Higashino Makoto fell silent.
He looked at the two little girls.
Ureirika, holding her sister's hand, stood in the center of the hall, her emerald green eyes looking at him.
Her expression was calm, but her hands were trembling slightly. Kuuderika hid behind her, only her eyes showing, looking at him timidly.
"Why did the Emperor... send me this?"
"His Majesty says you have done much for the Baharuth Empire. The Baharuth Empire needs to repay you."
The man gave Higashino Makoto no time to refuse, and bowed slightly.
"The gift has been delivered. I shall take my leave."
He turned around and walked out of the hotel.
The door closed behind him.
The hall fell silent. Ureirika stood in the center, holding her sister's hand, looking at the black-haired, black-eyed man.
She didn't know who he was, why he took them in, or what would happen next.
But she knew one thing: she couldn't cry.
You mustn't cry in front of him.
"Come over."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
Ureirika, holding her sister's hand, walked up to him.
Higashino Makoto stared at them for a long time.
Then he sighed.
"Illya."
"Exist."
"Take them to take a shower and change their clothes. Then have breakfast."
Illya stood up, walked to Ureirika, and extended her hand.
"Come with me."
Ureirika looked at her.
Long, silver-white hair, a purple dress, and crimson eyes.
She looked about their age, but there was a maturity in her eyes that far exceeded her years.
"Who are you?"
Ureirika asked.
"My name is Illya, my older brother's sister."
Illya tilted her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Let's go. Big brother doesn't like waiting."
Ureirika hesitated for a moment, then took her sister's hand and followed.
Higashino Makoto sat in the chair, watching their backs, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion.
"The Bloody Emperor..."
He murmured the name, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You really are..."
Although it was unexpected, Higashino Makoto didn't dislike the gift.
Even Higashino Makoto was somewhat looking forward to it.
What will Arche do next?
For Higashino Makoto, raising two little girls is just like raising two kittens or puppies.
These two people were not objects for venting desires.
It's too small, I can't handle it.
His targets were all adults.
Higashino Makoto considers himself to be relatively restrained, not using "hypnosis" to vent his emotions as in the anime, nor using power to coerce others like the Elf King.
Putting aside legally raised lolis like Illya, Higashino Makoto genuine young girls.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip of black tea.
The tea had gone cold and carried a slightly bitter taste.
After Ureirika and Kuuderika finished bathing, changing their clothes, and having breakfast, Illya led them to Higashino Makoto's room.
Higashino Makoto sat in an armchair by the window, holding a book. When he saw them come in, he put down the book and pointed to the chair opposite him.
"Sit."
Ureirika, holding her sister's hand, sat down on the chair.
They were wearing the dresses that Illya had lent them.
The purple dresses were a bit big for them, but they fit them just barely.
Her long, golden hair was dried and draped over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the sunlight.
What are your names?
Higashino Makoto asked.
"Ureirika."
"Gu... Kuuderika."
Kuuderika spoke very softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"My name is Higashino Makoto. You can call me Mr. Higashino, or like Illya, call me Big Brother."
Ureirika looked at him.
"What... what will you do to us?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Can't do anything."
Ureirika's brow furrowed slightly.
"Then why were we sent here?"
"Because your parents sold you. And the emperor thought I would like you, so he gave you to me."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"But don't worry, I'm a fairly honest person. I won't force anyone to do my bidding, and I certainly won't prey on underage girls."
He paused.
"Your sister's worker team is based at this store, so she'll most likely come to me to ransom her."
"Once she pays the money, you can continue living with your sister."
Ureirika was stunned.
"Elder sister?"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.
"You all stay here for now. If there's anywhere you want to go, just tell me or Illya. I won't stop you."
Kuuderika peeked out from behind her sister, her emerald green eyes looking at him.
"Real?"
"Real."
Kuuderika's eyes lit up.
But Ureirika's expression remained calm.
She was thinking about the future.
Go back to your parents' side?
That definitely won't work.
Their parents sold them for three hundred gold coins to pay off a loan shark's loan. What would returning to that home mean?
This means being sold again.
Or they are forced to do things they don't want to do.
Only my sister, Arche--
The older boy said that Sister Arche happened to be in this store.
We'll decide on our next course of action after we meet with my sister and discuss it with her.
"Can we... stay here?"
Ureirika's voice was very soft.
"Can."
"So... what do we need to do?"
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
He thought for a long time but couldn't think of anything else the two eight-year-old girls could do besides being cute.
"You don't need to do anything."
"You don't have to do anything?"
"Yes. You don't need to do anything."
Higashino Makoto stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the entire room.
"You just need to live well. Eat, sleep, play, study. Do what you should be doing at your age."
Ureirika looked at him, at his back.
Her long black hair shimmered with a golden light in the sunlight, and her dark robes fluttered gently in the breeze.
"Why?"
She asked, "Why are you so good to us?"
Higashino Makoto paused for a moment, then yawned.
"There's no reason why, I just like beautiful things. Well-behaved, pretty, kind, and cute girls have special privileges with me."
Especially for characters who appeared in the original work, Higashino Makoto initially had a very high level of favorability.
If we don't run into each other, that's fine, but if we do, and it's not too much trouble, Higashino Makoto is happy to lend a hand.
He turned around and looked at them.
"In the time before your sister redeems you, all you need to do is live well."
Ureirika's tears finally welled up.
She didn't wipe them away; she just sat there, looking at the man with black hair and black eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the hem of her purple dress.
Kuuderika also cried.
She threw herself into her sister's arms and cried like a child.
She was just a child.
Illya stood in the doorway, watching all this, a certain light flashing in her crimson eyes.
She walked up to Ureirika, reached out, and gently patted her head.
"Don't cry."
Her voice was very soft.
"Big brother doesn't like other people crying."
Ureirika sniffed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Sorry..."
"No need to apologize."
Illya tilted her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Although my older brother says he doesn't like other people crying, he's always quick to forgive pretty girls."
Higashino Makoto glanced at her.
"Illya."
"Exist."
You talk too much.
"Illya is simply stating the facts."
Higashino Makoto shook his head and didn't reply.
He walked back to the armchair, sat down, and picked up the book again.
Ureirika looked at him, her emerald green eyes flashing with a complex light.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Ureirika lowered her head and looked at her hands.
"Our sister Arche. Do you know her?"
"Know."
"Is she... alright?"
"Fine."
Higashino Makoto put down his book and looked at Ureirika.
"She works in a small team of workers called the Foresight. It's tough, but she works very hard. She earns money to support you, to support your lousy parents. She doesn't know you've been sold out."
Ureirika's lips trembled.
Will she... will she come looking for us?
"Meeting."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"However, if you want to go with her, you'll need to be patient. Because she needs to work, needs to earn money, and needs to survive."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"She'll come looking for you once she's earned enough money. Until then, stay here; it's safe here."
Ureirika lowered her head and remained silent for a long time.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
Can we really call you big brother?
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"Can."
Ureirika's lips curled up slightly.
That was the first time she smiled that day.
"Big brother."
Her voice was very soft.
"Um."
"Thank you."
"You already said that."
Can't you say it again?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"OK."
Ureirika smiled. Kuuderika smiled too.
Two little girls sat on chairs, wearing slightly oversized purple dresses, their long golden hair cascading over their shoulders, their emerald green eyes glistening with tears, but smiles playing on their lips.
Illya stood in the doorway, watching them, a soft light gleaming in her crimson eyes.
"Big brother."
"Um."
You have two more younger sisters now.
"Um."
Are you happy?
Looking at Illya's somewhat indignant face, Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment before giving his answer.
"... I don't dislike it."