The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

No matter what, Shien staying here has already become an established fact.

He doesn't want to bother explaining either. The more he tries to explain, the worse it's going to get. Since everyone just plain refuses to believe, if he keeps on trying to explain, he may very well get overexcited and say something wrong, resulting in a certain vicious little kitten popping up to bite at him again.

Thus, Shien could only say in a tired tone.

"Anyways, I'm going to be staying a full month in the Capital. There's no problem with you guys going back first though."

Shien has after all gotten somewhat familiar with the Capital by now, so there shouldn't be any issues with him staying by himself.

Of course, he will need to first discuss things with Megis. He's staying in their house, eating their food after all, so it's just basic politeness to properly let the host know.

However, after Shien established that he's going to be staying, all the girls had their own ideas.

"Since you're staying, then I might as well do the same."

Diere decided that without any hesitation. The other girls did not expect that at all.

This was especially true for Lumia and Melika.

Vivian had it a bit better since she at least knew of Diere's situations, so she could guess at why she might want to stay.

But Lumia and Melika had no such understanding.

"… Diere's relationship with Mr. Shien seems to have become really good recently."

Lumia was visibly amazed.

"Is this really that cold Diere?"

Melika puffed up her cheeks. She was upset for some reason that she didn't know.

Diere on the other hand didn't bother explaining at all. It was like she didn't care to explain. She just stopped talking after making her decision and silently sipped at her tea.

Shien was pretty happy though.

After all, if Diere isn't leaving, then that means she'll continue to share his baths, right?

That really is nice!

"What do you two plan on doing then?"

Vivian shook her head while chuckling before turning toward Lumia and Melika to ask.

What resulted though is that both of them seemed quite hesitant.

"I…" Melika snuck a peak at Shien before letting out a tiny voice, "I'm staying too."

"Is that so?" Vivian looked at Melika with a grin, "Why though?"

"N-no particular reason." Melika continued to speak in a guilty whisper, "Since Mr. Shien and Diere are both staying, I also want to stay as well."

That weak voice of hers is unconvincing no matter how one listened to it.

"How about Lumia then?"

Vivian could only shake her head before asking the final member of their party.

Lumia still looked as hesitant as before. There was even a hint of awkwardness to it.

"Since Diere and Melika both want to stay, I also kind of want to stay as well." Lumia spoke with some worry, "But, my sisters are all still in Lamdrion. If no one's around to take care of them for too long…"

In other words, Lumia is very worried over the status of her little sisters.

In response, Vivian was the one to offer comfort.

"Don't worry, Leili's still present in Lamdrion. With how she is, once she learns that you won't be going back to Lamdrion for a time, she'll definitely help make sure that your sisters are well taken care of." Vivian smiled, "And it's only going to be a month after all. We've already left Lamdrion for nearly a month, so there shouldn't be any issues with another month, right?"

Hearing that, Lumia seemed to have understood what Vivian meant.

"Does big sister Vivian want me to stay then?"

Lumia carefully tried to confirm.

"I suppose." Vivian didn't hide it either, "Diere wants to stay. Melika wants to stay too. Shien is also going to be here. Since you want to stay as well, I might as well do the same."

And if even Vivian is staying here, then it's not like they could just let Lumia head back on her own, right?

It's for that reason that Vivian tried to convince Lumia.

"Is it really fine?"

Lumia still seemed a bit worried though.

"Don't worry. I'll write to Leili and ask her to take care of your sisters."

Vivian patted Lumia on the shoulder as if to grant her courage.

"Then… Alright…"

Only then did Lumia finally hesitantly agree.

Thus, the entirety of the Vivian party have decided to stay in the Capital.

The time frame is set for a month for the time being.

At this time, Shien had already slipped around to Diere's side.

"You're really planning on staying?"

Shien quietly tried to confirm.

"Do you dislike it?"

Diere gave Shien a glance and countered his question with one of her own.

"Not at all."

Shien denied it without hesitation.

Out of all of them, Diere was the one that Shien wanted to keep here the most.

As for the reason. Well, you know.

Only…

"Don't you dislike the Capital though?" Shien tried to confirm, "If you stay in the Capital, then you're sure to be continuously sought out by trouble. Is that really fine?"

That's a required concern for Shien.

After all, since he's decided to devote all his time to the underground magic library for the next month, Shien won't have any time to secretly keep her safe anymore.

In such a case, there's the chance that Diere could encounter unimaginable problems.

There's no way that she wouldn't know this already.

But Shien's words did not make Diere change her mind.

"Although I indeed dislike this place, dislike isn't the same as fear. I can already protect myself now." Diere spoke tonelessly, "Besides, you know my situation, so I'll be wherever you are."

Those words really did move Shien's heart.

To think that the girl in question, back when they first met, was the one who who he could communicate with the least, the coldest and most heartless of them all. But now, she's actually saying such words. It really does make Shien want to marry and take her home!

Only, it's one thing to be moved, but he can't just turn a blind eye to Diere's issues either.

If, in the beginning, Shien's reason for helping Diere was because Lucy asked him to, then now, he's helping her because he truly wanted to from the bottom of his own heart.

Thus, Shien gave a glance at Airi, who seemed to be getting sleepy, yawned, and looked utterly adorable while doing so. Then, he came up with a plan.

(Worst comes to worst, I'll have Airi help act as a personal bodyguard for a month.)

With Airi at her side, Diere's safety should be assured.

It's only a question of whether or not the little girl in question was willing or not.

It can't be helped. Airi's only interested in Shien after all.

She might look like she gets along well with Shien, but when it comes to anyone outside of Shien, Airi would generally affect an indifferent feeling. Even when Lumia and Melika were super warm to her, she would still act rather uninterested.

With that as a given, will the hidden big shot really be willing to be Diere's guard for a month? It feels rather uncertain.

(If not, then I'm just going to have to get hands on again.)

Shien made his mental preparations for having a "proper" heart to heart chat with Airi.

Later on, everyone also asked Megis to stay for another month, to which he agreed without even thinking about it.

Thus, the matter was settled.

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