Max told us it would take around a week to contact their client. We decided to spend the next few days impatiently waiting in Crane’s mansion.
However, I didn’t waste this free time during the wait. First off, I decided to write Claire a letter.
Among other things, I asked her to begin a search for a new Lyk Skull Bear. I also sent this same request to Crown Prince Alberto and Akane.
I’d also like to ask her to look into Max and Melissa’s client, but it will take time to send letters back and forth. I won’t have any time to get information about their client.
Instead, I decided to ask Crane to look into the matter.
I don’t plan on putting any pressure on their client, but it would help if I knew his identity before we met. If I know this much, I may be able to find something he needs and offer it to him in exchange for the liver.
After doing everything I could think of to give us the best chance possible of getting the liver, I finally had was able to take a break. I was walking down a hallway to speak with Sophia when I spotted a young girl.
She appeared to be around ten years old. She was a fragile looking girl with jet black hair that came down to her waist. When she noticed me, she timidly kept glancing between me and the floor.
She’s a really cute girl. I wonder if she’s one of Crane’s potential mistresses.
I looked down from her face and saw that her body looked rather small for her age.
“…a-are you L-Leon-sama?”
“Yes, I am…and you are?”
“I’m, umm, well…M-Maya.”
…Maya? I’m surprised to meet someone with a Japanese name here. Well, Akane is the same. Surrounding countries seem to use Japanese names, but is this girl from one of those countries?
“Umm…my name was…given to me by my father.”
“Well, it’s a nice name. I think it’s a perfect name for you.”
Maya — as in midnight. That must just be a coincidence since no word like that exists in this world, but it’s perfect for a girl with hair as black as hers.
“Hau~…!? Thank you…very much, Leon…sama.”
Did I embarrass her? Her face turned bright red and she started looking at the floor. She’s like an extremely innocent girl. Her shyness is cute.
“So, Maya, is there something I can do for you?”
“Ah, that’s, well…. I just wanted to thank you.”
“…thank me? For what?”
“Umm, my hair. It’s become very beautiful….”
“Are you talking about the shampoo and conditioner.”
“That’s…right.”
Essentially, she’s grateful to me for introducing this world to shampoo and conditioner. Prior to this, most of this world’s residents had dried out hair.
“I see. Well, you don’t need to thank me for that. Is that all you wanted to say?”
“Ah, umm…there’s one more thing. Leon-sama, you’re rapidly increasing your sisters-in-law, right?”
“…I wouldn’t say that’s exactly right.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, there are many reasons for that. It’s true that the number of my sisters has increased, but it’s not as if I’ve been trying to increase the number.”
“Is that so….”
“Y-Yeah.”
She looked sad.
“That’s how it is….”
Why does she look so lonely!?
“Umm…did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s…nothing like that.”
“A-Are you sure?”
“Yes. Then, I’ll…be on my way.”
Maya said this and took off down the hallway. I don’t really know what just happened, but she left me feeling a little guilty….
W-What was that about?
…w-well, nothing I can do about it now. While still thinking about what just happened with Maya, I hurried to Sophia’s room.
“…Leon onii-chan, what’s wrong?”
“Ah, that’s, well….”
“Okay…. Did you want to come in?”
“Sounds good.”
I followed Sophia into her room. She took a seat on the bed so I sat next to her.
“So what are you doing here so late at night? Are you finally ready to do that? You don’t have to worry about me. I’m always ready.”
“No, no, that’s not it. I was worried about you.”
Before she could say any more, I quickly ended any thoughts she may have had of doing anything like that. I thought she’d be depressed…but if she’s capable of joking like that, she may not be as bad as I expected.
Or is she just a good actor?
“…I’m really not forcing myself.”
I guess she read my feelings.
But she’s probably bluffing. Elyse is still suffering from that disease, and as things stand, we don’t even know if we’ll be able to get the final ingredient for her medicine. There’s no way she can be calm.
“That’s right. Of course, I’m not okay, but I’m trying to remember what Mother told me.”
“What Elyse told you?”
Is she talking about when we met Elyse at the Sfir mansion…? But what did Elyse say?
“Mother said that I should focus on taking care of my new family.”
Ah…that’s what she means.
To me, Elyse is the person that murdered my family. However, she did tell Sophia that it would be rude to me if Sophia tried to maintain a relationship with her.
“I already told you before. Even though she is responsible for my parents’ murder, I know she’s important to you. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“…thank you. I know you mean that from the bottom of your heart.”
“Then….”
Sophia just silently shook her head.
“I know now after what happened with Max and Melissa, that I don’t want you to feel like you have to do whatever it takes to save my mother.”
“I see….”
I then remembered our exchange back in the forest.
Sophia told me she didn’t want me doing something like that for her and it would make her feel even worse if I did.
Sophia doesn’t want me sacrificing my own values and morals to help her.
In other words, Sophia is telling me it isn’t necessary for me to save Elyse if it means that I won’t suffer.
She’s still so worried about her mother but she’s still thinking about me…. How hard must it have been for her to make that decision…?
It’s nice that she’s thinking about me, but I feel sorry that she had to make such a tough decision.
“I’ received your feelings properly, but it’s still too early to give up. I won’t commit any crimes to save Elyse, but I will do everything possible to save her.”
“That’s…. Are you talking about Max and Melissa’s client?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
We still haven’t found out who that is.
There’s no guarantee that those negotiations will work out well for us. However, I will use all of the Grances family’s power and connections to get that liver.
“…Leon onii-chan…thank you.”
“I told you already, you don’t have to worry. It’s no trouble.”
“Even if you say that I still feel that I’m a bother. I’m always asking you for help. Isn’t there anything I can do to help you?”
“Something you can do?”
“Yeah, anything. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”
“Hey, a girl shouldn’t say stuff like that.”
“Ah, that’s right. Then…I won’t do anything…unless it’s with Leon onii-chan.”
“…eh?”
What does she mean by that?
“There are people in this world that would use what I just said to steal me away from you. But I hate the idea of doing that kind of stuff with anyone but you. So, I’ll only do anything for you.”
R-R-Right, that makes sense. Only me. Who taught her something like…. Nevermind, I don’t even have to ask. More importantly, I should really change the topic.
“First of all, I’m going to reject that idea.”
“Eh!? I didn’t know you had that kind of hobby, Leon onii-chan!”
“That’s not what I’m saying! I’m telling you that you won’t have to do something like that in return.”
“But….”
Sophia seemed uneasy.
Sophia has done a lot to help me. However, I’m not sure she’s aware of that fact.
“If you want to do something for me then, please, smile.”
“…eh? What do you mean?”
“You said you wanted to help me, so you can do that by just smiling.”
“…Leon onii-chan, do you think I’d agree to that?”
That’s strange. That worked on Claire…but I guess back then we were really young.
“…why not, Leon onii-chan? I don’t have any experience, but I have learned plenty. I’m sure I can please you a lot, onii-chan.”
“~~~~~”
What’s with this destructive power? Lines like that coming from the mouth of such a pure and innocent girl…. Is this the final form of gap moe…?
— Calm down. I need to calm down. I’m falling into Sophia’s pace.
“I’m happy that you feel that way, but please wait until you’ve grown a little more.”
In this world, Sophia is considered to be a grown woman that can even get married. It may be wrong of me to use the ethics from my previous world here.
It is true that I don’t want Sophia forcing herself. However, I am tempted by the fact that Sophia has learned a lot of techniques even though she has no experience.
“Fu~, I see….”
Sophia looked at me while smiling. She must have been reading my feelings.
“No, don’t misunderstand, okay? As a man it’s only natural I’d have certain desires, but it is true that I don’t want to put any pressure on you.”
“Leon onii-chan, are you sure you believe your own words?”
“This is just making me a little anxious!”
When I think about defiling the pure Sophia, I can’t help but get a little disconcerted. I have a strong desire to just give in to this feeling. I’m also starting to notice Sophia more as a woman….
Sophia let out a sweet sigh. I’m unsure whether or not she read my feelings….
“I understand why you feel the way you do, Leon onii-chan. But I’m at an age where I’m interested in doing stuff like that. And it’s unfair if you’re only doing that stuff with Alice onee-chan.”
“Y-You shouldn’t say stuff like that….”
“Un~fair~”
“O-Okay. How about this: if Alice agrees to it, you can use your ability to relive her experiences with me.”
“– really!?”
“Yeah, I won’t go back on what I said. But it’s only if Alice agrees, okay?”
“Yeah, I know! Then, I’m going to find Alice onee-chan!”
“S-Sure.”
Sophia sprinted out of the room. I only said that out of desperation, but…Alice won’t agree, right?
…w-well, Alice doesn’t have much common sense, but I’m sure she’d want to keep stuff like that just between us, either due to jealousy or embarrassment. There’s no way she’ll allow Sophia to use her ability to experience our nights together.
…don’t tell me.
