Chapter 533: First Anniversary Extra Chapter ~~ Proclamation: Maid Prohibition ~~ (1/2)

The castle of the Underworld King, Kuromueina, located in a corner of the Demon Realm. The owner of the castle, Kuromueina, was staring at a certain person with a complicated expression on her face.

[……Kuromu-sama? How can I help you?]

[Unnn, Ein. I've been wanting to ask you this for a while now…… Do you remember when I told you to take regular breaks?]

Noticing her presence, the maid, Ein, stopped cleaning and greeted her master. Ein then straightened her posture and asked, politely bowing her head.

[But of course. This Ein has never forgotten the words Kuromu-sama says, not even for a day.]

[……So, when have you ever taken a break?]

Ein is the most hardworking member of Kuromueina's family, handling almost all the chores of Kuromueina's castle by herself. Kuromueina had worried about this back then, so she had instructed her to take a break from time to time…… but she doesn't remember seeing Ein resting at all.

Even though she's a high-ranking Demon with extraordinary physical strength, that doesn't mean that Ein couldn't get tired. When Kuromueina asked this, hoping that her family wouldn't be too reckless with their body, Ein replied without hesitation.

[Yes. I took a ”15-minute break 10 days ago”. ”In another 20 days or so”, I plan on taking a break again.]

[………………..]

Hearing Ein say that she only took about 15 minutes of rest a month, as if it was a matter of course, Kuromueina's eyes narrowed.

[……Have you ever taken a whole day off?]

[Kuromu-sama, I'm the maid who fights against the moment of time. For a maid like me, laziness is an act of indulgence.]

[…………………..]

Looking at Ein who was puffing her chest as she proudly exclaimed her extreme theory, a vein popped out of Kuromueina's forehead.

[…..nned……]

[……Yes?]

[……Ein, tomorrow, for the whole day…… Maids are banned.]

[……Huh? K- Kuromu-sama, w- what in the world are you……]

[Maids are banned for the whole day! You are also banned from wearing a maid uniform! Go play around outside for the whole day…… You're not allowed to come back until nightfall! That's an order!]

[Wha!?]

Hearing Kuromueina, gave her an ”order” which she hardly did…… Or rather, this is the first time she had ever given her one, Ein looked as if the world had ended.

And thus, towards Ein, who has a strange obsession with being a maid…… A limited time ”Maid Prohibition” has been issued.

[Ummm, errr…… I had somewhat understood what happened now. I'm not going to say anything about you trespassing my room since it's too late to say it now…… but…… Why is it that you've come here again……]

Carefully choosing the words I say, I spoke to Ein-san, who was hugging her knees in the corner of my room, radiating a negative aura around her.

No, seriously…… ”When I came back to my room after having breakfast, I found Ein-san crouched in the corner of my room, not wearing her maid uniform”. I wonder how this happened……

[I- I don'd…… habe anyone…… else…… t- to rely on……]

[I understand, it's alright. That's why, please don't cry.]

Ein-san said, with an extremely feeble voice….. or rather, with a voice drowned in tears. U- Unnn, what should I do about this……

[……not a maid…… Today's me…… is not a maid…… What's even the worth…… of a me who is not a maid……]

[There's a lot I want to tsukkomi about with that unusual obsession with maids that you have but…… Well, anyway, I take it that Ein-san won't be able to go home until tonight?]

[……Yes. I'm just a bother…… aren't I? For trash like me suddenly intrudes and asks to stay here…… My apologies, Kaito-sama…… I'll be going now.]

[It's alright! You can stay here as long as you like!!!]

The situation's very tricky. I don't know if it's because Ein-san is really proud that she's a maid or not, but she becomes very frail when she loses her identity as a maid.

Her usual cool appearance has disappeared, and she now looks as fragile as a puppy drenched under the rain.

[……But you can't just stay like this for the whole day, right? Kuro told you to go play around outside, didn't she?]

[……Yes.]

[Well then, since Ein-san have a day off, let's have a date. Staying in the room will only make you feel depressed anyway…… I'll be with you for the day.]

[……Kaito-sama……]

I mean, it's not good for my mental health to be in a room with such a negative aura all the time. I feel like I was a bit pushy on my invitation though. Asking Ein-san out on a date, I pulled her up from the corner of the room.

……I guess it's ”just as planned” huh? I'll say this now…… Ein-san getting depressed is unexpected but……

Through the busy streets of lunchtime, Ein-san and I walked side by side. If it was our usual dates, Ein-san would have stubbornly walked a little behind me, so it's refreshing to be able to walk side by side with her like this.

Moreover, the clothes she's wearing weren't her usual maid uniform, but a neat black long skirt, which looked refreshing…… I mean, this is the first time I saw her wearing something other than a maid uniform.

[……Kaito-sama.]

[Am I walking too fast?]

[N- No, it's just, how should I say this…… It slightly…… feels embarrassing……]

What is this sweet-looking person…… Anxiously gripping the hem of my clothes, she snuggles up to me, as if she's trying to hide herself…… She looked like a different person than usual.

H- Hmmm, I don't know if it's that gap moe or not, but perhaps, I'm so used to seeing Ein-san's usual cool demeanor that I find her current anxious expression to be quite cute.

[It's alright. I'll firmly escort you on our date today so…… Even if it's once in a while, you can count on me.]

[Y- Yes…… That's very reassuring.]

Unnn, it really is nice to see Ein-san like this sometimes…… Rather than urging your desire to protect her, it makes me feel like I needed to protect her.

Well, there's actually a vast difference in specs between me and Ein-san, just like the difference between an ant and a dragon, so it's difficult for me to protect her but…… I at least wanted to show her that she can mentally count on me.

[Well, I know that you're worried about lots of things but…… let's think of positive things. I think new things can be discovered when you look at something from a different perspective. Whether it's the Ein-san, the maid, or the Ein-san that isn't the maid, I still like you so…… Well, how should I say this…… Please don't worry.]

[……Kaito-sama. You're right…… I'm currently not a maid…… Just Ein, and as Kaito-sama's…… lover, spending time like this might not be a bad idea.]