The next day, I opened my eyes when a sudden light hit me. Blinking against it, I quickly realized it was morning.
But when I tilted my head sideways, my heart nearly stopped.
Standing there was a breathtakingly beautiful lady in a maid's uniform, holding a folded bundle in her hands. Clothes? On closer inspection, they looked suspiciously familiar.
Wait… aren't those the ones I wore yesterday?
My gaze drifted downward—and then my brain froze.
…Why the hell am I completely naked?!
For a moment, my mind went utterly blank. I mean, think about it: I was a grown man, trapped in the body of a baby, lying bare in front of a gorgeous woman who was calmly preparing to dress me.
I don't care if this body is that of a newborn—there's no way a man can experience this without feeling at least a shred of shame!
The maid finally turned her gaze toward me, and our eyes met. For a long, awkward second, silence reigned in the room.
Then—
A loud wail shattered the stillness.
Guess who was crying.
Yes, it was me.
And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse—
[Ding~ Ara ara, Host. Already exposing yourself to women? So bold~]
Nyxara's voice giggled in my head, dripping with amusement.
[ Don't worry. You're still far too small to impress anyone. ]
"Shut up!!" I screamed internally, crying even harder on the outside.
The maid only tilted her head, smiling gently as she spoke to me in a soothing tone.
"There, there, young master. No need to cry. Let's get you dressed properly."
Her hands moved with practiced care, completely unbothered by my outburst. To her, I was nothing more than a fussy newborn.
To me? This was the greatest humiliation of my life , yet.
After I calmed down, I found myself being dressed by the maid. Her hands moved gently and efficiently, and for a moment, I didn't bother resisting.
Everything was fine… until she finished.
The maid stepped back and looked at me with a peculiar expression, a mix of admiration and—was that amusement?
"Hey! Why are you looking at me like that?" I muttered in my mind, feeling uneasy.
.
.
.
Silence.
.
.
.
"Hmm?! Why are you not speaking, Nyxara?"
Strangely enough, Nyxara was quiet. Too quiet. For a second, I imagined her mind had completely frozen. Finally, after what felt like ages, her giggle rang out.
[Fufufu~ Hmm~ I think it's better for the Host to find out for himself.]
And then she went completely silent again.
Confused, I tilted my head sideways… only to freeze solid.
The clothes I was wearing were fluffy, black-and-white, and had a round hood with ears. On my back, a tiny, wagging tail.
"…I… I look like a goddamn panda."
At that exact moment, Nyxara returned with a squeal that stabbed my pride like a thousand swords.
[Kyaaaaa~! Host, you're *sooo* cute right now I can hardly stand it! A fearsome warrior reborn… into a cuddly panda mascot! Fufu~ this is priceless!]
Before I could even snap back at her, the maid bent down slightly, her eyes soft with affection.
"My, my… young master, you look absolutely adorable."
Her smile was so warm and genuine it almost hurt more than Nyxara's teasing.
Two women—one laughing in my head, one doting right in front of me—were simultaneously crushing what little dignity I had left.
"…Please," I muttered inwardly, "just bury me already."
...…..
Meanwhile, elsewhere in a dimly lit alley, several shadowy figures gathered together, their presence blending seamlessly with the darkness.
One assassin's low, gravelly voice broke the silence.
"So… have we confirmed the location of the child?"
A second figure stepped forward, the same one who had observed the mansion the night before.
"Yes. The target remains inside his chambers. Most of the maids and servants are occupied with preparations for the festival. Only a skeleton watch of guards patrol the area."
The leader's eyes narrowed beneath his hood.
"Good. That means we strike tonight. No mistakes. No mercy."
The scout gave a short nod.
"As planned."
Their whispers were carried away by the night wind as the group dispersed into the shadows, leaving only a suffocating silence in the alley.