Thin, soft hands relax my muscles and slowly make me feel better.
I will also massage Kaede's body later.
"Woaaaah!"
"Kyu~"
For some reason, Panda and Frau are spinning in the air.
Is it a new game?
It seems to be a new game after all, as they started to turn and move.
...It looks fun. I want to try it too.
Frau walked over to the window and stopped moving.
"Isn't that Bill over there. Oh, everything's spinning..."
Frau and Panda fell unsteadily to the ground, as if their eyes were spinning.
What are you doing?
I got up and looked out the window, and sure enough, there was Bill.
And he's talking to a woman who looks like his mother, the same one I met at the entrance.
"Is this a private conversation?"
"Hmm, that's suspicious."
The mother smiles at Bill's words.
He nodded and left.
I don't like this.
I have to watch my back while I'm in this mansion.
I will quickly leave this place once I've heard Keios' story.
"Come now, Master, I'm not done with you yet."
“!!”
Kaede jumps on the bed, wags her tail and looks at me happily.
However, Frau also fell on top of me.
"No, Frau will give you a massage, my Lord."
"No, Frau-San, I am the one who should massage the Master."
"Kuu~, Frau can't touch the master?"
"No, that's not it-- Huigh!?"
Frau rubbed Kaede's waist area intensely.
Now that I remember, Frau is very rough when she massages.
Fair enough for me, but Kaede might not be able to take it.
"Hi, I'm coming in."
Bill entered the room without knocking.
In addition, the tone of voice and attitude are different from the last time.
"Hey, Toru, there's something I want you to do."
"What do I get in return?"
"There's no such thing as a reward. Let's face it, you're no better than me. If you want a seat at the head of the Eiban family, you'll do as I say."
Huh? What are you talking about, little man?
A seat in the Eiban family?
I was about to explode with anger, but I managed to restrain myself.
"I'll tell you three things; First, I'm not interested in being part of this family, second, I don't plan to do anything unless I get paid, and third, I'll leave this house as soon as your father has told me what I want."
"You are a very good liar. All right, I'll pay you whatever you want. In return, you will do what I order you to do."
He's looking down on me.
I'm angry, but I think I'll play along.
I hate nobles who have grown up without personality and being pampered.
Unlike all the nobles I have met, Bill is by far the worst.
"I'll be waiting outside, be ready soon."
He quickly left the room.
Nor did he deign to say what he wants me to do.
Is he supposed to be my cousin...? I hate him.
"You're late! How long are you going to make me wait!"
Bill yells as soon as we're out the door.
I think it's only been about five minutes.
There is no need to rush.
In front of the entrance a single carriage was drawn up, and it was easy to predict that it would go outside the mansion.
''Currently, our country has its hands full with organized bandits. The other day, the army finally discovered the enemy's stronghold. We will participate in this campaign to defeat them.''
Organized bandits, eh?
I had run into one of them before coming here, but it was a small group.
"What's the reward?"
"Five million."
"Okay, I'm in."
I could have refused this offer, but there was something that bothered me.
What had his mother told Bill about me? Why did he turn to me for this assignment?
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Bill holds nothing but contempt for me.
This must be some sort of trap.
The quickest way to find out what is going on is to go to the problem at hand.
"But, there is one condition. In this petition, the reward will be determined by who defeats the most enemies. If you want the money, you'll have to beat me. Well, I guess that's useless."
"Dead or alive?"
"It doesn't matter. As long as they are defeated."
I don't like to gamble with my job, but in this case, I guess I have no choice.
Now that we are facing bandits, to what extent should we be benevolent towards them?