Master’s Smile

C76 – In The City at Night

At the same time Vampir was clashing with a member of Inicken, there was a woman walking around the city.

Her silvery hair, which should have shone enticingly in the moonlight, was now obscured by the headdress she was wearing to cover her ears.

Her skin was a different shade of brown from a tanned one.

Her face, usually cold and unchanging, now had a thin smile plastered on it.

“I finally got Master’s favorite condiments. Would he be pleased by this?”

The girl who was wearing a maid outfit, Schwarz, relaxed her mouth while carefully holding the paper bag.

Normally, she would always be angry with the members of Yelquchira, but she felt calm when she was thinking about her master.

Even just a few moments ago, she was annoyed.

“Sheesh…. I can’t believe she forced herself to follow me and then disappeared on her own… that fake lady.”

Schwarz was reminded of the woman in a fancy dress who laughed with “Oh-ho-ho-ho!” loudly… or rather, Vampir.

She immediately left the guild headquarters to go buy her master’s favorite condiments when she found out that they ran out of stock.

However, she was caught by the troublesome young lady, Vampir.

She persistently asked Schwarz why she was going out, so Schwarz had no choice but to answer, and as a result, Vampir came along with her.

If it was shopping for the other members instead, she would never want to come along.

She declared that she would join Schwarz as soon as she found out that it was for her master..

“Even though It’s my role to take care of Master….”

Nevertheless, she stubbornly insisted on following Schwarz, hence Schwarz reluctantly gave Vampir permission.

The reason being wasn’t because she felt sorry for Vampir, nor even had sympathy for her.

It was because Schwarz was annoyed by her whining and her tantrum.

In the first place, it was impossible for Schwarz, who pours all of her affection into her master, to have even a shred of affection for the selfish young lady.

And so, even though she conceded and gave her permission, Vampir still went missing.

“…I hope she never comes back and ends up in the gutter.”

Schwarz spat out cold venom.

The chilly night air of the city seemed to have cooled down a few more degrees.

Naturally, there was no thought in her mind of going to look for the missing Vampir.

She had to quickly return to the guild headquarters and prepare the dishes using the condiments that her master liked.

Just like Laladi is the “Person-in-charge of the hero” and Sorglos is the “Person-in-charge of the guild”, Schwarz was obviously given a task as a “Person-in-charge” as well.

Therefore, she can’t always be at the guild headquarters, and her chances to offer her cooking to her master are limited.

She wished to do her best to make him something delicious whenever she could.

Schwarz always thought so.

“That’s why, I can’t accompany you today.”

With her short silver hair swaying underneath her headdress, she turned around and stated her apology.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a skinny man leaning his back against the wall of a building.

What was distinctive about him was the thin swordーーーkatana, which was hanging on his waist.

It was a weapon that was not often seen in this kingdom.

“That’s unfortunate. I’ve come all this way just to see you, so give me a little attention and company, would you, Maid-san?”

The skinny man walked unsteadily and stood in front of Schwarz with a grin.

Apparently, he had no intention of letting her leave.

She wanted to go back to the guild and prepare the condiments as soon as possible.

Although her expression did not change, her whole body radiated an irritated aura.

“It’s better for you to deal with that cocky and stupid young lady rather than me. Unlike me, she is a battle-junkie idiot.”

It was too much of a hassle for her to deal with him, so without any hesitation, she sold the currently missing Vampir to him.

Schwarz reluctantly brought her, but she thought that Vampir was finally useful for once.

However, the skinny man shook his head.

“The only person I want to kill is… you, Maid-san. Besides, my comrade is going after that young lady too, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Tsk.”

Schwarz clicked her tongue in vexation when she heard his reply.

But as expected of her, she reverted back to her poker face soon after.

Nevertheless, Vampir was really an unwanted child as she was even useless as a decoy.

In Schwarz’s mind, little Vampirs banded together and protested noisily, but she ignored them.

“Then, I will ask you another question, why are you so obsessed with me?”

Schwarz asked him in an expressionless yet annoyed tone of voice and the man smiled mysteriously while patting the katana on his waist.

“My katana demands blood. Especially the blood of a swordsman who is as strong as me, you see….”

“(…Uwaah, so he’s a bloodthirsty idiot.)”

When the man drew his katana and stroked it lovingly, Schwarz’s face tightened.

It wasn’t that she was afraid.

It was just that she was reminded a little of her black history.

Remembering it made her want to kneel down to her master once again, so she shook her head in an attempt to forget it.

For now, having succeeded in forgetting her dark past, Schwarz looked at the man.

This man turned out to be the type who doesn’t even listen to what the other person has to say and would rather not try to find a peaceful solution through discussion.

…It really does stimulate her black history.

“May I also ask about your comrade?”

“…Ahh, I guess that’s fine.”

Schwarz’s question was, without a doubt, something that couldn’t be answered, being that she was his enemy.

However, she was here to be cut down by him anyway, hence he decided to tell her as a tribute.

“We are “Iron Queen (Inicken)”. The same dark guild as yours, Maid-san. Our master wants to defeat you guys and get the title of the strongest, you see.”

Hearing those words, Schwarz’s body twitched.

“…Aaah, those “Iron scraps”, huh? Trying to oppose Master, quite a foolish guild you got there.”

“…What?”

Blue veins popped out on his forehead as his guild’s name was insulted.

Even with a strong murderous gaze, Schwarz remained unperturbed.

“Very well. It is my duty as a maid to slaughter my lord’s enemies. I’ll take care of you.”

She tucked the paper bag containing the condiments into her long skirt.

In exchange, she took out a sword from the inside.

The inside of a maid’s skirt is full of wonders.

(TLN: It’s a different dimension.) (EDN: Might as well be a black hole)

“…If I win, I’d like to see what’s inside that maid’s outfit.”

“Unfortunately, I can only lift my skirt in front of Master.”

As if to respond to Schwarz’s action, the man also drew his katana.

The man wished for the blood of a strong swordsman.

The woman wished to slaughter the enemy of her lord. Incidentally, she was also annoyed due to the fact that she had to recall her black history.

In the city at night, the two dark guild members clashed.