Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Tables Have Turned
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‘Oh… you’ve got to be kidding me!’
The women Sophia brought were quite a sight.
Every single one was a beauty, boasting provocative figures and stunning looks.
At first, I felt like I could have bowed down to Sophia in gratitude.
But that beautiful fantasy shattered into a million pieces in just ten short minutes.
“Oh… you’ve got to be kidding me.”
I ended up saying the words that had only been swirling in my head.
Why was I cursing after getting five pretty maids, you ask?
Because every single one of them was Sophia's cousin.
Which meant the title of ‘maid’ was just for show; in reality, they were my masters.
Ladies-in-waiting at the imperial court were almost exclusively daughters from noble families.
‘No, but I wasn't asking for actual noble ladies!’
The current situation was… a bit like a girlfriend turning into a wife.
A date extending back to your place was something to welcome with open arms.
You get to see the one you love for that much longer.
But what if your girlfriend doesn't go back to her own home?
What if she just moves in and becomes the boss?
That was exactly my situation right now.
“Ohohoho!”
“Master, would you bring us those refreshments over there?”
The blonde ladies laughed and chatted, enjoying their tea time, before ordering me to run an errand for them.
They called me ‘Master,’ but their tone was no different from how one would address a servant.
“Yes, yes.”
A deep frustration welled up inside me, but I had no choice but to move.
I had locked eyes with Sophia, who was smirking from amidst the maids.
‘I should have used a different name from the start!’
This whole mess happened because I just had to make the contract under my Treasure Hunter identity.
To be honest, I hadn't even considered Sophia showing up.
Back in Venderford, I was overwhelmingly her superior.
I'd thought that even if we did meet, I wouldn't be looked down on like before.
But right now, I was nothing more than a mere mercenary.
If I stood up to the daughters of at least a count, my precious villa might just vanish into thin air.
‘This is where I'm reminded of a life lesson.’
A person really has to succeed first.
After serving the refreshments to the maids… no, the terrifying noble ladies, I tried to retreat with light steps.
Sticking around here would only lead to more chores.
My plan was to find a place where I wouldn't be noticed and figure out how to kick them out.
“Is it a relief that I haven't signed the contract yet?”
I haven't officially hired them as housemaids, so maybe I can come up with an excuse…
As I was lost in such thoughts.
Just then, I heard the clear voice of a devil from somewhere.
“What are you muttering about?”
I spun around to see Sophia, who had followed me, wearing a peculiar expression.
It was as if she wanted to burst out laughing in triumph but was holding it back.
‘She's definitely getting revenge for when she was pinned under me in the Bronze King's tomb. To think she still remembers that! I didn't take her for someone who holds such a grudge.’
Honestly, I already knew that the precious daughter of the marquis had a venomous personality.
I had just seen her pretend to be demure too often in Venderford.
I forced an awkward smile and subtly dodged her question.
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn't heard my muttering.
“Ahaha! When did you get so close? You're like an assassin.”
“What nonsense is that to say to a mage? You'd best watch your mouth.”
“…O-Of course.”
I deliberately took a low posture and subtly cleared a path.
It was my way of telling her to get lost with those pretty little steps of hers.
At that, Sophia lifted her chin and gracefully walked past me, heading inside the villa.
It seemed she was done with outdoor activities, as the weather hadn't warmed up much yet.
Her cousins followed in a rush, their dress hems fluttering.
‘Why come here when you have a much nicer marquis's estate…’
I secretly pressed a hand to my forehead and tried to leave the villa.
I had a feeling nothing good would come from staying at home.
But as I passed the main gate, someone immediately spoke to me.
“Where might you be going?”
It was not a welcome face.
It was the accounting official who had brought the housemaid contracts.
The reason this guy was so concerned about a private hiring was simple.
‘Since this involves Sophia and her cousins, he's probably trying to suck up to them.’
Judging by that sleazy smile, he seemed to have a good idea of what I was going through.
“You've gotten the pretty maid candidates you wanted, so please sign the contract quickly. The cost probably won't be that high. None of them have much experience, you see.”
When would the daughters of a count have ever worked as housemaids?
They were used to ordering maids around, not being one.
For a moment, I was so choked with anger that I almost smacked the official on his shiny forehead.
Of course, in my current state as a lowly man, I had no choice but to endure it with superhuman patience.
However, it wasn't as if I had no way to get back at these unwelcome guests.
‘I was known for my once-in-a-generation cunning. As if some mere diligent fools could outsmart me!’
I twisted my lips into a smirk and declared to the accounting official.
“I don't think I'll be able to sign the contract.”
“What? What do you mean? They are all greatly looking forward to it.”
“What do I care if they are? I'm the one doing the hiring, after all.”
“Well, that may be, but…”
The accounting official trailed off, giving me a meaningful look.
It was as if he were asking if I thought I could survive in the Penant Marquisate after getting on Sophia's bad side.
Of course, I couldn't.
But if I played to my strengths, I could turn this situation around.
‘Just you wait, you pretty little devils. I'll be sure to teach you a lesson.’
* * *
“H-How in the world are you here?”
A few days later.
Sophia wore a dumbfounded expression.
I surveyed the villa nonchalantly, a wicked grin on my face.
“The price was good, so I snatched it up. By the way, what are you doing in someone else's house?”
“W-Well, that’s…”
She trailed off, flustered.
Honestly, that reaction was to be expected.
Ray Carter, the student council president of Venderford, had appeared out of nowhere.
Just yesterday, the mansion at A3, New Villa District, belonged to a Treasure Hunter.
But overnight, it had been sold to a man with the same name.
Sophia, unaware of this, was just messing around in the villa and got caught red-handed by me.
“I was introducing some maids to the former owner and ended up staying for a bit.”
She hastily made up an excuse.
But she wasn't going to get away that easily.
Because I'm just as tenacious as you are.
“What an interesting story. I was just thinking I needed some employees. You can't really trust those rental services.”
“W-Well, that's true, isn't it? It's not like you get to see them managing things firsthand.”
“In that case, how about you introduce them to me? That mercenary said they were quite talented.”
“Huh? I doubt he would have said that.”
Sophia waved her hands, trying to deny it.
But I completely ignored her and strode inside.
Unsurprisingly, the inside of the villa was an absolute mess.
It was clearly the handiwork of Sophia and her cousins.
‘To go this far just to mess with me? Was her grudge that strong?’
I mean, the dungeon expedition was a success thanks to my contribution. Isn't this too much?
All because I pinned her down once.
‘Ahem! I did grab her and knock her down, and I also tried to steal the treasure. Later, I even talked behind her back…’
I had treated her pretty roughly back then.
Still, this was uncalled for!
“What a pigsty.”
I frowned, looking at the living room littered with trash.
Sophia, who had approached my side, nervously watched my reaction.
Just then, we came face to face with her group of cousins coming down from the upper floor.
They were deliberately scattering torn pieces of cloth everywhere.
A closer look revealed them to be the remains of a curtain, cut into shreds.
“Sister, who’s this? Is he a servant that guy hired?”
“If you’re here, you should be moving quickly. What are you doing, not cleaning up?”
To my astonishment, they started spewing insults the moment they saw me.
With each word, Sophia's face grew paler.
I turned to them with a chilling gaze and said.
“Should I… perhaps request a duel with the House of Penant?”
At that, Sophia shook her head vehemently.
In truth, the person known as Ray Carter was merely the son of a merchant.
But his personal achievements were too great.
Not only did he win the position of Venderford's student council president through his own skill, but there were also rumors of him being Jerome Klevitz's disciple.
Furthermore, he was a talent that the imperial princes were keeping an eye on.
‘Looking at it this way, I guess I was a more impressive person than I thought.’
At least among my peers, there was likely no one who could match me.
So Sophia's reaction was only natural.
“I-I'll get it cleaned up right away. Please wait just a moment.”
She urgently tried to leave the villa.
*Shashak!*
But she had to stop in her tracks.
I had moved in an instant, blocking her path.
With incredible speed, at that.
“Uh…? What are you doing?”
Sophia hid her bewilderment and spoke carefully.
I leaned in close to her face.
“Trespassing, property damage, and disrespect. Did you really think you could leave here peacefully?”
“W-We can talk about this.”
“Of course, we'll talk. As long as you all act reasonably.”
“Then I’ll go get people right away.”
Averting her gaze, Sophia tried to pass by me.
But I had no intention of letting her go so easily.
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“You made this mess, so you clean it up. And I'd like you to continue serving as my maids. The term… for the entire vacation?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Or what? Should we make this a bigger problem?”
Sophia's face contorted as my gaze drifted to my waist.
Of course, she probably didn't think she would lose a duel, as she could just put forward a champion.
However, fighting a duel against a heavyweight like me without just cause was an immense burden in itself.
In the end, she had no choice but to make a decision.
“I… accept your terms.”
And so, I came to acquire six beautiful maids, including Sophia.