Thank you for the commemorative 765th chapter!
We’ve come this far thanks to all of you, our readers.
It was planned to be finished in spring, but please enjoy it for a little longer.
“Welcome back, Master.”
A line of maids, all in a row.
The younger ones were in the front, and the older ones were further back.
“Um, who are all these people?”
“Yes, they are Derus-sama’s maids, for this Count Palatine’s mansion.”
“So, is this girl 11 years old?”
“The one in the very front is 15, and they each age by one year.”
I see, they have a wide variety.
It feels like they have all sorts of types available.
There were even a few giant women that I guessed might be my type, whom they brought in partway.
(There are even adventurers here who said they wanted to team up with me before.)
Well, our maids are adventurers too, and also Heroes, for that matter.
“Um, then, this maid closest to the room…”
“She is 39 years old.”
No, she doesn’t look anywhere near that age.
She’s a beautiful mature woman who would be believable if you said she was in her twenties.
She has a slightly bewitching aura. No, she doesn’t look like a maid; she looks like some noble lady.
“Now, Derus-sama, please choose your preferred maid.”
“You mean choose?”
“Tonight, you can have as many as you like, whoever you like.”
“…For now, I’d like a tour of the room.”
“That’s right, for ‘now,’ it’s Derus-sama’s room.”
Upon entering, wow, as expected of a noble’s master’s room!
It’s luxurious and splendid, with various decorations, which is fine, but…
A portrait of the Empress is placed in the most prominent spot. What, in a private room?!
(It’s not an office or anything, since there’s a bed.)
I don’t want to sleep while being watched by the Empress.
“Um, Tina-san.”
“Yes.”
“That portrait of Empress Zukki is quite imposing. Could it be moved to the toilet, or perhaps the guest room?”
“Understood. Then, for this room, a more personal portrait?”
“The Empress’s?”
“Yes.”
“No, no, no!”
In the closet, there are clothes that look like they belong to an Imperial noble.
The sizes seem to have been adjusted to fit me, hmm.
There are even maid outfits and sexy negligees specifically for me… wait a minute!!
“These clothes are rather… extreme.”
“We have prepared them to suit Derus-sama’s tastes.”
“…I suppose Nina-san had a word, didn’t she?”
“Clarice-sama and Nastasia-sama also did.”
I only come here minimally, so it’s fine.
(When it’s truly necessary, I’ll probably be forced to wear them.)
I guess there isn’t a private bath.
The Great Tree just has too good of service; this is normal.
Well, if I carelessly enter the bath here, the maids outside… are they still there?
(I peeked, and they were still standing there attentively!)
Next, there are medals and such on display.
Along with the commendations for Demon Lord subjugation, it’s already nostalgic.
(Though Nastasia-san practically single-handedly annihilated one of the Seven Great Demon Lords.)
When I glance out the window, I see a castle.
Of course, it’s a mansion within a castle.
And in my line of sight is… the Empress?!
(I should close the curtains before she notices.)
Wow, why would they have this here specifically…
Should I ask, feigning ignorance?
“This is amazing. Is that the Empress’s office or something, visible from the window?”
“Yes, it’s so that you can respond to emergency summons.”
“We only use it for true, dire emergencies.”
“But will you be staying here that often?”
“This design is solely for ‘addressing the Count Palatine’.”
In other words, it’s not specifically because it’s me,
but rather it’s designed to allow the Emperor to easily summon the Count Palatine.
Originally, Counts Palatine are nobles used as convenient pawns… in other countries or worlds, I don’t know.
“Thank you. I understand most of this room.”
“Then, without further ado, shall we call in the maids you were interested in earlier?
We recommend the green-haired, bespectacled maid, Rinka (24), and the strong, giant maid, Mareho (25), but…”
“I’ll see the other rooms, the concubines’.”
Leaving the room and walking back down the hallway past the maids.
That’s Mareho, the giant maid. She has a physique that could probably take down a dragon solo.
And yet, she has a big sister vibe, or perhaps even a motherly aura.
(She’s looking at me with a incredibly kind smile.)
The green-haired, bespectacled Rinka next to her is also charming.
She looks more suited to be a receptionist at an Adventurer Guild than a maid.
The other members, and these maids, all seem quite versatile.
(I wonder who is paying for the personnel costs. Well, it doesn’t matter.)
And so we arrived,
first at Nina-san’s room.
After knocking and entering, she seems to still be organizing documents.
(Strena-san is already gone.)
She stretched when she noticed me.
“Derus, how was it?”
“Yes, there were maid outfits and sexy negligees made just for me.”
“Apparently, they are Imperial designs. They’re custom-made, you know.”
“Thank you for that.”
More importantly!
“You may check out the other rooms too.”
“Speaking of which, Nina-san, you have a duel tomorrow, don’t you?”
“That opponent is no match for me. Of course, I won’t let my guard down, but I’m looking forward to the moment of ‘Payback’.”
“Ah, yes.”
…What kind of moment will that be? It’s a bit frightening.
“So, have you chosen tonight’s maid?”
“I have to choose a maid?”
“I won’t force you. In a way, you can ‘play as you like’ until the wedding ceremony.”
…Even though she’ll get angry if I go without permission!
I’ll just think it and not say it out loud. She probably knows anyway.
“Then, first, let’s go to Clarice’s room.”
“The maid has the key. Right, Tina?”
“Yes, here are the keys to the remaining seven rooms.”
And so,
I went to see each of the concubines.
(Everyone else has already been here at least once…??)
