Fight or fired

Small talk with the goddess

'Jeez~! As lovely as ever~!'

Shut up Purin!

'Yes~! I'll make sure the readers know when I'm talking or not~'

W-What? F-Fourth wall breaking?!

< '...' Is when Purin is talking and the sentence without quotation mark are Mei or other talking to themselves or their thoughts.>

'Should've told this earlier~? Chuckle~ As alway~'

Stop it already!!

(Both Mei and Author yell in unison.)

_______

-Somewhere in the western Roland

Louis's POV

One down, we've struck on one of the Cults of Khan's hideout. It appears that they're making their movement more apparent after the attack. The report about the random attack keep piling on my desk, and that's why I'm out here to take care of that matter.

"Search for the remaining and execute them on sight, left none alive!"

I ordered the fender and they marching deep into the cave. I and my subordinate, Elan are walking back to the camp, to discuss more matter.

"Master Louis, I may suggest you left them for interrogation later, they may hold valuable information regarding their motivation behind their action."

I keep walking, I do not see any of them will be a good use to me, they're already possed by Khan, what good will they provide me if not Khan?

"They're just a bunch of disposable pawn made by Khan, it truely obvious how they will act."

"If that's what's master thinking."

Even with Forto's magic, the best he could get off them is the cult of Khan.

We arrived at the camp, there are many elite soldiers from the fender guard the parameter and the magician are conducting a scan throughout the area.

We walk past the soldier and they saluted us. There are five camps in total, one is my personal camp, second is the commanding center, third is the infirmary, and the rest is the soldiers' bunk.

We entered the commanding center and was greeted by five men, one is Talon, three are old man, they're senior officer, and the last one is young man, the newly assigned court magician head.

In the camp, the large table with a map un-fold on it was in the middle. I walk and sit on one of the chairs.

"Regarding the current situation, the three of you have something urgent to discuss with me. Now, let's speak it here."

the capital's intelligent head walk forward and he takes the stack of paper before him and read it out loud.

"One week after the assault on the Roland capital and many military facilities, the Roland military and enforcer does not make any movement since."

"The cult of Khan are raising in number and the number of attacks has been reported, the places that most been attacked, from highest to lowest respectively.

Military garrisoned facility, Border security outpost, dock, military's production-related facility, weapon stockpile, guidance, magic academy, and village.

The priority was to cripple Roland's military's power and Isolated Roland from the neighboring nation."

I nodded. This attack, their target was Great Roland dock, the dock was a commercial and significant asset to Roland, most of the material that use in the most productive in Roland needed to be imported from Earth and Darune. If it were to be sabotaged and seized, the impact on Roland would be great and hard to reverse back to once it was.

But, the attack is just a mere two-hundred untrained and poorly armed footmen, and some rookie magician. It's wasn't enough to break through even the dock security.

Then the man steps back and come the next man who's a senior researcher from the royal lab.

"We, the royal researchers have inspected the victim's body and found that there are not under any kind of controlling or being possed. They act on their own."

Hm, that's sound unconvincing, how stupid are they, as loyal as they are, no wonder that Khan gets the source of sacrificial resource so easily, these guys simply just giving away their miserable life to the one they believed in.

"Furthermore, everything about them is completely normal, excluded their mind."

Yes, those guys were already crazy the moments they start to believe in that dead man.

"From the research, we found that the member of the cult could communicate via telepathy, they've utilized the hive-mind system, one of the higher ranking controlling the lower. That's mean if we found their queen or king and eliminate them, we could completely get rid of the cult in one strike. But, the reason that they're unable to interrogated is, their mind is complete shuddered into a countless piece and store the crucial information to their commander, and then those commanders will keep part of it and split most of the remaining to the queen and king."

"Hive-mind? how could that even possible?"

I ask out loud, expressing my curiousness.

"The member being a queen or king must be able to perform high-ranking magic, probably no less below than Star rank."

S-Star? Absurd! Even in our magic council, the highest known was Aurora rank!

(In Drareem, the mage ranking can be defined by their abilities to utilize more than a single element, their mana pool, and their skills. The rank listed below is the rank that is known in Drareem.

Mold

Terrian

Sky

Aurora

Horizon

Star

Orion

In Drareem, only 11 known individuals are confirmed the rank of Star and 2 of Orion, one of them is the deceased mage of the hero party.)

"Absurd! How could a mage rank of a Star be out of their mind like a stray dog!"

I yell at the old researcher.

"And even the known highest ranking in our nation is merely an Aurora! If you spout nonsense right now, I'm afraid you're going to end up finding your new occupation!"

I stood from my seat. It's not the time for joking, and right now, the middle of the forest close by their hideout.

"Sir, I think you got it wrong."

I heard a younger voice, I turn to face him and it's was the new head of the magic court.

"What is it do you want to add?"

I speak with calmer tone but still, hold an irritation.

"About the highest ranking in our nation, It's true that the highest was Aurora but, right now, I, as the newly appointed head of the magic court, hold the current highest rank of Star."

My ear twitched and my eyes widen two times as it once was. Everyone present here is having the same reaction as mine, except those two, Elan and Talon. They clearly do not tell me on purpose.

"W-Who exactly a-are you? That guy doesn't tell me that the newly appointed head would be this high rank... You must be bluffing!"

The old man who yet to speak right now open up and speak. That was what I about to thow at him too, thanks for saving my saliva on that.

"R-Right! Even I, the head of intelligent gathering does not know about your rank!"

This is getting more serious...

*Swhiing!*

"!!!"

I pullout Elan's sword from his waist and stab it on the table, gaining all the attention and silencing them.

"I would like to know about you, new head."

I demanded and he nodded in response.

"I may make clear on something first. There is a reason why I'm not classified my ranking when I announced to be the new head, I was assigned under his majesty, I was a disciple of the hero's party's mage, Scarlet of the Wave."

"S-Scarlet of the Wave?!"

The room was filled with the name of the deceased mage of the hero party, the legendary mage.

I don't know about him or her, but for sure, In my youth, I've heard about his/her's heroic action countless of time. To think that this guy before me is the only pupil of the legendary mage, I couldn't help but feel envious toward him but, some are gladful that I'll have him soon-to-be subordinate.

"How can that be true? You can say that all day long! as long as you don't show what exactly you're capable of, I'm not believing you. Action speaks louder than a word."

The intelligent head demands him a display of skill. I agree too, he needed to prove himself, this is not a joke saying you're a Star mage.

"If you insist, I'll show it."

He then starts to mumble something and What!

*Fwoosh!*

We're in the commanding center a second ago, now, we're somewhere in a vast plateau of nothingness, deserted and emptied.

"Wh-Where are we?!"

The old man freakout. Annoying, as soon as I regain my position, I'll terminate them all from their position, they needed to be retired sooner the better!

"My teacher taught me, the special magic that I bet every one of you've heard of. The "Annihilation catalyst beam","

""Annihilation catalyst beam....""

I've heard it before! That spell! They told me that it could turn anything touched by the beam into dust, a spell that no defense could handle, a spell of erasure.

He points his hand toward the gigantic mesa before us. Then the color was drained and the red light was the only color visible and black energy ball appears on his open palm, it sucks pebble, and dust to it.

Even I can feel the pull of that energy mass gathering at on his palm.

"I-It's unbelieve a-able! Th-this is Annihilation catalyst beam for sure! No mistake!"

Seconds later, the ball collapsed and burst out the ray of deadly red and black energy toward its target. Less than an eye blink, the gigantic mesa now ended up a mass of dust and blew away by the wind. With that, the mesa is off the face of Drareem like it never once was.

(Imagine it as Thanos snapped and someone just turned into dust and disappeared.)

An-Anything that touched by it will be turned into dust..... If it were to use against Khan, would it be effective?

"I guess my display could please you. Then, let's get back and continue our meeting."

He turned to face us.

"And I, Celius Bex, the new head of the magic court, pleased to meet you all."

He properly introducing himself.

Celius Bex, a mysterious and powerful figure from nowhere just appeared. My life is full of surprise and impossible.

"Very well, I greet you Celius. I, Louis Vin Estatec or you can call me just Louis."

I re-composed myself and regain my leader vibe.

"Yes, that really pleased me, I already known you, you're that figure from two years ago, I admired your heroic act but pity you, none able to defy your brother's shameful act toward you."

"Chuckle~ Defy? I bet you aren't really my fan after all. The truth is, I'm the one who followed along with his plan, only to be showered with glory in the end."

There's no glory, there is none.

"Master, I guess we should get going back, the matter is yet to be cleared."

Elan, my trusted subordinate reminded us out loud. Everyone nodded and Celius sigh. Not long after, he cast a mass teleportation skill and we're back in the commanding center.

After witnessing the incredible destructive skill, I can't help but think of certain someone who will always surprise me with one or another way.

Would Mei able to do such a thing?

***

Mei's POV

......

After he's away for a quite some time, my workload has completely skyrocketed, as well as the others. Why's that?

Lady, she keeps throwing a tea party whenever she pleased, and so right now. Not only that she not bored of it, but how the hell others are willing to join so frequency!

And my job is to arrange the tea set for her, serve every guest, receive complain or sometimes which not likely, receive praise. Then I get to clear all the mess with the other. Thanks to Risa's stamina, most of the hard work was taken cared for by her.

The boys? Yes, the lady is quite fond of them so, they get to personally serve important guests. And sometime, Jack would piss off on their face like that time, I admit that was a nice drama, he spares no chance for that girl to argue back instead, he sent her stomping back to where ever she came from. But later, he was punished by lady Wiela and he's right now doing hard labor such as lumbering, which he's quite relaxed dispised that being a punishment.

"You there, get me more of this beverage."

A noble lady who is closely related to lady Wiela call out for me. I reacted quickly and tries not to trigger them as much as possible but, why the hell is those glaze!

"Quickly get me, If you weren't under the Estatec house, you'll be long gone since then."

Yes, I try to forget about that matter, It was the first time I messed up while at work.

_______

Two days ago

"Mei~? It's already late, you don't need to attend anymore! I'll take your shift, just go and rest for now will you?"

Vinca holding my hand while she looks directly into my exhausted eyes, my whole body is worn out from the all-day-long of walking around serving the guest.

"N---No thank, I can do this just fine."

My voice was small, but she heard it really.

"Stop, and do not over-exerted yourself! You're indeed talented but, after all, you're a living being too, all living being need to rest!"

'Mei~! She's right~! I don't know why you choose to obey to the spoiled lady rather than the generous and handsome master~'

I furrow my eyes brow and about to speak when a loud shout was directed at two of us.

"Hey, you both! Aren't you the maids! Are you slacking while this guest here is thirsty and tired ?!"

'Why not rest~! Why obey them~! Not every command needed to be fufilled~!'

I must do it because I simply can't refuse.

'That's was unreasonable~'

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

She shouts loud enough for lady Wiela to appeared and drag Vinca to somewhere else.

"You! If you don't want to continue to work in this household after this party, go pack your belongings and I'll pay you the remaining salary you yet to received!"

That what was I heard while Vinca was dragging away with her.

"And you, are you deaf! Such a pitiful look for the "Honored" maid! Get me that beverage!"

I was swaying lightly but I can manage to pour the drink and walk half the way toward her until, a girl in a yellow dress walks out of the crowd and unexpectedly, ram into me, resulting in me losing the balance and all the content in the glass was splashed onto the already angry noble girl, ruining her party time and her thick makeup.

'Ouch~! That's was on spot~!'

...

"Mei!"

I heard Kevin's voice but soon, the voice of the noble girl pierced my ear and all the other guest nearby.

"AH!!!!!! How dare you splash on my face! You've ruined my beautifully made dress and my make up!"

She stands from her seat and jumps around, like a dog flicking its wet fur.

Then Kevin running in and help support me back up. Soon the other friend nearby also come and see.

"I'm going to tell Wiela about this! Hehe! this unruly girl should be removed! Don't think you'll last long!"

"Wait lady Julie! It's was an accident! She does not have any ill intent!"

Kevin tries to defend me but as expected from the typical villainous character from her, she just takes a glass of drink and splashes it on Kevin's face.

"Get away from me and know your places!"

'Jeez~'

What are you taking this for? A drama?

'It's was a splendid drama~! With you as the star~!'

....

Then she angrily stomps her way out. Kevin helped me out of the scene, Rola and Gales come.

"Jeez~! Kevin! Are you pretty bold aren't you? I guess that was what suppose to do, and you! Why you be so persistent! I mean, you are the hard-working type but, if you do not limit yourself, then something like this will likely to happen again and if that happened, the other isn't always there to help you, you'll know what happened but, what I tried to say is d-"

His lecture was interrupted by Rola who lean in and support me.

"Gales! Mei's exhausted right now! You'll have plenty of time to lecture her later but! Look at the guest! They're glazing all over here right now! Now, get lost and continue your duty! I'll take her back to her room to get rest."

"N-Not Yet."

And then, this is the first time I really see the timid Rola become furious.

"Stop it already Mei! What friend are for if you don't want their help? What use of them when you still relying all on yourself?

"Oh~! I guess I better get going a continue my duty~"

Gales slowly vanish into the crowd and Kevin still standing there, wiping his face.

'Yawn~ Guess having friends is handy after all isn't it?'

'You better be gladful that they are here for you, even though you do not really appreciate it~'

Yeah... I guess that why I'm alone, even that Haru who I called a friend is so distanced, how is he going to react when's he know I'll be gone forever?

'Jeez~! Stop, I'm not telling you to reminiscence your past~!'

Then I feel the familiar warm, I open my half-closed eyed to look at Rola, she's crying?

"I'm sorry! Please! Understand me, You're a good person and I admired you! But seeing you struggle! It makes me feel pained!"

I dare not to look at her eyes, I felt the guiltiness is rising within my chest, it makes my chest tight, it uncomfortable.

"I-I'm sorry too, I-I'm the one at fault, I rejected all of your kindness."

"Mei, It's fine! We're a friend after all! That's what are friends for!"

"..."

"I guess I'll get going too, but I advise you better take Mei to h-h *sneeze!* t- to her bedroom before lady Wiela come and don't worry, I'll be fine."

Kevin interrupted and then also vanishes into the crowds and join with Gales and Belic.

Rola realized that what he's said is true, so she takes care of me and helps me get back to my own fluffy bed that I really wish for no wonder why.

Rola, she carefully helps me get on my bed but she still not let go of me.

"Mei! Please take a shower before sleeping! And don't worry! You've got me here! I'll help you and waste little to no time!"

Oh no...... I feel like I'm going to faint.......

And after the sleepy bath, I was returned onto my fluffy bed. Rola still here.

"I'll come by after the party was ended If you need anything you can tell me beforehand."

I trouble her too many for now.

"N-No need, I'm fine now, I'll get rest and ready soon, t-thanks."

I manage to whispered speak to her. I was laying my back to her so I don't know what kind of expression she made, but for sure, she let out a small chuckle.

"Chuckle~ Yes, as you wish~ Make sure to teach me the beacon-omelet afterward!"

"Chuckle~ As a reply? Yes, I-I'm glad to teach you...."

I reply to her with a dry chuckle. My eyes lid become heavier and heavier.

"Goodnight~"

"Hnn~..."

A small sound of the door being close can be heard.

' Goodnight to you too~! Yawn~!'

_______

To the present

Let's get this done quickly.

Lady Julie, she close friend of lady Wiela from Roland. She really likes the beverage, the lemon iced tea.

"Hmph! Now scurry off."

She takes the drink from my hand and rapidly waves me off. I bowed slightly and left her drinking the content.

I will not follow the same route, I have a solution that answers to that matter. After many trial and error, I manage to squeeze out Purin-chan to teach me about space magic.

'You does not get anything out of me~, we've made a deal~!'

Yes, we've made a deal. Purin-Chan is so persistent and I cannot use any trick to get her to teach me. Until I made a dessert for my friends and forget it in the fridge when I came back, they already have gone, and the culprit is no other than Purin-chan , she sits on my fluffy bed and eats comfortably in her physical form. So we've made a deal, if she taught me the space magic, I'll make her twelve-honey cake every week. And so she agrees.

'Hehehe~ Who knows ~? You could be this cunning too~'

I walk back to the kitchen, I used my newly learned space magic to create myself the same bubble that Purin-chan used to contain us in when designing my new room.

What did it call again?

'Time sphere~? I did not have a habit of naming my ability~'

...

I'll just call it Create Personal Space then.

I'll introduce this spell to the other to use too, seeing them almost restless every day is painful.

I usually bought this spell up to take a rest and does not affect my work cause the outside is probably freezing anyway, I can spend a whole week in my own bubble and does not waste even a single hour in real-world but if that only when I have a lot of mana potion with me.

'Hey~! Abusing my skill for your selfishness is not the right way~!'

Huh? Don't you want this week's delivery? I thought you really like it so I prepared strawberry too.

'!'

'Hehehe~! Don't get it wrong~ I love it~! Absolutely love it~! And the strawberry too~!'

***

After spending three hours in the CPS( Create Personal Space), I dispel the spell and leisurely continue doing my duty. And as from what I've expected, both lady Wiela and lady Julie are piling work onto me, It started since the day after Louis has left for his work.

Lady Wiela would always tell me to get this and that done without the other's help, and same goes with lady Julie, she would always use me rather than other, even if they're closer or currently free.

So right now, both of them are present, I may have left for far too long in CPS and the time in the real world has been passed by three minutes, I'm still not perfectly controlling it.

"There you are! Where are you missing for this past three minutes!"

Lady Willa is the first one to speak to me when I showed my face to them.

"Probably slacking off, Wiela, I wonder why your fiance keep such unruly girl?"

That was their plan, they're planning to get rid of me and other girls too, such as Vinca and Clara.

"Come here! I'll remind you of something!"

I cautiously take my step, one with the utmost of carefulness.

"You think that Louis will keep you for another reason? And I don't have any right to fire you? Wrong, I'm the fiancee of the master of the household Estatec, and you are no one."

I only nodded in response, I manage to contain my laugh. Why? It's so dramatic! I've read so many novels and manga similar to this situation I'm in right now, and I never once believe I will really encounter it.

"Wiela, I could have some meal here, It's been almost an hour since I've come and yet your servant hasn't prepared anything yet."

The hungry lady speaks her mind out loud. Then, lady Wiela glare at me then she turns to looks at her friend and asks.

"What would you like then? I will order her to do it right away."

Lady Julie seems to be thinking for a moment, then she looks at me and smirks.

"Oh? I haven't had a decent salad for a quite a sometime now, If it doesn't bother you, I would like to get one with bread too."

"Bread? I never heard that salad could eat together with bread."

Lady Wiela seems to be interested. Salad and bread are not a common things in this world, a good salad needs to be freshly harvested and eat right away, so only those with a fortune can afford them. And the bread, It's as you may guess, It's as hard as a rock and not so chewy. So she's asking me to do what she thinks that I'm incapable of. Hehe, don't underestimate to power of the modern cooking method.

'And the use my blessing too~'

Y-Yeah! And that's too.

Ahem! Now back to the current situation. Lady Julie, she's looking at me while having her chin rest on one of her palm, eye half close with a lifted corner of the mouth.

"I wonder could you able to make such a thing? If not, I guess you should look for more decent replacement~"

Lady Wiela's ears twitched and she turns to look at me once again, now with an evil grin.

"Do not worry, I'll get that done for you. Hey! You heard it!"

I about to bow and scurry back into the kitchen but slowed down when I heard lady Juile's complained.

"That girl? Aren't you overestimate her skill? Maybe she's not that talented? All she does was simple and pleasant's food."

"Do not worry, I've already reported to madame Claudia, she will come and discipline that unruly girl this afternoon."

"And maybe! We have her off this house!"

"So that why you want to eat a salad It's so hard to acquire, especially in this season and bread is already heartbreaking when thinking of eating it, I could only laugh if she were to really made it rather than admit that she can't make it."

"If she can't cook, she can't continue to be a maid here."

Both of then continue to talk to each other about how perfect is their plan to fire me off this house, I'll be glad to escape from both of you and the idiot of a master but, I've got my friends here and I can't leave them with these people.

Just you wait! I'll present a wonderfully made salad to you two! And do not worry! I'll make sure to not poison you two~

'W-Wait~! You just can't do that~!'

Huh? That unreasonable.....

' Do you want to get a death sentence~?'

!!!

N-No!

'Then just smack then in the face with your food~!'

Okay!

***

Ready to cook? Purin-Chan?

'Whatever~'

Anyway! Then let's start!

I create a loaf of unsliced Italian bread, it's fluffy and perfect for a sub.

Then I continue to create other ingredients such as fresh vegetable, our household does have a garden but they aren't ready for harvest yet, this is the only way.

I set a pot on a stove and fill the water in. When the water is boiling, I take four eggs and boil them in the pot.

While waiting for the egg to be cooked, I prepare the salad and cut bread into a half and slice into eight smaller slices.

I crack some egg and made a mayonnaise.

'I'll like to have these later on~! Would you make me too~?'

Whatever!

'Rude~! I just don't understand the art of cooking~! How can I help you~?'

Fine, just watch is okay for now but later, I'll teach you too! Oh, and about teaching, yesterday I taught Rola about how to make an omelet and how to cook a steak perfectly, and she is a really good learner.

The eggs are almost done. I then proceed to the fridge, take out a strip of bacon, and fry it till it becomes crispy.

Almost done now, only the eggs remaining.

***

After the eggs are done, I soaked them in cold water and start to peel them.

'What the different~? I mean you couldn't peel it when it scorching how right~'

It's easier to peel them this way, when the boiling egg is transfer to the cold water, the sudden change in temperature causes its shell to become brittle and easier to peel, it also not messes the egg white up too.

'Ohh~! That seems... new~? It's a waste of ice though, you could just wait for it to cool down~'

You don't get what I just told, didn't you?!

'Alright, time to flee~'

...

Purin!!!!!!!!

Arg! Whatever! What's left is just slice the egg and assemble the sub! Then I can present my most wonderfully re-created of Cobb Salad Sub!

After a brief moment of decoration, I end up making it somewhat, horrendous. How can someone want to eat some of this extravagant? The end result was not the ordinary Cobb Salad Sub but it is more like a BLT with three-time the bacon, vegetable, and tomato.

Damn! I messed up! It already passes ten minutes and I'm not serving yet!

I'll guess they like it with less meat then. I revert back to Cobb Salad sub but this time, I change the new set of bread, why? the bread is soaked with fat from the bacon and it's not healthy. I've decided to remove all the bacon and replace them with crab stick instead.

Alright, It's time for serving.

I prepare them on the tray, I take it and walk off the kitchen to deliver the meal in the back garden.

The two ladies still talking, despite being hungry, they are gossip about many things that I couldn't care less about.

"Oh! Look! What took you so long?"

"If the meal isn't that impressive, then reconsider yourself finding a new place to work at!"

Both of them have a different expression, but lady Wiela tends to be on the more hostile side than her friend.

I take and place two dishes of four-slice of Cobb Salad Sub for them with my other hand. Upon seeing the meal, lady Juile's eyes changed, it's was filled with childishness and doubt. But, lady Wiela just stares at the plate, trying to examine the quality but she gave in hunger and take the first bite.

"Please enjoy your meal."

With that, I politely dismiss myself from them and back into the kitchen.

I could hear the question about the crab stick and how on Drareem I get such quality bread.

Hehe~ Taste the Italian bread, stuff it all in your mouth!

Meanwhile.....

3rd Person's POV

"W-What is this? I-Is this really a bread? What kind of magecraft is it to make it this soft!"

Julie, she was surprised by the odd of the soft bread.

"And there is something sweet and tastes slightly sour in it!"

Wiela covers her mouth as she trying to figure out what ingredient is in the mysterious salad. She has tasted the mayonnaise many time, but she wasn't able to tell what it is, even now.

"These vegetables and tomato~ They're so delicious~ I feel like I could go on diet with this for a year!"

Julie cup her face as she thinks about eating the salad on her diet, It benefits her in both appetize and her build.

"H-HeyJulie! You're not supposed to like it! I mean! Her! If this goes on how could we go on!"

Julie ignores Wiela and continues on eating, she gave Wiela a few lazy answers and does not seem to bother about Mei anymore.

"Umm~ I mean, It's decent, you too think it's decent right? For the plan, I'll go with your then~"

"Mine plan? Do not push all the work onto me!"

Julie flinched but she turns to annoyed look and pauses her action to speak.

"Jeez! You've said yourself that you report about her manner to the madame! Let's if that doesn't work, I'll help you then."

Wiela was displeased, but she understands her friend, she was the one that comes up with the plan about getting rid of Mei for certain reason and so it was her, who in charge.

"Okay~! If that doesn't work which is less likely!"

Then both of them continue on eating the Cobb Salad Sub in silence filled with enormous ill intent.

***

Mei's POV

"Yawn~! I guess invested my time in learning space magic paid off really well, I could rest whenever I need and fix any matter without being pressured by the time."

I was watering the crop in the garden that Sylas has been taking care of, he couldn't take care of then recently, so I do my best to reduce their workload.

'You can't get away without a proper strawberry honey cake this weekend~! And I demand an extra two~!'

Alright! Alright! I guess the celestial world doesn't have a chef as talented as me or is it?

*Bang!*

!!!

Suddenly, al lightning just strikes out of now where when the sun rises high in the middle of the crystal clear sky.

'HAHAHA~! Guess what~! Even walls have ears, and the mighty chef wouldn't hear your insult?'

Ekk! I-I'm sorry! I am terribly sorry! I underestimate the wrath of gods!

'Let's me tell you about something~ Last time when I eat his food, It's was horrendo-'

*Boom!*

!!!

'!!!'

A giant cleaver just fell from the sky, It barely misses me. I almost turned into a strip of bacon.

It's was a transparent and energy like but, standing just a centimeter away, It's made my body lose strength.

I feel like my soul could've left my body just now.

'He's serious... Let's not talk about this further okay~?'

Y-Yeah! I guess talking about this is another way of shortening my life span.

After a second, the cleaver disappears and it's left no mark on the ground or even damaged a single plant.

Whew! Luckily that nothing has been damaged! And also! We're in the CPS and no one was able to witness such supernaturally.

I've finished watering all the crop, they're looking good.

I dispel my magic and everything continued.

*!*

I heard someone arguing nearby. Better check it out.

When I sneak closer and closer, the voice becomes more and more familiar.

"Shut up you ill-temper boy! I don't want to add any more work to my job already."

A female voice and she's yelling at someone who I recognized right away from his famous way of speaking.

"Tch! That's right! I'll be glad too if you don't add any more work onto me already! Tch!"

Jack whispering yell at Risa. They're doing something in the nearby wood. I hid behind one of the rock and take a peek on them.

"Cut that Tch! of you! I'm tired of it! And you know! If you want to really cooperate, I think you should use that nice axe of your and chop the hell firewood up!"

Risa yells while she also chopping firewood with her axe. Damn! That was scary, If that axe were a battle one, I bet that wood stump below is not going to last as stump now.

"Oh Yeah Tch! I got my job here as a punishment! Yet you ruined my time leisurely chopping wood alone in this damn wood! Tch!"

So, Risa come to help Jack get firewood?

"Got a mouth to talk? You're not getting any work done! And it's was on me now! Wonderful!"

"If you just do what you are tasked for, you better consider it done! Now! That brat of a lady is frustrated cause it's too cold at night! And who use firewood in summer?!"

Oh, so that was what the matter. I guess the situation is getting a bit too spicy, I could feel the heat from here.

"Tch! How much does she need it then? Tch!"

Jack asks with an annoyed look, he sped up his production and more and more firewood starting to pile up.

"About this is okay. Hmph! If you were just have done it like this before, I could've been free by now."

Risa put her axe on the ground while her hand was placed on its hilt.

Look like they've finished. Let's go bac-

"Hey...."

Ekkkkk!

"Wh- Mei?!"

I let out a loud scream, I got jump scared by Cherock who unknowingly come behind me.

"Tch! There goes my leisure Tch!"

***

"Jeez! It's bad to eavesdropping on others!"

"S-Sorry! I just finished my work and heard someone arguing so I go to check it one and it was you guys."

Risa softens a bit. And that Cherock is still smiling while leaning on one of the trees.

"Tch! If that crazy woman were to holding axe then I guess she would've thrown it at you! Tch!"

Risa scowl and whisper something to herself then she faces me with a smiley face. Tha-That doesn't look good at all.

"Hehe! Little Mei!! Guess what?"

"G-Guess what?"

She pauses a bit then, but later she shows me a rope and as soon as I see it, It's way too late, I was already tied up.

"Yes! It's time for an interrogation!"

"Gulp! Oh no..."

'Good luck with that~'

No! Don't leave me like this!

"Tch! Crazy woman Tch!"

***

*Thunk!* ( A sound of a light switch being pulled )

"Now! Meet's the interrogator, Risa Rlawe!"

Now the purple hair interrogator dress in officer uniform walk into the darkroom lit by a single lamp where there is a table and two chairs on each side.

She pulled her seat out and sit on.

"Alright! Mei Sakumo! It's time for your interrogation!"

Then a brunette girl who has been tied to a chair could be seen, she is frightened and loss.

"Please! I don't know what you need of me! But I don't really know about it!"

The brunette girl pleaded, but only to make Risa's grin become wider.

"Then what did you have about this record? *Click!* "Ugh... He's just returned from battle. I mean! Business! So I guess he might not want to talk right now..." "

Then she repeated the recorder again, this time, she empathizes the sentence He's just returned from battle.

"Nervously laugh* I don't know if that really my voice... I mean it's been recorded for a week isn't it?"

Mei adverts her eyes away from Risa, only to fuel her more.

"Yes, this is clearly was your voice, and I may ask, what do you mean that "He's just returned from battle"?"

This time, Mei was sweated heavily.

"What is it? Is the room is too hot? I'm afraid that I can't lower any more temperature than this."

Risa Smile and slightly tilting her head. Mei, on another hand, she is trying to fabricate the best excuse for her.

"Uh... Uhm! I just misspoke t-that time! I m-mean to sa-say business!"

"Oh really? Mei, It's not convincing when you're talking without you locking eyes with who you speak to~."

"Now~ If you coorparate~ It's will last only a moment but if you are planning to drag this out, I'm glad to stay and listen to you~"

Risa leans on the table and rests her chin on both hands. She's looking directly at Mei.

"Y-You don't h-have any evidence! Even If I say battle! It's really maybe a misspoke!"

"There's no evidence of master get into a fight!"

Risa couldn't be more satisfied than this.

"You ask for it. Officer Cherock! Bring in the eye witness!"

A door was once again open, and a man with messy indigo hair and a man with blazing red come into the room.

"Here is the eyes withness, he said to have seen master's arrival."

"H-How co-could that be.."

Officer Cherock pulled out a seat for Jack to sit.

"Yes Tch! I've seen him with my very own eyes! Tch!"

"Bu-"

"Mei! Wait until you're asked."

Risa stopped Mei from interrupting Jack's explanation.

"Tch! He's come back via teleportation! When I was arguing with that Sylas in the garden! suddenly a ray of light shine out off master's library, being nosey I am, abandon Sylas and go to see what was happening. Tch!"

"What were you see?"

"It's a master! He's really come from the upper floor where library located. That time I properly behind one of the vases in the hall! Tch! It's saved me at that time! Tch!"

"What is his state at that time?"

"Tch! He's tired, more than tired, It's like he's slowly withering away! His complexion is pale as sheet Tch! His sense seem to be dulled too! He even almost stumble over a stair Tch!"

"Why would you think that he teleported? And what would you assume where he's come from?"

"Oh! Tch! It's was all my knowledge about the magecraft! But I can't exactly tell you where he may come from at that time but for sure, he just has a bang! Tch!"

"Okay, Sir! Thanks for your information. Now back to Mei, now that you're left but to tell the truth."

"Uh...Umm. I-"

"Speak, truthfully."

With a more serious look on her face, Risa manages to intimidate.

"O-Okay.................. It's a long story but I'll synopsis it."

"Go on~"

"After has left for work at Calamity Defender Guild, he encounters the infamous figure, Khan."

Everyone present in the room is shocked, they want to ask but they also want to hear more.

"He's fighting with him, his Illusion to be precise. Both his highness's army and master's Fender cannot stand a chance against his Illusion but, I heard that the mysterious figure appeared and defeat him with her cat."

"But master spent all his mana on delaying Khan and buying the time for a citizen to evacuate, he's such a- ahem! G-good man. This leads him to feel non-productive and not able to use magic for a while."

...

"This is all I can tell you."

"""!!!!!!!!!"""

"The infamous Khan was defeated by a cat?!"

"Tch! Who is infamous Khan?! Tch!"

""You!""

Risa and Jack both glare at each other while Cherock still stands on the sideline watching them fight.

"Alright! Alright! I guess this is not soft news, after all, we could continue thi-"

Risa shrugged whiles speaking, she doesn't pay any attention while Jack busying rub his temple, thinking who could Khan be.

"Officer Cherock! Where is Mei!"

Cherock who just stood by the opened door pointed out of the room.

"You little Cat!"

***

Above is the imaginary form of Mei being "Interrogated" In reality, she is interrogated on the spot where she was caught by them and later escape with the use of space magic.