"Haaah..."
In the toy store, where only dust motes danced in the air once more, Yami let out a profound sigh. No customers came through the door. Of course they didn't. This wasn't a popular shop, and it was situated far off the beaten path. Who would bother to come?
The only difference now was...
"Master, here is your tea."
"Thank you...."
...that he had a maid handling all the domestic chores.
He should feel grateful for someone taking care of bothersome tasks like laundry and cleaning. That would be the normal reaction. But towards this maid, he felt no such inclination.
She had forced her way into someone else's shop and coerced him into signing a contract. That alone was grounds to hand her over to the Valkyrie Police School or report her to the General Student Council, leading to her immediate arrest.
The reason he hadn't reported her was simple: there was no proof that the contract had been forced upon him. He had installed CCTV in the shop specifically to deter crime... but somehow, she had known about it, hacked in, and altered the records.
The conclusion was inescapable: he was obligated to employ this maid as a part-timer in his shop.
"..Haaah..."
"Are you sighing because there are no customers? If so, perhaps kidnapping one of the students nearby..."
"..."
On top of everything else, she possessed absolutely no basic common sense.
"Kidnapping requires planning and execution, and the reason I'm sighing is that I don't have any money right now."
"What kind of absurd statement is that?"
Toki's expression remained utterly uncomprehending at Yami's words. She had, after all, provided Yami with a substantial sum just recently. No money? Even Toki, despite her lack of common sense and worldly experience, found that notion peculiar.
"You look like you don't understand. I secretly used that money to pay off some debts, without letting the senpais at school know."
"...All of that immense sum...?"
"Yes. Now, I only have about 900 million Yen left to pay back."
"..."
900 million Yen.
Toki couldn't help but be stunned by Yami's casual mention that there was still a large amount remaining. Frankly, when could he possibly repay such an outrageous debt? It felt like a lifetime's work wouldn't be enough.
"Please don't look so sad. This is something I have to handle myself."
"....I do not understand what you mean."
A sad expression? She had never heard that phrase applied to her. Rio-sama had called her expressionless countless times, but never sad.
"If that's the case, then fine. You'll probably figure it out eventually. Now, pack your things."
"Yes.? Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? With no customers coming to the shop—the means to earn money—and with 900 million Yen worth of debt still hanging over my head, what needs to be done is simple."
"Kidnapping?"
"No! The method is to go outside and earn money!!"
"....I see. I will keep that in mind."
Scribble.
"Don't write down the completely obvious in your notebook!!! Uggh!!"
Toki's knowledge as a maid increased by 1 point.
However, having been struck by Yami, her knowledge decreased by 5 points.
"So, where exactly are we going?"
Walking along a path where only sand stretched as far as the eye could see, Toki asked Yami.
"Originally, I was planning to go to Millennium."
"If you 'were' planning to go, that implies you are not going now."
"Exactly. After being kidnapped there by a certain someone last time, do you really think I'd go back to the same place?"
I got hit with a tranquilizer dart there, you know. And it was thanks to someone. Yami mused.
(Flop)
Toki seemed to feel quite a sting from Yami's words, as her usual deadpan expression momentarily flickered into one of surprise.
"S-so, where are you planning to go this time...?"
Ordinarily, Yami might have chuckled before answering Toki's question.
"Trinity."
It was the academy with the largest area in Kivotos, a place attended by young ladies who placed immense value on history and tradition.
"Specifically, our objective is to meet a certain female student who is obsessed with Peroro and sell her something."
"That sounds simple."
"Haha.."
It seemed Toki was rather uninformed about Trinity.
"You won't be saying it's simple once we get there."
"?"
Once again, Toki's expression showed a lack of understanding, identical to before, as she waited for an explanation.
"It's simple."
Selling things illegally is strictly prohibited there.
That's why I ran into the Justice Task Force last time.
"...."
Justice Task Force. A group within Trinity that apprehends delinquents and students who are close to being delinquents.
It was a term she had heard in relation to missions. Along with the fact that the club had a student said to be similar to Neru-senpai, known as the strongest in Millennium. Toki, for the record, had never met Neru-senpai herself, only recognized her face from photographs.
But that wasn't the problem right now.
".....Are we perhaps engaging in illegal activity?"
"Of course we are!"
"..."
At Yami's answer, delivered with such startling normalcy, Toki's expression turned incredulous.
It seemed the Master she had taken on was a madman beyond her wildest imagination.