I woke up on the hard floor of the basement.
My entire body throbbed with muscle pain, and my memories of what had just happened were hazy. It wasn't as if I’d been training. If I recall correctly, I... right. I fought a man named Luxion, who claimed to be an Apostle, and then I saw Reiji's awakening through to the end...
...And then, I betrayed Celestia.
Exhausted to the point where I could barely maintain telepathy with Zest, I had fallen into a sleep that was more like losing consciousness. I wondered what time it was. Without any windows in the basement, my sense of time was completely skewed.
Glancing around, I saw Zest lying on the floor.
I must have released him from his storage state temporarily so I could focus entirely on recovery.
...Zest, can you hear me?
『I hear you.』
Good, the telepathy link was active.
I'm putting you back in my right arm for now.
『Very well...』
The Jet-black Guillotine dissolved into dark particles and was absorbed into my right shoulder.
I checked my collar to confirm that the black tattoo had been etched back into my skin, then I stood up.
I felt bad for Celestia, but... I think my performance as a stepping stone last night had been perfect. I’d forced Reiji to awaken and successfully turned Celestia against me.
Everything was on track.
Another perfect day to be a stepping stone.
Time to give it my all—
"—Good morning, Master Claude."
"Whoa!?"
『Gah...!?』
The moment I stood up, a voice drifted in from the other side of the iron door, making me jump in spite of myself. Zest was just as startled as I was.
That voice... it was Chesa, wasn't it?
She scared the life out of me. What was she doing there?
When I opened the door, Chesa was standing directly in front of me. On the silver tray she held, she had prepared a steaming towel and a glass of cold water.
"I have prepared your things. Please, help yourself."
"A-Ah, right..."
Wait... wasn't her timing a little too good?
It was as if she had been standing outside that door for hours, waiting for the exact moment I woke up...
『Ah... ugh...!!』
Zest?
What was wrong with him all of a sudden? I wished he wouldn't start making those weird noises first thing in the morning.
Zest was acting strange, but I couldn't afford to daze out. I had to play the villain properly in front of Chesa.
"Move. ...Or would you prefer to be thrown into the punishment room I just finished maintaining?"
Perfect. If I said that, Chesa should go running off in a hurry.
At least, that’s what I thought.
"Maintenance..."
Chesa didn't move. Her expression remained unnervingly blank.
Her eyes began to wander, searching the interior of the basement.
"It isn't here... nowhere... it doesn't exist..."
With suspicious eyes, Chesa turned her gaze back toward me.
I didn't know what she was looking for, so I did my best to maintain a poker face.
Chesa's gaze traveled over me, slowly, as if she were tracing every inch of my body.
And then—it stopped dead at the base of my neck.
I only noticed because of how intently she was staring.
The black tattoo was peeking out just a tiny bit from beneath my collar.
Chesa fixated on my right shoulder.
Her eyes drew so close they almost touched my skin as she peered at it, unblinking—
"........................So that is where it is."
Chesa turned on her heel and walked away.
I didn't think there was a problem with her seeing a bit of the tattoo, but I decided to be more careful with my clothing from now on just in case. Besides, the clothes I was currently wearing were in tatters from the battle with Luxion.
Zest. What kind of outfit do you think is appropriate for a stepping stone?
『...』
Huh?
Zest? Can you hear me?
『...』
Wait...
Could it be...
...He fainted?
Apparently, even Holy Swords could faint.
Having gained this new insight, I changed my clothes, ate breakfast, and then, as usual, headed back to the basement to work up a sweat.
Ever since I’d started acting like an arrogant, haughty stepping stone, no one pried into my activities anymore. Let sleeping dogs lie, I suppose. Even if I shut myself in the basement all day or if my clothes ended up in rags, no one voiced any unnecessary suspicions. Honestly, it was convenient.
"...Phew."
Ten thousand practice swings—done.
I was getting used to swinging the sword with my entire body. The unnecessary tension had vanished, and the way I used my muscles was starting to feel just right.
So, Zest?
Have you finally calmed down?
『...Claude. I am begging you. Do not go near that maid anymore.』
Even if you tell me that...
Chesa is my exclusive attendant, so I'm bound to have a lot of interactions with her.
And for some reason, she refuses to quit...
『It is no use... she is dangerous... she is the abyss...』
Zest repeated the words like a mantra.
I was starting to get genuinely curious. What on earth was he so afraid of?
『That... I will not say.』
Why not? Just tell me clearly.
『Was there not a saying in your previous life, "Ignorance is bliss"? ...It is like that. Knowing will only bring a foul influence upon you.』
Hmm...
I wondered if he’d seen a ghost while I was sleeping.
"Master Claude."
『Hie...!?』
Chesa's voice came from outside the iron door.
"What is it?"
"You have a visitor."
"...Who is it?"
"A member of the Royal Family."
The Royal Family...?
When I heard that, only one person came to mind.
Fortunately, since she was an active woman who didn't act like typical royalty, I wouldn't feel nervous if we interacted the way we always had. But right now, I was playing the role of a stepping stone. Even if my guest was royalty, I had to behave appropriately for my part.
Since I had decided to become a proud stepping stone, she was someone I couldn't avoid, I suppose...
"Fine. Show them in."
I wiped away my sweat, straightened my appearance, and headed to the drawing room.