(7 more chapters coming today please give power stones)
The girl who appeared behind them was dressed in red and white, like a rose in bloom.
But unlike a standard Knights of Favonius uniform, this one was clearly custom-made—a maid outfit tailored into a knightly style.
Short silver hair, pale green eyes, and a cute face that carried an oddly steady calm.
"Boss Kaito—did you need Noelle's help?"
She placed one hand over her chest and bowed slightly.
Paimon's tiny hands were still locked around Kaito's neck. Only now did she dare twist her head out from his shoulder.
It wasn't a ghost.
It was a very cute girl.
"Noelle?"
She repeated the name that had already been burned into her memory, then snapped—hands on her hips.
"Could you stop popping up like that?! It's scary, okay?!"
"Oh! I'm very sorry for causing you distress."
Noelle apologized at once.
Then she reached into the front pocket of her maid skirt, pulled out a small notebook, and began to write.
Note: Next time I appear, I must choose the right timing.
Or make an appropriate sound first.
Do not scare people.
"?"
Paimon stared at her strange behavior, completely baffled.
She even writes this kind of thing down…?
Was this girl really forgetful?
"Wait—do you have a bad memory or something?" Paimon asked bluntly.
Noelle finished writing, put the notebook away, and returned to her perfectly upright stance, hands folded naturally at her lower abdomen.
"Even if my memory is good, writing it down is more reassuring," she said seriously. "And before I go to sleep each night, I read it over carefully."
She wasn't trying to be dramatic.
She truly meant it.
Noelle wanted every small reminder to become part of her habits.
Only then did Kaito speak.
"Noelle. You're done with your work?"
"I haven't finished everything Captain Kaeya assigned yet," Noelle answered honestly. "However… I heard you needed help."
Kaito nodded.
"Prepare adventure gear for five people."
Noelle's eyes sharpened with focus.
"Destination?"
"Windrise."
Kaito handed her a pouch of Mora.
"Yes. Leave it to me!"
Noelle pressed her hand to her chest in a crisp pledge, accepted the pouch, then immediately ran toward the market.
Lumine was still a little stunned.
"Kaito… who is Noelle?"
"Oh. The Knights' 'maid.' She's in a similar situation to Amber," Kaito explained. "They both consider themselves part of the Knights, but they're not officially commissioned yet."
"Probably not until they're adults."
Then he added, as if stating a well-known fact in Mondstadt:
"She's extremely helpful. If you run into trouble in the city, just shout her name and she'll show up."
"Wow… that's an amazing ability!" Paimon gasped. "Noelle must've learned some kind of summoning spell!"
"Mhm…"
Lumine was equally stunned.
Call her name and she appears—does she have a teleport skill?
Kaito added calmly, "But Noelle can be a bit… too enthusiastic."
"What does that mean?" Lumine tilted her head, looking adorably curious.
"You'll find out later. For now—back to Good Hunter."
…
Good Hunter's attic.
Barbara rubbed her sleepy eyes as she woke up.
She sat there blankly on the bed.
The room around her was unfamiliar, and her brain stalled for a moment.
Then, slowly, the memories from before she fell asleep came rushing back like a tide.
"Ah!"
A shy flush spread across Barbara's cute face.
"I overslept!"
"Did Kaito… let me use his bed…?"
Barbara hugged the blanket as the image replayed—being lifted, being placed on the bed.
Her heart started pounding so hard it felt like it was going to leap out of her chest.
She yanked the blanket up and flopped backward, burying herself completely.
"Mmm…!"
A muffled, embarrassed sound came from under the covers.
The blanket twisted from inside as she writhed in pure shame—then finally went still.
Barbara sat up again, trying to breathe.
Her gaze flicked toward the pillow she'd been resting on earlier, and she couldn't help swallowing nervously.
"Kaito probably isn't here…"
She pricked her ears, listening guiltily.
The attic was silent.
And because this was the third floor—built with high-quality wood and custom work—the soundproofing was excellent.
Nothing from the restaurant below carried up here.
Barbara made up her mind.
She grabbed the pillow and hugged it to her chest.
Then she buried her face into it.
"…Kaito's scent…"
The moment she thought it, she remembered she was a deaconess—and it felt terribly improper.
She clasped her hands and prayed frantically in her heart.
"Barbatos above… Barbara is only holding the pillow she slept on, checking whether she dirtied it."
"If there's any strange smell left behind… it would shame the church."
A soft creak sounded.
No idea whether her prayer reached the Anemo Archon—
—but at that moment, the bedroom door opened.
Kaito and Barbara locked eyes.
"Ah—!"
Barbara's skin turned red from head to toe. She yelped and, on instinct, threw the pillow at him.
Thump!
Kaito caught it.
He didn't seem to think anything of it.
"Still not fully awake?"
A girl hugging a pillow—nothing unusual.
"I—I'm leaving!"
Barbara moved like a startled wind sprite.
She jumped up, shoved her feet into her black shoes, grabbed her sling bag and Vision, and bolted out.
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