Chapter 275 – Really Not Impressed
In the pouring rain, the hands hurriedly gathered laundry into the laundry basket.
“Don’t get too excited. Silly April. Just because they treat you a little nicely doesn’t mean you should forget your duties.”
Even as a spy of the Foundation, if a maid neglects her responsibilities, her work evaluation drops, and she can get fired.
Once a spy has outlived their usefulness, disposal is the norm.
On rainy days, the laundry needs to be gathered. This simple task is a serious matter where April’s life is on the line.
In this world, just placing a laundry basket and laundry on a mana board inscribed with cleaning magic could do the job.
Hand washing without magic stones is a special mana technique, and interference between techniques could risk breaking expensive laundry items.
Of course, careful washing is essential, and any damages incurred will be deducted from April’s salary.
If she incurs damages she can’t cover and needs to receive a grant from the Foundation, the Foundation’s gaze towards her will become even harsher.
“One mistake can mean lethal orders; that’s the Wahyhiemhai Foundation.”
Not everyone in the world is as kind as Duke Andersen to demi-human women (or not) or as generous as Chief Scholarship Student Oknodie to the lowly spy of the Foundation.
Compared to the size of the world April has seen and experienced, the presence of Andersen and Oknodie was still far too small.
Compared to those tiny beings, a more familiar presence made a sound in the muddy puddles.
Splash.
With just one footstep, her brain quickly analyzed the information.
The center of weight was shifted to the left foot, and the time taken to step forward was exactly one second.
Every step taken was mechanical like that of a butcher, resolutely heading towards its goal without hesitation.
She remembered. There was only one person capable of such steps beneath her.
“Jaku, first year.”
“Is this part of your maid duties? Sounds annoying.”
“I must focus on my duties as a maid, so if you have business, please come back later.”
Normally, Jaku would silently wait until she finished her task or simply take back the orders.
But today, Jaku did not wait in silence as per their unchanging unspoken agreement.
“Run away.”
“…I don’t understand the meaning.”
“The Foundation’s new tail has arrived at the Academy.”
April, who had been cradling laundry larger than her height, paused in her tracks with the laundry basket.
“Is this a trap?”
“I was told to lure them out.”
The sound of pouring rain intensified.
The rising rainwater gradually submerged their shoes in the mud.
“The Foundation’s decisions cannot be overturned. A man like you, who threw himself into dark mana with the resolve to die, surely knows that. So why pass up the opportunity to win the favor of the new tail and instead show mercy to a discarded tail?”
“A bad habit has developed in a certain mischievous child. A habit of meddling where it’s not needed.”
“You’ll die, you know.”
April spoke her honest thoughts.
“If you don’t fix it, then next it will be your turn.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Beyond the laundry, even though she couldn’t see his face, April felt that Jaku was coldly smiling, pretending to have overheard.
He was a decent guy.
Though not as much as Andersen, he was a student with a promising future. So she couldn’t cause him any more trouble.
“May I ask you to convey one last message?”
“Go ahead.”
“Please tell the dog demi-human that even if she’s clumsy at maid work, Happy is kind and perceptive, so she will surely find other work.”
“Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“If I don’t go, more people will get hurt. Including you and all the first-year scholarship students.”
That included Oknodie too.
From her position, she couldn’t cause such trouble.
“Please guide me to the place where you planned to lure me.”
“…You really are a foolish girl.”
Jaku led April toward the promised location he had conveyed from the Primer.
As the sound of rain thickened, a chill rose from their bodies, robbed of warmth.
“What a shabby maid outfit.”
Even though the thick fabric was black to hide dirt, it offered no waterproofing – truly a garment she never quite liked.
But it won’t be long now.
The time of being forced to wear an outfit she disliked was almost at an end.
As she finished her mental preparation, she felt the rain stop abruptly with her next step.
A small sound-proofed area isolated from outside noise.
This was a trap often used by the Foundation when eliminating targets.
“Nice to meet you, Maid April.”
“The Foundation’s new maid is quite the cheerful one.”
“I’ll commend you for coming here willingly. But I am not an ordinary maid.”
With eyes colder than the pouring rain, a green-haired woman opened her emotionless gaze through her damp, dark green locks.
In her hands hidden within the folds of her cloak were three sharp, slender daggers.
“I am the Assassin Maid of the Foundation. The possibility of survival for a cleaning maid like you, who has only completed basic combat training, was nonexistent from the moment I was dispatched.”
“I know. You don’t have to try and break my spirit, Maid Reap.”
“…The information leaked. Where did you hear my name?”
A slight annoyance flickered on her icy expression.
April felt amused that the number of people needing to be silenced was growing.
“Who do you think called you here? I was the one who sent the request for combat maid support to the higher-ups.”
The two maids stared at each other, unwavering.
It was a scene reminiscent of prey encountering a hunter.
“Were you trying to commit suicide?”
“I merely heeded the ‘Miss’s’ request.”
“…!”
“I want to meet Reap and Jonnas. Not once a month but far more frequently. That was the wish Oknodie entrustingly told me.”
“What did the lady bestow upon you that you harbored such determination?”
The request for combat maid support.
April knew what it meant.
The Foundation does not place two tails in the same position. If a substitute comes, she will be disposed of.
Oknodie’s request was nothing less than telling her she was no longer needed, so call upon a competent maid even if it meant her own death.
Yet, April still took action.
She wrote the support request, which was essentially her own death sentence.
And sent it.
She knew that once a tail is exposed, it will inevitably be disposed of, sooner or later.
Yet, she felt no ill will towards Oknodie.
The average tenure of a maid is about half a year.
She had realized that the precedent did not even get to see the face of the successor, leaving no handover.
For someone who had mentally prepared to die at any moment from the start, Oknodie’s decree was just something that had come to pass.
And Oknodie had permitted her to engage with a man who looked at her with special eyes.
So that she could experience the kindness of Duke Andersen.
“A thing happened, and I received excessive consideration. That’s all there is to it.”
In Reap’s expressionless eyes, there was the slightest hint of recognition.
“Such a pity. Such a strong spirit is almost regrettable. If you had come under me directly, I could have trained you into a combat maid myself.”
“I’ll graciously accept even just the words.”
“Now, end it.”
She felt no lingering feelings.
Closing her eyes, April gathered her hands in front of her heart, taking a posture of prayer.
Waiting for death, she thought.
The Assassin Maid she had only heard about through rumors.
A professional who didn’t make a sound when throwing spells.
To die at the hands of the high combat forces of the Foundation was indeed a luxurious end for a mere cleaning maid.
Clang!!
Because of this, the greater surprise was when an unpermitted sound echoed.
“Guess it won’t do. I can’t let you die like this.”
“…You’ve really done it now.”
Jaku, the one who had led her here.
He should have simply lured her out and gone back, but he stood firm, blocking Reap’s strike and clearly showing enmity towards the Foundation.
“Did you intend to eat the debt owed to Oknodie?”
“Debts are to be repaid. Just not yet decided when.”
“A prime example of a trashy debtor, huh?”
Despite Jaku’s scornful words, a faint smile graced April’s lips.
“Jaku. Out of respect for the guardian who recommended you for the scholarship, I will warn you just this once. Do not interfere with the Foundation’s disposal process. Not before taking us both out.”
“What nonsense you’re spouting.”
“…The death you chose is your own. Don’t blame me.”
Reap reversed her dagger instead of casting magic and adopted a charging stance.
Jaku’s back trembled slightly as he stood between April and Reap.
The clear difference in skill was palpable.
He could feel an unusual strength in his skin.
“Should I at least thank you for dying with me?”
“Who’s being presumptuous about dying together? Don’t get the wrong idea. You won’t get your way.”
Jaku’s gaze was directed toward the entrance of the soundproof barrier.
Following his glance, Reap and April’s eyes widened simultaneously.
There stood Oknodie, puffing her cheeks in a very displeased expression.
