Chapter 212: The Troubled Fairy and a Mistake from First Sight

But that face was not a cheerful smile.

"What is it?"

"I, I want to talk a little, is that okay?"

Lilli asked while looking down a little, with an upward glance.

"Nn? Yes, fine. Come in."

I let Lilli into the house.

Lilli sat in a nearby seat with a practiced manner.

"So, what is the talk?"

I also sat in the seat across from Lilli.

"...This village is all people who have been Dules, or people who have family who became Dules, right? But I have never been a Dule, and I do not have family like that. So..."

Lilli spoke with serious eyes, but without meeting my gaze.

And when she said that far, she took a breath and looked at my eyes.

"I want you to make me a Dule."

...Etto.

"Why does the talk jump that far?"

"Because everyone in this village is involved with Dules. If I am the only one who is not a Dule, it is like I have no place, or something..."

Lilli dropped her shoulders and hung her head.

I had thought she was cheerful and never got down...

I was surprised at this unexpected side of Lilli.

"...But, do you think the people of this village willingly made their families Dules? Do you think they willingly became Dules themselves?"

"At first it was like that."

Ah, that is right.

Otherwise they could not become Dules.

"Ah, no, how is it now? Do you think anyone wants to make someone a Dule?"

"...I do not think so."

"Then. Would it not be better if Lilli does not become a Dule?"

Yes, then she should accept it.

"Why?"

Ara.

"...Everyone would be sad, right?"

Even while stumbling a little, I continued persuading.

"That is true, but..."

She still does not seem convinced.

What would make her give up?

I crossed my arms and worried.

To say it clearly, I have no intention of making Lilli a Dule.

Because she is young.

And... even if a child, a boy is a little...

"Why me?"

Lilli is a ho... ahem.

Does she like men?

"Because you saved me, and Hiroyuki is strong. There is also atonement for running away that time. And... and, you are cool, or something..."

Lilli reddened her face and hung her head, busily touching and releasing the tips of the fingers of both hands while looking at me with an upward glance.

C-cute...

N-no, I am not a shotacon.

Wait, what was a shotacon again?

...No good, I am confused too.

"No good?"

Ou...

Looking at me with teary eyes, Lilli almost gets me.

...Wait, wait, if cute, is a boy fine too?

"E-even with that face, no. ...C-come on, do not cry!"

Tears spilled from Lilli’s eyes.

"You are a boy, so you must not cry easily!"

"Fue... I-I am not a boy, I am a girl! Fueen!"

...Eh?

Lilli left the house in a rush while crying.

Etto...

"Ano, Master. Is it fine not to chase her?"

Muriel, who seemed to have been peeking from the back room, asked me.

Etto...

"Did you know?"

"Yes. I knew from when we were introduced."

"Lilli is a name used for girls."

"Her gestures were girl-like too."

To my question, Muriel, Sophia, and Cathy answered, and each time Tiria nodded silently.

All four are girls who knew Lilli from fifteen years ago.

...I see, so they could tell.

"Master."

Muriel opened the door and called me.

"Either way, I think you should talk."

"Yes, that is right."

I went outside and went to look for Lilli.

...

Haa.

To think I would be this shaken...

Then, because Lilli is a girl, is it fine to make her a Dule?

Too young... even saying that, there are Tiria and Ilma, Helma, Sheena, so it is late for that.

Come to think of it, Lilli was twenty fifteen years ago, so now she is thirty-five!?

...The reasons to refuse are disappearing.

Then, is it fine?

Even while thinking such things I searched for Lilli, and found her standing under a large tree at the edge of the village.

"Lilli... sorry."

"I-it is fine. Certainly you cannot tell. From a human’s view, I am just a child."

Lilli sniffled, but said that while laughing.

"Sorry, suddenly saying something weird. Forget it..."

"It is fine."

I seemed to have been swept along by the situation.

"Eh?"

"You can become my Dule."

"R-really?"

The dark expression brightened paa.

"Yes, but there are only three cautions."

"What, what?"

Like this, it is the usual Lilli.

I explained while wryly smiling, folding my fingers.

"One is, do not regret it. A Dule cannot be stopped until I die."

"Of course. The other one?"

"The other one is, get along with the other Dules. Fighting is fine, but make up after. I have a lot of Dules."

"Un, got it. And the last one?"

"The last one is... do not hurt yourself."

"Nn? ...What does that mean?"

Lilli tilted her small head.

"Do not jump into danger yourself. If there is danger, run."

"Un, got it. Then, right away..."

After a reply that made me doubt whether she really understood, Lilli tried to take off her short tunic on the spot.

"Oi oi, not here, let’s do it after we go back."

"Yes."

She answered while smiling, raising her right hand.

As expected....

...

When we returned to the house we were borrowing, the Dules were waiting in the meeting room.

"Welcome back. So, what will you do?"

Muriel asked me.

And all the Dules stared at me.

There was a strange pressure in those gazes.

Etto, what is this?

Are they saying not to increase Dules any more?

N-no no.

I am the master.

I will do what I want to do!

"A-ah. I decided to have her become a Dule."

"Please treat me well."

Lilli bowed her head while smiling.

"I see. Good. Us too, please treat us well."

Everyone’s gazes softened.

Ahaha, so this was fine.

I thought that, but about one person was not fine.

"I-I am first! Do me first!"