Leaving Kaili to get started on her reading, I double checked the state of my castle while waiting for my honourable guest to arrive.
Even with undead working nonstop and the help of magic, the repairs hadn't finished. Honestly, almost every time I saw a scene of destruction I got the urge to punch Brad, but he seemed to have learnt how to stay hidden when I was looking for him at times like this.
Still, there was at least one thing that I was thankful for that came with this destruction.
"Hmm, she's here."
Along with a distortion in space, I sensed three presences outside the castle. Two were Jeanne and Lia, but the other one was unknown.
Since I had no reason to act like a bigshot I obediently went out to welcome them and almost like she was running away, Jeanne quickly came to my side as I approached.
"I've brought the guests, master."
"Thank you. Welcome back."
"You're so cold, Kiki."
"Kiki?"
"It's my nickname for her. Witch just didn't feel right."
"And Kiki did?"
"That's right. It reminds me of a maid I used to have. She would always get jealous whenever a man approached me."
"Uh huh..."
"You don't get it? Oh my, what a dense one."
I didn't know what I wasn't getting, and the sigh of relief I heard from Jeanne made this feeling of ignorance even worse. But I put it aside for now.
"Tch, moving on. Would this happen to be...?"
"Yes, her name is Lily. I didn't plan on bringing her but once she heard that I was coming she refused to let go."
I nodded in response and stared at the little girl named Lily, who clung to Lia's leg. The two looked similar enough to be sisters, but due to her age Lily didn't have the same devilish charm.
'Then again, according to Lia's stories even as a child she was 'irresistable' so maybe it's something else.'
Whatever the reason was, Lily was simply a cute child.
Since she was sticking to Lia, I thought she was a shy one, but she didn't escape from my gaze. In fact, she said something that caused me to twitch in surprise.
"He's so similar. Her as well. Too similar. How can three different people have such similar auras?"
While I was frozen stiff along with Jeanne, the ends of Lia's lips curved upwards.
"Is what she says. Is there anything you want to tell me, Little Elios?"
It took a moment, but I quickly broke free of my stupor and replied with a scowl.
"No. However, I might change my answer if you tell me what...who this girl is."
"Hmm, an appealing deal but are you sure you can't just,"
In the middle of her sentence, Lia teleported in front of me and teased my chest with her fingertip.
"Be honest with me."
"You-!"
I immediately raised my hand to stop Jeanne who erupted with aggression. I didn't expect her to come this close, but I never let my guard down around her regardless.
"Aren't we equals? If I'm going to be honest, then you should do the same."
Confident that I wouldn't be led around, I looked at the fascinating beauty that was only a few inches away from my face.
'... Yeah, I can't keep this up for long.'
As I tried to hide my struggle, Lia continued to stick to me for a couple more seconds before finally taking a step back.
"Fine. I'll leave it there this time. But next time..."
While watching Lia put the same finger that was on my chest to her lips, I hastily went through the incantations I knew in order to distract myself from that seductive sight without turning away.
"Ehem. Witch, take Miss Lily to Kaili. That's fine, right?"
As I looked to Lia for approval, she nodded and went back to say something to Lily before bringing her to Jeanne.
"Take care of her Kiki."
Jeanne reluctantly nodded before taking Lily's hand and entering the castle. Once they were in, Lia and I went in next.
I tried to pick a route with the least amount of damage, but we still went past smashed walls and furnishings. However, Lia had praise for the sight.
"Wow, it's only been a night and you've made this much progress."
"Well I do have an undead work force. Though I'm not sure I should be proud of saying this, no matter how hard I work them they can't die."
"True. I once considered using undead labour, but it was hard to get over the appearance aspect."
"Couldn't you have just covered them in simple jumpsuits and masks?"
"Didn't work. Apparently they got more scary because you could still hear them."
"Ohh."
'Sounds like it would make a bizarre horror movie.'
"Hmm, what's happening here?"
Along our route, Lia noticed the start of my new project.
"I'm planning on building an elevator."
"An elevator? You know how it works?"
"Well, basically. Don't you just need to hook up a suitable box and move it up and down with a pulley system?"
"Hmm, that idea could use a little work but you're not far off. That sounds like guesswork so I'm surprised you thought of that so quickly."
"Ha, ha, well,"
'I do have a few memories about it.'
"Should I send some people to help you build it?"
"Would you? I mean, what do you want in return?"
"Do I really look like the type to seek benefits in everything I do?"
"No, you look like the type who's used to getting those benefits anyway."
"Kuku, that does sound like me, but it's fine. Just treat it as me sending in spies to investigate your home."
As she said this with a slim smile, I couldn't help but be reminded of how scary this person was.
"...I don't like the way you put it, but I'll ask once I think about it a little more."
"Sure. But don't keep me waiting too long."
We continued talking as we walked side by side towards the throne room where we would have our meeting.
The sky still served as our ceiling since I enjoyed the view, but the venue was set up much better than last time. There was no expert here, but I thought the final result was enough for a formal discussion.
Part of me thought it was a waste putting this much effort into setting up a meeting that wouldn't last very long, but it was only a grumble from my lazy side.
I knew that I couldn't afford to be careless around her even if we were partners.
"Now that I think about it, couldn't you have just teleported us here? Or, did you maybe want to savour your time with me?"
While I was trying to get into a serious mood, Lia dropped this weird question.
Judging from her smile I knew she was just teasing me as usual, but I hated how I hadn't reached the level to easily brush it off yet.
"Tch, stop joking. I just didn't want to waste my mana. More importantly, shall I do the honours or shall you?"
"Hmm, I'll let you handle it this time."
"Okay."
After getting her answer I took a couple steps forward while spreading my perception throughout this open room. Even in my own castle populated by undead that would lose to neither torture nor memory extraction, I had to be extra careful that our conversation didn't leak out.
I made five barriers isolating sound, light, smell, space and impact and constructed them in a way to layer their effects. Once this was done, I went to my designated seat and waited for Lia to do the same.
"Good. Shall we begin then?"
"Ah, before that, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm, what is it?"
Lia responded without a change in her standard polite smile, but that didn't persist when I spoke my question.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Weren't you the one who wanted me to pay you back for your help?"
"No, not that. No matter how much of a favour I owed you, there's no way you would help me unless you wanted to."
"Why are you talking like you know me? Do you think we've gotten that close?"
I knew. When I detected the sharpness in Lia's gaze, I hesitated, but I went on anyways. Backing down here would be worst thing I could do.
"I can't say anything if you tell me that I don't know the real you. But the Lia I know isn't such selfless person. She would never endanger herself and her people for just a favour."
Lia removed her smile and stared at me with an apathetic expression. I rapidly lost my confidence as I stared back, but her smile returned before I had to tap out.
"Interesting. You're not wrong, I suppose. But, I can't tell you that yet."
"...I see. Well, let's move on then."