Since coming to this world, this might have been the thing that shook my heart the most.
"K-k-k-k-k-Kaili, wh-what do you mean? When did I lie to you?"
"You said you wouldn't let anyone lay a finger on me. But you handed me over while I was asleep."
I panicked at her surprisingly reasonable response, but this time someone else was hit by stray shots.
"Kaili, don't you like being with me?"
Seeing Jeanne's heartbroken expression made me think that I had an ally, but after putting on a gentle smile Kaili proved that she wasn't going to let me off that easily.
"Of course I do, Big sister. But you have to be firm with guys like this or they'll never keep their promises."
I couldn't help feeling a little betrayed when I saw Jeanne nodding in agreement, but Kaili didn't give me a chance to call her out. With puffed out cheeks and folded arms, she returned her attention back to me.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"..."
I bit my lips and looked towards Jeanne for help, but she turned her head away with a guilty expression.
'I'll remember this.'
I didn't want to do this, but I still submitted to the cute face in front of me.
"I'm sorry. I should have kept my promise."
While my face was burning in embarrassment, Kaili nodded and signalled me to come closer and lower my head before patting it.
"Good boy, good boy. You have to always keep your promises, okay."
"...Yes."
When I looked up again, I noticed that Jeanne was struggling to hold back her laughter and swore to pay her back for this.
After the three were gone from her building, the Queen of Night City sat in her custom-made leather chair, and looked down at the city from her room.
Unlike in that world, there was no transparent material that could be processed well enough to function as a proper defensive measure, so rather than looking through the material itself, through magitech it was possible to make it seem as if you could look through it.
"Mistress, they've left."
The receptionist who had led the Queen's quests, stood behind her with a polished desk in between them as she gave her report.
"I see, have you-"
"Yes, I've sent our best people to watch them."
"Oh, thanks, but you didn't have to go that far. He can probably still see through them, anyways."
Though the receptionist tried to maintain a stoic expression, she couldn't supress the surprise in her eyes when she heard her mistress praise that man.
"My apologies Mistress, but, are you sure? Though I can tell that he was very impressive, I can't see how he could be so perceptive."
"Oh, so you doubt my eyes."
"No no, of course not! Please forgive this shortsighted fool."
"Kuku, very well. I can understand your doubts but this is something you must keep in mind. That man was able to remain calm before my unsuppressed state."
Once more, the receptionist felt her herself being shaken due to this new information. After all, even she could barely resist the charm of her mistress in her casual mode.
When she thought back to when she tried to test him, she couldn't help but blush in shame. However, since she was in the presence of her mistress, she didn't allow herself to be in this state for long.
"Ehem, so Mistress, did you find out what that man wanted?"
"Hmm, well yes, but it's about that matter."
"I see, then have you come to a decision yet?"
"No, I've decided to let him help me decide."
It was a whimsical idea, but it was just like her so the receptionist didn't question it.
"*Knock, knock*, Um, can I enter?"
When they heard the soft voice from the door, the receptionist sighed and shook her head while the Queen smiled in amusement.
"Come in, Lily."
After gaining her approval, a young girl in her early teens opened the door and entered the room. Her tail and eyes proved that she belonged here, but it was still odd that a child could be allowed in this place.
"Lily, how many times must I tell you not to bother the Queen?"
The receptionist seemed to agree that children should not be here, so she lightly scolded her. The girl known as Lily, sagged her head in response to her scolding, but the Queen's next line easily put a smile on her face.
"Oh don't be so serious, Sher. My Lily just wants to see me, right?"
"Mhmm."
Lily quickly made her way to the Queen and dropped herself on her lap. The receptionist, Sher, kept a frown on her face but she no longer spoke out.
"Oh my sweet Lily, did you miss me?"
"Mhmm, I really wanted to see you, Queen."
"Aww, how cute."
Queen gently flicked Lily's nose and brushed her silky smooth, light-red hair with her hand. However, this sweet atmosphere was disturbed by Lily's question.
"By the way, Queen, did he come? I think I sensed something that felt like his essence."
Her hand froze, and her loving smile turned cold.
"Is that the real reason why you visited me?"
"Uh, no no no. Of course I wanted to see you Queen! I was just curious is all, just curious."
As she instinctively realized that she had messed up, Lily hastily tried to fix the problem but it was too late.
Unlike her sexy image, yet somehow still ridiculously cute, Queen folded her arms and puffed out her cheeks.
"Hmph, I won't tell you. Those stories were true, it really is a waste to raise a daughter."
"No no no Queen, it's not like that!"
As she saw her Mistress acting this childish, Sher couldn't say she was very impressed, but it was a side to her that she enjoyed seeing.
Meanwhile, I walked down a street of Night City with a Kaili in my arms and Jeanne beside us. Now that I was sure that she was doing better and even her old injuries were completely healed, I was going to make Kaili walk, but, I couldn't say no to her pouting face.
'Why am I such a pushover?'
It was really no trouble considering my stats so I just decided to keep spoiling her for now. After all, whether she accepts my offer or not, there would surely be hardships ahead.
"Master, should we find an inn or teleport back home?"
To this question that Jeanne sent through telepathy, I answered, "Inn. I already told Brad to watch over the castle and besides, don't you want to check out what makes this place the most exciting city in Lambda?"
Jeanne showed no reluctance to my suggestion, so I then asked Kaili if she knew any good inns.
"Good inns? No, I don't really know any...Ah! But don't go to the west quarter. Terrible customer service, terrible!"
Night City could be split into five parts. There was the central area as well four districts that surrounded it, one in each of the cardinal directions.
She was obviously showing too much reluctance to go to the west quarter of the city, but I didn't need to ask to figure out why.
We were in the central area so there was about the same amount of distance we needed to cover to reach any of the other four districts. Since I remembered Ein saying that he stayed somewhere in the north quarter, we headed there.
Public order seemed to be generally good, but it was even more so in the north quarter. In addition to the mechanical eyes that were all over the city, it was also possible to see more strong demons walking around. The culture of the Demon Lands made it easy for the strong to get rich, so these strong demons were also donning expensive items.
'I wonder how many of these demons are connected to the Demon King or the nobility?'
I felt slight interest in broadening my connections and gaining dependable allies, but I shook my head.
'No, I shouldn't get involved with any unexpected variables.'
After a little more walking, we stopped in front what looked like a hotel. It wasn't as tall as the Queen's tower, but even from outside I could tell that it was quite the classy place.