First a maid appeared, then an armored knight hauling a dragon, followed by a fairy, a giant, and a skeleton. To call this a melting pot would be a massive understatement.
“Ein—you’re sure this is everyone?”
“Yes. Since you specified that Miyama-sama should not be intimidated, Chrome-sama, I have limited the number to five guests.”
“Right. Then I’ll leave the cooking to you, Ein!”
“As you wish.”
“Now, what else do we need...”
The conversation flowed between the maid, Ein, and Kuro. Visually, their little corner was the only part of this scene that looked remotely normal. Everyone else was terrifying! Especially the giant!
“Honestly, Acht, would you please take your human form? You’re scaring Kaito-kun-san!”
“Huh? Me? I feel like Boss Zex looks way more ghoulish than I do...”
“You’re just too big, Acht!”
“Come on, compared to someone like Lord Magnawell, I’m basically a midget. I don't think I'm that huge; I think Raz-sis is just tiny...”
“...Is there something you'd like to say?”
“S-Sorry.”
A fairy clad in green, her long pink-blonde hair fluttering as she flew with tiny wings, was scolding the blue giant. Watching a fairy who wasn't even fifty centimeters tall argue with a blue giant who stood at least five meters high made my sense of perspective feel like it was melting.
I had so many things I wanted to point out. For one, the fairy called me "Kaito-kun-san," which was a bit redundant. Also, there were things even bigger than this guy? This giant was a "midget" compared to them?
While I was reeling from the scale of this world, the blue giant’s body began to glow. He transformed into a muscular man with blue skin and two prominent horns. He was still about two meters tall and looked imposing, but it was a step in the right direction.
“Still, it is a pity for those who could not attend,” the armored knight said.
“It cannot be helped,” the skeleton replied as they walked toward us. “If we had allowed everyone who wished to come, the numbers would have been staggering.”
Kuro finished her instructions to Ein and bounced over to me.
“Sorry for the wait, Kaito! We’ll leave the prep work to Ein. Everyone, let me introduce you again. This is Miyama Kaito. He’s a friend I made recently, and he’s from another world, so don't go scaring him, okay?”
“Understood!” the fairy chirped energetically.
“Alright, let’s go around and introduce ourselves!”
At Kuro’s cue, the fairy raised her hand, and the group began their introductions.
“Well then, since Ein-dono has already been introduced, shall I start? It is a pleasure to meet you, Miyama-dono. My name is Zex. I am just your ordinary, everyday Lich.”
“P-Pleased to meet you.”
The skeleton, dressed in incredibly expensive-looking clothes, gave a perfectly measured bow. Was a "Lich" really "ordinary"? He had the aura of a final boss for an undead legion...
“By the way, Sei Libelstar, who sent you that invitation, is one of my subordinates. I must apologize for the suddenness of it all; I hope we didn't startle you too much.”
So this skeleton—Zex—was the boss of the chairman of that massive trading company? He certainly looked like he possessed a lifetime of experience and dignity. As expected of someone in Kuro’s inner circle, he was definitely no ordinary person.
“Next is Raz's turn! My name is Razulia, but just call me Raz. Nice to meet you, Kaito-kun-san!”
“U-Um, likewise.”
The pink-blonde fairy was a bundle of energy. Given how intense the rest of the group was, her tiny, cute appearance made her feel like the "healer" of the party.
“Right, I’m up... I’m Acht, the Ogre. I’m not really one for formalities, so I’m just gonna call you Kaito. That cool?”
“Ah, yes. I don't mind at all.”
“Haha, glad to hear it!”
Even in his human form, Acht was a mountain of a man. True to his appearance, he seemed to have a boisterous personality. He flashed a grin that was a bit intimidating and offered a hand. I took it, and my eyes widened. His hand was as hard as a rock!
“And finally, I... I am Noin. I am the most junior member of the group gathered here today. I look forward to our acquaintance, Miyama-san.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Noin was encased head-to-toe in black plate armor, and her voice sounded a bit strange. It was curiously high-pitched, almost as if it were being processed through a voice changer, yet it was very clear and easy to understand. I couldn't tell her gender through the armor, but at about 160 centimeters tall, she looked like she could have been a regular knight of humankind.
With the introductions finished, Kuro led us over to a nearby table. The moment we sat down, the air was filled with the savory aroma of sizzling meat.
“Wait, what?! You’re already cooking?!”
Only a few minutes had passed, yet Ein had already butchered three dragons, a mountain of vegetables, and even the fish. She had them all skewered and perfectly arranged over a grill.
No way. That was way too fast! Did she have some kind of super-acceleration magic?!
The sheer number of skewers on the wire net was mind-boggling. Dozens of them were lined up with mathematical precision, and the scent was nothing short of heavenly.
“Damn, the Ma'am doesn't play around. She’s fast.”
“Indeed,” Noin agreed. “When Ein-sama is handling the kitchen, there is simply nothing for the rest of us to do.”
Acht and Noin spoke as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Apparently, Ein’s supernatural work speed was just business as usual for them.
Looking closer, the table had already been set with drinks and juices, and small plates were already distributed to every seat. Maids in this world were terrifying...
“Oh, that’s right. Kaito, you drink?”
“Ah, yes. I’m not a heavyweight, but I can have a little...”
“Perfect! Let’s start with a round, then!”
“Now wait a minute, Acht. We haven't even done the toast yet!” Raz scolded.
“Don't be a killjoy, Raz-sis. When men talk, they need a drink in their hands first.”
“If you touch your glass before Chrome-sama, Ein is going to scold you, you know?”
“...”
Acht had been laughing heartily, but he froze mid-reach. His blue face seemed to turn an even deeper shade of indigo. The power dynamics were becoming very clear; Acht was deathly afraid of Ein.
“...Um, is Ein really that incredible?” I whispered.
“A-Ah... honestly, she’s basically a mons—?!”
A tiny cut appeared on Acht’s cheek as if a invisible blade had grazed him. He began sweating bullets, trembling as he dropped to the ground in a perfectly fluid, practiced motion, pressing his forehead to the dirt.
“I-I-I’m sorry! Forgive me, Ma’am!”
“...”
“Ein has been Chrome-sama’s maid since long before Raz and the others were even born,” Raz explained. “Besides Chrome-sama, she’s the strongest one here.”
“I-I see.”
“Don't worry, Miyama-san,” Noin added. “As long as you don't say anything careless like Master Acht, she is a very calm and gentle person.”
Raz and Noin offered these "reassurances" while Acht remained prostrate on the ground. So, the veteran of the group and the strongest entity besides Kuro was the maid. My mental definition of "maid" was being shredded by the second.
“Kaito, do you want alcohol? Or juice?” Kuro asked.
“Oh, well, I’ll have some alcohol then—”
“Here you are.”
“Whoa?!”
What just happened? I’m twenty-one, a year younger than Lilia-san, so I figured I’d join in the toast with a drink. That was my intention.
The split second the words left my mouth, Ein was standing there, holding out a glass perfectly filled with spirits. She had been at the grill a heartbeat ago. She moved without a sound. Was she warping? Did she just teleport?!
It wasn't just me, either. Kuro, Zex, Raz, Acht, and Noin—everyone suddenly had a glass in their hand, each sized perfectly for the person holding it.
“Don't sweat it, Kaito,” Acht said, having recovered from his near-death experience. “As long as Ma'am Ein is running the show, you won't even get the chance to pour your own drink. You just gotta get used to it.”
“I-I guess so...”
Maids were amazing. No, could I even call her a maid anymore?
“Alright, everyone has a drink! Let’s get started,” Kuro announced, her usual innocent smile warming the air. “This is a welcome party for Kaito, who came all the way from another world. I’ll be chatting a lot, of course, but I really want Kaito and all of you to become friends. Let’s just relax and have a good time!”
Her words made my chest feel tight with gratitude. I could feel it from everyone at the table, even Acht; they truly welcomed me. It was so easy to talk to them.
At Lilia-san’s mansion, there was always a bit of a distance—that "servant and guest" wall, or people simply not knowing how to act around me. But here, they just treated me like one of them. There was no malice, no prying curiosity; they just accepted me as Kuro’s friend. I realized then that this was exactly why Kuro had organized this.
I felt a genuine smile spread across my face as I raised my glass with the others.
“Cheers!”
““““““Cheers!!””””””
Seven glasses clinked together—Ein had joined in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I took a sip of the drink; it was a bit bitter, similar to beer. When I lowered the cup, a freshly grilled skewer was already waiting on my plate. The timing was so perfect it was borderline unsettling.
The skewer had meat and vegetables alternating in a textbook-perfect display. I looked at Kuro, who gave me an encouraging nod, and took a bite. Then it hit me—wasn't this dragon meat? I’d always pictured dragons as giant lizards, but this... this was incredible!
The moment I bit down, the fibers of the meat pulled apart with unbelievable tenderness. A violent explosion of flavor flooded my mouth. It tasted like the highest grade of beef, and despite the simple salt-and-pepper seasoning, the proportions were so perfect that I couldn't stop eating.
Honestly, it might have been the best thing I’d ever tasted. The vegetables were grilled with the same level of mastery, their sweetness complementing the rich meat perfectly.
“As expected of Ein-dono... truly masterful,” Zex remarked, nibbling on a fish skewer.
“Right? She even adjusted the grilling time for every single piece of vegetable!” Raz chirped, holding a veggie-only skewer.
The skewers seemed tailored to everyone’s preferences. Acht had massive chunks of meat, while Noin had a standard one like mine. Wait... Noin was still wearing her helmet. How was she even eating?
I didn't have time to ponder the mystery of the armored knight’s dining habits because the food was just too good. I finished my first skewer in seconds. I wondered what to try next... maybe the fish Zex was eating?
“Here you go.”
“...A-Ah, thank you. But wait, I didn't even say anything yet.”
The fish skewer appeared before me as if it had been there all along. Was she a psychic? Was Ein an esper too?!
“Anticipating the needs of the guest is the most basic etiquette for a maid,” Ein replied calmly.
“I... I see...”
Maids were terrifying! This was on another level!
And the fish was perfectly timed to be fresh off the heat. Did she predict exactly when I’d want it and time the grilling to peak at that exact moment? Hahaha, no way... right?
Okay, then... if I finish this drink with this bite and decide I want a refill...
“It’s already full?!”
The moment I pulled the cup away from my lips, it was already refilled. She had even wiped the rim of the glass perfectly. I was starting to seriously consider if Ein could actually stop time.
Acht’s warning about not even having the chance to pour a drop of your own drink finally made complete sense.
Dear Mother, Dear Father—I’ve met a lot of strange and powerful people today. But in this world, I think the strongest profession isn't Hero or Sage. It might just be the Maid.
At least, it feels that way...
Name: Ein Skills: Housekeeping Level Limit Break, Super Acceleration, Intimidation, Invisible Attack, Teleportation, Time Stop, Mind Reading, etc. Occupation: Perfect Maid