Lokkishi Is On My Bed, I Can Explain

The next day, Rudy went to find Allen as soon as he stepped out of his bedroom door. They had agreed to wake up early to review the previous day's battle in the yard and improve.

He rubbed his face, walking sleepily down the hallway. But for some reason, the downstairs sounded livelier than usual today. It was Zenith and Lilia bustling about, preparing breakfast, seemingly chatting happily about something.

Rudy didn't pay them any mind. He walked up to Allen's door and simply pushed it open.

The door opened smoothly—Allen didn't usually lock his door.

The curtains in the room weren't pulled back as usual; they were tightly drawn, making the room dim.

Rudy looked towards the bed and saw the thin blanket Allen usually used bundled up, still subtly rising and falling.

Allen's sleeping in, which is rare. Did yesterday's battle drain all his energy?

He was the one who suggested waking up early, yet he's the one sleeping in... Hehe.

Thinking this, Rudy tiptoed to the bed, grabbed a corner of the blanket, and yanked it off!

"Get up, you bare-assed man!"

The blanket was swept up in his hand, flying through the air. Just then, a breeze from outside rustled the curtains slightly.

It shone on Lokkishi's hazy sleeping face on the bed.

Rudy looked at Lokkishi's face with sleepy eyes, silent for a long moment.

Then he slapped himself across the face.

Am I still half-asleep? How could I mistake Allen for Lokkishi, hehehehe, how strange.

But why is Allen wearing Lokkishi's clothes?

He rubbed his face hard and looked at the bed again.

Lokkishi—no, Allen—seemed to have been disturbed by the slap. His beautiful eyelashes trembled slightly, about to open.

Footsteps sounded from the doorway, and someone pushed the door open.

"Lokkishi, seriously, it's time to get up. If you don't, Rudy will be here soon..."

Rudy looked at the familiar figure of Allen entering the room, slowly turned his head to look at Lokkishi, who was hazily opening her eyes, then slowly turned his head back to look at Allen, who had a horrified expression.

The air solidified.

Allen looked at Rudy, completely frozen. He blinked rapidly.

"Rudy... calm down, I can explain."

Rudy looked at Allen expressionlessly, emitting a killing intent that could only be found in the original work when the child called the dragon boss "dad." He forced out a smile devoid of warmth and spoke.

"...Please do, I'm listening."

"Oh, it's Rudy. Where's Allen?"

But at this moment, Lokkishi opened her eyes. She propped herself up, her face hazy, and turned to look at Allen by the door.

"Oh, Allen, you're here... Good morning. Thank you for last night. If you hadn't woken me this morning, I wouldn't have known when I got into bed last night... But I still remember we were by the table... Anyway, it's been a long time since I've slept so comfortably... You really helped a lot, and you even helped me heat bathwater this morning..."

Blue Mom, do you even hear what you're saying?!

A huge "DANGER" sign floated above Allen's forehead.

Save me, save me!

The next moment, Rudy's angry roar echoed through the Greyrat Family home.

"ALLEN!!!"

"Hear me out!! First, she was wearing clothes!! Wait! Wait!"

"Water Ball Spell!"

"Flow Arcana! Hey hey hey hey!! Wait! The bed's wet! Lokkishi's still on the bed!!"

"Water?"

Both stiffened their necks and looked at Lokkishi, who was drenched from head to toe by the Water Ball, redirected by the Flow Arcana. She blinked, clutching her head, still in a half-asleep state, not quite processing what had happened.

Just then, Zenith and Lilia, whom Allen had already informed of Lokkishi's return, ran to the doorway.

The former saw Lokkishi, drenched, and then looked at the two 'children' whose expressions were quite something. She squinted her eyes, clenched her fists, and very gently squeezed words through her teeth.

"Allen, Rudy, you two seem to get along very well. How reassuring."

At breakfast, Allen and Rudy, both sporting panda eyes, sat obediently at the table.

Zenith was still upset, constantly muttering.

"Before Allen came, I always thought Rudy was so easygoing, such a good child. Turns out it was just because he lacked peers to play with, hehe. And you, Allen, you're four years older than Rudy, yet you're acting like a child..."

"Sorry!" they said in unison.

The two, who were essentially the same age, silently exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked at Lokkishi across the table. She had gone from voluntarily wanting a bath to being forced to take one. She had changed into a set of loungewear from her suitcase and was primly drinking tea, eyes downcast, though the faint smile in the corner of her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

Paul, meanwhile, chuckled and said, "Since Lokkishi is passing through anyway, why not stay a few more days? We'll clear out the storage room next door for... um, for Allen to stay in today."

Lokkishi glanced at Allen. This was the statement they had rehearsed that morning after Allen had forcefully woken her up. On one hand, she didn't want the Greyrat Family to worry too much. On the other hand, Rudy still didn't know Allen's true identity. In Lokkishi's opinion, Rudy was still young, and it was better for him not to know about these family conflicts.

Allen, meanwhile, was simply worried that if Rudy found out he was Eris's brother, he might accidentally let it slip once he entered his teenage tutoring period and went to Roa City.

Exposing their identity and attracting James wasn't a huge deal in itself, but the resulting butterfly effect would be catastrophic.

"But to have your money stolen by a thief, so you had no choice but to walk all the way here, and then arrive exactly at midnight... Hmm, that does sound a lot like Lokkishi's style."

Lokkishi choked with a pfft, and Zenith naturally reached out to pat her back.

Lokkishi, still rubbing her chest, glared at Allen with narrowed eyes.

That ridiculous excuse was also Allen's idea, and he even said it fit her character.

What? Am I really that clumsy?

"Oh, darling, Lokkishi's clumsiness is one of her charming points, isn't it?"

"Oh, I suppose so."

Lokkishi: ...

Allen: ...

Rudy, meanwhile, watched Allen and Lokkishi exchange glances, a pained expression on his face.

How does Allen have such good luck with women? I'm so jealous... My goddess... I must get revenge on Allen... Wait a minute...

He paused, a sudden realization hitting him, and he stared wide-eyed at Allen.

He's got leverage over me because of the Shrine... Damn it... That devious man!

Allen felt Rudy's intense gaze, but he couldn't really say anything more, so he just rubbed his forehead helplessly.

As he spooned food into his mouth, he felt like he had forgotten something...

But he couldn't recall it at the moment.

Allen shook his head and continued eating.

...Never mind, I'll remember it when the time comes.

Thanks to the deity on the left for the 3000-point reward.

I'm flattered, sweating, and quite overwhelmed.