Mystery Guest
My mansion was surrounded by a strong lattice of iron bars.
It was at least twice the height of an adult human.
Milka was talking to a man from the other side.
âLike I said, Mister Locke is not home now.â
âThen when will he be back?â
âI donât know... Some time or another.â
âBut couldnât you let us wait inside?â
âI canât do that. Very sorry.â
I might have to teach her the proper way to treat guests later on.
You were expected to be a little more polite to outsiders.
That being said, she was right to not open the gate.
The entire mansion was protected with magic, and there were also magic locks.
You could not penetrate the place unless someone opened the gates from the inside.
The second person, who was standing next to the man, began to speak.
âI have important business with Locke.â
âI canât help you with that.â
âHmph. I can sense Locke right now. He must be inside?â
âNo, I told you. He isnât home.â
âDo not hide him from me. It really is rather important!â
âLike I saidââ
It was a girl who began to press Milka. She had a cute voice and was wearing a hooded robe.
The hood was pulled over her face, so I couldnât tell what she looked like, but she was quite short.
âWe are getting nowhere!â
So saying, the hooded girl grabbed the gate.
âMMGGGGERRR!!â
She tried to open it by force.
âThatâs no use.â
âShut up.â
Just as she shouted this, âBang!
There was a loud spark as the girl went flying into the air.
âGAAAA!â
She had tried to open the magic lock by force, and so the security measure had activated.
âI told you...â
Milka said with an exasperated look.
I approached the girl from behind.
âAnd what is your business with me?â
âAh, Mister Locke. This annoying person was trying to force her way into the mansion.â
âMilka, sorry about all the trouble. You can leave the rest to me.â
âOkay. I have to prepare for dinner!â
So saying, Milka returned to the mansion.
The man who was with the girl looked very troubled.
âI am terribly sorry about this. Weâve caused quite a scene.â
âWhat do you want?â
âYes, she...â
He said as he pointed at the girl who was still lying on the ground.
âShe came to my restaurant and ate and drank without paying...â
He was a restaurant owner.
He said that the girl had eaten an incredible amount of food before claiming that she had no money.
âI was thinking about throwing her to the city guards, but she said that she would borrow money from an acquaintance...â
âAnd I am that acquaintance?â
âYes. She said she knew a rich man by the name of Locke.â
âHmm.â
He said hesitantly.
âYou are Mister Locke, are you not?â
âI am.â
âDo you know her?â
He said. Then he pulled back the hood of the unconscious girl.
She had large horns.
But I had no idea who she was.
â...I donât know her.â
âI see...â
His shoulders slumped with disappointment.
âI am terribly sorry to have disturbed you.â
He said as he forced the girl to her feet.
âMmm..rmrmmmm...â
Her mind was still hazy it seemed.
She would probably be sent to the authorities now.
âWell, wait a minute.â
âYes, what is it?â
âHow much was it?â
â30,000 rucks.â
â30,000?â
âYes. She ate a great deal.â
That was an understatement.
âAlright. I shall pay.â
âWhat? Do you mean it?â
âShe did come all this way here. And even if I donât know her, itâs possible that we are connected somehow.â
âThank you very much. That makes things much easier.â
I paid him the 30,000 rucks and he bowed repeatedly before going on his way.
I picked the girl up.
âGgg...â
She was still not fully conscious.
âWas the defense magic too strong?â
âBut it wonât have much meaning if itâs any weaker, will it?â
Philly said. She was right.
âShe has horns on her head. Perhaps she is a demon like me?â
âYou might be right.â
Just as I said this, I felt something move near her bottom.
There was a very large tail.
It was thicker and longer than Shia and Niaâs tails. If anything, it was larger than her legs.
âTh-that is a great tail.â
âDo people of your tribe ever have tails...?â
âI donât think so.â
Luchila shook his head.
Grulf sniffed at her and then whimpered.
âGrulf? What is it?â
âGrrr...â
Apparently, Grulf had an idea. Or so it seemed.
Nia saw this and began to sniff at the girl as well.
âThis smell...â
Just as Nia was about to say something, the girl opened her eyes.
âAh!â
She jumped up.
âLocke! It is you, Locke! So you are the owner of this house after all?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI am.â
âI followed your scent, presence and traces of magical energy. What a relief that I found you.â
âI see. Well, enough of that. Who are you?â
âWhat? Have you forgotten me already?â
This appeared to cause a great shock to the girl.
âUh, no. I donât believe weâve met before.â
âBut we only just met during the day! It is I! Kathe!â
âHuh? Youâre Kathe?â
âIndeed!â
âShe does have Katheâs odor.â
Nia said.
Well, odors didnât lie.
âI see. Youâre Kathe.â
âGahahahaha! You finally understand.â
Kathe said with a smug, very pleased face.