268 10-14 Rest at Ains Hale with Meila ...

It's still a big house........

I walk behind the servants while looking at the furnishings as I walk down the corridor of the Darwin mansion.

''Is Darwin gone again today?

'Yes. The Master is in business again today, sir. He doesn't spend much time at home, does he?

If you don't spend much time at home, you don't need this big house.......

But still, business.........business.........

I've heard what Dharma and Meira do for a living, but what exactly is Darwin's main business........

No, I won't get deeply involved.

I'm afraid I'm going to get involved........no, that guy will definitely get involved for fun.

This way, sir.

Thank you.

Well, I didn't originally have any business with Darwin today.

I bowed my head reverently and was led to Meira's office, where I had come once before.

I knocked lightly, but there was no reply, but according to the guide, it's the usual thing, so they don't mind if I come in.

'Meira?　Are we going in?

I walked into the room while calling out to her.

Then I see Meira surrounded by a pile of papers and stopped with her head on the desk and a document in her hand....

''Hey Meira!　Are you okay?!

''....Huh?　....Huh?　I'm... why are you...?　Ah!　No!

He seems to wake up when I call out to him, but when he sees the papers in his hand, my face, and the brightness outside, he panics and knocks over the pile of papers.

''Ahhhh.... We don't even have any employees today........''

Hey, you okay?

Oh yeah. It's okay. As usual.....

I don't think it's safe at all to be told with such a sad face.......are you sure it's safe?

'I'm very sorry to call you here, but as you can see, I'm not done with my work yet. So could we have the appointment at a later date...?

Meira tells me as she looks up, squatting down to gather up her papers in a depressed, huffy manner.

Probably because she fell asleep and couldn't finish the job she was going to finish before I arrived.

''Hmmm........''

I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble. The only thing left to do is this document, but it's not likely to be finished for some time. I'll make it up to you next time, I promise...

Yeah, no, that's fine. I can help you if you want?

What?

The documents are scattered around with approved and unapproved items mixed in, and it would be a challenge just to separate them.

The people who usually work today don't seem to be around, and canceling an appointment with me means that it's probably a job that needs to be finished today.

Well, there's only so much you can do. I'm sure I can at least get the paperwork done.

I don't think I can ask you to do that, my dear customer.

'Oh well, whatever. It's not like I'm going to be bored if you say no here. Besides, you're in a bind, aren't you?

That's........yes, but........ But aren't you also tired?

'Not so much for me. I just got back, but the only thing I have to do in a hurry is work for Yashis, and Mizzella has made delivering the Adventurer's Guild a lot easier these days.

I feel like I'm getting a little closer to the ideal these days.

Well, that doesn't mean I'm going to think about making it easier on myself by making only Miserra work.

So, with that said, I insert my hand into Meira's side as she rummages through the papers, lift her up, and sit her down in the chair.

'Heeeee!'

So just tell me what to do and I'll help you with the simple tasks. But first....

What?

I take out a small tub and towel that I took out of the magical space, along with various herbs and flowers, and place them on the floor and begin to prepare them.

I fill the vat with water, float a few magic balls (fire) with the herbs, and let the herbs' ingredients seep out while heating the water.

'Um, what are you doing?'

'You're tired and it's showing in your eyes.... You'd better look in the mirror.

'The mirror...?　Well.......... .........This is not a face that I can show to your lordships......

All the more so because of the original...

Well, first of all, the bear is terrible....

I'm still a hard worker, or maybe I'm just working too hard, but I think it's okay to leave the work to others to some extent.

Being too good at something is also something to think about, isn't it?

I'm sure you're not the only one with a bad skin. That's why the makeup doesn't go on very well....

'So, that's where this comes in. Yes, meditate on it.

Huh?　Huh.

I scoop Meira's chin and turn her up, wringing out a towel dipped in the warmed herbal water and placing it over her eyes.

'Oh it makes me feel soft...'

''Medicinal herbs, medicinal herbs, and various small amounts of other herbs, ginger-based ginger, plus chamomile and lavender, which have a calming effect, have been extracted from the oil and dropped in for a drop. And.....

I adjust the small magic ball and place it over my eyes, warming it up even more to make the scent stand up stronger.

'Stay quiet with that for a while. Let me know if it's hot.

It certainly feels good, but...

'Oops, if you move, the magic ball falls off, okay?　Don't move?

.........

All right, I'll put the paperwork in my office. I'll call you when it's done.

...Yes, thank you very much.

Hmmm?　No, but it's a quintessential Meira.

If you look closely at the documents, they are colored at the edges and seem to be more efficient.

Do you want me to separate them by color and then separate them by whether they've been approved or not?

Yes. That's all right. Thank you so much.

Yeah. You can fall asleep if you want, okay?

It's going to take more or less time.

She was asleep when she came over, and she's probably not sleeping well.

It's also highly relaxing, and if you're quiet, you're likely to sleep, but Meira seems to resist.

The actuality is that you can't........oh, no. That's right......... You might fall asleep. I'm a deep sleeper, so you might not notice if you do something during that time.

I won't...

Don't you want to...?

'Why do I have to sound like such a shocker?　I won't.

What does he think I am........

I mean, what is this girl saying when she's not feeling well........

''I thought I'd at least thank you for your help........ You like it, don't you?

'I like it, though. I wouldn't want to do anything with a guy who's not in shape.

Oh, does that mean you don't have to wait until you're feeling better...?

'Yes, yes. I know you're on a roll, so just be quiet for now. There's a job I can't do after this, okay?

What I'm working on right now is sorting and organizing, so after this Meira should have to go through this material and make some seals and corrections.

I know that......... However, since I've invited you here today, I was thinking of asking you to stay alone with me in a hot spring........ That's a waste of time........

Why don't we go back another time?

It's not easy to make plans alone with you, dear. Even today, I've prepared something of interest for other people and then invited you to join me...

'Oh that's why. White said it was an all-you-can-eat shop, Wendy and Miserra shopped for specials or something, and Aina and the others said it was a nomination quest request.

Eh, don't tell me that Meira is involved in all of that in some way........

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't get away with it. It was just a coincidence that we were lucky........ But because of that, we were able to stay up all night long and the result is just hilarious.

Nothing, if you call out just me, I'll come alone, okay?

If it's in Ains Hale, there won't be any problems even if you work alone.

It is said that you are called a troublemaker on the street, but I don't remember making up trouble myself at all.

The truth is, that's what I wanted to hear. Even if it's a verbal promise, it's still a promise, right?　You've taken your word for it, haven't you?

I was trying to be obnoxious, but... It's okay, that's all I'm saying. Hey, I finished sorting through the material.

Oh, you're early. I'm feeling much better.... The weight on my shoulders has eased a bit too.

Yeah. Well, let's get this over with and go to the spa.

What?

Hmm?　You're going, right?　The "Hot Springs

Is that...okay?　We're going to be pretty late, aren't we?

'I don't mind. Meira and the hot springs sound like fun, and besides, I told you.　I'm not busy today.

You're going to be bored the whole time you're at work, aren't you?

It won't take long to see Meira hard at work. I'll give you a cup of tea and a light massage on your shoulder.

I bend my elbows ostentatiously, pull my legs back, and bow my head as if I were asking for a dance.

Does it make me feel like a pseudo-butler?

No, the butlers I knew didn't operate like this, so they're complete imposters.

Well, but like at the festival, Meira is a bit too much of a pushover.

I think work is fine to a certain extent, unless it's a lot.

Life shouldn't be lived for work, it should be lived for entertainment, motivated by fun or pleasure or likes!　And I think.

So, as a comrade who loves hot springs, I'm taking you to one today!

You're really that kind of a person, aren't you?

Hmm?　What?

It's deliberate.... That's what I'm saying is so desirable. Well that's no use. I'm going to let you have your support.

'Huh?　When did it start to feel like I'm asking for it?

'What?　Did you think you could take the initiative from me?　I don't really like to be in debt. So.........I'll make sure to pay you back in full on the same day at the spa.

Oh that one's also ... okay. I'm looking forward to it.

Yes, sir. I'm not going to let you go until you're satisfied, so if you're going to let me know that you can't leave, you can do that on your way out.

Well..........

If we call in early, someone will probably come.........

Just the two of us.........

You have to keep your promise.

Then let's get started. I'll have a cup of tea to start. No sugar. Make it blindingly bitter, please. Oh, you can touch me on the shoulder, on the chest, anywhere you like. If you concentrate, I won't notice you.

'Roger that. I'll try to stay out of your way.

Mayra's concentration after this was as good as it gets.

There was no conversation, just the sound of Meira moving her brush around and the sound of papers being thrown away and me picking them up and separating them, echoing through the office.

By the time I finished the fourth cup of lukewarm tea, the moon was high in the sky.

An exhausted Meira leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling and smiled as she looked up and said, "I'm done......now let's go to the hot springs........

The next day.

I received a satisfactory thank you, but Meira said she was off on a stone's throw, so I put her to bed in the mansion and went home.

....