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Chapter 5
Let’s turn back time for a moment.
Before Lily opened the bedroom door and entered…
“This is more interesting than I expected.”
Without realizing how much time had passed, I continued reading the book.
Rather than feeling like an old-fashioned history book, it read more like a well-written fantasy novel.
It was the kind of story that could easily be adapted into a movie and still be entertaining.
I remained seated at the desk for quite a while.
By the time the stack of books on the desk—once a place that had nothing to do with reading—had grown into a tower, birds began chirping outside the window, announcing the arrival of morning.
Only then did I close the book and walk over to the window.
Unlike the mansion at night, the mansion at dawn felt completely different.
The eerie atmosphere of a haunted house had faded, replaced by the faint warmth of a place where people actually lived.
It was probably because the servants had begun bustling about, each busy with their morning duties.
“If circumstances were different, I’d probably be sitting here enjoying the view… but that’s not an option.”
Setting aside my regret, I immediately focused my mind.
I observed each servant one by one.
As soon as I did, the familiar magnifying glass icon appeared above their heads.
Benmaker / Male / 43 / Human
Dissatisfied Odd-Job Worker ★
- Level: 7
- STR: 15
- INT: 7
- DEX: 11
- CON: 15
- CHA: 3
Traits:
- Cunning
- Lustful
- Kleptomaniac
- Stressed
Alignment: Hostile
Dahlia / Female / 39 / Human
Lazy and Ill-Behaved Maid ★
- Level: 5
- STR: 6
- INT: 15
- DEX: 13
- CON: 8
- CHA: 2
Traits:
- Malice
- Lewdness
- Kleptomania
- Laziness
- Gambling Addiction
Alignment: Hostile
…
“…Hmm.”
[Basic Quest No. 3 Complete]
[Use Appraisal Skill (10/10): You have earned 5 Status Points.]
In a relatively short amount of time, I had used the Appraisal Skill on more than ten people.
The repeatable quest had earned me a decent amount of SP…
But the bitterness that came afterward was even greater.
“Every single one of them is hostile. Every… single… one.”
Honestly, considering everything this guy had done, I hadn’t expected anyone to be friendly.
I still had a conscience.
I would’ve considered it a success if even one of them had been neutral.
“But somehow, things just keep getting worse.”
Even so, I had secretly hoped there would be at least one person willing to stand on my side.
Yet so far…
Everyone had been hostile.
“Nothing ever goes my way.”
Just as I sighed in frustration—
“…Lady Angelica…”
A faint murmur reached my ears.
Wondering if I had imagined it, I looked away from the window and listened carefully.
“…What?”
The voice seemed to be coming from somewhere out in the hallway.
I quickly tucked the silver candlestick behind my waist and quietly approached the door.
Part of me couldn’t help but think,
“Don’t tell me… now of all times?”
Still, there was no harm in being cautious.
Holding my breath, I reached the door.
The voice became much clearer.
“A… little girl?”
It was a youthful voice, not yet touched by maturity, quietly muttering something over and over.
Then…
The door slowly began to open.
A petite girl slipped through the narrow gap.
She had chestnut-brown hair and wore a classic maid uniform.
Without making the slightest sound, she carefully entered the room.
Then…
Her eyes met mine.
How should I describe that expression?
It was like a child caught sneaking snacks from the refrigerator in the middle of the night by her mother.
Her brown eyes widened until they looked as round as full moons.
“U-Um… I mean…”
She had gentle eyes that seemed completely free of malice.
Even so, I refused to lower my guard.
Not until I confirmed it myself.
“Please…”
Lily / Female / 18 / Human
Diligent Apprentice Maid ★★
- Level: 8
- STR: 10
- INT: 12
- DEX: 12
- CON: 27
- CHA: 14
Traits:
- Housekeeping
- Advanced Cooking
- Optimistic
- Energetic
- Highly Competent
Alignment: Neutral
“…Ah.”
Lily.
This girl’s alignment was…
Neutral!
I wondered if exhaustion had made me read it wrong, so I checked twice…
Then a third time.
No.
I hadn’t misread it.
“There really was one…!”
Among all those people…
Wasn’t there even one person who could become my ally?
The vague hope and anxiety I’d been carrying disappeared all at once.
Besides…
After thinking it over carefully, I’d already concluded that, at least for now, a neutral person was actually more valuable than someone who was friendly.
“After all the things this guy has done… if someone still liked him, what would that say about them? Birds of a feather flock together.”
In that case…
I’d rather deal with hostility.
The ideal outcome was neutrality.
“And she just happened to appear at exactly the right moment.”
A neutral girl had shown up before me as if she’d been waiting.
How could I not be delighted?
