Chapter 29
-Even if They’re Ugly, Calling Them Monsters is Too Much
“I want a raven from the western forest.”
The young master suddenly asked Miss Baba for a raven. I didn’t know he wanted a pet.
“A raven from the western forest. That’s a steep price.”
Miss Baba, surprisingly stingy, seemed reluctant to part with her pet bird.
Caw! Caw! Actually, there were ravens rummaging through the trash cans nearby as we spoke. While the young master and Miss Baba were locked in a staring contest, I quietly slipped away and chased after a stray raven. I could catch him a pet. I would catch it and get praised!
“They say the ravens of the western forest aren’t ordinary ravens, but magical creatures. I want to borrow their magic.”
“Hmm. When it comes to magic, no one can match you, Lupin. Aren’t you being too greedy?”
Caw! Caw! Caw!
“I spent all night designing Estella’s heart. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a suitable way to fix the magic into a heart shape. It might be possible using a zombie core as a vessel, but I need a separate source of magic to fill it.”
“It won’t be easy, but I can help you with that.”
“And about the healing potion powerful enough to create zombies. I want to find some information in your library…”
Caw! Caw! Caw!
“Estella.”
The young master grabbed me by the scruff of my neck. Fortunately, I had just caught the raven. It squawked pathetically in my grasp. I had won.
“How about this raven? It has nice, glossy feathers. We don’t need to go all the way to the western forest for…”
The raven was taken from my hand. Or rather, the young master released it. He seemed to have decided to be affectionate, as he suddenly pulled me into a hug. It was strange how suddenly affectionate he was, but I wasn’t going to complain. Both as a human and as a doll, I craved his attention.
But it would have been better if he hugged me in a way that allowed me to move my arms. He held me so tightly that I couldn’t tell if I was being hugged or restrained as he continued his conversation with Miss Baba.
It was mostly about magic, so I didn’t understand, but I clearly heard his last words.
“Let’s go get this thing’s weapon first. Whether it’s a weapon or a cleaning tool depends on the user…”
I jumped up and down, still being held(?) by him.
“Alright! My adventure begins now!”
“Estella, calm down. Please calm down before I have to tell you to calm down.”
He held me down and lifted me up. Just like the raven earlier, my feet dangled in the air as he carried me, his expression indifferent, towards the vacuum cleaner shop, with Miss Baba smiling cheerfully beside us.
The dream tool of every maid and housekeeper. True magic comes from cleanliness!
A full metal body that never rusts, just like my hometown Metal City, a flexible anti-dust hose, and a long-lasting magic battery system.
A marvelous combination of science and magic, handcrafted by artisans, available at a special limited-time price!
Choose from twenty-eight additional services to customize it to your liking!
“Behold, ‘The Other World Behind the Mirror’!”
“Is that really the name of that machine?”
The young master, with a deadpan expression, pointed at my vacuum cleaner. At this precious thing!
I hugged “The Other World Behind the Mirror” protectively and protested.
“Dust accumulates the most behind mirrors. Especially in our mansion, where the magic laboratories have tons of mirrors. It’s a breeding ground for unwanted ecosystems. This thing, which eliminates them, is a revolution in the cleaning world…”
Miss Baba suddenly interrupted us.
“So you like it? Then add my name to that wonderful device.”
“Eh? Miss Baba’s name? Sure! Should I put it at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end?”
“That’s a tough one. Should I split ‘Baba Porta’? Baba at the beginning, and Porta at the end?”
“Then how about we add my name and the young master’s name too? It would be ‘Lupin Mirror Behind Baba Hidden Also Estella Other Zepetto World Porta’. Young Master, do you have any names you want to add?”
The young master handed the check to the craftsman with a haughty expression. His noble-looking eyes glanced down at my precious “Lupin Mirror Behind Baba Hidden Also Estella Other Zepetto World Porta.”
“Just tell me if you like it. That’s all that matters to me.”
It went without saying. I was so happy I could hug the vacuum cleaner forever. Its large body could suck up as much dust as a full-grown pig.
“I love it! With ‘Lupin Mirror Baba Behind Estella Hidden Zepetto World Porta,’ I feel like I can conquer all the dust in the world!”
“Just call it a vacuum cleaner. You can’t even remember the name. Earlier, you said Lupin Mirror Behind Baba… never mind.”
The young master, seemingly at a loss for words, patted my head.
The craftsman, having finished the transaction, puffed out his bushy white beard and beamed. He seemed pleased with his creation.
Just like our young master thought I was beautiful, this engineer must have found my, I mean, the vacuum cleaner, beautiful as well. I felt a strong bond with the vacuum cleaner.
I bent down and stroked its body. Could I ask the young master to give it a heart too? We would be the perfect duo.
“Are you satisfied with ‘The Other World Behind the Mirror’? It’s my masterpiece. It’s the most advanced and, frankly, the most expensive model I’ve designed this season. There are only three people in the entire country who own this model.”
ⓑⓐⓞ
“Only three people!”
“…Is that really the name of the machine?”
The young master and I exchanged surprised glances, each startled by a different aspect.
The engineer lovingly stroked the part where his signature was engraved. His hands were rough, with gnarled fingers, calluses, and scars. They looked nothing like the young master’s hands, yet his touch felt very similar.
“I’m so happy it’s found an owner who will cherish it.”
The engineer was so touched that he even sniffled. Then, he looked at me with sparkling eyes.
His expression was filled with emotion.
“The two beside you must be nobles. To receive a household appliance as a gift from a noble… Congratulations.”
He even took off his hat, revealing his bald head, and looked at the young master. His eyes were a bit too intense. I smiled and discreetly whispered to the young master,
“Does he want to be your personal engineer? Are you going to hire him?”
The young master shrugged, as if he didn’t understand either. Perhaps he felt the tip wasn’t enough. He reached for the gold button on his coat.
The mystery was quickly solved.
“I’ve heard that receiving a household appliance from a noble means you’re starting your own household. So the maid is finally free! It’s wonderful to manage a noble’s mansion, but there’s nothing like having your own home, even if it’s small. Congratulations!”
It was a misunderstanding. A huge misunderstanding!
Even if the young master told me to leave and live on my own, I wouldn’t want to. If he tried to fire me, I would cling to his pants and beg him not to!
Did he give me this precious vacuum cleaner because he was planning to fire me? If that was the case, I didn’t want it.
“Do you want it back?”
I offered the vacuum cleaner back to the engineer, but the young master stopped me. Wait! Was I really being set free?
I looked at him, startled, then calmed down. His expression was impassive and cold. He looked at me as if asking what nonsense I was spouting. I knew that look well.
“If you’re free, will you come to me?”
Miss Baba misunderstood the engineer’s words.
“No, I’m going to stick to the young master like a leech…”
“What about your proposal? Weren’t we about to get engaged?”
The young master, who had maintained a poker face, frowned. He quickly pulled me away from Miss Baba.
“She’s my maid. She’ll work for me for the rest of her life, and she’s mine, only I can control her.”
“Yes! I’m happy! I want to keep receiving my salary from you and cleaning every corner of the Count’s mansion!”
“I don’t make you clean that much.”
“I’ll clean if I want to.”
“I won’t stop you, but just stay by my side. Do as you please. However, don’t even think about leaving me.”
His smile held a hint of menace. I was overjoyed. I was happy, but…
“Oh dear… how pitiful…”
The engineer’s face turned pale as he looked at the young master. He looked at me with teary eyes and shook his head. I felt like I was being pitied.
“I’m really fine! I was born to serve the young master! I haven’t left his side since I was little. I’ll be loyal to the Zepetto family until he gets married, has children, and his child inherits the title of Count. If my joints wear out from kneeling, I’ll just get new parts!”
I blinked repeatedly, trying to look sincere. Miss Baba placed her hand on my shoulder and shook her head.
“Stop it. It’s having the opposite effect.”
Even the young master agreed with her, the corners of his lips twitching slightly.
“Estella. Stop making me look like a cruel employer.”
Unable to clear up the misunderstanding, we had to leave.
We left the city to visit Miss Baba’s magic library. Ignoring the line of carriages at the gate, Miss Baba walked straight ahead.
“Are you planning to walk? It’s quite a distance.”
The young master asked, puzzled. I gestured towards him, with the vacuum cleaner strapped to my back.
“I’ll carry you! Hop on the vacuum cleaner!”