Saving a Maid

There's nothing to geek out over here...

Geek out?

It's an important pastime for me. Something that sets my soul on fire and makes me feel alive...!

This place has none of that...

But you said this was a good world.

Though it is suffering from war...

I meant in the sense that it feels real. But everything gets exhausting once it turns into a documentary, you know?

At times like that, you should search for a restaurant that serves delicious steak.

Do I look like you...?

It's our rare day off, so please don't let it trouble you so much. Would you like another cup of tea?

Thanks, but I'm exhausted in body and soul...

Forget games, it has been too long since I even touched a computer.

Games? Computer? What are those?

I feel as though you are thinking more and more about ways to play...

No, Bedi. Ethan has always been like this. Still, he's someone who does things properly when it counts.

That is true, but... I feel like he's been complaining more lately.

That's just Ethan. I don't want to listen to his nonsense, so I'm going inside to sleep some more.

Tch, what would a fool who only eats, sleeps, and craps know?

I'm different from a beast like you. I need to feed on dreams to survive...!

My appetite is a preference too, you know? Please respect other people's preferences!

Ugh! Dealing with a fool will only cost me. I'm going back to sleep!

Haa... I'm depressed...

Ethan looks even more dejected now.

Should we ask him to go out to the fields and ride a horse? Riding can be refreshing.

I don't think he'll move at all...

Ah, I wish a maid café would open in this region.

By maid café... do you mean the place where Rita worked before?

It moved nearby recently. She was happy because she could see you often, Princess.

Too much effort... I wish one would just appear in front of me...

Elizabeeeth!

Rita?!

Whoa! A wild maid has appeared!

Who are you calling a wild maid, dummy?!

Because a skimpy maid burst in first thing in the morning. I was bored and depressed, so your timing is perfect, Rita.

I don't want praise from you.

You're cute even when you're angry... Heh heh heh...

Ethan... You seem like a strange old man...

Ahem! Ahem! I only teased her because I was happy. A risqué maid just flew in, after all.

Th-This outfit is just the recommended uniform at the new shop!

You're still a maid either way. Should you really be mouthing off to your master?

I'm not on the clock yet!

Tch, you still have a long way to go before becoming a true maid. To be an excellent maid, you need to stay immersed in your role even in daily life.

Ugh... you're sick,

It seems Ethan has come back to life.

Y-Yeah...

It feels like finding an oasis in the middle of a barren desert.

2D is great, but there really is something to be said for vivid, moving 3D!

Ugh... What a creepy stare...

Go ahead and insult me, but keep it reasonable. Anyone who encounters something they truly love acts like this.

True... I become like Ethan when I'm in front of a delicious dessert.

Right?

Why are you agreeing with him...?

But Rita. Why did you come here dressed as a maid today? Isn't it time for work?

Ah... About that, Elizabeth...

Our café has become popular, so problem customers have been swarming it since morning. So many that it's hard to get through.

Problem customers?

Overzealous customers like that idiot Ethan over there.

For some reason, there are so many of them today that I couldn't bring myself to go to the café alone...

Hold on! I'm a gentleman!

As if.

That's cruel...

I could show them what I can do, but if I stand out too much, everyone might dislike me... Even problem customers are still customers.

I understand. We'll escort you.

Yes! If the Princess and I go, thugs are nothing to worry about.

That's right. And Ethan will be with us too!

Huh? I'm going too?

Of course. Thanks to your efforts, the thugs of Britannia are afraid of you, Ethan.

I heard that too! The thug hunter!

What exactly have you all been doing...?

Well... There have been endless missions of all kinds. I do have a lot of nicknames, like orc slayer and goblin slayer.

Ahaha... You were amazing.

...I don't have any particular reason to refuse, but I'm not too excited about suddenly being an escort.

It'd be nice if there were some kind of reward...

Greedy jerk.

I can't help it. I doubt many people volunteer in a world like this.

Then I'll give you one. I'll discount the special omelet course.

Weak...

What do you want?

Something a little closer, where I can feel your warm breath? Something steeped in a maid's fragrance and all sticky and...

Y-You...! What are you trying to ask for...?!

E-Ethan's expression has turned scary...

That's it! I want to watch a performance from the best seat!

A performance?

Yeah. You could call it a maid café specialty, where regulars and maids bond and enjoy themselves together.

How about it, Rita? You can do that much, right? Dealing with thugs is a real pain.

Shut up, dummy! I'll do it, okay?!

Huh?!

Huh? Finn, why are you here...?

That's him! He's the problem customer who keeps following me around!

What's going on, Boss? Why are you with Lovely Maid Rita...?

That's because of annoying people like you...

There are special circumstances! Please step aside!

Special... circumstances?

Hey, Bedivere. If you say it like that, that idiot will misunderstand.

No, I mean because of annoying people like you...

So only you get special circumstances, Boss?! Even if it's you, I can't forgive this! Feel the wrath of a lonely man!

Let me finish talking, you bastard!

S-Sorry, Boss!

Whew... Now that I think about it, that guy gets involved in all sorts of places.

We lost quite a bit of time. Rita, are you all right?

Yeah, for now. But if I'm any later than this... the manager might get mad...

Rita has it tough too.

I'm used to it, so it's fine. The problem is figuring out how to handle those annoying flies.

Why are you looking at me?

D-Don't nitpick every little thing.

...I was just about to say thanks for helping.

It's fine. I'll make sure I get paid with that special course.

The path is open. Let's go, Ethan!

Morgana!

Gah?! Morgana! What are you doing?

Th-This is, well... I mean...

We are the Bunny-Bunny Brigade! Do you think we'll allow some maid café?

The Bunny-Bunny Brigade...?

Don't tell me that huge crowd keeping Rita from getting to work was...

That's right! It was our scheme! We disguised ourselves as problem customers and blocked the way!

...I get that, but Morgana, why are you dressed like that?

Uh... Hmm... Well... I was trying to go back to sleep...

Th-These pigs came looking for me. They begged me and promised to offer meat pies, so how was I supposed to refuse?

Haa...?

You gave in to the meat pies...

That's Morgana for you...

Y-You have no right to say that! You two dressed up as bunny girls and went around tempting pigs too!

M-Morgana! That was... t-to make a living...!

Th-That's right...! The innkeeper told us to work hard for sales... Sniff! Waaah!

Silence! This is betrayal!

Morgana! Show them that curvy bunny girls are superior to cute maids!

Curvy... Isn't making Morgana the representative of that a little...?

S-Silence! Dragging me all the way out here when I should be sleeping... This is all your fault!

What nonsense is that?! How do you have any right to blame me when sleeping is your life's greatest mission?

That tone is the problem! Fine, if that's how it is, I'll educate you for the first time in a while, Ethan!

Who's educating whom?! Let's roll right over them!

You'll see! Someday, the Bunny-Bunny Brigade will reclaim the streets!

Be quiet and buy me the pie you promised, you worms!

You ruined my dignity, so you had better take proper responsibility. Otherwise, I'll turn you into charcoal...!

Y-Yes!

Whew, they all ran away.

That idiot Morgana. I thought she'd be sprawled out in bed, but what is this mess...?

I know. I never thought she'd become the leader of some suspicious organization...

I'll have to give her a stern scolding later.

Still, thanks to this, we prevented something serious.

A group like that was waiting here... It might have been dangerous if Rita had been alone.

Hmm...

So problem customers weren't the only issue. Rita has it rough too...

It's okay, Elizabeth. That's just how customer service works.

We've been through plenty too, Princess. I'm sure there are lots of good customers who wait calmly.

Heehee, you're right.

Yeah... No one who loves cute maids can be a bad person. Probably...?

Swordbringer... I owe you one this time.

No big deal. I did it because I wanted something too. You didn't forget, did you?

Always making a big deal out of it. Fine, come in.

A maid café calls for a different line, doesn't it?

W-Welcome home, you rotten master...?

I think there's something wrong with the way you addressed me... Rita? Hey, maid girl!

This is it... I finally feel alive...

Ethan seems satisfied.

Sh-Should we order something to eat too? They sell things you can't find at an ordinary café.

We've had a hard time since morning, so I'll buy you something delicious.

R-Really? Sniff! Princess!

Ladies, would you come this way?

Yes!

I didn't think you'd repay me so obediently.

I don't want to owe a stupid Swordbringer.

You helped me get to work, and you didn't treat the customers too roughly even though they were problem customers... I have to keep my promise.

Good attitude.

Now then... Shall we listen to Rita sing? Heh!

I can't sing.

What? That's not what you promised.

A performance doesn't have to mean singing. My specialty is... this.

...! Glow sticks?!

They even have things like that prepared... This café is amazing!

How did you make glow sticks?

You can make them with glowing moss and a witch's spell.

What? Damn, I should have tried making them sooner... This world really was amazing.

Watch closely. I'll shock you...!

Satisfied?

It was the best.

There are still parts you could polish, but how do I put it... I feel like I got back the soul I'd forgotten.

Y-You're really that moved...?

Before too... Your tastes really are strange. Do you like maids that much?

Hmm? Aren't you working right now?

I-I want to know Master's tastes...

A maid like you is just right.

L-Like me...? What does that mean...?

Well...

H-Hurry up and say it! Why are you looking me over?

Someone who complains but still does her best to live? Sincerity is the most important virtue for a maid, after all.

Huh...? That's all?

Isn't that enough?

I-It is enough, but...

What's wrong? Maid, were you perhaps thinking of something strange?

Sh-Shut up!

Watching such an exciting dance made me hungry. I'll order one omelet.

Oh, and include the spell to make it delicious.

Haa, you're so annoying... Wait just a little.

Stupid master...!