Reincarnated as the Only Human

Kalia PoV

”Ahahaha~! No, you stupid fucking bird~! Who would’ve let ME of all people be the one to handle such an important and valuable piece of equipment? I never ONCE in my entire time of being employed here ever got to handle the Slaver’s Keys, and you would be lying to me if you said you had!”

Inik and Heather were laughing very loudly now, the two Aviankin grinning at one another and draining their tankards of the cheap beer that they apparently just kept in stock in this place, knocking it back and getting themselves somewhat intoxicated as they caught up a little more.

”What, you didn’t get to use the Slaver’s Keys at all? Here I thought you were some special weapon that the Madame had spent all these years grooming, and now you tell me you were just some basic Bounty Hunter? Pathetic~!”

”Hey, what’s more pathetic is still being the clerk after two years, but that’s just me~! Never would’ve ever caught me being stuck behind a desk for two whole fucking years, but maybe~ I just had a little~ more ambition then you...”

”Fuck you~!”

They weren’t even really... arguing, more just throwing around insults and never taking them seriously whatsoever as they just... talked and talked, which I had to admit was somewhat amusing since they were both just so fascinating.

I was also a little jealous because I had never really managed to make Inik laugh like this before, but while the mild banging of my heart could be taken seriously and mulled over for hours to come, I also knew that I was the one who made her feel so happy and relaxed back home when it was just the two of us.

Perhaps everyone just had those people that they felt relaxed with, happy with, jovial with and serious with; sometimes they overlapped, but maybe I just wasn’t someone she felt jovial with, and that was alright since it was the happiness that mattered the most.

Still, hearing her let out another long peal of laughter as she and Heather got into another debate about who was more valuable than the other, I couldn’t help but let out a somewhat low sigh, only to turn towards the door as someone knocked on it.

Immediately the two feathered futanari quieted down, and Heather even pursed her lips before glancing at Inik, who had just reluctantly stood up to answer it; I didn’t know why they had went from being loudly jovial to so quiet, but I imagine that whoever was behind the door was the reason...

The question became who was behind the door and why did they seem to know who it was just by a singular knock, and should I now be worried that something ’bad’ might happen?

Pushing it open, Inik coughed once before straightening herself out as much as possible while turning to the side, allowing the person to enter the room without a single word or gesture; just an assured movement into the room like it was theirs...

Though considering who I was now looking at, it might just be hers...

A very tall Elf walked on in, her long silver hair pulled into a simple and loose braid that glimmered with an ethereal shine, while her exquisite staff tapped against the floor quietly, acting as another leg as she slowly walked forwards.

Definitely taller than Dama Rhefia and maybe just a little shorter than Shelur, this Elf stood well above us all and definitely loomed over us in presence as well, her somewhat gaunt features giving her an almost skeletal appearance as she swept her head to the side, looking over at Heather and I.

Her cold cerulean eyes flashed a little as she stared at me, but her gaze didn’t linger as she instead approached the empty chair and lowered herself into it slowly, resting her silver and blue staff against the arm and allowing her heavy blue robes to billow out around her.

”I recognized the laughter from the entrance...”

Even her voice was cold and thin, like the whisper of steel against leather as a blade was pulled out; she clasped her hands in her lap and looked back towards Inik, who had shut the door before returning to the couch, sitting down beside me.

”I pray everything is well, Madame?”

”Hmm...”

A low grunt made Inik stiffen, though that just made the tall Elf grunt again, this time in what I think was amusement as she tilted her head and appraised the arrogant Hawkkin, who was now as quiet as a mouse.

”Everything is well, yes. Business is booming, gold is flowing. ’Tis a shame I apparently lost my best Bounty Hunter, but... I shall make do, I suppose.”

Now she looked back at me, her blue eyes sending a shiver down my spine as their icy gleam conveyed a sort of power I had only really felt from Aunt Renna before, though... where the Nymph was overwhelming yet warm like a sunny day, this Madame was most definitely a well hidden blade poised for my heart.

”Especially if it is because she finally found herself a woman to ground her. What is your name, dear? Is this feathery idiot treating you well?”

Suddenly her cold demeanor melted a little, and the Elf’s thin lips curled into what I think was a smile as she sort of... glowered at me, like she was unused to such an action; now I could see her scarred visage twisting in a way that was somewhat unnerving, but a simple switch over to seeing her with Mana Vision instead made it more bearable.

Mainly because she was a brilliant mass of cerulean threads that froze over the various threads nearby, and also because it just helped remind me to be extra careful when dealing with her, so...

”Inik has been wonderful so far, yes. So much so that... well...”

Gently laying my hand atop hers, I looked over at my wife instead and gave her the signal, squeezing her hand a little and prompting her to cough before she said ”We’re... going to get married sometime soon. Um... probably after the baby is born..?”

That made the Elf freeze slightly, before her eyes chilled over again as she stared at Inik, making her shudder before stiffening in fright as her voice - now still yet just as powerful - washed over everyone.

She spoke in a way that was so accustomed to giving out orders that would be followed to the letter that even I found it hard to argue, and that was even with her saying something that concerned me more than her.

”No, you will take full responsibility BEFORE your child is brought into this world, Inik. You have decided to help bring a life into this world, and you will ensure it is taken care of. Do we do half measures now, Inik?”

Inik shuddered once more, and I had to wonder a little about this Madame before us, but the more pressing matter was how my wife swallowed down anything she would think of saying to instead just answer ”N-No, we don’t... I don’t...”

I wasn’t even aware of any pressure being exerted, but I could tell it had to have been there since my wife just slumped back a bit when the Madame said ”Good. Let us pick out a date sometime soon, hm? It is Spring, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”, the Elf looking away from her and fixing her gaze on the tankards on the table instead.