Chapter 12: Miss Yiluo Is Really Strange!

Night had completely fallen.

The journey seemed a little longer than expected, but they still arrived smoothly.

The small town had no name, but it served as an important passage into the outer edges of the Sealed Demon Mountain Range.

Most residents here were mercenaries, adventurers, and merchants.

It was a rather large trading hub, where mountain dwellers and caravans from the Elva Empire and the Arkanthi Empire often stopped.

After saying goodbye to Uncle Senel, Coco puffed her cheeks angrily.

She leaned toward Yiluo—who looked perfectly calm—and said firmly, “Miss Yiluo, you really are strange. Very, very strange!”

Recently, the thing Yiluo heard from Coco the most was that she was strange.

She had pretty much become immune to it.

She tilted her head innocently. “Where am I strange?”

Coco pouted, looking frustrated. “Of course it’s strange! What kind of girl wants to be someone’s dad? That kind of thinking is completely abnormal. It’s way too weird.”

“And Miss Yiluo, you’re not even that much older than me!”

Yiluo blinked, then grabbed Coco’s small hand and leaned closer.

“W-wait—what are you doing?”

“Explaining. A sincere explanation. Otherwise, the tall and noble image I have in your heart will become weird.”

“It was always a weird image…”

Am I that weird?

Yiluo didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter.

Images can be corrected~

“Coco, have you ever imagined becoming a handsome man, wielding a great sword, defeating evil, protecting the people you cherish, and being admired or loved by everyone around you?”

Coco saw how serious Yiluo looked and thought for a moment. “I think more about becoming a proper maid.”

“Coco, don’t avoid the question. Sunshine, handsome, strong, admired by others—have you ever imagined becoming that type of boy? Even once.”

Yiluo’s tone sharpened, pressing Coco for an answer.

“Eh? Why is Miss Yiluo suddenly so serious…”

“Fine… yes, I have imagined it…”

Most humans have imagined being the opposite gender at least once—it’s just a matter of how often.

Yiluo nodded with satisfaction. “So if you were a guy, and you saw a super cute little girl with fluffy cat ears, of course you’d think, ‘I want a daughter this cute!’ and imagine becoming a dad!”

Coco seemed momentarily swept up by the logic.

She lowered her head and thought, “It… kind of makes sense…”

Hearing her response, Yiluo seized the chance and pressed forward boldly, “So actually, you’re the strange one. Try saying ‘Dad’ once.”

“Eh??? I’M the strange one?”

Coco’s eyes widened in disbelief at the conclusion.

“Of course. If you say ‘Dad,’ it won’t be strange anymore. Come on, try it~”

Yiluo blinked mischievously, coaxing and confusing Coco before she could think too deeply.

Coco’s face turned red.

Whether it was saying “Dad” or being called strange, both embarrassed her deeply.

Under Yiluo’s continuous urging—

“Da…”

“Da…”

Her face only got redder and redder.

She couldn’t bring herself to say the second syllable.

She stole a glance at Yiluo and saw the wicked smirk she was trying—and failing—to hide.

Coco exploded.

“Miss Yiluo! You tricked me!!!!”

Yiluo, delighted, protested weakly, “No I didn’t~”

Coco clenched her tiny fists, furious, and started hitting Yiluo. “You totally tricked me! Normally it should be sister, or maybe mother. How could it be father!?”

“The strange one is MISS YILUO!”

Yiluo pretended to be hurt, but inside she was amused.

Look—Coco was becoming more and more cheerful.

“Nooo, Coco is just too cute.”

“Hmph! Miss Yiluo is a big liar! You always bully me!”

“Okay okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry~”

Yiluo finally surrendered and begged for mercy.

But Coco still pouted—clearly not forgiving her easily.

Yiluo chuckled, walked over, held Coco’s hand, and adjusted her tone.

“It’s my fault. Coco, don’t be mad. I’ll compensate you.”

Coco was indeed angry, but she also felt strangely happy inside.

Hearing “compensation,” she quickly refused, flustered. “No, no! Coco is being unreasonable. Getting mad over something so small… Miss Yiluo even saved me. I can’t accept compensation—I’d feel too guilty. Absolutely not!”

But Yiluo was very persistent—because she already had a plan.

“It’s simple. Coco will be the young lady for a few days, and Yiluo will be your exclusive maid.”

“Meow?”

Coco’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t understand the idea at all.

Was this Miss Yiluo’s new scheme to tease her?

“This time I’m serious. Don’t refuse. It’s for entering the city smoothly.”

Yiluo placed her finger on Coco’s lips, tilting her head with a confident smile.