The Maid Tradition Begins

I started to have some doubts. Was this a cover-up?

But as I observed further, I gradually realized something was wrong.

... There seems to be an unseen presence beside Himeko.

Sometimes when Himeko talks to me, her gaze will occasionally glance to the side, but when I check those areas afterwards, I don't find anything suspicious.

Sometimes I would take time off work and secretly follow Himeko. I noticed that when Himeko was shopping, she would occasionally talk to herself in a secluded place—as if Himeko were talking to someone.

... That's too weird.

I once abandoned the theory that Himeko was a spy and began to suspect that Himeko might have mental problems. After all, Himeko was an orphan, and it would be truly pitiful if that were the case...

But then I suddenly remembered the New Year's Eve party.

At that time, everyone's underwear was changed and washed by a mysterious person. Although the other team members thought that Himeko who did it, they were not stupid. They had clearly seen how Himeko woke up.

Clearly, judging from where Himeko woke up and her demeanor, she didn't seem like the kind of person who would be so organized as to help her teammates change their clothes in the middle of the night.

It's just that since there was no actual loss at the time, it wasn't pursued further, but now it seems...

... Could it be that Himeko really has a "Maid God" by her side?

Pshaw! Ragna, what nonsense are you spouting!

However, the thought that Himeko might have a "Maid God" or a "Fairy Wife" by her side made me toss and turn and unable to sleep all night.

So, I've made up my mind...

Knock knock knock.

"Good morning, Ragna... Um, Captain, didn't you sleep well last night?"

Himeko was startled when she saw her captain with severe dark circles under his eyes.

If it weren't for that familiar maid outfit, Himeko would have almost not recognized the other person.

"Not last night," Ragna corrected, taking a deep breath. "Strictly speaking, it was this week—it just all came out yesterday."

"Does this thing even have an explosive potential...?"

Himeko's lips twitched. "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"I couldn't have gotten it."

Ragna nodded, looking somewhat exhausted, and went into the room to sit on the sofa.

Although the temporary residence had many minor issues, the Valkyrie's status was undeniable. Apart from Otto and a few clueless fools, most people in Schicksal would give the high-ranking Valkyrie respect—even if it was just on the surface. So the room was still adequate.

At the very least, it's all show and no substance.

"By the way, Himeko, are you aware that the soundproofing in our base is terrible?"

Ragna said tactfully after sitting down.

"Soundproof? Is it? It's quite quiet over there at night." Himeko tilted her head, completely unaware of what was happening.

That's because I didn't dare make any loud noises so you'd notice!

Ragna could only show a gentle expression while roaring inwardly.

This is really too much of a challenge for a maid who has never received assassination training.

What kind of maid would receive assassination training?!

She's in charge of the main battlefield!

... Although maids don't go to the battlefield.

Okay, her main job is Valkyrie.

... But I definitely can't say that to Himeko.

"It's terrible. I can hear Himeko watching TV from my room," Ragna suggested, trying to be as tactful as possible.

"?"

Himeko continued to look puzzled, seemingly oblivious to the fact that her captain was engaging in a tactical exchange with her.

After all, in Himeko's memory, her captain wouldn't beat around the bush if he wanted to say something, right?

But Liu Bai could tell.

(Is the soundproofing here really that bad?)

Liu Bai's expression was subtle, and then he switched the voice to the public channel.

"Good morning, nice to meet you, Captain Ragna."

"Huh?"

Liu Bai's sudden outburst caught Himeko off guard.

"Alright, alright, don't you know what you do at night?"

Liu Bai was speechless at Himeko's slow reaction.

That's why he said before that Himeko was neither green nor familiar.

Anyone else would have picked up on such an obvious hint by now.

"...ah!"

Himeko only realized what Liu Bai meant after he had almost said it out loud.

However, Ragna was just as surprised as Himeko.

"... Although I was prepared a long time ago, I still have some doubts about my ears."

"Well, after all, the air is talking, right?"

Just then, Liu Bai leaned over the cushions next to the sofa.

"How about this? Will it be easier to adapt this way?"

"A flying cushion... well, it does make it more comfortable."

Ragna nodded.

"May I ask your name?"

"Liu Bai".

Himeko felt a little awkward during their conversation—the exchange between her two closest people inexplicably felt like a business transaction.

"Um... we're all acquaintances, so shouldn't we be a little more friendly?"

"We're being official now so that we can have a friendly chat later, Himeko."

The cushion glanced at Himeko.

"What does Captain Ragna want to ask?"

"Thank you so much for your help during the New Year," Ragna said, thanking Liu Bai first. "As for what I wanted to ask... what are you? Are you really the 'Maid God'?"

"...no."

"'Fairy Husband'?"

"Do I look like a snail to you? I can change that."

Chapter 192 The Maid's Legacy Begins

"Is that so...?"

This Liu Bai certainly doesn't look like a snail.

Ragna patted his face to perk himself up.

Does that mean I just asked a really stupid question?

"So what kind of being are you?"

Of all the questions, whether sensitive or trivial, this one is probably the most appropriate to ask.

"Hmm... Strictly speaking, it's a ghost, but for you, the term 'ghost' is probably easier to understand, right?"

"... A ghost? It's not quite what I usually imagine. Sorry, Himeko, could you make me a cup of coffee?" Ragna rubbed his eyes.

"I'm rather curious, Captain Ragna, what kind of ghost are you imagining?"

"Uh... a skeleton covered in a creepy green glow, with an iron hook in one hand and a curved sword in the other..."

"Those are pirates from the ghost ship, though they do seem to be ghosts..."

Ragna usually seems serious, but when it comes to it, his thinking is quite unconventional.

"To give an example, I'm a bit like... ancestral protection, you know?"

Given that Ragna's cultural heritage is most likely of the Viking lineage, Liu Bai simply found an analogy that Vikings could understand.

"That analogy is simple and easy to understand... Thank you."

Ragna nodded, took the coffee that Himeko had brewed, and cautiously took a sip.

Great, there's no chili flakes or anything like that added.

"Besides that, Captain Ragna, is there anything else you'd like to know?"

The cushion looked the head maid up and down at the captain in front of her.

"Suddenly, it's you asking me questions."

Ragna smiled wryly; the coffee had indeed helped her regain some of her energy.

"Apart from that... there's nothing else, but there's one question I hope you can answer honestly."

Although Ragna is not without problems—such as the relationship between the other party and Anti-Entropy.

But...

Are you standing with Himeko?

"Yes."

"Very good, that's enough."

—What does Anti-Entropy have to do with her? On one hand, there are her lovely new team members, and on the other hand, there are those cold-blooded higher-ups. As long as the other party doesn't have the intention to harm the team, why would she bother to report them?

Loyalty is one thing, but there's a principle to loyalty— Ragna isn't one of those lackeys tasked with assassination missions.

She is a warrior charging at the forefront!

Emotionally, she didn't quite trust Liu Bai, but she trusted Himeko. The reason the assault team used greatswords was not only to tear apart the hard shells of Honkai Beast, but also to use them as shields to protect themselves and their teammates in desperate situations.

Moreover, based on our current interactions, this spirit behind Liu Bai doesn't seem to be an evil person.

Hmm... actually, it's quite like the Fairy Wife.

Wait, speaking of ancestral protection and such... even though the surnames are different, it doesn't seem impossible that they could be Himeko's ancestors?

After all, it's a ghost, so the sound might not be accurate.

Woohoo...

"Um... by the way, how long have you lived with Himeko?"

Ragna, who had just sensed a hint of gossip, was about to leave but then sat down again.

Anyway, I'm just idling around.

"Didn't you say that was the last question?"

"Two years, um, only two years." Himeko had been silent until now, took the initiative to speak.

Himeko breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.

She just tried hard to recall what she and Liu Bai had discussed on evenings over the past few months.

The final conclusion was that things were not going well.

Although he didn't speak ill of the captain behind his back, he did discuss a lot of topics about Anti-Entropy —after all, his own spirit was the Anti-Entropy Leader Anti-Entropy, and there was no channel more suitable for understanding the organization than Liu Bai.

Himeko was quite worried about what would happen if her captain and Liu Bai fell out if related issues were involved. After all, based on her understanding of her captain, her captain's loyalty to Schicksal was still very high.