"Oh, so pretty..."

Murmurs...

"Who is she? Do you know?"

Even more murmurs.

"Those are a lot of maids…”

“She could be someone important..."

"She must be a foreign princess or queen; my heart is telling me so...!"

So many murmurs.

"Those maids are not bad either...!"

"What are you saying? Just look at that chest...!! The master totally beats the maids...!!"

Heh.

We sure are grabbing all the attention today.

That, of course, is to be expected.

After all, I am walking through the streets of the merchant's district surrounded by my gorgeous Maid-Knights. All walking with finesse and grace.

Some, like Lucy, are even actively charming onlookers by winking at them.

Now that I think about it, she has potential to be the idol type of the group.

Yeah...she wouldn't look half bad with that look!

Anyways, back to the bystanders!

There are some who look at us with pure curiosity, others with surprise, awe, and even some reverence, but there are those who are just enjoying the show.

Hehe...for those who are doing so, I give you my blessing!!

BASK IN MY (WAIFU'S) BEAUTY!! BASK IN THE BEAUTY OF MY MAIDS!!

FALL INTO THE MAID FETISH!! BE ENCHANTED BY THE GOTHIC LOLITA FETISH!!

JOIN ME!!! JOIN ME IN SUCH CULTURAL APPRECIATION!!!

BECOME…ONE OF US!

"Heh."

I can’t help but smile at all of this. Yesterday, I stayed in-doors. But now, now I'm walking through the streets of an actual isekai city.

I know I said it before, but it is so cool!!

You can see that lots of things have magic imbued within them, like the lighting inside the stores, the fountains, the clocks, and even entire buildings!!

Not to mention that I can't seem to find any sign of discrimination against other races.

No, seriously.

Like…look over there.

There’s a dwarf with his elven fiancé choosing a wedding dress in one of the stores.

Not far from there, we can see two bros, a human and a beast-man, enjoying lunch together at a stall, wait, no, they are on a date.  

The one tending the stall being quite an energetic Kobold.

There are also kids of different races playing and laughing together.

It makes me happy that Nerinne was clear on her message about love and that it wasn't ignored.

Hm?

Oh!

A little orc girl is approaching me.

"For you, Miss. You're very pretty."

She just gave me a flower! Her smile is so cute! I want to hug this cutey!!

But I must keep my edge alter cool.

Still, you already know my policy for heartfelt compliments.

So, I crouch to her size and make a flower from my castle's garden appear in my right hand and I do so in a stylish way, like a classic magic trick, all to marvel her.

"Woow…!"

A thorn-less red rose.

"This one is for you, little girl. For you are beautiful too and I am sure you will grow to be even more beautiful. Just like this flower."

I smile warmly while giving it to her.

I show her the same smile I would show to my cinnamon roll of a volcano daughter.

Even if besto waifu was a character that acted mean to kids, I just can't. That is something I wouldn't emulate at all. And besto waifu isn't like that either. After all, she loved her son very dearly.

"Oooh, it's so red! Look mom!"

Ah, she smiles fully and radiantly, full of that innocent joy that is unique to kids. She then runs off to her mother, who looks very happy for her daughter.

The mother then looks at me and nods in thanks.

I do the same and wave goodbye to the girl.

"Thank you very much, Miss! I'll take care of it forever!"

She says while waving with her arm.

Meanwhile, the people who were looking at us from the start seem quite happy with the scene.

"You are truly kind to children, My Lord."

Says Erevain who is walking a step behind me to the right.

"Hmph, of course. If there is something certain in life, it is that children are the future. We should cherish them, nurture them, and not hurt them. This is something I believe in with all my heart."

No lies there.

No roleplay there.

That is what I think.

"I concur, My Lord. Giving children the opportunity of having a peaceful childhood was one of the motives that moved me when I was Knight. A motive that has not changed now, rather, it has grown stronger.”

Says Erevain while looking warmly at a group of children who are playing inside a fountain, as in throwing water at each other.

Still, I imagine that she was also burdened by that while on exile, but no need to mention it now and dampen the mood.

"And that is what we shall do.  You can have my word on that."

"I know, My Lord."

As we continue walking, I get to see many stores, products, and people, until we stop at one of our destinations for the trip.

Although, I have to say that we arrived rather quickly to this big and luxurious looking store.

Like, the whole place screams 'high class'.

Also, a butler looking person just opened the door for us, beating Mika who was about to do it.

"Please, be welcome to my Master's humble store. It is clear that you dear Miss are the Master of the ladies that came yesterday. After all, I can see such charming young ladies within your group, and it is obvious with a presence such as yours. As the scroll said, my most sincere apologies on behalf of my Master and I for the inconvenience."

Says the actual butler while guiding us through the store.

The inside of said store is red with gold accents everywhere. Imagine a jewelry store, but one that also deals with magical gems, magical jewelry, and rare minerals.

Heck, it even has a floating crystal chandelier. So cool!!

"It was my idea to do such a thing, given that we need time to prepare such order as per government protocol.”

Butler is still talking…

Oh! There’s even a Moon Tear on display and…yep, it’s just like I imagined it. It is silver colored with a shimmering glow that is not unlike the glow of Erevain’s Moonlight Magic.

Nice, very nice.

“Also, I decided to take this chance and prepare a meeting between my Master and you, dear Miss. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience. Now, please, take a seat, dear Miss. My Master shall arrive shortly while I bring your Moon Tear order."

After saying that, the butler does a light bow and leaves the room.

By the way, we are now inside a private office on the second floor

"Eresh, do you know this person?"

I ask her because I have a feeling that she does know them.

"Indeed, My Lord. Lord Baltfault is one of the few people that has a royal permit to sell Moon Tears, even if only in a small quantity. He is a man that can only be described as self-made. And he is what you would expect of a merchant of humble origins. Good with his workers and better in business."

*click*

Speak of the devil…

Let’s do this, even if I feel that this is just the start of a long day.

____________________________________________________

Man, that took too long...

Like seriously...dealing with three different top-merchants sure is tiring.

It felt as if I was back in my job back there...

The first one, Baltfault, was a deer-based beast man.

His horns had the appearance you would expect from a stag.

His personality was the best of the three, though.

Polite and to the point.

With him it was a simple hello, money exchange, moon tears given, small talk, some tea and cookies, and bye.

Which I appreciated and fixed my bad impression of him and his store. But then, regrettably, it balanced out with the second.

Lady Solmi was a...dwelf?

Let’s go with that since there’s a lack for a better word.

After all, she is pretty much the mix of a dwarf and an elf.

Yep, remember the couple that was buying a wedding dress? Well, their child would look like her.

Pointy ears, small stature, not that rough looking but also not that lithe...like a mini half-elf?

That sounds about right.

Solved a fantasy mystery, at least for me, CHECK!

A-anyways...Lady Solmi…was…well…she pretty much wanted to know from my date of birth to how much toilet paper I use with all her questions.

She seemed marveled with my and everyone else's clothes though, so I did brag about my girlfriend a bit.

We got the chimeric leather and the manticore leather from her.

Finally, the third one...a human...

But man, oh man...this guy was the worst. Not only did he made us wait to ascertain his superiority, but also tried to play me with the price.

That is an absolute no-no.

So, I sicced Mika and Lucy on him and they ended up reducing the price in half of what they had agreed on yesterday.

Lucy's haggling skills and Mika's appraisal skills sure are convenient and terrifying to their victims.

That'll teach him!

Titanotite, GET!!

________________________________________________

We are again walking through the streets of the capital, having almost left the merchant's district and we are being followed.

I can hear their steps on the rooftops, and I have also seen those 'normal citizens' that 'coincidentally' are always in the same places as us.

"Hmph."

You know, I noticed the second they started keeping an eye on us, but I think that we will need some privacy before we go to Allegra's lab.

Heh, I think it is time for an ironic role reversal for a certain maid.

"Sophie."

I signal her with my hand to come closer and she does.

"W-what is it, Master?"

"Have you noticed?"

Yes, instead of asking Luca, Allegra, or Jules, I am asking Sophie.

Why? Well, I wanted to test her a bit more.

Hey! I am not bullying her! On the contrary! I want her to shine!!

So, don't go saying things like that!!

She made a pact with me back in the village, so her senses are enhanced like everyone else.

She was also trained as a spy, so she should be able to know when she is being spied on.

And she knows, just look at those eyes and the roguish smile she is showing me while nodding.

"Three on the rooftops and three on the ground. Prince Licht's agents most likely, Master. They have been spying on us since daybreak."

She is quick and precise, which tells me that she is not lying.

Well, my instinct too and her body language.

Regardless, she is right.

"Hooh~~. Then, make them stop doing that."

I did not ask if she could.

I did not intimidate her.

I only shoot at her challenging smile.

Her eyes widen and her smile turns devilish, accepting my challenge.

"Kekeke...that will be an easy one, Master."

Says Sophie with complete confidence and not an ounce of her usual nervousness.

Also, what a weird laugh.

"You already know of my skills being ones that can transmit what I see or what I say to others, Master. But that is not all. They have another use that I’ve been practicing with that troll Kris and the others. Pay attention, Master."

"Pfft..!"

While I nod to Sophie’s words with a ‘show me’ kind of smile, Gabrielle is trying to hold back her laughter by covering her mouth with her hand. She is probably laughing about Kris being called a troll.

Still, I'm really glad that Sophie’s training is bearing fruits. Even more so, ones that she is confident about.

Ah, just so you know, we haven't stopped walking.

Allegra is leading the way and she is probably waiting for the spies to be dealt with.

Oh, Sophie is starting.

She just closed her eyes, and I bet that she is sharpening her senses to focus completely on those spies.

"There are six. So, let's call each with a letter, A to F. [Sense roulette: Sight] [Connect: Sight] [Sender: A to F] [Receptor: A to F] [Sense roulette: Activate] ..."

Her body emits only a faint transparent glow as the skill activates, and I can feel that I was only able to see it because of my OP senses.

Which means that even her skills act in a stealthy way while activating.

"...done."

With that, she does a small clap and not even a moment passes before we can hear a small commotion in the streets.

*slam*

"Aaah! What the—?! Hey! Someone fell from the roof of that building!"

So shouts a passerby that barely dodged the falling spy.

“What? Whe—?!”

*slam*

“What’s going on?!”

And another one goes.

*slam*

“Here’s another one! Someone call a healer!”

And another one bites the…you know the rest.

Meanwhile, those that were already on the ground have started to walk erratically while crashing into stalls and walls or falling to the ground.

Almost as if they’re…

"Guaauarghh....GUAARRHUGUAGUAUGA...!"

*RAINBOW*

Eww, one of them has started vomiting...

"Kekeke...see that, Master? I made them see what the other was seeing and kept changing it quickly like a roulette! That will mess anyone up!"

So smugly says Sophie with quite the satisfied smile.

The other maids are either surprised or impressed.

With Erevain being part of the latter group, along with Gabrielle, Luca, Bertia and Allegra.

While former group has Jules, Erica, Mika and Lucy in it.

"Urrgh...bwoaruaaruaagh..."

*RAINBOW*

Ugh, another one...

"Yes, I can see that."

"Huh? W-why do you look disgusted, Master?!"

Oh, it showed?

I just don't like vomit...

Sumanai.

"Nothing. Good job, Sophie. How did it feel to be on the other side of things?"

"Master, you are changing the subject...but it was fun. And yes, the irony is not lost on me Master. I bet you thought of something rude like that, right?"

This maid...

Seriously. Am I that easy to read?

"Allegra, how much longer until we reach our destination."

I say that while ignoring Sophie completely.

"D-don't ignore me, Master!"

Says the ignored maid.

"Not long, Master. We just have to enter this alley right here"

Says Allegra with her relaxing voice.

_________________________________________________

After walking a bit more we found ourselves at a 'dead end'.

In a predictable isekai this is where the poison user would say that she was a traitor all along and have us all poisoned.

But this is not a predictable isekai!

Because having reached the wall, Allegra now turns around, faces us, and taps the point of her right foot on the floor three times.

Or more like she taps that specific tile.

*tremble*

Oh! The floor is trembling a bit! A hidden staircase has appeared!

If she had been one step further, she would've fallen, but it is clear that she knows her stuff.

"This tunnel will take us directly to my laboratory, Master. I do not think we would have been able to enter from what used to be my house, so I apologize."

She bows lightly as she finishes saying that and I can hear some sadness when she mentions her house.

Man, it must suck to have worked so hard to get the house that fulfills your needs and then get exiled...

"There is no need to apologize, Allegra. If this is the best way to reach our destination, then so be it."

Like, I'm going into a secret tunnel! How can I say no to that?!

"I am glad you understand, Master."

She smiles while saying that and what a beautiful smile that is.

"Very well, we should separate into two groups here in case they send more spies."

So I say preparing the stage for Erevain to take it from here with the following:

"Gabrielle, take your team with you, along with Jules and Sophie. Make it so that the spies only report another day of visiting stores."

"As you wish, My dear Master, Leader."

While saying that, she bows like an ojou-sama, holding the sides of her skirt.

Then, she raises herself, gives me a warm smile, nods at Erevain, and exits the alley.

All those mentioned follow her, except Jules who turns to me.

"Master, let us meet at the 'King's Glare' pub. They serve a great Beeftain steak."

There is only one thing I can say to this glutton of a maid when she mentions steak.

"Yes."

I give her a thumbs up with my edge alter deadpan serious face.

"Mhm."

She gives me a thumbs up with an 'as expected' kind of smile before running off after the rest of her group.

And we? Well, we start descending into the tunnel.

When the last of us is fully inside, the access closes and several magic torches activate, lighting up a reeeeally long tunnel.

Which seems to go straight for a bit, but then it sharply turns right, making it seem like an inverted 'L'.

Wait...Jules did not tell me where the pub is...

"There is nothing to worry about, Master. Everyone here knows how to get to that pub! Also, I hate to admit it, but Jules is right! They do serve an excellent Beeftain steak there."

Says Bertia with a complicated expression on her face while drooling a bit.

Also...SHE ALSO READ MY MIND OR WHAT?!

"Yes, we would eat there every now and then. Usually after returning from our regular training when there weren't any missions. The steak served with mashed uruns as a side dish was what I used to order."

Says Erevain with a nostalgic look on her face.

"I personally prefer the Beeftain stew. Ah, such a delicacy, even more so in winter."

Says Allegra with the smile that comes out when remembering something tasty and an exaggerated hand motion.

"The fried...uruns and fish are...good too..."

Says Luca in a whisper. I, of course, nod at her like always to tell her that I heard her perfectly.

She smiles.

"I find the mixed juice they make to be quite the refreshing one, I hope they still serve it after all this time. Ah, I hope the same for their steamed vegetables and horned rabbit fillet with herbs, it’s my favorite dish."

Says Erica with a nostalgic look on her face.

And so, this is how my maids have made me quite hungry while we walk through the tunnel that will lead us to Allegra's lab.

I so want to taste that steak now...

Also, Nerinne, I miss you.

Come back...

 

To be continued...(cue DRAMA CD ANNOUNCEMENT!! FIND IT IN THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE NEXT ANIME VOLUME!!! ONLY FOR 145$ PLUS SHIPPING!!)

Thank you very much for reading! I hope that you liked this chapter! If you did, don't forget to drop a heart! For those who read the previous chapter before I updated it, the winner of the popularity poll (which is going on both here and in RoyalRoad) will be featured in all-new short story at the end of this revised volume and will be sketched by LARH! Yes! The same LARH who made the cover! So, go vote if you want to read and see that! 

Here are the top 3 as of right now: 

1. Gabrielle.
2. Erevain.
3. Luca.

But don't be disillusioned if they are not your picks, the poll will be up until next wednesday, so everything can happen!

In any case, if you wish to support me and my work, please consider donating to my Ko-Fi, it will really help! 

Special thanks from the bottom of my heart to: EmbraceTheSleeb, Lord-Hollow, YukisoraRin, LordInquisitorSteele, Anon and Anon2!

Please, do not translate my work without my permission. Favor de no traducir mi trabajo sin mi expreso permiso.

See you all tomorrow! Have a nice friday everyone!