Episode 63: The Perfect... Butler?

"Nice work, Algol," I muttered, the exhaustion already settling into my bones.

"I figured it’d end up like this the moment he stepped out there. Of course I was prepared," she replied. Algol adjusted her glasses with a sharp click and stretched.

She was shrewdly dressed in a one-piece dress—a departure from her usual attire. She spared a single, sigh-laden glance at the statue that used to be Baal before promptly releasing the petrification.

"—Master!? Why did you stop me!?"

The moment the stone fell away, Baal reverted to his human form. He closed the distance between us with speed so blinding it could have been mistaken for teleportation. His voice was thick with protest.

"I told you no magic," I said flatly.

"Nngh... but... Master! Seeing them strive with such fervor, I could not simply refuse to shift gears!"

"That part of you is fine, I guess. But [Magic Bullet] is crossing the line."

There I was, a mere high schooler, lecturing an absurdly handsome man with silver-streaked black hair and striking heterochromatic eyes—one red, one blue—accented by a monocle over his left eye. If he just kept his mouth shut, he could have easily been a top-tier idol. My words seemed to strike a chord, though, as he slumped his shoulders in genuine dejection.

"Well... look, thanks for taking them on. It helped," I said, trying to pivot. "Tsubaki-san, are you satisfied?"

"Indeed. Lord Baal, I thank you for indulging my training," Tsubaki replied with a respectful bow.

"Friend of my Master, you show promise," Baal said, his tone shifting back to that of a seasoned warrior. "If you train to suppress your bloodlust, you will grow further. Your technique was not half bad. Should I be summoned again, I would not mind being your opponent once more."

Just as I thought—Baal took a liking to her. Given his warrior temperament, he tended to favor those with a hunger for battle. In that sense, maybe summoning him hadn't been a total mistake.

"What about me!?" Kaiser chimed in.

"The boy with the dragon factor? Your judgment, your defense, and that spearwork were all commendable. However... that technique of yours merely channels the power of your partner, does it not? If you deepen the bond with your companion, you shall surely grow stronger."

"I haven't even called Valkyria out. You can tell?"

"I possess the power to perceive souls; I can see the form of the dragon slumbering within you. It helps that you are a Summoner like my Master. It would please me to see you devote yourself to your craft."

I’d forgotten he could do that. I watched Kaiser’s face light up with satisfaction. Knowing Kaiser, Baal’s beast form probably hit every single one of his aesthetic buttons. He was clearly a fan now.

"As for you, my Master's best friend... if you come to understand your 'Origin,' your firepower and sustainability should increase."

Goro blinked. "Origin? What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It would be tactless of me to explain. It only holds meaning if you grasp it yourself. Now then, Master..." Baal’s voice took on a different edge. "I am reaching the limit of my patience."

His body began to sway rhythmically, and his gaze locked onto me with unnerving intensity.

This is bad. If I don't redirect this energy immediately, I'm done for. He'll ruin me.

"Ah... right. It’s been a while since your last summons, so I was prepared for this the moment you showed up. Uh, Tsubaki-san... we were planning a barbecue, right? You have the ingredients?"

"We certainly have the supplies, but... what is the matter?"

Thank god. That should be enough to vent his "desire."

"Good for you, Tsubaki," I said, my voice trailing off. "You’re about to eat a lot of food."

"We should have just gone back immediately," Laura whispered.

She and Algol, both well-acquainted with the situation, spoke in voices heavy with sorrow. They shot me "save us" looks, but I just looked away. It was impossible. Considering how long it had been since his last summons, plus all the "Summon Me" pestering he’d been doing from the other side... and the sheer speed at which he worked...

Our stomachs were about to be destroyed.

"Friend of my Master," Baal asked, his eyes gleaming. "Where is this food?"

"In the cottage at the summit of that mountain—wait, he’s gone?"

The moment Tsubaki pointed, Baal’s form vanished like mist. Almost instantly, a light flickered on in the cottage far above us.

"Uh, best friend? What are you so worried about?" Kaiser asked.

"Look... Baal is a relatively decent, common-sense guy. You can talk to him, he’s a warrior at heart, and he’s incredibly capable. But... he has one incredibly dangerous habit."

"Master! Friends! Preparations are complete! Come at once!"

Baal reappeared before I could finish my explanation. He stood there with a look of absolute, radiant accomplishment... while wearing a frilly apron that didn't suit him in the slightest.

"How is it? Are you satisfied now?" I asked.

"I am quite satisfied for the moment, Master. Next, please allow me to take personal care of your daily needs."

"Absolutely not."

Before we could argue, we were whisked away by his conjured horses. When we reached the cottage, we weren't greeted by a simple barbecue. It was a mountain of food that made a royal Manchu Han Imperial Feast look like a light snack.

"What could have possibly happened in such a short time?" Goro stammered.

"Hey, Reima... what did you say Baal’s flaw was again?"

"An abnormal, borderline pathological desire for housework and service," I replied, my voice sounding hollow. "It’s fine this time because it’s just cooking. But if I let him start 'taking care' of me, I’ll be a useless, non-functioning human being within two days."

Back in Mythologia—the other world—there was a time his service-desire exploded. I became a "good-for-nothing" on a level that was genuinely frightening. To put it simply: you’d wake up and everything would just be... done. Cooking, laundry, even being dressed—everything was handled before I even realized it. I was reduced to a state where I didn't have to lift a finger to exist. Laura had been through it too. It was dangerous.

"Is this... paradise!?" Tsubaki gasped, her eyes sparkling at the spread.

"You are Tsubaki? I heard from that fool of a Magician that you possess a healthy appetite. I have increased the yield of the ingredients and prepared more than usual. Master, please, eat to your heart's content."

Baal... a monster fallen into demonhood, yet one who still held the aspect of a god of fertility. As long as he had mana, he could multiply crops indefinitely.

"Yeah... thanks, Baal," I said. "But hey, do you mind if I bring a few more people in?"

"Hm? Master, the newcomer is quite the glutton, you know?" Algol warned.

"Right... Behiko. Well, why not?"

[Summon] Behemoth.

I remembered the last "Imperial Feast Incident"—Behiko had put away a terrifying amount of food back then. As I summoned a few more Summoned Beasts to join the fray, I steeled myself to face a literal mountain of infinite cuisine.