[Barbarian Lilia (3)]

“So, in the end, you got essential potions from Lizzy at half price?”

“It’s half the cost of materials, so it’s actually less than half the retail price.”

“Wow.”

Gyeongmwajogyegigwat was looking at me with an expression of disbelief after hearing about my trade.

“You’re such a scammer. How did you manage to haggle the August Trading Company down to half the cost of raw materials?”

“What’s the big deal? I saved their life once, so this is a bargain. Besides, I paid full price for the mandrake roots last time.”

“Of course you did. If you’d tried to get that for free too, you really would be a scammer.”

“I never even asked them to make it at a quarter of the price in the first place. Refusing their friendly discount offer would be the real scam!”

“…”

I did act like a scammer, but honestly, it wasn’t my fault. They just competed with each other over me until the price dropped that far.

I never even said I’d consider whoever made my potion to be my closer friend or anything like that.

“Anyway, since Lizzy agreed to make mine, if you need potions for the end-of-semester Hunting Festival, ask Lara. You’re pretty close with Lara now that her event is over, right?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re not close, but we’re not as close as in the original story after the event.”

“Huh?”

“I was the one who finally dealt with the Moonlight Wolves, but somehow, something went wrong, and the half-price potion perk didn’t apply.”

“What? Really?”

“And after hearing what you just said, I’m sure of it. It looks like the event was applied as if you cleared it, not me.”

“…”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

I mean, there’s no way Lara would randomly offer to make me potions at half of Lizzy’s price. Even though we built up some rapport in the Witch’s Forest, we did become close rather quickly.

But if it was all because the ‘Lara’s Secret’ event had been processed as if I had cleared it, it made sense. After all, I ended up receiving the quest reward, the Witch’s Pendant.

“What? Then you probably didn’t get the scene either, huh?”

“…What scene?”

“The scene with Lara. It’s the special reward for the ‘Lara’s Secret’ event. Too bad for you~”

“…I said I wasn’t interested. I don’t want to create something I’d have to take responsibility for in this world before going back.”

“You don’t need to take responsibility with Lara. In the original story, it’s a one-time thing anyway. Pleasure without responsibility—how can you resist that? A night of passion with a gloomy, busty, mentally unstable beauty—how can you pass that up?”

“…You’re really excited, aren’t you? Did you go into heat after doing it once with Ethan?”

“Ack! Cough! Cough!!“

I suddenly choked on my saliva at Gyeongmwajogyegigwat’s brazen comment. How the hell does he know about this?

“W-What?! How do you know about that?!”

“How? You’re so obvious about it that it would be strange not to notice.”

“Huh…?”

“You link arms with Ethan wherever you go, you’re always next to him during joint classes, whether you’re sparring or resting. You look at him with such honey-dripping eyes—how could I possibly miss it?”

“I-I don’t look at him like that!”

“Your eyes when you look at Ethan are exactly the same as Seriste’s and Selena’s when they look at me.”

“…”

Damn it. This is why I wanted to hide it from him as much as possible.

I was planning to keep it a secret until the end to avoid being teased like this, but he’s too perceptive…

“Obviously, I’d notice when you bought dried mandrake roots in the Witch’s Forest. And now that Seriste has awakened as a Saint, you don’t need to hold back anymore.”

“I-I haven’t used it yet! And Ethan is perfectly vigorous without it!”

“The fact that you haven’t used it yet implies you plan to use it eventually, no?”

“…”

“And honestly, it shows a bit on Ethan, too, not just you. Well, not as much as you, but he seems more relaxed compared to before.”

“…Well, that’s somewhat of a relief to hear.”

So, taking that step as a man has had some effect.

I was somewhat relieved to hear that it wasn’t just me who felt good. It meant that giving my first time to Ethan as a “reward” was somewhat successful.

“Anyway, does that mean you’ll have to pay full price to Lara? With all your party members, you’ll probably end up spending at least 10-20 gold coins. Want me to ask Lara for you?”

“No need. Too much trouble. Besides, I’m going to ask Tralia this year. Tralia is much more conscientious compared to Lizzy or Lara.”

“…When did you get close to her? You really are busy.”

“I have to be busy. Especially if I want to return to my original world.”

“…”

So his determination to return to his original world hasn’t changed.

To be honest, I wanted to ask him to stay for the sake of Seriste and Seraphine. 

As a former unicorn from my past life, it was truly sad to see a devoted first love be sent away for such a flimsy reason.

The problem was that looking at his attitude, Gyeongmwajogyegigwat seemed to have no intention of reconsidering his original resolve.

I didn’t want to force him, but if I didn’t, the original heroines were destined for heartbreak.

I could leak Gyeongmwajogyegigwat’s plans to Seraphine or the others in advance to prevent his return, but I didn’t want to see them earn his resentment that way.

As someone who had completed Luminor Academy 24.5 times in my previous life, I couldn’t help but have a certain affection for all the heroine characters in this world. From main heroines to sub-heroines, I had experienced at least one solo ending with each of them.

Wishing for a world where as many of them as possible could be happy was, in the end, an unavoidable desire.

“Well, I should get going now. Ethan’s meeting with the professor seems to be almost over.”

“Sure.”

“Take care of yourself and Ethan. ‘Lewd Maid Lilith.'”

“Yeah, you take care, too… What?! Y-You must have a death wish…”

“By the way, I didn’t make that up. I checked your status window and saw it’s your title.”

“Y-You’re talking nonsense! Why would I have such an insane title…”

As I skeptically pondered Gyeongmwajogyegigwat’s words, I clasped my hands to check my status window after a long time.

I couldn’t help but scream on the spot when I saw my ridiculously changed title.

『Name: Lilith Blackwood Rosewood

Title: Lewd Maid』

“Kyaaaaaah?!”

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

…This is the worst.

The absolute worst.

No, seriously, what is this? What kind of nonsensical situation is this?

『Title: Lewd Maid』

“…”

I couldn’t accept why such a preposterous title existed in this world, and why it was attached to me.

‘Since when has this been my title?’

It was definitely “Prophesied Saint” when I was in the Witch’s Forest. I remember checking my status window to assign new skills before facing the Roaring Crescent Bear, so I’m certain.

It probably wasn’t after I leveled up either, since I checked my stat bonuses then… 

So it must have changed sometime after that.

‘I can roughly guess when it might have changed.’

I cautiously speculated that it probably changed around the time I did it with Ethan. Looking back, the situation between Ethan and me during our first time was a bit, well, inappropriate in several ways.

I seduced Ethan with my body, telling him to somehow beat Harold because I wanted to give him my first time, and then I slipped into his room and kind of half-jumped him.

Afterward, I set aside all embarrassment and engaged in various acts of affection with Ethan, so in many ways, it was inevitable that I’d get a title like this.

‘At least, fortunately, it’s not visible to others.’

Only Gyeongmwajogyegigwat, as the Hero, has the special privilege of seeing other characters’ status windows, so no one else will suddenly look at me and say, “Miss Lewd Maid…?”

In that case, there was no need to feel dejected—I could just be confident. So what? If you’re curious about my title, get reincarnated into another world yourselves.

“Lilith. Did you wait long?”

Just as Ethan returned from his meeting with the professor, I put aside my concerns and immediately returned to my role as Ethan’s exclusive maid.

“No, I didn’t wait long, Young Master Ethan.”

“I think I saw Gyeongmwajogyegigwat passing by earlier. Did he say anything strange…?”

“Other than a simple greeting, we didn’t have any notable conversation, so you can rest assured.”

“O-Okay… I-I’m not doubting you or anything, just wondering…”

Ethan was still the same, still wary of the Hero even after claiming me in bed.

Well, he has definitely become more docile compared to before. In the past, he would have glared with fiery eyes and warned me not to even approach the guy if I’d just had a conversation with him.

Having shared his first time with me, he probably wouldn’t have delusions about losing me to Gyeongmwajogyegigwat for a while.

“When is your meeting with the professor, Lilith?”

“It’s scheduled for next week. I think we’ll discuss my minor for the third year.”

“Have you decided what direction you’ll take?”

“Until last year, I was thinking of focusing on offensive magic centered around vision magic as my minor, but…”

“Yes?”

“…I’m thinking it might not be bad to learn magic that supports swordsmanship.”

At least while I’m at the Academy, I could be of help to Ethan.

“Th-That’s a good idea, Lilith.”

“I’m not learning it just for you, Young Master Ethan. I use daggers too, you know.”

“Yes, y-yes. I know that.”

“But since part of my reason is for your sake, Young Master, you should be grateful to me.”

“…Yes. Thank you, Lilith.”

“As long as you understand. Oh, and regarding the potions for the end-of-term Hunting Festival…”

And so, after planning a slightly closer future together with Ethan and ending the day, the next afternoon…

“Please help me, Senior Lilith.”

“…Huh?”

I found myself facing new confusion due to Lilia, who had suddenly come to the Magic Department building.