish eating quickly and go back to my room.
So there I was, sitting at the table without hiding my irritation, when Grandpa and Dad arrived, followed by Mom and Kalluto.
"Honestly, Kikyo is such a problem."
"I know, dear, I'm sorry. But when I thought Kill might be taken from me, I just couldn't help myself…"
Did something happen? Mom getting scolded by Dad…
Well—actually, that's not so rare.
"Oh, sorry to keep you waiting, Mill. Dinner will be ready soon."
"I don't really care. So what kind of person is this guest?"
"Hm? Well… I suppose I'll leave that as a surprise."
What's with that? How boring. If we were going to wait anyway, I could've stayed in my room until the last minute. Things not going according to schedule really piss me off.
"It's about time. Gotoh, bring in the guest."
"Yes, sir."
Finally. Let's get this annoying business over with so I can go back to my room and play games.
.
And so, led by Gotoh, the so-called guest entered.
Honestly, do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me—
…Huh?
"Welcome, Aisha. Kikyo caused you some trouble earlier. Let me formally introduce her—my wife, Kikyo."
"Hmph… I have no intention of apologizing."
"…And this is my second son, Milluki. My eldest, Illumi, is currently away. And this is—"
Dad was saying something, but none of it reached my ears.
My attention was completely stolen by the person in front of me.
A slender figure, large breasts. Her hips were nicely rounded, her waist tightly defined, emphasizing her chest even more.
She looks about the same age as me, maybe? Her features are well-balanced. She's unbelievably cute for someone with that kind of chest.
Big eyes, eyebrows exactly to my taste. The balance of her nose and mouth is perfect.
Her chest, her eyes, her bust, her eyebrows, her breasts, her lips, her figure, her nose, her boobs, her waist, her maternal appeal, her butt—everything hit my preferences dead-on.
Before I knew it, my left arm was moving up and down. I don't really get it, but it feels right. Boobs, boobs!
"Um, my name is Aisha. Nice to meet you."
Huh? Since when did heavenly music start playing here? Ah—it's her voice. Of course. So her name is Aisha… Aisha Zoldyck…
…Not bad at all.
Why is someone this cute in a place like this? No—should someone this cute even exist in the real world? No, they shouldn't.
That's it. This must be a hallucination created by my delusions. Yeah, that has to be it. I've been playing too many dating sims and making too many bishoujo figures lately.
Whew. Thinking that way, it's a shame. To think this angel is just a product of my imagination… I should remember her clearly and make a life-sized figure later.
Since it's a hallucination anyway, I might as well touch her. There won't be any sensation, but hallucinations disappear eventually. Better enjoy the image while I can.
With barely any coherent thought left, I started walking toward Aisha.
"Um… is something wrong?"
She tilted her head, looking at me with a puzzled expression. Damn it—are my delusions trying to make me die of moe?
But I won't lose. I can't lose to a hallucination. I have a mission—to recreate this angel as a figure!
So I reached out toward the hallucination's chest—
But she dodged.
I reached again. Dodged. Again. Dodged.
…Why the hell does my hallucination dodge!?
"Milluki. What do you think you're doing?"
Dad's voice was ice-cold. Wait—this is bad. He's actually angry…?
Hold on. This isn't a hallucination? With my head suddenly clear, I looked again at the person in front of me.
"Um… what is it?"
"Whaaa—!? Th-this is real!?"
"Pardon? I wasn't aware I was supposed to be fake."
What!? She wasn't my delusion!? Then why is a girl this perfectly to my taste in a place like this!? This is the Zoldyck estate!
"Milluki… what exactly were you trying to do?"
Oh no oh no oh no oh no! What was I about to do to Dad's guest!?
I'm going to be killed! I need to apologize—now! Even if apologizing for trying to touch her chest probably won't help, doing nothing would be even worse!
"S-sorry! I—I mean, you were just so cute, I—!"
What kind of excuse is that!? "I tried to touch your chest because you were cute" — I sound like a total pervert!
"…My apologies, Aisha. I will make amends for this rudeness. Milluki will be punished accordingly."
…It's over. I probably won't be killed, but I'm definitely in for something awful.
"No, um… I was a little surprised, but I don't mind. It's fine."
A goddess exists… What is this being? Is this really not my delusion? No—if I keep thinking like this, Dad will definitely kill me.
"I see… that's a relief. Mill, apologize properly and greet her again."
"Y-yeah! S-sorry about earlier, I panicked… My name's Milluki. Um… nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. What happened earlier is fine. I don't mind."
She said that with a gentle smile…
Damn it. I'm done for. I've fallen for Aisha.
◆
After many twists and turns, dinner finally began. I was surprised by Milluki's behavior, but well—men do have those kinds of urges. I used to be a man myself, so I understand to an extent.
…Though now I don't feel sexual attraction toward women. Regrettably so!
That said, I don't feel sexual attraction toward men either.
Anyway, I can't say I don't understand Milluki's feelings, and since he didn't actually touch me, I forgave him. I, too, live by pushing forward with that kind of youthful drive—though my mother's teachings play a role as well.
"Losing your virginity" and "becoming happy"—having to do both is the hardship of a TS reincarnator.
Are you ready? I am.
…Alright, enough meaningless thoughts. Let's enjoy the meal.
The food was Chinese-style—well, there's no China in this world, but probably from a country with a similar food culture.
Chopsticks included, easy to eat, and absolutely delicious! Man, rice really is the best!
"Excuse me, may I have another serving?"
"Mm. Don't hold back. Eat as much as you like."
Zeno kindly gives his approval. Is this man really an assassin? He just looks like a gentle grandfather.
"…You eat a lot."
Ah—maybe going for a sixth bowl was too much…? Silva pointed it out.
But it really is delicious. Far better than outside food. Might even beat a top-class restaurant. Not that I've ever eaten at one.
"S-sorry… I guess that was a bit rude…"
"No, that's not it. I was just thinking—it's impressive you can eat so much food served in an assassin's home. Didn't you consider it might be poisoned?"
Oh, that's what he meant.
"I wasn't worried about that."
"…What?"
"I was certain when I had tea with Zeno. If you decided to kill someone, you wouldn't bother with roundabout methods—you'd come directly. Of course, poison might be one of your tools, but—"
"Hmph. What if I lied about there being no poison, just to make you let your guard down?"
"Zeno… and Silva as well—you didn't seem like people who would tell that kind of lie."
That was my judgment from observing their aura. Their personalities didn't strike me as the type to rely on deception for assassination.
…Kikyo aside.
"Judging people by appearances will get you killed someday."
"Then that would only mean I was inexperienced."
If a warrior who lives on the battlefield is killed by poison, that simply means they were lacking. One would die lamenting their own inadequacy.
"Damn… she just keeps getting better…"
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"N-no! I—I'll have another serving too!"
So that's it—Milluki muttered something and went for seconds as well.
"Truly a bold one… If you're still hungry, don't hold back."
"Really? Then I'll have more!"
"…Isn't she eating more than Milluki?"
"…Seems her energy is being expended through movement."
"…Such gluttony! She's even less suitable for Kill! …But for Mill, maybe."
"…My overeating isn't standing out… nice."
"…I'll have another serving too."
Oh—Kalluto's getting seconds as well. Eat lots and grow big. You'll surely become beautiful someday.
Not something you say to a boy, so I won't.
And just like that, the surprisingly pleasant dinner came to an end.
The food was delicious.
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