Turns out… there''s actually a lot that makes these homunculi special.

    For starters, they don''t need food. Not human food, not Furren food. Nothing at all, really. They''re completely sustained by mana. Pure, steady energy, drawn straight from the artificial mana cores built into their bodies.

    It''s kind of incredible when you think about it.

    Their energy use depends on how hard they''re working, sure. But for simple stuff—cleaning, cooking, laundry? The cost is surprisingly low. Maintaining just one of them only takes about a single C-rank mana core a day.

    And here''s the best part: you can charge them in advance. Like… fully. One homunculus can store up to a hundred C-rank cores at once. That''s one hundred days of autonomous, uninterrupted operation, no maintenance needed!

    And if they do run out of mana? They don''t break. Instead, they just… go into sleep mode. Power them up again, and they''re back on their feet like nothing ever happened.

    But that''s not all.

    "These catgirl maids actually have some combat capability as well!" Alvero says, his eyes practically sparkling with pride.

    I blink. "Wait… seriously? Combat? Like, actual combat?"

    "Yes," he nods. "Each one has the physical strength and reflexes of a C-rank adventurer. However, they cannot use magic though, just physical strength…"

    "Still, that''s amazing!" I can''t help but grin.

    So not only are they helpful around the house… they''re also built-in bodyguards? Sёarch* The n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That''s ridiculously cool!

    Though, honestly, I doubt we''ll need much guarding in here, at our new home. This place is heavily warded and sealed off, practically impossible to access unless someone is specifically allowed in.

    And furthermore… we have Eris.

    As an A rank adventurer, Eris alone could wipe out a horde of C-rank adventurers without even blinking! If something ever gets past her, well… that''s probably the moment the world is ending.

    Still—

    "At the very least," Eris says, nudging me gently with her elbow, "they''d make great sparring partners for you, wouldn''t they?"

    Oh.

    Ohhhh!

    My eyes widen a little as the thought clicks into place. "Eris, you''re right!"

    When Eris is off doing her own thing, or when I''m just feeling extra restless, I could train with them. After all, they are C ranker equivalent! At this point, they are still way stronger than me!

    "And," she adds casually, "they can even go hunting for us when needed!"

    Eris ends the sentence with a wink.

    My jaw drops. "No way!"

    She just grins.

    I can already picture it!

    Five sleek, silent cat-eared homunculi gliding through the woods with perfect coordination, moving like shadows, then returning with game slung effortlessly over their shoulders. Oh my, it''s like having our own elite hunting squad! We will never go hungry!

    "Oooh! Guildmaster!" I then turn back to Alvero, as a sudden question sparks in my mind, "can they… erm… swim too?"

    If they can, then we will be able to have a lot of fish for dinner!

    Alvero chuckles, a soft, refined sound. "Of course!" he replies. "And more than that, they''re also highly resistant to poisons, harsh environments, and various types of magical interference! If necessary, they could even explore dangerous dungeons in your place!" he adds.

    "…Oh shit." I blink, stunned. "That''s… actually a brilliant idea!"

    We can send them scouting ahead! Or gathering materials! Or running errands in creepy, gross places we don''t want to go!

    "But please do be mindful," Alvero continues, his voice calm and measured, "that their energy consumption increases significantly under heavier workloads, or during combat."

    He pauses for emphasis, then adds, "And while they are designed to be highly durable, they are not invincible. If they''re damaged… repairs can be quite costly."

    "I-I see…" I nod slowly, a flicker of guilt tugging at me. I mean, I''d just been imagining them fighting monsters and scrubbing floors all day. That''s a little bit too much, isn''t it?

    "Alright, um… one more question?" I ask, glancing up at him.

    "Of course, Miss Felicia."

    I hesitate for a moment, then lean forward, lowering my voice just a little. "Um… May I ask about… how the homunculi are made?"

    Alvero''s expression shifts ever so slightly.

    "I''m afraid that''s a secret," he says gently but firmly. "Please forgive me—we cannot disclose that information."

    "I-I see…" I say again, trying not to sound too disappointed.

    Well, it''s fine!

    I was just curious. It''s not like I need to know everything… right?

    Right.

    "Anyway," Alvero says, briskly but politely, clasping his hands again, "there''s one final feature I should mention. If you ever wish to change a homunculus''s appearance… it''s quite simple."

    He steps forward, lifts a finger, and lightly taps the forehead of the maid standing closest.

    "Just place your hand, or a finger, on their forehead," he explains. "Then visualize the appearance you want them to take. The clearer and more detailed your mental image, the more precise the transformation."

    As he speaks, the change begins.

    Right before our eyes, the petite maid''s body starts to shift. She stretches taller. Her figure curves, filling out in all the right places. Her short tousled hair grows long, flowing down her back in shimmering waves of white silk.

    I blink. Then blink again.

    Her outfit adjusts to fit the new form. Snugly. Very snugly.

    Oh. Oh my god!

    Those boobs are huge!

    And they''re—jiggling?!

    My mouth falls open a little.

    Eris squints at the new form, then glances sideways at Alvero. Back at the maid. Then at him again.

    "I see," she says slowly. "So that''s your taste, huh?"

    "Ehem—!" The Guildmaster clears his throat loudly, flustered. "P-please don''t tell anyone. Especially not my wife."

    "Fufu~" Eris giggles mischievously, clearly enjoying this far too much. Her eyes flick between me and the busty homunculus again, and then linger on me.

    Wait.

    Wait a minute.

    "E-Eris!" I cry, my tail poofing out like a feather duster as heat creeps up my cheeks. "You''re thinking something weird, aren''t you?!"

    "Hehe~" Eris hums, all innocent-like, her smile soft and infuriating. "Don''t worry. Even if they shapeshift into you, no one could ever match the real Felicia! You''re still the best!"

    I blink.

    A compliment?

    "Hmph! Of course I am!" I declare, puffing out my chest proudly—

    —only for her to add, far too sweetly, "Yeah, no one else could ever be as silly as you."

    "Heyyy!!" I yell.

    Eris bursts out laughing, a warm, delighted sound that only makes me flail harder.

    And then—

    "Ohhh, I do wonder how sexy you''d look if your chest was just a bit… bigger?"

    "HEEEEEYYYYY!!"

    I whirl and stomp directly on her foot.

    She barely flinches.

    Silly, smug, ridiculous Eris!!

    Now I''m fuming, puffed up like a balloon, cheeks hot, tail twitching in outrage!

    Ugh!!

    "Alright then!" I huff, pointing at her with all the righteous fury I can muster. "If you''re gonna do that, then I''ll just turn all five homunculi into you and have them wash my feet every morning! In perfect synchronization!"

    Eris gasps.

    But not in horror.

    Her eyes sparkle. "Oh? That actually sounds amazing! Can I watch?"

    And just like that, we''re at it again, bickering, laughing, tossing playful jabs back and forth like kids in a schoolyard.

    Meanwhile, Alvero just watches with a warm smile, occasionally chuckling at our chaos.