> "It started with maids.
It always starts with maids."
— Sona Shitori, right before losing control of her entire student council
---
[Kuoh Academy – Day 1 of the School Festival]
The air was festive. Colorful banners. Smiling students.
Just another wholesome, demon-infested school festival.
Then came the announcement:
> "Now opening: CLASS 2-B'S MAID CAFÉ – 'Shadow's Embrace.'"
Sona (alarmed):
> "Wait, that wasn't on the activity list."
Tsubaki:
> "It appeared… this morning. Fully constructed.
Uniforms custom-made. Furniture engraved. Espresso machine… cursed?"
---
[Scene: 'Shadow's Embrace' Café]
The MC stood calmly in the center of a gothic-themed café, black lace curtains flowing dramatically.
Every maid greeted guests with perfect synchronicity and whispered ominous phrases like:
> "Your coffee… has already accepted your fate."
> "Welcome, Master. You are five minutes late to your prophecy."
Rias (visiting with Akeno, sipping tea):
> "...I hate how good this tea is."
Akeno:
> "I think the sugar cubes are whispering names of people who wronged me."
MC (smiling serenely):
> "Just trying to support the festival. As a humble student. With no agenda."
Rias (internally):
> He's definitely plotting something.
...And I kind of respect it.
---
[Scene: The Takoyaki Incident]
Meanwhile, Issei tried to impress two underclassmen by operating a takoyaki stand.
Then a strange masked transfer student approached.
> "I have come to challenge the Flame Ball Ritual of Octopus."
He poured glitter into the batter.
BOOM.
Half the stand exploded in a rain of octopus chunks and emotional damage.
Issei (smoking, panicking):
> "I JUST WANTED TO FLIRT!"
Kiba (calmly cleaning his blazer):
> "This is why we don't let Issei handle propane."
---
[Scene: Student Council War Room]
Sona:
> "I've identified 14 suspicious patterns.
Class 2-B's café is generating 78% of foot traffic.
None of the staff are on record.
And one of the maids is a scarecrow that moves when unobserved."
Tsubaki:
> "Shall we shut it down?"
Sona (gritting teeth):
> "No.
We investigate... subtly."
Cut to: Sona and Tsubaki both entering the café dressed as guests, dead serious, wearing trench coats over their uniforms.
---
[Scene: The Kidnap Plot]
A group of first-years dressed in festival mascot costumes (a carrot, a crab, and a traffic cone) held an emergency meeting behind the gym.
Carrot Kid:
> "If we offer the principal as tribute, maybe the math exam gets canceled."
Crab Kid:
> "How do we catch him?"
Traffic Cone:
> "Ask the quiet kid. The one who speaks like a villain monologuing to the stars."
MC (appearing behind them silently):
> "That would be me."
The children screamed and scattered.
---
[Finale: Rooftop Observation – Nightfall of the Festival]
The school was still standing.
Barely.
MC stood above it all, sipping an ominous iced latte. His café won Best Booth. Again.
Rias, Sona, Akeno, and half the student council watched from below.
Rias:
> "He's hiding something."
Sona:
> "He's not hiding.
He's performing."
Akeno (smiling):
> "And we're all in his audience."
MC turned.
Made eye contact.
Winked.
A breeze howled.
---
[System Notification]
> Trait Gained:
"Festival Menace (Lv.1)" – Your presence in any school event guarantees chaos, admiration, and low-key divine intervention.
---
End of Chapter 41: Kuoh Descends