18. The New Recruit (1)

The sweet air that had made my heart pound suddenly grew heavy.

Jane was going to fulfill my request.

Of course I was grateful, and in my apologetic heart, I suppressed my embarrassment.

But there was no need to add those last words.

“Really…”

After huffing and puffing, I finally let out a deep sigh.

“Getting angry will only hurt me in the end.”

All the tension drained from my shoulders.

A sense of emptiness.

But at least I was less worried about Marie.

Though Master said she’d be back soon, I couldn’t just keep waiting at the entrance.

Even with dog ears, I’m not actually a dog.

Dragging my heavy feet, I went back inside the shop.

Careful not to trip over my tail, I sat down on a chair.

“She’ll be fine.”

Though I’d eased one worry, another settled in a corner of my heart.

How would Jane bring Marie back?

She’d contact them first, right?

Even as an Archmage, she wouldn’t just barge into someone’s house uninvited.

“Or would she?”

Jane’s arrogant disregard for others, showing neither interest nor consideration, came to mind.

“Was it really okay to send her alone?”

If she resolved it peacefully with money, that would be fortunate.

But the image of Jane smashing everything and dragging Marie back kept surfacing in my mind.

No wonder-my first meeting with Jane was still vivid.

A beautiful woman approaching me as I trembled in a dark room.

“She was really scary.”

The way she made heads explode with just a flick of her finger.

The corpses strewn about like movie props as I followed behind her.

All of it was still fresh in my memory.

“Ah.”

That was also the first time I wet myself in front of Jane.

“Eek!”

Why are embarrassing memories always so clear?

Stomping my feet, I flopped onto the table.

Because I realized worrying like this was pointless.

“She’ll handle it somehow.”

Of course, my status was also a factor.

Besides, if I didn’t trust Jane, there was no one else in this world I could trust.

Others’ words came to mind too.

Honestly, Madame Rosefield once said Jane was scarier than the King.

“Haaah~m.”

As the tension faded, drowsiness suddenly overwhelmed me.

-Slap slap

But I slapped my cheeks to wake myself up.

“Maybe I should make some tea?”

I had a feeling I’d be up all night.

Suddenly, the air felt chilly.

My smaller body, craving sleep, was heating up.

“I should grab a blanket too.”

Which tea leaves would suit my taste even if steeped strong?

“Hmph.”

I missed the caffeine of coffee.

***

-Slurp slurp

Bored alone, Mandy, whom I’d brought from the lab, greedily licked a glass bottle.

Honestly, it was gross, but after seeing it so often, it became somewhat cute.

Inside the bottle was, of course, my fluids.

I had no memory of collecting it again.

“Is it tasty?”

Though the bottle was small, Mandy emptied it all, despite it being as big as her body.

Still hungry, she waved her root-like arms at me.

“No. There’s none left.”

As Jane taught me, I gently held the flower part, and Mandy trembled.

After planting the now-quiet creature in a pot, silence filled the shop again.

Then the door opened.

-Ding

“Ah!”

Of course, the first to enter was Jane.

Her murky eyes made it hard to tell what she was thinking.

I jumped up and scanned her from head to toe for any injuries.

Not a speck of dust, let alone any wounds.

“Welcome back!”

As I rushed forward, I saw Marie hesitantly following behind Jane.

I immediately changed direction and stood in front of Marie.

“Marie.”

One of her eyes was swollen-it would probably turn blue soon.

And she was limping too.

Something surged inside me.

But since I wasn’t the one who should be crying, I took a deep breath and steadied myself.

“Come here. No, I’ll bring a chair.”

Flustered, I carried the chair I’d been sitting on to the entrance.

Then I fetched the first aid kit from the counter.

“That must hurt.”

I carefully applied the ointment Jane had made to the wounds on her face and leg.

Marie remained silent the whole time.

Only trembling.

After neatly wrapping the bandages, I patted the back of her hand.

Then I said:

“It’s okay now.”

Marie took a short breath.

“The people who hurt you aren’t here.”

Tears welled up in her brown eyes.

But I smiled.

“So it’s okay. You can cry.”

She didn’t resist when I hugged her tightly.

My shoulder grew damp.

But I lightly patted her small back.

“Shhh…”

“Sniff…”

Just like how Jane-how Master always comforted me.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Waaah!”

Only then did my friend Marie start crying out loud.

***

Marie gradually calmed down.

But in contrast, my feelings grew complicated.

Glancing over, Jane abruptly turned her head away.

Her slightly pouting lips suggested discomfort.

Why?

The question didn’t linger long.

Jane’s sidelong glance was directed at Marie.

Could she be jealous?

Of someone who’s hurt?

Calling her petty would sting my conscience.

After all, I was the one who asked Jane for this favor despite her reluctance.

“Done crying?”

I carefully untangled Marie’s arms from around me.

Her face was red as she just stared at me.

“You’re like a tomato. Hehe.”

“Don’t tease me…”

When I playfully teased her, Marie lightly smacked my arm.

She must have been embarrassed about bursting into tears.

Wiping Marie’s wet face with my sleeve, I slowly turned around.

Jane extended her hand as if waiting.

“You worked hard.”

I gently placed my hand on her warm palm.

I knew she actually wanted me to hug her.

But with Marie here, I couldn’t openly act affectionate.

Though Jane clearly didn’t share that concern.

“Gah!”

I was yanked forward and buried in her soft chest.

Jane hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.

The scent clinging to her from the day made my head spin.

I had the urge to keep nuzzling into her.

But remembering our guest, I lifted my head to catch my breath.

“Huff!”

Black eyes stared down at me.

Her expression was as blank as ever.

What should I say in this situation?

After struggling for words, I finally smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you, Jane.”

Her plush lips parted slightly.

A deep, warm breath slowly escaped.

“Haa…”

“Gah!”

Jane tightened her arms again.

She glared at Marie and warned:

“I won’t forgive infidelity.”

“What are you-no…”

This was ridiculous.

She really was jealous.

Jane lifted me by the thighs until our eyes met, then planted kisses on my lips.

“Mm, wait.”

Our usual skinship felt oddly embarrassing now.

Probably because of Marie’s intense gaze burning into my back.

“S-stop.”

“Don’t want to? So it is infidelity?”

“No, just-!”

Even when I pushed her face away, Jane didn’t budge.

“Marie’s watching.”

“Are you shy? Should I tell the unwanted guest to leave?”

“Unwanted? She’s family now.”

“Extended family.”

Ah, my head.

Massaging my temples from the stress headache.

Meanwhile, Marie made things worse.

“I-I’m sorry. For intruding on your love nest…”

“Love nest?”

“I’ll leave as soon as possible!”

Despite having someone else present, Jane smiled faintly.

“That’s right, a love nest.”

Satisfied, her gaze softened.

Cooling my flushed cheeks with my hand, I corrected Marie’s misunderstanding.

“You don’t have to leave. There’s a reason we looked for you.”

“Huh?”

She looked completely surprised.

I asked Jane:

“You didn’t tell her anything on the way?”

“Why should I chat with my lover’s affair partner?”

“Lover…”

Her blatant term gave me goosebumps.

But I didn’t dislike it.

Unlike before, Jane subtly met my gaze.

This time, I averted my eyes and mumbled:

“Let’s sit and talk. I’ll make some tea.”

I signaled Jane to let me down.

No chance.

She sat on the chair still holding me.

Then two teacups came flying over.

“Wow…”

Marie’s eyes widened.

The tea leaves floated into the pot on their own, and the water boiled without being touched.

Even though I’d seen it often, it was still amazing-Marie must have been stunned.

***

I blew on the smooth teacup.

Why did Jane’s hastily made tea smell better than my carefully brewed one?

“Ma! Ham mubara!”

“Huh?”

“Just wanted to try saying it. Hehe.”

A silly remark restarted the conversation.

Soon, we’d be going on a trip.

While arranging for someone to watch the shop, I thought of Marie.

At Forget-Me-Not, we learned the full story, and Jane went to rescue her.

I asked Marie to confirm:

“Do you want to work at Fairy’s Playground?”

“Yes, I’d love to.”

She nodded without hesitation.

Then she turned to Jane.

“I don’t need pay. I want to repay you for saving me. Please let me work here.”

“No.”

But Jane refused outright.

“But you said you needed help…”

I also agreed.

“If you work, you should be paid. That’s only fair.”

“…Ah.”

Though I’d phrased it indirectly, Marie’s employment was settled.

Her eyes welled up again.

“Crying again. Such a crybaby.”

“Says the one who cries a lot, Lily.”

“Hey!”