I wasn't the only one stunned by the absurd mission; Nyau and Ryune seemed equally dumbfounded, both falling into a bewildered silence.
"This is super easy, isn't it?"
"I wonder what her objective is," Nyau muttered with a deep scowl.
Ryune sounded disappointed by the anticlimax, while Nyau’s face remained pinched in suspicion. From murdering the Village Chief and trying to restrain Nyau to suddenly attempting to scare us with a Bugbear Costume, everything Elsie had done so far felt entirely haphazard.
"Is there even a point in playing along?" I asked.
Honestly, following the whims of an enemy whose thought process was completely opaque felt nothing but creepy.
"But we can't get out if we don't. Let's just clear this silly mission and get it over with!"
"I agree with Ryune. For a trivial task like this, we should just finish it immediately."
Surprisingly, the two of them were quite motivated. If that was the case, I would follow their lead. Still, a maid outfit... where exactly were they supposed to find those?
"Hey, look—that door has changed."
Ryune pointed toward where our entrance had been. The plain wooden door we had come through had vanished, replaced by a heavy, double-leaf door adorned with ornate gold filigree. It was a lavish, magnificent piece of craftsmanship, the kind of thing you’d only see in a high-ranking noble’s manor.
"It might be a trap, so stay alert," Nyau cautioned before tentatively pushing the door open.
Beyond lay a space that resembled the dressing room of a royal palace. Full-length mirrors lined one wall, and a vanity stood in the center of the room. A glittering chandelier hung from the ceiling, bathing the area in a soft, warm glow. In the corner, a screen bordered with gold thread provided privacy, and on a luxurious rack nearby, two black maid outfits hung neatly.
"There really are maid outfits!" Ryune shouted, her voice tinged with excitement.
"So she truly expects us to wear these," Nyau said, letting out a heavy sigh of resignation.
"Wow, they’re so cute! Let's put them on right away!" Ryune reached for the fabric, her eyes sparkling.
"…………"
Suddenly, Nyau shot me a cold, narrowed glare. Since I had no idea why she was suddenly looking at me like I was scum, I just tilted my head in confusion. She let out an exasperated sigh.
"Kiska-san, how long do you intend to stand there? We are going to change, so get out already."
"S-Sorry."
She was right, of course. I couldn't believe I’d been that dense.
I hurried to leave the room, searching for where I was supposed to go, when I spotted another gold-accented door across the way. A plaque hung on it, reading: Master's Room. That had to be it.
"Fine, I'll be waiting in here."
I stepped into the Master's Room, hearing the rustle of fabric as they began to change behind me. The interior was a display of overwhelming opulence. A thick, crimson carpet swallowed my footsteps, and the walls were covered in gold-leaf wallpaper. A massive chandelier illuminated the space with a regal brilliance.
"She really can do anything in here," I muttered.
Elsie had claimed she could manipulate this space at will, and being presented with such a lavish room made the reality of her power sink in. I took a seat on a leather sofa in the center of the room and waited for the two of them to finish.
Just then, the transparent screen flickered to life before me. The mission details had been updated.
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
Clear Conditions!
The maid must make her Master's heart flutter!
△△△△△△△△△△△△
"What kind of requirement is that...?"
I felt a wave of exasperation wash over me. Elsie was the one coming up with this, right? What could she possibly hope to achieve with something so ridiculous? She was the Second Prince's personal maid; maybe there was some clue to her goals hidden in that fact, but no matter how I turned it over in my head, I didn't have a clue.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kiskacchi!"
I looked up at Ryune’s voice and instinctively caught my breath.
Despite her usual energetic tone, her appearance was that of a graceful, high-class maid. The black dress, trimmed with pure white lace, fit her perfectly. The skirt had just the right amount of frill and length, striking a balance between adorable and dignified. The ribbon at her throat was tied like a butterfly, and even her hair—usually a mess of energy—had been neatly styled. A lace headdress sat atop her head, adding a touch of elegance.
"Ehehe, how do I look? Cute, right?"
Ryune twirled on the spot, her skirt billowing out gracefully.
"Y-Yeah, I guess..."
I struggled to find the right words. She was definitely cute, but admitting it so easily felt like losing a fight.
"Wait... are you blushing? Kiskacchi, is your face red?" Ryune wore a mischievous smirk, her voice dripping with playfulness.
"It’s not."
"Ehh, that’s a total lie!" She burst into a fit of giggles. It seemed that no matter the situation, Ryune’s personality remained exactly the same. "Huh? But that didn't count as a clear?"
Ryune tilted her head while staring at the screen. She was clearly aware of the "heart flutter" condition.
"Make your heart flutter... what else am I supposed to do?" she wondered, crossing her arms.
To be honest, I was already plenty flustered, but apparently, it wasn't enough for the system.
"You're both being far too noisy. I could hear you clearly from the other side of the door."
That dignified voice made me sit up straight instantly. When I turned toward the doorway, the air left my lungs.
Standing there was a Nyau who looked like an entirely different person. The maid outfit had been tailored precisely to her petite frame, accentuating her sharp, refined aura. Her pure white apron was tied neatly at the waist, and her skirt was at a perfect length, offering only the occasional glimpse of her ankles.
Her golden hair, which she usually kept bound, flowed down her shoulders in elegant, silken waves. The lace headdress perched on her head like a crown. She was, without question, breathtaking.
"Kiska-san, is something wrong?"
Nyau’s voice snapped me back to reality. I realized I had been staring, completely mesmerized, for several long seconds.
"Ah, sorry... it’s just..."
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
Congratulations!
Mission Accomplished!
△△△△△△△△△△△△
A cheerful chime echoed through the room as the message of success flashed across the screen.
"What?! That counted?!" Ryune wailed in protest. "My Master just walked in! That’s all she did!"
Apparently, the system had recognized that my heart had most certainly fluttered for Nyau. Realizing that made my face heat up even more.
"Ryune, why are you so upset?" Nyau asked.
"Because! I tried so hard to appeal to him and it did nothing, but you clear it just by showing your face! That’s so unfair! Kiskacchi, just how much do you like my Master?!"
"It’s not like that..."
I tried to deny it, but I knew my voice lacked any shred of conviction. I realized I didn't have a leg to stand on.
Nyau didn't say anything at first; she just stood there, staring intently at me. When our eyes finally met, she let out a single, quiet remark.
"Kiska-san, you really are a pervert."