Ch.1515. An Unwelcome Guest.

They say humans are creatures of adaptation.

I’m not sure if that saying applies to monsters as well.

But so far, they’ve adapted, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

Every day follows a similar routine.

I always wake up early, then rouse Arin and Red Hair.

Asking me to wake them up every morning. Really now.

Well, such requests aren’t difficult to fulfill.

I enter Red Hair’s room, lift the blanket covering her head, and call out softly.

Sigh, a high school student acting like a child.

“Wake up. Do you know what time it is?”

“Mmm… I’ll get up… just a little more…”

“How are you harder to wake than Arin… Aren’t you supposed to be the older one?”

“Uugh… just a little… more… I went to bed… too late… last night…”

“I said wake up! If you don’t get up right now, I’ll pour ice water on you!”

“Ugh… fine…”

“Finally, you’re up. Really… Come down for breakfast.”

“Ah, thanks… Vine…”

“Good grief…”

Wake up the pathetic magical girl high schooler, feed her, send her to school.

After the busy morning passes, once the dishes and laundry are done, I have some free time.

With nothing particular to do, I might as well look outside.

Living in a high-rise apartment means the view is quite nice.

I watch TV sometimes, but lately, it’s been too boring.

As I waste time aimlessly, one unemployed person slowly emerges…

Around that time, I should prepare lunch for it to be ready at a good time.

I wake her up with cold water, ask what she wants to eat while preparing the meal, then we have lunch.

Today, Blanc went out for business at the Association, but usually, the three of us eat together.

Ah, that crybaby, despite being a magical girl, got a job at the Association and goes out to provide consultation whenever she wants.

She’s usually not around at this time either, so.

Today it’s just the two of us having a meal.

After serving the food, I clean individual rooms in the afternoon and organize the laundry.

When they return in the evening, I prepare dinner, then have free time in my room, looking at the darkness outside and the lighthouse.

I would ruminate on the time I’ve existed, sitting by the windowsill.

But why.

Blanc, who said she had business, is coming back now.

And with someone beside her, wait. That man is…

Ah, hold on.

Why…?

Why did she bring that person here?

Why did she bring the head of the Magical Girl Association here!!

* * *

“Yoonseul, what did I just hear…?”

“I hired Vine for our dormitory, Mr. Chairman.”

Yoonseul spoke while looking at the bewildered expression of the Association Chairman.

The Magical Girl Association—an organization established decades ago to manage and support those who became magical girls by contracting with mascots to defeat monsters that appeared through dimensional rifts.

The iron-blooded Chairman, who single-handedly restructured a hastily built organization and created today’s massive association, was now groaning while clutching his head.

Who would have thought that one piece of news from Magical Girl Blanc, Yoonseul, would affect him like this?

“I thought you already knew. Didn’t Hyewon tell you? Or couldn’t you see me walking around with Vine all over the internet?”

“Sigh, that was already troubling news, but now cohabitation, and even employment…”

“Doesn’t Vine wear a power-sealing device with location tracking? You should have known.”

“Monitoring only begins when the wearer’s magical power is detected. No, this is, ah, how, sigh…”

“What’s wrong, Chairman? She’s neutralized by the power-sealing device anyway. Besides, with me monitoring her too, isn’t it safer? I don’t see any problem.”

“Yoonseul, that’s not the issue. How could you employ a villain in a magical girl dormitory, especially Vine… Sigh, really… Is Vine at the dormitory right now?”

“Yes, unless she’s going to the market, she rarely goes out. And even then, only when I’m around.”

“Then, let’s go. Let’s go see her first. We’ll talk about the rest afterward.”

“Hmm, well. Let’s go now then.”

Yoonseul set off for the dormitory with the Chairman in tow.

This was necessary for Vine’s happiness, after all.

* * *

“Blanc, that person. Isn’t that the Chairman? Why is he here…?”

Why would someone as important as the Chairman visit a dormitory where magical girls live…?

Usually, when someone from the Association visits a place like this, it’s a subordinate, not the Chairman himself.

“W-wait. Is this really V-Vine?”

“Ah, yes. If you’re looking for Vine of the fallen Eden. It’s been a while. I am Vine, the Dark Tendril.”

“See? There’s no problem at all.”

“Pardon? Problem? Have I done something wrong? Or has there been a mistake in my judgment, and you’ve come to take me to Marina?”

“Vine, don’t worry. The Chairman is just here for a visit, think of it that way.”

“Hmm, that’s unlikely, isn’t it? I’m not naive enough to fall for that. Hmm, perhaps you’ve come for revenge for the bomb gift?”

“Ah, what? Bomb gift? What are you…”

“Come on, please sit down, Chairman. Let’s talk with Vine first and then decide.”

“Hmm, I don’t know if you’ve lost your memory, but you’re a guest now, aren’t you? Please wait a moment. I’ll bring some refreshments.”

Just then, the unemployed one, who was startled by the guest’s arrival while setting the table, asked me.

“Vine… I’m hungry…”

“Ah, right. Then, I’ll serve dinner. Chairman, please join us.”

Hmm, I only prepared for two people. What should I do?

“V-Vine is cooking? No, why is she so compliant?”

“I told you there’s no problem, Chairman. Sigh, really, you should listen to people.”

They seem to be saying strange things, but I’ll ignore it for now.

I knew this would happen anyway.

Living in a den of magical girls, these kinds of incidents were inevitable.

If I get fired in the midst of this, well.

I’ll just think of it as a dream and return to my normal life.

Still, I should do my best with the task at hand.

I haven’t been fired yet, and it wouldn’t do to be careless with guests.

After all, I am a housekeeper.

So I prepared the table and took my seat.

“Let’s eat. It’s not much, but please enjoy.”

The unemployed one was so hungry that she ate more hastily than usual.

But seeing her eat so deliciously, the Chairman also started eating without suspicion, which was fortunate.

“…? This is delicious. Eh…?”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. So, you said you came to see me. Is there a reason?”

The Chairman, who was eating, answered my question.

“Well, first… I heard from Yoonseul, ah, I should say Blanc. Blanc said she hired a villain. It just seemed concerning that a villain was employed at a magical girl dormitory.”

“Ah, so that’s what this is about. I suppose someone like me isn’t acceptable after all. Blanc, I win our bet then. The Association is telling you not to employ me anymore.”

The Chairman seemed flustered and coughed before speaking to me.

“No, no. That’s not what I meant. I came to check if everything was alright. I didn’t come to fire you.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be burdensome for the Association? I suppose a villain like me should hide in deep mountains away from the light of the world. That would be the end the world wants for a villain.”

“No, that’s not it…”

Then, Blanc answered on behalf of the Chairman.

“Vine, what’s wrong? No one has said anything against you. The Chairman just came to check. It’s not a burden on the Association at all, so don’t worry.”

“Sigh. Blanc. If there was no burden on the Association, the Chairman wouldn’t have a reason to come here.”

The Chairman objected to my words.

“No, that’s, I was worried, but now I see there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, from the Association’s perspective, this is better than having a villain hiding and plotting something. Yes.”

Hmm, I wonder why the Chairman suddenly changed his attitude.

Nothing seems different from usual.

As the conversation paused, the meal concluded.

“Have you finished your meal? Just a moment. I’ll bring dessert.”

“Eh? That’s not necessary?”

“You’re a guest, so it would be lacking not to serve dessert. It’s no trouble, just wait a moment.”

“Then, let me help clean up. Should I clear these?”

“No, I’ll do it. Please remain seated.”

“Ah, sigh.”

The Chairman, who seemed to want to say something, just looked at me with anxious eyes.

This isn’t even difficult work. There’s no need for sympathy.

After bringing out some coffee and cookies, we resumed our earlier conversation.

“So, what’s the conclusion? Please tell me so I can prepare myself mentally.”

“Ah, there’s no problem at all. In fact, it would be better if you continue living like this.”

“You mean I should avoid causing trouble and live like this? Well, I gave up my evil deeds long ago. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t with this thing on me.”

“Haha… I see… But what was that about a bomb gift you mentioned earlier…?”

“Ah, that? It happened during my Eden days. But now Eden has fallen, and it’s all in the past, so I’ll tell you.”

“It was around when I first debuted. That’s where it begins.”

Really, I’ve lived a more interesting life than I thought.