kscans

Chapter 18 - The Butler Guild

The Butler Guild was a guild for hiring butlers.

Ostensibly, there was no conflict between the Maid Guild and the Butler Guild, but as they were similar organizations, it was said that they viewed each other as rivals and were vying for supremacy.

Into this Butler Guild appeared the maid Esha, together with Hayato.

A slight stir went through the butlers present in the guild.

Paying the situation no mind whatsoever, Esha led Hayato to the reception desk. The man at the desk had a suspicious look on his face, but he quickly put on a smile to greet them.

"Welcome. How may I help you today?"

"I would like to meet with Relic Barbatos."

"...Pardon me, but may I ask your name?"

"I am Esha Crown. This is Hayato-sama, whom I serve."

The receptionist's face filled with surprise. Then, for some reason, he looked at Hayato with an expression of pity.

(So Esha really is famous... Crap, I haven't checked the main story. I'm busy right now, so after I get the sword back in the next fight, I'll ask Ney. But why did that receptionist look at me with such pity?)

"Please wait a moment," the receptionist said, and left his seat. He returned in about a minute.

"He has agreed to see you, but it seems he is occupied at the moment and it will take some time. Would you mind waiting in the reception room?"

Esha looked at Hayato. There was no reason not to wait. When Hayato nodded, Esha confirmed it and looked back at the receptionist.

"Then we will do so. We expect some delicious tea and cakes in the reception room."

The receptionist made a complicated face, then once again turned a pitying gaze upon Hayato.

(I hired Esha because she's strong. If there were other strong maids, I'd switch. Well, if she acted too much like a proper maid, that would be a problem in its own way, so maybe this level is just right...)

Hayato thought this to himself as he followed the man's guidance.

The reception room was about twenty tatami mats in size. Inside were tastefully selected furnishings, a desk, and leather-upholstered sofas.

The receptionist invited Hayato to sit on a sofa, and he did so. Coffee and cakes were then brought out and placed on the table before him.

When Hayato thanked the man, he said, "Please wait here for a while," and left the room.

Esha, without a word, sat down next to him and began eating the cakes.

As there was no reason to scold her, Hayato drank his coffee and looked around the room. Though it was in a game, Hayato, who could be called a furniture craftsman, judged the items to be simple but tasteful.

His slightly high-and-mighty perspective came from the fact that their quality was not five-star. What he praised was the arrangement and selection of the furniture. He thought to himself that if it were him, he would furnish the room entirely with five-star items.

Just as he finished his inspection of the room, Esha finished her cakes, so Hayato decided to ask her some questions.

"Um, is the person coming here the one with a Stealing Skill of 100?"

"Yes, that is correct. He is an old man over seventy, but his skills are sound."

"Is that so? But is it okay for someone with a Stealing Skill of 100 to be working as a butler? I'd think most people wouldn't hire him."

No sane person would hire a butler who possessed the skills of a thief. Of course, Hayato wouldn't want to hire him either, under normal circumstances.

"Who knows? He was different when we were in the same clan before, but for some reason he became a butler. I wonder if he's actually working?"

(I think Esha is in a similar boat. Putting that aside, she doesn't know the reason? Maybe they were in the same clan but weren't that close?)

Hayato continued to gather information from Esha.

His name was Relic Barbatos. Seventy-two years old. Male.

Before becoming a butler, he was a thief. Though a thief, he was a so-called vigilante thief who only ever stole from corrupt nobles and merchants. Furthermore, he was the type to send a calling card before a theft, so he was also known as a phantom thief. He was never caught, and though he is now retired, he was so famous in his prime that there was no one who didn't know his name.

(I have no idea. Is this another thing I'd know if I'd played the main story? I don't know much, but if he has a history of winning the Clan Wars, he might be strong like Esha. I only plan on having him for this one time, but if he's strong, I'd like to have him formally join the clan.)

Just as he thought that far, he heard a knock on the door.

Hayato hurriedly said, "Ah, yes," as he stood up from his chair. Esha stood up as well.

Then, with a, "Pardon my intrusion," a man entered. It was the man with the same features Esha had described.

White hair slicked back and tied behind his head, with a neat white mustache under his nose. He wore a butler's uniform and white gloves, his 180cm frame held perfectly straight. A scar, reminiscent of a seasoned warrior, ran from between his eyebrows down to his right cheek. And a youthfulness that would let him pass for his fifties, if you didn't know he was an old man over seventy.

Hayato thought he embodied the very image of a butler with a hidden past.

The old man glanced at Hayato and Esha in turn, then gave a polite bow.

"My name is Relic Barbatos."

Following Relic's introduction, Hayato and Esha also greeted him. When that was done, Relic's expression softened into a gentle smile.

"Esha, I am surprised that you would be the one to summon me."

"I did not wish to see you, but my master was crying and begging me, so I had no choice."

"I bowed my head, but I didn't cry and beg, did I?"

Relic looked a little surprised by their exchange.

"Master, you say? That you would serve beneath someone is surprising enough. What methods did Hayato-sama employ?"

"...Bribery with food?"

Silence fell upon the room. But the next moment, Relic burst out laughing so hard he started to choke.

"I, I see. Y, yes, if that were the case, even Esha would obey, I suppose. H, heheheh."

"Master, allow me to advise you to be careful on moonless nights. In fact, you should be careful even when the sun is out."

"Does that mean I'm only safe on nights with a full moon?"

After a few more exchanges like this, the atmosphere finally settled. The tension was completely gone, but Hayato was grateful for the situation and thanked Esha a little.

Then, to get to the main topic, he put on a serious face and looked at Relic.

"Relic-san, may we get to the main subject?"

"Of course, Hayato-sama. I could tell from a glance at Esha that you did not come here merely to see me. What business do you have with me?"

"First, I would like to confirm, is it true that your Stealing Skill is at 100? That is what Esha told me."

"Hmm? Yes, that is correct. I have already retired from the thieving business, but the skill itself is indeed at 100."

"In that case, would you be willing to lend us your aid in the next Clan War?"

"In the Clan War? May I inquire as to the reason?"

Hayato hesitated for a moment. He was unsure if it was alright to explain the situation to Relic, who, though an NPC, had not yet joined the clan.

He had explained it to Esha and Ash because he somehow felt he could trust them, but this was a story that could not be leaked. If the opponent learned of it and didn't equip the sword, the entire plan would be for naught.

"Master, Relic is not the kind of person who would leak information. If I thought he was, I would not have brought him here in the first place."

"I am surprised to be trusted so much by you. However, I shall live up to that trust. Though they are but words, I swear that I will not leak what is spoken here. Would you be so kind as to explain the circumstances?"

Hayato nodded and explained the situation up to that point. Relic listened to Hayato's words without interrupting.

Though it was a rough overview, the explanation was finished in about ten minutes.

"What do you think? In order to retrieve the sword, we need your skill, Relic-san."

"I understand the situation. However, I have a question, if I may?"

"Please, ask me anything."

"Regarding the sword, would it not be sufficient to craft another one just like it? I am sure gathering the materials and so on would be a great deal of trouble, but with your skills, Hayato-sama, would you not be able to make the same thing? I believe it would be far easier than stealing it back."

Hayato had thought the same thing himself. He didn't have to go through the trouble of taking it back, he could just make another one.

But he had already rejected that idea.

Ney probably wouldn't accept it. Hayato was sure she would say she wanted that specific sword they had all made together. And Hayato himself felt the same way as Ney. Even if he made something that was, data-wise, completely identical, it wouldn't be the same. It had to be that sword.

"That would be irritating, and it's not that we want something identical. We want to get that one back."

The desire to get it back was an emotional one. Even if the difficulty was high, he couldn't just not do it. If it didn't work out, then so be it, but he couldn't give up without trying.

Relic looked a little surprised, but he quickly smiled.

"I see. Now I understand why Esha has taken a liking to you."

"I have no idea what you mean."

"No, I was just talking to myself. Very well, I do not mind assisting you."

"Really!"

"Yes, really. However, I have a condition."

"A condition? What might that be? I hope you're not going to ask for the stolen sword, as that would be a problem."

"I would not say such a thing. Let's see... I am fond of beautiful things."

"You'll make me blush."

"Esha, I am not talking about you. I am referring not to people, but to jewels and ornaments. Hayato-sama, you said your production skills are high. Can you craft an ornament that would capture my heart? If you can provide such a thing, I will lend you my aid."

Hearing those words, the craftsman's spirit in Hayato ignited. There was no way he could back down after being told that.

"Yes, I will provide it. I will show you an ornament that will capture your heart."

Hayato's and Relic's gazes met.

This was a battle of taste. Hayato had no power in combat. But, as a self-proclaimed craftsman, he could not lose a battle like this.

With that thought, Hayato began to recall the works he had created in the past, wondering what kind of ornament he should prepare.