A Brief Rest

The Roswaal Mansion, a guest room belonging to Higashino Makoto.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on the disheveled sheets.

Higashino Makoto lay on the bed, one arm behind his head, his golden eyes staring at the ceiling.

Reisen beside me looked like a rabbit that had been petted for too long.

On the other side, Elsa Granhiert, wearing a black slip dress with one strap slipped down to reveal a section of her fair shoulder, was also fast asleep.

"Master... Master..."

Reisen's voice was very soft, with a husky quality from just waking up.

"Um."

"What... what time is it?"

"I don't know, probably... noon."

"It's noon... time... time to get up..."

"No rush."

Higashino Makoto reached out and rubbed her rabbit ears. The pair of extra-long ears trembled slightly between his fingers, and the button-like decorations at the base made a soft tinkling sound.

"Master... Master--!"

"What's wrong?"

"You—you touched me again—!"

"Hmm. I touched it, is there a problem?"

Reisen's face turned bright red.

"You--you--!"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

She lowered her head, her long, pale purple hair falling down and obscuring her face.

But Higashino Makoto could see that her ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

Elsa Granhiert chuckled softly, crawled over from the foot of the bed, and nestled against Higashino Makoto's chest, her dark red eyes gazing at him.

"Higashino. Higashino."

"Um."

You've been so lazy lately...

"I know."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to move."

Elsa Granhiert tilted her head, her long black hair slipping down her shoulder.

"Don't want to move?"

"Yes, I don't want to move. I've killed too many people, I'm tired."

Elsa Granhiert looked at him, her eyes flashing with a complex light.

She reflected on her past, feeling somewhat puzzled.

"Does killing get tiring?"

"Yes, I'm physically fine, it's just mentally exhausting. And killing them is relatively easy, but finding them is incredibly difficult."

Elsa Granhiert remained silent for a moment.

"Then I'll spend a lot of time with you during this period."

Higashino Makoto chuckled softly and reached out to pat her head.

"Good."

There was a knock on the door.

Three taps, neither too fast nor too slow, with even intervals.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

It was Rem's voice, calm and indifferent.

Lunch is ready.

"Knew."

"You also need to change your clothes; please leave them by the door."

"Good."

"Also, please get up as soon as possible; the sheets need to be changed."

Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.

"... knew."

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Elsa Granhiert laughed again, this time even louder.

"Higashino, the maid is rejecting you."

No, I don't think so.

"Yes, she meant for you to get up as soon as possible and stop soiling the sheets."

"That was just a routine procedure."

She never said that before.

Higashino Makoto didn't reply. He sat up, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, walked to the clothes rack, took off his outer robe, and draped it over his shoulders.

Reisen got out of bed, rubbed her eyes, and stood her rabbit ears on her head straight up.

"Master, I... I'll go prepare some tea."

"Um."

Reisen walked out of the room wearing a bathrobe.

Elsa Granhiert sat up in bed, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her dark red eyes fixed on Higashino Makoto.

Higashino Makoto.

"Um."

How long do you plan to stay here?

"I don't know, I'll tell you when I get bored."

"They're not going to kill the Sin Archbishops anymore?"

"We definitely need to kill them, but there's no rush."

Higashino Makoto straightened his clothes, walked to the window, and opened it.

Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the entire room. In the distance, in the Garden, Rem was hanging out the sheets to dry, her short blue hair gleaming softly in the sunlight.

Ram stood in the shade of a tree behind her, her pink eyes looking at her sister with a faint smile on her face.

They seem to treat you well.

Elsa Granhiert walked over to him and stood beside him by the window.

"Um."

"You clearly have such a strong Witch Cult aura about you."

"So what? I've only had the Witch Factor for a short time. Anyway, their village was destroyed, it wasn't my fault."

Elsa Granhiert looked at him, placed her hand on his shoulder and gently pressed down, causing Higashino Makoto to squint slightly.

Have you investigated their affairs?

"Well, I guess so. Besides, I killed so Sin Archbishops; by all accounts, I'm their benefactor."

Elsa Granhiert chuckled softly.

"You're a really strange person."

"I know."

Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the door.

Let's go eat.

Lunch was served in the dining room on the first floor of the mansion.

Higashino Makoto sat on one side of the long table, Reisen sat to his right, and Elsa Granhiert sat to his left.

Rem stood by the dining table, setting out the plates.

Toast, cream soup, pan-fried steak, vegetable salad, and fruit platter.

Ram stood beside her, his voice low and somber; I sensed he wasn't saying anything nice.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

"Um."

You've had a good appetite lately.

"Good."

"She eats four meals a day, even more than Subaru."

Higashino Makoto put down his knife and fork and looked at her.

"Based on my actions, I am a great Hero who has killed several Sin Archbishops. Shouldn't you be a little more polite to me?"

"I have great respect for you; I was merely stating the facts."

Ram smiled slightly and poured him a cup of black tea.

Please enjoy your meal.

Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"Ram."

"Um."

"The black tea tastes different today than yesterday."

"Because I switched the tea leaves. This is Lord Roswaal's prized possession, said to have been brought back from the Vollachia Empire."

"It tastes good."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Ram bowed slightly and took a step back.

Rem stood by the dining table, looking at Higashino Makoto, her lips slightly parted and then closed.

"Rem."

"Exist."

What do you want to say?

Rem was silent for a moment.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

"Um."

"You killed several Sin Archbishops?"

"Yes, sloth, greed, and gluttony—three in total. What, are you itching to offer yourself in return?"

"My lord, please don't joke about Rem. But I'd like to know, why are you doing this?"

"You can think of it as me trying to increase your favorability with me, but more importantly, it's because I want the Witch Factor."

Rem's gaze towards him became complicated.

"You know, you have a strong witch's aura about you... but Rem doesn't dislike it."

"That's good. I don't really want to lay a hand on such a cute maid like you."

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his eyes filled with languor and a smile.

"Then what?"

"Then Rem felt that she could trust you."

Rem lowered her head, her blue eyes fixed on her hands.

"Rem's village was destroyed by the Witch Cult, Rem's family was killed by the Witch Cult, and Rem's sister's horn was stolen by the Witch Cult. Rem hates the Witch Cult, hates all Sin Archbishops, and hates everyone connected to the Witch Cult."

She raised her head.

So, thank you very much.

Higashino Makoto looked at her and remained silent for a moment.

"No need to thank me. If you really want to thank me, you can come to my room tonight. It would be even better if you could bring your sister along."

"Please stop teasing Rem."

Her face flushed, and she bowed slightly.

"Anyway, thank you."