A Higher Starting Point

I rested my head on Quiser’s shoulder and leaned against him, hesitantly telling him the whole story. "...Anyway, you already know what happened. Lilith wants to work with me. Do you think I should agree?"

I was honestly conflicted. Lilith growing up should have been a good thing. Maybe her succubus instincts were unconsciously pushing her to hunt and feed. Hadn’t I always wanted someone who could shelter me?

And I could save a lot of magic too...

...for feeding her.

But I couldn’t feel happy about it. Could this stolen, forced-together relationship really keep going without problems forever?

Quiser kissed my forehead and patted me, clearly trying to calm me down.

His expression was a little grave, but also faintly relieved, and maybe even a little happy. "Astaroth, I understand how you feel. Anyone would be upset if something like this happened. Don’t worry, that man won’t show up again. All we need to think about now is Lilith. As for her, hmm..." He trailed off, stroking his chin thoughtfully and glancing at me from time to time, probably worried I’d get unhappy if he said the wrong thing.

I had no patience for him dragging it out. I just wanted a straight answer, a clear direction. "Say it. It’s fine. I really do want your opinion. I’m hesitating too, whether to agree or not."

"Ahem." He cleared his throat and began to analyze it. "From my point of view, I think you should agree. I told you long ago that kids from the slums learn to live early. Some things are fine as long as nobody forces the issue, but once one side has a problem, the whole balance breaks."

What a load of nonsense!! I rolled my eyes at him. "I know that. Get to the point."

He gave an awkward laugh, then got serious. "Lilith is obedient, but she also has a mind of her own. You know that better than anyone. Whether you agree or not, she’s going to do it. This time it’s under your nose, in a place you know. But what about next time? What if she really runs into some especially bad client? What then? Don’t put your hope in luck. The goddess of luck is fickle. She can’t favor one person forever, and the day she leaves is the day something may go wrong. It’d be better to agree. I’ll arrange the best clients for her... especially gentle, especially rich ones. At least they’ll be within our sight, in a safe and controllable range. That way you can relax a little, she gets what she wants, and I can earn more too. Isn’t that better for everyone?"

"Huh? So after all that, you were just trying to make more money?" I pinched a piece of flesh on his arm as hard as I could.

"Aaaah! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Astaroth, let go, I was wrong, I was wrong..." Quiser’s face twisted up instantly. It was ridiculous and funny, but he wasn’t wrong. This really was the best choice.

"I won’t tease you anymore. We’ll do it your way. I just want to make one request."

"What? Go ahead."

"Lilith’s clients have to pass through me first. Once I’ve tried them and there’s no problem, then you can give them to her." That was the only way I could feel at ease. I had to make sure those clients were really as good as Quiser said before I let Lilith cut her teeth on them.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Did you even think that through?" Quiser stared at me in disbelief, as if my request was completely unreasonable.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Did I say something wrong? Are you mocking me? I’m doing this for Lilith’s safety!!" I was getting annoyed. After all these years, we still didn’t have that much trust between us?

"Hahaha, Astaroth, don’t be ridiculous, don’t get mad!!" Quiser laughed it off and started explaining. "Think about what your clients are like. Think about what Lilith’s clients are like. You two aren’t even on the same track. If you take her clients, you won’t be satisfied, and you’ll scare off every client she might have been able to handle herself... Astaroth, there has to be a limit to how much you spoil a child. Let her grow, don’t overprotect her. Have I ever let you down these years? You don’t trust me that much?"

I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t have a better idea. What Quiser said did make sense, so I could only back down a step. "Uh... fine, what you said makes sense... It’s just that, about Lilith, you know what I mean. I need you to promise that you’ll screen every client carefully..."

"I know, I know, I’ll do my best to make sure. And Astaroth, you should know this doesn’t come for free. You have to be a little nicer to me. At least come here once more now~" The moment that shameless bastard agreed, he immediately changed into a lecherous grin.

I shot him a dirty look. "Don’t you dare die on top of me. I still need you to help Lilith screen her clients."

"I won’t die, but... even if I did, I’d still be willing..."

With Quiser’s full support, Lilith became very popular. In just one month, she earned almost as much as it would have taken me half a year to make.

Quiser delivered on everything he promised, and every client he gave her was top-quality.

During that time, Lilith also looked much more energetic and became even more beautiful. Her seaweed-dark hair seemed to drink in the water and oil until it shone black and glossy, and her skin had the delicate luster of a pearl.

But the innocence in her eyes and brows still hadn’t faded. It just carried a little more brightness and allure now.

Was that a good thing, or a bad thing?

I felt a little gloomy.

"What’s wrong? You seem a bit unhappy lately. Is it because Lilith is way more popular than you?" Quiser teased me.

Damn it, he really knew how to hit the sore spot. "Am I that petty? Besides, speaking of which, why don’t you ever give me clients like that?"

"Huh? I never did?" Quiser shouted in protest, practically jumping up. "I clearly did give you good ones, all right? But didn’t you say you liked the strong, powerful, imposing type better? How is that my fault too?"

Huh, was that so? I had no memory of that at all. But looking at Quiser, he didn’t seem to be lying, so it must have been my problem. I touched my nose a little guiltily.

"Hmph. Lilith was practically raised under my eyes. What’s wrong with me giving her a few good ones? You don’t want her to do well? Afraid that once her wings harden, she won’t want you anymore?"

Tsk. Why hadn’t Quiser poisoned himself with that mouth of his yet?

I really did worry about that a little, but Lilith was truly a good child.

Whenever she got money, she wanted to hand it over to me first. Whenever she received a gift, she’d let me pick first to see if there was anything I liked... Astaroth, you really were worrying too much. The sense of reassurance came flooding back all at once.

"Nonsense!! How could Lilith ever abandon me? I’m her favorite brother. She’s already incredible to begin with, and you’re just giving her a chance to show it off!!"

"Exactly right. I’ll do my best to raise your little treasure up to the sky, and now let me go up there for a bit first..."

Thanks to Lilith, our lives kept getting better and better, and we even moved out of the little shabby shack in the slums into a bigger, more decent house in the city.

Inside were tasteful decorations, a soft, springy bed, and several rooms, including one specifically for storing the gifts, clothes, and ornaments we got for Lilith.

Even though the house was bigger, Lilith would sometimes complain, "I still liked that little room better. Every day I could squeeze into bed with my brother, but now we have to sleep separately."

My answer to that was, "Lilith, your sleeping posture is terrible. I couldn’t say it before because I never had the chance, but now I’m telling you: every night you kick me several times, you put your legs on my stomach, and you take up more than half the bed. I can only sleep on the very edge, like I might fall off at any moment. It’s really hard." Then Lilith would stare at me in disbelief and get angry, thinking I was lying.

God knows I wasn’t lying. There are no perfect creatures in this world. That was just one tiny flaw in my little sister.

"Quiser, why don’t you move into the city with us?" I asked, a little puzzled. It wasn’t that I really wanted him living with us. His assets probably weren’t much less than ours by now, and he was completely capable of renting a new place near us.

But after all these years, he still hadn’t moved. Did he not have that plan?

Didn’t he want to enjoy life?

"I don’t want to." Quiser rejected it flatly, his tone absolute. "I was born in the slums, raised in the slums, and I’ll be a slum man for the rest of my life. I’m used to that kind of place. You telling me to go into the city is like telling a rat in a sewer to step out into the sun. I think this damn house is very safe. Damp, with a moldy smell that never goes away, just like me."

"Quiser..." I really couldn’t understand it. Was wanting something better really wrong?

"Astaroth, why are you looking so down? You’re not wrong, and I’m not wrong either. Wanting better things is normal, and being content with the status quo is normal too. There’s no right or wrong, no one better than anyone else."

He reached out and stroked my face to comfort me. "I’m old now, unlike you. You’re still young and beautiful. I have ambition, but I’m already no longer fit for it. Don’t worry. As long as I’m alive and still capable, I’ll always be here waiting for you... and for Lilith. If you have time, you can come see me often too. Though I don’t think that’ll happen much. You and Lilith have already reached a place I can’t touch anymore."

I fell silent. Yes, after these years of experience, Lilith had already become the kind of social butterfly who could stand among the upper class.

By now she had shed the childishness she once had and blossomed into a dazzling light, like a brilliant diamond.

Glamorous, innocent, elegant, wanton, she could handle all of it beautifully. There were almost no men who could keep their eyes off her.

I was fortunate enough to stay by her side and see a lot of the world.

"What’s wrong? I mentioned Lilith, and you’re unhappy?" Quiser looked at me with some concern.

"No, you’re overthinking it. Lilith is my sister. If she’s doing well, then I’m doing well too. Come to think of it, having such a sister, I really am proud." I meant every word.

Lilith might perform very well outside, but once she came home, she was still my obedient little sister. She’d share all kinds of interesting things with me, kiss me before going out just like she always had, and at night she’d find excuses to squeeze into bed with me again. That part was genuinely painful. Aside from the people she dealt with and the conditions she lived in, she was actually about the same as before. There wasn’t much real change.

"Astaroth, actually you..." While I was thinking, Quiser suddenly said something out of nowhere.

"What is it?"

"Nothing..."