— — — — — —
"Damn you, Yagami. You're the worst."
"Why didn't you knock first?"
Black Rabbit hooked her arm tightly around Ryo's neck as she yelled in irritation.
Sitting calmly on the couch, his face perfectly composed despite being caught in a literal headlock, Ryo said, "First off, there's a worse Yagami out there — I'm actually the good Yagami. Second, wasn't that just a little bonus you threw in for me?"
"I liked it, by the way."
"Bonus my ass!" she shouted, blushing furiously.
The shout was so loud that Ryo's ear rang. He poked a finger in it and said lazily, "Then explain why you were changing in the living room instead of the dressing room."
He lifted an eyebrow. "And with them, no less."
He glanced across the room at the three "maids"—Athena, Lancelot, and Leticia.
"I actually think these outfits look great," Lancelot said with genuine wonder, tugging at the hem of her black-and-white maid uniform. "And I swear the defense on this thing feels higher than my divine armor."
Leticia, looking like a twelve-year-old with her golden hair and red eyes, sighed. "Don't let the looks fool you. Lady Shiroyasha forged these herself with godfire. They're technically special armor, about on par with four-digit class gear."
"Oh, so that's what it is."
Lancelot nodded, suddenly enlightened. "I see—people in Little Garden just like their armor to look... erotic."
"No," Athena said flatly, glancing down at her own skirt and lifting a corner of it ever so slightly. "It's simply a matter of bad taste."
Nothing was visible—just a sudden flash of light that erased any details from view— The legendary Censorship Authority.
"Tch."
Someone whose name shall not be mentioned clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Athena's lips curved upward slightly. She looked up and said to Black Rabbit, "By the way, why is your closet mostly filled with maid uniforms?"
"Please don't bring up my tragic past," Black Rabbit murmured weakly.
Leticia silently tugged at the front of her uniform. Black Rabbit noticed immediately. "Lady Leticia, is the top too loose?"
"…No. It fits perfectly fine," Leticia said after a long pause, expressionless as ever.
"It's okay," Black Rabbit started, "since these were tailored by Lady Shiroyasha to match my own figure, it's normal that they might be a bit—"
Before she could finish, Ryo suddenly tilted his head upward, trying to get a better look.
"Ah! That hurt!"
Black Rabbit jumped back, clutching her chest with tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Why'd you headbutt me out of nowhere?"
"Nothing serious," Ryo said, pouring himself a cup of tea like nothing had happened. "You were squeezing too tight, that's all."
"I was barely holding you!" she complained, "A-And it's your fault anyway! Who told you to peek?"
"Peek? Did I?" Ryo looked genuinely puzzled and turned to Athena.
"Doesn't seem like it," Athena replied smoothly, siding with him without hesitation.
"Athena!" Black Rabbit's already red eyes turned even redder. "You were the one who said you needed disguises! I was just helping you get the outfits!"
"That's true," Athena nodded serenely. "But that's not the part I was referring to."
"…Then what are you talking about?"
"I meant the peeking," Athena said, tapping her finger in the air. "Ryo didn't peek. The only one seen was you, Black Rabbit."
Leticia added quietly, "Yeah… we were already dressed by then."
Black Rabbit froze.
Lancelot tilted her head, then laughed heartily. "Now that you mention it, that's true! But hey, no big deal. We're all family here. If you worry about that kind of thing, you're no true warrior!"
"I'm not a warrior!" Black Rabbit wailed.
No one paid her complaint much attention.
"So, what's with the disguises?" Ryo asked Athena. "Why the sudden need for them?"
"They're for when I replace the other version of myself," Athena said with a graceful twirl. Her skirt fluttered, and a small, amused smile appeared on her face. "This is actually the first time I've worn something like this. How do I look?"
"Beautiful," Ryo said simply, giving a thumbs-up. Then he frowned. "Wait, are you planning to sneak into Olympus as a maid?"
"That's one possible approach," she said lightly. "But remember, my true identity must remain hidden for now. Even though I'm using the name Pallas, keeping my real self under wraps is essential. A disguise like this—posing as a maid, a non-combatant—works perfectly."
"Hold on," Black Rabbit said quickly, waving her hands. "You can't seriously mean you're going to be a maid—"
Athena shot her a teasing smile. "Oh? Are you worried something might happen if I become Ryo's personal maid?"
"H-His personal maid?" Black Rabbit stammered, sneaking a glance at Ryo. Her face went crimson in an instant. "Th-That's not appropriate at all!"
Ryo sighed. "Are all Little Garden nobles this perverted?"
"Perhaps only this one," Athena said smoothly. "Of course, if you'd like to join me as a fellow maid, Black Rabbit, I wouldn't mind."
"Ahhhh! Please stop!"
Black Rabbit covered her face and squatted down, her hair color flickering wildly between pink and blue.
Athena tilted her head, a little surprised. "So it's true—when a Moon Rabbit gets too emotional, their hair changes color. The book was quite accurate."
"The Encyclopedia of Little Garden Species?" Leticia blinked. "You were reading that just now?"
"A goddess of war must know everything about Little Garden," Athena said with a knowing smile.
"Oh, so you do read casual stuff. I thought you only studied combat manuals and battle records," Lancelot said with a grin. Her expression turned eager. "By the way, did the Lancelot of this world die yet?"
"She died two hundred years ago," Leticia replied simply, not elaborating.
The war against the Demonic Dragon two centuries ago—that was the beginning of Arcadia's fall. It had even destroyed Black Rabbit's homeland, so Leticia kept the details to herself.
Lancelot smirked. "Oh? Then I can claim that title's legacy for myself."
"Planning to go for it?" Ryo asked, clearly intrigued. "I happen to have the Queen's butler's contact info."
He'd been meaning to get in touch with Queen Halloween anyway. If Lancelot could help, all the better.
And he wasn't worried about her loyalty—she'd already sworn herself to him.
"Of course," Lancelot said. "But I'll need about a week to adjust and get used to Little Garden's combat style first."
"Got it," Ryo said with a nod. "I'll handle the contact on my end, then."
As he said that, he noticed Leticia watching him. She gave him a subtle look.
"Talk later," her eyes said.
Ryo gave a slight nod in return.
.
.
.