R’s Special Mission 3

There were about ten days left of summer vacation. It was time to get a move on. Rekka was rushing to finish his neglected homework, making this the perfect chance for me to sneak out and visit some heroines.

“Hmm...?”

▽

Today’s first stop was—drumroll, please!

“Behind door number one, we have... a crimson mansion!”

In other words, Rosalind’s house. I was just trying to imitate a show I’d seen on TV the other day.

Anyway, let’s hurry inside. Both the inside and the outside were luxuriously spacious. Rosalind seemed to be on the third floor, but what was that...?

“Come on, wipe the window faster.”

“I-I’m going as fast as I can!”

I had stumbled upon Corona supervising Ulaula, who was on window-cleaning duty. Ulaula wasn’t a heroine, and I had already investigated Corona, so I was free to ignore them, but... I was drawn towards them for some reason. It was the outfits. They were dressed like maids. Both of them. Come to think of it, the master of this mansion was a big fan of maids, wasn’t she?

“Um... Great Demon King? You can, uh, leave the window cleaning to me and go take a load off, you know? Please?”

Ulaula was being almost suspiciously polite. I remembered her being a lot nastier... Perhaps, as a former demon, she was afraid to disobey a Demon King—even one from a different world. Said Demon King, however, continued to stand there with her arms folded even after Ulaula told her she could go take a load off.

“You’re telling me to rest, but... you slack off so much that your master has ordered me to keep an eye on you.”

“So why don’t you slack off too? I’d never tell on you!”

“I’m a freeloader here. This is the least I can do in return, since I was unfortunately told I was ‘unsuitable’ for the kind of work you and Suzuran do.”

Well, she was a Demon King, after all. She probably didn’t know the first thing about housework. But damn if her in a maid outfit wasn’t a feast for the eyes...

Anyway, with that small, delicious detour out of the way, I headed up to Rosalind’s room. After I arrived on the third floor, I poked my head in to see if she was there first, then floated right through the closed door to enter. Rosalind was sitting back in a rocking recliner, looking at the ceiling. She had a rather serious look on her face, as though she was contemplating something.

“Hmph... that Rekka,” she muttered as she fiddled with the ends of her twin tails.

Was she thinking about Rekka? Let’s have a look inside.

Why is that boy always surrounded by other girls... Shouldn’t he be spending more time with me?

Hm? I’m pretty sure Rosalind was there for both the water park and the study camp. Or did that mean she wanted him to hang out with just her?

And he was the one who said he’d make me happy...

That wasn’t exactly what he'd said, but I suppose it was the spirit of it. Whether he knew that or not was a different story. Rosalind gripped the arms of the recliner, clearly irritated.

So why does he insist on flirting with other girls instead of me? Does he want to feel my wrath?!

Whoa, I never knew rocking chairs could rock that fast. Just as I was starting to worry she might hurl her tiny body straight out of the chair, she came to a sudden stop.

Or perhaps... Is it that I don’t have enough charm?

Rosalind shook her head furiously, as if vehemently denying it. But her expression gradually clouded as her mind filled with doubt. She must’ve been wondering why Rekka hadn’t put the moves on her... not that he’d put the moves on anyone yet.

Shortly after that came two swift knocks at the door.

“Mistress, I have brought you some tea.”

“Oh... Suzuran, is that you? Do come in.”

Suzuran entered the room wearing her maid uniform. She was pushing a cart carrying a tea set. She wheeled it over to the antique table next to the recliner and started to prepare black tea and snacks. Her every move was skillfully executed. It hadn’t even been half a year since this former homunculus had become a maid, but it seemed that she’d already mastered the art. I guess being a maid really did suit her.

Rosalind watched her working with a neutral expression, but then eagerly looked up into her eyes.

“Say, Suzuran...”

“Yes? What is it, Mistress?”

“Well, you see... I know I needn’t ask, since there’s no way... But in order to get a second opinion, I should like to ask you something just in case. Something important. Though it is just in case...”

“Yes?”

“...Am I lacking in charm as a woman?”

“Would you prefer a blunt opinion or an unreserved one?”

“If I had to choose, then be direct... Wait, are those not the same?”

“Then my blunt opinion is as follows.” Smoothly ignoring Rosalind’s comment, Suzuran spoke her mind frankly. “If I absolutely had to identify an area where my mistress is lacking as a woman, then I would say, putting it bluntly, that you are too childish.”

“What...? D-Despite my appearance, I’m over 500 years old!”

“I’m not talking about your age, Mistress, but your appearance. Compared to the knowledge I have gained, your boobs are fatally lacking.”

“M-My boobs?!”

Wow, Suzuran, that really was blunt.

“Animals that walk on four legs show their sex appeal with their backsides. But as bipedal creatures, that’s harder to see on a human. Instead, boobs fulfill the role of displaying our sex appeal. I believe that is the area you should concentrate on developing first, Mistress.”

Rosalind’s astonishment was so loud on her face that it was nearly audible. The cold, hard truth Suzuran had indifferently dropped on her seemed to have taken its toll.

Why, I never...! To think that I, the great “Jewel of the Night” among vampires, would receive such harsh criticism from a mere servant! No, I knew humans were attracted to breasts, but they’re just lumps of fat in the end! I thought elegance and refinement would have the last word...

“Grrr...”

Rosalind growled in frustration, lamenting the disparity between human and vampire values. Well, in reality, human tastes varied quite widely, so a woman’s bust wasn’t necessarily a determiner in her sex appeal, but still... Having bigger boobs never hurt.

“Mistress, the tea will get cold. Mistress...?”

Suzuran tilted her head as she tried to get Rosalind's attention, but Rosalind wasn’t listening.

Now that I think about it, the way Iris latches on to him has always been suspicious! Curses! What shall I do?! Vampires don’t grow anymore! My chest will stay this exact size forever! There must be a way...

Rosalind furiously pondered her dilemma.

“Mistress, please calm down. That was only my answer if I had to pick something.”

“Hm...?”

Suzuran shook Rosalind’s shoulder to snap her out of it.

“My opinion just now was purely from the biological point of view. You have plenty of charm, Mistress.”

“Then my lack of breasts is...”

“Having an advantageous weapon does not necessarily result in victory.”

Seeing the sincere look in Suzuran’s eyes, Rosalind finally managed to calm down.

“Indeed... You’re quite right, Suzuran.”

“I’m glad you understand, Mistress.”

What a puzzling emotional moment. My mission was to use the Mind-Melding Device to plumb the depths of the heroines’ hearts—in other words, investigate how they felt about Rekka and write a more detailed report than last time. Recording “Rosalind is worried about the size of her breasts” wasn’t exactly what I was after... but it was amusing, so it was fine.

Besides, there had been something strange about this mission from the start. Though their feelings were each unique in their own way, the heroines all felt some kind of attraction towards Rekka. I would be sure to articulate that in my reports to the future. But my original mission in coming here, although it was to help match Rekka to a heroine and save the future... The goal was for Rekka to choose someone for himself. Which meant it should be more important to investigate which heroine Rekka liked the most, rather than which heroine liked Rekka the most. What was the agency thinking?

As I was wondering about such things, Rosalind sipped at the tea Suzuran poured for her. The clouds over her heart seemed to have dispersed completely.

“By the way, Mistress, I actually wanted to consult with you about something, too...” Suzuran suddenly said from where she stood next to Rosalind.

“Very well. What is it?” Rosalind answered as she enjoyed her tea.

“I want to try giving birth to a child. What do I have to do?”

“Fwuh?!”

Rosalind promptly spat out the tea she was drinking.

“Wh-Where on earth did that come from?!” she managed to ask between coughs.

“I didn’t have any reproductive functions as a homunculus, so I’ve always had an interest in the family communities that humans create.”

“I-I see...”

This conversation was getting interesting... Let’s have a look inside Suzuran this time.

“I have the basic knowledge of how to make a child, and I understand that the first step is to be intimate enough with a male to do such a thing.”

If I had to pick a candidate right now, it would be Namidare, but...

“However, apparently just being intimate is not enough. A certain line has to be crossed to go further. This is the step I do not understand.”

“R-Right...” Rosalind nodded, wiping away the sweat on her brow.

“What must I do to cross that line?”

...With Namidare.

Suzuran kept the real subject of her question secret, but thanks to my handy Mind-Melding Device, I knew who she was thinking about. Was she keeping it vague on purpose because she recognized Rosalind as a rival in love? Or because it was understood that she meant Rekka? Even Suzuran didn’t appear to know the answer, so reading her heart right now was pretty pointless.

But oh, well. She was making progress from the last report I’d sent on her, which read: “she’s spent so little time as a human that she doesn’t know what her feelings are.” Just figuring out that much made this worthwhile, and that satisfied my investigation here. Time to move on.

▽

I was wondering which heroine to visit next when I noticed something interesting going on at Satsuki’s house. I decided to drop by for a little visit. As for what had caught my eye...

“How is it, Harissa? Not too tight?” asked Satsuki’s mom.

“No, it’s fine,” Harissa replied.

It looked like Satsuki’s mom was helping Harissa and Satsuki try on yukatas.

“Harissa, it looks like that light blue one and this pink flowery one are your size. Which would you prefer?”

It seemed like Harissa was going through Satsuki’s hand-me-downs.

“Um... Oh, they’re both so pretty, I just can’t decide.”

“That’s okay. You can try both on.”

“Okay!” Harissa happily exclaimed as she started to strip.

Oooh... She was completely bare under there! Continuing the traditions of Japan is a wonderful thing... Thanks to that, I got to see something good. But, hey, this is work. I didn’t just come to get an eyeful, okay?

“Hmm...”

Meanwhile, Satsuki was looking at her own yukata in the mirror. She was comparing the obi she was wearing with the one in her hand.

“Mom, can you help me?” she asked.

“What is it, dear?”

“Which obi do you think suits this yukata more?”

For the record, Satsuki was wearing a beautiful white yukata with a lotus pattern. She was trying to decide between an orangey-yellow obi and a purple one. Both were pretty.

“I think they’re both lovely, honey.”

“Jeez, Mom, that’s not a real answer!”

Satsuki’s mom and I were on the same page about that, but Satsuki was none too pleased. She must have been really serious about this... so it seemed like as good a time as any to use the Mind-Melding Device on her. Gotcha!

Hmm... Yellow or purple... Which would Rekka like more? I fell behind Iris and Hibiki at the pool, so I’m going to redeem myself at the summer festival for sure!

Ah, I see. She was planning on using the yukata to make up for lost ground with the swimsuits, huh? Satsuki sure was diligent and devoted when it came to things like these. She was even meticulously choosing an obi with Rekka in mind. Having a childhood friend like her was already winning the lottery at life, but that Rekka... How clueless can you be?

“Whew...” I sighed without thinking.

There was no end to the list of complaints I had about him, so I had to cut myself off there. The briefing I went through before I took on this mission emphasized that part of Rekka’s personality more than enough.

For now, let’s get back to the work at hand. I decided it was time to investigate Harissa, who had just put on the pink yukata.

“Wow! This one’s really cute, too!”

Harissa happily thanked Satsuki’s mother, who’d helped her put it on. She then looked down at the yukata in delight.

I wonder if Sir Rekka’d be happy seein’ lil’ ole me in this...

Ah, so Harissa spoke in her hometown accent in her head. The sleeves of her yukata fluttered in the air as she twirled around.

Maybe he’ll plumb fall head over heels for me in this number. Maybe then he’d come to my room tonight and... and...

“Kyah!”

“H-Harissa?”

Harissa’s sudden high-pitched squeal surprised both Satsuki and her mother. She hurriedly came up with an excuse on the fly and got her mind out of the clouds.

Hmm... Ever since they came back from greeting Harissa’s village elder in August, she seemed a little different. Well, according to Aburaamian custom, taking someone to meet the village elder was the same as announcing an engagement, so that was understandable. If only they’d go ahead and seal the deal, my mission here would be over already. But no such luck, for me or Harissa. Yet, nevertheless, she waited in her room every night for him to come knock on her door.

In short, nothing had changed about Rekka and Harissa’s life at home on the surface... just the way Harissa thought and felt about it. From her point of view, she probably felt like she had a huge lead over the other heroines. Whether that would change the relationship between Harissa and Rekka for better or worse in the future was... Well, I’m sure we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

“Kyah!”

“H-Harissa...?”

For now, there was nothing more to do than admire how red Harissa could turn when her little fantasies got the better of her. I’ll make sure to write in my report to the future that Harissa’s love for Rekka had increased even more than before.