The next day in the afternoon.
　I didn't go to the dungeon, I was in the saloon.

　The large mansion is just me and Eri right now.

　A while ago, Eliza and Ina were at the sub-branch of "Tsubame no Omiai" and the mansion would be reasonably busy even when everyone was working during the daytime, but since the two of us became independent and set up "The Golden Tree", the mansion's daytime hours are basically deserted.

　It's just the two of us, me and Eri, in the saloon of such a quiet mansion.

　I'm sitting on the sofa and Eri is squeezing my pants while I'm just sitting there.

"Eri, don't pause, why don't you sit down?


　I recommended the couch, but Eli shook his head.

　He must still be fundamentally insecure somehow, so he can't sit comfortably.
　That's what I thought for some reason.

'Yeah, I guess so.'

　He didn't affirm or deny it, and his response was limited to a gentle pat on Eli's head.

　As a child in form, and by extension, in behavior, I have to be more careful with him than with Nihonium.
　I thought to myself.

''Somebody - is there anyone out there?''
Hmm?

　Suddenly, I heard a voice from the doorway.
　A juvenile voice and a distinctive tone of voice.

　I stood up and left the salon.

''.......''

　Eri followed behind me, fumbling and fuming.
　He follows me with a big wave of his short limbs, he's in a hurry and looks like he's about to fall down.

"It's okay, don't panic,

　I stopped and waited for Eli.
　Eli caught up with me and still tugged at the hem of his pants to pinch it.

'This way when you walk.'

　Then I hold out my hand.
　Eri hesitates for a bit, then grabs my index finger.

　There's too much difference in the size of my hand and Eri's hand to hold hands.
　Even if I hold out my hand, it will naturally take the form of one of my fingers being grabbed.

　With that situation, we head to the front door together.

'No one's there?'
All right, I'm coming.

　Raise your voice, but keep your walking speed slow.
　I don't lose my stance, which is to match Eri.

　It takes more than twice as long as usual to reach the front door.

　The person I had imagined from the voice and language was there.

　Mao Mee.
　She's a girl of about the lower elementary school age, with childish limbs, a mature expression, and long twin-tails as tall as her height.

　At the same time, she is also a person with a high position as the head of the Filin Dungeon Association.

''Long time no see, Mao.''
It's been a while. I came to visit you today.

　Mao says that in high spirits and hugs me around the waist.
　I don't dislike skin-to-skin relationships that show affection.

......

　At the same time, I could feel the little Mao breathing from even lower in the air.

'Oh, who is this girl?　Are you possibly your illegitimate child?
How come you're the illegitimate one all of a sudden?

　He made a grand gesture in response to the sudden and massive blur.

'No?'
I'm here for a reason.
Hmm, yeah.

　Mao pulled away from me and stared at Eri in the middle of the room.
　Eli hid behind my back in a panic, looking slightly frightened.

'Oh, you hid,'
Sorry, I'm a little shy.
'Yes. Mao is Mao Mee.


　In response to Mao's friendly introductions, Eli, who's hiding behind his back and clinging to him, just shakes his head in a pull.

'I'm really sorry. Anyway, just go to the salon and I'll get you a drink.'
That's okay.

　Mao said and headed towards the salon with a light step.
　He walked away from it and reached out to Eri.

'Let's go.'

　With Mao gone, Eli grabbed my fingers again, a little less nervous.
　We both head to the kitchen.

　We go into the kitchen and prepare our drinks.

　Mao Mee.
　She's the head of the Philindungeon Association and works as a sake sommelier of sorts, but she's not the usual "looks like a kid, brains like an adult" or the so-called Lolita hag.

　She was once a

'You don't have to push yourself, Mao is as old as he looks, so you can do what you want with your language.

　He self-reported that he was 10 years old or so, if he was right.

　Hence, I use scent and appearance only to appraise the alcohol.
　Even so, I can judge it better than any adult, which is why I'm in the position of head of Filin's Dungeon Association.

　I decided to prepare an orange juice for her.

　Emily squeezes Tellurian oranges and adds a twist to them.
　It looks, tastes and thirsts first-rate, and although it's just a juice, it's also strangely addictive and incredibly delicious.

　I pour it into a glass and put it on the tray.

　Then I noticed that Eri was staring at me.
　It's the first look she's shown me - curiosity.

　She's looking at the juice I've poured on her with curious eyes.

　I take another smaller glass, pour the juice and offer it to Eri.

'Do you want to try it?'
......

　Eli was surprised and confused.
　She alternated between my face and the juice, looking lost in some way.

　I didn't say anything, but waited in the pose where I held out the cup.

　I waited without hurrying, and eventually, Eri moved of her own volition and received the cup.
　I put my mouth on it and...

......!

　Paaaah, her face goes all over the place and she nods coyly at me.

'Right?　Emily made the best juice in the world, right?
(mmm-hmmm)

　Eri reacted in the most emotional way I've ever seen her react.
　I was a little relieved and happy to see that.

　It's not just that she's frightened, she can make this kind of expression.
　I became happy and hopeful.

　Just like that, I watched warmly as Eli drank his juice.

'Oh, it's the juice!'

　Mao appeared at the entrance to the kitchen.
　He must have been waiting and came to check on her.

'Mao don't drink too!'
......!

　Mao's momentum freaked me out and Eli hid behind my back again.
　I can see that he's trembling slightly.

　There's no malice in that of Mao's.
　She's just fine.

　I hope that someday Eri will no longer be frightened by this energy.
　In order to do that--.

　　　　　★

　Late night.
　After spending time with a group of friends who had come home and everyone had gone home to sleep in their respective rooms.

　I was in the salon.
　Eri, who had been clinging to me after everyone else came home, was tired and sleeping with me clinging to her.

　He's sleeping quietly in my lap, a round stain of slobber bigger than a plate.

　I pat his head up, trying not to wake him up.
　After a moment.

'Good evening, sir.'

　Margaret emerged from the dark corridor with an elegant demeanor.

　The Lyota family, the boss of the Margaret family.
　Margaret herself appeared without a sound.

'That was quick (、、、、、).'
I've come as fast as you can, sir.

　She said and placed the bottle on the table.
　The bottle, placed quietly so as not to wake Eli, had her face painted on the label.

'New product?'
Yes, it's the bottle version of Pandora's Box. It's got water in it.
'It's going to be a more decent product than Margaret's Mark drop water or an airbox.

　I picked it up and stared at it intently, then set it down on the table without making a sound as well.

'So, how did it go?　--Chrome.

　The water in the bottle is chrome water.

　Dungeon Chrome, which produces delicious water.
　I asked Margaret, who is famous for her airbox, to go there.

　I asked Margaret, who could have shown up, to investigate.

'Um, ...... lat, sosha, play, builder.'

　Margaret looked a little troubled, then softly read the names of the four ninja knights.
　Then something appeared out of the darkness and whispered in her ear.

　It was right on target.
　Even if Margaret herself couldn't do it, the four ninja knights would still be able to find out for Margaret.
　Rather, Margaret could do nothing, just go get Margaret water.

　Eventually, the ears are done and Margaret answers my question.

'As you see it, Lyota. I'd like to see you lose interest in what you did to monopolize the chrome, knowing that the new erythronium won't drop water.
Well, that's good.

　Perhaps they might go after the erythronium.
　I asked Margaret to move with that possibility in mind, though.
　Apparently, I won't have to worry about that.