Chapter 3
10,000,000
One, ten… huh? What’s going on? Why are there so many zeros? Is this broken?
“Aile, think carefully. The commission is a whopping ten million gold coins. With this money, you could pay off your debt in one fell swoop!”
The numbers displayed on the small calculator screen stretched out to an unfamiliar length.
Aile’s blue eyes began to waver as he stared at it.
“Ha… this is ridiculous. Director, do you think I’m someone who’s crazy about money?”
Aile frowned for a moment, clearly displeased, but then a low voice slowly followed.
“I’m just asking in case… cash?”
All cash.
My dream was to become a maid at the Duke’s house.
Facing Aile’s firm expression, still shaken by the enormous sum, Death said he had expected this and pulled something else out of his pocket.
What is it?
“It’s the target’s portrait. At least I need to know their face to make the job easier, don’t I? Well, I’ll see it in person anyway once I become a maid.”
At Death’s words suggesting he should at least familiarize himself with the face beforehand, Aile looked at the paper with curious eyes.
However…
“…Isn’t it true that a person shouldn’t look like this?”
Did you really give this to me to identify someone? Seriously?
The sloppy drawing, where human figures were reduced to rough outlines, was utterly absurd.
“As you know, there is absolutely no information available about the Duke of Casio. To be honest, we can’t even be sure if that portrait is authentic. Still, it’s better than nothing.”
Death shrugged his shoulders as if there was nothing to be done.
I think it would be better if there were nothing at all…
Unable to voice the thoughts rising inside him, Aile reluctantly took the portrait.
In order to infiltrate the infamous monster-like ducal household as a maid, there were many preparations to be made starting now.
“Young master, here is the report regarding the ‘Black Rose’ you mentioned.”
Assistant Demon quietly approached the boy sitting by the wide window where sunlight poured in and handed over the report.
“It turns out they are a famous assassin group in the underworld. They are a small elite force operating in such secrecy that almost nothing is known about them publicly. They embroider a black rose symbol on their robes, and that is the only way they are identified.”
Demon paused briefly, then continued speaking calmly.
“If there is one thing known for certain, it is that they ‘never’ fail an assignment. Because they always complete their missions no matter what, they are infamous even in the underworld and are considered extremely dangerous.”
A heavy silence followed.
Eventually, the boy’s tightly closed lips slowly opened.
“Is that all?”
His calm, indifferent voice made Demon lower his head in slight distress.
“I apologize, but that is all we have.”
“‘Notorious,’ huh… It didn’t look that dangerous.”
Despite the calm tone, the meaning behind his words was anything but simple.
“Young master… what exactly did you see?”
Demon recalled the young master returning a few days ago from a hunt, covered in blood of unknown origin, and unusually requesting information about the ‘Black Rose’ with an oddly pleased expression.
“Young master, may I ask who you met in the Black Forest that day?”
It wasn’t unusual for him to return covered in blood.
What was unusual was that he had apparently met someone there.
The Black Forest was not a place where people should meet at all, and even if they did, the young master would never spare them.
After all, no ordinary people enter that place.
“Angel.”
The answer came immediately, without hesitation.
“…Yes?”
An angel?
However, Demon, who had known him since childhood, knew the young master was not someone who spoke nonsense.
It was just a bit violent.
As if that wasn’t the end, another short remark followed.
An angel… and violent?
“…Yes. I understand. In a world where demon beasts exist, there’s no reason violent angels wouldn’t exist…”
It was obvious he was simply refusing to explain. In that case, it was the duty of an assistant not to press further.
Just as Demon gave up on the truth—
“It’s not the time for the maid to come in.”
The boy’s gaze turned outside. Demon followed his eyes.
Near the entrance of the Duke’s estate, a small, pure white girl with dazzling silver hair was cautiously opening the gate.
She then followed a passing maid.
Remembering the head maid’s words from a few days ago about a newly hired maid, Demon quickly understood.
“I heard there was a strong recommendation from an outsider. Since she was experienced, they said she would do well, so the head maid accepted her after careful consideration.”
The boy nodded slightly.
Taking it as dismissal, Demon bowed and left the room.
“…She does seem experienced.”
In the returning silence, the boy murmured, resting his chin on his hand and tilting his head slightly.
“You must have no taste, growing up in such a privileged environment. I’ve been doing this work since birth. Don’t compare me to those idiots.”
A clear, unforgettable voice echoed in his mind.
The girl’s blue eyes shimmered like heat haze in midsummer.
She seemed… dangerous.
The image of the girl, who was energetically following a maid three times her size outside the window, gradually grew smaller until it disappeared completely.
Rhys’s purple eyes, which had been watching, curved slightly into a faint, amused smile.
Aile, since it was her first day, was told:
“You don’t need to do any tasks today. Just take a look around the mansion and get used to it.”
“Thank you.”
With a polite smile and bow, Aile left the annex, leaving behind the maids who were warmly watching the youngest newcomer.
A day off on the first day of work—what a lucky break!
Since Casio was known for being closed off, territorial behavior from existing staff wouldn’t have been strange.
She had been prepared for hostility, but instead of hostility, the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.
Thanks to that, adapting to her first maid job was going smoothly.
At this rate, future missions didn’t seem so difficult.
“I probably shouldn’t try to explore everything in just one day.”
If she had to describe the Casio ducal estate in one word, it would be “huge.” No—massive.
It would probably take at least three full days to properly explore everything.
“First, I should learn the geography, focusing on major locations.”
As she walked around studying the structure and key buildings, a vast green forest on one side of the estate caught her eye.
That forest… looks familiar.
She was about to pass by, but something about it made her stop.
“…Could that be connected to the Black Forest?”
She only knew of its connection in theory; this was her first time seeing it directly.
Since no one from the Black Forest had ever approached this side and returned alive, just looking at it felt unsettling, so she had never even considered approaching it.
But if it was just this side…
“…It should be fine, right? It’s not like I was told not to go into the forest.”
For some reason, she could almost hear Death sighing in her ear, saying, “That’s basic common sense…”
Yeah. Aile didn’t have that kind of thing.
