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The Demon Race takes care of their horns.

Of course, I, Murmur, knew about this setting.

There was a quest from Professor Gremory in the Black Magic Defense class to get horn care supplies, so how could I not know?

But players don’t have to take care of their horns.

The shape of the horns can be easily changed using “Aphrodite’s Mirror” to customize appearance, so there’s no need to know more, and it’s not even implemented as a feature.

“Murmur has never done this before, so it’s annoying…”

I really, really didn’t like it because I’d never seen it in the game or the setting books.

“It’s okay, Murmur. I heard they’ve been managing it since elementary school.”

“Actually, I’m sorry we haven’t been able to trim Murmur-nim’s horns until now.”

Even if you say that…

I, Murmur, really just don’t want to do it, okay?

“There’s no need to worry, Murmur-nim. It’s just like trimming nails.”

Vesta said with a smile.

She’s putting a towel on someone’s head like a sheep’s braid and saying that!

“Princess Nicasia and Miss Citrine, to trim the horns, you must first wipe them with a warm towel.”

“Ah, so that’s why you put this fluffy towel on Murmur’s head?”

Vesta handed Nicasia and Citrine a warm towel with soft white steam rising from it.

Bianca’s excited too. So excited!

Isn’t everyone trying way too hard to trim my horns?!

“Just follow my lead.”

Vesta wasn’t a super maid for nothing.

Thinking I might be nervous, she had Bianca hold up a mirror.

Thanks to that, I could watch Vesta bring the warm towel to my horns.

“Think of moistening from the tip to the root as you move your hands.”

“It’s really no different from trimming nails, huh?”

“Ohoho! Even though they’re horns, they’re still part of the body!”

Citrine “skillfully” held the warm towel with both hands and slowly ran it up and down the horns.

Hmm, is it because she’s a changeling? She’s rubbing the horns so skillfully.

“If it hurts, let us know, okay, Murmur?”

Nicasia, on the other hand, was very cautious.

At first, she was so gentle it was hard to tell she was rubbing the horns with the towel.

“Umm… I think Murmur can handle a bit more pressure now.”

“Ah! Is this okay? It’s hard to tell with the horns since they’re hard, unlike skin.”

“Murmur’s not in pain. It’s fine, Nicasia.”

Unlike Citrine, Nicasia held the towel in her right hand and ran it up and down the horn.

With her left hand, she held the base of the horn to control the pressure and avoid mistakes.

From my perspective, it just feels like someone’s rubbing my nails with a warm towel.

“Using a warm towel to stroke the horns seems quite meaningful. At first, they were hard and sharp…”

“But now they feel subtly softer!”

“Indeed. After softening the surface, you can use the prepared tool to smooth out any rough parts.”

Vesta held up a tool that reminded me of a nail clipper.

“This is called a ‘horn trimmer.'”

“Ah! I know about that. It’s quite an expensive item, right?”

Expensive?

…Isn’t it weird how Vesta just casually has something so expensive?!

“Bring the horn trimmer to Murmur-nim’s horn like this, then press it against any protruding or sharp parts and move it up and down.”

—Tok!

With a sound like clipping nails, a tiny piece of the horn fell off.

“So you cut off the rough parts to make the horn smoother?”

“Exactly. If left untrimmed, they could hurt others or get caught on things, so it’s better to trim them.”

“That makes sense. I thought it was just for beauty.”

Nicasia and Citrine chatted while using the horn trimmer.

But this really does feel like trimming nails.

If they trimmed the base roughly, it would hurt, right?

But since Vesta softened it with warm water and Nicasia and Citrine carefully cut it, it just feels nice.

“What’s next after trimming?”

“We’ll use a prepared file to polish it.”

Vesta pulled out a sponge that looked like sandpaper and showed it off.

“Murmur just realized. Horn trimming isn’t something Murmur can do alone.”

“Pfft… True. I’d never be able to do this alone.”

Nicasia nodded in agreement.

“It’s just like trimming nails.”

“…Nicasia, can’t you do that alone?”

“Huh? Uh… can’t you?”

“Murmur can trim her own nails.”

Nicasia’s face turned bright red.

“I-I can too!”

“Ohoho! Murmur-nim! It seems Nicasia, being a noble princess, has never trimmed her own nails or toenails~”

“That’s not true! And Citrine’s a lady too, right?!”

Citrine snorted and happily followed Vesta’s hand movements.

—Swish, swoosh! Swish, swoosh!

Vesta gently ran the sponge from the tip to the base of the horn.

“Ugh… Murmur feels weird.”

“It’s fine. It’s just the rough surface of the horn becoming smoother.”

“Hahaha, I get super ticklish when I file my nails or toenails too.”

What’s a file?!

Anyway, it’s really ticklish!

The feeling of the horn being smoothly filed down is really… how should I put it?

Ugh, this feels so strange.

“But Murmur-nim is holding up well.”

Citrine held the sponge with both hands and diligently ran it up and down the horn.

Even though she’s putting in her best effort, it’s amazing how gentle she is.

“Citrine, have you seen horn trimming before?”

“Yes. One of the stores run by our guild offers beauty services for noble demons.”

“Ah… I think I’ve heard of that. Demons live long, right? So I’ve heard at parties that some have been going to the same store for decades.”

“That’s the kind of store it is. So sometimes, even high school seniors older than Murmur-nim can’t stay still during horn trimming and end up laughing or screaming.”

Nicasia suddenly patted my head.

What?!

“Haha! So Murmur’s being incredibly patient, huh?”

“Murmur’s… ugh, not at the level of screaming.”

Every time the horn is trimmed, it feels like the center of my head is being soothed.

Anyway, it’s not like I’m screaming and running away.

First of all! I’m an adult inside, so I wouldn’t do that!

“But this is your first time, right? I have a bit of an embarrassing story…”

Nicasia held my horn with one hand and stroked it really softly and firmly.

Her strength is just perfect.

She’s rubbing so smoothly that even without looking in the mirror, I can tell my horn is shining.

“The first time I trimmed my nails, it felt so weird I cried and refused to do it.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it was so embarrassing and strange. It’s funny, right? During showers, the maids would rub my chest or lower body, and I’d just stay still.”

“Murmur thinks that’s just because you’re used to it.”

Nicasia smiled and nodded.

Citrine seemed to agree too, so she didn’t tease her this time.

“Princess Nicasia and Miss Citrine, you’ve done well.”

The seemingly endless horn rubbing with the sponge ended quickly as we chatted.

“Murmur-nim, are you satisfied?”

Vesta pointed to the mirror Bianca was holding.

“Murmur’s not sure.”

This was sincere.

The shape of the horn hasn’t changed, so it looks the same.

“Don’t you notice how incredibly smooth Murmur-nim’s horn has become?!”

“Umm…”

Has it become so soft that Citrine’s rubbing it like crazy?

“Ugh…”

It does feel much smoother when I touch it.

But I’ve never rubbed my horns like this before, so I can’t compare.

“Murmur thinks it feels softer…”

“It’s so smooth and shiny!”

Nicasia pointed at the horn reflected in Bianca’s mirror.

So. From my perspective, the horn is just a horn, so I can’t tell if it’s smooth or shiny, okay?

“If you’re satisfied, I’ll show you the final step.”

Vesta smiled and sprayed a golden ‘oil’ onto her palm.

“This is ‘Mistrose Oil.’ It will leave a subtle, sweet scent on Murmur-nim’s horn for a long time.”

“Ugh…? Do we have to do that too?”

“Of course! Murmur-nim!”

Citrine excitedly applied Mistrose Oil to both hands.

Then Nicasia also applied it to her hands and started rubbing my horn.

—Swish! Swish! Swoosh! Swoosh!

“Ugh, ugh… ugh, ugh…?!”

This feels hotter, smoother, and shinier than just rubbing with hands.

“Your horn looks so pretty now! Murmur! Congratulations!”

“Murmur-nim! You now have the most beautiful horn in the Academy!”

“Aca, demy…! Ugh! Right now, there’s no other demon walking around normally…!”

Listen to me! Guys!

Citrine and Nicasia didn’t give me any chance to speak and just kept rubbing the oil all over my horn.

『Murmur has successfully completed her first horn trimming!』

『Charm has increased by 1!』

Even my charm went up permanently?! There’s an achievement for this?!

What is this? Is it really for beauty, like Nicasia said?

“Did you enjoy your first horn trimming, Murmur-nim?”

Vesta asked with a bright smile.

“Murmur’s starting to dislike Vesta…”

“I’m glad you’re praising me so much.”

Ugh!!

Someone, please stop this maid!

We’re not even on the same wavelength!!!

“Murmur’s worried about how tomorrow will go…”

 

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