落とし穴２３掘：メイドさん (Part1)
**Pitfall 23: The Maid**
**Side: Yuki**
It’s the third day since the Allied Forces began their march.
One more day until Ratz and the vanguard reach the Demon King’s Castle.
The Allied Forces are advancing without issue. We’re just about to reach the hidden route that leads from Roschur to the Demon King’s Castle.
From here on, the march will likely slow down a bit as we enter monster-inhabited territory, but since Surakichi-san has already cleared the path, there shouldn't be any problems unless something truly extraordinary happens.
Liliana and Elju are dutifully marching along with the army.
Well, they do return here through a hidden gate every night to sleep. You never know when someone might try to assassinate them, after all.
Oh, and by the way, I’ve left the marching to my Doppelganger. Just walking around is boring.
"Man, I'm bored today."
That’s right, I pushed my military duties onto Steve.
Seraria and the others are busy with their usual work.
Ria is also doing final training with Deryu, as the raid on the Demon King’s Castle is the day after tomorrow.
Tomorrow, all the members participating in the raid are taking the day off to rest.
That’s why everyone is cramming all their work into today.
Well, if I asked them to play with me, they’d probably drop everything to join me, but I don’t want to get in their way.
"It’s rare to be completely free, isn't it?"
Breakfast is over, the dishes are washed, and I’ve seen everyone off. Now, I’m leisurely enjoying some tea.
Sitting on the veranda, the morning sun streaming in feels warm and pleasant.
Even if I wanted to go to the school, I’m technically supposed to be on military duty, so I can’t just wander out carelessly.
If I were just blending into a crowd to relax, that would be one thing, but going to the school as part of my "job" would be problematic.
The military sector is fine since it’s mostly people who know I’m a Dungeon Master, but I can’t go there because I need to let Steve grow on his own.
"It’s past 10:00, huh..."
I thought about doing the laundry, but Kirue told me that on my day off, I should just take it easy, so I couldn't even manage to hang the clothes.
Well, everyone has their own preferred undergarments, so it might be awkward for me to be handling them anyway.
Maybe I should invite Kirue to go somewhere?
She’s always maintaining the inn, and now she’s the one primarily handling the cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
I thought she must be busy, but according to her, since we have excellent tools like the kitchen and the washing machine, she’s doing just fine.
Considering the civilization level of this continent, that makes sense.
Laundry is usually hand-washed. The kitchen usually requires chopping firewood to start a fire—it’s a huge hassle.
As for cleaning, this inn has an automatic purification system; fine dust is cleared away automatically, and trash just disappears if you put it in the large bins.
Though, since living things aren't supposed to disappear—to prevent children or pets from accidentally getting erased—that backfired once when a cockroach crawled out, causing Tori to have a near-breakdown when she went to take out the trash.
"Alright, I'll go invite Kirue."
With that, I take my tea to the kitchen and look for her.
Huh, she’s not in her room, and she’s not in the banquet hall either.
The laundry is already done... oh, there she is.
"Hmph! Hah!"
Kirue has finished the laundry and is practicing with her knives.
As a maid for Shera, she can’t carry long weapons like Quar does, so she uses knives—weapons that can be easily concealed—as her primary armament.
Like the other wives, she should be at a high level in the 200s thanks to leveling, but her expression as she trains is still deadly serious.
"Kirue."
"Ah, Yuki-sama!"
As soon as I call out to her, she immediately stops her training and turns to face me.
"Do you always train as soon as you finish your work?"
"Yes. My duties assisting Shera-sama are in the afternoon, so I always use the time right after finishing the laundry to train here."
"Do you have any hobbies you actually pursue?"
"Hobbies? I don't have time for pastimes or play, and if I have time, I would rather use it to hone myself. But, if I had to name one, it would be reading. I study what I wish to learn before bed or during my spare time."
"Books, huh. I see. Is that where you get the stories you sometimes tell Aslin and Firia?"
"Yes. I don't have enough education to create stories from scratch, after all."
"Hmm, I see. In that case... Kirue, would you mind spending the day with me?"
Wait, wait.
I can talk to her after I invite her. It’s not a good idea to waste time here.
"Eh? Oh, but Shera-sama..."
"Shera, can I borrow Kirue for the day?"
*"Of course. Kirue is Yuki-san’s wife as well. Please, spoil her to your heart’s content."*
"Alright, you heard her. Let’s go, Kirue."
I take Kirue’s hand and decide to go for a walk, since it’s too early for lunch.
We head toward the park in the residential district I built.
Since it’s a weekday, there aren't many people around.
It’s only been half a month since the nation was founded, and while the residents are mostly refugees, they are the ones capable of working. The only people in the park right now are a few elderly folks and others who happen to be off today.
"So, continuing from what I said before we left the house—if you learn Japanese, you’ll be able to read even more books."
"Japanese? Is that the language of your home country, Yuki-sama?"
"Yeah. I think you’ve seen it before, but in my country, books are widely available. There are so many more compared to here."
"I see. But it seems like it would take a long time to master that language..."
"If I taught you normally, sure. But I can cheat using DP. The other wives have already acquired the Japanese skill using DP, and they’re already devouring all sorts of books."
"Is it truly alright? For me to learn your mother tongue?"
"I don't mind. I want you to know about my country, and Shera has already learned it. I’m sorry for the delay, Kirue; I just haven't had the timing until now."
"No, I feel only gratitude. I have no reason to be angry."
Since she accepted, I sit on a bench and use DP to grant Kirue the Japanese language skill.
"Gah!? W-what a complex language this is. Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, Japanese-made English..."
"Ah, did it hurt, Kirue? I’m sorry. It seems the sheer volume of information puts a strain on the brain."
"No, it is fine. To be able to master Japanese with just this... the power of a Dungeon Master is truly magnificent."
"For now, try to see if you can read this."
I hand her a light novel I brought from the house.
"What is this?"
"It’s a Japanese book. It’s a story about someone who went to another world, just like me."
"My, so there were people who managed to return?"
"...Maybe."
"?"
Even if I call it a fictional story, this place is a world of fiction to us, after all.
...How should I even explain that?
"It’s like an adventure log of that person. It’s one of the stories I use as a reference."
"Ah, how wonderful. To leave behind a record and prepare for the future."
Kirue looks at the book with sparkling eyes, clearly impressed.
Yeah, what should I do?
"Well, anyway, take a look through it. I want to confirm if you can read it first."
"Ah, yes."
Kirue turns the pages with a look of tension, then follows the text with her eyes.
"I can read it. I can read it!!"
"I see. Then go ahead and read that book. There are sequels, so if you like it, you can read the rest. If you don't, there’s no need to force yourself. I have plenty of others, too."
"It feels like such a luxury. But, thank you very much."
"And, I’m starting to get hungry. Let’s eat outside."
I take Kirue to the Laboratory Shopkeeper’s place, where it’s fine for me to show my face.
"Um, is it really alright for just me to be here?"
"It’s fine. Everyone usually eats separately anyway, right?"
"No, it’s just... I feel guilty for having you all to myself, Yuki-sama."
"It’s okay, it’s okay. So let’s enjoy ourselves."
"Yes!! Then, what shall we order?"
"Let’s see. I’ve come up with and tasted most of the menu items myself. Which one would you like to try, Kirue?"