Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 249 : Loyalty, Part Seven

"Let me get this straight," Isabella said as they walked through the nobles' district. "You want to ask your dad to take you to a bar?"

"Well when you say it like that, it sounds weird."

"No, no, I get the practical reason for it. I just think it's funny. I mean, Mommy told me when it comes to humans, most girls try to sneak *out* to bars, not get parental supervision."

"I'm not human," Melisa rolled her eyes. "Besides, I've never gone there before. And, we wouldn't be heading there to hang out or whatever, it would just be so I can come back on my own after."

"Why not?"

"Huh?"

"Why not hang out a bit?" Isabella shrugged. "Not often you get to chill with your dad, right? Isn't he a workaholic or something?"

"Mm..."

[She's not wrong. But, I mean, this can't be the occasion for that. Though... Maybe I should try to just hang out with him one of these days.]

They passed a group of human merchants who quickly stepped aside, giving them a wide berth. Isabella stuck her tongue out at them.

"Do you really think he'll agree to help you spy on other nim?"

"I think so," Melisa's hands clenched. "He knows this is a problem. Hell, those bastards nearly killed Mom and Hazel. Dad might act calm about it, but I know he wants payback too."

They reached Kimiko's estate. Through the window, Melisa could see her mother and Kimiko having tea in the garden. Or "having tea" as Isabella would say with that annoying waggle of her eyebrows.

[At least Dad will be alone. This conversation's gonna be awkward enough without an audience.]

"Want me to come with?" Isabella asked as they headed inside.

"Eh, I can handle this on my own."

"Aww, you're no fun." Isabella pouted. "Fine, I'll go see what our moms are up to in the garden."

[Pretty sure I know what they're "up to".]

Melisa found her father in the study, reading what looked like job applications. Since the attack, he'd been looking for work closer to Kimiko's estate.

"Dad?" Melisa cleared her throat. "Got a minute? I need your help with something."

"Of course, sweetheart." He set down the papers. "What's wrong?"

[Here goes nothing.]

"Remember that bar you mentioned? The one where you saw those nim attacking humans?"

His expression darkened.

"Melisa..."

"I need you to take me there."

"Absolutely not." He set the papers down harder than necessary.

"Dad, listen-"

"No, you listen." Melistair turned to face her fully. "That place isn't safe. Even for nim."

"That's exactly why I need to go!" Melisa stepped closer. "These attacks are getting worse. They tried to kill us, Dad. Our whole family."

"Which is precisely why you shouldn't-"

"I'm not just going to walk in and announce myself," Melisa cut him off. "Isabella's going to help disguise me. No one will know who I am..." [I mean, as long as she does as good a job as she thinks she can.] "I just need you to show me where it is. Obviously, you can't just walk up to it yourself, though. I mean, these people attacked your house. They probably see you as an enemy."

Melisa said that casually but it seemed like that had a pretty harsh effect on Melistair. She was right, of course, but it looked like hearing that from her just now made it more real.

Melistair's jaw clenched.

"... And then what? You'll spy on them?"

"I need to understand what's happening. Why nim are getting so violent." She leaned against his desk. "The timing's too perfect. Right when Aria becomes queen, right when I'm starting to make progress."

"They're angry," he said flatly. "They're tired of being treated like dirt. They just got access to magic and they want to use it. That's it."

"That can't be it." Melisa ran a hand through her hair. "I mean, don't these attacks seem a little too.... I dunno, perfect? Attacking Javir's manor, attacking the conference? I dunno, I feel like someone's organizing them. These aren't just random attacks anymore, I swear."

She could see him wavering. Good.

"Besides," she pressed on, "I'm not exactly helpless anymore. I can defend myself."

"Against an entire bar of angry nim?"

"I have several years of experience fighting over them, Dad. Besides, I probably won't be fighting anyone! I just need to listen."

Melistair sat back down heavily.

"Your mother would kill me."

"Mom doesn't need to know."

[Though she probably will anyway. Those two tell each other everything.]

"One night," Melisa added. "Just one visit. After you show me where it's at, I mean. And, during that first time, I'll stay close to you the whole time, and if you say we leave, we leave. No arguments."

A long moment passed. Melisa could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he sighed.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Melisa grinned.

"You raised me to be stubborn."

That actually got a small smile out of him.

"Fine. One visit to show you where it is, then you go one time after. But we do this my way. And if anything feels wrong-"

"We leave immediately," Melisa finished. "I promise."

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[Got him.]

---

A few moments later, Melisa was sitting in Isabella's room, along with everyone else.

"Hold still!" Isabella giggled, working something through Melisa's hair. "Unless you want it to come out looking like a drunken unicorn threw up on you."

[Unicorns are a thing in this world?]

Melisa sat in Isabella's room, surrounded by what looked like half a cosmetics shop. Kimiko had quite the collection for "special occasions" - which, knowing her, probably meant some sort of bedroom roleplay.

[I really need to stop thinking about what my aunt does in bed... When I'm not involved, anyway.]

"Are you sure this will work?" Melistair asked from his chair by the window. He was next in line for Isabella's makeover expertise.

"Of course! By the time I'm done, your own mother wouldn't recognize you."

"Speaking of mothers," Margaret's voice came from the doorway. "What exactly are you all plotting?"

[Oh no.]

"Nothing!" Melisa said quickly.

"We're going to that nim bar I mentioned," Melistair replied at the exact same time.

"Dad!"

"What? I'm not keeping secrets from your mother."

[Of course not. Why start now?] Melisa groaned.

Margaret crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"The same bar where you saw those nim attacking humans?"

"It's perfectly safe," Melisa tried. "Isabella's going to disguise us. Besides, we're not actually going into the bar. It's just so I know where it is.

"So you can go in on your own later?" Margaret asked.

"..."

[She figured that out kinda fast huh?]

"M-Maybe."

Margaret sighed.

"Fine. But, please, can you at least try not to get into a fight?" Margaret asked. "I know how you two must be feeling, but the last thing you need is to give these people more reasons to try to attack you!"

Melisa remains silent, giving just a nod and a "mhm".

[... I don't think I can promise that much, unfortunately.]