Chapter 16
16
Reviewing Ezekiel's resume, he was an incredible child who had held numerous key positions. He had lived more diligently in half my life than I had.
Mathias, who had been quietly gazing at Ezekiel, stroked his chin and said,
"You're hired too."
My opinion still didn't matter.
"Um, Mr. Mathias. There are more than one or two suspicious things..."
I whispered to Mathias, but it was already too late.
"I've already finished signing."
They had already signed the employment contracts that Mathias had handed out.
No, when did you even prepare these? I'm the landlord!
With specs that looked like they were here to kill me, and as if they were after the Philosopher's Stone or something, Mathias must have his reasons.
He said he was acquainted with the demon Elluaerd. Besides, Dante, Killian, and Ezekiel all know each other. I probably don't need to have unnecessary suspicions that they're assassins who came to kill me.
Ezekiel grinned, his golden eyes sparkling, as he was immediately given the Acceptance Necklace.
"Thank you."
How strong is this child that he speaks so casually to Mathias, who is centuries older than him? The magnanimous Mathias didn't say anything else, perhaps because he was lenient towards children.
"Ezekiel, was it? What do you want to do?"
At my question, Ezekiel cleared his throat and looked up at me. His cheeks were flushed red.
"Cook."
"Why?"
"It was my dream."
It was an ordinary dream for an extraordinary child.
"Are you good at cooking?"
"I'm going to find out. I also brought a bribe for the job."
Ezekiel flicked his hand. Soon, a chilling wind swept through, and something enormous emerged from the dark forest.
"Ugh..."
The moment I realized that what was beyond was not a mountain, but a dragon with a dark body and ferocious appearance, my mind went blank.
"What is that!"
"Horntail. We all came on that."
Ezekiel said it as if it were the most ordinary thing.
The Horntail species dragon, touching the moon in the night sky, flapped its wings and howled. The world seemed to shake entirely with the resounding cry.
So, that vibration from earlier was because that thing, as big as an airship, had landed. I looked at Horntail with troubled eyes.
"I'm a clean and upright person, so I can't accept bribes. And I can't raise that thing here. There's no place to put it."
"Is that so? Then I'll use it as a cooking ingredient."
He's going to eat the Horntail he rode here? Didn't he get attached to it on the way?
At Ezekiel's shocking statement, Killian, an environmental and animal rights activist, turned his head to look at me and Ezekiel. A muffled voice leaked from inside his helmet.
"Its name is Toto. I rescued it from the arena and treated it. It's a pitiful child."
Ah... such a redemption narrative?
"The name is a bit, reminds me of gambling and illegal things..."
I couldn't see Killian's expression as he stared intently at me, but he was clearly upset that I was making fun of the name he had given.
That man said he liked plants and animals, but he didn't say he liked humans, did he? If Toto gets hurt, I might get retaliated against by Toto's dad.
"I meant it reminded me of a cute puppy I saw when I went to an illegal gambling den. It won all my money. It was the best puppy I knew."
I managed to get through the situation with amazing quickness. Even though I sacrificed my image as a gambler.
Elluaerd, with one hand on his hip, looked at Killian and let out a soft snort.
"I healed it and saved it. I didn't want to see that Tin Can crying."
Tin Can, he's talking about Killian, right? Still, the demon seems to have some loyalty.
"Ah, you don't like seeing your friend sad?"
At my question, Elluaerd raised his monocle and shook his head firmly.
"No, it's exactly as I said. It's grotesque to see him sobbing in that state. But if Master wants to eat it, I'll endure that much."
As expected, he has no humanity, like a demon.
I couldn't make the Sword Master cry again, so I urgently shouted at Ezekiel.
"No! Let's just raise Toto here! The more I look at it, the cuter it is, and I don't have a car anyway, so I'll need it when I go grocery shopping!"
"Okay. If the problem is lack of space, I'll reduce its size appropriately."
As Ezekiel whistled, the Horntail, shrunk to the size of a pony, quickly flew over and landed.
"Peeeee."
The thunderous cry had also changed to a kitten's sound. Looking at it like this, it seems a bit cute.
As I mustered the courage to stroke it, Ezekiel said to me.
"Be careful, it's a bit ferocious."
I was startled and withdrew my hand. You shouldn't just stroke any dog you see on a walk. I forgot.
"Does it bite?"
Ezekiel, who was staring at my terrified face, smiled with round eyes.
"No."
"That's a relief."
"It doesn't bite, it swallows. Without chewing."
Oh my god. It's not just ferocious?
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
It's better for my mental health to just admit that I've been on a crazy route since I came into this house, and give up on common sense and understanding.
At that moment, the armored man, Killian, came up and offered me a handshake. When I grasped his gauntlet, I felt a clanging sound and a damp, cold sensation.
"Order me to do anything, Master."
I feel like you guys are going to be using me.
I somehow feel crushed by the disaster I brought upon myself.
"Use any room you want. There are many rooms."
I served tea to the new guests as a sign of welcome.
The shock was so great that I was wide awake.
The Horntail named Toto had taken a spot on the cushion in front of the fireplace and was curled up. The cushion is a bit small.
I sat around the table and asked them as if I were interrogating them.
"But, why our house of all places? Other places must be hiring servants too."
Killian, holding a floral teacup, replied.
Did you say 'without fear' just now? But how do you drink tea with a helmet on?
"Actually, I feel very strongly prejudiced, and it's as uncomfortable and difficult as if national elders have visited."
But Killian continued, pretending not to hear my words of difficulty.
"And, we have a common mission. We can finally do what we like in a place where there are no interruptions."
A common mission, an isolated mansion in the mountains where they won't be disturbed.
What is this suspicious combination?
Suddenly, one fact I had forgotten came to mind. Later, the Sword Master and the Magic Tower Lord are also included in the 7 Committee that establishes the republic.
I didn't know their names because it was briefly described in the ending part. In fact, I was so surprised by the shocking ending that I didn't even focus on it properly.
"Um... is Mr. Dante also participating in this mission?"
Dante nodded without denying it.
"Yes, but I can't tell you now."
The hand holding the teacup trembled.
That man has definitely brought in his fellow rebels.
Our house has become a hot spot for rebels, right now? Are traitors trying to plot a rebellion in our house?
For some reason, he said he didn't want to hire other servants, but he welcomed the newly appeared rivals.
Come to think of it, Mathias was also favorable to the revolution. Like an idealist dreaming of paradise, he said a better world would come.
Could they all be in cahoots? And I've become involved too?
It seems like I've taken an irreversible step.
Realizing this, I made a serious face.
"As the landlord, I'm going to set one rule."
I have no influence at all, but I'm still the landlord and employer, so I have the right to set rules. In this mansion, I'm the next most powerful person after Mathias.
"Lights out by 12 AM sharp. No gathering of 3 or more people in one place at night."
"You said one, but why are there two?"
Dante asked with pure curiosity about my strict social distancing rules.
I straightened my back, pretending to be strong with all my might.
"Just now, 'Don't make me feel embarrassed by arguing with me' has been added."
"Understood."
They nodded without much objection. I continued with my strong momentum.
"I'll be checking unexpectedly, so be nervous. And if you're caught slacking off during work, you'll get points deducted."
'Slacking off = suspicious secret talks of the masterminds' means.
Since the strongest people have gathered, I'm less worried about being killed by intruders, but what if they commit a rebellion later and slip away? In the future, ordinary citizens like me will only be victims.
But I can't just fire them as I please. Mathias, who picked them out of personal interest, would surely execute me with the chandelier.
The only way... is to possess a brutal, exploitative owner and make them work without time to plot schemes.
If they collapse from exhaustion every night due to hard labor, they won't be able to meet in secret.
I've brought in masterminds as maids.
