There was something that I was curious about.
　During the welcome party, Agares-san had called Sitely-san a "[Dream Demon] dude".
　Citry-san's ability is genuine, and since he's the Four Heavenly Kings, it's probably not an ironic comment on his lack of ability.
　Then, why 'Doubt'?

　The answer to that question was right in front of me.
　With a shuffle, only her clothes fall to the ground.
　For a moment I thought she had disappeared, but no.

　What came out of her clothes was........a cat-sized - sub-beast.

''What do you think...?''

　His voice remains the same as Sitley's.
　But it's not the cheerful tone it was in earlier. It's the color of her voice, as if she was afraid of being rejected.

　It was yellow with a black speckled pattern - a leopard. On its back are two wings, reminiscent of a bird of prey.

　Since the world has become peaceful, there has been more discussion about what constitutes a "person" than ever before.
　Orcs and goblins, who were previously treated as 'monsters', have their own language, but there are also those who speak the official language. Communication is possible.

　Compared to other species, their fertility is relatively high, and there is a wide variety of [positions (jobs)] that are expressed, and because of their number and diversity, the so-called 'humans' who have no physical race traits became the 'majority' after the end of the war.
　Me, Fenix, Alba and Lark fall into this category.

　It's easy to judge those who look very close to 'humans', such as Lily the elf, Mira the vampire, Lucy and Agares the demon, and Markosias the werewolf, and others who look very close to 'humans'.
　All of them are human, but because they have different characteristics when compared to humans - they are called sub-humans.
　The same is true for dragon men and bird men. Orcs and goblins also fall under this category nowadays.

　The ones in question were those who imitated people and manipulated human language.
　In the case of Alraune or a special sub-beast like Mr. Citry.
　In the end, a law was made that recognized them as 'sub-humans' if they wanted to and applied to the state, and they settled down.

''It's weird, I guess.

　Still, there are those who have a sense of discrimination.
　What separates people from the rest?
　I'm not smart enough to answer such a difficult question.

　But what I do know is that Mr. Sitley is a reliable colleague.
　She was prepared to hate me and let me in on her secret.
　I bend down in front of her.

'No way. You have lovely fur and wings.'

　Mr. Citry's eyes widen.

'.........Really?

　He smiled and nodded, as if to reassure me.

'Yes.'

But I'm not a pretty boy.

　So that's why you were taking the form of a dainty dreamer.

'I'm so jealous that I can be who I want to be,'

　Then, for a while, Citry-san looked up at me.
　Eventually, she flapped her wings hesitantly and came down to my shoulder, as if she were afraid to do so.

'Isn't it a ya?'

It's too light, I'm afraid.

　My joke seems to have been understood, and Citry-san finally loosens her lips.
　As it is, she stroked my cheek.

'Thank you, Reme-kun,'

No.

'Citry, you know, I don't like the way he looks. A dreamer could dress cute and the magic was right for her. But there wasn't any place that would hire me in my dream demon mimicry, so Lou was the only one who accepted me as a dreamer.

　Even for free, dungeon employment for a dream demon is tough. Another sub-human who changed into a Dream Demon, but it would be difficult.

''That's right.''　

'Agares-kun was a bit mean, but Miracchi became my friend too. Fu-chan didn't seem to mind anything, I guess. Reme-kun was very complimentary.

　She seemed to glow slightly and then she was back to her usual Mr. Citry. It was a momentary blip.
　However, her clothes are still falling there, so she's completely naked.
　I tried to look away as quickly as possible, but she grabbed my head with a gasp.
　I manage to make an effort to look only into her eyes, and Sitely-san is looking at me with amusement.

'You know, Citrie, you can be whatever people want you to be. I'd love to do something to repay you for your kindness by being the most beautiful woman you could ever hope to be. What would you do?　Say it out loud and I'll take whatever form it takes.

　It's only a moment before I get a thump.
　I gently take her hand and pull it away from my face.
　I take off my jacket and hang it on her.

'Reme-kun?'

The way you are now is what you 'want to be', Sitley-san.

'Yeah...'

Then it's best to just be yourself. You don't need to think about thanking me.

　Maybe it was just a bit of fun, but he didn't want to let his friends change him for someone else's convenience.
　Mr. Citry blinked his eyes and then laughed as his whole face melted into a smile.

'Haha. I can see why Mira-chan is falling. You're such a human being, aren't you?''

What's that, what's that...

I'm sorry, Leme, for trying. But I don't trust Miracchi with a girl who falls prey to easy temptation.

Well, I can't be mad at you for that.

　If she says so, it must be that way.
　Sitley's hand reaches for my ring.

'Citry has taken a liking to you. Let's be friends.

Yes, by all means.

'If your friend is in trouble, it's only fair that you lend a hand.

And I wish I could.

Citry too. So I'll help you in your time of need.

　Their magic flowed through each other and I could see that I was able to make a contract with Sitry-san.

''It's nice to meet you, Reme-kun.

You're welcome.

Okay, I'll put some clothes on.

You're out.

That's sweet.

'I think it's obvious...'

You owe me your jacket.

You don't have to do this now.

"Ha-ha.

　Just before I left the equipment room, I asked something that occurred to me.

'The fact that Mira isn't upset when I talk to Sitley-san has nothing to do with who she is, does it?

　I'm not one of those women who thinks that because she's a sub-beast, there's nothing to worry about.
　There had to be something about Ms. Citry as a human being that made her not need to be alarmed.

'Yeah?　Oh, you know, Citry, it transcends gender and all that.

What does that mean...

It's a secret.

　Is it a species that doesn't have a gender.......or is it a boy?
　Anyway, there must be a good reason for that Mira-san to decide that it's okay to contact him.
　Well, if he says it's a secret, I don't even want to reveal it.

'Oh, let's have lunch together.

I'll meet you at the door.

I'd rather not tell Mila about it than look in on you.

I'll close it up tight.

It's not pretty.

　I leave the room.
　I press my chest.

"Uhhh, I'm so nervous.

　That kind of experience is greatly lacking, so it took a lot of mental strength to remain calm.
　Will there ever come a time when I can get used to the nakedness of women?
　I somehow couldn't imagine the day I would be able to be that kind of person.

　It was as if I heard a voice from the other side of the door saying, "You're so cute," or maybe not.

　◇

Do you think you can be more than three places at this point?

　I look at the man standing in front of me, with hair like a red flame and jet black twin horns.

'We're going for first place,'

That's the goal. I'm talking about reality. Now that several years have passed since the third and higher ranks were fixed, it is difficult to overcome the current situation. That's why you drove out the [Black Mage] and welcomed the [Ice Brave] to capture the impregnable Demon King Castle. You're trying to somehow attract attention and increase your popularity.

　We were summoned to a room at an inn under the guise of covering the party, but the man in front of us didn't seem to want an interview.

You are a gem of a person who deserves to be in first place, Mr. Fenix-dono. The other four people also have their own highlights. ........For some reason, it seems that three of them have not been able to demonstrate as much power as they once felt, but well, I guess time will tell.

'I don't see what you're talking about. What do you want us to say?

Would you be interested in a new era of [brave]?

　The man seemed to bear a striking resemblance to the old man, the mentor of his best friend Leme.