Chapter 126: To the Mansion (3)
Chapter 126: To the Mansion (3)
Scritch—!
"Hieee!"
Fay noisily pushed her chair back, scrambling to put some distance between them.
Unlike Nana, who had the safety measure of a slave imprint, or Carla and Elisha, who had known her for a long time—Fay had reached out to Iris to be friends solely because she trusted me.
She probably never imagined that the rumors weren't a frame-up, and that Iris really was an attempted spirit summoner.
"Hmph."
Iris pouted at the sight of Fay blatantly backing away.
I grabbed Iris’s slender wrists and lifted them slightly, forcing her into a surrender pose. It looked like I was operating a puppet.
However, showing empty hands is a time-honored appeal of harmlessness, so it was bound to be effective!
"It’s okay, Senior Fay! Our house slave doesn't bite!"
"…Master. I am not a dog."
I let Iris’s sullen protest go in one ear and out the other.
"Think about it, Senior Fay. Someone who hides under the covers because they're embarrassed, or who ends up on the verge of tears after being tickled while pretending to sleep, couldn't possibly be a dangerous person."
"That’s…"
Fay hesitated, seemingly finding some logic in that.
However, she was still trembling as she looked at Iris; she was clearly quite terrified.
In a way, it was only natural.
What was the reason spirit summoning was banned on the Eurelia continent? It was to prevent disasters like the Evil Gods from appearing by not summoning extraterrestrial beings at all. To put it simply, it was a world-scale isolationist policy.
And yet, someone tried to summon a spirit despite the ban?
They were treated as far more heinous than a common murderer or robber—more like someone caught trying to build a homemade nuclear bomb. It was easy to understand why the timid and fearful Fay would be scared.
But I knew. The only reason Iris tried to summon a spirit was for Elisha’s sake.
…Though it was a bit excessive in the sense that she didn't think about the consequences.
Anyway, it wasn't like she was trying to set the world on fire like the cultists, so it was fine.
"Ah… so that’s why…"
After hearing my explanation, Fay nodded, looking a bit relieved.
A person who pulls a knife for no reason is a madman, but someone who draws a blade to protect another tends to earn sympathy. That was exactly the case for Iris right now.
Blushing at Fay’s reaction, Iris gave a light cough.
"Ahem. While it was for the sake of my only disciple, it is true that there were many problems with the method. I was blinded. However, I assure you such a thing will never happen again."
Iris tapped the thorn pattern of the slave imprint etched on her neck.
Seeing Fay steal a glance at me, I gave a small smirk and spoke up.
"That’s right. One of the few restrictions I placed on her was to never research forbidden subjects. So don't worry, Senior Fay."
"Mm… if you say so, Junior."
Nodding, Fay slowly returned to her original seat.
She still glanced at Iris occasionally, but she didn't avoid her as blatantly as before. Still, I couldn't do anything about the awkward atmosphere.
I guess it can't be helped.
I let out a mental sigh and spoke in a firm voice.
"Senior Fay. Hand!"
"Huh? Eh? Okay…"
Though momentarily flustered, Fay obediently held out her hand. I placed Iris’s hand, which I had been holding, on top of hers.
"There."
"Master?"
"Junior?"
Ignoring the bewildered reactions of both Iris and Fay, I shook their joined hands up and down.
Shake, shake.
At the sight of them looking like they were shaking hands, Fay let out a chuckle and nodded.
"I get it. I get it, so you can stop now, Junior."
As soon as I let go, Fay straightened her posture and gave a light bow, the atmosphere much more relaxed than before.
"C-come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Fay Yarnshard… I look forward to getting along with you, Iris."
"Think nothing of it. Since we have the same man as a partner, we could be considered family. I look forward to it as well."
"P-partner… we’re not quite at that stage yet…"
"Hmm? Have you not shared a bed with Master?"
"Well, yes, but… I’m still a student… and, well…"
"Then let us call you a future partner."
"Future partner… family…"
To an Elf who valued chastity—especially an ancient Elf like Iris who had lived for five hundred years—this was common sense.
But for Fay, who hadn't grown up in a proper environment, it seemed to be a very foreign concept. She wore a pensive expression.
Sensing the atmosphere was about to turn awkward again, I pulled the corners of my mouth into a grin and spoke.
"Now that the introductions and greetings are over, shall we all just have sex to build some camaraderie?"
"…Have you finally lost your mind, Master?"
"Junior, that’s a bit…"
The two of them were troubled in perfect unison, then looked at each other and shared a small laugh.
Yeah. This is much better than before.
As I nodded in satisfaction, Iris leaned her head back against my chest and whispered.
"Master. Thank you for helping, even if you had to resort to such jokes."
"What are you talking about? I was serious."
"……."
For some reason, Iris started flailing again as if dissatisfied. I held her tight to keep her still, but then—
Knock, knock, knock.
"Master. I have brought the refreshments."
Famila finally knocked, carrying a large tray.
The timing was perfect.
I set Iris, who had been sitting on my lap this whole time, down in the seat next to me.
Then, while sipping tea together, we talked about what had happened in the meantime.
The exaggerated rumors that spread because I took Elisha as a slave. Fay, who almost got into danger because she was caught up in them. The fact that I exposed the Authority of Boiling Silence during the duel I fought out of anger. And even the strange phenomena I experienced in the library.
Iris, who listened sometimes calmly and sometimes with shared anger, nodded with a peculiar expression.
"The stories of the previous duel and the danger of Boiling Silence are quite famous, so I heard bits and pieces even here. However, ghost stories manifesting in a rift in space… that is a phenomenon I have never heard of. It is quite intriguing."
"Right? It would have been great if you were there too, Iris. It’s a bit of a shame. Anyway, how about you? From what I saw at the entrance, the barrier seems almost finished."
"I have handled most of what Master ordered. Having a week more than originally planned made things quite manageable."
Saying that, Iris pulled a voluminous robe and a mask out of her subspace pocket.
The design was simple, based on black and purple. However, perhaps because I had given her a generous budget, the quality was extraordinary despite the modest appearance.
"The robe is enchanted with size adjustment and auto-repair magic as standard."
"Is that it?"
"Of course not. There is a magic circle etched into the lining; if you infuse it with mana, it becomes as hard as a drake’s hide, capable of blocking most blades. Basic protection against magic is a bonus."
Wung.
As Iris infused it with mana to demonstrate, the robe instantly stiffened.
Since I would be layering a Shield on top of this, the total defensive power would be quite substantial.
Even what I had seen so far was impressive performance… but given the gold I invested and Iris’s skill, this couldn't be the end.
When I looked at her with expectant eyes, Iris shrugged her shoulders with a boastful expression.
"The highlight is something else. Since Master said he wanted the vibe of a plausible secret organization, I prepared this."
With those words, the robe vanished as if melting into thin air.
"Huh?"
No. Looking closely, Iris’s hand was still holding something. It hadn't disappeared, it was…
"Invisibility?!"
"Correct. I heard from Lady Lindelheit that Master enjoys stacking all sorts of scrolls and potions to their limit."
"Did you tell her that, Carla?"
"Yes. While you were sleeping in the carriage, we talked about you for a bit…"
Carla scratched the back of her head with a sheepish grin.
"Were you talking behind my back?"
"Of course not! Elisha and Iris were just curious about what kind of person you are, so I just told them a few stories about what’s happened so far."
So they talk about things like that when I’m not around.
As I nodded, Elisha chimed in with a giggle.
"It’s just as Carla said. We only talked about how you, Yandel, get excited by Womb Filling Play."
"What…?"
Elisha pointed at me with the fork she was using to cut a piece of cake and smirked.
"You really are a pervert."
"…Right. Elisha, you should try it too."
"Eh?"
As I bickered with Elisha like that, Iris puffed out her cheeks slightly and began kneading my thigh.
"Master. Please do not tease Elisha too much. And the conversation keeps drifting off course."
"Ah, sorry. You were saying I use a lot of scrolls and potions, right? Yeah, because it’s efficient."
When I returned to the main point, Iris let the air out of her cheeks and nodded.
"It is efficient. However, is it not cumbersome and quite expensive? Above all, in a desperate situation, even a momentary delay can be critical."
"That’s… true."
What Iris said was something I had felt keenly while fighting Edmerec. He had kept the pressure on so I couldn't use scrolls or potions. If the battle had lasted a bit longer and the effects of the buffs had worn off, I would have died right then and there.
On the other hand, with that robe, it would be possible to suddenly turn invisible during combat.
Of course, high-level experts have sensory perception or detection magic, so it would be nothing more than a simple trick…
But there’s a big difference between being able to use a trick and not.
And above all.
"An invisibility cloak is the dream."
"It is a robe, not a cloak."
They’re basically the same thing.
"Anyway, good job. You did exactly as I asked."
When I stroked her head, Iris looked away as if embarrassed.
"I am by no means young, yet Master persists in treating me like a child."
"Do you hate it?"
"…I did not say I hated it. It is just a bit embarrassing."
Ahem.
Giving a small cough, Iris picked up the mask this time, as if to change the subject.
"Finally, the mask. In fact, one could say this is what completes the concept Master desires."
"That much? What kind of functions does it have?"
"First, it is enchanted with perception blurring, anti-detection, and anti-tracking magic, which will be useful outside of combat."
"Yeah. It needs at least that much to feel like a secret organization."
"The next part is what is truly important. If you wear this mask and infuse it with magic power…"
Having said that much, Iris smirked with a deliberate air of importance.
"You can radiate intimidation!"
"……?"
"Like a suspicious person!"
"……!"
A suspicious intimidation factor was a serious matter.