● Characters
Asa: One of the Mercury race from Village Four. An elderly butler.
Earth: Urza’s soil doll. Takes the form of a young butler.
Kierbit: The daughter of the Angel race leader.
My name is Torain.
I am a High Ogre male, born in the Village of the Great Tree.
Though I am a mere novice of only ten years, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Now then...
I was exhausted.
Having returned to the house provided for me on the Academy grounds, I closed my eyes and sank into reflection.
First, there was the matter of the parade outside the village.
Even if it was meant to curb Sister Tiselle’s reckless behavior, involving Father was a mistake. I should have resolved everything without him ever noticing.
No, that’s not right—Father dislikes it when we move in secret. One must never keep him in the dark.
I should have followed proper procedure: report, inform, and consult.
Ideally, I would have acted within those bounds without causing Father any trouble.
And yet, I didn't just involve him; I failed to predict that he would volunteer himself.
While I’m happy that he was simply worried about the relationship between Tiselle and me... I still had many points to reflect upon.
Even though my goal was to admonish Sister Tiselle for her stampede, I ended up overreaching while thinking of the future.
I’d gambled that if I separated her from the overprotective Uncle Demon King and burdened him with a mountain of work, he’d be too focused to interfere.
I was naive.
No, my logic was sound; Sister Tiselle was indeed focusing on that work.
However, it was beyond my expectations that she would drag me—a newcomer to the Academy—into it.
Knowing her personality, I assumed she’d use Asa or Earth if she needed help.
Instead, she bypassed them entirely and came directly for me.
Wait... could she have realized I was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes?
I knew she’d find out eventually, but this was far earlier than anticipated.
I hadn't prepared a defense.
That was another failure.
The Tiselle I knew was the one from the village.
By leaving home, attending the Academy, and diving into the Demon Kingdom’s politics, she had grown significantly.
I opened my eyes and surveyed the room.
The house provided within the Academy grounds was quite spacious—large enough for a family of four to live comfortably.
I’d requested something smaller, but Big Sister Urza had insisted on this size.
According to her, in all things, bigger is always better than smaller.
I thought there might be some truth to that, so I accepted it.
I lived in this house with Maa, the Mountain Elf who accompanied me to the Academy.
To me, Maa is... well, what exactly?
She isn't a maid.
I’ve been raised to become a butler myself. There is no such thing as a butler who requires the service of a maid.
True, she assists me with things out of my reach, but she isn't a maid.
Since she is far older than I am, she might be a wet nurse... no, that isn't right. I'm quite certain I never received milk from her.
A lover, then?
I’ve only lived for ten years, so I don't understand such things, but I doubt that’s it either.
Do we play together? No, we don't play.
Do we build machines together? Not exactly.
I provide the designs or the ideas, and she gives them physical form.
The relationship between "client" and "supplier" is perhaps the most accurate description.
Though I don't pay her a copper.
Well, let’s just say she’s a friend. Since she followed me all the way to the Academy, she’s a very close friend.
I share this house with her.
Normally, she is the only person I expect to see here.
And yet, for some reason, Sister Tiselle was sitting right there.
Can you understand why I closed my eyes the moment I stepped inside?
I wanted to believe it was a hallucination brought on by fatigue.
Sadly, it was no illusion.
"Um, Sister Tiselle? May I ask two questions?"
"Go ahead. Though if you're wondering why I'm here, it's because I wanted to hear about today's catch."
"Thank you. That brings me down to one question."
"Good. So, what was the catch?"
She was the one asking the questions now.
I didn't mind, but...
"People have started running the moment they see my face. There was no catch today."
"Hmph. Have they already memorized your face? I thought we’d get at least a few more days out of it... You did hide your horns, right?"
"Of course. I even changed my outfit several times. It was no use."
"Were you being followed when you left the Academy? Or did we go too far yesterday?"
I didn't think we’d caused enough of a scene to be considered "too far," but the rumors were likely spreading.
"Is that so? It can't be helped, then. I'll think of another tactic."
"Understood."
"We're siblings, Torain. You can use more casual speech. You can even call me 'Tee-nee' like you used to."
"Mother Ann would scold me, so please excuse me."
"Ahaha, she is strict, isn't she?"
She certainly was.
For context, the "catch" we were discussing refers to my habit of wandering aimlessly to lure in thugs or ruffians.
Technically, I’m not the one catching them; it’s the military personnel shadowing me.
In other words, I am live bait.
Sister Tiselle calls this "fishing," and the number of captured thugs is the "catch."
It was her ingenious method for securing labor.
However, if Sister Tiselle does it herself, the ruffians don't just stay away—they flee at full speed. Thus, the task fell to me, whose face was still unknown.
I’d been at it for five days now, with a total catch of about thirty people.
For a ten-year-old child walking alone through rough neighborhoods to yield such a result...
Should I take it as a sign that the Uncle Demon King’s "Purification Operation" in the capital was a success?
Or is it simply that no matter how many you catch, the supply of villains is bottomless?
"By the way, what was your question?"
"Ah, yes. A simple one. Sister Tiselle, who is the old gentleman sitting beside you? He looks so weary I’m starting to worry."
"Him? He’s today's catch."
"He tried to harass you?"
"Not exactly. He was trying to sneak into the Royal Castle, so I harassed him. He had sharp instincts and managed to slip away a few times, which was quite a surprise. Plus, his magic power is immense. You can tell, right?"
"Yes, I can tell."
Which meant he was anything but ordinary.
I decided to stop prying. I wanted no part of this trouble.
"If he’s a thief, shouldn't you hand him over to the authorities? Or at least tie him up?"
"He seems useful, so he’s an executive candidate. Treat him with care. For the time being, let him sta—I mean, keep him in this house."
"...But why?"
"If I took him to my place, Big Brother Al or Big Sister Uru would be furious."
"Please don't involve me in things that get people angry!"
"You have spare rooms, don't you?"
"I do not. To be precise, the spare rooms have been converted into Maa’s workshop and a storage area."
"What about the cellar?"
"Big Sister Urza turned that into an armory."
"Darn it! She beat me to it!"
"Sister Tiselle, don't you have several rooms in the Royal Castle you can use as you please?"
"I want one near the Academy too. Asa and Mettora are too strict at the castle. Oh, and it seems Big Brother Al built a secret base somewhere in the Academy. Let me know if you find it."
Between Big Brother Alfred and Sister Tiselle, I would choose Big Brother Alfred every time.
"How cruel! Why would you say such a thing? I dote on you so much!"
"Please reflect on your own actions."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
It was a hurried, somewhat frantic sound.
Who could it be?
If it were Big Brother Alfred, the knock would be much gentler.
If it were Big Sister Urza, she would have called out before knocking.
Which meant...
"Forgive me! I need help searching for someone!"
It was Uncle Beezel.
Since he was a familiar face from the village, I wasn't on guard, but I was confused.
Why ask me for help?
Surely a request like that should have gone to Big Brother Alfred or Big Sister Urza.
"I came to you because you're the one least likely to cause a massive scene. However... um, it seems my help is no longer required."
"Ah... Is the person you're looking for that old gentleman over there?"
"Indeed."
I see.
Sister Tiselle was already gone. It appeared she had fled.
I suspected it was a futile effort if that gentleman provided testimony, but that was her problem.
"My apologies for the intrusion. You've been a great help. Actually, this man is—"
"Ah, no. I have no desire to know who he is. His presence here is merely the result of a series of unfortunate coincidences. On that note, I look forward to your continued cooperation. I am completely uninvolved."
"Wait—"
"L-Let go of me! I said I'm uninvolved! I won't be swayed by a sob story! Don't drag me into this! Having to deal with Sister Tiselle is more than enough! I'd rather decline being involved with her, too! If all you're going to do is give me a look of pity, then just spare me!"
Tiselle: "Torain, do you know how they used to gather sailors?"
Torain: "You recruit them at the harbor, right?"
Tiselle: "Yes, but sometimes people don't show up."
Torain: "I suppose so."
Tiselle: "If the sailors don't gather, the ship can't sail. What do you think they did then?"
Torain: "Worked harder until they found enough people?"
Tiselle: "Apparently, they used to kidnap able-bodied workers. Terrifying, isn't it?"
Torain: "It certainly is."
Tiselle: "On an unrelated note, let's go fishing."
Torain: "That was abrupt. But fine... at a river? Or a pond?"
Tiselle: "The back alleys of the capital."
Torain: "Wait, there are fishing spots there?"
Tiselle: "When you're building a country, labor is an absolute necessity, you see."
Torain: "What?"
Tiselle: "I'm sure even villains would rather work in a new land than sit in a dungeon."
Torain: "..."
Tiselle: "Let's do our best to catch a lot!"
Backstage
Maa: "My name finally appeared, but I didn't have any lines..."
Torain: "That's because you're always cooped up in your workshop. If you want a turn in the spotlight, you have to step forward."
Kierbit: "I wonder where I'm supposed to be living?"
Maa: "Somewhere else. It would be difficult for all of us to live together."
Kierbit: "Hmph."