CDMGS 20🌻

Chapter 20

‘Hmm.’
I rubbed my chin.

Recently, Alex and I had been eating at the same time, and every time, he always sat right next to me.

But why did he go sit all the way over there today?

He lifted his head slightly, glanced at Eki, and then when his eyes met mine, he panicked and buried his face in his plate.

‘…….’

What is this?

“Isn’t he totally avoiding me?”

Sure, I know I look messy when eating steak.
But still—he always sat beside me before, and now he was far away, avoiding my eyes.
For some reason, I felt sad.

Not in a romantic way, though.

Actually…

“It feels like raising a pet tree.”

I finally understood why people in this world raised things like pet rocks.

The strength left my hand, and I turned my head with a sigh.

That’s when I saw Eki, still chewing wildly on her steak.

‘Ah, right.’

Maybe Alex was just being considerate—thinking he might bother me while I ate with Eki.

Yes, Alex was a kind monster with lots of consideration.

Every time Eki shoved steak into her mouth, her pink pigtails bounced.
Since our mealtimes rarely matched, I didn’t often see her outside the dorm.

I shouldn’t be thinking about Alex now.

Holding back the urge to pat Eki’s head, I spoke up.

“Eki, I’m going out the day after tomorrow.”

“Eh?”

Plop.

The steak she had been devouring fell out of her mouth, but thankfully landed back on the plate.

“I told the Duke I’d go out to buy tea leaves and teacups.”

Eki still didn’t close her mouth. Her eyes rolled like she was thinking hard.

“You’ll… have to go with the ones at the back gate.”

“Yes, he said I should go with them.”

“…I don’t even want to see those guys myself.”

Eki muttered seriously. Sometimes she did this, but I never understood her.

Then she slammed her fork onto the table.

The steak wobbled dangerously, and I quickly held the plate down.

Staring at the steak, she declared:

“Shasha, listen carefully. Whatever they say, don’t pay attention.”

“Huh? But I heard the ones in charge of outings don’t talk.”

(Well, to be exact, the Duke told them not to talk.)

“Yes. So if they do talk—don’t listen.”

What kind of logic was that?
They don’t talk, but if they talk, don’t listen?

Still, even when I looked confused, Eki only nodded firmly.

Well… okay then.

I’d been through this many times.
No matter what I asked, Eki always gave confusing answers.
My only choice was to nod and say: “Got it.”

Two Days Later

The two days passed quickly.

I kept up with cleaning the fountain, and I could now clean the Duke’s office and bedroom with my eyes closed.

After finishing the Duke’s room, I checked the map he had given me.

The mansion was so big, I often got lost.
Though servants had maps, they weren’t detailed, and many places weren’t marked—
Like the fountain, or the back gate I needed now.

This time, though, it wasn’t hard.

The Duke’s map had a red line clearly showing the way to the back gate.

But when I arrived—

‘Is this really the back gate?’

The circled spot said yes.
But in front of me was no gate.

It was a cave.

A pitch-black cave where nothing inside could be seen.

I looked around, hoping to find a normal gate.
But there was nothing.

The place looked abandoned, full of wild grass and weeds.

‘…….’

…I’d have to clean here someday too.

Wait, no! That’s not the point right now!

Why leave through a back gate?
And why is there a cave in a noble’s mansion?

Not like this was a dungeon entrance… right?

“Surely this can’t be the real back gate?”

But what if stepping inside really took me to a dungeon full of monsters… or even another world?

Well, this place was already full of monsters, so maybe not that different.

As I hesitated, a faint breeze came from inside the cave.

‘Huh?’

I instinctively stepped back.
Then I heard muffled voices inside.

Before I could run, three figures came out of the cave.

“Ahh!”

Startled, I jumped and covered my face.

But nothing happened.

Slowly, I lowered my hands—
And locked eyes with three girls staring at me.

Their faces said, “What are you doing?”

‘Wait, what?’

Yes, three people stood there.

They had lavender hair and black eyes, their faces identical.
From left to right, they got taller.

“In two days, go to the back gate. Go out with the ones waiting there.”

That’s what the Duke had told me.
So these must be the ones.

“Um… are you in charge of supplies?” I asked carefully.

All three nodded—at the exact same angle, same speed.

‘So these human-looking ones… are monsters?’

They looked perfectly human. No horns. No tails.
Well, of course—they had to look human to go outside.

Still…

I glanced down at the map again, even though I already knew.

“The Duke already told you, but I need to buy tea leaves and cups. Um, where’s the back gate?”

Please, don’t let it be the cave.

But all three pointed straight at it.

‘Seriously?’

For a second, I thought I saw faint smiles on their faces.

Either way, my face stiffened.

Sure, they came out of the cave fine.
But who knew what would happen to me?

The fountain almost crushed me, while Jameson and the horse-heads were fine.

I looked down.
My hands gripping the map were shaking.

‘This map was given to me by the Duke.’

If it wasn’t safe, he would’ve said no.
He even stopped me at the fountain before.

Yes, that’s right.

He told me to use the back gate, and he said to go with them.
So there was no danger.

If I backed down now, it would be like saying I didn’t trust him.

“Alright. Let’s go!”

I gripped the map tight and spoke firmly.

“Then… could you go first?”

But—
I was still new here.

It wasn’t that I doubted the Duke.

It’s just that I’d only been here two or three months.

Being head maid didn’t matter.

These three looked experienced, like they’d been doing this for years.

I gave them a desperate look.
But they shook their heads and pointed at the cave again.

They wouldn’t move until I did.

“……”

I stared into the darkness, swallowing hard.

Okay. Fine.

Just stretch out a hand—

“Ahhh!”

But before I could, someone shoved me hard from behind!