When I asked Anima if she minded me joining her for a snack, she gave me an immediate yes. She was currently in the middle of grilling some fish fillets.
Since it was quite late, I didn't want anything too heavy, but I found myself craving something warm. I decided I might as well whip up some miso soup.
"Alright, Anima. I’ll handle the miso soup... or, well, the soup."
"Oh! N-No, Master, I couldn't possibly let you trouble yourself..."
"Don't worry about it. I came down here planning to cook for myself anyway."
I gave a wry smile at her predictable protest while quickly gathering the ingredients. With Anima, a little gentle stubbornness was usually the best way to get things done.
"Do you cook for yourself often, Anima?" I asked as I started on the soup.
"Not regularly, but I prepare my own food when my shifts don't align with the usual meal times. Though I’m only really capable of simple things like grilling or sautéing..."
"I see. I'm about the same. I still haven't quite mastered deep-frying yet."
I occasionally cooked while learning from Sieg-san, the Chef, or sometimes Illness-san, but my repertoire was still fairly limited. I didn't do it often enough to call it a hobby, so I tended to stick to the basics.
"You were working until late today, weren't you? Aren't you tired?"
"Thank you for your concern, Master. Cara is very considerate and looks out for me, so I make sure to take frequent breaks. Personally, I’d actually like to work a bit more, though."
"Ahaha, that's just like you."
It was truly just idle chatter, but I felt a strange sense of calm. The feeling likely stemmed from the atmosphere Anima projected. Sympathy Magic probably played a part as well, but spending time with her—someone who genuinely adored me and sent back waves of joy whenever I spoke—was always incredibly comfortable.
"Do you go out with Caraway-san often?"
"I feel that 'being taken along by Cara' would be a more accurate description. As my assistant, she usually has the same holiday schedule as I do, so we have many opportunities to go out together. Just the other day, she took me fishing."
"Heh, fishing, huh? I've only done it a handful of times, but I actually quite like it too."
"R-Really! T-Then next time... A-Ah, n-no, my apologies. Please ignore that."
When I mentioned I liked fishing, Anima’s face lit up with excitement, but she immediately turned back to her cooking in a fluster. It had been this way for a while now; Anima almost never invited me to do anything on her own initiative. Her first thought was always that it would be a shame to take up my precious time.
That was exactly why I decided to make the proposal myself.
"Why don't we go together sometime? I'm basically a total amateur, so it would be a big help if you could show me the ropes."
"Master... Yes! Of course! This unworthy Anima will dedicate her entire soul to supporting you when that day comes!"
I smiled wryly again as I watched her. She looked so happy I could almost see a spectral puppy tail wagging behind her. She really was quite adorable.
The food was finished shortly after, and we moved to the dining hall to eat together.
"That reminds me, Master. I heard that Akari-dono and Kazuya-dono will begin their apprenticeship at the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company in five days. Is there anything we need to prepare for them? I can have it arranged immediately."
"Hmm, I'm not sure. It sounds like the company is providing the basic necessities, so maybe just some stationery for taking notes."
"I see. In that case, there is likely no need for haste. However, I imagine they must be quite nervous. It would be best to have a system in place so we can support them if any issues arise."
"Yeah, I’d appreciate that. You've been very considerate toward my mother and father, Anima. It’s been a huge help."
"N-No! Supporting Master’s family is a natural duty for an attendant!"
Anima looked flustered by the sudden praise, yet her expression remained joyful. She had grown into such a reliable presence over the past two years, but I felt relieved to see that this core part of her personality hadn't changed.
Then, Anima’s expression shifted into one of contemplation, and she spoke with a slightly hesitant look.
"Um, Master... to go back a little bit... I actually have something I wanted to consult with you about regarding Cara."
"Regarding Caraway-san? Sure, what is it?"
"Well, actually... it seems Cara is a bit bothered by the fact that she is the only one you still address with an honorific."
"Wait, really?"
Now that she mentioned it, I had been calling her Caraway-san out of habit since our first meeting. But since her position was the same as Anima, Eta, and Theta, it made sense that she felt excluded by the formality.
"Yes. Since I was the one who hired her, I feel it is somewhat impolite to make such a request, but... if possible, I would like you to treat her with the same familiarity you show me, Eta, and Theta."
"Yeah, I understand. I see... she didn't show that side of herself to me, but I'm glad I found out sooner rather than later. Thanks for letting me know."
"Thank you, Master. I am grateful for your broad-mindedness. Despite appearing carefree, Cara tends to overthink things. She also seems a bit concerned that she is the only one among the attendants whose age is so far removed from yours."
I see. Depending on whether you included her time as a Black Bear, Anima’s age wasn't that far from mine—and Eta and Theta were both seventy-two. It felt strange to think of seventy-two as "young," but among my acquaintances, they were actually on the lower end of the spectrum. For demons, they were practically kids.
"I'm glad I learned about that, too. Actually, since we have the chance, would it be okay if I asked you about other things? There might be things about Eta or Theta—or even things they find difficult to say to me directly because of their positions."
"Yes, of course. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."
They called themselves attendants, but I thought of Anima, Eta, and Theta as family, and I wanted to know as much as possible about them. As for Caraway-san, I’d ask for her permission to speak more casually the next time I saw her. Beyond that, it might be nice to take everyone out somewhere to deepen our bonds. They did so much for me; I wanted to think of a way to return the favor.
Serious-senpai: "Alright, let's answer some questions!"
???: "Wait, where did this come from?"
Serious-senpai: "I’m tired of just doing commentary every time. We need to shake things up. Question one: 'Why isn't there a Marquis-class?' Go ahead and answer."
???: "Well, I was going to bring this up when we discussed the hierarchy re-organization, but in the world Alice-chan came from, the title of Marquis didn't exist anymore. Or rather, it was abolished."
Serious-senpai: "Oh? Why is that?"
???: "The person who unsealed the Great Evil God of Despair the first time was a famous Marquis. During the second incident, Alice-chan managed to stop it, but the first time, the revival was so complete that nothing could be done until it eventually faded away. The damage was catastrophic. Because of that, the title of Marquis became associated with disaster, and over many years, the rank itself was phased out. When I was setting up the peerage system here, I just instinctively followed the standards I knew."
Serious-senpai: "I see. Next question: 'Are you going to create a Marquis-class now?'"
???: "I considered it, but the current system has been in place for nearly twenty thousand years. Most Count-class demons have spent their lives training to reach Duke-class. If I suddenly announced a rank that was 'better than Count but worse than Duke,' it would just cause frustration. That's why I'm focusing on adjusting things so that Ein-san—who is effectively the Seventh King—gets a position above the standard hierarchy."
Serious-senpai: "Fascinating. Well, that's all for now! See you next time!"
???: "Wait, Serious-senpai, you didn't actually answer any of the questions yourself, did you!?"