VIP Chapter 114: An Exciting Letter
“Young Master—”
A knocking sound came from outside the door.
Ia twitched her tail and waited outside with the laundry basket. He had gone upstairs without a word when he got back, and Ia didn’t know if he had heard anything she said.
“I’m here to collect your dirty clothes from today. Now that we finally have a room, you can wash them when you rest tomorrow.”
“Your new clothes are here too—”
“Young Master…?”
There was no response. Worried, Ia opened the door a crack and found Will, who had taken off his outer clothes and was only wearing a thin undershirt, slumped over the desk. He had probably sat down to write something, but he was too tired and had fallen asleep at the desk.
“Mmm… it should be okay to go in like this… Even though it’s against the rules of peeking, he’ll catch a cold easily like this…”
Ia tiptoed in with the laundry basket and approached Will.
“Young… Master…”
“Mmm…”
Will groggily sat up from the desk, rubbing his eyes. He looked half-asleep.
“Young Master, it’s Ia… I’ve come to collect your dirty clothes from today…”
Will seemed genuinely not fully awake. When he heard Ia’s request, he merely nodded.
“Mm…”
Then, with his hands crossed in front of his undershirt…
He began to lift his clothes up to take them off…
“Wait, wait, Young Master—”
Now it was Ia’s turn to be flustered. She covered her eyes—but not completely, leaving a small gap.
*Bang.*
The laundry basket she was carrying also fell to the ground in her haste. Liya’s robe and Treya’s stockings were among the items that spilled out.
“Hmm? Hmm…? Hmm…?!”
Will finally woke up then and let down the clothes he had already raised to his abdomen.
“This… this…”
He was indeed disoriented from sleep.
Ia thought that she hadn’t seen her Young Master like this in many years.
Before going to school, at the Hysterm Family estate, he had not been in good health. When he was sick, he would occasionally look as disoriented as he did now.
After starting school, as he grew older and exercised more, his physical condition improved significantly. It became rare to see him dazed and listless.
Ia missed those times.
“It’s okay. You were really tired today, weren’t you? Seeing you like this after so long actually makes me happy.”
Ia felt content and joyous.
Ever since Will started school, Ia had been a little worried… For example, she wondered if she still had the strength to protect him, as he seemed to need her less and less.
He had his own friends, and his physical and magical capabilities were growing stronger.
He had even formed an adventuring team for the dungeons. Just like today, he could understand the BOSS clearly and stand safely in the back.
But…
Ia had seen it just now!
Not only Will’s dazed look due to fatigue, but also his abdomen revealed when he lifted his clothes…
Her Young Master was still the same delicate and slender Young Master.
He still needed her… to be by his side.
To be protected by her…
Her frail Young Master.
“…Even you noticed.”
Will scratched his head. He realized that he had only been a little down today, yet these young women had all noticed.
He knew this was a good thing.
It proved that these three individuals had become much more sensitive than before, able to sense changes in those around them the quickest—having keen observation skills and sensitive thoughts was the most important step before blackening!
“Of course, Ia noticed. Because Ia has been with you since you were little. The person who understands you best should be Ia.”
She said this while wagging her tail, looking very happy. Then, she crouched down and put the spilled clothes back into the laundry basket.
“It’s nothing serious, really. Mmm… Ia will just consider it the necessary growing pains of a man just entering society.”
—Will had experienced that feeling before, and it was somewhat similar… right?
“Wait a moment, I’ll change my clothes for you.”
“Young Master—”
*Plop.*
Ia set the basket aside, then reached out and cupped the back of Will’s head. Will, seated, was about chest-high to her. She buried his face in her chest.
“Ah?!”
“《Blackening 300 Questions》, Article 123: When he is most vulnerable, bravely offer your care, making him rely on you unconsciously.”
“Hoo…”
“How is it? Young Master, do you feel any better?”
“You… you’re squeezing a little too hard. I can’t… breathe.”
Ia usually handled Will gently—perhaps it was a habit from when she cared for the easily injured Will as a child.
But…
For some reason, this time she was unusually forceful, reminding Will of how she had hugged him with similar force when she blocked the Extreme Flame Meteor during the attack.
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
As Ia released her grip, Will emerged from the soft, fragrant embrace.
He had to admit, he did feel more energized!
It’s just…
Uh?
This 《Blackening 300 Questions》… uh… was it being used on him?
He felt a strange sense of incongruity—no, the biggest incongruity now was the missing “Former Shining Star.” These things weren’t as important!
“Then, Young Master, after you change your clothes, come find Ia.”
“Mm.”
“Oh, wait… there’s one more thing…”
Ia carried the basket with one hand and rummaged through the pockets of her maid outfit.
“Mr. S’s letter arrived here after we changed our address with the Adventurer’s Guild!”
“Ah, that’s great. Speaking of which, I haven’t told him yet that I’ve officially formed an adventuring team.”
Hearing about Mr. S’s letter, Will’s eyes lit up again.
In this cold world of fate, only this truly unassuming, reclusive expert could offer him a little warmth.
However…
This letter didn’t seem to contain just written words. It appeared to be carrying something else along with it, for example…
Something like a stone.
Inside the thin envelope, it had a strange texture to the touch.
Will opened the letter and placed it on the desk. While reading, he began to take off his clothes.
[To W:
How have you been recently? I assume with your thorough preparations, you have already successfully established your adventuring team. If you need any advice on managing and forming an adventuring team, feel free to ask.
Lately, I have been following several adventuring teams and have encountered some strange things in dungeons. After defeating some dungeon monsters, they dropped—no, or rather, left behind some stones like these.
The average strength of these dungeon monsters is somewhat unusual. I compared their data with what you gave me, and by my assessment, they are about 30% stronger.
Oh, right. I heard you are in Nov. Coincidentally, I also have business there. If… you don’t mind revealing your identity, I’d like to meet you.
S]
—!!!”
“Mr. S is coming?!”
“This, this, this, this, this is a real-life meeting of online friends! This must be a real-life meeting of online friends!”
“Am I finally going to see Mr. S’s true face?!”
“No, no, I shouldn’t get so excited. He’s just an old guy, why am I so excited…”
“I’m so excited! Are women more important than brothers?!”
After reading the letter, Will, still in his boxer briefs, hopped around the room.
But…
When he changed into his pajamas and opened the letter, shaking out the stone inside, the smile vanished from his face.
“Why is this thing here?!”
