....
....


　We come outside and start moving for now. We keep silent to each other, or rather, Catherine's alertness is quite strong. She's been looking at me the whole time, opening a moderate distance between us and moving forward.


　I couldn't let her walk around the city of Boundary City, and the area, dressed like this for now, so I was heading to the clothing store in the Central District.



''Hey, hey!''
What's the matter, Catherine?
Where are you headed?　Aren't you going the other way?
Now I thought I'd go shopping for your clothes.
Why?
'It would be easier to live inside a human city, wouldn't it?　Plus, if the public finds out that there's a succubus in the house, there's a lot of problems.
I can at least use cognitive disruption magic.　I still use it.
'But the magic element isn't infinite, and it could be disarmed at any moment.
'Hmm. Well, if that's what you mean I wouldn't put anything out for you to shop for, would I?
I'll give you the money.
Hmm. Hmmm!


　For some reason, Catherine emphasizes, "Hmmm.

　But for the time being, I'm glad that she seems to follow what I say.

　And so Catherine and I arrive in front of the clothing store. Once inside, she looks around the store with a twinkle in her eye.


'Wow ... wow!　Wow!　I didn't know there were so many of them!
Humans have only recently regained the ability to mass produce.
'Oh my God!　I like this one!
"...I see. I get it.
Yay!


　It's so heartwarming to see her so innocently frolicking. Maybe this is how I feel about having a daughter... I quickly pay the bill and hand it over as soon as possible, thinking that maybe this is how I feel about having a daughter.


Yes. Here you go.
Thanks!
You're welcome.


　He seems to have lost his cautiousness about me and has become completely like a normal child. It would be better for me to be able to communicate with him, but this change in attitude is a bit surprising.

　I guess it's a good idea for women to receive gifts regardless of race, right? I see.

　Well, while I was thinking about such an unimportant matter, Katherine was already wearing the clothes she bought.


''How!
Yeah, it looks good on you.
Yeah. I'm a very pretty girl.


　That's a big statement, but well ... it's not entirely wrong.

　What Katherine chose was an outfit called a poncho. At first glance, it looks like a raincoat, but it's properly colored pink, and it also has a hood to cover the horn of your head.

　It's functional, stylish and cute.

　I agreed with that assessment.


'Good. Now we won't have to use magic anymore!
Yes.
But why do you use it?　If you're human, you don't need any more cognitive inhibition, do you?
'Well, I'm a bit of a celebrity... hahaha...'
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Can I ask you specifically?
''Hmm. I don't know if it's okay to tell you... but it's not something that would bother you to know...
Don't be a pussy, come on!
Well, you see, I'm a rank zero in the rankings of the special opponents.
What's that...?
Do you know what a demon counterpart is?
"Resist the demons, be human?　Riane told me.
There's a pecking order among them.
Wow.
But I'm the best of the bunch, I guess.
What?
What?
You're the strongest of all of humanity?
It's not always easy to say. It's hard to say, but it's also a matter of how well you match up with your opponent. But when it comes to overall strength, he's one of the top five in the world. Well, it's limited to melee combat.
....
Hey, what's going on?
Am I not going to get killed?
'No, I'm not the kind of person who would kill indiscriminately.
...Really?
Really, really. I don't get any pleasure out of killing.
Did you say that... actually...?
No, I don't.
Yeah. That's okay!　But it made sense to me.
What are you talking about?
Didn't I try to escape?
Yes.
That's what they caught you doing then....
''Well, that's true. A speed like that is normal for a high-level anti-magician.
That's nice. I'm scared of humans. If it's done poorly, aren't they just as bad as witches?
Well, I'm not so sure about that.


　While we were chatting about this, we proceeded to the restaurant district for some reason.

　I've been thinking of taking this opportunity to buy Katherine a variety of meals.


　But instead of going inside the shop, we decided to eat at a food cart. No matter how much I'm fooling around with my clothes, it's not safe to stay in one place.


''Hm!　Delicious!　Too good to be true!
Yeah?
You a**h*le!　This is sweet and yet a little salty.... but it's also harmonious in its own way... no, really, this is formidable....
No, it's a very formal description.
'Hmmm ... Yulia!　We're going to the next store!
'Yes, yes....'


　For some reason, Catherine calls me Yulia as well, and proceeds to make me look like a subordinate.


'Oh, sweetie. You're so cute.
You do!
Yeah, yeah. I'm sure she'll be a beautiful woman in the future...
'Thanks!　So, give me one of these!
Yes.


　He said he wanted to go shopping by himself with my money, so I watched him from a distance. By the way, what he is buying now is grilled corn. He seems to have been caught by the smell of the sauce.


I'm sure he got caught by the smell of the sauce. Come back again, sweet girl.
'Yes!　I mean, that........Uncle, you're wrong. You gave me two bottles.
It's a service to your pretty little girl.
Uncle!
Well, it's a good thing.
Thanks!


　Catherine smiles and comes towards me, skipping straight to me.


'Hehehe!　I got another bottle for free!　Because I'm pretty!　Because I'm pretty!
Good for you, Catherine.
Yeah!


　When I pat her head, she smiles a toothy, nical smile.

　I'm completely at home in this town, but well ... that's okay. It's not that I don't like the idea of fighting, either. It's true that I have strength, but I'm fighting to create a world where that strength won't be needed any longer.


　That's why I'm hoping that the city will be filled with smiles like this one. That's what I thought.


　◇



Are you okay?
'No it's not good...'
You're right. All right.
"....Oh my God!　What are you doing?
''It's getting dark, and it's a bit of a challenge to get to Area 9 in the Elven Village now. We'll stay inside the warded city today.


　I give Katherine a princess hug. She was a little reluctant at first, but when she got out of control, she really felt like she was going to vomit or something.


'Hmmm ... what should I do now? I guess I'll have to stay in Princess Liane's room after all.......but hey.......just in case, I shouldn't do that...... Hmmm, when it comes to other women, a special class anti-magician would be a good choice, so...
Hey.
What?
I don't mind if I go to Julia's room?
Yeah, really?　I don't mind, either, but I mean, don't you want to?
Well, I don't mind it.　You've done so much for me today that I didn't trust you or anything!　I'm still very much on my guard for you!　Don't get me wrong!
Uh, yeah...


　It's completely pointless to say such things while being held in my arms. It's not a good idea to be hugged by someone who is so cautious about you, but that's just a wild thing to do.


　I'd like to report this to Princess Liane and then invite Catherine to my room.


　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that Princess Liane's eyes aren't smiling as she looks at Catherine, who is in love with me.