Marie’s Family Home

“Kent-san, Marie-san, you need to wake up soon… We have to prepare the shop, you know?”

I was woken up by Caro. It was early morning, before the sun had even risen. Mornings at a bakery start early.

“Ah, good morning, Caro-san.”

“Good morning, Kent-san.”

Marie was sleeping with a slovenly look on her face, just like always. It looked like waking her up would be a chore again.

“Well then, a good morning kiss… chu.”

Caro stole a kiss from my lips.

“Mmph… well then, in return…”

The two of us shared a deep kiss and felt each other’s bodies.

“Oh, honestly, Kent-san. You’re so energetic even in the morning. But we don’t have much time, okay? Catherine-chan will be here any minute.”

Just as she said that, Catherine entered the room.

“It’s morning! Oh? Big brother and big sister Caro were already awake. But all three of you are naked. Was it hot?”

Catherine asked with a look of wonder.

“Catherine-chan. You can sleep very comfortably when you sleep naked. You might understand once you’re a little more grown up.”

“I see. Then next time, I’ll try sleeping naked with big brother too!”

(Caro-san, what kind of ideas are you putting into Catherine’s head?)

I retorted inwardly.

“Mommy, it’s morning. Wake up, okay?”

Catherine set about trying to wake Marie, who was still sleeping with a messy expression.

“Kent-saaan… You’re so intense…”

Still half-asleep, Marie hugged Catherine, who had come to wake her.

“Mommy, don’t be half-asleep!”

Having no hope against an adult’s strength, Catherine was pulled close by Marie, kissed, and felt up in various places.

“Mommy… jeez, don’t touch me in weird pla… hyan! An! Don’t… stop…!”

With Marie doing various things to her while dreaming, Catherine let out strange cries. Thinking this was getting bad, I finally pulled Catherine away.

“Haa, haa… Mommy’s sleeping habits are worse than usual today.”

I soothed the teary-eyed Catherine, whose clothes were disheveled from being touched all over. Caro took over caring for Catherine and set about waking Marie herself.

“Marie-san. It’s morning.”

She tried to wake her gently, but Marie showed no sign of stirring.

“Geez, I’m going to have to get a little serious then.”

With that, Caro kissed Marie and began touching her in various spots.

“Ah, Kent-saaan… that feels good…”

Catherine and I watched over Marie as she let out suggestive moans while being handled by Caro.

“It’s almost morning. Marie-san, let’s wake up, shall we?”

“More… ah, is it morning already? I’m sorry. I’ll get up now.”

It seemed Marie finally woke up thanks to Caro’s intense wake-up call.

“Caro-san, thank you. Chu.”

With that, Marie gave a kiss to Caro for waking her.

“Oh, honestly, Marie-san!”

Caro gave Marie a kiss back in return.

“Big brother, what does this all mean?”

Perhaps because the three of them had done various things together, Caro and Marie had become very close.

“Well, you see. I guess it means those two get along really well?”

I gave Catherine a vague answer.

The four of us ate breakfast together. During the meal, Marie spoke to me.

“Well then, starting today, Kent-san, I’d like to ask you to work on the renovations for my family home after you finish procuring the ingredients.”

“Is it alright if I don’t help out with the shop?”

I asked worriedly after Marie’s request.

“Actually… my family home… things appear there. It’s been so scary that I haven’t set foot in it once since Catherine was born.”

“What do you mean ‘things appear’?”

Marie said something ominous, making me feel uneasy.

“Actually, a ghost appears. Until we know if the cause is a ghost or something else, we can’t use it as a shop. I’d really like you to investigate that, Kent-san.”

Apparently, something appears at Marie’s family home. While I’m no expert in things like mononoke, I couldn’t turn down a request from someone I love. I had no choice but to accept.

“I understand. Then, I’ll investigate your family home, Marie-san.”

“I’m sorry. Forcing such a strange job on you.”

Marie, Catherine, and Caro headed off to prepare for the bakery’s opening. I started by helping out at the bakery, and once the sun rose, I finished my work there. Using the key I received from Marie, I opened the door and stepped into her family home.

“Excuse me…”

I stepped inside timidly. The air was so heavy and unpleasant I could see why Marie hated coming here.

“It definitely feels like something is here…”

I could tell the first floor used to be a restaurant. Tables and chairs were scattered about haphazardly, and there was a space in the back that seemed to be the kitchen. It was messy, but for a place that hadn’t been entered since Catherine was born, it seemed to be in very good condition. It even looked like it had been cleaned.

“Who is it that invades my domain?”

A voice echoed from out of nowhere. It sounded like the voice of a cute woman.

“I came to investigate at the request of this house’s owner.”

I answered honestly.

“What kind of investigation?”

The owner of the voice asked me.

“We want to utilize this building as a shop, so I came to grasp its current state.”

I answered the voice.

“Will this building be used as a shop again?”

The owner of the voice asked.

“That’s right. I’m thinking of renovating it so it can join with the shop next door as a single store.”

I replied.

“So, customers will come to this shop once more.”

Along with those words, a small girl appeared before me. She was about 20cm tall, with wings growing from her back, floating in mid-air.

“I am a being known as a shop fairy… my name is Emily.”

The girl introduced herself to me.

“Uh, I’m Kent. I’m a student working at the bakery next door.”

“Kent-sama, I see… I feel a great power from you… though it isn’t magical power. Would you like to form a contract with me using that great power?”

“By any chance, if I contract with you, will my soul be pulled out of my body or something?”

I remembered a scene from a certain anime and asked without thinking.

“It’s not a devil’s contract, so I won’t cause Kent-sama any trouble, okay? Please rest assured regarding that.”

Emily told me to put me at ease.

“Then I’m relieved. So, what is this great power?”

“I do not know. However, I feel a power that can employ us spirits. The previous master of this shop lacked sufficient power so I did not interfere, but I believe you are fully qualified. Please, by all means, use my power.”

“What kind of powers do you have, Emily?”

I asked Emily, the fairy living in this house.

“I am skilled at general chores for this shop. Additionally, I possess various skills to meet the demands of my master.”

Emily’s body glowed brightly, and her size changed until she was the size of an adult woman.

She had long blonde hair and a glamorous, attractive figure. Faint wings were visible on her back.

“Please give me any orders you wish.”

“Uh, what does that mean?”

I said, unable to understand what Emily was saying.

“As a shop fairy, I have decided to make Kent-sama my master. I will listen to any command. Of course, if you seek my body, I shall respond to that as well.”

I hesitated slightly at the sweet temptation, but since business came first this time, I suppressed my feelings.

“As I mentioned before, I want to join this space with the shop next door to make one store. I want to use this side as a dining space and a retail shop. Will you cooperate?”

I said to Emily.

“If it is my master’s wish, I have no reason to refuse. As you command.”

“Thank you, Emily-san. By the way, I heard that a ghost appears in this shop; do you know anything about that?”

I asked Emily.

“A ghost? I’ve been here for many years, but I’ve never met one.”

“I see.”

The thing Marie was talking about might have been Emily. Since the problem was resolved, it looked like the renovation plan could proceed. After that, when I told Emily the future policy, she became very enthusiastic.

“That sounds interesting. It would be wonderful if many customers came.”

“Before that, please let us make the contract. If you inject Kent-sama’s seed into me, the contract will be complete.”

“Is that really how it works?”

Emily said it while blushing as if embarrassed, but I felt something was off.

“I’m sorry. I told a lie. In truth, if you let me drink some of Kent-sama’s blood, the contract will be complete.”

“Like a vampire, you’re going to bite me? I don’t like pain.”

“I don’t need that much. Just the amount that comes out when pricked lightly with the tip of a needle is enough.”

I pricked my hand lightly with a needle. A bead of blood welled up.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes, that is fine. Well then, I shall partake. Pakuh.”

Emily took my finger into her mouth and sucked the blood with a slurping sound.

“Now the contract is complete. I look forward to working with you again. Master!”

Emily answered with a smile.

After that, I investigated Marie’s family home and built the renovation plan. Incidentally, Emily clung to my arm and was smiling the whole time.

“This is for disposal, and I guess this can be reused…”

I was sorting through what could be used and what should be thrown away. By the time I finished the general sorting, it was time to go to school.

“Well then, it’s about time for school, so I’m going now. I’ll probably come back after school, so please watch the place for me.”

“I understand, Master. Have a safe trip.”

Seeing off by Emily, I left Marie’s family home behind.

Caro and I went to school as usual and attended classes. When the morning classes ended, I went to the back of the school building as I always did.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

By the time I arrived, the three of them—Caro, Josette, and Rachel—were already there and seemed to be talking happily.

“Big brother, you’re late. I’m so hungry I could die.”

“I’ve grown tired of waiting. Hand over the food quickly.”

Rachel and Josette seemed unable to wait any longer.

“Good work, Kent-san.”

Caro’s response was the same as always.

“Well then, today’s lunch is… the usual failed bread.”

“““Yay!”””

Because we bake in a wood-fired oven, uneven baking is inevitable. Things that are overbaked can’t be sold as merchandise. The bread I bring is mainly this. It includes things with failed presentation, but since everyone’s skills are improving, presentation failures are decreasing. It’s a good thing, but it’s a bit sad that lunch portions are decreasing.

So, I started bringing failed bread with things added or sandwiched inside that aren’t sold in the shop.

“Big brother, today is hot dogs. The taste of mustard and ketchup is so nostalgic!”

Rachel put it in her mouth as if enjoying the nostalgic flavor.

“The texture of this meat-like thing inside is quite pleasant.”

Josette was also eating with gusto.

“It’s sort of like Kent-san’s ‘that thing.’ The size was just about like this, too.”

Caro seemed to be comparing the size of the sausage inside to something. She put it in her mouth and moved it back and forth, eating it in a slightly lewd way.

Lunch ended, and I handed out drinks to everyone. It was our daily routine to spend the rest of the break relaxing while drinking them.

“Kent-san, what did you decide regarding yesterday’s matter?”

Josette asked me. Yesterday’s matter was the loan for the renovation costs.

“I talked it over with Marie-san after that, and we decided to take the loan. So, the amount is…”

I told Josette the amount.

“I see. Then I shall have the money ready within the day. Also, regarding the collateral.”

“Eh? You’re taking collateral?”

I had heard about the loan, but the talk of collateral was news to me.

“I just thought of—ahem. It is only natural. I believe you will take responsibility and pay it back, Kent-san, but just in case something happens.”

“I see… So as for collateral, does that mean the land and building?”

I asked Josette.

“Taking the land or building wouldn’t even be worth the trouble. What I want as collateral is you, Kent-san. If you cannot pay it back, you shall become my groom. Of course, if Caro-san doesn’t mind, she is welcome to come with you.”

Josette stated the conditions.

“Kent-san, let’s work hard to pay it back. I believe you can do it.”

Having grown up in a noble house originally, Caro seemed to have some hesitation about entering Josette’s house, so she cheered me on.

“Thank you, Caro-san.”

Without noticing those feelings, I simply misunderstood and thought she was just cheering me on.