Yuki moved to the dining area, wondering if Mariel was awake, and was surprised to find her sitting there, staring blankly. She had dark circles under her eyes and seemed to have had no sleep at all.

What on earth has she been doing?

He wondered silently as he watched her.

Even in her dazed state, Mariel was still beautiful, a sight for sore eyes. The T-shirt she wore had a prominent bulge at her chest, creating impressive shadows in the morning light. Her breasts were really quite large.

When Mariel noticed Yuki, her face turned bright red, and she seemed flustered for a moment before she deeply bowed and greeted him.

Her skin, as white as porcelain, turned a vivid red, making her embarrassment even more noticeable.

"Good morning."

"Yes, good morning. What's wrong? Your face is completely red."

"I-I-it's nothing!"

"It doesn't seem like nothing with that reaction."

Yuki asked, and Mariel visibly panicked. Her clear agitation made it hard to believe that it was nothing. As Yuki tilted his head in curiosity rather than anger, Mariel seemed to give up and covered her face with her hands, beginning to explain in a timid voice.

"I couldn't sleep because I was nervous, wondering when I'd be called for the night duty."

"Wait, hold on a minute. I... Well, I'd be happy if you were willing to, but I hadn't actually thought about it."

He paused, admitting that Mariel's reaction had slightly frightened him. The practice of buying sex or slaves could provoke strong rejection from some people.

Even if such actions might be culturally accepted in certain contexts, Yuki didn't want to be looked down upon. Though he was willing to do what was necessary, it was still his true feeling.

"But I'm not the kind of man who would force something immediately after buying you. You're still getting used to your new life. My priority is to ensure that you feel comfortable and settled. ...Mariel, you're surprisingly bashful."

"N-No, it's not like that! It's a misunderstanding! P-Please believe me!"

"Then why did you misunderstand and wait on your own, even though I didn't give any orders? Could it be...?"

Yuki swallowed the question of whether she had hoped for such a situation, but Mariel, with a face as red as a ripe apple, desperately denied it with tearful eyes.

"I noticed that Air had entered the room in the middle of the night and thought maybe you had given her instructions in advance!"

"I see. That's definitely a misunderstanding that could happen. But I've been asleep until now. Air came in because she was cold. If I caused any confusion, I'm sorry."

"It was my mistake. I apologize."

"No, it's my fault. It must have been embarrassing for you, and I didn't consider your position. Please forgive me."

"...Yes."

As Yuki looked at Mariel's well-formed face and streamlined body, his voice grew softer. It would be a lie to say he hadn't thought about it.

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After all, she was a beautiful girl and a slave. Although it might not be a problem in another world, he had little reason to resist in this one.

Mariel, being on the receiving end of the purchase, couldn't understand Yuki's thoughts. It was difficult for a slave to refuse. It was understandable that she felt anxious.

The sight of a girl wrapped in his shirt was too powerful. He hoped she would quickly change back into her clothes from yesterday.

"After breakfast, you should get some rest. We'll be going out in the afternoon, so you have some time."

"But I have to take care of things..."

"Can you really work properly in that state? It would be more troubling if you collapsed or made mistakes. More than anything, I want you to be healthy. Since we have this chance, I want both of you to be healthy and happy."

"Master... I appreciate your kind words."

Mariel bowed deeply, and Yuki had to hold back a sigh. He had intended to leave everything to her, but it seemed it would take some time.

Living alone had its inconveniences, but it also provided the freedom to make all decisions. He had heard that managing people required a lot of attention, and it was true.

However, it seemed Mariel had already resigned herself to the more intimate aspects. What should he do?

For breakfast, they had toasted bread with butter and jam. Mariel had never brewed coffee before, so Yuki showed her how to make it.

While refining the coffee-making process for taste might be necessary, learning to brew it by simply watching should be achievable. The process itself was not particularly complicated or demanding.

In the future, Yuki planned to have Mariel handle breakfast preparation.

Mariel was amazed by the availability of fresh butter and the soft, fluffy bread, and he made a note on his smartphone that this could be useful later.

After breakfast, Mariel slept on the sofa while Air went back to bed. Yuki worked on his writing and researched the necessary household items.

---

Adding two more housemates was proving to be more costly than anticipated. From bedding and furniture to tableware, clothing, toothbrushes, and towels, there was a lot to buy.

For clothing, Yuki decided it would be better to purchase in the other world.

Air needed pants with a tail hole, and hats with ear holes. Such specifics would be hard to find here.

So, Yuki decided to buy from a store that catered to beastmen for Air. It might be best to buy from the same store for Mariel too, or perhaps another store.

Fortunately, the clothing they wore was not too unusual by Earth standards—solid colors with some embroidery. However, they were simple and might stand out too much if Earth-style designs were used.

With no significant income expected soon, buying expensive clothes on Earth was also a practical issue.

This might be resolved by acquiring items that could be sold on Earth from the other world. Yuki thought there were likely many business opportunities that he hadn't noticed yet.

---

Mariel and Air were carrying numerous bags filled with items. Essentials like tableware and toothbrushes were easily found at a dollar store and a drugstore. The efficiency of modern mass production and consumption was impressive.

"This place was amazing! I've never seen so many products in one store."

"It was incredible! I want to go again!"

"Ha ha ha. We'll come again next time. If you see anything you're interested in or think might sell well, let me know later."

The two seemed shocked by the selection. Mariel, who likely had some knowledge of the world, was particularly amazed. Air seemed more excited than surprised.

Her ears were perked up, and her tail was wagging, clearly expressing her feelings.

Despite her conspicuous ears and tail, it was surprising that no one asked about them. Maybe they were thought to be part of a costume?

They attracted a lot of attention, not just because of their ears and tails, but also because two exotic beauties were enjoying themselves.

Even though the dollar store had low prices, buying in bulk led to significant expenses. For Yuki, who had a limited savings, it was a considerable expense.

Looking at the long receipt, he frowned. His wallet was thin, and he needed to withdraw more money from the ATM.

"Looks like we've bought quite a lot..."

"Thank you for everything."

"Master, thank you very much!"

"Well, it's all necessities, so it can't be helped."

"Should I reward you?"

"Hey, Air. Don't say things like that so lightly."

"Oh...?"

"Ha ha. Let's save it for another time."

Of course, grooming tools like combs and brushes were essential, and it was unthinkable to have them eat with their hands. They would need to earn money to cover these expenses.

Selling items from the two stores in the other world might be a good idea. Yuki thought he could use the money to buy items with potential for profit on Earth.

"Should I bring sugar to the Welcome Trading Company again? Or would another product be better?"

It might be possible to use Mariel and Air's knowledge to help with this. He decided to consult with them.