hamikau

[hamikau]

being married to james wilson headcanons

(james wilson x gn!reader)

you get divorced

[hamikau]

[AKNK- Card Story] Wine Valentine

Masterlist

Just That Smile

Chapter 1

※Notes before reading the butler story

This story contains spoilers for the "Wine Valentine" event story.

We recommend that you read up to episode 10 of the event story before reading this.

If you wish to avoid spoilers, please return using the button at the top left.

…

The day after the Valentine's Day party for the ambassadors had finished without a hitch…

I was resting in my room…

As I was preparing for the party, I was reminiscing about the time I spent with Rono.

[In front of the Grosvenor family residence]

A few days before the party was to be held at the Grosvenor family mansion…

Muu and I were walking through the garden when we saw Lono pulling a cart and leaving the gate.

Lono: Good shot…Phew, it's a bit heavy as expected.

Muu: Huh? Are you going out somewhere, Lono?

Muu: It looks like there's a lot of luggage on the cart…

Choice: ➣Lono, where are you going?

Lono: Ah, Master! Good morning.

Lono: Preparations for the party are almost complete…

Lono: I'm going to start handing these sweets out around town.

Muu: Are all the packages in this loading platform sweets?

Muu: I see···. It certainly smells a little sweet!

Lono: People in the slums don't usually have the opportunity to eat sweets.

Lono: So, since it's Valentine's Day, I wanted them to enjoy some delicious sweets.

Muu: I see···. Lono is truly a kind person!

Muu: But the sweets here…

Muu: Maybe… Aren't these sweets made with ingredients bought with the Grosvenors' money?

Muu: You took the money you were given to prepare for the party and used it to help the people of town… Won't you get in trouble later?

Lono: Oh! Muu, you notice some really good things.

Lono: But don't worry. In fact, in the invoice I sent to the Grosvenors,

Lono: As a "charity expense"… I secretly wrote down the cost of ingredients for the sweets.

Lono: That's why… Even if I get found out later, I'll have a good excuse when I get scolded, so don't worry!

Muu: Hmm… So if you get caught, you'll get in trouble after all…

Lono: Hehehe. It's a small price to pay if it means I get scolded and everyone else gets a bigger meal.

Lono: That's it, master. I'm going to the slums.

Choice: ➣Then I'll go with you.

Lono: Huh? Is that okay?

Lono: I'm happy about that, but… If we stay together, won't they get qngry at master later?

Choice: ➣That's okay though

Lono: Hehe…. Thank you, master.

Lono: Well then, I'll take you up on your offer… Can I ask master for help?

Muu: Got it! Well then, I'll tell the others about you.

Lono: I leave it to you, Muu.

Muu: Yes! Both of you, take care!

Choice ➣I'm going

[Espoir Slums]

Lono: Come on in!

Lono: Sweet and delicious snacks for free. Everyone, feel free to eat!

Lono: However···. Numbers are limited, so only one bag per person!

People in town: What…? Handing out sweets?

People in town: Suspicious···. Isn't there poison in it?

People in town: Ah···. Maybe they're using us for human experiments…

Choice: ➣Everybody's on guard…

Lono: Yeah. They are always being taken advantage of by others.

Lono: It's no wonder they can't trust people. But…

Lono: Hehetsu. You can't resist this sweet scent.

Children: Kun-kun… Smells good…

Children: Hey, hey… big brother… Can I really get this candy for free?

Children: You won't ask me to pay later?

Lono: Of course.

Lono: The proof… I won't ask your name, and I won't tell you my name either.

Lono: If we don't know each other… I can't get the money later, right?

Lono: So, feel free to eat it. It's delicious!

Children: Oh, I understand… Well then…

Children: Munch munch…

Children: Oh, it's delicious…

Children: Hey! Can I take some of these sweets home for my younger brothers too?

Lono: Of course.

Lono: By the way… Please tell your neighbors that we're handing out sweets here.

Lono: "A Valentine's gift from the Grosvenor family."

Children: Yeah···! Thank you, big brother!

People in town: Somehow… it seems okay to eat.

People in town: Oh, maybe I'll get one too…

People in town: Me too···! I want to feed my child sweets.

Lono: Yes, yes! There's no need to panic!

Lono: Because there's lots of sweets. Just get in line and take it one by one!

-A few minutes later-

Lono: Hehehe. It looks like everyone has come together nicely, master.

Choice: ➣There's a huge crowd…

Lono: Yeah. That just means there are a lot of hungry people.

Lono: I'm so glad I made so many. I owe it all to the Grosvenor.

Lono: Everyone, feel free to eat it! All of this is a gift from the Grosvenor family!

???: Hm···. The Grosvenor family is giving alms in this town…?

Finlay: That's it. This is my first time hearing it.

Lono: Geez! Ah, you…

Choice: ➣Mr. Finlay…

Chapter 2

Finlay: Greetings, Master of the Demon Butlers.

Finlay: And… I think your name was Lono-kun…

Lono: Th-thanks very much… Mr. Finlay.

Mr. Finlay is surrounded by strong soldiers who keep a constant watchful eye over his surroundings.

The presence of the guards silently exerting pressure on the surroundings… It seemed to represent the dignity of the head of the Grosvenor family.

Lono: Well… Why are you in a place like this?

Finlay: Even though it's "a place like this," it's still part of the city I rule. I sometimes pass by to inspect the place.

Finlay: There was an unusual crowd of people there, so I got off, curious.

Finlay: Who would have thought that charitable activities were being carried out in the name of the Grosvenor family? I never expected that.

Finlay: Hmm…. It looks like you're handing out a lot of sweets…

Finlay: Where is this budget coming from? Can you explain that to me, Lono?

Choice: ➣Lono…

Lono: …

Lono: Yeah. Of course, I'll explain it in detail.

Lono: Now that the party preparations are complete… With the extra time I had, I decided to hand out sweets to the people in town.

Lono: Of course, the budget was provided by the Grosvenor family. It will also be stated on the invoice.

Lono: There's also a photo here. If you like, would you like to see it?

Finlay: Hmm… Apparently, it even has my signature on it.

Finlay: However, the decision was made without examining the contents. Because I trust you.

Finlay: I understand your desire to do some charity work for the people of the town, but…

Finlay: Using other people's money for purposes other than those intended… Don't you think that's a breach of trust?

Lono: It's just a word… Mr. Finlay.

Lono: The sweets were not only handed out to the townspeople.

Lono: It's also to increase people's trust for the Grosvenor family.

Finlay: People's trust?

Lono: Yes. For the nobility, sweets may have been commonplace, but…

Lono: For the people in the slums… It's a memory that will last a lifetime.

Lono: The children here… I'm sure they'll never forget the taste of today's sweets, even when they grow up.

Lono: And···. And also for the favor to the Grosvenor family.

Lono: Even when times are tough, they won't abandon us and will help us out. If you have that sense of trust…

Lono: Like the Sardis family… You will not be abandoned by people.

Finlay: …

People in town: Hey, hey… There's a well-dressed person over there…

People in town: Maybe… A member of the Grosvenor family?

People in town: That's right… I'm sure it was that person who gave us these sweets.

People in town: Thank you, thank you… This is the mercy of the Grosvenor family…

People in town: Long live the Grosvenor family!! Glory to the Grosvenor family!!

The people around us were all singing praises for the Grosvenor family.

"These activities were all Lono's idea…"

As I was thinking about that…

I watched the situation with mixed emotions.

Finlay: ······I see. A memory that will last a lifetime, huh…?

Finlay: As someone who is responsible for the people's taxes… Easy handouts for the sake of popularity should be strictly discouraged…

Finlay: If it brings them true happiness… That's not a bad idea, is it?

Finlay: That's okay, Lono. Please continue this activity.

Finlay: If the budget is insufficient, you can ask for extra. However···.

Finlay: Next time, please ask beforehand. If you trust me, that is.

Lono: Y-yes…! I'll be careful next time.

Finlay waved his hands in response to the cheers of the people, and then…

He returned to the parked carriage.

Lono: Huh~.

Lono: I'm so tired…

Lono: It's nerve-wracking to talk to important people… Mr. Berrien and his team always have to go through all these difficult times…

Choice: ➣But Lono was cool too.

Lono: I-Is that so? Hehe, not really.

Lono: And anyway! Let's give away the remaining sweets!

Lono: Come on! There's still plenty left, so eat as much as you like!

-after a while -

Lono: Alright! I've finished handing them all out.

Lono: Hehehe. Thank you master for helping me too.

Lono: The townspeople were overjoyed!

Choice: ➣The credit goes to the Grosvenor family, though.

Lono: Yeah. But that's fine.

Lono: It's not like I'm doing it because I want someone to praise me.

Lono: Even if no one knows… As long as I can see the smiles on the children's faces, that's all I need!

Lono: Ah… Maybe "even if no one knows" is an exaggeration.

Lono: I just want the people who are important to me to understand me…

Lono: …If only my master would know…

Choice: ➣Me?

Lono: Hehe! Sorry.

Lono: I feel so happy… I blurted out something strange!

Lono: Well then! Well, shall we head back now?

Choice: ➣I agree

-Now-

"That happened," I thought as I flipped through the wine catalogue.

To Lono, who treated me so well at the pre-party… Now it's my turn to entertain him.

I'll cook a meal for him myself… Carefully select the wine that I think will go well with the dish.

And Lono… I invited him over for a small dinner.

I'm so happy to be with him… To convey it in the form of a gift…

[Central party venue]

Knock Knock

Choice: ➣Please

Lono: Excuse me! Master.

Lono: As I said, I came all the way here alone.

Lono: Huh? Master, this is…

Lono: Maybe… Are all the dishes cooked by master?

Choice: ➣And please take this wine.

Lono: This wine… for me…?

Lono: Seriously? Ah, thank you!

Lono: Oh my… I'm so happy.

Lono: You've done so much for me.

Lono: Thank you···. It must have been difficult…

Choice: ➣Seeing Lono's smile is enough

Lono: Master….

Lono: Hehehe. If you like this face, I'll show it to you anytime!

Lono: Just being close to master… I can smile naturally.

Lono: So master too… Please continue to show me lots of smiles.

Lono: It's such a joy to make someone smile…

Lono: Among them, I… I love your smile the most.

Choice: ➣Lono…

Lono: I'm sorry… We've been talking a lot lately.

Lono: Even though my master had prepared a home-cooked meal for me…

Choice: ➣Try it now

Lono: Yes…! Well then, let's have it!

-after a while-

Lono: Huh~. ➣It was delicious.

Choice: ➣I'm glad you liked it

Lono: Yes! It was seriously awesome!

Lono: Not only did I get to enjoy master home-cooked meal, but I also got to enjoy wine that master chose for me…

Lono: Is it okay for me to be this happy?

Choice: ➣Why?

Lono: …Ah. Sorry for saying something strange.

Lono: I was remembering what happened in the slums the other day. How blessed I am compared to those people.

Lono: Not only can you eat your fill of delicious food… I'm so grateful to have such a kind master by my side.

Choice: ➣…I think Lono is kinder.

Lono: Eh… Ah, master…

Lono is not just about him and the people around him.

He is always concerned about the people, even those in unfamiliar towns.

I thought of him as a kind person from the bottom of my heart.

Choice: ➣I really admire you, Lono.

Lono: Um… well… The···.

Lono: Ah, hahaha… When I get praised like that, I feel a bit embarrassed…!

Lono: But… I'm so happy to hear that from master…

Lono: Me… When I was a kid, I was always hungry.

Lono: There were hardly any kind adults around. That's why I've always thought that.

Lono: When I grow up… I'm was sure I'll grow up to be a good adult…

Lono: That's why···. When master called me "kind"…

Lono: I felt like I had kept the promise I made as a child. I'm very happy.

Lono: And…

Choice: ➣…and?

Lono: Hehe… To have the person most important to me tell me they respect me…

Lono: I couldn't be more pleased!

Lono: Hehe… My body is getting a little hot…

Lono: Sorry···! The wine was so good I think I drank a bit too much.

With his cheeks turning a little red… Lono is smiling broadly, expressing his joy.

Seeing the happy look on his face, I too…

That I was able to make someone important to me happy… I felt happy.

𝓔𝓝𝓓

Masterlist

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK - Card Story] Butler's wedding

Masterlist

Warm family

Chapter 1

※Please note before reading the butler story: This story contains spoilers for the "Butler's wedding" event story.

We recommend that you read up to episode 11 of the event story before reading this.

If you wish to avoid spoilers, please return using the button at the top left.

…

A few days later, the butlers began preparing for photo session.

I'm happy to say that everyone is looking forward to shooting with me.

Moreover… from what I've heard… it seems they're making some kind of big preparations.

To be honest, I wondered if it was really worth the trouble…

Well, anyway…

I'm glad that all the butlers are looking forward to being photographed with me.

I also wanted to do what I could to help with the filming.

[Devil's Palace, Private Room]

One morning…

Lono: Master, may I come in?

Choice: ➣Please ➣Okay

Gacha

Lono: Excuse me!

Lono: Good morning, master.

Choice: ➣Lono, that outfit…

Lono: Yes! This is the wedding outfit I will wear for the photo shoot.

Choice: ➣Why are you wearing it?

Lono: We haven't started filming yet though…

Lono: I'm currently having Flure adjust my costume.

Choice: ➣That's right

Lono: Yes!

Lono: I finally got around to wearing it…

Lono: If I go to see master like this… I was wondering how you would react…

Choice: ➣It suits you ➣Very cool

Lono: Hehe, is that so? Thank you!

Lono: It gives me confidence to hear that from master!

Lono: Oops…that's right. I came to tell master something important.

Choice ➣Something important…?

Lono: This is sudden, but would you mind coming with me?

[Devil's Palace Backyard]

Lono: Come on, master. We arrived!

Choice: ➣Is this a shooting venue…?

Lono: Yes.

Looking around the venue… The decorations are more luxurious than when I first saw it.

There are more decorative flowers… It was an even more wonderful venue.

Lono: I can't believe that you're going to be my partner. I can't believe I'm going to be taking wedding photos…

Lono: I never even dreamed of it.

Lono: Somehow, standing here like this…

Lono: It seems like we are really getting married.

Lono: Well, just take a look at the venue… What did you think?

Choice: ➣I think it's very nice! ➣Very nice!

Lono: Hehe, I'm honored to hear you say that, master.

Lono: As you can see, the venue is almost ready!

Lono: But… There are two more important preparations left.

Choice: ➣Two preparations…?

Lono: That's···. Well…

Lono: It's preparation for becoming a real lover.

Choice: ➣Huh? A real lover?

Lono: Ah, it's all about the atmosphere.

Lono: Once those two preparations are complete… It's almost like we're about to get married…

Lono: All the butlers thought that this would make a great photo.

Choice: ➣I see···

Lono: The first preparation…

Lono: "Living together with master."

Choice: ➣L-l-living together?!

Lono: That would be surprising.

Lono: What if someone suddenly asked you to live together? Even I am surprised.

Lono: Of course, even if we say living together…

Lono: All you have to do is spend a few hours in a romantic setting.

Choice: ➣I-I was shocked…

Lono: And the second thing is…

Lono: It's me saying, "I pledge my love to you, Master."

Choice: ➣Ah, a vow of love?!

Lono: Those are the two remaining preparations…

Lono: Well… The butlers decided on their own.

Lono: Master, isn't this a bother?

Lono: Please feel free to decline.

Choice: ➣… ➣(What should I do…)

However, after hearing the story from Lono… I was glad to hear everyone's feelings…

I had the same desire to make the shoot a good one.

I want to cooperate with everyone too…

Lono: …

Choice: ➣I would like to cooperate with you ➣I think I'll try it

Lono: Oh, is it true?

Choice: ➣I want to make the shoot better too

Lono: Thank you! Hehe….

Lono: Well then, without further ado…

Lono: We will guide you to a place where you can experience cohabitation!

Choice: ➣Living together starts today ➣Hey, right now is too sudden.

Lono: Yes! I think momentum is important in this kind of situation…

Choice: ➣By the way, where are we living together?

Lono: The owner of the store… It looks like they'll lend us their house studio.

Lono: The kitchen and bathroom are also equipped… It seems like you can live there comfortably.

Choice: ➣Wow, that's amazing… ➣You lent it to me very well.

Lono: The owner seems to be very enthusiastic about it…

Lono: Hehe, looking forward to it!

Chapter 2

[House Studio]

A few hours later… Me and Lono came over to the house studio.

Lono: Well then, master. I've already put my luggage away…

Lono: Thank you very much.

Choice: ➣You're welcome ➣Thank you

Lono: By the way, this house studio is free to use for as long as you like.

Lono: I'll take advantage of thier kindness and put it to good use!

Lono: Of course, I'll only be using it for a few hours…

Lono: That's right. I forgot to tell you one thing.

Lono: As I told you… The purpose of this experience is to create an atmosphere for couples about to get married.

Lono: That's why···. The···.

Lono: I will call you Master William.

Lono: It's a little strange to call the person you're going to marry "master."

Choice: ➣Isn't it weird to add "sama"?

Lono: Oh, that's… That's right.

Lono: O-okay then… Just for this time…

Lono: I'll call you [name].

Choice: ➣It's kind of fresh…

Lono: Sigh… I'm starting to feel a little nervous.

Lono: W-well then… [name].

Lono: Let's get started right away.

And so, Lono and I began living together.

Lono: It's almost lunchtime.

Lono: [name]. Are you hungry?

Choice: ➣I'm hungry!

Lono: Is that so.

Lono: Actually, I was hungry too.

Lono: It seems like there are all the cooking utensils in the kitchen… The rest is ingredients.

Lono: Well then, me. I'm going to go buy it quickly now…

Lono: …it wasn't.

Choice: ➣Yeah? ➣What happened?

Lono: Well…

Lono: Do you want to go shopping together?

Lono: Hey, look! Right now, we're set as a couple about to get married…

Lono: We talked about what we wanted to eat… I thought maybe it would be okay to go shopping…

Choice: ➣I want to go! ➣Yeah, let's go together

Lono: So let's get ready right away.

After leaving the house studio, Lono and I arrived at the market in town.

Lono: The market is bustling with people today.

Then, Lono leaned his face close to my ear and whispered.

Lono: Many people in town know that I'm a demon butler…

Lono: In crowded places, I avoid calling you by your name.

Lono: It would be bad if some strange misunderstanding were to arise and cause trouble for William.

Lono: Is that okay?

Choice: ➣Oh, I understand… ➣Yeah

Lono: Thank you. Well, shall we get going now?

Lono: There are a lot of people… Shall we hold hands so we don't get separated?

Choice: ➣No, that would be a misunderstanding.

Lono: Even if it's a joke, it's a joke.

Lono: I was wondering how you would react if I asked you to hold my hand.

Choice: ➣I was shocked.

Lono: Hehe, sorry. I'm feeling a bit high today…

Lono: Here we go. Please don't stray from my side.

Then, Rono and I started walking through the market.

They sell a variety of food items

Lono: If you come to this market you can find almost anything you want.

Lono: Is there anything you want to eat for lunch?

Lono: If you have a request, I'll make anything!

When Lono said that to me, I wasn't sure how to respond.

When I'm at the mansion, I always have Lono make food for me…

I felt kind of sorry to have him make it for me at a time like this.

Also, we're currently set as a couple about to get married.

Choice: ➣Then I…

Lono: Huh? What's wrong? Are you worried about something?

Choice: ➣Hey, Lono…

Lono: Y-yes…

Chaice: ➣I want to cook with you today

Lono: Huh…? Is that okay?

Choice: ➣Because I'm always grateful for your help.

Lono: You don't need to worry about that…

Lono: But···.

Lono: Hehe, thank you very much.

Lono: So let's make it together today!

Choice ➣Tell me what Lono wants to eat

Lono: Me?

Choice: ➣Because you always put me first

Lono: Got it.

Lono: I agree···. Well then…

-After a while -

After we finished shopping, we started cooking together.

Simmering…

Lono: [name]. Can I have a bit of salt please?

Choice: Here you are

Lono: Hehe, thank you very much.

Lono: Now, how does the soup taste?

Lono: Yeah, it's delicious.

Lono: Could you also give it a taste, [name]?

Saying that, Lono put the spoon in front of my mouth.

Choice: ➣(Wait, do you mean open your mouth?)

I was embarrassed and not sure what to do

Lono hurriedly took the spoon from my mouth back to his own hand.

Lono: I-I see…

Lono: It would be confusing if it was handed to you suddenly.

(Maybe Lono got embarrassed and calmed down too)

Lono: Sorry, I didn't notice…

Lono: The soup was still hot.

Choice: ➣Huh?

Lono: If I keep doing this… [Name's] tongue is going to get burned.

Choice: ➣(Worried about getting burned?!)

Lono: It will cool down soon. Please wait a moment.

Lono turned his face away from the spoon and blew out a sigh.

Lono: Ok, I think this is just right.

Lono: Well then, [name].

Lono: Please do that.

I tried to suppress my embarrassment and let Lono feed me.

Lono: What do you think?

Choice: ➣Oh, it's delicious…

Lono: Hehe. That was good.

Lono: …

Lono: This is a bit embarrassing after all…

Lono: Well, now…! Well, the cooking is finished now…

Lono: Let's eat it before it gets cold.

-1 hour later -

After we finished eating, we both washed the dishes.

As the two of us were chatting away, Lono went quiet for a moment and muttered something softly.

Lono: I kind of like this…

Choice: ➣Huh?

Lono: Well… Sorry, all of a sudden…

Lono: What I was thinking just came out in words…

Lono: I really enjoyed spending time with [name].

Lono: It was so warm…

Lono: If I could live such a happy life…

Lono: I want to keep doing this for days.

Choice: ➣Lono…

Lono: Sorry! Oh man, what am I talking about?

Lono: Even though we are living together to create the right atmosphere… Well, that was a bit much…

Choice: ➣Thank you ➣I'm glad you said that

Lono Mr.\Ms. [Name]…

Lono: Um, well… Um, shall we go back to the mansion now?

Lono: I actually want to spend more time with you, but…

Lono: It's getting dark soon…

Choice: ➣Oh, that's right ➣Yeah···

-A few hours later -

After finishing our cohabitation experience, Lono and I returned to the mansion.

It's already dark outside.

Lono: It's already night.

Lono: I have plans for a few hours… I'm so sorry.

Lono: Ah, uh… How was living with me?

Choice: ➣It was so much fun ➣I was happy

Lono: Hehe, I see.

Lono: I was also happy to spend time with master.

Lono: Well… The first one took quite a bit of time though…

Lono: Let's carry out the second preparation as well.

Lono: Next up is…

Lono: "I pledge my love to you, master."

Lono: Well then, Lord.

Lono: I'll change into my wedding clothes.

Choice: ➣Huh? You're going to bother changing your clothes?

Lono: Yes, of course!

Lono: Even though it's just to create an atmosphere, I'm serious about it.

Lono: Could you just wait here for a little while?

Lono: I'll be back soon.

-after a while -

Lono: Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Lono: Well, please come this way.

Lono: Well, here we are.

Lono took me to the backyard.

However, the atmosphere was slightly different from daytime.

The candles are lit… It's a very romantic place.

Choice: ➣Beautiful… ➣Amazing···

Lono: I prepared this to make a vow of love.

Lono: Do you like it?

Lono: Well then, Mr./Ms. [Name].

Lono: Would you please hear my vow of love?

Choice: ➣Yeah ➣Yes…

Lono: [name] like….

Lono: I've always loved master.

Lono: This is the first time I've ever met someone I want to cherish so much.

Lono: I'm sure we can build a warm family.

Lono: How many years, how many decades from now…

Lono: I promise to cherish [name] until the day I die!

Lono: And…!

Lono: Cooking delicious food every day…

Lono: I will make [name] very happy!

Lono: Let's make lots of fun memories together.

Lono: I love you.

Lono: Will you marry me?

Lono: Ummm… how is it?

Choice: ➣I'm very happy ➣Thank you, Lono

Lono: Hehe, I'm glad to hear you say that, master.

Lono: But… This… is so embarrassing.

Lono: Hmm… And…

Lono: Even though it was just to create the right atmosphere, I think I got a little too emotionally involved.

Lono: Master… I'm sorry, but…

Lono: Please keep what I just said a secret between me and you.

Lono: If the other butlers find out… I feel kind of embarrassed…

Choice: ➣Understood ➣It's my secret with Lono.

Lono: Thank you.

Lono: Hehe….

Lono: Somehow… I feel like I've become closer to [name] again.

Lono: …

Lono: Well, now we are… Well, well… from the perspective of those around me…

Lono: I wonder if we look like real lovers…

Lono: What… Sorry, I had a strange fantasy…

Lono: But I'm very happy now.

Lono: Okay… Now two preparations are complete.

Lono: Thank you for your continued support over such a long period of time.

Choice: ➣Thank you to you too

Lono: This is sure to make some amazing wedding photos!

Choice: ➣I agree ➣Yeah!

𝓔𝓝𝓓

Masterlist

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK - Card Story] Butler's Summer

Masterlist

His Selfishness

Chapter 1

※Please note before reading the Butler story: This story contains spoilers for the "Butler's summer" event story.

We recommend that you read up to episode 12 of the event story before reading this.

If you wish to avoid spoilers, please return using the button at the top left.

…

Here is

This is a resort area in the central region. Velis, the city of water.

A grand festival is being held in the capital, with the nobles invited.

In order to protect the nobles who were enjoying the festival… My butlers and I were all visiting the resort.

And after the security job was completed successfully…

We… were going to be able to stay here for a little while longer.

-One afternoon-

I was resting in the shade of a tree on the private beach…

Lono: Um, master! May I have a moment?

Choice: ➣Lono, what's wrong?

Lono: Hehe… Actually, there's something I'd like to show you, master.

Choice: What do you want to show me?

Lono: It's a little far from here… If you'd like, could you come with me?

Choice: ➣Understood

Lono: Good! Thank you, master.

Lono: Well then, follow me. Hehe…

With a happy-looking Lono leading the way, we walked along the coast for a while…

A short distance away there was a small sandy beach surrounded by rocks.

Choice: ➣Here…

Lono: Hehehe…! How was it, were you surprised?

Lono: It's surrounded by rocks and can't be seen from the outside. It truly is a "secret beach"!

Choice: ➣Awesome! You found it!

Lono: Hehe…. Actually, I didn't discover it, someone told me about it.

Lono: I became really good friends with a local chef and he taught me how to get here.

Choice ➣He's a good person

Lono: Yes! We got excited talking about cooking and just hit it off…

Lono: We exchanged recipes and things like that… And in the process, I learned about this beach.

Choice: ➣As expected of Lono…

Lono: Ishishi! Is it too early to be impressed?

Lono: There's actually something else I want to show you, Master. Now, please put this on.

Choice: ➣Huh? This is…

Lono: Underwater goggles! This will help you keep your eyes open even underwater.

Lono: Well then, I'll show you around. Please follow me.

Splash

Choice: ➣Huh!? Lono…?

Lono: Puh…! Phew, the water temperature feels just right!

Lono: Come on, master! It's this way.

Choice: ➣Huh, isn't it deep?

Lono: It's okay! I will be right there by your side!

Lono: Come on, master. It feels good in the ocean!

Choice: ➣Uh, yeah…I see.

I did as Lono urged me… I went into the sea.

Lono: Hehehehe. Does it feel good, master?

Choice: ➣Yeah, it feels really good

Lono: That’s right! Well then, please follow me.

Lono: What I want to show you is below.

Choice: ➣Below here?

Lono: Yes! Well, the rest is just for fun when you see it for yourself.

Lono: Okay then, master, I'm going to dive in just a little bit. If you're scared, you can hold my hand.

Choice: ➣Oh, I understand…

Lono: Let's go! Redy, go!….

Splash…

At Lono's signal, we dived into the ocean together… There…

Beautiful coral reefs and colorful fish It was a moving scenery.

Choice: ➣(beautiful…)

…

Splash…

Lono: Phew…! How was it, master?

Lono: It was so beautiful right?

Choice: ➣Indeed···

Lono: Hehe, that was good~♪ I wanted to show this to master!

Lono: I wanted to surprise my master… Kept it a secret from all the other butlers.

Lono: That's why… This was a surprise gift from me!

Lono: Hehe… Do you like it?

Choice: ➣I'm very happy

Lono: To hear the master say that… makes me glad I came.

Lono: All the fatigue from the day was blown away. Isshishi…

Lono: Ouch! Well then, my master, this is a secret beach after all…

Lono: Just a little more… Would you like to come and play together?

Choice: ➣Nice!

Lono: Ishishi! I have to go there!

And then, Lono and I…

On a secret beach where no one else was around, we spent time alone together.

Chapter 2

Lono: Phew! The sea is definitely great!

Choice: ➣Yeah… that's really true…

Lono: Huh? Master, are you tired?

Choice: ➣Just a little bit…

Lono: Well, that's not surprising. Playing in the ocean takes a lot of energy.

Lono: Well then… Should we head back to private beach soon?

Choice: ➣Yeah ➣I agree

Lono: Ah, that's right…master.

Lono: The water around here is only about chest height…

Lono: Let's just walk through the ocean and go home.

Choice: ➣Into the sea?

Lono: Yes. If you go over there from here you can get back to the private beach.

Lono: Okay then, master.

Lono: From the back… Can you put your arms around my neck?

Choice: ➣Huh?

Lono: All you have to do is cling to me and float.

Lono: I'll take you to the beach where the villa is.

Choice: ➣Isn't it hard to walk in the sea?

Lono: It's okay, master.

Lono: It also serves as a great workout for my legs!

Choice: ➣But…

Lono: Oh, and…

Lono: That's something I'd really like you to do…

Choice: ➣Lono…?

Lono: And anyway!

Lono: Master… Now, put your hands around my neck.

Lono bent over and turned his back to me.

I feel bad turning down someone who is being so kind to me…

In the end, I decided to accept his kindness.

Choice: ➣Well then…

Lono: Yes! Make sure you hold on tight!

As Lono told me, I put my arms around his neck.

His back in front of me looks very strong. His neck and shoulders are muscular.

Lono: Well then, master. Let's move on.

Lono: It's okay for you to keep your feet up in the air, Master.

I did as I was told and took my feet off the ocean.

Lono started walking slowly. My body also moved forward.

Lono: Master… Please move closer so that your face is touching my shoulder.

Lono: This will create less resistance to the water… It will be easier on your arm, master.

Choice: ➣I understand… ➣That's right···

His face was so close I could almost hear his breathing.

Choice: ➣(I'm so nervous…)

My heart was beating faster than it had ever been before.

If I pressed my upper body against Lono's back…

Lono could tell that I was nervous.

That's what I thought… He assumed a tense position so as not to press his body too close.

Lono: Um… master. You can make it easier.

Lono: Master, please relax… and entrust your body to me.

Choice: ➣But…

Lono: And…

Lono: There's no need to worry so much, master.

Lono: Perhaps···. I'm just as nervous as you are…

Choice: ➣Huh…?

Lono: Actually… My heart is pounding right now too…

At that time… I noticed it for the first time.

His ears and cheeks were red.

I couldn't see his expression from behind, but…

When I realized that Lono was also nervous… I also relaxed a little…

I felt safe and was able to entrust my body to him.

With me still on his back, he moved through the ocean.

Lono was up to his chest in seawater.

Choice: ➣Lono, aren't you tired?

Lono: I'm not tired yet!

Lono: There's no need to worry, master.

Choice: ➣Thank you, Lono

Lono: No, no.

Then for a while… The two of us didn't say a word.

It was as if we were savoring this moment together.

And···. We continued walking in silence for a while…

We were approaching the private beach where everyone was.

Lono: …master. We'll be there soon.

Choice: ➣I agree···

Lono: Is it already over…?

Lono sighed softly and suddenly stopped walking.

Choice: ➣What happened?

Lono: …master. I…

Lono: Just a little more… I want to be alone with my master…

Lono: That's what I was thinking. Haha, that's no good.

Lono: For a butler like me to say something like this…

Choice: ➣I'm happy…I…

Lono: Huh? Master…?

Choice: ➣I want to be with Lono too.

Lono: Ah, master…

Choice: ➣Let's stay like this for a little while longer

Lono: ···yes! Okay, master!

Hearing Lono's happy voice… made me very happy too.

But, I can't stay in this position forever.

Choice: ➣I can walk now

Lono: No! Let's leave it like this for a little while longer…

Choice: ➣Huh…?

Lono: Um, well… The···.

Lono: Walking side by side together… You can always chat with me though…

Lono: Hey, like this… A chance to get closer to the master…

Lono: Because it may never happen again.

Hearing that made me gasp.

What an opportunity to feel Lono's heartbeat on his back like this… There's no guarantee there will be a next time.

He risk his live every day fighting angels.

I don't even want to think about it… If this is my last summer with Lono…

If you think so, me too… I wanted to stay like this for a little longer.

Choice: ➣…Thank you, Lono

Lono: That···. Can we just keep watching the sunset for a little while longer?

Choice: ➣Y-yeah…

Lono: Thank you.

The sun slowly sinks beyond the horizon…

Looking over Lono's shoulder at the setting sun…

To me, the scenery seemed more fleeting than usual… and much more sad.

I wish this moment could last forever…

𝓔𝓝𝓓

Masterlist

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK - Card Story] Birthday card story

Masterlist

 I Want to Be Loved

Chapter 1

-The day before Lono's birthday-

This is the season when the sun gets stronger and the flowers in the garden become more vibrant.

Lono's birthday was coming up tomorrow.

This year's birthday… I've already decided what to give to the butlers.

A ring to wear on the pinky finger… It's a pinky ring.

Wearing a ring on the pinky finger of the left hand… It is said to have the meaning of "preventing happiness from escaping."

Once I learned what that meant, I immediately did something for Lono… I prepared a ring set with a small orange moonstone.

And then I prepared the situation to give him the ring… I wrote a letter to Lono.

"Let's have dinner together on your birthday."

After the butlers had gone to bed… I left the letter in front of the door to the butler's office on the first floor.

I'm looking forward to Lono's reaction when he reads the letter. That day, I fell asleep.

-Lono's birthday-

Knock…

Lono: Master, is it alright if I come in?

Choice: ➣Please ➣Okay

Gacha

Lono: Good morning, master!

Choice: ➣That costume…

Lono: Yes, this is… This year's birthday outfit was made by Flure!

Lono: What do you think? Does it suit me?

Choice: ➣It suits you very well ➣It's so nice

Lono: Ishishi… Thank you, master!

Lono: Oh, that's dangerous… I almost forgot about my errands…

Choice: ➣What errand?

Lono: Yes, that is… It's the letter that the master gave me!

Lono: Master! Thank you for your wonderful letter!

Lono: By the way, this letter said…

Lono: "Let's have dinner together on your birthday." What do you mean…?

Choice: ➣Thats···

I explained the situation to him.

Today is the day for Lono… I want to go out somewhere with him and enjoy his birthday.

To finish off the trip, I would like to enjoy dinner together…

And for dinner, we decided on a place together that we wanted to go to.

I told him that since it was his birthday, he should enjoy himself and not hold back.

Choice: ➣Don't worry, enjoy your birthday ➣Have fun at your favorite place, Lono

Lono: Well, don't be shy… Enjoy without worrying, right?

Choice: ➣Yeah, that's right ➣I want to hear Lono's wish.

Lono: Master…

Lono: Hehe, got it!

Lono: Just for today, in my special day… I'll let you indulge in my master!

Lono: Hmm, even so… Is that my wish…?

Lono: …

Lono: …Um, my master. That's just my wish though…

Lono: Is it okay if the content is a little self-indulgent?

Choice: ➣Of course ➣I'll make it happen as much as I can

Lono: Hehe…. Thank you!

Lono: In that case, I… I want to go on a picnic with you.

Lono: And then… There…

Lono: I want to eat a lunch… That master will made

Choice: ➣Lunch I made?

Lono: Sorry! After all, I was too selfish!

Choice: ➣I don't think it's selfish but…

Lono: Huh…? Well then…

Choice: ➣I'll try making lunch

Lono: Master…

Lono: Ishishi…! I did it!

Lono: Thank you for listening to my selfish request… Thank you, master!

Lono: I can't believe I got to eat my master's home-cooked food. I'm really looking forward to it!

In this way, I… I decided to make lunch for Lono.

[Lake near the mansion]

-after a while-

After making the lunch… We were having a picnic by the lake.

It's July, so it's a little hot, but there's a gentle breeze and the weather is pleasant.

Lono: Ishishi… It's a beautiful sunny day today, perfect for a picnic!

Lono: Master! Go ahead and sit on this blanket!

Choice: ➣Understood ➣Thank you, Lono

I sat down on the blanket in the shade of the tree… and Lono sat down next to me.

Lono: …

Lono took the basket containing my lunch. He looks on restlessly.

Apparently, he couldn't help but be curious about my lunch.

Choice: ➣Shall we eat first?

Lono: Eh…

Lono: Haha…. I wonder if it was obvious that I was worried about basket.

Lono: Umm, then… Can I open the basket?

Choice: ➣Please ➣Open it, Lono.

Lono slowly opened the lid of the basket.

Lono: What's inside… Wow, a sandwich?!

Choice: ➣Sorry it's not a fancy dish.

Lono: No, that's not the case!

Lono: And this sandwich… I think it turned out really well!

Lono: There are many different kinds of fillings, such as cucumber and ham… The cross section is also beautiful…

Lono: The order in which you put things in the basket… You've put a lot of effort into making it more colorful, right?

Lono: This morning… I suddenly asked you to make me lunch…

Lono: Thank you for making such a delicious looking sandwich!

Choice: ➣Lono…

Lono: Umm, master… Can I try this sandwich right away?

Lono: To be honest···. I can't wait to eat it now…

Choice: ➣Go ahead and try it. ➣Shall we eat together?

Lono: Hehe, then…

Lono: ···I'll enjoy having this!

Choice: ➣I'll enjoy having this

Lono grabbed a slice of sandwich and took a big bite.

Lono: Munch munch

Lono: Heh, heh….

Lono: Master, this sandwich… is so delicious!

Lono: The seasoning itself is simple, but… I feel happy when I eat it.

Lono: Anyway, I… I'm so happy to be able to eat the master's home-cooked food!

Lono: I thought maybe it was too selfish to ask my master to make me a lunch box…

Lono: I'm glad I took the plunge and asked.

Lono: I was actually thinking of going to a restaurant in town, but…

Lono: Today I wanted to focus on the master.

Choice ➣Focus on me…?

Lono: …Yes, that's right.

Lono: As the master knows… Well, I love cooking…

Lono: When I go to a restaurant… I'm always thinking about food.

Lono: As the mansion's cook, that may be fine, but…

Lono: But today… It's my birthday after all…

Lono: It's not about cooking… I just wanted to think about my precious Master.

Lono: So I… I invited you to a picnic.

Lono: Then I can think only of my master. I can concentrate only on my precious Master.

Choice: ➣Lono…

Lono: After···. This is an embarrassing story, but…

After Lono's eyes wandered for a bit… he turned to me and spoke.

Lono: Like I said before, I… When I go to a restaurant, all I can think about is the food.

Lono: I didn't want to show this to the master.

Lono: I'm not a typical butler… There are many butlers in the mansion who are stronger than me.

Lono: So at the very least, I want to soothe my master with the cooking I'm best at… There's no lie in that feeling…

Lono: Sometimes I just want to see myself when I'm not thinking about cooking… I thought I wanted the master to see it.

Lono: I am… Even if I don't have any special powers,

Lono: …The master is the most important thing.

Lono: That's why···. For me, well…

Lono: About me, excluding the cooking… I would be happy if you could think of me, master.

Choice: ➣Oh, um…

Although Lono had an embarrassed look on his face, he told me his thoughts honestly.

After Lono confessed his secret feelings to me… I was confused, but I felt my face getting hot.

Lono: …I'm sorry, master.

Choice ➣Huh?

Lono: I… I was speaking completely forgetting my position as a butler.

Lono: Because of my words… I'm really sorry for causing you trouble.

Choice ➣I'm not in troubled

Lono: Huh…?

Choice ➣I was happy about Lono's feelings.

To Lono, who told me his honest feelings… I also told him how I felt.

Not only can Lono cook, but he has a bright, caring personality and is wonderful.

That's the kind of person I care about deeply…

I just told him.

Lono: Ah, master…

Lono: Heh, heh…. Thank you, master.

Lono: To think that someone thinks of me like that… I'm so happy.

Lono: I just now… I told my master that I don't want them to think of me as a man who only cooks…

Lono: I myself thought of myself as a "man who only cooks".

Lono: I made a conscious effort to forget about cooking…

Lono: Every time I see mushrooms or parsley, the faces of the other butlers come to mind… In the end, it makes me think of cooking…

Lono: That's the kind of person I am.

Choice ➣It seems like Lono is a caring person. ➣I think it's nice and typical of Lono.

"He's very caring and always tries to make someone happy… That's what's great about Lono."

I told Lono, who was still embarrassed.

Lono: That's amazing, my master.

Lono: Until just now, I… The master was important to me…

Lono: Now···. It has become even more important!

Lono: To such a precious master… I feel like cooking!

Lono had a smile on his face, but then he turned to me with a serious look in his eyes.

Lono: Master. Today is my birthday so…

Lono: Just one more thing… Can you grant my selfish wish?

Lono: We had promised to have dinner together tonight, but…

Lono: Let me make that dinner!

Lono: For my dear master… Would you let me cook for you?

Lono: Me, about my master… I want to make you happy with my own hands.

Lono stares intently into my eyes. From those eyes, his… The desire to "make someone important to you happy" was clearly conveyed.

And when I saw Lono like that… I, too, began to feel the desire to make him happy.

Choice ➣So, why don't we cook together?

Lono: Huh…? Does that mean me and my master will make it together?

Choice: ➣I want to make Lono happy too.

Lono: Ah, master…

Lono: Yes! Come and cook with me!

Lono: Hehe…! What should I do? I'm really looking forward to it!

Lono: Master! After your picnic, it's time to go grocery shopping!

Lono: Let's make lots of delicious things together!

Choice: ➣Yeah!

Chapter 2

[Espoir, the central land]

-after a while-

After finishing our picnic, we went shopping for ingredients for dinner. During the day, the streets are lively… It's hard to decide which store to visit first.

Choice ➣What should we go first, Lono?

Lono: Hmm, I guess so…

Lono: I want to buy meat and fish later, as they spoil easily… so I guess I'll start by looking at the vegetables!

Lono: Oh, look! Luckily there's a greengrocer there!

Lono: Huh…! All the vegetables look fresh and delicious.

Lono: These tomatoes are also nicely ripe… The paprika is also shiny…

Lono: …Ah.

Choice: ➣What's wrong, Lono?

I followed Lono's gaze and saw a large number of cucumbers lined up.

Speaking of cucumbers… They're also the ingredients I used in the sandwich I made earlier.

Choice: ➣Maybe Lono… ➣Do you want another sandwich?

Lono: Huh…!? No, that…

Lono: …Yes, that's right. I can't forget the taste of the sandwich I just had…

Choice ➣So, should I make it again?

Lono: No, but…

Lono: Then the dinner menu would be sandwiches, you know?

Lono: Although I will be making a few other dishes as well… We'll end up eating the same thing as for lunch though…

Choice ➣I don't mind ➣I want to make something that Lono wants to eat.

Lono: If you keep eating the same thing, your nutrition will become unbalanced. Hmm….

???: Hey, you! How long are you going to keep worrying about this?

Lono: Huh?

As Lono looked troubled, an old woman who seemed to be the owner of a greengrocer called out to him.

Greengrocer's owner: Don't sit there moping around in front of my store!

Greengrocer's owner: Basically, you want to eat your companion's cooking again!

Greengrocer's owner: Honestly, your worries sound too young for you! Just listening to it makes me sick!

Lono: Hmm, heartburn… Me and my master…

Greengrocer's owner: I don't know anything about your relationship with your partner!

Greengrocer's owner: I don't know if you're lovers, a couple, or friends… You're both younger than me, so eat a lot!

Greengrocer's owner: Look! I'll give you a free cucumber, so hurry up and go home!

Greengrocer's owner: Let's go home and get ready for dinner together!

With that, the greengrocer gave Lono a lot of other vegetables in addition to the cucumbers.

Lono: What! No matter what you do, I can't get this much!

Choice ➣Can we really have it?

Greengrocer's owner: Okay, okay! So please go home now!

Greengrocer's owner: You're both total novices! It reminds me of when my husband and I were younger!

With that, the store owner… disappeared into the back of the store.

Lono: Eh, haha…

[Devil's Palace Restaurant]

-That night-

After we finished shopping… the two of us cooked a lot of food.

That dish is now… They are lined up on the dining room table.

This restaurant is usually a place where I eat, but…

Lono: Hehe…. Still, we made a lot of them.

Lono: Salads, soups, meat dishes…

Lono: Plus, we have cucumber sandwiches!

Lono: Hehe…. I have to thank that greengrocer's lady!

Lono: Well then, master… Right away…

Lono: I'll enjoy having this!

Choice: ➣I'll enjoy having this!

And so, our… A fun dinner began.

Although there was a lot of food on the table… The first thing Lono tried was a cucumber sandwich.

-after a while -

Lono: Huh… Thank you for the meal!

Lono: Hehe… Every dish was delicious!

Lono: And… Every dish was fun to make.

Lono: Of course···. I usually enjoy cooking for my master, but…

Lono: I go shopping with my master and think about what to make… The time we spent cooking side by side was especially enjoyable.

Lono: …Thank you, master.

Lono: Lunch boxes, picnics, shopping… Cooking, and dinner time…

Lono: For me… It was a special time.

Lono: Thank you for giving me such a wonderful time… I had a very happy birthday!

Lono: That's why···. Thank you, master!

Lono: Being able to spend a day with someone special… Oh my, I was so happy!

Choice ➣Thank you, but… ➣I'm glad about Lono's feelings, but…

Lono: Yeah···? Master…?

Choice ➣The gift hasn't been given yet

Lono: Huh…?

Choice ➣Lono, put out your left hand.

I took a small box out of my pocket and opened the lid to show it to him.

The moment I opened the box… The orange moonstone set in the ring shines softly.

Lono: Master… What about that ring…?

Lono is confused… I told him everything.

I had decided to give Lono a pinky ring as a birthday present…

The reason is… This is because I wishes Lono's happiness to continue…

Among them all, I chose the one inlaid with orange moonstone…

Orange moonstone, which means "bringing brightness"…

To Lono, who supports me with his personality and his daily cooking…

What I thought was perfect. And, I wished for this orange moonstone to protect him.

I took out the pinky ring from the box. It was placed on the little finger of Lono's left hand.

Orange moonstone with its gentle hue It's perfect for Lono.

Choice ➣Happy birthday, Lono

Lono: Master…

Lono: Heh, heh….

Lono: Thank you, master…

Lono: Hehe, what should I do…

Lono: Now… I'm so happy.

Lono: I'm happy, and…

Lono: It's about my master… Furthermore, you have become important to me.

Lono: You are so precious, so important…

Lono: I want to support you for the rest of my life…

With that said, Lono… He clenched his left hand, which had a ring on it.

And then bring his fist in front of his chest… He covers it with his right hand as if wrapping something precious.

And so Lono lowered his eyes, immersed in his happiness… Finally, as if making up his mind, he spoke.

Lono: Master, I… I will continue to support you with all my might.

Lono: Absolutely···. I will absolutely support you for the rest of my life.

Lono: With my own hands, I will make my master happy… I will protect my master with my own hands.

Lono: I'm not a particularly strong butler, but…

Lono: About my master… Because they are the person I care about the most.

With that said, Lono… He looked serious and smiled.

That smile is powerful… It was very kind and warm.

𝓔𝓝𝓓

Masterlist

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK - Card Story] The way I chose to live

Masterlist

Chapter 1

-one day -

[Espoir, the central land]

Haures: Master. Today we will give you a detailed tour of the town of Espoir.

Haures: It's a very big city, so. It's probably difficult to see everything.

Choice: ➣Thank you

Muu: There are still so many places I haven't been to.

Muu: With Mr. Haures as our guide, we feel safe, master!

Haures: Well then, let's get started.

Thud…thud…thud…

Muu: Wow, it's a really big city.

Muu: There were a lot of people and I could see a lot of shops.

Haures: This is the largest city in the central region.

Haures: People from villages on the outskirts of the city also come to town to sell food and other goods.

Muu: Huh~. That's right.

Muu: I see. That's why even on a day like today when there are no events, there are still a lot of people there.

Haures: That's it.

Haures: Oh, I can see it now.

Haures: Master. This is the busiest market in the city.

Haures: If there's anything you need, you can usually find it in the stores around here.

Haures: That being said, perhaps master has been there before?

Choice ➣I've been here before ➣I came with Ammon and Nac.

Haures: Is that so? Master was with us shopping for the ball, after all.

Muu: Well…This is the market…

Muu: The road I just walked on…Hmmm.

Haures: Muu, did you remember correctly?

Muu: I'm taking notes now!

Muu: Yep, your route to market is now safe!

Choice ➣What is Muu doing? ➣What is the route to market?

Haures: Ah, I see. I'm sorry, I didn't tell you.

Haures: Today, I'm showing master around the town, and at the same time, I'm having Muu study to be a butler.

Choice: ➣Study?

Haures: Yes.

Haures: Muu has a system that allows you to walk around the city without getting lost. We need them to remember the geography of the city.

Muu: Still, I was surprised that the city was much bigger than I expected.

Muu: It's hard to remember all of this city's geography…

Haures: There's no need to rush.

Haures: If you try to force yourself to remember everything in one go, you'll end up feeling stressed and your efficiency will decrease.

Haures: Muu goes at his own pace. All you have to do is remember it little by little.

Muu: Mr. Howles.

Muu: Haha, that's true!

Muu: Thank you, Mr. Howles. I feel a little better!

Choice: ➣Good luck, Muu ➣I'm rooting for you

Muu: I'll do my best to remember!

Haures: Even so, Muu is so honest and helpful.

Muu: Are you honest?

Haures: This was a long time ago, but…

Haures: When Lono and Lamli were new recruits, it was a struggle to even teach them the geography of the city.

Haures: They don't even take notes properly

Haures: I guess you could say I go at my own pace, but I always give in to the temptations of the city.

Choice: ➣I can kind of imagine it ➣Looks like them

Haures: Well, compared to the past, Lono and Lamli have grown up.

Haures: Compared to the two of them back then, Mu is much easier to teach.

Muu: Hehe, I get embarrassed when you praise me like that.

Muu: So, will I get a reward from Haures today? Like sweets!

Haures: Come on, master. We will guide you to the next location.

Muu: Don't ignore it!

Haures: I'm not that naive, Muu.

Haures: Now, next…

Haures: …hm?

Muu: What's the matter, Mr. Howles? Is there something behind you?

Haures: …

Choice: ➣Haures?

Haures: Master. We're heading to our next location, but can we take a slight detour?

Haures: There are more and more people around, so let's walk around avoiding the crowds.

Choice: ➣If Haures says so… ➣Understood

Haures: Well, here it is.

[Espoir backstreets]

Muu: Once you get off the main street, it becomes much less busy.

Muu: But why the long detour?

Haures: …as expected.

Muu: What is it?

Haures: We are being followed.

Muu: Huh?

Muu: Maybe by a bad person?

Haures: No, that's not it.

Haures: It's the kids that are following us.

Chapter 2

[Espoir backstreets]

Haures: It's the kids that are following us.

Choice ➣Being followed by a child?

Haures: Yes. Ever since we entered the city, I felt people looking at me.

Haures: At first I thought they were just looking at us out of curiosity, so I didn't think much of it…

Haures: If you've come this far, there must be a reason.

Muu: The reason…

Haures: I don't want to scare you too much, but I can't help it.

Haures: Hey, I know you're hiding there.

Juvenile: …

Muu: The boy was really hiding!

Haures: What happened?

Haures: Is there something from us?

Choice: ➣It looks like he's looking down… ➣Why are you silent

Haures: Master. Please stay behind me for now.

Haures: There seems to be something going on with this kid.

Juvenile: …

Haures: Isn't there something you wanted to tell me that made you chase after me?

Juvenile: …Y-yes.

Juvenile: Well, I…

Juvenile: You are a demon butler…

Juvenile: I came to… hit you!

Haures: Hit me?

Muu: Why would you want to hit Mr. Howles?

Haures: …Maybe a family member or acquaintance fell victim to an angel?

Haures: So he hated me…

Choice ➣Does that mean it's revenge…?

Juvenile: Huh? No… that's not the case.

Haures: Huh?

Muu: Is it something different?

Haures: Well…Sorry, I have one question…

Haures: Do you hate me?

Juvenile: I don't hate you…

Muu: So why are you trying to hurt Mr. Howles?

Juvenile: Because the demon butler deserves to be beaten!

Juvenile: The Demon Butler is a really bad guy, right?

Juvenile: The reason why angels attack is because of the demon butlers. You're trying to get people to attack you and take over the city, right?

Muu: W-what is that?! That can't be true!

Muu: The Demon Butlers are fighting for everyone!

Juvenile: Oh, you're a liar! All my friends say the Demon Butlers are a bad guys!

Juvenile: Because there is a demon butler, everyone is going to be wiped out by the angels!

Juvenile: So… the demon butler deserves to get beaten up…

Muu: That's a really crazy reason.

Juvenile: …

Haures: …I see. Somehow I understood the situation.

Haures: I guess you heard about us from a friend.

Haures: Those friends… are you talking about those kids hiding in the shadows far away?

Boys: Oh no! He noticed…!

Muu: Ah, they ran away!

Muu: What was that? Those kids?

Haures: They were probably watching the kid hit me.

Haures: Hey, you. They don't look anymore.

Haures: Will you tell me the truth without hiding anything?

Juvenile: …Yeah.

Juvenile: Actually···.

Juvenile: The kids from earlier told me that they wouldn't be my friend unless I punched the demon butler.

Muu: What do you mean?

Muu: Why is hitting Mr. Howles a condition for becoming friends?

Muu: Why is hitting Mr. Howles a condition for becoming friends?

Haures: A rite of passage, perhaps?

Haures: By punching the demon butler and showing everyone your courage, you'll be accepted as a friend.

Haures: That's probably it.

Juvenile: …

Muu: T-that's awful!

Muu: If you don't hurt someone, you'll be left out! Is that okay?

Juvenile: Uh, uh….but···.

Juvenile: I was bullied in the village where I used to live… and I just moved to this town…

Juvenile: I don't want to be left out anymore!

Choice: ➣Bullying, huh…

Muu: But making someone hurt you and then expecting that to be a condition for becoming friends…

Muu: Do you want to be friends with someone like that?

Haures: Calm down, Muu.

Haures: First of all, you need to be sensitive to the child's feelings.

Haures: There's no point in just talking about ideals. …The reality isn't so sweet.

Muu: Mr. Howles…

Muu: Sorry, that's right.

Haures: What Mu said wasn't wrong.

Haures: But at the same time, I don't think this child's thoughts are wrong.

Chapter 3

[Espoir backstreets]

Haures: What Muu said wasn't wrong.

Haures: But at the same time, I don't think this child's thoughts are wrong.

Juvenile: Huh?

Haures then knelt on the ground and looked the boy in the eye.

Haures: What's your name?

Alan: Alan.

Haures: Alan-kun.

Haures: If you want to hit me, you can hit me as much as you want.

Alan: Huh…?

Muu: Mr. Howles?

Haures: This is not a lie, I'm serious.

Haures: However···.

Haures: It's up to you to decide whether or not to hit.

Alan: My…decision ?

Haures: Because a friend told you to… Because he told me it was okay to hit me…

Haures: Can you promise me that you won't look around for excuses after hitting me?

Haures: That way of thinking will only hurt you later on.

Haures: You have to live your life your own way.

Haures: Well, while I'm saying this. I'm not in a position to say anything arrogant though.

Alan: Big brother…

Haures: Alan-kun. It doesn't matter whether you keep this promise or not.

Haures: I don't intend to force my opinion on you.

Haures: Anyway, it's up to you to decide what to do.

Alan: That's…but…

Alan: I have to do as everyone says… I can't join in…

Alan: Then I'll get bullied again…

Alan: So I… I…

Alan: …But I really don't want to do this.

Haures: …I see. Understood.

Haures: Good to hear Alan's thoughts.

Alan: Sorry!

Thud…thud…thud

Choice: ➣He leaved

Muu: Is that kid okay?

Muu: Because he couldn't hit Mr. Haures, the other kids might ostracize him…

Haures: I guess so.

Muu: Yeah!? That's so irresponsible…

Haures: I told you at the beginning, Muu. The reality is not so sweet.

Haures: But I'm sure the kid will be fine.

Haures: At the end, he looked really good.

Choice: ➣Haures is kind

Haures: Am I kind…?

Haures: Is that so?

Haures: I… I think I'm being selfish.

Choice: ➣Why?

Haures: I just told him what I learned from my past mistakes.

Haures: But it just so happened that this way of life suited me…

Haures: Surely there must be a way of life that suits him.

Haures: I felt like I had taken away his freedom with my words…

Haures: It's scary to tell someone something.

Muu: Mr. Haures.

Muu: I'm not one to say that, but…

Muu: Maybe you don't need to take on so much responsibility?

Muu: If you think everything is your fault, Mr. Haures will end up feeling miserable.

Muu: I want Mr. Haures to be happy too!

Haures: Muu.

Haures: Thank you. …I'm sorry for making you worry.

Muu: No, no, I just said it because that's what I wanted to say! It's my intention!

Haures: I see.

???: Aaaa!

Muu: !! Mr. Haures! That scream…

Choice: ➣A child's scream?

Haures: It's pretty close. Let's go anyway!

Thud thud thud.

[Espoir, the central land]

Angel: "Die. For. Life."

Boys: H-help me…!

Haures: Those kids…

Muu: These are the kids who just watched Howles get beaten up!

Boys: No, no! Don't come here!

Boys: S-someone help!!

Haures: Oh no, the angel is already in front of them…!

Thud thud thud

Alan: Everyone, stand up quickly! Come over here!

Boys: Oh, you…

Alan: Okay, hurry! The rest will be handled by the Demon Butler!

Boys: Uh, yeah… Thank you.

Haures: That child, the one from earlier…

Haures: …He's really strong. Much more than I used to be.

Angel: "Die for life."

Haures: Master. Please release your power.

Haures: Hunt angels

Haures: No matter how much I am insulted by those around me… I will continue to fight to protect people's lives.

Haures: That's the way I've chosen to live.

𝓔𝓝𝓓

Masterlist

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

Previous chapter ⇦ All

Chapter 10: The Secret of the Tomb

-A few minutes later -

Yuhan: … Phew… Don't worry. It seems the evil spirit has left my body.

Yuhan: Perhaps it was overwhelmed by your force… It probably decided that fighting was useless.

Lono: I… I see… That's good, but…

Bastien: Is your body okay? Don't push yourself too hard…

Lato: Actually… Did the evil spirit really leave?

Lato: Actually, it's still controlling you… Maybe it's just pretending to be you, Yuhan…

Muu: Really? Is that so, Yuhan…?

Aruji: I believe in Yuhan

Yuhan: …Thank you, master.

Lato: …Hmm…

Lato: …I understand. If you believe in him, then I will believe in you too.

Muu: I, I believed in you from the beginning! Yuhan!

Aruji: (Oh dear…)

Bastien: …Anyway, now all we have to do is get out of here.

Yuhan: Yes. Just as Lato said, it looks like the exit is ahead

Yuhan: Although there was an unexpected turn of events… Finally…

At that moment… From behind us, we heard the groans of the mummies again.

Mummies: …Aaaaaargh…

Lono: Tch…! It's them again…

Lato: Kufufu… Thank goodness. I wanted to fight them once before escaping.

Yuhan: No, Lato! They have been cursed with immortality by the king's hex.

Yuhan: This means there's no point in trying to defeat them. We have no choice but to run.

Yuhan: Don't worry. They can't follow us into the sun.

Muu: I-is that so… You know a lot, Yuhan!

Yuhan: Yeah, I just thought of it…

Yuhan: No. The thoughts of an evil spirit flowed into my head.

Aruji: That must be it!

Lato: I see… An immortal being…

Lato: It must be very painful to never die.

Lato: Life is beautiful because it will eventually come to an end…

Lato: I understand. I will help you end your painful fate of immortality.

Aruji: Let's get away, Lato!

Lato: Why is that, master? I'm trying to save the mummies from a painful fate.

Aruji: Well, for now, anyway!

Lato: Hmm, I don't really understand, but you seem to be impatient, so I will do as you say for now.

I look back at the mummies reluctantly, pulling Lato's arm…

I have finally… made my long-awaited escape into the sunlight…

[Golda's Room at the Lodgings]

Lono: …And then, while being chased by a bunch of mummies… We somehow managed to escape.

Lono: That tomb is seriously dangerous! We should seal it off right away!

Golda: I-I see… There's a real ghost there…

Bastien: Yeah. I was skeptical of the existence of spirits at first too, but…

Bastien: I swear on this jade statue. What we experienced there was not a lie.

Bastien: There's a living witness here who was possessed by an evil spirit…

Yuhan: Ah, yeah… I see…

Lono and the others' passionate report… Lord Golda is clearly confused.

He has been giving Yuhan a lot of looks since earlier… "Tell me the truth (quickly)."

Fully understanding the meaning of those looks…

Yuhan and me lowered our eyes in silence.

Thud…Thud…

Old Man: My, my… It seems you enjoyed our tour.

Aruji: Eh? You are…

Lono: Hmm…? I feel like I've met you somewhere before…

Lono: Ah, I remember now! "You must never enter the tomb," said the old man!

Golda: …Stay put. This person is the representative of this town.

Golda: That means he is also your negotiating partner. Please do not be rude.

Muu: Really? So this old man is the most important person in town…?

Old Man: Ha ha ha… That's right.

Old Man: It was me who asked Lord Golda to send you to the "entertainment facility"… I was the one who asked him.

Bastien: An entertainment facility…? And earlier you said it was "our tour"…

Lato: Hmm… What does that mean?

Old Man: Yes, that's fine. Both Lord Golda and Yuhan seem to be having a hard time explaining it…

Old Man: As the client, I'll let you reveal the truth.

…And so the client finally tells the truth…

The butlers realize that the whole thing was a setup… Each of them has a different reaction.

Lono: Guh…! What the…

Lono: I didn't know that… I said such embarrassing things to master…

Bastien: …Humph. So there were no ghosts after all.

Lono: What do you mean "as expected"! I swear by the jade statue earlier!

Lato: What a shame. Those mummies were fakes…

Muu: I-I had a hunch from the beginning!

Yuhan: Master. I'm sorry for keeping quiet until now.

Yuhan: Even though I told you to keep quiet… I'm sorry I scared you so much.

Aruji: Huh? Um…

Lono: That's right, Yuhan! I don't mind you keeping quiet about it from us, but…

Lono: You should have told the master beforehand.

Bastien: …You're right. I think you should have let them know that there was no danger.

Yuhan: …You're right. I never imagined the facility would be so well-finished…

Yuhan: I should have told you sooner. It was a mistake on my part.

Old Man: Ha ha ha… I'm glad to hear such praise.

Aruji: (Yuhan…)

…It seems that Yuhan… is willing to take all the blame alone.

I'm very grateful for Yuhan's feelings, but at the same time… Not only Yuhan, but the butlers showed me how cool they looked…

I didn't want to let it all go to waste.

Aruji: I wasn't scared at all

Yuhan: Master…

Aruji: Because everyone protected me

Lono: …! Hehe, I see…

Lono: Well, that's certainly true… No matter what happens, I'll protect you, Master!

Bastien: …You didn't do much this time.

Lono: That goes for you too! I mean, you got lost on the way and got separated from the group!

Bastien: I tested it for poison.

Lato: Hmm… I didn't do anything in particular.

Lato: I should have killed a couple of the mummies, even if they were fakes.

Muu: I was supposed to heal you, master!

Aruji: Everyone looked great.

Yuhan: Hehe… Thank you, master.

And so, me and my friends' short adventure became a funny story to remember as a travel tale…

The customs negotiations that followed seemed to go well… We were finally able to head home.

On our way back… Gaze out the carriage window at the enormous "entertainment facility"…

"I will take this secret to my grave"… I vowed to myself.

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

Previous chapter ⇦ All ⇨ Next chapter

Chapter 9: Reunion

[King's Chamber]

Lono: Ah, master! Look there.

Lato: In front of a magnificent coffin, there is a small blue statue. It's beautiful…

Lono: Yes. Could that possibly be the "jade statue"?

Bastien: Now that I think about it… Our original goal was to bring back the "jade statue".

Lono: Yes. With this, we can have evidence that we investigated the tomb.

Lono: So that people will believe what happened here… We have to bring back this statue.

Aruji: That's right

Muu: I see! Well then, let's get to this statue…

Click

Muu: …Huh? I just heard a strange sound…

Eerie voice: …You scoundrels who desecrate the royal tomb…

Eerie voice: …Woe to those who steal treasure…

Rumble, rumble…

As soon as the voice ended, a nearby door opened…

From the other side of the passage… I saw a large rock rolling down.

Aruji: (I've seen it in a game…!) (I've seen it in a movie…!)

Muu: Wow!! We have to get out of here quickly!

Lato: …Hmm…

Lato: For a rock that big, the sound seems a bit light…

Aruji: Lato, let's get out of here quickly!

Lato: Oops… I understand, master.

If I leave Lato alone, he'll probably realize that it's a fake rock, so I'll have to somehow guide him…

Me and the others escaped from the rock… We quickly ran into another passage.

-A little while later -

Lono: Haa… haa… H-what a terrible experience…

Lono: Just when I thought I'd escaped from the big rock, I found myself in a giant maze… A trap with a falling ceiling, and a bone organ…

Lono: …I suddenly realized that I'd been separated from everyone except for my master. I hope everyone is safe…

Aruji: That's true…

Lono: …………. You're amazing, master.

Aruji: Huh… what's that?

Lono: Even after all those scary experiences… But you've managed to stay strong…

Lono: Like you don't give up even when it's painful… You feel a strong will to "definitely survive."

Aruji: T-that's…

Lono: Ah, sorry! Of course I believe we can escape alive too.

Lono: I can't imagine being stuck in this creepy tomb… I absolutely don't want to be stuck in this tomb!

I swallowed the urge to say, "This isn't a tomb," but…

Now that I've already been through all sorts of traps… Maybe it's time to tell the truth now?

Thinking that… I mustered up my courage and turned to face Lono.

Aruji: Lono, there's one thing I want to tell you…

Lono: Um… Is there something you want to tell me…?

Aruji: Yes, actually…

Lono: Wait…! Please wait a moment, master.

Aruji: Huh…?

Lono: …The rest of those words… Can you tell me after we escape from here?

Lono: Then, in order to hear those words… I feel like I can work harder than I am now…

Aruji: ……Lono………

Lono: Hehe… Don't make that face, master.

Lono: It's okay. We can definitely return alive!

Even amidst the anxiety, Lono's smile is filled with hope… It looks so bright.

In order not to ruin that brightness… I guess I should hide the truth after all.

Aruji: The reason I can stay strong is…

Lono: Huh…?

Aruji: It's because you're by my side.

Lono: …! Master…

Lono: Hehe… Thank you!

Lono: Don't worry. I'll be by your side from now on too!

Aruji: Thank you, Lono

The more I manage to deceive him, the stronger the pain in my heart…

In order to avoid hurting Lono, I'll have to accept a little guilt… I made that decision.

Lono: …Well then. Let's move on now.

Lono: We've walked quite a bit already… I hope I can find an exit somewhere…

Clang…clang…

Aruji: Huh…? What's that sound…

Lono: That's the sound of metal clashing. …And this is…

Lono: Master…! Let's hurry and check it out.

Aruji: Got it

Thud…thud…

Yuhan: ………Haa…haa….

Lato: …Haa…haa….

Lono: Yuhan!? And Lato too….

Aruji: What on earth is going on…?

Thud…thud…

Bastien: What was that metallic sound just now….

Bastien: …! Master, Lono…!

Muu: Lato and Yuhan too…! Everyone is safe!

Yuhan: …Eh, yeah…. I guess they are safe, but…

Lato: …Kufufu… It seems he is still being controlled by the "evil spirit".

Lato: After I got separated from master earlier… I found the mummies.

Lato: However, when I tried to eliminate the mummies… Yuhan appeared and got in the way.

Lato: Thanks to that, the mummies escaped. What a shame…

Bastien: I see… And that's why the two of you were fighting.

Yuhan: …I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything about it with my own will alone…

Lono: Tch… So what should we do?

Lono: Even if hes being controlled, I don't want to fight Yuhan… Should we run away for now…?

Lato: No. There's no need to run.

Lato: I can feel the wind coming from the passage behind you, Yuhan. It must lead to the outside.

Bastien: …Now that you mention it. I can definitely smell the outside.

Lono: I see… So the exit is close.

Lono: That means… We can't leave Yuhan here.

Yuhan: So what do you mean…?

Lono: Don't worry, Yuhan. Even if you're possessed, we'll bring you back with us!

Bastien: I see. So it'll take three of us to hold him down.

Lono: Yes. We can think about how to get rid of the evil spirit after we bring him back.

Lono: First, I need to knock him unconscious or immobilize him… If we tie him up, there will be no danger to master.

Bastien: But then there's Yuhan… We can't let up on him either.

Bastien: Master. I beg you to release the demon's powers.

Aruji: Eh? Um…

Yuhan: ……………….

Yuhan: Ugh…!? Ugh…!

Lato: Oh…? Yuhan's condition is…

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

Previous chapter ⇦ All ⇨ Next chapter

Chapter 8: With a Strong Heart

-A little while later -

We were carried by a trolley to their new room, but…

A heavy silence spread among the butlers.

Butlers: ………….

Butlers: ………….

Lono: It was me after all… I'm going to go get Yuhan now!

Aruji: Lono…?

Bastien: …Wait. It's dangerous to approach Yuhan alone right now.

Lono: But…! I can't leave him like this…

Bastien: I understand how you feel, but… I can't have you leave now.

Bastien: …What if, like Yuhan did earlier… If one of us is controlled by an evil spirit…

Bastien: Then the two of us will have to protect our master.

Lono: …! That's…

Lato: I see… You're certainly right.

Lato: Lono, Bastien. If I'm ever controlled, please stop me.

Lato: If I end up hurting my master with my own hands… I absolutely don't want that to happen.

Lono: Lato…

Lono: …I understand. But first, I'll run away with master as fast as I can.

Bastien: Yeah. I don't want you to get hurt, Lato.

Lato: Is that so? I don't mind if you fight.

Lono: Hehe… In that case, let's all have a mock battle after we get back to the mansion.

Lono: With Yuhan included… right?

Bastien: Yeah… That's right.

Aruji: Everyone…

If Yuhan heard our conversation just now… he would surely be just as hurt as I was.

I thought about just telling them everything and making things easier for all of us, but…

After seeing Yuhan's hardships with my own eyes… I felt somehow sorry to let his hard work go to waste.

Lono: Master… Are you okay?

Lono: I know this is hard for you… Please don't be discouraged.

Lono: You will definitely get out safely. Please believe in me!

Aruji: Thank you, Lono…

Lono's encouraging smile stabbed me a little today, though…

With a brave smile on my face… I resolved once again to carry on Yuhan's will.

Aruji: I'm sure I will be fine.

Lono: Hmm… That being said, you seem a little tired…

Lono: I wish there was at least somewhere where you could rest…

Muu: Everyone…! Come over here for a second…!

Lono: Eh… Muu?

Lato: Hmm… I can hear you from over there.

Bastien: I wonder when he got so far…

Lono: Hey, Muu! Don't get too far away!

[???]

Led by Muu's voice, we went further…

There was a chair and a table… There was some fresh fruit on them.

Aruji: This is…

Muu: Yes! I wanted to be of some help, so I came to see what was going on up ahead…

Muu: And then I found this room. Isn't it the perfect place to rest?

Lono: Ah, yeah… It certainly does seem like a perfect place to rest…

Lono: …But doesn't that seem a bit suspicious? Why would there be fresh fruit in a tomb…?

Bastien: Munch munch…

Lono: Ah, hey Bastien! Don't eat it without permission!

Bastien: ………………. …Hmm.

Bastien: It doesn't seem to be poisonous. It's safe to eat, my master.

Aruji: Eh… poisoned?

Lono: What…! Bastien, you…

Lato: I see… You were testing it for poison for my master.

Lato: …If that were the case, I would have done it. I have some resistance to poison.

Bastien: That's fine. I didn't know what was in there.

Lono: Bastien… You're trying to look cool by yourself…

Lono: …Master. I'm going to go scout out the area ahead.

Aruji: Huh? But…

Lono: Just leave it to me! If there's a trap, I'll find it first!

Thud…Thud…

Lato: I see… You're looking for traps?

Lato: It's not good to keep something that fun all to yourself.

Thud…Thud…

Muu: Ah…! In that case, I'll go too!

Muu: I want to be of more use to my master too…!

Thud…Thud…

Muu chases after Lato, who has followed Lono… Only me and Bastien are left in the room.

Bastien: …They are gone.

Bastien: Master. For now, please sit down and rest.

Bastien: I'm sure you're worried… It's times like these that are important to first recover your strength.

Aruji: Yes, thank you.

Bastien: ……………….

Bastien: Master…. Are you not pushing yourself too hard?

Aruji: Huh…?

Bastien: …No. You don't have to answer.

Bastien: Regret, anxiety… Even if there are many emotions in your heart…

Bastien: I suppress them all… Somehow I manage to hold myself together.

Bastien: …That's the same for me.

Aruji: Bastien…

It's not the same at all, though… It's too late to show that now…

I suppressed all emotions… All I could do was listen to Bastien in silence.

Bastien: …But my master. Please remember this.

Bastien: No matter what happens in the future… No matter what happens…

Bastien: Even if it costs me my life… I will protect you, master.

Aruji: …Yes…

Strong and reliable… And Bastien's words were filled with determination…

"I wish I could have heard this at a different time," I thought to myself… I accepted his words with a feeling of regret.

Lono: Whoa?! Wh-what is this…

Aruji: That voice just now…

Bastien: …Lono seems to have found something.

Aruji: Let's move on now.

Bastien: Okay, I see. …Stay with me.

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 7: Evil Spirit

[Minecart Station]

Lono: Huh…? Minecart…?

Bastien: …Why are there rails and a minecart inside an ancient tomb…

Yuhan: Lono, Bastien… Now is not the time to worry about small details.

Yuhan: Rather than that, we must get our master out of here as quickly as possible.

Lono: Oh, right… That's right.

Lato: Hmm… From the looks of it, there doesn't seem to be any other way…

Lato: It looks like we'll have to ride this minecart to go further.

Lato: Well then, my master. Please give me your hand.

Aruji: Thank you

As we climbed into the minecart, which was clearly out of place in an ancient tomb…

From behind us arrived… We heard an eerie groan.

The voices of the mummies: …Aaaaaaahhhhh…

Lato: Oh? That voice…

Muu: Uh-huh, someone's coming from behind…! One…two…many…

Muu: Ahh! Wh-why are they all wrapped in bandages…!?

Just as Yuhan had predicted… People dressed as mummies slowly approached from behind.

Even the skin visible through the gaps in the bandages had the same texture as the zombies in the movies… The attention to detail was clear.

Aruji: (It's really well done…)

Yuhan: No way… Aren't those what they call "mummies"…

Bastien: Mummies…?

Yuhan: Yes. They are the bodies of people who died long ago.

Yuhan: Now that I think about it, when I entered this tomb… An eerie voice said this.

Yuhan: "…Wake up, dead… …Offer the flesh and blood of the living to our king…"

Yuhan: Maybe those are the "dead"… and they're trying to take our lives…

Lono: Y-you're stupid! There's no way that dead people can move…

Muu: B-but… No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like a normal person…!

Yuhan: …Fortunately, it doesn't seem to move very quickly.

Yuhan: If we escape on this minecart, they won't be able to catch up with us. Come on, let's go…!

Lato: Eh? Why?

Lato: If they're going to attack us, we can just defeat them…

Yuhan: ……………….

Yuhan: ………………. …………Hmm…

I thought I heard a voice in my head saying, "So this is what happened."

Yuhan: …Lato. We are facing unknown monsters.

Yuhan: In order to ensure master's safety… Shouldn't we prioritize escaping from here…?

Lato: That's right. Everyone else escape first.

Lato: After I defeat the mummies… I'll pursue them slowly.

Lato: Kufufu… You are wrong to try to attack master.

Lono: What are you talking about, Lato! I can't leave just one of you behind.

Bastien: Yeah. In that case, we'll stay behind too.

Bastien: Hmph… If the opponent is a monster, there is no need to be shy.

Bastien: Master. I ask you to release my demonic power.

Aruji: Huh? Um…

If I release my demonic power… This place will become a veritable graveyard.

Worried about how to refuse… I looked to Yuhan for help.

Aruji: (W-what should I do…?)

Yuhan: ……………….

Yuhan: (Leave it to me, master. I'll use my trump card…)

Yuhan: Ugh…!? Guuh…!!

Muu: Huh…!? Yuhan, what's wrong…?

Yuhan: Ah, in my head… I heard someone's voice….

Lono: Hey, Yuhan…. Are you okay…?

Yuhan: Lono, please don't come near me….

Yuhan: My body…. Someone is trying to control me…

Aruji: Yuhan…!?

Yuhan (pretending to be in pain) stood between the mummy and the butlers…. He aimed his sword at us.

Bastien: Yuhan…? What are you trying to do…

Yuhan: I'm sorry… It seems…

Yuhan: The evil spirit of this tomb… It seems I've lost control of my body…

Lono: What…! What the…

It seems that Yuhan has decided to pretend to be controlled by the evil spirit in order to protect the mummy (or the performer disguised as a mummy).

Watching Yuhan's convincing performance… I somehow feel very sorry for him.

Aruji: Yuhan looks like he's in pain…

Lono: Hey Yuhan…! Don't let an evil spirit get the better of you!

Bastien: Ah… Try to hold on somehow…!

Yuhan: Damn… Unfortunately, that looks difficult…

Yuhan: Just staying conscious like this is hard enough…

Yuhan: If it carries on like this… I'll have to fight you guys…

Lato: Hmm… So that means…

Lato: From now on I can fight Yuhan for real… Does that mean?

Aruji: Huh…

Yuhan: Huh…?

Lato: Kufufu… I'm glad to hear that.

Lato: I've always wanted to fight you seriously, Yuhan.

Yuhan: (Lato…you are…)

Yuhan: No. I don't want to hurt you all…

Yuhan: Everyone… Please take our master and run away…!

Lono: B-But… I can't leave Yuhan behind…

Yuhan: I'll be fine…! I'll definitely catch up with you later…

Bastien: …But… …If we stay here like this, Yuhan will only end up suffering.

In order to give the butlers a push they can't abandon their comrades… I have decided to help as well.

Aruji: Let's do as Yuhan says…!

Lono: Master…

Lono: Damn… Everyone, get on the trolley!

Lato: Sigh… It was a good opportunity to fight Yuhan seriously, but…

Lato: If that's what you want, I guess there's no other way.

Bastien: Yuhan…! …I'll come back immediately once I help master escape.

Yuhan: …Yes. Thank you…

Yuhan: Everyone… I'm counting on you to take care of master…

Bang!

The brakes on the trolley come off… It gradually accelerates along the rails.

Not too fast, not too slow… Rocked by the trolley moving at a safe speed…

Yuhan's figure gradually gets smaller… The butlers continue to stare at him until he is out of sight.

Muu: Yuhan…!!

Aruji: (…What should we do now…)

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 6: The Sealed Door

Muu: Ah, master! You were there.

Lono: Thank goodness… I was worried when you suddenly disappeared.

Yuhan: I'm sorry. Actually, I thought I'd dropped something in the passage earlier…

Yuhan: I went back to check. Is that right? Master?

Aruji: Yes, that's right.

Lato: I see. Is that so?

Yuhan: So… Have you decided which path to take?

Bastien: Yes. About that…

Lono: Actually, master… There's something I want to talk to you about.

Aruji: To me?

Lono: Yes. I'm sorry for showing my shameful side earlier.

Lono: When you were scared, master… I got stubborn over something so trivial…

Bastien: Yes… I'm reflecting on my actions as well.

Bastien: In order to protect master… Now is not the time for butlers to be fighting among each other.

Bastien: It doesn't matter who's the leader. We should all be of one mind to protect our master.

Lono: Yeah. That's what Bastien and I were talking about.

Aruji: I-I see.

Lono and Bastien are cooperating with each other to protect me.

If only they'd known this was an "entertainment facility"… My heart wouldn't have been pounding like it is now.

Aruji: (Sorry about that…)

Yuhan: I-I see… It's true that cooperation is important.

Lato: Yes. So, after the three of us discussed it, we decided…

Lato: Following my intuition… We decided to go down the middle passage.

Bastien: Yeah. Lato, your wild instincts are often right.

Bastien: What do you think, Yuhan?

Yuhan: I agree. That's the shortcut…

Yuhan: No, I think it's the right path… I'll trust Lato's intuition too.

Yuhan: Is that okay with you, master?

Aruji: Of course, I don't mind.

Muu: Okay, okay… Then let's take the middle path…

Lato: Kufufu… I hope my hunch is right and a ghost will appear.

Muu: Ugh… I hope my hunch is wrong…

Thud…Thud…

[Coffin Room]

Lato: Hmm… We've come to another new room.

Muu: There's a big mural and… And a lot of coffins…

Muu: All of these… I wonder if there are bodies inside…

Lato: I wonder? Let's open them and check.

Muu: Oh, it's okay if you don't open them…! Let's go ahead and move on!

Bastien: Hmm… There seems to be a door over there…

Bastien: …I can't find the handle. How do I open it?

Lono: Hey, hey. There are scales and weights on this pedestal over here.

Aruji: Scales and weights…?

Lono: Yes. There are several different kinds of weights… They seem to have some kind of significance.

Lono: Hmm… Why would something like this be here…

Yuhan: Hmm… If we take a closer look at the mural in this room…

Yuhan: It seems that when the scales are level… The way forward will open up.

Aruji: (There's a puzzle-solving element to it too…)

Lono: Hmm… Now that you mention it, I guess that seems true.

Lono: I guess there's no other way. It's a pain, but I'll try out different weights.

Yuhan: That's true. I think the combination of weights is probably important.

Bastien: ………………. …Hmm…

Bastien: This door… I think I can break it.

Aruji: Eh…? B-Break it?

Yuhan: Bastien…? What's up now?

Bastien: Yes. It seems this door isn't made of stone.

Bastien: That means… It would be quicker to break it down.

Lato: I see. That certainly seems like the quickest way.

Lono: That would be great. Combining the weights would be a pain.

Yuhan: (These people are so…)

Yuhan: Wait a moment!

Lono: Hmm? What's the matter, Yuhan?

Yuhan: Well… Destroying the door is certainly an option, but…

Yuhan: It is an old cultural asset after all… Shall we leave destruction as a last resort?

Lono: I understand your feelings, but… Now is not the time to worry about small details.

Bastien: Yes. What's more important is getting our master out as quickly as possible.

Yuhan: ……Yes. You are right.

Aruji: (Good luck, Yuhan…)

Lato: That's settled. So, let me say this once more…

Yuhan: Uh…! Wait a moment…

Lato: Oh? What's it this time?

Yuhan: I just had an idea.

Yuhan: …If I put this, this, and this weight on the scale… It feels just right…

Click

Rumble…

Lono: Wow! It really opened!

Muu: Yuhan, you're amazing! Even though there were so many weights…

Muu: You got the answer right on the first try… How did you know?

Yuhan: Haha… I wonder how…

Yuhan: It was like a revelation… Something possessed me…

Lato: Kufufu… Anyway, thanks to that we didn't have to break the door.

Bastien: Yeah. We didn't have to waste any effort.

Lono: You're welcome…

You can imagine how worried Yuhan must be… But I can't bring myself to show it…

Seeing his tired appearance… All I could do was offer gentle words of appreciation.

Aruji: Thank you for all your hard work, Yuhan…

Yuhan: …I'm truly grateful, master…

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 5: Guilt

Lono: Hey! Who the hell are you?

Lono: I don't know who you are, but… Show yourself!

Lono tried to intimidate the voice that came from nowhere, but…

The owner of the voice didn't answer his questions… The voice simply spoke eerie words in a monotone.

Eerie voice: …Now, proceed. And offer your bodies to the undead…

Eerie voice: …Your blood and flesh… …will be an offering to the great king…

Rumble…

Lato: Oh… The door over there is open.

Bastien: So that means we should proceed from here…

Yuhan: Yes. I can't see any other way forward…

Yuhan: Looks like we have no choice but to go through that door.

Yuhan: Master. Please don't leave our side.

Aruji: I-I understand…

-A few minutes later -

Lono: Hmm? Looks like we've come to a fork in the road…

Bastien: Yeah. Looks like we're at a crossroads.

Aruji: Which way should we go?

Lono: Hehe, leave it to me. Trust your instincts in these situations…

Lono: Right!

Bastien: Left.

Lono&Bastien: ……………….

Lono: Hey, Bastien. It seems you're not satisfied unless you go against your leader every time.

Bastien: …I just followed my intuition. Also, why are you the leader?

Lato: Hmm… My hunch is…

Lato: If we go straight, I feel like we'll meet the ghost.

Muu: La-Lato…! Don't go ahead alone!

As Lono and Bastien argue, Muu desperately tries to stop Lato… Just as Muu tries to call out to them to calm them down…

Yuhan, who is right behind me,… whispers in my ear.

Yuhan: Master… May I speak to you for a moment?

Aruji: Eh, what is it?

Yuhan: …Actually, there is something I need to discuss privately. Come over here for a moment…

Aruji: O-Okay…

Yuhan leads me by the hand… I go back a little way along the path I came.

When we reach a place where we can faintly hear the others' voices… Yuhan finally turns to look at me.

Yuhan: Phew… If we're this far away, it should be fine.

Aruji: So, what's the story?

Yuhan: Well. I just wanted to tell you first, master.

Yuhan: First of all… I'm truly sorry about what happened today.

Yuhan: I'm sorry, master… I put you through such terrible experiences.

Aruji: It's not Yuhan's fault.

Yuhan: No. It's my fault.

Yuhan: …I was told not to tell anyone about this…

Yuhan: The truth is, this building is… It's not an ancient tomb or anything like that.

Aruji: It's not a tomb…?

Yuhan: Yes. In a word…

Yuhan: It's an "entertainment facility"… For people to experience the feeling of adventure.

Yuhan: In other words, there is absolutely no danger… Please rest assured.

Aruji: ………………

At first, I couldn't comprehend what Yuhan was saying…

Looking at his expression, it didn't seem like he was joking… I decided to ask him the question that had come to my mind.

Aruji: If that's the case, then what about that ghost's voice…?

Yuhan: Well. It's just speaking from a distance using a speaking tube.

Aruji: The entrance was blocked off…

Yuhan: It's part of the performance. The door was meant to close at my signal.

Aruji: There were lots of human bones, though…

Yuhan: Of course they're fake. They look like processed animal bones.

Aruji: …What on earth was that for?

Yuhan: That's… "To check the completeness of the facility," they said.

Yuhan: Recently, exchanges with the eastern lands have become more frequent… More people are visiting the city of Sarahan, so…

Yuhan: The representative of the city thought, "Let's create a new tourist resource." As a result…

Yuhan: "A facility where you can experience the feeling of adventuring in an ancient tomb." This building was apparently made.

Aruji: …This is the tourist facility…

Yuhan: Yes. But it's not open to the general public yet.

Yuhan: In preparation for its opening this summer… We are currently in the process of perfecting the facility.

Yuhan: As the finishing touch, we will be guiding unaware outsiders into the facility…

Yuhan: "Is it scary enough that they could mistake it for the real thing?"… That is what they wanted to find out.

Aruji: …And what about us?

Yuhan: Yes. The locals know the true nature of this facility.

Yuhan: …But that doesn't mean we're asking the delegation that came to negotiate.

Yuhan: "There's a group of people looking bored at the lodgings"… Apparently they were approached by a representative from the city of Sarahan.

Aruji: (I wonder if they looked that bored…)

Yuhan: …I was summoned by Lord Golda… After receiving the above explanation…

Yuhan: "If possible, I would like to fulfill the other party's wish," he consulted with me… And then…

Yuhan: He asked me to guide everyone to the tomb, and to ensure the safety of the "performers"… That was the request I was given.

Aruji: Performers?

Yuhan: Yes. In the language of the Central Earth… I guess you would call them "casts."

Yuhan: Actually, coming up soon… There is a scene where performers dressed as "mummies" will attack us…

Yuhan: Whereas an ordinary person would "run away"… In our case, there is a possibility that they will "fight".

Aruji: …That seems likely.

Yuhan: Yes… So, in order to prevent the performers from getting hurt…

Yuhan: I have to get the butlers to run away. …It's a difficult decision.

Aruji: That sounds difficult…

Yuhan: No… I accepted the job knowing that.

Yuhan: To support Lord Golda so that his negotiations go well… That is the mission that has been assigned to us this time…

Yuhan: Even so… I still feel bad about causing even master unnecessary anxiety…

Yuhan: I've only just confessed this now. I'm sorry I didn't consult you beforehand.

With that, Yuhan bowed deeply.

It's not like I was actually in any danger… Now that I understand the situation, I don't feel like blaming Yuhan…

But that aside… Another worry wells up in my heart.

Aruji: …Do I have to keep it a secret from everyone?

Yuhan: …………. To be honest, I was worried about that too.

Yuhan: …I thought about just telling everyone… I thought about asking them to pretend to be scared, but…

Yuhan: Lato, Lono, Bastien… I wasn't sure if they would be able to act so skillfully…

Aruji: It might be difficult, for sure…

Yuhan: Yes. In order to satisfy the other party, I think… It's best not to tell them anything…

Lono: Hey…! Master, where are you…!

Muu: Yuhan-san…! Where have you gone…?!

Yuhan: Oops… It seems I've been talking for too long.

Yuhan: Well then, Master. It's time to head back.

Yuhan: I'm sorry to everyone… You must be feeling very sorry for master as well…

Yuhan: Please, from here on, let's join me… I would appreciate it if you could "pretend you don't know anything."

Aruji: …I understand…

Although I felt relieved to learn the truth… A different kind of anxiety filled my heart.

Will I be able to act well until we can escape? And…

I want to tell the truth… How long can I hold back…

Aruji: (…I'm anxious) (I'll try my best)

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 4: Trap

[Near the entrance to the giant tomb]

Lato: Wow… It's surprisingly spacious inside.

Yuhan: Yes. It looks like the passage continues all the way to the back.

Yuhan: Well, that's fine near the entrance… It looks like the sunlight doesn't reach the back of the passage.

Lono: Okay. Well, let's light the torches we brought…

Woosh

Bastien: …Torches…? Why torches and not lanterns?

Lono: Well, we're investigating ruins, you know. This would create more of a different atmosphere.

Lono: Right? Master?

Aruji: Well, well…

Bastien: …I don't really get it… Oh well.

Bastien: Give me that torch. I'll lead the way.

Lono: Huh? It's my job as the leader to walk at the front.

Lono: So… I'll hold this torch!

Bastien: …Since when have you been a leader?

Lono: Well, we're investigating ruins, you know? A research team needs a leader.

Lono: And the person fit to be the leader is… I can lead everyone, so there's no one else but me!

Bastien: ……………….

Woosh

Lono: Ah! Why did you take out the lantern!

Lono: It's ruining the mood! Turn it off!

Bastien: The lantern's light is brighter. I'll lead the way.

Lono: You bastard…!

Bastien: If you're upset, try taking it by force.

Lato: Sigh… Lono and Bastien are as noisy as ever.

Lato: Could you both please be a little quieter? This is a graveyard where the dead sleep, you know.

Lato: Let's read the mood.

Lono: S-sorry.

Bastien: Sorry… I'll be quiet.

Muu: Lono and Bastien are the same as always…

Muu: Watching the two of them interact… I feel a little relieved.

Aruji: That's just the way it always is.

Lato: …Hmm…

Yuhan: Lato? Is something wrong?

Lato: No. Maybe it was just my imagination…

Lato: I thought I heard someone talking from further in…

Aruji: Voices…?

Muu: N-No way… Lato, please don't scare me!

Muu: I can't believe You are hearing voices from deep inside the tomb… That can't be…

Yuhan: Hmm… Could it just be an echo of Lono and Bastien's voices?

Lato: That may be so. I'll go and check it out.

Thud…Thud…

Aruji: Ah, Lato…

Lono: Hey, Lato! It's dangerous to go ahead without a light!

Lato: It's okay. I have good hearing.

Lono: Well, that may be so, but… I'll take the lead…

Lono: In any case, we must not stray too far from our master! Let's go together!

Bastien: That's true… If possible, it's best to walk in a circle around our master.

Yuhan: Hehe… It seems like everyone wants to take the lead.

Yuhan: Then I'll follow behind master. I'll protect your back, please…

Rumble…

Yuhan: …! Master, please step back!

Aruji: Huh…?

A thunderous roar echoed, and Yuhan jumped in front of me…

The next moment… I saw the entrance to the tomb being blocked off by a huge stone door.

Bang…

Lono: Master! Are you okay?

Aruji: I-I'm okay…

Bastien: …The entrance…is blocked?

Lato: Oh dear. It seems we're trapped.

Muu: This is no time to be calm! What should we do…?

This sudden event has left me confused…

Inside the tomb…

A strange voice came from out of nowhere.

Eerie voice: …The sacrifice has come here…

Eerie voice: …Awaken, dead… …Offer the flesh and blood of the living to our king…

Muu: Waaaahhh!! W-W-Who is it!?

Muu: No, it can't be… Is it really a ghost…?

The eerie voice didn't respond to Muu's question…

Only a heavy silence remained around us.

Lono: Wh, what was that… That was…

Bastien: I don't know… For now, it doesn't seem to be an angel.

Bastien: There's a stone door blocking the entrance… Is there any way to open it?

Yuhan: …That would be difficult. It seems quite heavy.

Yuhan: I was careless. I never imagined that such a trap had been set…

Lato: Kufufu… Let's go ahead for now.

Lato: We might find another exit if we look.

Aruji: That's the only option…

Muu: B-but… If there really is a ghost…

Lono: It'll be fine, Muu. There's no way ghosts exist, right?

Lono: I don't know who did this… Whatever comes out, I'll blow it away.

Lono: So… Master, please rest assured!

Aruji: Thank you

Lono: Okay…! Well then, let's pull ourselves together and be careful…

Lono: But, Lato! You shouldn't go ahead alone!

Lato: It'll be fine. If a ghost appears, I'll take care of it myself.

Lono: No, that's not the problem…

With Lato at the front, who seems to be rather enjoying the unsettling situation… Me and the others went deeper into the tomb.

-A little while later -

Lato: Hmm… It seems we've entered a new room.

Lato: Look. There's a bone on the floor.

Muu: Wow!! R-Really…

Muu: T-These bones… N-N-No way…

Lato: Kufufu… It's okay, Black Cat.

Lato: Everything here… They're not cat bones, they're human bones.

Muu: Oh, I thought so! It's not safe at all!

Yuhan: …Please pay respect to the dead and try not to step on them.

Yuhan: Master. If you don't mind, you can close your eyes.

Yuhan: I'll hold your hand… Try to keep things you don't want to see out of your field of vision.

Aruji: Oh, thank you…

Bastien: Still… The fact that there are so many bones scattered around…

Bastien: This must be where the bodies were buried… I guess that's what it means.

Lono: Is that so? If you're going to be buried, you'd normally be in a coffin or something.

Lono: This room is more of a burial place… Rather…

Eerie voice: …Poor sacrifices… You've made it to the altar room…

Muu: Whoa! Oh, it's that voice again…

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 3: Ruins Investigation

Lato: Oh. It seems Yuhan has returned.

Yuhan: …I've just returned, master.

Aruji: Welcome back, Yuhan.

Lono: So… What did he say, Lord Golda?

Yuhan: Um, well… Well…

Bastien: …What's the matter? Is it some bad news?

Yuhan: No… It's not exactly bad, but…

Yuhan: To get straight to the point… I've been asked to "investigate the tomb."

Aruji: Investigate the tomb…?

Lato: So… You mean to investigate that big tomb?

Lono: What does this mean…? Why would Lord Golda ask us to do something like that?

Yuhan: Well… To give you a brief overview of what happened…

Yuhan: Firstly, the tariff negotiations began yesterday… They seem to be proving quite difficult.

Yuhan: It seems that the negotiators from the southern lands are quite tough… Last night, too, Lord Golda is having a hard time.

Yuhan: And then last night… At a dinner party held in between the negotiations…

Yuhan: The negotiator from the south contacted Lord Golda… It seems there has been a private inquiry.

Yuhan: "If you don't mind, would you be so kind as to investigate the tomb?"

Aruji: What on earth for…?

Yuhan: That's… "They wanted us to verify the truth of the rumors that spirits appear in the tomb."

Lono: What? Ghosts?

Lato: That reminds me, the other day… An old man from the local area was saying something like that.

Lato: Something about if we go in there, we'll anger the spirits.

Muu: But if we're just investigating the tomb… Why don't they investigate it themselves?

Yuhan: The people of Sarahan are deeply religious… Apparently no one wants to get close, fearing the curse of the spirits.

Yuhan: It would be easy for Lord Golda to refuse… But he would like to avoid damaging the other party's impression.

Yuhan: But even if he wanted to accept… Lord Golda's subordinates are already overwhelmed with their own duties.

Bastien: …So that's why he asked us for help.

Yuhan: Yes. He prefaced his request by saying, "I don't have the authority to give orders to the Devil Butler," but then asked us.

Yuhan: So… What do you think, master?

Yuhan: To be honest, I don't think the rumors about spirits appearing there are true…

Yuhan: We're only going to investigate the inside of the tomb… I don't think there's much danger…

Aruji: That's true…

Yuhan's right… The request itself doesn't seem dangerous…

I remembered the words of the old man we met in town… I felt just a little bit of an ominous feeling.

Yuhan: Of course, I would like to investigate with just us butlers.

Yuhan: We'll also need to protect master… The investigation should be enough with my help and that of one other person.

Lato: I see… That sounds interesting.

Lato: In that case, I'll be off then.

Aruji: Lato?

Lato: Yes. I've always wanted to go inside that tomb.

Yuhan: …Hmm. You, Lato…?

Lato: Oh? Are you unhappy about being with me?

Yuhan: No, no… Of course not.

Yuhan: Understood. Then Lato and I will go and investigate.

Aruji: But I wonder if it's really okay…?

Bastien: Hmm… You're certainly a bit worried.

Bastien: I don't know if ghosts really exist, but… It's also common that the ghost fuss was actually an angel.

Bastien: …But wouldn't it be dangerous for just the two of you if something were to happen?

Lono: An angel, huh… Well, that sounds more likely than a ghost, though…

Aruji: In that case, why don't we all go together?

Yuhan: Eh… Master, too?

Bastien: …I see. In that case, it would certainly protect master as well…

Bastien: Even if an angel appears, we can all deal with it.

Yuhan: …Now that you mention it, that's true… It might be better for us to protect master if we move together.

Yuhan: But… But, but…

Aruji: Don't be shy with me

Lono: Thank you, master! Whether it's a spirit or an angel, I'll protect you!

Bastien: Don't worry. I'll protect you.

Lato: Kufufu… Whether it's a spirit or an angel, it looks like it'll be fun either way.

Muu: I-In that case, I'll do the same… I'll be by your side to protect master!

Aruji: Thank you, everyone.

Yuhan: ………I understand.

Yuhan: Then, let's all head out to investigate… I will reply to Lord Golda accordingly.

Yuhan: Just to be on the safe side, I will also notify Devil's Palace.

Yuhan: Let's head to the tomb as soon as we're ready.

Yuhan: Well then, master. I'll be off for now.

Aruji: Yes, thank you very much.

Thud…Thud…

Yuhan: ………….

Yuhan: Sigh… I feel so heavy-hearted…

Yuhan: I never thought it would end up like this…

Yuhan: However, this is also an important mission. I must accomplish it.

Yuhan: …I feel reluctant to conceal my true purpose…

Yuhan: Whatever the outcome… I can just bear all the responsibility…

Thud…Thud…

[In front of the entrance to the giant tomb]

A few hours later… After preparing for the investigation, me and the others…

After a long swaying ride in the carriage… We finally arrive at the tomb.

Lono: Wow… It's really huge up close…

Lato: Hmm… It's a beautiful building for something built so long ago.

Yuhan: There isn't much rain around here. That's probably why it's less susceptible to weathering.

Aruji: We're going to investigate inside here, huh?

Bastien: Yes. It looks like there's an entrance there.

Muu: …So, we really have to go in there…

Muu: Umm… We can't just pretend we've investigated and then go home, right?

Lono: Don't cheat, Muu. Since we accepted the job, we need to investigate thoroughly.

Yuhan: Yes, and also… We've promised to bring back an "artifact" as proof of our investigation.

Yuhan: Apparently a "jade statue" has been placed in the deepest part of the tomb… We need to retrieve it.

Lato: Kufufu… That sounds like fun.

Lato: It's like a treasure hunt, like you often see in picture books.

Muu: Wow… Is there such a fun picture book?

Lato: Yes. It was a very exciting picture book.

Lato: When you enter the ruins in search of treasure… Inside, there are all kinds of traps waiting for you…

Muu: Wow! Lato, we'll talk about that next time!

Bastien: Anyway… Let's go inside first.

Bastien: It'll be too hot for you if you stay outside like this.

Aruji: Thank you, let's go then.

And so me and the others set foot inside the giant tomb…

But how much pain we would endure inside the tomb after this… I had no idea at the time..

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 2 Bazaar

[Sarahan Market]

We were told we could do as we pleased during our stay in Sarahan…

We decided to explore the town together… First, we arrived at a bustling market with many people passing by.

Lono: What…?! This amount of spices for this price…?

Lono: …Did you put the price tag on the wrong thing? If they bought them in the town of Espoir, it would cost several times this much…

Aruji: It's so different!

Yuhan: Yes. These kinds of spices are a specialty of the southern lands.

Yuhan: There are customs duties and shipping costs to transport them to the central lands… I guess that's added to the price.

Yuhan: If the customs negotiations go well… We might be able to buy them cheaper in Espoir than ever before.

Aruji: I hope so.

Lono: I see… I've never really thought about it, but customs duties are important.

Bastien: Yeah. Still, it's still cheaper to buy them locally.

Bastien: These rare sausages… Let's load as much as we can into the carriage and take them home.

Lono: Wait a minute! It'd be better to buy spices instead of all that bulky stuff.

Lono: Spices last longer… We can even sell any leftovers.

Bastien: …No. The flavors that can only be had here are much more valuable.

Lono: So just eat it here. Eat now, while you can, until you get sick of it.

Yuhan: Hmm… If we're bringing it back by carriage, how about some silk fabrics?

Yuhan: I think those will last longer than spices…

Bastien: No, food would be better.

Lono: …But when you say it, it just sounds like I'm being greedy… I think food would be better too.

Lono: I'm not sure if silk fabrics are cheap or not. Unless Flure is there.

Yuhan: I see… Now that you mention it, I'm not so sure about the fair price of luxury goods either.

Bastien: Ah. I'll go with sausages then.

Lono: I said spices!

Muu: Hehe… They all seem like real merchants.

Aruji: That's true…

Muu was "pretending to be a normal cat" as usual… whispering to me.

Lono and Bastien were arguing, and Yuhan was skillfully mediating next to them…

Lato seemed completely unconcerned by the commotion… I noticed him gazing into the distance.

Lato: …Hmm…

Aruji: Lato, is something wrong?

Lato: No… But I've been wondering about it for a while…

Lato: That odd-shaped mountain I can see in the distance… What is that?

Aruji: A mountain…?

Looking in the direction Lato was looking… I could indeed see a huge structure the size of a mountain.

I had been wondering about it myself… I wonder if there are "pyramids" in this world too.

Yuhan: Ah, that is… A tomb in the southern earth.

Muu: A tomb… is it?

Yuhan: Yes. To put it simply, it's the grave of a great person from the past.

Lono: A tomb? Something that big?

Bastien: If it's that big… I wonder if a lot of people are being mourned here.

Yuhan: Hmm… It happened a long time ago, so there are various theories…

Yuhan: Basically, it seems it was built for a single powerful person.

Yuhan: It seems it has no connection to the current Portrae family or the Malak religion… I don't know the details.

Yuhan: It seems that powerful people have always wanted to show off their power.

Muu: Wow… You're very knowledgeable, Yuhan!

Yuhan: No, not at all. I just did a little research before coming to the southern lands.

Yuhan: I had heard rumors of a giant tomb, but… This is the first time I've actually seen one.

Lato: You can see it from here… It must be really big…

Lato: Kufufu… I'd like to see it up close someday.

We were talking about this while gazing at the distant tomb…

We noticed an unfamiliar local old man… staggering towards us.

Old Man: …That tomb… It's cursed…

Aruji: Eh…?

Lato: …Hmm? You are…

Old Man: …Traveller… You must never enter the tomb…

Old Man: …If you go in… You'll awaken the spirit and incur its wrath…

Old Man: Good… You must never enter the tomb…

Lato: Oh… So you can go inside that tomb.

Lato: I didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know.

Old Man: ……………….

Lono: Oh no! We're not planning on going inside the tomb.

Lono: Hey, Lato! Isn't that right?

Lato: Yes. I was just curious to see how big it was.

Lato: But… Being told "Don't go in under any circumstances" piques my curiosity.

Old Man: You mustn't go in under any circumstances…!

Lono: I-I get it! I'm not planning on going in anyway…

Aruji: (…I'm starting to get a little curious)

I was surprised by the warning from the old man who suddenly appeared…

After that, me and the others didn't go near the tomb… We enjoyed sightseeing in the market…

We spent our time shopping and eating… The next few days passed without incident.

-Two days later -

A week after arriving in Sarahan…

It seems that Golda's customs negotiations are still ongoing… Me and the others were spending a peaceful time at the lodgings.

Lono: Good morning, master! What shall we do today?

Aruji: Good morning

Bastien: Hmm… We've looked around most of the market…

Bastien: Yuhan. I wonder if there's anywhere around here that you might like to visit.

Yuhan: That's true… Sarahan was originally famous as a commercial city, but…

Yuhan: When it comes to tourist attractions… Other than the market, I can't think of anything right away.

Lato: Kufufu… In that case, today we'll visit that large tomb…

Lato: …Oh? It seems someone is coming this way.

Golda's subordinate: Excuse me…! Is Shinonome Yuhan here?

Yuhan: I believe you are Lord Golda's… Is there something I can help you with?

Golda's subordinate: Yes. Lors Golda has called for you, so please make the effort to come to her room.

Aruji: Lord Golda…?

Yuhan: He has called for just me… huh… I see…

Yuhan: Master, it seems that's the case… If it's not a problem, may I come to Lord Golda's room alone?

Aruji: Yes…

Yuhan: Well then, master. I'll be off for now.

Thud…Thud…

Bastien: He called just Yuhan… I wonder what he wants.

Lono: I don't know… Isn't it about the tariff negotiations after all?

Lono: Our original purpose in the first place… was to support Lord Golda's negotiations so that they would go well.

Aruji: I see…

Lato: Hmm… Now that I think about it, that was the request.

Muu: I-I remembered it well!

I didn't know why only Yuhan had been called, but…

I thought we might be able to hear about the progress of the negotiations… Me and the others decided to wait for Yuhan to return in our room.

Previous chapter ⇦ All ⇨ Next chapter

English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

Chapter 1: The Desert Delegation

Chapter 2: Bazaar

Chapter 3: Ruins Investigation

Chapter 4: Trap

Chapter 5: Guilt

Chapter 6: The Sealed Door

Chapter 7: Evil Spirit

Chapter 8: With a Strong Heart

Chapter 9: Reunion

Chapter 10: The Secret of the Tomb

[hamikau]

[AKNK -Event] The desert labyrinth and the Butler's oath

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Chapter 1 The Desert Delegation

[Sarahan, the Southern Lands]

Early May… The weather in the Central Lands is still mild…

Me and butlers have crossed the border and come to the Southern Lands on a certain request…

Lono: Yes! We've arrived safely.

Bastien: Ah. So this is the city of Sarahan…

Lato: It's in the middle of the desert… There are so many people here.

Yuhan: Yes. This is a trading hub close to both the Central Lands and the Eastern Lands…

Yuhan: They say that traffic with the Eastern Lands has increased recently… It seems to be becoming more and more prosperous.

Lono: I see… Now that explains why it's so lively.

Lono: Oh! It looks like that shop over there sells a variety of spices.

Bastien: The sausages from that shop… I've never seen them in a color and shape like this before…

Lato: That herb shop over there… Do they sell parsley too?

Yuhan: Hehe… I know it's natural to be captivated by the items in the market…

Yuhan: We're in the middle of a mission right now… Let's save the shopping for later.

Lono: I know! Our mission today is to "support" the delegation.

Lono: My master, Lord Golda! We're almost at the lodgings.

I can hear Lono's voice leading the way from outside the carriage.

I look out the window… The townspeople seem to be watching with interest.

The sight of multiple carriages entering, guarded by armed soldiers… It must be a rare sight, even in this town full of peddlers.

Aruji: Looks like we've arrived.

Muu: Yes! I'm glad we were able to cross the desert safely.

Golda: Yes… It's all thanks to your guidance.

Golda: My men are not used to traveling through the desert.

Muu: Ah, I see… Your territory is closer to the eastern land than to the south, isn't it?

Golda: Yes. As a noble from a border town… I usually negotiate with the eastern lands, but…

Golda: This time, in order to review the current tariffs… Representatives from the southern, eastern, and central lands have gathered.

Golda: In recognition of my track record so far… I have been sent as a negotiator.

Muu: I see… Tariffs… huh…

Muu: Um, Lord Golda. What are tariffs?

Golda: …This is going to be a bit complicated… Do you want to hear it?

Muu: Ah, that's okay! I'll probably forget it even if I ask!

Golda: Ha…that guy.

Muu: Ah! Don't tickle me!

Aruji: (They seem to get along well…)

Lord Golda is the lord of a town called Eldras… We met him on a previous request…

It was to support his until the negotiations were concluded… That was Lord Finlay's request.

Golda: …The carriage has stopped. It appears we have arrived.

Golda: Master of Devil Butler. During your stay, you may spend your time freely with your butlers.

Golda: The soldiers I brought with me will be my personal guards.

Aruji: Really… is that okay?

Golda: That's fine. My subordinates have their pride too.

Golda: If I leave my escort duties to Devil Butler while I'm traveling abroad… They would be embarrassed.

Golda: It would be a different story if we were attacked by angels… Until the negotiations are over, you can enjoy sightseeing in the city.

Muu: As expected of Lord Golda! Not only are you good at your job, you're also a kind person!

Golda: Hmph… you're quite the talker. I'll give you a compliment.

Muu: Purring…♪

After stroking Muu's chin to his heart's content, Lord Golda… She got off the carriage and entered the lodgings with her subordinates.

Me and the butlers were then shown to our assigned rooms…

We changed into comfortable clothes that Flure had prepared for us.

[Accommodation Guest Room]

Yuhan: Master. It seems you've changed into your clothes.

Yuhan: Hehe… It suits you very well, master.

Aruji: Everyone else looks good too.

Lono: Thank you! Now that we're changed, it's much more comfortable.

Bastien: Ah. Even though it's May, it's still hot in the southern lands.

Lato: Kuhehe… As expected of Flure, he has prepared the perfect clothes for us.

Lato: So… After this, we can spend our time freely, right?

Yuhan: That's true. I was turned down when it came to guarding Lord Golda.

Yuhan: I'd like to save face for the other party… I'll take you up on your offer and do as you please.

Lono: Right! I'll spend the time to explore the market.

Lono: I want to see what kind of ingredients and dishes are sold in the southern lands… I need to see for myself!

Bastien: …I'm also curious about those sausages. I wonder what kind of meat they use…

Lato: Kufufu… I'd like to try some different herbs as well.

Yuhan: Good day… Everyone seems to be in tourist mood.

Yuhan: …Actually, I am too. I was looking forward to exploring a foreign city.

Muu: I want to make lots of friends with the local cats too!

We were told we could do as we pleased… The butlers seemed to forget the fatigue of our journey and were eager to get going.

And the same could be said for me.

Aruji: Well then, shall we all go out?

Lono: Eh…? Master, that's good to hear, but… Aren't you tired from your long journey?

Aruji: I will be fine.

Lono: I see… If master says so…

Bastien: Yes. I would be happy if you would come with me.

Bastien: If we find something delicious… Then master can eat it on the spot.

Lato: That's true. Perhaps we can find an herb that's as delicious as parsley.

Yuhan: Hehe… Well, although we've only just arrived…

Yuhan: Come with us… Let's take a stroll around the city of Sarahan.

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English is not my main language so there may be a lot of mistakes. I used google translator most of the time so if you find any mistakes in the translation please let me know and I will fix them quickly!