'Bye bye, Di-ran. I hope I can see Eri again.' Kasumi waved.
'Bye, Kasumi.' I returned the gesture.
'Remember, everyone is different.'
'Thanks, Kasumi.'
I didn't waste another second. I hurried home, her words lingering in my mind.
Today, I only greeted the boys before leaving. I told them I had important matters to attend to.
*Knock knock*
'Eri, can I come in? I want to apologise.'
'…'
I sharpened my senses.
'Damn it.'
Her mana was spiralling out of control.
'I'm coming in.'
I slid the door open.
There she was, in her succubus form.
But unlike before, her tail was longer and the little wings on her head were now horns.
'I…need…' She whispered, her voice trembling under the pressure of something she couldn't control.
Her mana surged violently, lashing out in every direction.
I steadied myself.
'Think.'
By breaking down the magical structure of her body, I can get to the root cause.
As I focused, I broke down the flow of energy within her.
She looked at me.
Not fully herself. Not fully gone, either.
'Stay with me, Eri.'
I figured out the cause.
She wasn't losing control…
She was starving.
I reached into my inventory and pulled out an artifact from my old world. It could reshape mana into different forms, as long as I had a clear understanding.
The glove was mainly used to fight demons as holy power was effective against them, but now that I had no more use for it, I retired it.
'This should work.'
I slipped it on and channelled my mana, into my fingertip, carefully reshaping it.
A blue glow surrounded my finger, but then changed to pink.
Eri watched, drawn to the energy.
'It's okay.' I said gently. 'I've got you.'
I placed my hand lightly against her.
Her body tensed.
Then slowly, the chaos began to settle.
The overwhelming surge faded and the pressure in the room lifted.
Her form shifted back.
The tension in her face melted into something quieter, more fragile, holding onto my hand, as if letting go might pull her back into the storm.
After a while, her eyes cleared.
'Di-Di-Di-ran?!'
'I'm here.'
She looked at me, then at our hands and immediately pulled away.
'AHHHH!'
She quickly let go and fell backwards.
'Glad you're back.' I said.
'I-I-I didn't mean to—'
'I know.' I said. 'First, calm down. The energy you just absorbed would be raging inside of you. You need to calm it down.'
'But… I-I-I—'
'Don't worry, I'll guide you.'
I sat beside her.
'Sit down or lie down, whichever feels comfortable.'
She hesitated, then lay back.
'Now close your eyes and take deep breaths.'
I demonstrated.
'Inhale…and…exhale.'
She followed.
'Good. Now feel the warmth inside you. That's your energy. Don't fight it.'
'Once you find it. Try to imagine that energy spreading throughout your body.'
'Don't worry, I'll help you.'
I hovered my hand over her stomach, gently assisting the flow, spreading it evenly.
Her breathing grew uneven. Sweat began to form along her skin.
'Almost there…'
A few moments later.
'And… done.'
I pulled my hand away.
'You can sit up'
She slowly opened her eyes, like she was waking from a dream.
'How are you feeling?'
'Better.' She stretched her limbs.
'Good.'
'…'
I looked her in the eyes.
'Eri… sit with me for a moment. There's something I need to say.'
She nodded.
I took a deep breath.
'I'm sorry. For yelling at you.'
'Oh?' She tilted her head. 'Is that all?'
I shook my head.
'Yesterday, I was frustrated, so I lost control. But none of it was any of your fault.'
'It was just that you all reminded me of myself when I was younger, so really, I was frustrated at myself.'
'So, I'm sorry. I don't hate you, Eri. I never did. I care about you, more than you realise.'
'The only person I hate… is how I acted.'
'…'
There was a brief pause before Eri spoke up.
'Then why?' She asked. 'Why do you care about me?'
I tapped the floor lightly.
'Because… someone once told me that every kid deserves a chance to be happy.'
'… I think he was right.'
Her shoulders trembled.
A quiet sniff.
'Do you need a tissue?'
She nodded.
I pulled a box of tissues from my inventory.
She took a tissue and blew her nose.
'I'm… I'm sorry too.' She muttered.
'You don't owe me that. You did nothing wrong.' I said gently. 'If anything, apologise to Saki. Dark Lord.'
'Okay.' She blushed. 'Don't call me 'Dark Lord', it's cringy.'
'Why? You were all over it yesterday.'
'I'm a changed person now!'
'Okay.'
I took the glasses out of my inventory.
'Here are the glasses.'
She put them on.
Instantly, her form returned to normal.
'… Thanks.'
Then she stood.
A grin spread across her face.
'Hehehe… the Dark Lord has returned! Bow before me!'
I sighed and removed the glasses.
She blinked and her cheeks turned pink.
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'
I placed them back on.
'Servant, this lord is hungry. Go make me food.' She pointed.
I placed a hand on her shoulder.
'Eri.'
'You dare lay your hands on this lord?!' She shook her tiny fist.
'I'm just glad you're okay.'
She froze for a moment.
'Well…' She said, looking away, twirling her hair. 'Since you've pleased this lord… I suppose I'll allow it. Just this once.'
'Thanks.' I smiled.
——————————————
Later over dinner.
'You cook well, servant.' She said between bites of udon. 'I am thinking of promoting you to become my personal chef.'
I placed my bowl of udon down.
'No need. I'm happy the way I am.'
'To reject me? How cruel.
She pretended to wipe her fake tears.
'Here, you got some soup around your cheek.' I handed her the tissue.
She grabbed it and wiped her cheek.
'Hmph, I will forgive you just this once.'
We continued to eat in… what I would call peace.
'You can leave your dish in the sink. I will clean it.'
'As expected of my servant.' She placed the bowl and cutlery in the sink.
'There's pudding in the fridge if you want.'
'Pudding?!'
Her eyes lit up instantly.
She rushed off to the fridge, returning moments later with a spoon in hand, eating as she flopped onto the sofa and turned the TV on.
I cleaned quietly.
Then…
*Ding dong*
'Who?'
I honed my senses.
'Saki?'