I flew back to the castle the moment I saw the sparks. When I arrived, though… nada. No commotion, no panic. No threat to handle. Just blood. And enough spare limbs to make a slasher film.
“What the heck happened here?”
There was one person to direct the question to, and he seemed to be trying to empty his stomach on the well-trimmed rose bushes. Yamanaka held up a single finger, retched another time, and then turned to face me. The old man was not in great shape. Pale as a ghost, and clearly not great with blood and gore.
“These people in black turned up, trying to round up a bunch of the younger folks. Then they met the scary girl with four swords. Things got… messy.”
I raised both eyebrows at him, then inspected the intruders’ bodies. “How long ago was this?”
The old man turned away, leaning a bit towards the defiled bushes again. “I might’ve passed out. So I don’t know.”
I turned on my heel and made for the castle entrance. Fucking useless NEETs. The bodies were already cold. Of all the people to give me a signal if there was trouble, it had to be the most squeamish one of the bunch.
As I entered the castle, I heard a clamor and made for the east wing. Then I found the culprit. Well, the situation was turned on its head, but either way, the culprit(s) were present.
In the hallway before me was Hanada Maya. With two shorter blades in each hand and two longer ones hovering as they hacked at a doorway. The girl was visibly irate. She practically had a red aura of thematically appropriate flames around her.
I stopped and stared. Not just with my eyes, but also with my better senses. Beyond the door was a terrified group of three men in all black clothing. They were cowering behind a stack of furniture that barricaded the doorway.
Then Maya pulled back her two hovering blades and stepped forward. She promptly kicked the door in. Scraps of wood meant nothing to her as she utterly pummeled the furniture into kindling.
“Ah, so you're redecorating.”
She glanced at me. Smiled. Then she held up a single finger before striding into the room.
Screams. Terrified henchmen. The sounds of a beating.
That’s… violent. Noted. Don’t mess with the yandere.
Then she strode out of the room, leaving three unconscious people behind.
“Since you’re back, I figured you could interrogate them.” She said that with a pure, innocent expression. I could tell because her bangs were pinned back with a damp sheen of sweat.
I glanced away from her, towards the three bruised fools. Then back to her. I decided I had more questions than there’d be answers. I tried anyway.
“I heard you were in a bad mood today.”
She frowned. “Who said that?”
“Fukushi. Right before she departed on an important mission.” There must’ve been something in my tone for that news, because Maya’s eyes softened with pity.
“I see. Well, I’m not in a bad mood. Don’t know why she thought that.”
My bullshit radar didn’t go off. “Did something happen?” I glanced past her again, then amended the question. “Aside from…” I nodded in the direction of the beaten dipshits.
Maya hummed, then nodded. “Last night was… exhilarating. I think Miss Daniella allowed me to feel a bit of what you were feeling? Linked us somehow. It was amazing. I feel so fulfilled. My dreams came true, ya know?”
I nodded. It had felt—and tasted—fantastic. I could vividly remember every moment. “And how might that translate to people thinking you're in a bad mood?”
“Well…” she paused for a moment, then smiled a big grin. “I don’t want to share you with too many others. Best to scare most of them away for now. I get that you’ve chosen Riko-san, Daniella-san, and Fukushi-san. It would become a bit problematic to share with too many more.”
I hesitated, then felt something like lightning up my spine. My knees went a little weak and I felt light-headed, too. My face reddened.
I was brought back to the moment as Maya poked my cheek. “Lilin? You still there?”
Shaking my head to clear it, I looked up into Maya’s eyes and caught her slight grin. My suspicions grew as the sensation swept through a second time.
“Oho. You are feeling it.”
I balled my fists and glared up and to the left. “Daniella. Stop that.”
Maya blushed quite prettily as she let out a soft little squeak, which was simultaneous with another rush through me.
“What am I going to do with you girls? Is now really the time for playing around?” And, I mentally added, since when am I the serious one?!
Maya closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment before turning serious again. “Sharing these kinds of secrets with you, even if it’s with a few others… is actually a bit nice. Just don’t add too many more. I’m not used to having a big family.”
I sighed. “This is an incredible misuse of an S class light magic ability,” though I secretly enjoyed every moment, “but I’ll do my best not to overbook my time too heavily.”
Maya nodded, smiling happily. “Great. I’d hate to have to prune the family tree just to get my share of the attention. After all, your decisions are the correct ones. I’d feel just awful being forced to take away your playthings.”
“Aww,” I pulled her into a side hug, “you’re such an enabler! Of course my decisions are always correct. I’m glad you noticed that.”
“Right! All hail Lilin. The greatest of all!”
I nearly stumbled, thankful I could hold onto Maya for support as that prayer hit me right alongside Daniella’s shenanigans.
These girls. What am I going to do with them?
After that, we got down to a harem meeting again. Riko, Daniella, and Maya all sat down with me to address the day’s events. I kept a suspicious eye on the blonde, though. The emotional impulses she’d sent me had to have come from somewhere, and I had a sneaking suspicion she was teasing us with her own senses. I’d have to warn her not to do things like that outside of the restricted scenes, or else there’d have to be content advisories.
“First, my side.” I took a deep breath and tried to carefully lay out the day’s events without going too deep into my construction woes. “I got attacked by a group of nobles today. A dozen or so mages around B class at the highest, I think.”
“Are you okay?” Riko was immediately concerned, but I waved it off.
“Nothing serious.”
Her expression darkened as she stood and approached me, pulling at my coat and fretting as she tried to strip search me for injuries.
At first, I was going to shrug her off and make a joke about her trying to get me naked, but the look of shock and terror on her face froze the words on my lips.
“Eileen! What the hell? How are you not feeling that?”
I frowned, realizing the other two had panicked expressions as well. Daniella was at my side in a heartbeat, and I glanced down at where my sleeveless undershirt exposed a dark reddish black area along my torso, visible through the arm hole.
Oh. I guess that spell in my lungs did more lasting damage than I thought. Stupid, frail, mortal bodies…
“Raise your arms. Very gently, mind.” I did so, and Daniella pulled my shirt over my head.
I coughed.
Something came up with the cough, and my hand was stained red, followed by more coughs.
Shit.
I glanced up. Maya was standing, hands over her mouth, drops of liquid falling behind her bangs. Riko stood nearby, frozen with an expression of futility.
Only Daniella remained focused and attentive as she urged a bit of warmth through me alongside a feeble glow from her fingertips. I’d almost forgotten that her Light magic was more instinct and feeling than proper control.
“Riko! Go find me a Light mage from the heroes.” Daniella snapped out the order, but Riko didn’t move. “Now!”
The shout finally got through, but I wasn’t quite present. My mind was on how I hadn’t noticed.
“How?” I mumbled distantly.
“This was my fault.”
I met Daniella’s eyes as she fixed me with a fretful stare. I tried to shake my head at her, but she glared at me.
“It’s minor internal bleeding. I’m the one who got your heart rate up. That made it worse. Raising your arms definitely was the wrong choice. I’m an idiot, I should’ve known better.”
I laid my clean hand on her slim shoulder. “It’s fine. This is nothing, and you're no healer or doctor.” I paused to clear another bloody cough. “I promise you, this body of mine isn’t so frail.”
Maya had stepped closer as we were speaking, and she got on her knees, taking my hand and holding it close. It tugged at my heartstrings to see how deeply she cared.
If only they knew this body was fake. They think I’m dying and I can’t tell them I’ll be fine even if this body does die.
None of that stopped the very human reactions of the mortal shell itself. The brain didn’t like blood being in places it ought not be. It wanted to panic, and I fought it every step of the way. Keeping the calm, cool face up was all that was keeping my girls going strong.
It would’ve been a bit of a problem if my body died, though. I could hide my presence within a magically potent vessel. Without that, there would be a very shocking revelation when my presence didn't fade.
Minutes later, Riko rushed back in, followed by a middle school aged girl and a man that was likely the girl’s father.
Daniella glanced at each of them briefly, then immediately set to work getting the little girl coached on how to use light magic to heal.
I felt a bit hazy. No responses to the situation came together as my human body started to fight the commands I wanted to give it.
Right… I should’ve healed myself. That was dumb. Wait, I’m not dumb. Why would I forget? Oh, shock. That’s a thing. Over several million years young, and still learning lessons. There was a human saying about that, I think. Day something new every learn? Yeah.
Around me, the girls did their things, and just one small comment floated through the ether to reach my mind.
Riko was talking to Maya nearby, trying to keep quiet while still speaking over the noise of Daniella ordering me to stay awake.
“I couldn’t find Amano-san. I know I was in a hurry, but I’m worried he was taken in the commotion.”
Wonderful. The church got their Prophet. I need a nap.