Extra: Niku and Ichika

"Ichika, how did it go?"

Niku asked Ichika who'd returned to her usual duties.

Of course, what Niku was asking about was whether Ichika had been used as a pillow or if she had gone further with Kehma.

After all, Ichika and Niku were slaves, and it was normal for them to be used for such purposes.

So, it was only natural that Niku would ask Ichika about the outcome of her trip with Kehma (although Uzoh and Muzoh were also there).

"Ah well, guess I didn't get lucky. Master's pretty devoted, huh?"

"I see… Well, Goshujin-sama already has Soto-sama, so we don't have to worry about the future anyway."

"That's true…"

Rokuko and Soto were both Dungeon Cores, so they would likely live forever. From what they knew about the older cores, they'd live at least 500 years without changing at all. Since they didn't need to worry about heirs, the bigger concern was probably their own lifespans.

"However, not gettin' lucky makes me feel like I lost as a woman."

"Is there really winning or losing to that? If so, then I should train too…"

"That's not really what I was goin' for, but… I mean, I guess so?"

In other words, if getting lucky meant winning, then Ichika would have to polish her charms as a woman and try to tempt Kehma.

… It might be worth asking the succubi for advice. Improving oneself isn't a bad thing, and if their value as slaves increases, that would also benefit their master, Kehma.

"There are exercises to improve your bust, and skincare routines too. The succubi are really knowledgeable about that kind of stuff."

"As expected from succubi. Michiru never talks about such things."

"Well, Michiru is still a child."

"That's true."

Niku nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of heirs, I just realized, why doesn't Haku-sama directly rule the Empire?"

"Hmm? Now that you mention it, that is strange. There is a separate royal family, after all."

Pondering Niku's question, Ichika crossed her arms.

"Well, if it were our household, the royal family would be like the descendants of Master's child, Soto, and the reason Haku doesn't rule directly is probably because she finds public duties troublesome. She probably passed everythin' on to her children."

"Goshujin-sama, lazy…? But he's managing the village so well!"

"Well, he thinks he's pushing the work onto the deputy village chief, you know?"

Ichika shrugged her shoulders in exasperation.

"That aside, Haku-sama's probably in the ideal position that our master envisions for himself."

"I see. So our goal is the Imperial Capital, and then the Empire, right?"

"Hmm? Yeh, I guess? In the sense that we aspire to that."

"I understand."

Niku nodded firmly.

"First, we'll need to create a royal family. Should we have Soto-sama bear children?"

"That would make them Goshujin-sama's grandchildren! … But wouldn't it make more sense for Rokuko-sama to have a human child? Soto seems interested in Leona."

"A child with Leona… That'd be quite a scandal, but… with the circumstances…"

The conversation between the two was heading in a rather unsettling direction.

"Actually, isn't Leona your grandmother, Niku-senpai? If she ends up with Soto, wouldn't ya have to call her 'Grandma'?"

"…!? If Soto would be 'Grandma' to me… then that'd make Goshujin-sama my 'Great-Grandpa'!?"

"Yeah, now that ya mention it, that's how it'd work. Huh, it's complicated."

Niku's eyes widened in shock, and her tail stood on end.

In her mind, she imagined sitting on a sunny porch with Great-Grandpa Kehma, or taking walks in the park with Grandma Soto.

Even Great-Grandma Rokuko would dote on her adorable great-grandchildren.

It wasn't a bad thought.

"… Now I kind of want to support Soto-sama and Leona's relationship."

"Yeah, I think Soto-sama would be happy to hear that. Master, on the other hand, seemed against the idea."

"Goshujin-sama once mentioned something called 'sleep-learning.' What if we whispered encouragement for their relationship into his ear while he sleeps?"

"Well… um, let's just say I didn't hear anythin', okay?"

Ichika averted her gaze, thinking she might have said too much.