Sighing, I find myself panting outside the the barn. My hand braces against the wall, holding up my body weight. I had sprinted all the way from the garden, fear gnawing at me the entire time. With the sun setting, I was convinced Arivia might zap me again if I was late.

I’m surprised that almost the entire day has passed, but I guess that’s how time works. It slowly creeps past you. T


Groaning at the reminder that my new “job” still isn’t over, I force myself to open the barn door. The air inside smells a little fresher now that I’ve managed to crack open a few windows earlier.

A faint clattering sound echoes through the corridor.

I freeze.

Slowly, cautiously, I turn around. And nearly collapse in shock.

At the end of the corridor stands a Kobold, lying down. Its form is similar to a lion resting.

Next to it stands Asakawa, her form unmistakable. She’s observing it, like a mother watching her children sleep.

“Th-th-!”

“Be quiet,” she says flatly. “Kalcifer hasn’t gotten sleep in several days. Don’t disturb him.”

Still stunned, I shuffle over to her side, keeping one eye glued to the creature, silently praying it doesn’t suddenly lunge and turn us into minced meat.

“H-Hey… why is there a Kobold inside the barn?”

“Why wouldn’t there be?” she replies. “This one in particular belongs to the estate. It is used mainly for transportation.”

“…Huh?”

“Are you unfamiliar with Kobolds?”

“Well, I thought I wasn’t, But please—go ahead, info-dump me.”

She shifts slightly, her expression remaining flat and lifeless, like the walls around us.

“A Kobold is a creature that typically resides deep underground. Most grow to the size of two adult humans. Unlike other creatures, a Kobold’s skeletal system is external.” She gestures toward the swirling black mass at the center of Kalcifer’s body. It rises and falls rhythmically, like it’s breathing.

“That mass is a compression of all its organs—heart, lungs, everything—into one singular unit. Because they live in darkness, they do not have eyes. But about a week ago, Kobolds started surfacing—aside from Kalcifer, that is. The reason remains unknown.”

I walk closer to Kalcifer and crouch down to get a better look. His skull shape’s noticeably different from the one that attacked me earlier.

My hand instinctively clutches my arm, remembering the sharp, wet pain of fangs sinking into flesh.

“…So how’d you tame him?”

“We offer him human corpses.”

“W-What!?”

“No. I am joking.”

Don’t joke like that! Stick to being cold and brooding!

I let out a long sigh.

“Hah… that was pretty funny, actually.”

“Yes. I know.”

I glance sideways at Asakawa.

She’s either completely unaware of how lifeless she is or just doesn’t care.

Then she turns and starts walking away.

“You’ll be living with Kalcifer now. Your next job is to take good care of him. He’s our only functional means of transport—at least until the Lionels are active again.”

“…Yes, ma’am,” I mutter.

Without another word, she exits the barn.

I stare at Kalcifer, who’s still peacefully asleep.

Well… guess I’d better get to cleaning.

If there were a montage of me cleaning, it’d start with me backing away from Kalcifer, terrified he’d wake up and snap me in half. The next shot would involve me sneezing violently, repeatedly, to my own horror.

But despite all that, I managed to rise victorious.

Cleaning wasn’t really an issue, given that well, there was nothing that was overly dirty. Just feces, which, despite being disgusting, managed to be cleaned easily. Some parts just wouldn’t scrub off the floorboards, so I had to use almost all my strength trying to scrape it off the ground.

They were green, bulbous growths. I had no clue what they were, and frankly, I didn’t want to know. I just cleaned them.

Right now, I’m mopping the floor, the sound of wet splashes echoing through the barn.

The only source of light is a small lantern hanging from the top of the barn, barely illuminating what I can see, but being useful nonetheless.

Kalcifer’s form is still in the same spot, sleeping deeply.

Put to work.

I could be doing so many things besides this; I could be exploring this world, fighting a dragon, training, or doing anything one typically does in a fantasy world.

Instead, I’m here. Scraping sludge off floorboards. Flinching every time a monster breathes in its sleep.

My grip tightens on the wooden mop.

I need to leave this damned place.

Before I can finish my thoughts, the door swings open. Navi stands in the doorway.

“Follow me. Don’t ask questions.”

Seeing as I’m pretty much done with my task, I drop the mop and follow behind her.

The lights from the mansion shimmer against the night sky. The black moon hangs above—shining, despite having no color.

Navi walks through a set of double doors.

I follow, and the moment I step inside, my eyes nearly fall out of my face.

The interior is a warm brown with golden accents lacing the furniture. A massive chandelier hangs from the ceiling, casting a brilliant glow across the room. On either end of what I assume is the main hall are two grand staircases spiraling upward like they belong in some royal estate.

The carpet beneath my feet is a bright, almost regal red.

As we move past a hallway, I spot something… strange.

A tall, elongated creature made entirely of what looks like metal parts is cleaning a wall with a large cloth. It moves slowly but precisely—almost mechanical, like clockwork. Yet it’s thin. Too thin. I can see a metal rod arching through its back like a visible spine.

“Kratt! Is dinner ready?” Navi calls, stopping in front of me.

“Yes… Misss… Highergald…” it replies in a chilling, metallic voice.

Wait. That thing is a servant?

And I’m the slave?

The human being is the one outside scraping barn floors while this nightmare monster is polishing walls? This world is so backwards, it’s comical.

Still, I decide to keep my mouth shut and follow Navi as she walks up the staircase.

As our feet echo up the steps, I ask the obvious question.

“Uh… where are we going?”

“Party meeting.”

“Wait, does that mean I’m a part of—”

Navi turns her head, her expression blank but somehow still offended.

“Hahh? No. You’re cleaning the bathroom. You know how to work pipes, right? The water system’s out of control.”

I sigh.

Of course.

After a few turns and a walk down another corridor, she stops in front of a large door, which is painted red and trimmed with gold.

Before she steps inside, she gestures lazily toward the end of the hallway, where I spot a simple door. The bathroom, I assume.

Groaning under my breath, I start heading toward it, but then I stop.

The double doors to the meeting room aren’t fully closed.

Just slightly ajar.

I glance over my shoulder, then lean closer. No harm in listening, right?

Inside, I see the party seated around a long table. All of them, except Kaelira Kaen.

She’s pacing the room, speaking. I can’t hear her clearly, but I inch closer, carefully. There’s clear tension in that room.

Her voice sharpens.

“—He might be working with them. That’s something we’ve been paid to prevent.”

Kors speaks calmly,“Then what do you propose, Miss Kaen?”

Kaelira’s eyes narrow. Her presence commands the room.

“We storm the town tomorrow morning. Before sunrise…”

Her voice cuts through the air like her blade.

“And kill the bastard.”