Shota is surrounded by monsters!

"...Huh?"

Well, that's how it is.

A mysterious smile crept onto Shota's lips. Mashiro, too, chuckled and looked at Rea. She, too, had no idea what was about to happen.

In the bathroom, the faucet that Shota had managed to block was now gushing hot water again.

"Cuckoo-"

Mashiro, hiding in the bathtub, poked her head out and looked at Shota, who was sitting there completely naked, and Rea, who was only wrapped in a towel and whose hands were still "touching" Shota's body, with a confused expression.

Why does my brother look so comfortable?

Hairless slimes will never understand the strange quirks of hairy creatures.

Feeling the increased force in Rea's hand, Shota, who had revealed his true form as a glutton, couldn't help but let out a muffled groan. This feeling was just too good!

Rea was quite strong, and the rubbing force was very good. Moreover, her fingers weren't too stiff, so when she pinched my body, it gave me a just-right, pleasant feeling.

Is this all?

Rea, who had gone into the bathroom three times in one day, was holding a brush in one hand and rubbing Shota's golden hair with the other free.

"Ah...that's it. Add some shampoo, hmm."

Feeling the foam build up on his head, Shota lay on the ground with a satisfied expression. Meeting Rea was truly wonderful; now he could ask Rea for help with many things he wanted to do but couldn't do alone. He could also apply some conditioner later to make his hair shiny. Hmm… should he add some gel for a style?

Shota was a bit too big, so Rea couldn't wash his hair properly. So she sat on his shoulders and, while washing his hair, asked:

"Um... Shota-kun, I have a question for you."

"Um...please make yourself at home. Ah, over here, over here...use a little force..."

"Hmm. Here?"

"Yes, yes."

Rea, sitting sideways on Shota, increased the pressure on her hands as she asked, "Can youkai... fall in love?"

"...Sure. There's no rule against it."

"So...do I have to date a vampire or a zombie?"

"Whatever. Whoever you like is whoever you want, it has nothing to do with race. Why did you suddenly ask that?"

Shota muttered something that sounded a bit odd.

"Because even ordinary girls fall in love, right?" Rea said expectantly, "So, if possible, I'd like to try it too..."

By the end, her voice was barely audible. The pressure on her hands also suddenly lessened.

"Love?"

Shota yawned and said, "It's too early for me..."

"Too early? Isn't Shota already thirty?"

"But my physical stage is only equivalent to that of a human child. It's too early. I haven't even reached puberty yet, so things like love and worries... are too far away for me. I'll only be an adult when the two horns on my head have fully grown."

Rea reached out and parted Shota's hair. The two small, fleshy bumps on his head were very noticeable, but the horns inside had not yet broken through.

"Isn't it a little strange to date a child?"

"Huh? What did you say, Rea?"

"Ah...it's nothing!" Rea hurriedly withdrew her hand from Shota's chubby little bun and said, "Let's continue. We can go see a movie after we wash up, right?"

"Okay. Let's go see a movie after we shower."

Glug glug glug glug glug glug—

As Mashiro blew bubbles, feeling neglected, she raised her hand and sprayed Rea's face with water.

"Ah—" Rea wiped the water off Mashiro's face, turned to look at her and said, "What's wrong? Mashiro..."

Mashiro hid back in the water.

"Oh. Do you want me to help you take a bath too?"

Rea misunderstood Mashiro's meaning and then asked Shota, "Um, how should we help Mashiro-chan take a bath?"

"Just give her some toothpaste. Oh, remember to dilute it first. Otherwise, the mint will be too strong and Zhenbai won't be able to handle it."

After giving a word of advice, Shota grabbed the showerhead with his tail and started washing off the shampoo after Rea got off him.

"Wait a minute, Shota-chan~ My hair isn't washed yet~"

Is that so?

The entire bathing process took about two hours, from washing them clean to drying them, then grooming their fur, and finally tidying up the bathroom. By the time they came out of the bathroom, the sky had completely darkened.

Shota changed back into human form, put on his clothes, grabbed his wallet, and said to the two others who were also ready, "Let's go. Let's go to the supermarket after the movie; we're out of food at home."

"Going to a large supermarket?!"

"Uh. First time?"

"Mmm. This is my first time."

Rei nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

Ah, Shota smirked. It seems he's going to take away a lot of her firsts.

"However, before going there, let's register with the Nura Clan first. That will make things much easier."

"Nura Clan?"

"Hmm. The leader of the monsters in this area. Although I'm not very familiar with him, it's better to get some formalities done first."

Some time later, just as Rea was curiously looking around the large house that looked a bit like a haunted house, Shota knocked on the door of the Nura Clan.

"crunch-"

"Youkai who are not from the Nura Clan are not allowed to enter the main family."

A monster with only a huge head somehow opened the door, glared at the three of them, and said, "Please leave."

"Um...we're here to register as monsters."

Shota intended to shield Rea behind him, but found that she was not afraid at all. Instead, she stared at the monster in front of her with wide eyes.

Perhaps it was because her intuition told her that the monster in front of her was no match for her. After all, with just that brute strength and regenerative ability, Rea was roughly equivalent to a B-rank or lower monster. At least against a typical exorcist, she could definitely protect herself.

"Oh...I see."

After hearing Shota's explanation, the monster didn't ask any more questions, and stepped aside to let the three of them go inside.

"you……"

"Ok?"

The monster's attention suddenly focused on Shota, and it asked, "Were you at the banquet a few days ago too?"

"Oh, yes! Thank you for your hospitality last time."

Shota scratched the back of his head shyly; he really enjoyed the meal last time.

"Everyone! Come out quickly! That monster that ate all our food last time is back!"

"...Huh?"

Oh no, I think I ate too much last time...

Chapter 35. Nurarihyon

"Um, Shota-kun, what's the situation right now?"

Although those surrounding them were mostly small monsters, Rea was still a little frightened by the sudden appearance of so many demons and monsters in the house. She grabbed Mashiro's hand and hid behind Shota.

"hiss--"

Mashiro, like an angry kitten, stared wide-eyed at the bad guys who were looking at Shota with hostility.

Shota forced a smile, though the monsters that had emerged were no match for him. But if a conflict broke out, there was no guarantee that the powerful creatures inside wouldn't rush out.

"It was just a misunderstanding last time. Heh, heh heh."

"Ah! It's all because of you that we went hungry for two whole days!"

A young monk specializing in natto jumped out and accused Shota, saying, "You have to compensate us!"

"Yes Yes!"

"Give us back our food!"

"If you're hungry, just eat yourself." Shota silently muttered to Natto-kun in his mind, then tried to search for Nura Rikuo's whereabouts. That young master was much easier to talk to than other yokai. At least that was the case in the few times he had interacted with him at school—he didn't act like a typical yokai young master at all; instead, he was like a nice guy who would be happy to run errands for him.

"I'm here to see your young master..."

Shota knew that if the young master, who liked humans, intervened, these people definitely wouldn't do anything to him. They might even treat him to a meal.

"Lu Sheng and his classmates went on a trip."

"General!" "General!"

The monsters quickly parted to make way, and the sly old man with a severely protruding back of his head walked step by step toward Shota with a lewd smile.

Although using the word "perverted" is very impolite, Shota really couldn't find a more suitable word.

I always feel like I'm going to be sold off.

"Kousaka... Shota, let's call him Shota then."

Nurarihyon waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding monsters. Although they were unwilling, they would not disobey the orders of their most respected Nurarihyon general.

"Come in with me."

The Nurarihyon General waved, signaling Shota to follow. Shota had no idea what the other was up to, but since the other knew his identity…

That's a bit difficult.

"sit."

The sly old man led Shota to a room, and after they sat down, someone quickly brought over tea.

"Oh, you're Rikuo's senior? I've heard him mention you before."

A woman with light brown hair, who looked very much like Rikuo Nura, put down the tea, glanced at Shota with some curiosity, and then smiled brightly, saying, "Please take good care of Rikuo."