Chapter 36

Alulu boldly pulled at the neckline of her dress with her left fingertips and slipped her other hand inside her clothes from her neck.

Even if you are flat-chested, at least turn your back to me before you do that.

Unaware of my thoughts, Alulu pinched a slender silver whistle-like object from inside her clothes between her fingertips and smiled brightly.

When I nodded, conveying my request to her, she also nodded and put the silver whistle in her mouth.

---

Keeeee.

Guh, guuuu. What is this sound? This isn't a whistle, is it?

It evokes a physiological disgust, like scratching a blackboard with your nails.

"Count to 60. Ten times. I'll come."

"O-Okay."

"During the wait. May I ask you one thing?"

"If it's something I know."

With my approval, Alulu grabbed both ends of her skirt and bowed.

"I. Even if I'm not a maid. If I'm with you, Joshua-sama. A mistress? Even so."

"Wait, hold on. Do you understand what a mistress means?"

"Hmm?"

"...Forget about that kind of perverted word, Alulu. I want you to support me as a maid, just as you are."

"Yes!"

I nodded in satisfaction at her enthusiastic response.

Well then.

"Sequoia."

"W-What? I haven't done anything."

With a dark smile, I approached Sequoia and suddenly hugged her.

"Here we go."

"Even in broad daylight. But I don't mind, hah hah."

"...Just to make you think that."

"Hey!"

When I had made her feel at ease, I pressed my fists into her temples and rubbed them.

"You really have no strength at all..."

"I'm holding back. Hehe."

"There's no pain, but I don't like being treated like a child."

"If you learn your lesson, don't instill any weird ideas in Alulu."

"Mmm. I'll handle it. I'll be more careful with my words in front of Alulu."

"That's good."

I released my fists and now stroked her long, silky hair.

She shuddered and stiffened, but soon relaxed and closed her eyes in pleasure.

"It's a promise. You said you'd listen to my request."

"I can let you stroke me more."

"No, it's about time to finish. 'He's here,' right?"

"Mmm. Can't be helped. I'll enjoy it on my side."

What he saw was outside the window. It was Bartholomew.

At his speed, there he is.

Knock knock—.

The sound of knocking on the door echoed.

"Joshua-sama. It's Bartholomew."

"Sorry to call you suddenly. Come in."

The door creaked open.

Bartholomew showed his face, touching his index and middle fingers together and waving them side to side near his head, as if to say, "Hey."

"Well, I was just killing time. I'll take any job."

Bartholomew was in charge of overseeing the town's guards.

So, it's a good thing he's free.

"How's the town?"

"There have been zero incidents the last couple of days. Everyone seems to be united under you, Joshua-sama."

"O-Okay. No fights is a great thing. What about external threats?"

"None. I'd be happy to go hunting if even a wild boar showed up."

Bartholomew snapped his fingers regretfully.

His unkempt beard and open shirt made him look very much at home with such gestures.

"If you're free, would you mind accompanying me for a walk for a while?"

"Sure! I'll go, I'll go. It sounds like a lot of fun."

"I want to go too..."

Alulu stretched up and pulled on Bartholomew's sleeve as he raised his right arm in a cheer.

I wouldn't mind taking Alulu, but if she comes, only Ellie will be left in the town.

If something unexpected happens, she might have trouble dealing with it alone.

With two people, one can alert Rumburg in an emergency.

"Sorry, Alulu. I'll take you next time. Can you stay and work with Ellie in the town this time?"

"Yes!"

Alulu raised her right hand sharply in response.

Not just her hand, but her tail also perked up, which was kind of cute.

"Bartholomew, can you find one more person to come with us? Continue the guard duties without you. If there's a problem, 'contact Ellie or Alulu.'"

"Sure! I'll get ready right away."

"Oh, and just to be safe. When I say 'contact Ellie or Alulu,' I don't mean to put them on the front lines. Leave that to someone strong."

"Strong? Ellie would be fine, wouldn't she?"

Bartholomew muttered something, but it was muffled and I couldn't hear it clearly.

Alulu seemed to have heard it, as she turned blue and shook her head vigorously at Bartholomew.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing. Right, Alulu?"

"Y-Yes. No. Absolutely not. Zip it."

"Sorry, sorry."

Alulu and Bartholomew seemed to be whispering to each other, but if it's important, they'll tell me, so there's no need to ask.

"Bartholomew. Meet me in front of the blacksmith's. I'll stop by Torre's place and then head to the blacksmith's with Sequoia."

"Got it."

I high-fived Bartholomew and saw him off.

"Alright, let's get moving. Sequoia."

"Sure. But there's one misunderstanding."

Huh.

Sequoia's gaze was on Alulu.

Alulu smiled and held out a folded robe from the shelf, showing it to me.

"A robe. Torre must have delivered it already."

"Yes."

The hooded robe had buttons and a drawstring, allowing it to cover the entire body when fastened.

Even though she had been talking with me all night, when did she find the time to work on it? That Torre.

"There are three in total."

"Thank you, Alulu."

"One. Isn't enough?"

Tilting her head, Alulu looked at me.

I gave her a thumbs up, indicating it was fine.

"No, Sequoia doesn't need one, right?"

"Aye. She doesn't need one. With the wind's blessing, there's no problem. Lightning can be 'deflected.'"

"Of course, as expected of an outlier. Haha."

"Don't treat me like a monster. There are few as lovely as her."

"You're the one saying it."

"Whatever."

With that, I and Sequoia left the room.

If you enjoyed it, I would be very happy if you could bookmark and rate it!