Quite the complicated family situation...

"How unfortunate… Even I couldn't completely remove the curse in a single session. You'll need to come to the church once a week for a while. Understood, Misha-san?"

"Y-Yes, nya…!"

Misha nodded obediently at the Goddess puppet's shameless words.

… Well of course no one can remove a curse that was never there in the first place!

 

*

 

"… Karina. You really were a servant of the Goddess, huh nya…"

"Well, technically, yeah."

And so there I was, sharing tea at a cafe with Misha, whose bottom was still bright red.

"Honestly, I think we could be best friends now that you're in on this secret."

"… ! W-Well, if you really insist, I suppose I could be your friend nya?"

"Oh, never mind then."

"Why nya!? This is where you're supposed to insist nya!?"

That's exactly the kind of easy-to-tease attitude I love!

"Well, while we're at it, why don't you come over to my place? I'll treat you to some dwarven booze."

"Ooh, I guess I'll accept your invitation nya! … Also, got any ointment nya? My butt stings nya…"

Ah right, she did wince when sitting down earlier.

"One of my wives is really good at making medicine, so I'll ask her."

"Come to think of it, you said you had five wives nya. Was that for real nya?"

"Yep. They're dwarves."

"Huh. Think you could introduce me to a skilled blacksmith nya?"

"Sure, if it's you, Misha. But make sure you pay properly."

"Of course nya! I've got the prize money from being runner-up in the Front and Back tournament, so I should be able to afford anyone except the Five Elders nya!"

Ah, then you might not have enough.

After having a leisurely tea at the cafe and waiting for Misha's butt to calm down, I invited her to my base.

Aishia greeted us.

"I'm home. Is Ruu-chan around? I need some ointment for a swollen bottom."

"Welcome back, Master. Ruu-sama is in the workshop… Is that Misha, the competitor?"

"That's me nya! Nice to meet ya nya! I've gotten pretty famous, you know. Want an autograph nya?"

"Oh, no thank you."

Rejected outright by Aishia, Misha's brows drooped in dejection.

"Still, you're not surprised, Misha. About this space."

"I already had my mind blown at the Goddess's place nya. Is this something similar nya?"

What flexible thinking. Not bad, bestie.

"Is that half-dwarf one of your dwarf wives nya?"

"No, she's one of my wife's grandchildren and my slave."

"??? Quite the complicated family situation nya…"

Yeah, I thought so too when I said it.

And so, I brought Misha to the Five Elders' workshop.

"Ruu-chaan. Got any ointment for a spanked butt that's all swollen?"

When we entered the workshop, all five of the Five Elders were gathered, busy maintaining Dea-kun's Gothic Lolita Dress.

This equipment, which incorporated too much of the Five Elders' technical expertise, required regular maintenance.

Apparently Dea-kun himself was currently taking a bath.

"Oh, Kari-chan, welcome back. Ruu-chan, she wants ointment."

"She got her butt spanked? Hard enough to swell up?"

"I got spanked by my mom a lot back in the day too."

"Aa-chan's mom was really strict, wasn't she…"

"Here you go. This ointment works great on bruises and internal bleeding, Kari-chan."

As usual, they were all chattering away, but Ruu-chan promptly handed me the ointment.

"Here. Here you go, Misha."

"Oh, thanks nya! Are these girls your wives, Karina nya? None of them look old enough to have grandchildren though nya."

Misha gave them all a casual once-over, letting out a curious nyaan.

In response, all five of their eyes briefly flashed with a sharp glint.

"She's fighting with physical ability alone."

"Has decent talent but isn't using it well. Lacks training."

"Hmm, well, she doesn't seem like a bad kid."

"I sense… something holy coming from her butt…?"

"She'd make good material… Overall rating: 'average,' I'd say?"

"O-Oh? Average, huh… Nya!? What's with this ointment!? It works crazy well!? Wait, the pain in my butt is gone!? The swelling's going down too nya!?"

Misha, who had been applying the ointment herself, spun around in circles trying to look at her own butt in surprise.

"Oh nice, it worked. Experiment successful. That's a new formula."

"This is amazing nya! You made this nya? You must be a famous apothecary nya! Thank you nya! Please, tell me your name nya!"

"Hm? Um, Beelzebul Shounin… Kyaa, I said it!"

Ruu-chan got all embarrassed introducing herself with my family name. So cuuute!

"Beelzebul… That's the same name as one of the Tessin Five Elders nya! With skills like this, you could definitely surpass the Five Elders nya!"

"Oh, that's her. Shounin is my shop name."

"… Nya?"

At my spoiler, Misha's eyes went blank.