"Welcome back, dear!" A resounding voice greeted them in a feminine tone upon arriving at the Merciless Clan. The owner of that voice was no other than Paula. The tall man with chocolate skin color. And also one of the old members of the Merciless clan.
Eina reflexively gripped Eman's arm. That must have frightened her. Sol remained calm, but she shot a glare at Paula. Eman, on the other hand, rubbed his nose.
He nodded slightly and asked, "How's the clan in my absence?" It was a simple question that could be considered nonchalant.
Before responding to him, Paula noticed someone else with Eman. Curiosity appeared on his face. He never thought their leader would be bringing a beautiful girl and a kid.
Wait!
'A-are they…!' Paula exclaimed inwardly.
"Our dear leader, is she your wife, and the kid is your child?" He asked with a bright smile with his hands and fingers linked beside his face.
What--!
That question stunned him right after hearing it.
"O-Of course not! Where the hell did that question c-come from?" That reply came out of his mouth thoughtlessly. Beside him, Sol's face slightly turned red.
"Fufu…" Paula giggled as he noticed him getting a little flustered. "Oh, I see. Though, that's regretful," he said.
Eman slightly frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, since you look like a perfect family."
"R-really?" Sol questioned while touching her face with both hands. She was happy to hear it.
"He was just teasing us, Sol."
After saying it, he noticed a tug on his sleeve. It was coming from her sister. It seemed like she wanted to whisper something in his ear. Actually, he noticed her tense reaction the moment Paula greeted him. Perhaps it was about that. He just had to listen, then explain later to ease her.
Eman bent his knees to lend her his ears. However, what came out of her mouth was unexpected to him. "I don't think Miss Sol would disagree with the idea, bro," she said in a whisper.
"....."
Eman gawked for a moment.
Well, to tell the truth, he was aware of Sol's feelings towards him. But, he was afraid that it was due to his Taming ability only. That's why he could not engage with her in a relationship that could also be regarded as one-sided, although in a strange way.
He could only give her a maternal kind of love or family love.
At that moment, he heard a ring behind his mind. It was a familiar notification.
<Ding! New title acquired: The Deceptionist>
<Additional 10 percent success rate in deceiving the host's target.>
"Woa--!"
Eman was stunned for a second.
Beside him, "Hehe!" Eina giggled. She probably thought that her brother's reaction was due to her revelation. "Is it so shocking to know, bro?" She asked teasingly while grinning.
Though, in truth, he was shocked by the notification that unexpectedly came out of nowhere!
He rubbed her head and smiled at her. "Well, yes. Don't tell her what you told me, okay?" He also whispered into her ears.
"Okay!" Eina closed an eye and agreed with him, but she secretly sent a thumbs up to Sol.
Sol's mouth formed into an 'o'. Looks like whatever Eman and Eina were whispering about has something to do with her. And seeing Eina's action, it must be a positive response. Sol believed so.
That title-- how did he get it? He wasn't sure of the reason why he acquired it.
'The Deceptionist?'
'But somehow, wasn't it an overpowered title?' He thought inwardly.
While Eman was lost in thought, "Dear leader, who are they?" He heard Paula's sudden question.
"Uh, right. This cute little angel is my little sister."
"Oh. I see-- I see. Fufu. No wonder the little miss looks a little identical to you, dear leader," said Paula as he bent closer to Eina. "Hey, how are you, little miss? Just call me big sis Paula."
"M-my name is Eina, b-big brother Paula…" Eina was skeptical about calling him a big sister, so she end up calling him big brother. "I-I'm doing fine…" she added.
"....."
"Fufu. Don't scare her," Eman smiled faintly. "By the way, this is Sol Reia, a student from the female department as you can see."
"Sol Reia? Two names? Wait, a noble?!" Paula exclaimed while stepping back a little. His reaction was normal and in Eman's expectation. Well, since only nobles had the family name attached in their names.
Eman nodded slightly.
"But, Reia? I never heard of a noble family in the name of Reia in the Empire…" Paula mumbled as he made a gesture of trying to recall something.
"Probably because my family wasn't from this empire. My family is a noble from the far eastern kingdom, the Meraflor Kingdom."
'Wah-ha!' Eman was secretly surprised at Sol's answer. He did not expect she was this good.
She sounded like a real noble. And also, she was putting an aloft air of a noble the way she talks.
"I see. No wonder…" Paula said.
"What do you mean, Paula?"
"Uh, I mean, Miss Sol Reia's looks are undoubtedly from the eastern country."
"Hm, you're quite knowledgeable about them?" There was a secret glint in Eman's eyes when he said it. Also, he was concealing the murderous aura that was about to explode.
If by chance Paula knew something that could lead to their exposure, he had no other option but to dispatch him.
"Black hair and a pair of beautiful black eyes. They are the common features of the eastern people, dear leader. Though, that's the only thing I know about them. I've never even been there in the first place. Those are the features that usually come to mind when you mention them. It was common knowledge I supposed."
"Hm, I see…"
This was unexpected to Eman. He forgot to do a little research about the other countries in this world.
Right.
It was an important matter as well. He was just lucky this time. It looks like he needs to be extra careful next time.
Wait. Perhaps his new title played its role this time... Though, he doubted it.
For some reason, Paula felt like he just avoided a grim fate. He had no idea why he felt so relieved.
Eman continued introducing them to the other members of Merciless Clan.