The Little Girl Returns

(This takes place while Kehma was making the Golem for the Succubus.)

The pink-haired little girl who had infiltrated the village, Michiru.

Her job was to ensnare the Village Chief.

According to their information, the Village Chief here was just a figurehead, with the real authority held by the bar master who doubled as the Deputy Village Chief… but in reality, the Village Chief held final authority and could easily reject the Deputy Village Chief's proposals.

Prior investigation had revealed that the Village Chief was a lolicon. That's why she, an immature Succubus, had been specifically assigned to this job.

Lolicons often easily see through adult Succubi who use mimicry to look like little girls, making them formidable enemies with relatively low success rates. However, since Michiru was actually a little girl, she didn't need to use mimicry.

Also, even if she failed and was repelled, they didn't really mind—she was a sacrificial pawn… well, maybe not quite that far, but she wasn't expected to accomplish much either.

Because of that, she wasn't given much information and only received the order to ensnare the Village Chief and make him do whatever they said. Since she was actually repelled, the decision not to give her much information turned out to be correct.

"… But I won't give up! I'll make that Village Chief do whatever I say!"

Michiru clenched her fists. Her spirit was burning.

However, when she snuck into the village again that night, the Village Chief was absent.

Was he being vigilant after yesterday? Michiru's shoulders slumped. Her stomach rumbled.

… It seemed her body had remembered she hadn't eaten anything since that sandwich.

"Uuu… if only I had life energy, I wouldn't need food… at this point, even an animal's would do…"

But this was a newly established adventurer mining village. There were no households keeping pets. None of the adventurers had tamed familiars with them either.

That said, making a night visit (having a meal) to an adventurer was too much for Michiru to handle.

It was at that moment, as she sat dejectedly in front of the inn, at a loss for what to do—

"Oh my, what's a little girl doing in a place like this?"

"Fweh?"

When she raised her head, she saw a beautiful woman with pale green hair.

She was wearing a frilly outfit… it must be the uniform of those who worked at this inn.

"Are you one of the guests' children? … Little girl, where are your papa and mama?"

"U-um, um…!"

Michiru panicked and became confused. This was enemy territory. She couldn't say anything careless.

But her body was honest. A cute rumble came from her stomach.

"Oh my, you're hungry, aren't you? Would you like me to treat you to some leftover bread?"

"A-are you a goddess?"

"Oh goodness no. I'm just a normal maid."

"Ah—but Onee-sama told me not to follow strangers…"

"Oh, then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Kinue. I work at this inn. And you are?"

"M-Michiru…"

"Michiru-chan, is it? What a lovely name. See, now I'm not a stranger anymore, right?"

With a smile, the woman—Kinue—held out her hand.

Michiru timidly took the offered hand. It squeezed back gently and helped Michiru to her feet.

Is this what having a mother feels like? Michiru wondered.

"Um… I'm not a guest at this inn though, is that okay?"

"Oh, then as my friend, let me treat you, Michiru-chan."

"…! Y-yeah! Friends, you and me are friends!"

And so, Michiru was led into the inn's dining room by the green-haired maid.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"The target has been secured. What should we do, Rokuko-sama?"

"What should we do indeed…"

The little girl Kehma had tagged on the map had appeared, but she seemed to be wandering about lost. They reached out just to see what would happen, and somehow ended up sheltering her.

Now she was sleeping soundly after filling up on bread. Her sleeping face was innocent, looking like nothing more than an ordinary child.

So, what to do now?

She tried to consult Kehma, but he was currently concentrating on making the Golem that would become the Succubus's container, and his responses were absent-minded. From experience, Rokuko knew to just leave him alone when he got like that.

"Shall I dispose of her?"

"Yeah, I'm one to talk, but that's pretty extreme. Kinue, you're quite ruthless, aren't you… even though you said you were friends."

"I am a maid. Work takes priority over personal feelings."

"What would you personally want to do?"

"Fufu, it might be nice to train her in housework and make her my subordinate. After all, she is my first friend."

I see. Rokuko nodded, then tilted her head. Huh?

"Kinue, don't adventurers often say 'please be my friend' to you? What about them?"

"Oh, Rokuko-sama. That only means 'please consider being my lover.' I have someone my heart is set on, so I decline them."

"Ah, is that so?"

"I might consider it if they at least presented me with a residence worth cleaning, though."

"… I won't give you Kehma, you know?"

"Yes, I understand, Rokuko-sama."

Kinue smiled. Kehma possessed multiple properties worth cleaning: the inn, the Village Chief's mansion, and the dungeon. Moreover, he entrusted the cleaning to Kinue. Not only that, he provided an environment where she could also cook to her heart's content—a blessing beyond compare for a silky maid fairy.

For that reason, combined with the naming effect, Kinue's affection toward Kehma was near its peak. She adored him to the point that she would dispose of her first friend if that friend became an obstacle to Kehma.

"Also, aren't Rei and Nerune your friends?"

"We get along well, but we're colleagues before we're friends. We serve the dungeon together."

"I see."

Rokuko thought Kinue was unexpectedly businesslike.

"Well, dealing with her will have to wait until Kehma finishes his Golem. He was really fired up, so I wonder if he'll go without sleep again and do something weird."

"Again?"

"Yeah, he got so absorbed in work once before that he forgot to sleep."

Kinue couldn't imagine Kehma, who prioritized sleep above all else, getting so focused on something he forgot to sleep… though right now, he was indeed prioritizing making a Golem over sleeping.

"When Kehma concentrates, he's amazing! He can even make a dungeon that beats Haku-neesama."

"In that case, we can expect the Golem to be quite impressive."

"But we'll need to make him sleep once he's satisfied for now. Dealing with that little girl will come after that. Keep an eye on her in the room. I'll adjust the work shifts."

"Yes, thank you, Rokuko-sama."

Kinue bowed respectfully to Rokuko—

… Now then, since I have the chance, maybe I'll have a friendly chat and extract as much information as I can. Kinue smiled.