Back at the mansion, we were greeted by Mimir and Lishua.

[Fate-sama, you did it, didnt you?]

[Thank you very much! Now the folks on this territory can live their lives with a peace of mind.]

Both seemed pleased, probably already informed by Roxy beforehand about what happened.

I couldnt help but feel worried especially with Snow kept clinging to me. Mimir finally asked me, probably unable to hold back her curiosity anymore.

[Well is she that girl?]

[Yes, she is. We shouldnt talk about it here Lishua, Ill be grateful if you can provide us with a private room.]

[Understood. This way.]

Guided by Lishua, we headed to the meeting room.

[Snow-chan, come here, please!]

[Dont wanna!]

[Ku~, I failed again.]

Next to me, Roxy still doggedly tried to get along with Snow by talking to her.

It didnt seem to work. I felt that its making Snow hate her more than before.

Even so, Roxy didnt give up. Un, even I could tell the result.

A vicious circle!

But even if Snow disliked it, her expression was less severe than before. So I thought that shes managing just fine somehow.

Seeing this, both Lishua and Mimir seemed troubled over how to handle it.

Our noisy group finally arrived at the meeting room. Before we even took any seats, Mimir already dropped the bomb.

[That little girl, was she the sacred beast that has been rampaging in the desert?]

[Yeah, but lets sit down first before we talk about that.]

I took a seat right across Lishua, with Snow immediately climbing up to my lap and sat there. Roxy sat on a chair next to me. Meanwhile Mimir stood at my other side.

[She was quite big before, but now shes so small. And her red hair looks kind of cute.]

[Apparently, this isnt her true form. Shes also an amnesiac. Didnt even remember her own name when she first woke up.]

[So thats how it is. Did she also get resurrected by the Door to His Land?]

[Most likely. Greed recognized her as a sacred-beastkin. So she probably lived a long time ago.]

[So shes like, sacred-beastkin? Where? Where? Can I see?]

[Hey, you! She will hate you if you are forceful like that.]

As if not learning from Roxys failure, Mimir also tried to get along with Snow.

If youre too forceful, Im afraid shell end up eating you.

But against my expectation, Snow actually jumped to Mimir in response to her advance.

[Ooh! She doesnt hate me. Here let me hug you. Yoshiyoshi, good girl good girl.]

[ [ EEeee!?] ]

I was honestly surprised. But there was someone else who was even more shocked than me. Obviously, its Roxy.

Oi oi, how come she allowed Mimir to hug her so easily?

As if showing off, Mimir repeatedly lifted and lowered Snow, and the little girl seemed to enjoy it as well. Roxy, of course, didnt take this pretty well.

Roxy leaned on her chair weakly, as if her body was devoid of any muscle. It appeared that the mental damage she received was greater than I thought. She had a dead fish-look on her face.

Meanwhile, the previously silent Lishua suddenly yelled after seeing Mimir lift Snow up for several times.

[Everyone, can I have your attention for a bit! Look under Snows clothes what is that?]

[ [ [ Nnn!? ] ] ]

Lishua desperately pointed her finger to Snows lower half.

Looking closely, I noticed something like a tail dangling behind her dress.

What is it? Everyone wondered.

[ [ [ Scorpions tail! ] ] ]

Un, a normal human definitely doesnt have that. Yep, shes definitely not human.

The so-called sacred-beastkin that Greed told me actually existed.

Snows face turned sour upon realizing that we saw her tail.

[Only I have this among us all, so Ive been trying to hide it because I was anxious.]

Since she lost her memory, Snow probably felt like an odd one.

When she realized that she has a scorpion tail unlike the rest of us, she became confused and didnt know what she should do with it.

Mimir boldly stretched her hand, touching Snows scorpion tail.

[This, it looks hard but its actually nice to touch! It also feels warm.]

[Uuu]

[Stop that!]

Even if she looks like a kid, Snow was still someone who belonged to Area E. If she rampaged around, shell easily level the entire mansion.

So I told Mimir to retreat and stop her antics.

[It felt nice to touch, what a shame.]

[You should be ashamed of yourself. If something happened youll be responsible for it.]

[I dont want any of that Fine, Ill just stay put obediently here.]

Thats a relief. Phew~, good grief.

Snow who looked troubled because Mimir was prodding at her tail earlier seemed to have calmed down.

Just when I thought we could proceed from here, why was Roxy eyeing us intently like that!?

[Wha, whats wrong?]

[Mumumu, that should be my line. Why Mimir is A-okay?]

I wonder about that too. Snow simply seemed to avoid Roxy with all her might. Even now, she already hid herself behind me again.

But she didnt act like that to Mimir. Even letting Mimir to touch her tail, which is currently her sore spot.

What could we conclude from all that?

[Does she only act distant to Roxy-sama?]

[Uu.]

Lishua had beaten me to it. Despite her appearance, shes actually quite straightforward.

Having others to point it up directly like that only made Roxy to droop her shoulders down.

No no, I dont think that was the actual case. This time, it was Mimir who spoke up her opinion on this matter.

[Perhaps its funny for me to say this, but this little girl doesnt seem to like me in particular. I have a feeling Fate-sama has something to do with it. Maybe because I have Fate-samas scent in my body?]

[And what does that mean?]

Roxy frowned sharply, probably guessing where this is going. Mimir, on the other hand, puffed her chest smugly.

[Because weve slept together. Thats why Fate-samas scent lingers around me.]

[Wha!?]

Hearing that, Roxy started pummeling my shoulder with small punches in protest.

Wait a second there, its true, but its not what you think about.

[We ended up sleeping together because I was too tired and Mimir got drowsy after sucking my blood. Mimir, dont say it in a way that itll cause misunderstanding. And Roxy, you should calm down!]

[ [ Yes ] ]

Despite the hubris, Snow who should be the main topic of our talk had actually climbed back up to my lap and dozed off at some point.

She occasionally moved her body around while sleeping soundly. The damage she suffered from our previous battle may still remain. We really did a number to her so I couldnt really blame her for falling asleep like that.

While stroking Snows head, I told everyone my own take on the matter.

[Perhaps Snow is not afraid of Mimir because Mimir has been sucking on my blood. I dont know why shes attracted to it, but I cant think up any other feasible reason other than that.]

[Blood is it? I see that is indeed more reasonable. If it is just scent, I should have at least caught some since I often stick around Fai as well.]

[Glad if you can understand.]

I pat my chest in relief. Even if Roxy wants to get along with Snow so bad, there is no way that shell demand to suck on my blood like Mimir does.

But that thought was washed away when I noticed Roxy suddenly went silent as she eyed my neck intently.

With the sacred beast rampaging on the desert disappeared, the livelihood of the people living on this territory that Lishua governed should improve.

Just in case, lets check if there was any darkness left after were done with this discussion.

Moreover, I still have my starvation to deal with. I want to build up even more status anyway. The more status the better. And the more skill I have, the more things I can do.

I just had to be careful with the urge that Gluttony skill kept shoving at me. Otherwise, the skill is pretty much beneficial.

I felt the urgency to rack up more power after I saw just how powerful Dad was.

At the end of our discussion, Lishua suggested that we should at least relax for a while in the public bath before going out to hunt the remaining darknesses.

[Everyone seems to be tired. Why dont we wash up the sweats and grimes from our body first? After that, we can go together to hunt the darknesses. Of course, I will also tag along. If its just them, even I could handle them.]

[Right, right! And I could also join in too this time. In fact, Eris-sama had given me permission before she went to sleep!]

[Youre awfully prepared, arent you?]

[Ehen! I AM the maid of Barbatos family after all! So I will even work hard day and night to be able to be of service to my Lord. On the other hand, Roxy-sama must be tired, so shed better pass this up and rest.]

Mimir had to stay behind during the sacred beast fight, so its only natural that shes itching to join the fight now. She was all smiles when she saw us off, but I knew that she wanted to partake in the fight too.

She mustve been worried and nervous. Well, she worked hard as a maid back at the capital, so I guess it should be fine to allow her to let loose once in a while.

Meanwhile Roxy could only grumble [gunununu].

[No no, I can still fight. I have the experience in fighting the darknesses. I can teach Mimir since it is going to be her first time fighting that kind of creature. Of course, I am going to teach her step by step.]

[Thank you very much, Roxy-sama. Im looking forward to it.]

[Fufufu, me too.]

Dark shadowy aura floated around those two.

I could only hope that Lishua could act as the middle ground between the two later.

But when I looked at Lishua, shes staring back at me. Apparently at loss with what she should do.

Stop Roxy and Mimir, you say!? Hahaha you must be kidding, right?

We should just head to the public bathhouse already.

[Alright, lets head to the bath house. Lishua, lead the way.]

[Yes, this way.]

I was about to carry Snow, who I thought was still sleeping, up. But apparently the word [bath] managed to worm its way into her eardrum, which caused her to immediately spring awake.

[Bath! I want to!]

[Alright, alright.]

[Quick, quick!]

With Snow getting excited, I had to go now since itll be troublesome if she goes into a rampage..

I hastily left the room. Chasing behind me were Roxy and Mimir.

[Fai!]

[Fate-sama!]

I didnt bother to look back. Because Snow could be a lot more dangerous and frightening at the moment.

Shes an Area E no less. Fighting her one on one would require me to go all out

The employees who we happened to pass by quickly made way for us. I guess its rare for a guest to make such a ruckus about taking a bath.

Once all of us arrived in front of the bathhouse, our guide came forward.

[Here it is. I actually managed this place myself, renovated several rooms into a large communal bath. The bathing place used by the former Lanchester was a bit too]

Most of the girls in our group showed their agreement to that statement. Un, I see now this Lanchester guy mustve been not that popular among the holy knights. The dining room, the bedroom, etc had been renovated into this area.

Alright, lets enter the large bathhouse!