Completely new material from here on out~

……on that note, we came to the town.

Just before we were leaving, Father came back, so Shurei-san and Kuroitsu-san each made their respective reports to father, and I also told him that I would be heading out with Shurei-san and everyone.

[Well……if it's in sight of Shurei and Kuroitsu, you probably won't get up to anything weird.]

-Is what he said and I was able to safely obtain his permission, but……

Even so, it seems like the point worrying Father was whether or not [I] would cause some ruckus. I almost pointed that out reflexively.

Though since I do have a previous offence, I kept my mouth shut.

The pheasant would not be shot but for its cries. I chose to be a smart pheasant.

Leaving that aside, at night the business district was flouris.h.i.+ng with people.

In the stores here and there, there were many people drinking and eating.

Amongst them, our group went inside a relatively calm, but somewhat expensive-looking shop.

Actually this is my second time coming here. I was brought here by Kuroitsu-san and co. previously.

"Oya, Shurei-san. It's been quite a while. Will you be in the Capital for a while?"

The moment we took our seats, a single woman came from the inner part of the store and greeted Shurei-san.

She was this establishment's owner, Madam Calui.

"Who knows? I honestly don't know."

"Haha. Well, it's a good thing to have work. Work hard, and then spend your earnings here and rest your wings leisurely."

"I've been properly coming here every now and then, haven't I, Madam?"

Shurei-san made a wry smile as he responded.

Madam made a bewitching smile at his reaction.

I moved my gaze from the interaction between the two and looked inside the store.

The inside of the store was coloured with beautifully dressed up women.

It seems that this place's business is thriving today too.

"Oh my……! So Mel-chan also came today."

"It has been a while, Madam."

"Well……as always, such a polite child! And she really is lovely."

Madam looked at me with sparkling eyes and pet my head.

It seems that the last time I came here, the Madam took a liking to me for some reason.

Having such a beautiful person display such pure good will towards me felt extremely good.

……though it felt like there were some p.r.i.c.kly gazes coming from all directions, I didn't mind them.

"What would you like to drink today, Mel-chan? I procured a lot of different types of fruit juices for Mel-chan."

"Really? ……thank you very much, Madam."

"Well then, let's go to your seat together."

Madam pulled my hand and walked me to my seat.

Having become engrossed in my conversation with Madam, I didn't notice at that time.

"……say, Kuroitsu. Why is the Madam so close to Mel-chan?"

"It seems……that when Madam met a purse s.n.a.t.c.her, the one who took back her things was Mel-chan. She gallantly appeared, cut off the perpetrator's path, and then beautifully punished the angry offenders. Without asking for any reward, she even guarded her on her way back too. Her loveliness at that time, and her actions that were manlier than men was so charming! -is what the Madam said. Incidentally, it seems that Mel herself has completely forgotten about that incident."

"To charm a veteran like the Madam……how ominous."

"Yeah. Truly, in various ways."

……behind me, such a conversation was unfolding.

When I took my seat, a number of women sat together with me.

Next to me was Madam, who was faithfully taking care of me.

As I enjoyed the conversation with everyone, the women with me expanded that conversation further, like garnis.h.i.+ng flowers.

"This fruit juice is delicious. Thank you very much, Madam."

"I am happy to hear your appreciation, Mel-chan. It means that there was worth in preparing it."

Madam's smile was dazzling.

Perhaps that smile of Madam's was unusual, as the women who were sitting with us blinked their eyes in surprise as they looked at Madam.

"Madam really does love Mel-chan. Now that I think of it, last time you came together with Kuroitsu-san, and this time Shurei-san has also come……just what kind of connection does Mel-chan have with everyone?"

A single women amongst them asked me.

"She's training together with us."

The one who answered that question was Kuroitsu-san.

"Ehh!? At this age? Everyone is strong, right? ……even so, she can train together with you?"

"Yeah, of course. Otherwise she wouldn't have come together with us."

Kuroitsu-san made a bitter smile at her continued questioning.

No……it wasn't just Kuroitsu-san.

Everyone in the vicinity was making the same expression.

"But I heard that it was quite a harsh training……is Mel-chan alright?"

"Like Shurei-san and everyone, I also have the duty of a guard. I must become stronger for my master."

For the time being, I told her my established setting.

At my explanation, there was even more surprise and understanding……everyone's reactions were very amusing.

If I were to tell them my true status, what would happen, I wonder?

……though I don't plan on doing so.

"I see……even though you're this small, you're working hard."

"No, not really……"

It was a little embarra.s.sing, as I felt like some heat was gathering in my face.

"……actually, I have a little sister. I think that she's probably around the same age as Mel-chan."

"Heh……a little sister, is it? If she's Onee-san's little sister, then I'm sure that she's cute."

In reality, the woman in front of me had characteristic straight, pale gold hair, and was a graceful and beautiful person.

"Ohh, Mel-chan."

She giggled at my words.

……yup, she really is pretty.

The fact that the man next to Shurei-san……Doulsan's face reddened after seeing her was excellent proof of that.

Suddenly, I turned my eyes towards my own appearance.

……towards this body that didn't have a single ounce of girlishness.

This was the result of being told that I was manlier than men by Kuroitsu-san and Shurei-san and everyone.

It's not like I was particularly dissatisfied, and I haven't minded it up until now, but……when I'm being surrounded by such pretty people, it does bother me somewhat.

"What's wrong, Mel-chan?"

Either it appeared on my face or she was sharp, but she asked me thus.

"I was thinking that everyone is pretty."

"Fufufu……thanks. But, Mel-chan is also plenty cute, you know?"

"……is that really so?"

"It is, you know? There is no need to be impatient, a girl can become who she wants to be. If Mel-chan wants, then once you get a little bigger, I'm sure that you will become a beauty that can make anyone turn their head."

One that can make anyone turn their head……honestly speaking, I couldn't imagine it, but her words comforted me.

"Mel-chan. If you have something you want to consult me about, feel free to tell me whenever…….there are probably a lot of people around Mel-chan who are willing to become Mel-chan's allies. But as expected, in the future I think that there will be a lot of things that you will want to ask someone of the same gender about."

"Thank you very much. Um……"

"My name is Luluria."

"Lulurisan. Please take care of me from here on out."

That night, starting with Lulurisan, I made friends with the big sisters at Madam's store and spent my time enjoyably before exiting the store.