Chapter 7: The missy’s new pet 

If the Dullahan were just a little smarter, it might have been on the verge of tears by now.

It simply didn’t understand what on earth was going on with its new master.

First, she gave it a good beating, and now she was staring at it again…

What did she actually want?

“You two! Hm?”

Ilea waved her hand to the sides, but no one responded.

When she took a closer look, she realized that the two guards disguised as commoners had somehow already melted back into the crowd.

Each was holding a melon of unknown origin, happily eating while watching the show.

“Get over here!!”

The lady’s face instantly darkened, and the two guards quickly scrambled back to the center of the scene, dropping to one knee.

“We deserve to die, my lady!”

“We deeply apologize! We’ve…grown used to it…”

These two were completely unreliable.

It seemed that aside from Yumina, she really did need to train some dependable guards herself.

But for now…

“You two, take this stupid dog back. Remove its leash.”

Ilea pointed to the blue chain around the giant hound’s neck.

“Eh? Ah! Yes, my lady!”

Feeling the oppressive air radiating from Ilea, the two guards quickly obeyed.

Even Yumina was surprised: even after being freed from its chain, the Dullahan showed no sign of trying to run away.

It simply lay quietly on the ground, neck shrunk, its small eyes occasionally glancing toward Ilea.

“Yumi, put this chain on that thing’s neck. You two can then take this dumb dog and get out of here!”

The lady continued giving orders.

Just as the two guards tugged at Dullahan’s collar to drag the pitiful, limping hunting hound away—

Ilea spoke again.

“Once you’re back, do not feed it. Without my orders, no one is allowed to feed it. Understand?”

Just beating it might not be enough.

This stupid dog seemed to have a bit of intelligence.

Once she had time…she’d train it properly.

“Yes, my lady!”

“Awoo…”

The Dullahan let out a mournful whimper, seeming like it wanted to resist—but at the sound of Ilea’s iron rod tapping the ground, it instantly fell obedient and followed the two guards away.

Meanwhile, on the other side—

The twin-tailed maid had fastened the dog chain around the neck of the little beggar girl on the ground.

It looked rather large, and not very elegant.

“All done, my lady!”

Yumina trotted up to Ilea, handing her the other end of the chain.

As a perfect little toady, she naturally didn’t question such things at all.

Taking the chain, Ilea’s lips curled into a faint smile, and she raised her “electric baton.”

Zzzzap—!

“Ugh?! Aaaaah!!”

The goddess, who had seemed unconscious, suddenly jerked upright.

But this time the current was weak—just enough to hurt a little.

“So? Feeling more awake now?”

Ilea tugged at the chain as she slowly walked over to this…so-called “Death Goddess,” crouching down to ask softly.

“Want another jolt?”

“Uh? Ah! N-no, please, that’s quite enough…”

The goddess clutched her head, babbling incoherently.

“If you don’t want another shock, then get up!”

Ilea gave the chain another sharp tug.

“Hiss…huh?”

Only then did the goddess realize her current predicament.

Whimper…

Wasn’t this the worst possible situation?!

And she was a dignified goddess, yet this woman—who clearly knew her identity—still dared to treat her like this…

“Aren’t…aren’t you afraid of divine punishment…?”

“Heh…oh? You’re going to send me off to some hellish world again? Or maybe this isn’t the world you spoke of after all?”

Ilea asked with great interest, but didn’t wait for an answer before changing the subject.

“Alright~ there are some things we’ll discuss once we’re back.”

As she spoke, she gave the iron chain another tug.

“Back home~ as my pet~”

“Mmh!”

Feeling the tug at her neck, sensing the stares and whispers from those around her— the goddess opened her mouth, but…

Seeing the smiling lady still holding that electric baton, she finally swallowed hard.

These three months as a beggar had nearly ground down her divine pride.

Now…she had truly tasted the mortal world, thoroughly enlightened.

Rubbing her empty, growling stomach, the first thing the goddess said upon getting up was—

“Um…will there be food?”

“Cough cough, of course. Whatever Dullahan eats, you’ll eat too~”

Ilea smiled sweetly.

Thank goodness!

Finally a steady meal—no more starving…

The goddess’s big black-and-white eyes sparkled.

She didn’t know who this “Dullahan” was, but surely it had to be better than being a vagrant.

“Meow.”

Just then, as Ilea tugged her chain to take her new pet home, a faint cat’s meow made the goddess pause.

Clink!

“Hm?”

Seeing the chain pulled tight in her hand, Ilea turned back in confusion— only to find the black-and-white goddess staring at a corner of the alley, where a small black cat was watching them.

The goddess suddenly turned back, eyes full of longing, and asked: “Um…can we bring it along?”

Thinking of how this woman was about to take her somewhere with food, she hesitated—yet still pleaded.

Huh?

Ilea was momentarily stunned.

She could barely even take care of herself right now, and this goddess actually…

“Tsk, do whatever you want!”

For some reason, Ilea felt unusually irritable at that moment.

But fine—there were still many things waiting for her to handle later.

She had no time to waste here.

And so, while they’d left the house as two people and a dog, they returned as three people and a cat.

The lineup seemed to have changed— yet somehow, it hadn’t.

“Ugh, it stinks!”

Ilea waved her hand at her maid Yumina, handing over the leash.

“Take her for a bath first… then bring her directly to my room!”

She hadn’t noticed it on the street before, but back home— compared to the subtle fragrance of the incense— Ilea immediately wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Eh?”

Yumina blinked, a bit startled.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of the novel she’d been reading yesterday, “The Domineering Earl Fell in Love with Me,” which had a similar scene.

It even had that line from the earl, said with such overbearing arrogance: “Wash her clean, then send her to me.”

Could it be…the young lady is actually into that sort of thing?

“Yumina?”

Seeing that the maid hadn’t taken the leash from her yet, Ilea frowned and reached out to pinch Yumina’s cheek.

So soft—though strangely lacking in flesh.

Had this twin-tailed little loli not been eating properly?

“Ah! Y-yes, my lady! Right away!”

The sudden touch made the usually lively maid’s face flush bright red.

“I’ll absolutely make sure to bring the…um…the best pet straight to your bed!”

She declared this with utter seriousness, then quickly tugged the bewildered goddess off to bathe.

“Hah? What…what weird nonsense.”

Watching Yumina disappear like the wind, Ilea scratched her head, utterly unable to figure out what was going on in that girl’s mind.