The three of us walked through the city in the morning.
　Kash was fidgety.

I haven't been around here much.

　This is the street leading to the Demon King's Castle.
　The first time you go to a place for the first time, your eyes tend to wander to other places, don't they? I understand.
　But in doing so, Kash almost got lost.
　When Mira and I walked for a little while and noticed that Kash wasn't beside me, I was in a hurry when he was loitering far behind me.
　I know, right? When you're a kid, if there's something that's bothering you, you'll stop and look at it, regardless of your parents' movements or anything else.
　However, you almost got separated from your mother right after she asked you to say hello. I must be careful.
　Kash is still a baby girl, even if she is mature for her age.
　I feel deeply remorseful and return to the road to pick up Kash.

"Well, Kash?

I'm sorry.

　It was only a short time before Kash found me and showed a relieved face, but he apologized to me with tears streaming down his cheeks as if he thought I would be angry.

I was sorry too. And since we're going to be passing by every day from now on, we have to look at things and learn how to get to work. Kash is sorry and I am sorry. And that's it. I'm not angry, don't worry about it.

Wadaji, I'll do my best!　Don't fire me!

　Then Kash sags against me.
　My pants are wet with Kash's tears, but I want to stop her from crying more than that. Kash's expression is cloudy, and I feel depressed.
　Apparently, in her young age, she saw that as a blunder and feared she might be fired even before she worked.
　I hesitated for a moment, then gently reached out to her head.
　It's not the same as patting her head as a customer, and I'm starting to wonder if it's okay to be a boss then, but I reasoned.
　Firmly, her mother entrusted me with the job, and now I must have a protective side, I thought!
　She was attached to me, and I don't want to touch her!　And it shouldn't be.
　Gently, my hand runs over her ear and touches her head.
　Her ears snapped up and her body tensed up. But she doesn't seem to be leaving.
　I stroke her fluffy hair.
　Kash slowly looked up. She looks at me, her face wet with tears.

It's okay, everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is not to regret it or be afraid of it, but to think about how to avoid making a mistake the next time.

　I took out my handkerchief and wiped her tears away. I thought I should have just given it to her after thinking about it for a moment, but I decided that she wouldn't mind since she was doing what she was doing.

'Next.........?'

Yes.

"Isn't that your neck?

I'm in trouble without Kash.

Will Leme be in trouble without me?

'Very annoying. Kash is my secretary, you know.

Hey...!

　Kash's eyes lit up as he thought of a woman in his mind who looked like she might want to wear a suit or even be a do-gooder. It was that of a child who longed to be an adult.
　It's one of the advantages of a child to be able to switch between emotions so quickly.

''Ah, um, Reme,''

What is it?

I'm sorry I got separated from you.

I'm the one who's sorry I got out of sight.

　That's the end of the matter.

So, that's it Leme. I think.

Yeah?　Oh, so I don't screw up next time?

　Kash pulls his chin in a stubborn way.
　It's amazing. Is this also the flexibility of being a child? The fact that it understands and practices what it is told immediately.
　No, is Kash a smart and good child?
　He would say something like, "I'll be careful not to look aside," or something like that. It's the answer to Hanamaru's question.
　But Kash, for some reason, wagged his tail and his face turned bright red.
　Hmm....?　But I wait for an answer.

".........t.........

What?

　When she reaches for me, I pull back.
　T... A hand.
　Oh, well, that's certainly a solution.

"It's all right, Kash. Can I ask you a question?

I thought if you could hold on to me, I'd be able to keep you close to me.

　Kash's face is as red as a boil.
　He must have had the courage to say it.
　As an adult, I have to respond to that. I don't feel like I'm much of an adult.
　I take her hand and hold her fluffy fingers.

"Hmm. I see, that's exactly what we should do, so we don't get separated. Kash's solution works great.

　Kash cringed and smiled across his face.
　Then he loosened his cheeks sluggishly.

'Ehehe...'

　Cute.
　By the way, I left the fruit I bought at Mr. Blitz's place at the store. Mr. Mila said he would have his men carry it for you. I'll have to thank her later.
　Anyway, that's why I'm free.

'Why don't you take a walk with me after work or on your next day off?

Are you sure?

I'm not used to the streets over here either.

'That's a good point. If you wouldn't mind letting me show you around?

　...........
　No, I didn't forget about it.
　So please don't sound like that, I don't want you to sound so kind but you can tell that I'm cold.　

'Mira. Um, I found Kash.

　I wanted to smile at him, but the smile on my face was drawn. I failed.

'Yes. I watched him, chattering away. Waiting to see when you'd come back. 'Oh, but it's good to see you, Kash, holding hands with Reme. I'm jealous, very jealous.

　Her eyes, which are blue with colored contacts, squint.

'On the one hand, you promised me a date while going to work holding hands, on the other hand, you picked me up to go to work with me, but you left me to play. Why is life so cruel, Reme, I wonder why life is so cruel. I think I'm going to cry. If I cry, will you lend me a handkerchief? Or will you leave me alone?

　How can I say this?
　It's not the same as being angry, and I think it's a different kind of sarcasm.
　It's more like sulking, if you will.
　Jealous of a child?　Mira?　No, I don't know her well enough to talk about it.

'Very good, Kash. How is Leme's right hand?

Well, it's warm. Also, I feel like an adult man.

　Kash replied honestly.

'I see, that's lovely. I wonder if any of your lordships will appear to lend me a warm hand. Is there anyone available to lend me a hand?　I have a very cold heart right now. I could use my left hand, though.

　Mira-san even starts to mimic crying, "Yo yo yo!
　She doesn't forget to glance at me.
　Which one is this? Is it a teasing approach of sorts.......or do I really want to hold hands like Kash?
　...No, let's not.
　I tried not to think about anything else. It's no use asking my brain for an answer that I can't give here.
　I just need to give an answer that can be used in both cases.

'Would you like to hold my hand then?　It's just to the office.

　Before I could finish, my left hand was scratched off.
　I thought it might have torn off, but my arms are properly connected. It's connected, and Mira-san is holding me.
　They were holding hands, or rather, entangling their bodies in my arms.
　I mean.........well.......my arm is trapped between them. In something soft. To those two things that, according to the Demon King, are silky to the touch and elastic like pudding.
　I discipline my bouncing heart with the mental power of steel.

''It's true. It's warm.

　Uh-huh, she's very satisfied.
　I feel like Kash has increased the strength in my hand. Is it my imagination?
　I was just going to go to my new job.
　I've been in a state of flower in my hands, with a young, dainty dog-eared baby girl on my right and a bewitching vampire beauty on my left.

''Oh, um.......Kash is fine, but is Mira-san fine?''

　I have to distract him anyway. I talk.

"Excuse me?

No....I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if people at work saw you arm-in-arm with a guy like this. I mean, I don't want people to get wind of it.

In fact, let's just put it up. We don't want any extra worms in your life, Leme.

Yeah.

　Bugs.....

'Yes. Leme, you can tell me later who you talked to at work?　Huh?　Of course it's necessary for your job. Anyone who speaks to Reme-san on their own is at least interested, and conversely, if Reme-san approached them, they had a reason to do so. Even though you can register up to seventy-two bodies, it's no better to select those who are compatible.

　I see. That's right.
　Mira-san said it for my sake.
　I thought rudely that if there was a woman among the people I talked to, she would do something just to stay away from the [Black Mage] I was guessing.

''Sorry Mira-san. Alright, I'll make a record of who I talked to properly.

'Yes. Especially women, don't forget that we may need to talk about it.

What?

　My question mark is ignored.

'Ah, we're here. Look, Mr. Kash, this is your workplace from today, the Devil's Castle.

　Although the Demon King's Castle has the shape of a castle, the dungeon part is underground.
　The ground floor is a floor for staff only, an area that is open to the public, and in the case of the front entrance, there is a reception area for the attackers and a room where the connection to the magic body (avatar) is placed.

''Wow, I've never seen this before.

Local landmarks aren't things you'd expect to see. Especially since this is the back door.

　The conversation between the two of them got lively over me.
　In the end, we went straight to work.