[Since the first half of the chapter mostly consists of explicit content unrelated to the story''s plot, this section has been redacted. If you wish to read the whole chapter, please look up this story on Webnovel, or go to the directory on my twitter page as linked down below.]


    [I apologize for the inconvenience.]


    Once I rinsed enough of her soapy body with water, using Water Magic to assist me, I lathered my hands with soap and finally returned to her back where I could take a breather.


    It was definitely too late to say this, but I didn’t know just how sensational washing Melody with my bare hands lathered in soap was, compared to when I touched her body while it was dry. If I didn’t remind myself that I was limited on time every couple of minutes, I’d likely have played with her body a lot longer without even realizing what I was doing. Complimenting her body parts as I washed them made the moment all the more exhilarating. They were all true, too, and if she was my girlfriend, I’d likely have said and done so much more to her.


    As I washed and massaged Melody’s broad back that glistened with water and soap, infatuation didn’t begin to describe what I was feeling right now while running my hands over it. It was like I had summoned her to this world all over again.


    When I recalled those moments from our meeting up to now, especially moments ago, there was something I noticed that bothered me some while I worked. My mind’s aware of how sexy Melody is, my heart’s racing just thinking about it, so why … is a certain part in this body not reacting? I asked myself. Sure, it’s still relatively young, probably not close to reaching puberty yet, but is that really all there is to it? Or is there some other, magical, influence at play here?


    <Mona, can you examine my body?> I asked the voice in charge of the more technical side of my Great Sage gift, having nowhere else to turn.


    <About why your bodily functions aren''t working as data would suggest they should? Analyzing … answer reached. This is the result of the administrator’s special Child-Protection function that was added to your body.>


    <You mean my body has a built in ‘Child Lock’, like those medicine caps?! Does Elmyra have something to do with this?>


    <Affirmative. Due to the likelihood of your adult soul’s mindset conflicting with the functioning of your younger child body, the administrator inserted a custom Child-Protection function to block any arousal signals from prematurely stimulating your genitals for the sake of your body’s safe physical development.>


    <Huh … Okay, do I have any control over how this function affects my body?> I asked her.


    <Negative. At this time, the administrator has locked off all access to the function until you reach the age of majority. At that time, you’ll be able to adjust how arousal can affect your genitals at will.>


    <Wow, so, when I become of age, I have to ‘turn off’ the Child-Protection function to get ‘turned on.’ Am I getting that right?> I asked.


    <Affirmative. The rest of your body except your genitals will continue to function normally in regards to arousal, however.>Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    <I’m a little concerned of how this ensures a ‘safe, physical development,’ but okay, I guess I can live with that reasoning. Does this also have anything to do with how I still notice that Sarise is attractive even when her Aura is inverted?>


    Supposedly, a devil’s Aura doesn’t affect children by default thanks to the Child-Protection aspect. If a devil inverts their normal Aura, it should affect adults like it would for children too. Either way, I should have noticed a change at some point. Though I was exposed to both modes when Sarise demonstrated inverting her Aura that first time, I still saw her as a bombshell beauty with a risque choice of attire. My dick would have pierced the heavens from how aroused I felt just being near her if I had an adult body.


    <Your mind isn’t affected by Sarise’s Aura or its Inversion due to your Great Sage gift,> Mona explained.


    <Ah, I figured that’d be the case, but how and why?>


    <Would you like the long version or short version of the explanation?> she asked.


    <Uh … I’ll listen to the long version later. Try to explain the short version in accordance to what we’ve already discussed, please.>


    <In short, your Great Sage gift allows you to perceive not just the mana signatures that exist on Manara, but Aura signatures as well. This is something other Magicians are not able to do, with or without familiars of their own. Since you are able to perceive Sarise’s Aura signature, and she is your familiar, you are immunised from its mind altering effects. This allows you to also see through her Aura, inverted, Child-Protected, or otherwise. In turn, you can thus observe Sarise with the unaltered desire and arousal of an adult.>


    <Huh … I’m a little bummed I still get the short end of the stick in puberty, but I think I got the gist of what’s going on with my body, at least.>


    “Thanks again for helping me wash my body, Soar, especially my back,” Melody said suddenly, snapping me out of my internal conversation with Mona, “I’m afraid I’m not flexible enough to reach back there without a back scrubber.”


    Flustered from getting reeled back into reality, I was having difficulty finding words while washing her back, “I uh … suppose a lot of people would also have that issue. Can you move a little so I can get to your butt as well?”


    Melody complied and tried to position herself on the seat for me to get to as much of her large ass as possible. Part of me was surprised by how easily she followed my request, but I was in more shock at [Redacted]


    “That reminds me! Familiars like me usually wash their master’s backs, right? I should do that for you, too, since we’re here. Then we can take a bath together!”


    If Sarise finds out I let Melody wash my back and bathe with me first before her, even though she asked first, things will likely get ugly. It would probably be worse if she also knew what I had done with my new familiar before her tonight, I thought, “Oh, no, it’s fine. I actually took a bath earlier. I’m just going to wash myself and supervise while you bathe so you don’t hurt yourself.”


    “But you worked so hard, though! I’m also sure I … made a mess on your clothes with my happy juices too. Let me make it up to you for that much, at least.”


    “I don’t—”


    “Today’s been a long day for you all, right? So, let’s relax and take a nice, long … soak?” a familiar voice interrupted me. I turned to the source as I felt my stomach drop.


    In the doorway stood Ms. Renne, Zalena, and Sarise, walking into the scene of me washing Melody’s ass, staring at us wide-eyed. I feel like I’m suddenly in a drama where I’m caught in the act of two-timing on my wife.


    FUCK! What do I say?! “… H-Hey, guys! Look who I summoned from Zaleese!” I exclaimed with faux enthusiasm before putting up a smile of the same level.


    It was then my light sky-blue eyes locked onto Sarise’s pink ones. I immediately noticed how dull and void of life they were compared to how they usually looked.


    I am so boned now, aren’t I?