Master’s Smile

C130 – The Butler’s Recollections

Several people are currently sitting around a large table in a certain room.

And standing behind one of them is me.

…For some reason, I’m wearing a butler uniform.

…No, really, I wonder why?

Let’s reaffirm what kind of a person I am for now.

I am the guildmaster of a dark guild, “Salvation Army (Yelquchira)”.

My main responsibility is to do paperwork back at the guild, and I am by no means a butler.

“Hmmm….”

To add to that, I wish someone would do something about the girl who keeps staring at me.

Why is she staring at me that much…? Did I do anything strange?

Is it because I don’t look that good in this uniform…?

“Hey, Vampir, I wonder if you could introduce me to your butler? Isn’t this the first time you’ve brought one with you?”

“It certainly makes me curious as well.”

The man, who is also seated around the table, took advantage of the young girl’s words and asked as well.

“Fufun! Are you perhaps curious? That’s certainly because my master butler is stunning!”

And for some reason, Vampir was proudly puffing out her chest.

…How did I get into this mess?

I thought back with a smile.

◆

I had taken on a request some time ago, and despite some twists and turns, I was able to finish it.

The request was also unexpectedly difficult.

Though, that was just my own opinion.

By accomplishing that request, I was trying to gain the trust of “Yelquchira” members.

That plan worked out beautifully, and currently I….

“Nnnghh, such a beautiful day, isn’t it? I feel like I’m going to disappear.”

To my surprise, I have succeeded in going outside!!

Normally, I would be locked up in my office back at the guild while worrying about the others, but now I’m outside….

I know it’s a normal thing to go out, but for me, it’s tremendous progress.

And the person who is accompanying me on my current outing is Vampir.

Her long golden hair, shining in the sunlight, is swaying in the gentle breeze.

Her pale skin gives her a kind of mystique feeling, and her bright red eyes are so pretty that they almost entranced me.

Her body style, wrapped in a gorgeous dress, is also exceptional.

I wonder if Vampir has any trouble with men.

My smile deepens as I imagine the husband she will eventually bring to me.

I might cry a little from the loneliness at that time, but that is also something I have to face as a father, so I’ll do my best.

“Ara? Even though you are with me, yet you are busy in your own thoughts? I am currently free, so could you perhaps not ignore me?”

Vampir looked up at me and appealed.

Right now, she and I are riding on a horse together.

A normal horse would probably be crushed by two people riding on top, but this one is actually a horse-like monster.

It walks casually as if it has no trouble carrying the two of us with it.

I don’t mind that, but shouldn’t we do something about how you ride the horse first?

“…Is that so?”

Vampir looked at me strangely, but a horse should be straddled properly, right?

If you sit sideways like that, you’ll fall off the horse, you know?

“Ufufu, are you saying that you’re worried about me? I am gladful, but heed no mind!”

Vampir was full of confidence.

…And what’s the reason for your confidence?

“…Reason? Is there a need for one to be confident?”

She tilted her head and looked up at me in wonder.

U-Ugh…. W-Well, there are certainly times when people have confidence without reason, but….

I feel that Vampir is somehow overly confident, and it makes me anxious watching her.

I can’t take my eyes off of her….

Though, she is someone who has high physical ability.

Hence, she will most likely be fine since she won’t fall off that easily.

By the way, are we heading in the right direction?

“Yes, we will soon arrive in vampire territory if we keep going along this path.”

Heee, seems like it’s surprisingly easy to get to where the vampires live, unlike what I had imagined.

I have ridden horses in the past, but never been to a perilous place yet.

“Well, unlike the over-insular elves, we don’t conceal our territory. Nevertheless, if a human tries to enter, the bad vampires will feast on them.”

Vampir let out a cute and menacing “Gaaooo” roar.

I see…. But I’m a human, though….

Am I also going to be eaten by the bad vampires?

“…Master is a human? Is that perhaps a bad jest?”

…What’s with that response?

No, I’m actually a human, okay?

It’s true that I have lived longer than most people, but I’m no different from the rest of them.

“Hmm~…. Well, I won’t deny it if that’s what Master thinks. I’m still not convinced, however!!”

…I see.

“Also, even if Master is a human, there shall be no problems for you since you’re my property. I won’t let other vampires hamper my way!”

…I see~

I also won’t stop going outside with her just because I’m afraid of being attacked.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been out alone with Vampir, and we’re currently heading to her hometown, the vampire territory.

Her work had taken her to many places related to the vampires and vampire territory.

I’d like to see the difference between how she was when I first met her a long time ago and how she is regarded now.

“Speaking of which, hasn’t it been a while since Master has seen ‘that girl’?”

That girl…? Aaah, yeah, it sure has.

It’s certainly been a very long time since I’ve seen her.

…That’s because I’ve hardly been able to get out of the guild, you see.

Even so, I’m looking forward to seeing her, as well as seeing Vampir at work.

“Ara? Seems like we have arrived. Good times pass by so quickly, don’t they?”

Vampir looked ahead.

And there was a thick fog at the end of the road.

I understood that it was the entrance to the vampire territory.

And thus, I walked into the fog with Vampir.

Author Notes:

Volume 6, Vampire Arc, begins!