kscans

Chapter 218 - Interlude: The Ones Who Stayed at the Base

While Hayato and the others were away on the floating island, various things were happening back at the base.

Left in charge was Rose Beltz, an ace from the Maid Guild.

Though a confluence of circumstances had led to it, Rose had been abducted by bandits, causing considerable trouble for Hayato and his companions. To redeem herself from that disgrace, she was now pouring all her energy into her maid duties.

"Noat-sama, I have brought your breakfast."

"Mnya?"

Caring for Noat Vabeck, the woman known as the Prima Donna and the Lazy Diva, was one of Rose's jobs.

It was hard to imagine from her current state, but Noat had once belonged to the Hero Ivan's clan. She was a support class who strengthened allies and weakened enemies with her songs.

Fundamentally, anyone with the Song Skill could produce its effects even if they sang poorly. In Noat's case, however, her singing was also beautiful. The songs themselves seemed to be her own originals. They were popular back then, so much so that people would offer to pay just to hear her sing.

She always completed any job she accepted, but whether she took a job in the first place was another matter entirely. Noat was fickle. She might refuse a job even if offered a high price, or she might accept one for a pittance.

That was Noat, and she was currently living at Hayato's base. The reason for her stay, she said, was because the food was always five stars.

Upon hearing Noat's faint "Come in," Rose entered the room.

Noat was wrapped up in her bed's duvet with only her face sticking out. If one had to describe it, she looked like a sushi roll.

"Noat-sama, here is today's breakfast. I will leave it on the table for you."

"Feed it to me. Just toss it into my mouth."

"Breakfast will not fly into your mouth if you just wait with it open. And it is not just about meals. Why not get out of bed once in a while and go for a walk? The weather is lovely today, you know."

"I do not see the causal link between good weather and going outside. Home is the best. And it is a superior thing that is not only great on sunny days but on rainy days too."

"I understand that home is the best, but please get out of bed while I make it."

Noat reluctantly emerged from her cocoon of blankets and moved to the table, where she began to eat on her own. She started nibbling on the prepared croissant, hamu hamu.

Rose wondered about it as she made the bed.

Noat had been in Ivan's clan. A support role was certainly important. But had she really been providing support? Looking at Noat now, Rose could not help but think that she had done nothing in Ivan's clan. It was a harsh way to put it, but had she been a parasite?

Perhaps it would be better for her master, Hayato, if Noat were kicked out. The thought did cross her mind.

"By the way, Rose-chan."

"Eh, ah, yes?"

"When is our neighbor leaving? They have been here forever."

"I am not sure. I believe they will return to the Demon Country with Lunaria-sama once Hayato-sama and the others are back. However, it is uncertain if Lunaria-sama herself will return to the Demon Country even when she comes back, so they may be here for a while longer."

Rose had been informed that Lunaria had been imprisoned in the Demon Lord's Castle. The ones who rescued her were the members of the Ten Black Rose Saints and Hayato's group. For some reason, one of the Ten Dark Knights had tagged along at that time.

He was currently confined to a room on the second floor of the base, and Rose was the one looking after him. She brought him three meals a day. He had not caused any problems so far, so she had not paid him much mind.

"I do not mean to assume, but has he done something to you, Noat-sama?"

"Not really, but I sometimes hear things about muscles from the next room. Well, that is not enough to disturb my peaceful sleep...!"

"I do not know why you said that with such a smug face, but if that is the case, I will go have a word with him. But, muscles...?"

Once she finished making the bed, Rose immediately left the room and knocked on the door of the room where one of the Ten Dark Knights was staying.

"Dark Knight-sama, I would like to have a word with you."

"What is it?"

Rose had barely spoken to this Dark Knight. He usually replied with little more than an "Ah" or "Understood," making conversation difficult. It was to be expected, of course, given that he was under confinement.

The information Rose had on the Dark Knight was that he was a man over two meters tall and one of the Ten Dark Knights. He always wore pitch-black armor, and she had never seen his face. For some reason, he was also disliked by Rosalie and the other members of the Ten Black Rose Saints.

Recalling these things, Rose spoke to the Dark Knight through the door once more.

"This is not quite a complaint, but there is someone living in the room next to you, so could you please refrain from talking about muscles and such?"

"My apologies for that. But I need you to listen."

"Eh? To what?"

"The truth is, my body has grown terribly stiff. At this rate, my muscles will waste away. I will not run away, so could I possibly borrow a wide space where I can move my body?"

It was true that one could lose muscle in this virtual reality. Just as consuming too many calories from food affected one's body shape, being inactive would cause muscles to atrophy, though it was only a visual change.

It was possible to maintain them with strength training, but swinging a weapon was more efficient. Rose understood that this was why he was asking for a place to exercise.

She understood how he felt.

Rose herself was on the muscular side. To maintain her physique, she used to swing her broom around in the third-floor hall. Lunaria and the others had been staying in the hall, so she had stopped, but they were gone now. She wanted to resume as soon as the beds were cleared away.

Even if she understood his feelings, her position did not grant her the authority to make such a decision. If he escaped because of it, it would be a disaster. If she caused any more trouble, she would have no choice but to end her life as a maid.

"Unfortunately, I do not have the authority to make that decision. Please wait until Hayato-sama and the others return."

"Hayato... a warrior strong enough to command Lunaria-sama. I would like to cross swords with him one day. No, I apologize for asking the impossible. Forget I said anything. I also understand the caution. I will be careful to speak as little as possible."

It might have been a lie, but his gentlemanly demeanor made Rose waver slightly. Yet, she decided she had to be firm and prepared to leave.

As she turned, for some reason, Noat was standing in the hallway.

"Noat-sama? It is rare to see you out of your room. Is something wrong?"

"I sensed danger."

With those words, Noat walked unsteadily and moved behind Rose.

"Danger...?"

Just as Rose said that, turning toward Noat behind her, she heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.

She had not heard anything about Hayato and the others returning. If they were, they would have sent a voice chat beforehand. Then whose footsteps were these?

Rose pulled a broom from her item bag.

An instant later, a woman appeared in the second-floor hallway.

"Ho. You look like a maid, but you seem quite strong."

The woman had a katana resting on her right shoulder and her left hand on her chin as she spoke.

Her attire was common in the Eastern Country. Her lower body was clad in red hakama, and her upper body was wrapped only in white sarashi. On her feet, she wore geta on bare feet, a very lightly equipped style. Her jet-black hair was tied back, but it seemed poorly cared for, looking rather disheveled.

Rose sensed trouble. Her opponent was clearly stronger. The woman wore almost no armor, but some skills grew stronger in that state. It was a common skill composition for people from the Eastern Country.

But Rose had been entrusted with this base. Even if she were to lose, she had to protect Noat at all costs.

Her presence was already an act of unlawful entry, so she could be considered an enemy. Still, she needed to gather as much information as possible. With that in mind, Rose spoke.

"I presume our guest is from the Eastern Country. What is your business here?"

"There should be a fellow named Hayato here. Where is he? I have a small favor to ask of him. Do not worry. It is not as if I plan to eat him."

Rose understood the situation to some extent from those words.

Hayato was being targeted by various parties, and one of them was a group of samurai called the Ten Holy Demonic Swords. This woman was likely one of them.

Rose took a deep breath, then readied her broom once more.