After consoling the screaming Reeti and promising to visit her again next time, I barely managed to return to the dormitory.
I stood in front of the dormitory door and thought for a moment.
‘Should I show this to Lily?’
Currently, this book is suspected to be an erotic novel targeting people like Lily, an outsider.
‘…Something… something feels a bit awkward to show.’
Even I, who don’t have a family, understand how embarrassing it is to reveal one’s preferences to family members.
There’s no need to go far for an example; Reeti once told me that she forgot to put away an erotic novel she was reading, and her younger brother found it.
‘She said she couldn’t talk to him or look at him straight for weeks…’
Despite not being my personal preference, merely bringing such a book out of pure curiosity made me feel burdened if anyone found out.
“Hmm, let’s hide it.”
The image of Lily teasing me came to mind.
Her mischievous expression solidified my decision. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry about a hiding place.
When you enter the Academy, you receive a uniform with a pocket enchanted with subspace magic.
Even though it doesn’t offer much room, considering the value of subspace magic, it’s an amazing perk.
Additionally, there is an anti-theft enchantment, so only the owner of the uniform can open it.
Though…if it works on outsiders…well, I’m not entirely sure.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home~”
Lily greeted me with open arms at the entrance.
Approaching hesitantly, she hugged me gently with a smile.
“You must be tired from today.”
“It wasn’t that much work…”
Though I said this out of shyness, I was already filled with happiness the moment I entered.
As if reading my thoughts, Lily smiled warmly and gently stroked my back.
“What would you like to do? Take a shower? Have dinner? Or perhaps…”
Lily narrowed her eyes with a suggestive smile.
Her gaze moved to my lips, and her tongue flicked over hers like a red snake.
“Um… I’ll shower first!”
“Mother, why so flustered?”
“Ugh…”
Trying to escape Lily’s embrace, I headed toward the restroom when a voice came from behind.
“Shall I wash you too?”
“H-Hey! I can shower on my own!”
Closing the restroom door quickly, I sighed.
“She just keeps teasing…”
I began to undress for the shower, but something caught my clothes.
Looking down automatically, my exasperation grew.
“…I’m going crazy. Seriously.”
—
After finishing the shower and drying myself instantly with the magic dryer, I was about to leave the restroom when:
“Wow! What a surprise!”
Lily was right in front of the door.
“Can I use the restroom?”
“Do outsiders…ah…um…have bodily functions too?”
“Huh? I just wanted to go in.”
“W-Well, it’s still damp from the steam, so you should not-”
“Swish…”
At that moment, the ventilation magic circle inside the toilet activated and automatically dispersed the moisture.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
“So, can I go in now?”
“…Ah! Now that I think about it, I haven’t washed my hair yet. Let me go back in-”
Lily blocked me as I hastily turned around.
“Why, is there a reason I shouldn’t go in?”
“That… there isn’t, but…”
“Then it’s settled.”
Without giving me a chance to object, Lily quickly entered the restroom.
She took a deep breath.
“Hmf… Haa… Hmm…”
Then she turned to me and said,
“Mother, is the ventilation magic not working well? There’s a slight fishy smell, isn’t there?”
…It’s over.
“Hohoho, I wonder what this smell could be~?”
Lily grinned devilishly at me—she’s definitely pretending not to notice on purpose.
“Arthur, can I ask you a favor?”
“…”
“Could you, if possible, instead of throwing it in the toilet, wrap it in tissue and dispose of it in the trash?”
“Wha?!”
“Imagine it from my point of view—if someone simply washes their food away, wouldn’t that be a waste?”
“Food…? What kind of…”
The incomprehensible Lily.
“Anyway, can you do what I asked?”
“…Alright.”
Though extremely embarrassed, I couldn’t refuse her request.
“Thank you, Arthur. You’re such a good boy~ mmm.”
As she gently patted my head, I instinctively moved to brush her hand away but stopped myself.
Though embarrassing…it wasn’t unpleasant.
Glancing at the clock, I noticed the evening hours approaching.
Lily followed my gaze and confirmed the time, asking,
“We have some time left. What should we do in the meantime?”
“Ah…well, yeah?”
What do normal families usually do at this hour?
I’ve never thought about it before, so I was at a loss for an answer.
“Hmm…”
It seemed Lily was also contemplating.
Remembering, Lily had mentioned that she too didn’t have a proper family.
We’re feeling the same way I guess.
The silence lingering in the room grew heavier.
That silence was shattered abruptly by Lily clapping her hands.
“Zap!”
“Let’s do introductions?”
“Huh?”
An unexpected answer.
“Thinking about it, we’ve only known each other for two days, right? We don’t know much about each other, especially what you might be curious about me. How’s that sound?”
“Ooh! That sounds good?”
It was something I hadn’t anticipated, but this was a chance to learn more about Lily.
There was no reason to refuse.
“Let’s set the rules first.”
With a gesture from Lily, words appeared in the air.
1. Take turns asking one question at a time.
2. Ambiguous answers prohibited; responses must be clear.
3. No lying.
4. If a question is too hard to answer, grant a wish for something that can be done immediately instead.
“How’s that?”
“Rule four is a bit unsettling, but…it’s a good idea.”
I was both worried and curious about what wish she might ask if I couldn’t answer one of her questions.
“Haha, it’s thrilling to feel this way with someone from outside my world. Am I getting braver?”
“Who should go first?”
“Lily, you go first.”
“Alright. Then…when was your first kiss?”
“Wh-What?”
“Why such a question…”
“Hehe~ No more chit-chat! Answer me.”
Though the question made me incredibly shy, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use my wish just yet.
“…Yesterday. My first kiss was with Lily.”
Lily’s expression visibly brightened.
“Oh my…what nonsense? That was just a meal, wasn’t it?”
Despite saying that, her face clearly showed how pleased she was.
“Then it’s my turn. Hmm…what should I ask…? Lily, how old-”
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, Lily’s eyes flared with fire, engulfing the room in black flames.
“Yieek!”
The flames that rushed toward me disappeared in the blink of an eye, just as they had appeared.
Turning my gaze to find Lily glaring at me.
“I’m sorry.”
“…A wish.”
“Huh?”
“You promised to make my wish come true.”
Her tone was sharp.
Ah…this was taboo.
Apparently, I’d made a big mistake.
Pouting with slightly puffed cheeks, Lily looked incredibly adorable but the introduction session was in danger of ending.
To change the mood…
“Hug me.”
I jumped directly into Lily’s arms.
“Huh? What’s this—Hieek!”
Startled, Lily stiffened at first but soon adapted to my movements and gently hugged me back.
“I’m sorry, Lily.”
“…I’m sorry for startling you. Were you burned?”
“No…I was just a little scared, but…”
Thankfully, Lily seemed to calm down.
There’s still so much I want to ask, but now wasn’t the time to stop—
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“…Huh?”
Caught off guard by her sudden question, I was at a loss for a moment.
“Umm, no!”
“Ah? But why are your cheeks red? Could you actually have one?”
“No! I said I don’t! It’s just because I’m startled…”
“Hnn~ Alright, I believe you.”
Her tone was anything but believing.
Not that there really is one…if there were, I probably wouldn’t feel aggrieved either.
Out of this frustration, I swapped my prepared question—
“Do you, Lily, have someone you’re seeing?”
“I don’t now, but I’ve made a commitment with someone for the future.”
“Wait, really?”
A commitment…is that like…an engagement?
My heart dropped heavily, and my voice faltered.
“Who…who is it?”
“Secret~”
“…Excuse me?”
Lily rested her chin on the high table where she was eating and looked at me.
“I’m planning to spend my life with someone with gray hair and gray eyes who is very close to me.”
Gray hair…gray eyes… This is completely…
“Is it…me?”
My dropped heart suddenly soared, hitting my throat.
“…Wha…”
“Mother, I didn’t say who, did I?”
“…Alright, understood.”
It was hard to object; the words alone weren’t entirely wrong.
“My turn—have you had any past girlfriends?”
Ah, such an embarrassing question.
With my already battered dignity further halved by Lily’s inquiries, I reluctantly responded.
“None.”
“Ah? Really? Isn’t that…the one humans call…AH! A lifelong loner!”
That single word “lifelong loner” pierced my heart like a dagger.
“…Yes…I am a lifelong loner…”
“Ah, that makes sense then. Your first kiss was with me, wasn’t it? I really should stop asking dumb questions.”
…That “dumb” question just injured me deeply.
From now on, let’s just stick to practical questions.
I’m very curious, but there isn’t tons of time.
Frankly, the question about age was somewhat playful.
What I really wanted to know next was…
“What kind of deity are you, Lily?”
“Hmm…what sort of deity am I…? That’s quite a difficult question.”
Lily tilted her head back and forth as if gathering her thoughts.
“Well, first off, one of the gods of dreams.”
“Dreams? Oh, is that where we met?”
“More accurately, it’s called Dreamland. It’s not an ordinary dream—it’s closer to another realm disguised as a dream.”
…So it wasn’t just a dream?
“When entering, you descend down a staircase. It’s the easiest way for humans to get in. The problem is you don’t know where you’ll land.”
“Th-Then-”
My open mouth was stopped by Lily’s finger.
“One question at a time. That’s the rule, right? To elaborate…I’m also the deity of the night.”
“Ah, that connects with the god of dreams, right?”
“Exactly. And the most decisive thing is…”
Lily showed me both her hands.
“…Hm?”
Looking at her hands with a puzzled expression, one hand was raised vertically, the other made a circle with her thumb and forefinger.
And then she…
“Whooa! Stop, stop! I get it! I understand, please stop!”
“Hoohoohoohoo, I’m also this kind of deity. Satisfied with the answer?”
“…Alright.”
I covered my hot face with my hands and nodded in agreement. Lily continued with the next question.
“What is your ideal type?”
Again, such a shy question.
Honestly, I’ve never thought about it before, so it was a tough moment to answer.
“Umm…firstly, it should be someone home-loving, warm, and considerate.”
“You have to mention the external features too. Ending here would be a half-answer.”
External features, huh.
I just said the ones that came to mind one by one.
“Long hair would be nice, someone taller or same height as me, and with pretty lips…”
“Figure?”
“Ah…a good figure would be…good…”
Wait, combining all these traits…this was completely…
Looking up silently, our eyes met.
“Hoohoohoohoo, why? Is there an issue?”
Seeing Lily’s mischievous grin, I started sweating nervously.
“Ah, we’ll stop here.”
“Okay~ I’ll accept that answer. It’s about dinner time. Ask your last question.”
As it was my last question, I carefully chose what to ask.
When I first heard about outsiders, a specific god immediately came to mind.
Could Lily know about this too?
“Lily.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you…know about…Nodens…?”
The moment the name “Nodens” was spoken, Lily’s demeanor turned cold in an instant.
The chilly air prickling my skin caused the sound of the words to trail off.
Lily, her eyes glowing bright red, asked me,
“…Arthur, what did you just say?”
Ah, it’s a disaster.
—
