The Viscount's Reluctant Plea
"So in the end, the gist of it is... that kid stirring up trouble in your territory—no, she's probably all grown up by now. Anyway, you want me to take care of that beastkin?"
"Ah, no, not take care of her... I just hope Lady Aisha could calm her down. Wouldn't words from another beastkin get through better than mine?"
"Even among beastkin, tribes differ... Don't lump us all together."
"S-Sorry."
As Aisha chided him, Viscount Selton wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, bowing repeatedly. It seemed beastkin really hated being treated as a monolith. Sure enough, she'd once said humans had conquered them because the tribes couldn't unite.
Viscount Selton continued. "Even though it happened back in my great-grandfather's time, I do feel some guilt toward her. That's why I've stayed silent through all her antics so far. But lately, her behavior's gotten out of hand. What used to be harmless pranks has now caused real harm to the territory's people, and the petitions from them just won't stop."
"..."
"Please, I beg you. Just this once, Lady Aisha—help us out!"
Viscount Selton bowed deeply as he spoke. But Aisha merely lowered her gaze with a impassive expression.
That beastkin surely saw the entire Viscount Selton family as her mortal enemies. The great-grandmother who'd schemed to kill her mother was long dead, but the family line lived on.
To the viscount, it was ancient history—his great-grandson was now the head of the house. But to a beastkin who lived more than twice as long as humans, those painful memories were still vivid.
Aisha, lost in thought for a moment, finally spoke. "Haven't you considered driving her off yourself? If manpower's an issue, you could've asked the imperial army for help."
Why come to me specifically?
Viscount Selton replied, "...Of course, that would solve it. But..."
As if reading the unspoken words behind his trailing off, Aisha smiled warmly. "...I see. How kind of you, Viscount."
"No, no—it's just my indecisiveness. But if it's harming the people now, I can't ignore it anymore..."
Requesting the imperial army would make short work of her. But Viscount Selton had held back. Slavery was abolished, but the empire showed no mercy to criminal non-humans—a fact he knew well.
Calling in the army meant execution without trial. He hadn't wanted it to come to that, so he'd endured until now.
At least, that's how it looked to Aisha.
"Fine. We're in a hurry to get back to the capital ourselves, but this shouldn't take long."
"You'll do it? Truly... thank you so much..!"
"No need for thanks. Then it's settled—let us stay here a few days."
"Of course. But..."
"?"
Viscount Selton hesitated, then added in a small voice. "If... if possible, could you subdue her without hurting her too badly?"
Minwoo, listening from the side, wondered why he'd ask that. But Aisha seemed to interpret it as the viscount's signature kindness, nodding with a smile.
"Don't worry. If she's just a typical beastkin who's grown up normally, subduing her without injury won't be hard. I don't plan on needless violence anyway."
"Th-Thank you..!"
"..."
Aisha didn't seem to mind the viscount's oddly protective concern for the beastkin. She readily agreed. But Minwoo eyed him with deep suspicion.
...
"Aisha."
"Hm? What is it, Minwoo?"
On their way to the annex mansion Viscount Selton had assigned them, Minwoo spoke up.
"About the viscount's request. I get that you're doing it, but what's the plan exactly?"
"Plan? Just track her down, tie her up, and drag her to the viscount. He wants to talk first, so I'll help calm her. If that fails, we'll deport her up north."
"Up north" probably meant the frozen lands where beastkin gathered.
"...Got it."
"Something bothering you?"
"No, nothing like that..."
There was something off, but no need to tell Aisha.
"It's late anyway—get some rest, Aisha. We'll start scouting for her tomorrow."
"Sure. But... couldn't we share a room...?"
Aisha pouted, miffed that Minwoo had separate rooms assigned.
"What are you saying? You're a proper lady. Last night was unavoidable, but we gotta keep things proper."
"It's really fine..."
Watching her tail droop, Minwoo thought she acted more like a kid than her age suggested. Of course, only he got to see this side of her.
To soothe her sulkiness, he feigned embarrassment and said, "Cut me some slack. With a beauty like you in the same room, I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to."
"Eh...?"
"Night."
Leaving Aisha flustered by the "beauty" compliment, Minwoo shut the door.
He approached the maid standing nearby, pulled out his glow stick, and activated it. She fell into hypnosis instantly.
"Where's Viscount Selton now?"
"...Lord Viscount has retired to his bedroom."
"Take me."
"...Yes."
Minwoo followed the maid down the hall.
...
The next day, Aisha set out alone to find the beastkin woman. Minwoo tagging along would just get in the way.
"How're you gonna find her, anyway? No leads or anything."
As they stepped outside, Minwoo asked. Aisha tapped her nose.
"Scent. Tough for humans, but easy between beastkin. We smell different from humans. As long as she's not too far from the territory, we'll find her today."
"Ah, gotcha..."
Minwoo saw Aisha off, then headed to the mansion's small, deserted garden.
"Siola."
A bat fluttered into the garden at his call. Out of place amid the cozy greenery—like a lost wanderer—it shifted into a doll-like beautiful girl.
The blonde red-eyed vampire loli who stubbornly stuck to her maid outfit: Siola.
"...What."
She shot him an annoyed glare.
Minwoo said, "That thing we put off before. Wanna do it now."
"...Even if you say it like that outta nowhere, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Really? Not playing dumb?"
"Hah..."
Siola let out a dry laugh at his bluntness, then added, "Dunno. Jerome's handling prep. Ask him."
"Alright," Minwoo nodded. Siola extended her small hand for teleport magic.
But instead of taking it, he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her.
"Wh-what..!? Mmph..!"
Siola panicked at the sudden move, trying to pull away—but for some reason, she couldn't escape his embrace. Even though she could crush a mere human like him with raw strength.
But of course. She'd long been under a deep hypnosis suggestion: She couldn't resist whatever Minwoo did to her.
She had no clue, naturally.
The kiss lasted a full minute.
"Pwah..! Hah... haaah... What... was..."
Minwoo looked down at Siola, cheeks flushed crimson, panting heavily.
"Lately, that cold shoulder of yours—is it just you begging for some affection?"
"N-Not really... Hnng..!?"
As she denied it, Minwoo slipped his hand under her skirt. His fingers delved into her panties, gently teasing her sensitive spot.
"Well, you've always been like that, so no surprise now..."
"Hah..! Haaang..!"
As his fingers moved faster, her moans grew louder. Her panties soaked through, drool dripping down her thighs.
Minwoo could make her climax with a single finger if he wanted.
Thrusting vigorously inside her, he suddenly jabbed a specific spot. Her body shuddered violently in his arms.
"Hiiiik..!?"
Climaxing from one finger alone, Siola went limp, leaning her frail body against him.
Minwoo smirked. "Feel a bit better now? All that tension released?"
"Haat... huaaah..."
Still riding the aftershocks, she couldn't reply.
Minwoo gently stroked her hair, shaking off his damp fingers. Then he whispered in her ear.
"Hang in there a little longer. After the ritual, the Demon King and I will spoil you rotten."
"...!"
Once the waves finally subsided, Siola meekly took his hand. They teleported to the Demon King's Castle.
Until they reached Jerome, she stayed as docile as a kitten.