Before Lord J's overwhelming courtesy, I felt infinitely small.
Lord Leviathan. What should I do?
No answer came. I suppose he's dead. Oh dear.
Having buried Lord Leviathan in my heart and fully regained control of my mind, I became Han Yuyeon.
Let's try communicating. Maybe we can resolve this nicely through conversation.
"Lord J. Let's communicate. I really am Han Yuyeon."
"As expected, one can sense dignity from Lady Yuyeon's very name. There is a very gentle resonance, as though you would respond to all worldly affairs with flexibility."
! How could you interpret my name so accurately!
I felt like complimenting Lord J in return.
"Thank you. From Lord J's name as well, I sensed systematic planning ability and a sense of responsibility."
"Haha. I am simply grateful that you appreciate the name bestowed upon me by my Master. Ah, there is a reception room nearby; might we speak there?"
"Very well."
- What are you two doing...?
A reception room. That's definitely something you have to build when making a mansion later.
It was an opportunity to check the structure of the vampires' reception room.
But is it really okay for me to receive such hospitality?
Traces of the destruction I had wreaked while intoxicated by power remained here and there, making me feel guilty.
"I'm sorry. I broke far too many things."
"Not at all. That, too, was our oversight."
"?"
"The very fact that we created a situation in which Lady Yuyeon had to exert force is due to our lack of preparation."
"???"
"Please, come this way. I ought to have escorted you to a space of greater dignity, but I am ashamed that our preparations are lacking."
"Urk."
- So this was how you deal with Lady Yuyeon...
- She really can't move a muscle.
The excessive courtesy, to the point of being burdensome, left me breathless.
I should take this as a lesson to grow. Excessive courtesy is incredibly burdensome.
Suppressing the pricking sensation in my chest as if being stabbed bit by bit, I followed Lord J.
The reception room, suffused with red moonlight, was antique yet pristine.
The perfectly angled sofa and table, the fluffy carpet, and the private atmosphere provided inspiration worth referencing when building a reception room later.
"I have prepared tea for humans. I am unsure if it will suit your palate, but..."
"Thank you. I shall enjoy it."
So the vampires prepare tea for humans as well.
I had not prepared tea for the vampires.
Ugh, to think a maid who should be prepared for every situation would make such a mistake.
I had assumed vampires only drank blood normally, so I had never considered this aspect.
"Correct. We are born quite different from humans, after all."
"??? Did I say that out loud again?"
"Ah, please excuse me. I did not mean to read Lady Yuyeon's thoughts."
"You can read my thoughts?"
"I cannot read them perfectly, but I can roughly sense what you are thinking. It is one of the powers bestowed upon me by my Master."
"Huh? Then what am I thinking right now?"
"...It seems you are not thinking anything."
"Huh."
- Did you just say Lady Yuyeon has no thoughts?
- How dare you insult Lady Yuyeon???
After a brief pause, Lord J composed himself and continued politely.
"I did not say this to offend Lady Yuyeon. Since this is an ability I cannot control of my own will, I wished to inform you beforehand."
"I am not offended. It's fascinating."
"I am simply grateful that you see it that way."
Gently. Very gently.
Controlling my strength as much as possible, I grasped the teacup handle with dignity.
And then, *gulp*. I tried the tea Lord J had offered—
What is this. The taste is strange.
The astringent taste lingering on my tongue struck my mind.
What should I do.
Would it be polite to honestly say the taste is strange?
Or would it be polite to just drink it without saying anything?
Lord J. You're reading my thoughts. Please tell me the right answer.
"...My apologies. It seems I made a mistake, as it has been too long since I last brewed tea."
So it was a mistake. I am fine.
"Lady Yuyeon. While I can read thoughts, I cannot read them perfectly. And you have no need to force yourself to drink."
But it pains my heart to throw away tea that Lord J brewed with such care.
I am fine, so please do not mind. Shall we continue our conversation?
"Lady Yuyeon. I am sorry, but could you please say that out loud...?"
"??? Was I only speaking through my thoughts?"
"Yes..."
- So the sudden silence wasn't because she was drinking tea...?
- Hmm.
- As expected of Lady Yuyeon, so thoughtful.
- Is that so...?
How could I make such a mistake. This is all Lord Leviathan's fault.
I had finally found an opportunity to have a proper conversation with a vampire.
"You seem to have many questions about vampires; if you tell me what you are curious about, I shall answer with all sincerity."
"!"
It's so convenient that you're reading my thoughts.
Ah. Lord J. But please don't read the maid peace signs that are still in development.
I don't want to show you an unfinished peace sign.
"...Might I ask what a maid peace sign is?"
At Lord J's request, I showed him the Maid's Dignity Double Peace.
"VV."
"As expected...! Tremendous dignity can be felt...! So Lady Yuyeon has been honing such a great technique...!"
My dignity must be on par with Lord J's now.
The moment I tried to ask about the things I was curious about regarding vampires, a pure white radiance that drove out the red moonlight filled the reception room.
"?"
"Benefactor!! You must not talk with that one for long!!"
When I looked to the side, I saw Lady Lavina, covered in blood and in a terrible state.
Lady Lavina was breathing roughly with an utterly exhausted expression; she appeared to have fought so many battles that even her divinity seemed to have hit rock bottom.
"That one is a brainwasher...! Even now, talking with you is to brainwash you... urgh...!"
"???"
- Brainwashing...?
- Lady Yuyeon...?
- A mere vampire bitch...?
Brainwashing? Lord J, me?
"Lord J. Were you deceiving me? Were you deceiving me with courtesy and dignity? I truly wanted to have a conversation."
"Oh dear. As I do not wish to be misunderstood by Lady Yuyeon, I shall speak frankly."
While feeling a sense of betrayal, Lord J extended a hand to me.
"Humanity will soon perish. Lady Yuyeon. Come to us. Our Master highly values that astonishing talent of yours. He does not wish for an outstanding being like you to vanish as mere crumbs."
Lord J's voice remained tranquil despite lightly speaking of humanity's destruction, and—
"If you wish, we shall take in that priestess as well. Though she has slain many of our kin, Lady Yuyeon is far more valuable than such things. This is the most dignified salvation we can offer."
Not understanding Lady Lavina, who was looking at me soaked in anxiety and fear,
I asked a question.
"Lord J. Might I ask why humanity is perishing?"
"Because my Master has decreed it so."
"Aha."
It's a relief that the reason for humanity's destruction is simpler than I thought.
Since the reason is simple, the solution should be easy as well.
"Lady Yuyeon is certainly strong. Strong, but before my Master—"
"Lord J. You need not say more."
"......"
If you have read my thoughts sufficiently, you would know even without me saying it.
That no matter what happens, I have no intention of standing by and watching humanity perish.
"...That is regrettable. If possible, I wished to serve Lady Yuyeon in the truest sense, but it cannot be helped. It was a pleasant conversation."
*Flick—!*
Lord J snapped his fingers.
"I regret that I must receive you in this manner. Lady Yuyeon."
"?"
And nothing happened at all.
"Hm?"
*Flick—! Flick—!*
After snapping his fingers several more times, Lord J asked with a look of incomprehension.
"...How are you maintaining your sanity?"
"???"
- Well, you see...
- Does she not know...?
Since I also didn't know how brainwashing was performed, I asked in return.
"Was my mind supposed to become strange when you snapped your fingers?"
"How on earth are you still sane...!"
- You don't need to know...
- Let's leave this story for another time...
Hmm. I suppose.
「Maid's Dignity (EX): A maid's dignity is her Master's dignity. Therefore, a maid must maintain her dignity always and everywhere.
- Resistance to mental abnormalities increases.
- Resistant to all contamination.
- Purifies the surrounding environment.
- Maintains optimal condition.
- Receives corrections for the majority of actions.」
It seems my dignity has overcome Lord J's dignity.
"This is my victory in a dignity contest. Lord J."
Though I had much I wished to ask, it seemed our verbal conversation was over, so I snapped my fingers as well.
Reinforced even further with aura and mana, with all my might.
*Flick*, and then *bang*. The shockwave from my fingers turned Lord J into blood—
Ah right, Lady Lavina!
When I turned around, I saw Lady Lavina swept away by the shockwave and lying flat on the ground.
- Hieeeek
- Heeek
- (Protect me... Priest connect)
- (I'm dead... Mage connect)
I hurried over and checked her condition.
"Lady Lavina. Are you alright?"
"U-urg..."
"Hoo... Hoooo..."
I tried using maid-style healing arts, but it was futile.
When I grabbed Lady Lavina's shoulder, I heard the sound of bones breaking.
"Urgh...!! B-Benefactor...! I am fine, so it's oka...♡!"
"Gasp."
- She's completely shattered though...?
- Just how fucking strong is she?
- Lady Yuyeon, you won't do this on Earth, right...?
So she had already been broken even before I grabbed her shoulder.
Lady Lavina, whose bones throughout her body had been shattered into pieces by the shockwave, twitched while lying face down.
"L-Lady Lavina. Shall I give you a shotgun...?"
"......♥"
- I don't think this is a situation that calls for a shotgun, Lady Yuyeon...
That's right. Lady Lavina had said she wouldn't use shotguns anymore.
Even if she went back on her word, she couldn't wield one in her current physical condition.
"G-give it..."
"?"
- ???
"So I can just... hold it..."
- I guess this is a situation that does call for a shotgun after all...
- As expected of Lady Yuyeon, you know exactly what's needed for treatment.
I quickly took out a shotgun and placed it in her hands.
Lady Lavina embraced the shotgun with difficulty, suppressing a moan.
What do I do. What should I do now.
Since Lord Leviathan, who would tell me the answer, was already dead, I hurriedly looked up at the sky.
[The majority of constellations avert their gaze.]
Hing-ing. Even the constellations can't help with this problem.
For now, let me fill her with divine power through a maid's cheer.
I took out the 'Green Board that Increases the Effects of Apology Letters' from my subspace pocket and carefully installed it.
Then I quietly knelt, raised both hands above my head, and cheered.
"Hwaiting. Hwaiting. Lady Lavina, hwaiting."
"Urg, urrrg...♥"
- Hmm...
- (Hang in there! Priest connect)
Lady Lavina's eyes were strangely unfocused, so I was very worried.