“Yo, Ichiko. Thanks for your diligence.”

After uttering this, I welcome Ichiko and the child who has been transformed into a kin as they return to “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” from the outside while I am still in a state of fog.

Ichiko, who is evidently fatigued, comes over to speak with me.

“How unusual..”

“Hmm? About what?”

“To welcome me like that, saying a few words of appreciation for my efforts.”

“Oh, that’s what you mean. Even I would exert my energy on such an occasion. Anyway, here’s my command, rest for now.”

“..Damn you, Kurokiri..”

With that, Ichiko collapses on the spot. However, I partially materialize my body around Ichiko and support her before her body makes contact with the ground.

“Well, and you are..?”

“..”

My attention falls on the child that Ichiko has brought with her.

Incidentally, since the child is now inside me, I have also verified that this child is a girl and the wounds that she had before transforming into a kin have disappeared.

You there! Don’t you dare say I have messed with every inch of a little girl’s body or something! I mean, the nature of my body allows me to touch everything in the fog, the same way I can see and hear everything in the process! This is by no means intentional even if I am consequently in the process of touching and lapping up on a little girl’s entire body! Yes, this is an inexorable act!

And while I am rambling wildly in my mind, the girl approaches Ichiko.

Judging by the direction of her eyes, she apparently assumes that my main body is near Ichiko.

“..”

“Mmm. If possible, I would like you to at least share your name with me..”

The girl is wordlessly waving her hand towards where she perceives me to be, attempting to get a touch. I am sorry. Since I’m a fog, you can’t touch me.

“Ah, is it possible that you can’t speak?”

“..(Nod deeply).”

The girl gives a nod of affirmation.

Well, after what you have been put through, it’s reasonable for you to be traumatized. In fact, I am amazed that you still retain the mental fortitude to respond to my questions. Perhaps, as a result of her conversion to a kin, not only her physical body but also her mind has been healed to the point where she can regain the ability of cogitation.

“Anyway, can you write?”

“..(Nod deeply).”

Thus, here are the results of the communication. Since she can’t vocalize, her status can’t be opened unless she has done a fair amount of training and is able to invoke her skill without chanting.

?Her name is Kokoro Izumi.

?The skill she possesses is ?Unbloody?, a constantly activated skill that renders her wounds incapable of bleeding regardless of how severe they may be.

?All of her family members are dead. Her parents were murdered by a man hired by the researcher, and her younger brother, who was kidnapped together with her, perished during the experiment.

When I ask her about her plans for the future, she expresses her desire to repay Ichiko for saving her life, and even though there is no necessity to go to sleep, I put her to bed as it’s late at night.

“Even so, things have developed in an intriguing way.”

While saying this, my thoughts drift back to Ryo and Chirito, the boy who I made to become my kin at Ryo’s request, and then to Ichiko and Izumi, the girl who I made to become my kin at Ichiko’s request.

By the way, Chirito is presently under semi-arrest at Ryo’s house, and the situation is being clarified to him.

Now, this two new kin are now under the same race, although the reasons for their conversion to a kin are the exact opposite of those of their predecessors.

Chirito, on the other hand, was turned into a kin for his own safety and to contain the leakage of information after Ryo’s true identity was exposed. That is to say, it was for Ryo’s own sake.

In contrast, Izumi transformed into a kin because Ichiko saw her on the verge of death, and she wished to save her. In other words, Ichiko was acting in the best interests of Izumi, a stranger. Well, I don’t rule out the possibility that Ichiko’s personal wish was to avoid witnessing someone dying in front of her.

This distinction is fascinating indeed. After all, they were once master and servant, and their inclinations should have been similar, but they were nevertheless divergent in such a manner.

I wonder what would happen if both parties were to inform each other of this development. While Ichiko might understand and accept the situation because of her devotion to Lady Ryo, maybe Ryo would condemn Ichiko’s behavior.

Well, I won’t be the one to break the news to them anyway. These things are more enticing when they are presented in their natural state without any tweaks.

“But then again, this whole affair has led to some interesting revelations.”

That is the fact that it is possible to recuperate from wounds by ?Monster Creation? and that if certain conditions are met, it is even possible to transform a human into a kin without the use of shackles or other restraints.

For the recovery of wounds, the extent to which they are determined to be wounds is not fully clear until I see more actual cases, but there is a high likelihood that congenital illnesses, but not acquired illnesses, will be assessed as wounds. If this turns out to be true, they will seek to become a kin in exchange for the treatment of the disease. In other words, negotiations would be possible.

Also, the fact that a human being can be converted into a kin without restraint applies in a similar way: a person who is dying in a dungeon can be converted into a kin in exchange for saving their life. That would mean I have another card to play in my hand.

“The only catch is that this is part of the ?Monster Creation?, so if I can do it, it means that other Demon Kings can perform it as well. If I indiscreetly proliferate the number of my subordinates, I will not be able to manage them. Moreover, there is a risk of being found out.. no, I wonder if a part of the military and the head of the country have already figured it out.”

At this point, I pondered briefly.

Ichiko’s true identity has been uncovered. Therefore, it is logical to assume that Ryo’s true identity and the Demon King of which he is the master are also exposed. Then why hasn’t the country contacted Ryo, be it friendly or hostile?

Well, the simple conclusion is that they are being kept in the dark.

Ryo is the daughter of a member of the Diet. In other words, she has some standing in the eyes of the public, even if not legally. In addition, she is ostensibly the only human being with knowledge of the inner workings of the “White Fog and Black Swamp Forest” as well as a valuable person who may be able to extract information about me behind the scenes. Thus, the information in her possession is extremely priceless. Furthermore, she is also an expert healer.

When you think about it.. hmm. It might be wise to disclose the information about Kirijin, or rather, the kin, as opposed to concealing it. It may also serve as a deterrent to other Demon Kings.

Then, I’ll let Ryo pass the message on to them. On second thought, I haven’t received any compensation for turning Chirito into a kin yet～?