kscans

Chapter 242 - Send-off and Siege

The next day, Hayato was at the base waiting for the Maid Chief and Simon.

He needed to give Simon the white kimono, red tasuki, and katanas she had requested.

The kimono and tasuki were classified as clothing, not armor, so they had no defensive power. They were purely cosmetic items with no special abilities or durability.

However, out of a craftsman’s pride, Hayato had prepared them at five-star quality. While reaching the highest quality didn't change their appearance, to Hayato, not giving his best when he was capable of it would be a disgrace to his craft.

The katanas were, of course, five-star as well. With these, higher quality meant better performance. He had considered making them from Adamantite, but he lacked the money and time to forge such powerful weapons, so they were iron-made, just as Simon had requested.

He had also prepared other items like potions and stat-boosting dishes. Everyone's weapons and armor had already been repaired, so preparations were complete.

Once I send everyone off today, I have to persuade Noat-san… I’m going to need a lot of donuts.

The decision to ask for Noat’s cooperation was made at yesterday's meeting, but he hadn't spoken to her yet. It had been late last night, so he had held off out of consideration for her.

So today, he planned to persuade her. He had Esha log in early in the morning to help.

"I think you should just drag Noat along without giving her a choice. That’s what we used to do. She always whined about going to dungeons."

"I feel bad forcing her. Besides, you want to persuade her in a way that makes her motivated, right? It would be a problem if we brought her along and she was useless."

"I suppose I see your point. By the way, do you know how to motivate me?"

"Will a chocolate parfait do? And some melon juice."

"I’ll need a little more."

"...Real-world yakiniku with ice cream."

"I will personally see to it that whoever is on the lowest floor of the Necropolis is buried. For my master."

"I’m so happy to have hired such a wonderful maid."

As Hayato and Esha were having their half-joking, half-serious conversation, the Maid Chief and Simon arrived. They both greeted Hayato and Esha, but Hayato’s mind momentarily froze.

Simon’s attire was strange. Not strange in a weird way, but it felt completely out of place.

"Um, good morning. What’s with the outfit?"

"I would appreciate it if you did not stare so. Frilly clothes are even less comfortable than just a sarashi. If my comrades back home saw me in this getup, it would be a seppuku offense."

For some reason, Simon was wearing a maid outfit. The design was different from Esha’s and Rose’s. The deep frown on her face suggested she was very much against it.

The Maid Chief, who likely knew the situation, adjusted her glasses and looked at Hayato.

"I was unsure if the kimono would be ready by this morning, so I had her wear a less revealing maid outfit as a precaution."

"Ah, so that’s it. But I’m surprised Simon agreed."

It wasn't as if she was wearing it enthusiastically. An aura of extreme reluctance emanated from Simon. Hayato didn’t know her that well, but he had thought she was the type who would absolutely refuse to do something she disliked.

"It was you, Hayato, who said the contract would be void if I caused trouble. Besides, yesterday, I fought the Maid Chief in the arena in the Maid Guild’s basement. Since I lost, I could not refuse so strongly."

"I was quite serious," the Maid Chief added.

"I’m curious about that fight, but I’m more curious about who designed the basement of the Maid Guild. A demon, maybe?"

On top of a courthouse-like area and punching bags, it even had an arena. It was at a level where you could believe the rumors that it might be connected to the demon world, just like the Necropolis.

"By the way, are the items I requested ready? If so, I can take this off."

"Of course, I made them. Here you go."

Hayato handed the white kimono and red tasuki to Simon.

"Oh! My thanks! I shall change at once!"

In the real world, she would change somewhere else, but this was virtual reality. Switching equipment was instantaneous. Simon’s outfit changed from a maid uniform to the attire of the Eastern Country.

With red hakama and a white kimono, its sleeves tied back with a red tasuki sash, she was far less exposed than before.

"Well now, a highest quality kimono. The Princess may resent me for this, but I am pleased."

Simon moved her arms and legs as if to check her movement. That aside, something caught Hayato's attention.

"Who is this Princess you’re talking about?"

"The Princess of the Eastern Country, of course. I am one of the ten swords that serve her, one of the Ten Holy Demonic Swords."

"They have people like that in the Eastern Country?"

"I thought she was quite famous, but perhaps not. If you come to the Eastern Country, Hayato, you may meet her. That aside, this kimono is a wonderful piece of work. It will not hinder my movements."

"I’m glad you like it. And here, I’ve prepared five of these. If you can, please rotate through them so they don’t break. It’s easier to repair them."

The katanas he had made this time were common ones crafted with a production skill, so if they broke, that was it. Unlike some unique items, they wouldn’t become a "broken katana" item but would simply vanish.

It was far easier to repair a highest quality katana than to make a new one, so Hayato asked her to use them carefully.

As Hayato tried to hand her the katanas, Simon fell silent, then burst out laughing.

After laughing for a while, she slapped Hayato’s shoulder, breathless. Hayato’s HP dropped a little.

"The five-star kimono was astounding enough, but to prepare five highest quality katanas… I am beyond astounded, I must laugh. Why not open a shop in the Eastern Country? It would surely prosper."

"For convenience, I think I prefer it here."

"Rejected, am I? Well, fine. I will tell you all about the charms of the Eastern Country later, so you had best be prepared… I will use the katanas with care so they do not break. Thank you for the kimono and the katanas, Hayato."

Simon accepted the katanas from Hayato. She seemed to like them a great deal, staring at them intently. After about ten seconds, she turned her gaze to Esha.

"I have been wondering since I saw you. Are you by any chance Esha Crown?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Simon-sama. As you’ve guessed, I am the beautiful girl maid, Esha Crown."

The Maid Chief’s eyebrow twitched, but the possibility that Gil might be nearby likely made her hesitate. Esha probably knew this and said it on purpose. Hayato thought so, and felt a slight pang of sympathy for the Maid Chief.

"Instead of such a title, do not the Goddess of Annihilation or the Woman who Defeated the Hero and Demon Lord suit you better?"

"There was a time I was called such things. But now, I am simply a beautiful girl maid who serves her master."

"...Hayato, you are actually strong, are you not? For that Esha to serve you, I would believe it if you told me your production class was just a guise. I would like to have a match with you sometime."

"Trust your first impression. You thought I looked weak when you first saw me, right? That was correct."

As they were talking, Ivan and the others, as well as Maris, gathered.

Damian, who had disapproved of Simon’s attire yesterday, saw her new outfit, gave a nod of approval, and called for Ruth.

While waiting, Ivan approached Hayato and Esha.

"Well then, I’m counting on you to persuade Noat. I think it’ll be tough, though."

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I’ll do my best."

For some reason, Ivan placed a hand on Hayato’s shoulder with a weary look on his face. It felt like encouragement, but Hayato wondered if it was really that big of a deal.

"Persuading Noat is quite difficult. In fact, it’s easier to just not bring her. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shoot her with my Beelzebub. I did shoot her once out of every five times."

"I have a newfound respect for Noat-san. Just a little."

After Ruth appeared, everyone checked their items. Once preparations were complete, the group told Hayato and the others they were leaving and departed from the base.

After seeing them off, Hayato and Esha headed for Noat’s room on the second floor.

"Alright, let’s go persuade Noat-san. We have tons of donuts, so it should be fine."

"If it could be solved with something like that, we wouldn’t have had so much trouble."

Feeling a little uneasy at Esha’s negative words, Hayato nonetheless thought it would be alright and made his way to Noat’s room.

Rose was there, knocking on the door.

"Oh? Rose-san, is something wrong?"

"...Noat-sama has barricaded herself in her room. I mentioned the Necropolis just a little, and she declared she didn’t want to work… My apologies."

"Shall I shoot it with my Beelzebub? My MP is full, so I can go anytime."

"Let’s hold off for four more times."

Hayato looked at the door to Noat’s room and began to wonder what to do.