Inn Overlord: Reincarnated with Enhancement Magic, Now Worshipped as a Divine Messenger! - Chapter 9

Seraph’s Perspective

“Good night, Seraph.”

“Good night, Abby.”

I parted ways with Abigail and walked upstairs with my mother, holding her hand.

It was time for my punishment.

She led me to the room I was borrowing, and I arrived there without a plan. I didn’t really mind the punishment—or rather, I did hate it—but more importantly, how was I supposed to explain about Luka? I still hadn’t figured that out.

Noticing that I hesitated in front of my room, my mother looked at me and said,

“I said I would punish you earlier, but I’ve already forgiven you, Seraph.”

“Huh?”

When I asked in confusion, she answered,

“You were looking for Luka for Abby, right?”

She had overheard our conversation while we were washing the dishes.

“Yeah…”

I replied softly.

“So don’t worry, okay? Let’s just get some rest tonight.”

While I was still feeling guilty, my mother opened the door.

“Wait—!”

I tried to stop her, but before I could, Luka—now in human form—jumped out from inside and hugged me tightly.

“Seraph-sama!!”

It was practically a charging attack. The sudden impact made me hit my head against the railing of the second floor. As I was being squeezed against Luka’s ample chest, I turned to look at my mother. She smiled at me sweetly and said,

“Care to explain this?”

Mother, you’re scary.

—

Seraph’s Perspective

*Smack! Smack!* My mother’s palm landed on my bare backside.

“I thought you went to look for Luka! And instead, you bring home a girl! What were you thinking?!”

Each exclamation mark corresponded to a slap. I squirmed on my mother’s lap, protesting, “It’s not what you think!”

“Then explain!”

While I struggled to find the right words, Luka spoke up in a flustered voice.

“Um, Lady Marie?!”

My mother turned to look at Luka.

“How do you know my name?”

“I am Luka.”

My mother gasped.

“What?!”

Luka repeated herself.

“I am Luka. Seraph-sama saved me.”

“What do you mean?”

Still lying face-down on my mother’s lap, I decided to just go for it.

“I-I found Luka on the verge of death, so I used enchantment magic to save her!”

“How does that turn her into a human?!”

…Good question. I’d like to know that too.

As we were talking, Abigail, Laura, and even David entered the room, drawn by the commotion.

Being caught in the middle of my punishment like this was beyond humiliating.

The three of them looked between me, my mother, and Luka, trying to make sense of the situation. Then, Abigail stepped forward and asked,

“Luka… is that really you?”

Luka’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Lady Abigail!!”

She threw herself into Abigail’s arms. The two of them embraced, crying.

Watching in confusion, Laura turned to us for an explanation. My mother answered,

“Seraph healed Luka using enchantment magic, and she turned into a human… Is that even possible?!”

Laura, a former adventurer, whipped her long red hair around as she turned to her husband for his opinion. David replied,

“I’ve never heard of anything like that before… But… is this really Luka?”

Still hugging Abigail, Luka answered,

“Sir David! Thank you for always giving me hay! Lady Laura, I was so happy whenever you helped Abigail clean the stable! And Lady Marie, I loved when you brushed my coat! You all took such good care of me, and I was truly grateful!”

Hearing her describe all the care they had given Luka, my mother and the Davids were left speechless.

Still skeptical, my mother asked,

“Then why did you disappear?”

Luka explained,

“I was kidnapped by monsters… but then, Seraph-sama came all the way to the Demon Forest and saved me!”

She puffed out her chest proudly.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I did that much…”

Just as I thought things were clearing up, my mother muttered,

“Demon Forest?”

Uh-oh. I had a bad feeling about this.

“Seraph? You went to the Demon Forest alone?”

“Uh… I-I’m sorry—”

*Smack!* She slapped my backside again.

“I told you! Never go there alone!!”

While I was getting punished, Luka and the Davids quietly slipped out of the room.

“Ahh!! Wait! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!!”

—

In a certain part of the Demon Forest, a massive rock was lodged into the ground. Nearby, the corpses of an Evil Centipede and four Hobgoblins lay abandoned.

Descending upon the scene was a lion-like creature with bat wings—a Manticore. Its threat level was S+ rank.

The Manticore used its immense magical power to drive away the small monsters trying to feast on the corpses.

It quickly understood why none of the creatures had dared to eat the fallen Hobgoblins.

There was something strange among the bodies—an unmistakably human arm.

The Manticore cautiously tapped the arm to see if it posed any danger.

It was just a regular human arm. Deciding it was safe, the Manticore bit into it, then swallowed it whole.