Maid Benefits

Novas Etier, Seventh Floor, maid's quarters.

Higashino Makoto leaned against the doorframe, looking at the three women in the room.

They stood before him, dressed in matching black maid outfits, skirts reaching their knees, white bows tied at the necklines, and their hair styled in uniform buns.

Frederica stood at the front, her long golden hair gleaming softly under the light, her emerald green eyes looking at him.

Ram stood behind her, her pink eyes half-closed, her expression indifferent, but her fingers gently caressing the hem of her skirt.

Rem stood at the back, her blue eyes lowered, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"From today onwards, you are my maids."

"Yes."

The three responded simultaneously.

Higashino Makoto looked at them with a calm expression, seemingly devoid of any emotion.

"But before that, let me give you some perks first, so you know I'm a generous host."

He stepped forward and tapped Ram's forehead.

"First, Ram, your horn."

Ram's pupils contracted slightly, and she raised her hand to block it.

"I can regenerate your broken horn."

Rem suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide open, her lips trembling.

Ram was also stunned.

"Mr... Mr. Higashino Makoto... what... what did you say?"

"I said, I can make your sister's horn grow back."

Rem burst into tears, simply standing there, looking at Higashino Makoto's hand, tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto her black maid outfit.

"Really... really?"

"Real."

"But... the horn is... it's from the demon race... it's..."

"I know that horns are the source of the demon race's power; once severed, they can't grow back. Hmm, that won't work in your world."

He walked up to Ram and looked down at her.

"But in my world, the dead coming back to life is commonplace, let alone growing horns."

Ram looked up at him, her pink eyes meeting his.

What price will be paid?

"No need, I already said this is a perk, a welcome gift from me to you all."

Ram looked at him, then she chuckled softly.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, you're a real oddball."

"I know, close your eyes."

Ram closed her eyes.

Higashino Makoto immediately unleashed the magic "Greater Heal".

A pale green light emanated from the crystal and enveloped her body.

A tingling, itchy sensation came from Ram's forehead.

The horns look pink and are small.

A horn slowly grew from her forehead, first as a small point, then gradually growing longer, thicker, and more complete.

Its surface shimmers with a soft glow, gleaming with a warm luster under the light.

Rem covered her mouth, and tears flowed even more freely.

"Sister... Sister's horn... is back..."

Ram opened her eyes. She reached out, her hand trembling, to touch the horn on her forehead.

The moment her fingertips touched the corner, her body trembled violently; she felt something.

"It feels... strange."

"You'll get used to it. I remember you have a strong talent for magic, ranking among the top in your world. Keep up the good work."

Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.

Ram lowered his hand, looked at his palm, clenched his fist, and then released it.

"The power... has returned."

"It's not just about power. The horn is the energy core of the Oni race. With it, you can survive without relying on the magic of others."

Ram's fingers paused for a moment.

You know?

"Know."

Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.

"Your contract with Roswaal, where he uses magic to sustain your life, is something you don't need to worry about anymore."

Ram looked at him, her pink eyes flashing with a complex light.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, why are you helping us?"

"Because you are my maids, I need you to serve me wholeheartedly, so I'll give you something in return."

"That's all?"

"That's all, what else can we do?"

Ram was silent for a moment, then bowed slightly.

"Ram... I understand."

Rem stood to the side, still reeling from the shock.

"Rem."

"Exist!"

"Come over."

Rem walked up to him, Higashino Makoto reached out and gently patted her head.

"Your sister's horn has returned, stop crying."

Rem's tears welled up again, and she cried and laughed at the same time.

"Rem... Rem didn't cry... Rem just... just..."

"Just what?"

"I'm just too happy."

Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.

"That's good."

He turned around and looked at Frederica.

The head maid stood there, her long golden hair gleaming softly in the lamplight, her emerald green eyes looking at him.

Her expression was calm; no wonder she was the head maid.

"Frederica."

"Exist."

"About your brother Garfiel Tinsel."

Frederica's fingers tightened suddenly.

"Garfiel Tinsel... what happened to him?"

"He's fine, it's your mother."

Frederica's pupils contracted slightly.

"Mother? Mother, she--isn't already--"

"He's not dead."

Higashino Makoto took out the Tome of Wisdom from his backpack and opened it.

The pages turned automatically, making a soft rustling sound. When the book stopped on a particular page, he handed it to her.

"Look."

Frederica took the book and lowered her head.

The words flowed through her eyes, converging into a stream of information.

Her lips began to tremble, and her fingers traced lightly across the pages of the book.

Lisa Tinzel, mother of Frederica Bowerman and Garfiel Tinsel Tinzel.

In the early days, slave traders were mortgaged and sold due to their debts...

When the mother and her two children were desperate, they were taken in by the Mezas family...

When she left the Sanctuary to find her biological father, Garfiel Tinsel, she was caught in a landslide and lost her memory. She was rescued by her benefactor, Jarek, and renamed Lia before starting a new family.

Her current husband is Jared Thompson, a businessman from Watergate City. She has two children from her previous marriage: Rafiel Thompson and Fred Thompson.

Frederica's hands were trembling.

"Mother... is still alive... still alive... but she has amnesia?"

"Right."

"She's married and has a child?"

"Right."

Frederica remained silent for a long time.

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

But Higashino Makoto could see that her shoulders were trembling slightly.

"Frederica."

"Exist..."

Do you want to see her?

Frederica looked up, her emerald green eyes filled with tears.

"May I?"

"Sure. But think it through. She might not know you, and her memory might not have returned. She has a new family, a new life, and your arrival might disrupt all of that."

Frederica fell silent. She looked at the Tome of Wisdom in her hands, at the words about her mother.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto."

"Um."

Does Garfiel Tinsel know?

"I don't know. I've never met him before, and I have no reason to help him. I'm not that patient with strangers."

After saying this, he fiddled with the Tome of Wisdom, turned to the page about Garfield Tinzel, and handed it to her.

"However, you can look at your brother's life."

Frederica's lips trembled as she looked at the contents recorded above.

"Garfiel Tinsel... he... he always..."

He lived in that shadow, believing his mother was dead, believing he wasn't strong enough to save her, and resolutely opposed leaving the Sanctuary.

Frederica's tears finally welled up.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto... what... what should I do?"

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

Tell him the truth.

"But... Mother... her new life..."

"That's her business. What you need to do is tell Garfiel Tinsel that his mother is not dead, that she is alive and well."

He paused.

"As for whether or not to meet, let Garfiel Tinsel decide for himself."

Frederica stared at him for a long time. Then, she took a deep breath and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, thank you."

"You're welcome. Remember, you're now my maid, and I'm always more generous and tolerant towards beautiful people."

She bowed slightly.

Higashino Makoto nodded, turned around, and walked towards the door.

In the maid's dormitory, Ram stood in front of the mirror, touching the horn on her forehead.

The pink eyes reflected that short, pointed pink horn.

Rem stood behind her, her blue eyes looking at her sister's eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

"Elder sister."

"Um."

"Your horn is back! Rem is so happy! Are you happy too?"

Ram was silent for a moment.

"Happy."

"Me too, so will I serve Mr. Higashino Makoto well?"

Ram turned around and looked at her sister.

"Yeah, I'll try. But Rem, when my sister is too busy, you'll help me, right?"

"Yes, Rem will."

The two sisters looked at each other, then smiled simultaneously.

Frederica stood by the window, gazing at the artificial starry sky outside.

"Mother..."

Her voice was very soft.

"Still alive... that's good..."

The wind blew, ruffling her long golden hair. She didn't wipe away her tears, letting them stream down her face.

That was another night for Novas Ettier.

The maids' new life begins.

Higashino Makoto lay on the bed, shamelessly teasing Reisen, feeling extremely pleased as he watched her on the verge of tears.

It was another pleasant day.