"Elijah... Kali... what happened exactly?" Aria queries.

"I honestly don't know." I shake my head.

"Please stay still, Elijah-sama!" Rishya rebukes me. She is dabbing my neck with an alcohol swab, since the Wakizashi left a cut there. It stings a bit.

We are now sat downstairs at the new staff table again. Kiku is splayed out, swirly eyed at the far end. I suppose at least we can thank this event for ending her interrogation early.

"Kaede was sort of... kinda scary when she passed out, Aria." Rishya says, now rolling a bandage round my neck.

"Mmm... 'tis not really her fault. I believe that for many years, her mind was built to function a specific way. She had cut off her empathy by merit of her profession."

"And so... suddenly, those pathways in her head were cleared, Seria-sama?" Rishya adds.

Seria nods, folding her arms across her neck chain with a clink.

"And it is as clear as a stormless day that the boy's incessant prodding of girls’ weak points has caused her to unravel at the seams, something we are all conscious of... fufufu..."

I gulp as my danger sense spikes from all of the girls glaring at me simultaneously.

Aria sighs.

"Onii-chan..." she says sweetly. I feel scared. "Would you kindly stop breaking girls... and breaking girls in...?"

Seria cackles to herself.

Speaking of breaking, it's clear Kiku quickly broke under interrogation given Aria's implied threat just now. Yikes, these girls work fast.

"I don't think I can change what I am?" I say earnestly.

Aria rolls her eyes.

"Hah... I suppose I wouldn't like that anyway..."

She puts a finger to her temple and sighs.

"Should chase be laid for Kae-chan?" Kali tilts her head and asks.

"I don't think any of us could put up a sufficient search for her if she truly wants to evade pursuit." I say.

"But we can't wait for her return, boy. Mmm... indeed we don't even know if she will return given what has occurred." Seria flicks a twin-tail.

I swallow. It sounds heartless, but it’s true... Seria is just being pragmatic. Part of me wonders if the girls are glad to down a rival. I guess that's a possibility. But I suppose they can't be blamed if so.

"The mind is such an uncertain place, Elijah-sama." Rishya nods knowingly.

"Yours especially so, Rish." Aria quips.

Rishya smiles bashfully and whispers "don't I know it..." under her breath.

Huh... she's surprisingly accepting of that. Aria is surprised as well, she was obviously expecting a rise out of her.

But anyway... what do we do about Kaede?

What is there ~to~ do?

'But the cat came back, the very next day...' starts to play in my head.

Yeah, basically, the best thing I can hope for is that she returns on her own. I've come to miss her silent presence already.

I lament the fact I can't do more, but I guess we can't let my training grind to a halt with the time limit looming on me. Not to mention its likely important to investigate the deeper parts of the dungeon.

I rub my temple and grimace.

"I guess we'll have to go on tomorrow morning. We've already had too much time doing nothing. It's annoying and frustrating, but..."

Aria takes my hand.

"I know, Onii-chan. As much as it doubtless rankles our noses to a degree, we know you care for all of us." Aria smiles wistfully, looking resigned.

"What would Elijah-sama be if not a pervert free with his affections?" Rishya laughs behind a hand.

"Just a stubborn blind boy, clinging to life. Mmm... the struggle is rather adorable, though." Seria snickers.

"Is not vision, kindness, easy to approachness, acceptance of strange things? Aniki is actually things many. But trueness... mostly pervert."

"No! Nii, don't put that there!!" Kiku suddenly jumps up from her dazed stupor with unfortunately hilarious timing.

Everyone guffaws in laughter and Kiku looks embarrassed.

"W-what am saying!? Ah... Nii's here as well... uguu... how embarrassing..." she laments, cradling her face in her hands.

Well... despite the abuse being a constant, personally I'm happy that the air is still clear with the girls. It would be the worst if our party cohesion took a dive just because of me being unable to keep it in my trousers.

"Are we ready to go for tomorrow?" I ask the girls.

"We're always ready, Onii-chan." Aria nods.

"Mmm... is your explosive done, Elijah?" Seria asks.

"Ah right, yes." I nod.

The fixed explosive was fortunately mostly done just before Kaede threatened me. I just need to stick the putty in some kind of receptacle, and give it a blasting cap. This one will be the first thing that uses my Thunder Spirit as a detonation assist. I'll need to find a length of wire from somewhere, though.

I still wonder if it will actually be useful.

I guess, with the solid base, I can use it as plastique. Perhaps there will be need to blow down a large stone door there or something.

I still have an inventory of fifteen vials as well. I should be good.

"Then, shall we not get an early night?" Seria nods.

After sleep, let's get back to the dungeon!