kscans

Chapter 246 - The Scheme

Ten days had passed since we accepted the King's request, and peace had returned to my home. That said, it was so peaceful that there was nothing to do. Today, too, I was drinking with Kaede-chan while watching Arc and Lydia-chan play a game from behind.

"Mia, bring me another."

"Mia-chan, while you're at it, could you bring my drink and the pickles from the fridge?"

"Yes, right away."

When Kaede-chan and I gave our orders to the maid, she immediately headed to the kitchen and returned with a beer, a chuhai, and the pickles she had made herself.

""Thanks."

"You're welcome..."

After we thanked her, Mia sat down primly on the edge of the sofa and began watching the two of them play their game.

"Man, having a maid is nice."

"Isn't it? She handles the housework, which is our one and only weakness."

After coming here once, Mia seemed to have lost her resistance and started accompanying Arc whenever he came over. In other words, she was here every day. So, I asked the maid, who seemed to have a lot of free time, to do some cooking. At first, she seemed bewildered by a kitchen so different from the one in Frontier, but as expected of a professional maid, she got used to it much faster than we did and started making delicious meals. What's more, she even started doing the cleaning and laundry after that.

"...What should we do? The food-taming plan?"

Kaede-chan leaned in close and whispered to me. It seemed that, like me, Kaede-chan had no intention of letting Mia go.

"...I don't think Mia will leave Arc. So it would be better to do something about Arc and Lydia-chan."

If those two come here, Mia will come too.

"...I see. To shoot the general, first shoot his horse, as they say."

Huh? What was that saying?

"...Yes, that's it."

"...You didn't know, did you?"

I did not.

"...Anyway, I think those two have pretty much moved in."

"...They come for every meal, and they're playing games almost every night."

One time, I was sleeping and they woke me up asking for breakfast. And after they ate, they just said they had work and went home. I really wanted to tell them to just eat and leave on their own.

"...Maybe we should just let them live here."

"...Isn't it too small? This is a two-bedroom apartment."

It was designed for just me and Kaede-chan to live in, after all.

"...What about a mansion? We have the money."

I could even build something like the Kinkaku if I wanted. Though I'd rather not.

"...With Mia-chan here, maintenance wouldn't be a problem, but wouldn't people wonder where we got so much money? I think it would look suspicious."

A mansion would stand out. If an adventurer and a guild employee who belonged to the same guild as Eleanor-san built something like that, it would definitely be suspicious.

"...Let's move to a bigger apartment."

"...I think that would be fine. About four rooms should be enough."

Aside from the living room, that sounds about right. A bedroom for me and Kaede-chan, a bedroom for the two kids, a room for Mia, and a spare.

"...Alright, alright, let's go with that."

"...The question is, how do we steer them in that direction?"

"...Leave it to me. To shoot Arc, you just need to shoot the yandere girl."

He's completely wrapped around her finger.

"...I see."

We finished our secret conversation and pulled apart. Our eyes met with Mia's, but she quickly looked away. You heard us, didn't you?

"Mia, are the snacks good?"

Mia was eating her favorite chocolate cookies.

"Ah, yes. They're very delicious."

"That's good. Arc and Lydia-chan seem to be having fun, don't they?"

"Y, yes, they do..."

"I see, I see. So you think so too, Mia. I think that's a very good thing."

Don't get in my way.

"Mia-chan, there's juice in the fridge, so feel free to have some."

"Y, yes..."

As Kaede-chan offered with a smile, she stood up and headed towards the kitchen.

Now then...

"Lydia-chan."

I called out to Lydia-chan, who was engrossed in her game.

"What is it?"

"I was thinking of going to get that parfait you were talking about. When are you free?"

At my question, Lydia-chan put down her controller and came over.

"Let's see, tomorrow is fine, but the day after is not. The day after that is fine, but for three days after that I have lessons."

She talks so fast.

"Then let's go tomorrow."

"Yes! Thank you very much, Master."

It's only her smile that's cute.

"Hajime, what about the ramen?"

Right, there was that.

"Hey, are you serious about going?"

"I want to try it."

Seriously?

"Alright, I'll take you. When are you free?"

"Tomorrow is for parfaits, right? I have to discuss the party with His Majesty, so I can't go. Let's go the day after tomorrow."

So Arc won't be here tomorrow. Perfect.

"Got it. What about you, Kaede-chan and Mia?"

"I'll pass on the ramen."

I figured.

"I will pass on both. I am a little afraid of going outside."

Mia seems to have gotten over her resistance to coming to this house, but she still dislikes the outside. I plan to have her do the shopping eventually, so I'll have to get her used to it gradually.

"Then it'll just be me and Arc for the ramen."

Please don't let us run into a certain muscle-head.