episode_0006

After Asher took a short break, we left the common room and continued exploring.

However, meaningful results were hard to come by. The mansion was so large that it was difficult to see everything, and there were no items that could be called clues.

“Ashe, aren’t you tired?”

“It’s okay because I just rested.”

She dismissed it shortly.

A strange change occurred in a short period of time.

When she first set foot in the mansion, Ashe was a reckless person. However, the current Ashe seems to have regained her sense of reality, and her sense of responsibility and positivity has come alive.

They say he still has a tomboyish and self-willed personality…

It was obvious that she had made some adjustments.

“It’s almost nighttime. I asked because I was worried you might be tired.”

“Okay. What do you mean tired? I just had fun at a nightclub the other day, so this is easy.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s fortunate…”

It’s true that it’s a little scary.

The more motivated I am, the greater the disappointment. I was worried that if I didn’t achieve results for a long time, my motivation would just fall to the ground.

“Butler, what on earth are you?”

“Huh?”

“You intentionally teased me, but you treated me so well. You even worried that I might get tired.”

“…”

“Why are you doing that? I want to know the reason too. At least let’s not feel wronged.”

There is no way to tell.

Even now, when I try to claim that I am a victim, my mouth is locked shut and I can’t move. At best, all I can do is pretend to be innocent.

Quietly, very quietly.

In the passage where only the sound of shoe-clicking filled the air, Asher’s sharp red eyes observed the cold scenery.

“Aha…”

But unexpectedly, Asher let out a low, low cry.

“Butler. You… have a clue?”

“…”

“It was strange. Wouldn’t a foreigner be the butler of a mansion this big? He doesn’t even know the names of the decorations in his own house. He knows the geography, but that’s about it. And if he’s not lying when he says he doesn’t know anything… Isn’t that too unnatural?”

I couldn’t open my mouth. It wasn’t because Asher was making empty conjectures, but because even I wasn’t sure about the matter.

I had established my identity as Ashe’s assistant. However, the way of thinking that I myself was the clue was quite unfamiliar to me.

I just have the belief that I have to be faithful to the role I’ve been given.

The idea that he was the one who would solve the puzzle was unprecedented.

“Butler.”

“… Yes, Asher.”

“What’s your name? Are you S or M?”

Asher, whose choice of words is quite provocative. I shook my head again at her question.

“I don’t know either. My name…”

“Hmm, the butler was an incompetent butler who didn’t even know his own name?”

“It’s hard to refute.”

He accepted it plainly, as if it was true. Then Asher’s eyes lit up as if he had solved one problem.

“See, that’s right. Revealing your identity is definitely related to the secrets of this old, run-down mansion!”

“Identity…”

Until now, I simply thought of it as bad luck. I thought that being possessed by a ghostly body and having my freedom taken away was a shameless trick of fate.

But… was there a story behind it?

There is some reason why I had to become the sole guardian of this mansion…

“Butler, don’t you want to know too? Who you are.”

“… I want to know. Of course.”

“Uh-huh-huh, then serve me even more. I will reveal all your secrets!”

“Okay, I will.”

Asher looked at me blankly, as if he found me puzzled, as I readily agreed.

Until the next words are spoken.

“If you need it, I will gladly help you with your bathing.”

“Can’t you shut up?! You fucking lewd, depraved, sima-oedo butler…!”

Asher grinned at me right after the harsh criticism.

“Huh, someone like you would’ve definitely fallen for maid B and been courting her without any sense of propriety. Just like any other male servant!”

“That wouldn’t be bad. If so, she would have been a very beautiful woman, unlike Asher, who doesn’t even look like a woman.”

“What? Don’t make me laugh. Even if that maid is pretty, do you think her skin would be prettier than mine, who washes her body with flower petals every day? Or would her facial features be more distinct than mine, a member of the royal family?”

That’s nonsense!

After adding that shout, Asher crossed his arms and grumbled.

“Butler, you promised me, right? Since you’re on my side, you shouldn’t run to maid B like you’re horny.”

“Come to think of it, why am I suddenly becoming a pervert?”

“Anyway! I’ll find your name, and you’ll be my faithful servant! You’re the lady of the mansion and Nabal, and from now on, that’s how it is. Got it?”

“Oh my, we have a new evil master.”

“Use it!”

Asher, who warns while scolding, clearly shows his determination not to tolerate the servant’s gossip.

I found the cat-like behavior a bit amusing and laughed for the first time in a while.

“Oh my goodness! Butler, you know how to laugh?”

“I didn’t laugh.”

“Again, again, again, another lie! You just laughed, didn’t you? How dare you, a servant, lie to your master? You disloyal bastard.”

“The owner’s opinion is not always right.”

“That’s what you’re talking about…”

“Guiding a master who is about to go down a vain path is also a virtue of a proper servant.”

At my words, Asher placed his chin on his palm and thought seriously.

That too, in an instant.

Asher quickly realized that he was caught up in the pace.

“Oh, what do you want me to do! You were laughing, you liar!”

“… Tsk.”

It still doesn’t work.

“Tsk? Tsk tsk?! I guess I’ll just fire you!”

Shhh!

Asher kicked my shin with all his might.

[This is an indestructible object.]

The absolute protection defensive gimmick is activated.

So, her emotional blow ended in vain.

“Indestructible? What the heck is this out of the ordinary magic…”

It’s a difficult magic for me too.

If it weren’t for this kind of defensive gimmick, I would have closed my eyes a long time ago.

That was such a pity.

“But I understand when I think about it calmly. There’s no way an incompetent butler would cast this kind of magic on his own… You’re under a spell! Right?”

It is a perfect answer.

… the logic is quite twisted, but I guess it doesn’t matter.

“Hmm, from now on, when I’m solving my mysteries, I’ll have to keep in mind your role. To do that, I guess I have no choice but to look into the maids’ relationships? You’re probably a servant too, so there’s probably something written down.”

Besides, I also need to figure out why you’re the only one left among so many servants…

Asher muttered to herself earnestly. She was deeply lost in thought.

While she was trying to piece together her own headache-inducing deductions, our steps found themselves back in the lobby.

Inevitably, Asher’s body became stiff. She was intimidated by the grim atmosphere of the hallway, where scars remained like comb-like teeth.

She grabbed my sleeve again, as if it were a habit.

“Butler… I’m okay, right?”

“Are you scared?”

“Honestly… a little, just a little bit… yeah.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.”

I made a move to walk. As expected, Asher was startled and grabbed my arm tightly.

“Hey, wait…!”

The face, filled with deep emotion, distorts beautifully.

“Hey, butler.”

“Yes, Asher.”

“You’ll protect me, right…? Yeah?”

“Where did Ashe, who confidently promised to protect me in the public lounge, hide?”

Wow!

Asher’s face turned bright red. It seemed as if he was too ashamed to bear the memory of his past arrogance.

“I… I am…”

It was a voice that was almost sobbing.

Did I tease you too much?

Just as I was about to take back what I had said, Ash pulled a heavy sword out of his leather pouch.

“Hiyap!”

Chae-Ang!

A sharp sword blade gleams like new. A weapon that protects oneself is an effective tool to relieve mortal anxiety.

“I’ll kill everyone who comes…”

Ashe, who speaks with brutal lines.

As I was admiring her majestic appearance for a moment, she suddenly readily held out her sword.

“Butler, would you like to hear this? I will teach you the basics of swordsmanship. You can’t just talk like a weakling.”

“That’s a really hurtful thing to say, but I get what you mean.”

Asher pushes the sword handle as if forcing it.

I tried to naturally take the sword, but when I tried to grab the handle, it was like a magnet repelling like poles, and my hand couldn’t reach it.

… No, it’s different.

It feels as if my whole body is being forced to stiffen by the compulsion not to hold the sword.

‘…a strange feeling. Ugh.’

Suddenly, my chest started to tingle convulsively. At the same time, everything I could see started to tremble.

It was a phenomenon I had never experienced in the countless years that had passed.

“Butler, what are you doing? Why are you staggering?”

“… I think it’ll be too heavy.”

“Isn’t that too much? This incompetence is going too far.”

“…”

He makes excuses and accepts Asher’s criticism as calmly as possible.

When I show my instability, her spirit is broken. It’s too early to ruin Ashe’s courage.

My efforts must have paid off, for Asher patted me with a triumphant expression and offered words of comfort. She did so with that characteristically mischievous expression.

“Ugh, what can I do? Why would I expect anything from a thousand people? Just leave it to me, the top swordsman in the class. I’ll sweep them all away like the hero who appeared a long time ago.”

“…… Please, Asher.”

I know that the expression “incompetent” is just a joke. However, if it continues like this, it will only put the burden on Ashe unilaterally.

I can no longer take a joke as a joke.

For the first time, I felt a sense of inferiority.

“Ugh… Don’t be scared, Ash. You can do this. Is it a big deal to show off your master’s bravery to your new servant?”

“Ha…”

It’s shining.

An optical illusion occurred in which a bright light appeared to shine around Ashe in the gloomy and dark mansion.

Now I understand why Asher was chosen as the female protagonist.

I guess it’s something like this.

The courage to take a step forward despite trembling with fear.

That may be the jewel of a human being, Asher.

Soon she was gesturing boldly at the door, which she had not yet been guided to.

“Look carefully at your master’s bravery. Opening any door like this…!”

Suddenly.

In that way, the gates of hell, filled with resentment, finally opened.

Kkwuddudduk!

It was an event that happened in an instant.

The tragedy of the rotting flesh and falling flesh that opened its huge mouth and brutally crushed Ashe’s torso.

“Ashe…?”

“…”

Silent at the call.

Hot blood seeps into the red eyes that have lost the light of life.

The corpse, crushed and unable to even close its eyes, is thrown away capriciously.

The beast. Both ears were cut off and disappeared, and both eyes were gouged out as if they had been dug out with a shovel, and were filled with darkness.

The weight class that far surpasses that of an adult male exudes an overwhelming sense of power.

A bloody, swaying giant body, its flesh seemingly about to fall off, turns its body towards me.

The fresh scent of death wafted past my nose.

=====

Every moment, I chase the echoes of the two people.

She who gave me something precious and she who stole something precious.

Tracing those footsteps, I reminisce about the happiest memories of my life.

Give it back.

Give it back!

Give me back the happiness you took away from me!

-Reward: Gift Box

-Special Reward: Memories of a Hunting Dog

=====