Chapter 45
"So cute~! What’s this familiar’s name?"
"Huh? Uh… I haven’t decided yet."
Mill-senpai was patting the familiar’s head—or what passed for one.
"Squishy, squishy~"
"Kyu~ Kyu~"
"Lil~! Me too, let me touch~"
"No fair~! I wanna too~"
"I wanna pet it~"
"Me… too… wanna touch…"
Lil-chan was cuddling the familiar, happily squishing it, while the other spiritkin waited their turn. My familiar (a fusion of Lust and Sloth attributes) was a huge hit.
"Hmm. Quite lively for morning. Good to see such energy. By the way, Yuka, why are you so fidgety?"
"It’s just… well… kind of embarrassing? Having someone see my desires like this is… kinda rough…"
Even I could tell I was acting suspicious, but I couldn’t help squirming. My face must’ve been bright red. Who’d have thought that that kind of dream would be exposed like this…
"Hm. I can understand that. Having your desires laid bare is embarrassing. It’s natural to feel that way."
"Yeah…"
"I won’t deny it. But Yuka—at the very least, you should acknowledge its existence."
"Acknowledge it?"
"Yes. That thing was born to fulfill your desires. In other words, you’re its parent. How would it feel if its own parent denied it? Denying its existence is denying its right to live. So no matter what anyone else says, at least you should tell it, ‘Thank you for being born.’ I’m sure it’d be happy."
"Ah…"
…Right. Of course. This little one was born because my desires grew stronger. It’s trying to fulfill them for me. And yet, out of shame, I was trying to reject it. To me, it might just be a manifestation of desire—but to it, that desire is its reason to exist. Denying that means denying it.
It took Lord Albert’s words for me to realize that. I’m ashamed of myself.
"...Thank you, Lord Albert."
"I didn’t say it for thanks. But if you understand now, that’s enough."
"Kyu~ Kyu~"
"Yuka-sama~! This little one wanted to see you, so I brought it over!"
"Thank you, Mill-senpai. And… what should I call you?"
"Kyu?"
"Why don’t you give it a name?"
Mill-senpai came running over, still cradling the familiar. I had been wondering if just calling it "familiar" was right. She had a point—it deserved a name. But what? Come to think of it, back when I was naming a game protagonist, I researched some good ones. I think…
"Luca. How about ‘Luca’ for your name?"
"Kyu! Kyu!"
"What a lovely name! It seems so happy!"
The former familiar—now Luca—flapped its tiny limbs excitedly before leaping at me, nuzzling my cheek. Like Mil-senpai said, it must be happy. That thought made me happy.
"A fine name. If I recall, in your world’s tongue, it means ‘light-bringer,’ no?"
As expected of Lord Albert—so knowledgeable. Sure, it was a bit chuuni of me, but I still thought it was a good name.
"Nice to meet you, Luca."
"Kyu!"
"Yay~! Luca-chan!"
"Luca’s so squishy, so soft~"
Mil-senpai stroked Luca’s head while Lil-chan squished its cheeks between her hands.
The embarrassment hadn’t faded, but I no longer felt like rejecting Luca. Even if someone else denied it, I wouldn’t. That’s what Lord Albert’s words made me realize. As I watched everyone play, I thought—maybe things will be bright and fun with Luca around.
"To have one’s existence acknowledged… Lady Noir was the only one who ever accepted me…"
Amid the noise, no one noticed Lumière’s lonely whisper.
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