Now that we have sealed the deal with Lorelei, we can proceed to…oh?

Erevain is approaching me.

"My Lord, Jules and Sophie have returned. They are waiting outside."

"Ah, I see. Then, have Allegra and Bertia watch over Miss Lorelei and Miss Sven in the living room while I entertain our newly arrived guests."

"...!"

"As you wish, My Lord."

Heh, Lorelei not only got startled when I mentioned Allegra’s name, but she’s now looking at me in confusion.

Did she think that I’d trust her enough to leave her alone in the living room or something? Ha! As if!

Besides, she wouldn’t be alone since Erica is there but still.

Erevain calls over Allegra and Bertia and they proceed to free Lorelei and Sven, with the former not only jumping from her chair the second she’s free, but also making some distance between herself and Allegra.

Meanwhile, my cute purple-haired Maid-Knight just giggles at her actions, and she does so in a way that makes it seem as if she were seeing some cute little child or animal doing them.

In any case, she leaves the room with a scared Lorelei shortly after.

Sven, on the other hand, walks out of the room with a blissful smile on her face and a cheerful Bertia by her side. If this were a manga, Sven would probably have flowers popping around her head with how much of a bundle of bliss she’s now, heh.

"My Lord, one more thing. What should we do about her?"

"Munya~~...zzz..munya~~~...zzzzz..."

Of course, Erevain is talking about the sleeping Locke-chan.

"Leave her be, she shall not be waking up any time soon."

"Very well, My Lord. Luca…"

With that, she signals Luca to put the new guests under her interference spell, the one that makes it so that they may not be able to use magic.

I said it once before, but I'll say it again, Luca's magic sure is convenient.

[Shadow Mist of Interference], that is the name of her spell.

It does as the name implies with a shadowy mist coming out of Luca’s hands as soon as she finishes her chant, one that then covers its target’s head before ‘disappearing’.

Yep, I said that last bit it as if I had put air quotes on it because the mist is still there, it just turns invisible.

The mist seems to mess with their targets chanting and thus, doing what I said earlier.

Think of it as a special version of a silence spell.

Now…carrying the new guests, I can see Jules and Sophie.

Also, Jules seems to be eating something resembling a caramel-covered fruit with her free hand.

Although, I am not sure enough to call it an apple since even the smell is kind of different...so yeah.

Meanwhile, Sophie seems...happy, proud, and even satisfied...like way too much.

It’s as if she is going to start jumping and humming all happily at any moment from now.

Her cheeks are red, eyes seem refreshed, and heck, even her hair looks shinier.

Did fulfilling her task made her that happy?

Also, is that a woman on her other shoulder? I mean, there was only one woman in the scrolls Ludovica's people provided, so who is that?

"Master, I have returned. Here is the prey you requested. Most importantly, the food I have brought will not disappoint you, Master. It is good."

Says Jules with a proud shine in her eyes.

"Fufufu~~, Jules is quite the amusing maid."

Yes, she is, darling.

I like her honest way of expressing her priorities.

"Indeed, just like you, dear~~."

Heh, yes, you could say that.

In any case, let’s reply to her.

"Hooh~~, then I shall trust those words and enjoy it after we are finished with this."

She nods at my words while giving her candy fruit another bite and then goes to put the man she captured in one of the free chairs.

By the way, Sophie is already finished with that since she did that while I had my little exchange with Jules. Also, I swear that I heard her humming a bubbly song while she did that. Like…it felt almost anime-like, you know? But I can’t pinpoint it.

"You seem awfully happy, Sophie? Am I correct in assuming that it is because you had no problems while completing your task?”

"Hii!”

I approach Sophie and bring her back into reality by whispering such questions into her ear, startling her.

“O-of course, M-master! I had n-no problems!”

She stutters here and there as she answers my question with a nervous smile.

Still, do I have to say it?

"Haaa…are you sure, Sophie? No problems, at all?"

Seriously, it is obvious that this girl is at least hiding something.

"..."

"Sophie..."

I start staring at her, and I seriously feel like a parent waiting for their child to confess that they were the ones who broke grandma's vase or something like that. Also, Nana would’ve destroyed me if I did something like that.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Back to Sophie though, she is trying to evade my gaze by looking at anything but me.

“…”

Is she seriously not going to confess?

Have I done something to her to warrant this distrust? I do not think so...

And I can feel that I’m starting to shake my head in disappointment…

"Wa-wait!”

Or not, because Sophie just exclaimed that.

“I...ugh..."

She groans, looks at the ceiling, at the floor, at me, and then she takes a deep breath as if preparing herself.

I-Is she going to do it?!

She is going to take responsibility?!

"...I got lost in the tunnels on my way back here..."

Hm? That doesn’t sound so bad. I mean, I bet I would get lost too if I didn't have my instinct and so on.

"...I also went to my house before going to look for my target..."

Ok, that’s not a problem either. Because, well, it is indeed the hometown of some of the maids. It would be rude of me if I were to not let them check on their houses and all.

So, yeah, no problem.

Besides, I bet that Jules did something similar by going to buy food before capturing her target.

If I were to scold her for that, then I would also need to scold Jules, and I do not have the heart for doing either.

"Aw, you are such a softy, dear~~."

And proud of it, darling.

"Fufufu~~~."

Heh.

Now…Sophie has stopped talking, so I will say my piece.

"Hmph, ve—"

"I-I'm sorry Master but that is not all...I...I...I chose this person because I know him..."

...but then she interrupts me with that, all while looking away and grabbing her left arm with her right arm...which in turn makes her shapely chest stand out more.

A-anyways...that’s a surprise.

One that could be considered a problem since she did not mention it to me, her Master, the moment she realized that such person was among the suspects.

"You know him? How?"

"H-he was…my boss..."

"...!"

Hearing this, Erevain’s eyes widen for a moment, her expression changing into the one you’d expect.

She is angry at Sophie.

And if not for me signaling her to stand down with my gaze, she would’ve said something by now.

"Go on, Sophie."

While my tone has turned serious, I’m not adding any type pressure to it. After all, I want her to speak to me and not give reason not to.

“…yes. I…wanted to take revenge on him, so I didn’t…mention him that time at the village. I-I mean, I thought Master would get to him once we got here regardless…and that turned out to be true more or less..."

"And?"

I move one step closer and while she gets startled, she doesn't move.

It’s as if she is accepting whatever is going to happen to her.

"I-I just wanted to be the one to get him...you know, Master? I felt it would help me close a cycle in some way. That’s also why I went to my house to take a few things…”

"So, closure."

"Y-yes..."

She bows deeply before continuing.

"...f-for what is worth, I-I am deeply sorry for not disclosing that information. I-I am willing to receive any kind of punishment...even if that means being locked inside Master's castle..."

She’s saying that from the bottom of her heart and I don’t even need to look at her eyes to know.

Her entire body language is telling, no, shouting at me that…

Even my instinct agrees.

Still, I should be mad.

It is within my rights to be.

And yet...I can't help but smile...

Yes…

This is probably how my parents felt when my little sister learnt to take responsibility for her actions.

Ahhh, Nerinne, darling, Sophie has grown up!

"Indeed, Auros, dear! I am so proud! At last, my sessions with her have yielded results!"

Oh, Sophie seems to want to say something.

"...amm...Master...why do I feel that you are thinking something rude?"

"Hmm, I wonder?"

"...!"

I put my hand on her head and lightly pat her while saying that.

"It is fine, Sophie. I understand. You had your reasons to do it and I cannot fault you for wanting closure on that chapter of your life. After all, that is also a part of the reason we are here..."

I glance at Erevain in a way that pretty much says ‘right?’, followed by a warm smile. Her eyes widen once more before she smiles back at me while nodding in agreement.

“Besides, you did more than just fulfill your mission. After all, you went as far as also capturing one his lackeys. As such, there is only one thing that I can say. Congratulations, you did a great job, Sophie.”

"...!"

Not believing her ears, she immediately raises her head and finds confirmation in the warm smile that I’m showing her. One that has no filter nor roleplay in it. One that is just a genuine warm smile from the bottom of my heart.

"M-master...! That means...!?"

Her face practically tells me that her question is 'am I forgiven?' and I immediately nod.

"Yes, you are forgiven.”

“Master! Thank yo—"

“But be sure to tell me next time or things will be…really different."

I say that while applying a bit pressure in that last part to get the point across.

"...! O-of course, Master! Then, that also means...!"

'That I have shown my worth and I’m free of needing to train?'

That is what she is probably thinking.

Oh, Sophie, Sophie, my sweet summer child.

Time for your punishment that is not punishment.

"Yes..."

Hope fills Sophie’s eyes as that word leaves my lips.

"...you are still in training."

“…!”

Lips that soon become an ‘evil’ smile as I finish the sentence and crush her hopes! Muahaha!

"...uuu...yes...I understand..."

And with that, I believe that she has given up entirely on getting out of training. Which is good because I can’t do that without Kris’ approval. After all, she is the expert.

I can also say that Erevain found this funny, since she was trying to cover her mouth in a ladylike manner just a moment ago.

Ludovica too.

Meanwhile, Luca has been watching over the sleeping Locke-chan, who is cutely curled up like a cat.

Did my massage do something to her mind…?

Nah, that’s probably just how she sleeps.

Anyways…

"Stand firm, Sophie. After all, you could consider what is going to happen next as part of your revenge."

"T-that is true, Master!!"

Of course, that’d lift her spirits, heh.

"Wake them up, Luca."

Luca does as I say and wakes our new guests by slapping them.

I also use my instinct to pinpoint in advance where they need to be massaged.

The guy that Jules brought needs it on his thighs.

The white-haired woman needs it on her feet and...Sophie's former boss needs it on his hand...wait...nope, he actually needs healing on it...

Ignoring that, he looks quite intimidating. I mean, if I had found myself in a dark alley with someone like him back in my former world, I would have been really scared.

Also, I bet his voice is as intimidating as his appearance.

Maybe he sounds like that monster hunter from the mobile game?

Yeah, I could picture that.

Oh, and he is the first one to wake up completely, huh.

As he looks at his surroundings, he immediately notices Sophie and his face twists in anger.

No, he looks furious, like murderously furious.

"You biiitch! How dare you kick me in the—?!"

“"""""PFFFFFFT...!"""""”

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT SUPER HIGH-PITCHED CUTESY ANIME GIRL VOICE?!

Hahahahaha and everyone had the same reaction to it!!

"My voice…?! Is this my voice…?! It is!!! Noooo!! YOU BITCH I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY!!"

"""PFFFFT...AHAHAHAHAHA!"""

"DON'T LAUGHT AT ME, YOU BASTARDS!!!"

Oh, I so know who I am going turn him into.

Guess who.

The other one too. I mean, if it is about massaging thighs, then there’s only one option for any cultured connoisseur.

So, burn in jealousy my fellow weebs!!!!

Wait...what is this bad feeling that I'm getting while looking at this high-pitched guest?

To be continued...(cue announcement of the TRUE seiyuu for Alessandro Vicci!!)