As one of Japan's most renowned mage families, the Sajyou household was naturally quite large.
And among all the facilities on the estate, none stood out more than the garden.
From the washroom, one would pass through a corridor, exit through a side door, continue onward, open the glass door at the far end—and finally arrive.
The garden had been built by the late matriarch of the Sajyou family, a witch from England.
Lush greenery, brilliant blossoms, and countless doves overflowing with life filled the place.
The freely roaming doves served as sacrificial offerings for Sajyou Hiroki's black magic.
"Black magic cannot be separated from sacrifices. The pain they feel becomes its power source," Hiroki had once said.
The moment Kaelith pushed open the door to the garden, the doves scattered like frightened rabbits.
All but one.
A single gray dove flew straight toward him and perched on his shoulder.
"You're the only one who ever approaches me, huh?"
Petting its soft feathers, Kaelith calmly called its name.
"Good morning, Yahweh."
Cooh—coo, coo, coo!
The gray dove lifted its neck and chirped happily.
"You want to come to Fuyuki too? Fine. When the war starts, I'll bring you along."
Coo!
Yahweh fluttered its wings and flew off, leaving Kaelith to turn toward the glass door.
"You're talking to the doves again? Father said you're not allowed to."
The younger daughter of the Sajyou family—Kaelith's "aunt" on paper—approached him with her usual overbearing attitude.
"I don't know what trick you used… but even if you fooled Father and my sister, you can't fool me. You, sneaking into my garden… you're a d–demon."
The tiny black magus glared at Kaelith with her clear, water-blue eyes, and he found himself momentarily dazed.
To allow Kaelith to live in the house, Sajyou Manaka had implanted hypnotic suggestions into her father using magic.
She didn't bother doing the same to her obedient little sister, however, so Sajyou Ayaka became the only one in the household who noticed something was wrong.
The elder sister Manaka was a perfect genius who managed the entire home flawlessly.
Ayaka adored her, learned magecraft diligently, and even helped with housework whenever she could.
Their father, Sajyou Hiroki, not only provided the family income but helped with chores daily—almost too gentle and domestic for a Japanese man.
Meanwhile, Kaelith never did chores, stayed out late every night, and asked Manaka for money every couple of days.
To anyone, he looked like the family parasite—no wonder Ayaka disliked him.
Kaelith felt an unreasonable wave of tragic heroism wash over him.
Hmph… if only you knew I've been protecting mankind from the shadows—specifically, in nightclubs.
"You—what exactly are you? What's your relationship with my sister?"
Father once told Ayaka that Manaka didn't need the garden, so she treasured this place fiercely.
Kaelith frequently wandering here probably only deepened her resentment.
Watching the little girl act far older than her age, Kaelith couldn't resist teasing her.
"Mmm, being the adopted child is a lie. My real identity is… I'm actually Manaka's biological son."
"…biological son."
Ayaka's expression froze.
Kaelith wasn't technically lying. Before he transformed from black mud into a human, he had only consumed two people:
Manaka.
And himself.
Half of his current body's genetic material came from his "mother."
And the other half… well…
Wait...
Was he his own father?
Holy Mary, full of grace. Father, Son, and Spirit… united in one being? Even sci-fi wouldn't dare go this far.
Right, Yahweh?
"I—I don't believe you! There's no way my sister would have a child! You must be a demon who infiltrated our house!"
"So? What are you planning to do about me?"
"Hmph, don't get scared when you hear it…" Ayaka puffed her chest proudly. "Once I save up enough allowance, I'm going to mail-order holy water and a cross from the Church catalogue—and purify you!"
"Hahaha, please spare me."
If it were genuine Church-produced holy water, it might actually work on him—in food, he'd probably get stomachaches or allergic reactions.
"…I—I might spare you, actually."
Suddenly, Ayaka turned her face away shyly.
Intrigued, Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Oh? A noble magus like yourself is willing to forgive me?"
"Yes, but on one condition."
"What is it?"
Ayaka lowered her head.
Five seconds later, she looked up again, cheeks pink.
"If you… if you pat my head like you did to my sister in the dining room… then I'll accept that you're Sister's child."
"…huh?"
Kaelith blinked.
Wasn't this girl supposed to hate him?
Everyone knew the truth:
The elder sister was a siscon.
The younger sister was a dadcon and a siscon.
For someone trusted by their father and spoiled by Manaka, Ayaka should want nothing to do with him.
"Why?" he asked without thinking.
Ayaka pouted, face burning red.
"B-Because you're a boy, okay!? I just want to know what it feels like to have a boy pat my head! Father's never done it, so you'll be the substitute! That's all! Really, that's all!"
"…I see."
Kaelith nodded vaguely, raised his hand, and began gently patting her head.
"…mm."
Ayaka closed her eyes in bliss.
But slowly… something felt off.
Her scalp grew warm.
"Yoshi yoshi yoshi, yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi yoshi—"
Ayaka lifted her head in annoyance.
"…I feel some kind of subtle malice. Is that just my imagination?"
"It's your imagination. What's coming from your head is the heat of sincerity," Kaelith replied confidently.
Children her age were simple. She accepted that answer and murmured shyly:
"By the way… next time… could you teach me how to talk to the doves?"
"That's easy. After I finish things in Fuyuki, help me out here in the garden."
Ayaka's expression brightened instantly.
"Hmph… hmph, very well. From now on, I'll allow you to enter my garden… uu… b-but only because I'm your aunt."
…
…
…
In the Sajyou kitchen after breakfast, a beautiful fairy in an apron was hard at work.
Graceful limbs, elegant motions.
Her green sleeves rolled high, revealing snow-white arms dusted with shimmering soap bubbles.
Even though she was merely washing dishes, from an outside perspective, Sajyou Manaka looked like a scene from a picture book.
"Kaelith patted my head… hehe, that was a first."
A rosy blush colored the girl's face. Her pink lips parted slightly, releasing a dreamy whisper.
"How can I get him to do it again…?"