Chapter 587: The Butler's True Feelings
Chapter 587: The Butler's True Feelings
Thanks to skipping a proper lunch, subsisting on the fruit Rachel gave me, and working straight through, I managed to finish organizing the warehouse before dinnertime.
But to put it another way, that meant I was stuck in the warehouse all the way until evening.
Vanessa at least left for a bit to prepare lunch, but I felt bad for interrupting her with the arm-wrestling match and all that, so I stayed put.
For the record, when Vanessa went to make lunch, she changed back into her human form, just as I expected.
She even changed into the pants she’d brought. Well, I was quite satisfied, since I got to watch Vanessa’s little strip show.
Anyway, since I was in the warehouse until dinnertime, I hadn't seen any of the girls since this morning.
So it wasn't strange at all that Sara was there when I returned to my room and opened the door.
“Guwon!”
“Whoa! You scared me!”
Seeing Sara suddenly rush at me the moment I opened the door, I flinched reflexively.
No, it's not that Sara is scary. It's just that anyone would be startled if something came flying at them at incredible speed when their guard was completely down, right?
“Where have you been?!”
Sara demanded in a slightly frantic voice, hugging me tightly. As if to say she would never let go.
I slowly stroked her back to reassure her and spoke in a gentle voice.
“What do you mean, where? I've been in the mansion the whole time. What's wrong?”
“But… the necklace was still glowing, but I couldn't find you anywhere….”
Ah. I see. So that's what this is about.
Just like that time she got anxious when I went out without her, it seems she got a little worried again after not seeing me for so long.
Even if the necklace was glowing, she'd naturally get anxious if she couldn't actually see me anywhere.
“Vanessa said she was busy, so I was helping her organize the warehouse. Didn't she tell you during lunch?”
She would have told you if you'd asked, right? She's not the type to keep it a secret just because she wanted me all to herself.
Of course, Vanessa was with me the whole time, but you probably saw her at lunchtime.
“Ah… lunch… I didn't eat….”
Sara turned her head, glanced at the clock, and mumbled as if just then realizing that lunchtime had passed.
Just how panicked was she to skip lunch? It makes me feel a little guilty, even though I didn't do anything wrong.
“You must be hungry, then. Dinner will be ready soon if you just wait a bit.”
“Yeah….”
I gently brushed Sara's hair back, revealing her ear, and brought my lips close to whisper.
Sara flinched as if it tickled, shrinking back a little as if embarrassed by her overreaction.
“By the way, did you miss me that much?”
“N-No, you idiot! I was just a little worried you might have rigged the necklace!”
“I told you, I wouldn't trick you like that. Have a little faith.”
Once I confirmed Sara had calmed down, I switched back to our usual dynamic and started teasing her a bit.
And as if she knew, Sara played along with a prim look on her face.
“Besides, even if you couldn't find Vanessa, you could have just gone to Diana to check.”
“Diana could have been in on it with you. Saying it was for my own… well, for my own good, or something.”
Well, now that you mention it, that's a good point.
Like you said, I could rig the necklace to keep glowing and then stay away, revealing the truth later. It might even help you overcome your trauma.
No, wait. She was just too panicked to think straight and check, so how is she coming up with such a perfect comeback?
“No, I didn't mean you should have asked Diana to check the necklace's status. I meant if you'd gone to her, you could have found out where I was.”
“What do you mean?”
“Apparently, Diana can figure out my location just from the necklace. Something about how my mana resonates with it to make it glow, so if you track that mana, you can pinpoint my exact position.”
I don't remember the exact words, but I'm sure Diana said something like that before.
“That's possible?!”
The moment I finished speaking, Sara's eyes lit up and she shoved her face right up to mine, as if to ask if I was serious.
Oops. Did I just tell her something I shouldn't have?
As we saw with the Vanessa incident, Diana can at least act her age when it counts, so it's fine with her. But if Sara starts tracking my every move… Not that I plan on doing anything suspicious, but you never know what might happen, right?
“Do you think I could learn how to do it?”
…Probably?
After all, she was using mana attacks at a low level that others need a class change to handle.
Come to think of it, didn't that trash… Threon, even dodge the Saint's Wave?
Damn broken Hero class. Not that I, a Saint, have any room to talk.
“W-Well, I don't know... Wouldn't it be too difficult? It's probably only possible because Diana is the supreme Archmage…”
“Yeah! I feel like I can do it! I'll have to ask her to teach me later!”
No, I said it'd be difficult! Are you even listening?!
Just a moment ago she was looking all anxious, and now she's beaming. Well, that part's a good thing, I guess.
Anyway, did I really just say something I'm going to regret?
Slightly regretting my careless words, I spent the rest of the time with Sara until Vanessa came to get us.
“Master Guwon. Dinner is ready.”
And just like usual, Vanessa came to call me once dinner was ready.
Her expression, however, was not.
“…Lady Sara, you were here as well. Dinner is ready.”
No, to be precise, she was normal at first. But the moment she confirmed Sara was also in my room, Vanessa's expression changed so subtly you'd miss it if you weren't watching closely.
Her expression seemed to say… ‘It hasn't even been that long since you finished in the warehouse. Couldn't you wait, and had to have a round in the meantime? You're no better than a dog in heat.’
Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little.
“For the record, we didn't do anything.”
Seeing that look on her face, the excuse just slipped out of my mouth.
Not that I should even have to make an excuse. Even if I had a round with Sara, so what?
Sara is my woman. This one just likes me but refuses to actually be my woman.
Well, I guess the excuse slipped out because I'm not ruthless enough to draw a clear line like that.
Haaah. Why am I such a nice guy?
“I haven't said a word.”
Right. You didn't say anything with your mouth. But Vanessa, I know everything.
“No, it's just that you look jealous. Heh. There's no use hiding…”
“Hmph.”
“……”
Did she just snort at me?
Oh-ho. So that's how you want to play it? Fine, I have an idea of my own!
Let's just see if you're still not jealous when you see me doing it with another woman for real!
“Sara! Let's do it! Right here! Right now!”
“Guwon.”
“Yeah, Sara!”
“Pathetic.”
“Kuh-huhk…”
But of course, Sara had no intention of doing it with me right then and there. Instead, she sank me with a single word.
“Sara… whose side are you on…”
“Whose side do you think I'm on? The side of the man who just made excuses to another woman about not sleeping with me.”
“I'm sorry….”
She really is getting better and better at winning arguments.
At this rate, am I going to end up completely whipped?
I'm already whipped? N-No way! I'm building a harem, for crying out loud! …Even if I've never actually had a harem play session.
…Huh? Wait a minute… Am I… actually whipped?
“Haaah. Stop messing around and let's go. I'm really hungry.”
As she said that, she hugged my arm tightly, pressing it between her breasts as if to comfort me.
“Shall we?”
Of course, the effect was tremendous. You think I'm simple? What are you talking about? Any man would react this way to a beautiful woman's chest.
“…Then, I shall lead the way.”
Watching us, Vanessa turned away, her voice sounding subtly lower than usual.
No matter how I look at it, she seems jealous to me. But she just snorted at me a moment ago. I really have no idea what she's thinking.
“Hm. You've arrived.”
“Oh, Guwon-ssi. And Sara-ssi, too. You're here.”
Anyway, when I followed Vanessa into the dining room with Sara, everyone but Sara greeted us normally, as if they'd known I was in the mansion all along.
“Guwon-ssi, you must be tired from organizing the warehouse.”
No, it seems they didn't just know I was in the mansion, but also that I was helping with the warehouse.
Leia stood up, came over to me, took the arm Sara wasn't holding, and led me to the dining table.
Then she stood behind me and began to gently massage my shoulders with both hands.
How can a massage with this much pressure feel so soft? This must be the power of an angel.
No, maybe it's just because of the soft sensation pressing against the back of my neck.
“No, it wasn't that hard. Vanessa did all the heavy lifting, and I just helped with the ledger… Ooooh… Angel… that's the spot…”
“Fufu. Right here?”
“Yes….”
I feel like I'm melting. I wish time would stop right now.
My Holy Ground Proclamation is garbage. Being near my angel is the true holy ground.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
As I was basking in Leia's massage, Diana brought a fist to her mouth and started coughing pointedly.
It seemed she had something to say. But I didn't think I could hold a proper conversation in this state.
Tch. No choice. I don't want to do this, but….
“Angel, that's enough now.”
“Hm? Does it not feel good?”
“Of course not! It feels so good I could die! I wish time would just stop…”
“Ahem! Ahem!”
“It's just… your touch is fantastic, of course, but you need to eat, too. I'm happy just watching you eat, you know.”
“Oh my. Fufu. You're too much, Guwon-ssi. If you keep that up, I might eat so much I turn into a pig.”
“I don't mind. An angel is an angel, no matter what.”
I mean that sincerely.
And honestly, with a Charm stat this high, I doubted she could ever become a pig anyway.
Besides, from what I've observed so far, I've concluded that despite being quite a big eater, all the nutrients she consumes seem to go to one specific place.
In fact, please keep eating a lot!
“Really, Guwon-ssi. Your flattery is a bit much.”
Anyway, my words seemed to put her in a great mood. She chided me gently but sat down next to me with a happy expression, sticking close.
Angel, I know you're happy, but please stop tickling my thigh with your tail under the table. It's seriously dangerous.
I was nearly distracted again, but having escaped from the heaven of my angel's massage, I finally turned my attention to Diana.
She's been looking like she wants to say something for a while now.
When our eyes met, Diana, looking a little pouty and sullen, conveyed something with her gaze.
Why is she doing that when she can just use telepathy?
Well, at my level, I can understand what Diana wants to say just by looking at her eyes. This is the power of our bond.
Anyway, her eyes were saying this: ‘So. You were in the warehouse with Vanessa all day. Did you make any progress?’
Just as I thought, Diana was concerned about Vanessa.
Well, a clue to breaking the fear of a Dragonian who has served by her side for generations has finally appeared. It's completely understandable that she'd be concerned.
To reassure her, I gave Diana a broad smile and a confident thumbs-up.
At that, a small vein popped on Diana's forehead.
Huh? Wait? That wasn't the right response?