Maid Chapter 164

Through the glass, eyes stare back at me.

“Who are you?”

It doesn’t respond, just keeps looking at me.

“Why are you inside me?”

Still, it only looks at me.

The only sound is the turning of gears.

 

While I was comfortably snuggled up in Ketorami’s fluffiness, drifting in and out of sleep, everyone returned from their food hunting.

…It seems I inadvertently made them search for me as I was napping hidden in Ketorami’s fur. Sorry about that.

Ketorami, you should have said something! You can communicate with Suzumoto and Hagasaki through me, right?

However, strangely, everyone who went hunting brought back all the food they gathered.

“What’s with all that?”

“Well, when we tried to give it to the seniors, they said…”

“Making food for this many people is quite a task. Does anyone have cooking-related skills? No? Then, let’s have Maito make it. She’s non-combatant, right? So she must be free. Oh, and tell her I want some pudding.”

…So that was the plan.

Since that was the case, I better get started. While preparing the meat and marinating it, I reported what I had learned from Ariane.

Basically, it boiled down to “The Origins are for the people of this world to deal with, so you can leave without worry,” and “The Origins started turning into monsters after the summoning of extraterrestrials.”

“It seems like the monster transformation of the Origins is related to the presence of extraterrestrials. Kind of makes me feel guilty.”

Of course, we were brought to this world against our will.

It’s a balance between conscience and reality.

“…But then, does that mean the size of the monsters started really small… like microscopic?”

Kadomi-kun reiterates the earlier question.

And then, with the additional ingredients, Hagasaki comes up with a theory.

“Maybe the size resets with each hero summoning.”

That would make sense. Though, there’s no way to confirm it.

…If so, what if our departure triggers a reset? Then Ariane and the others could start dealing with Origins the size of soccer balls, manageable for about three rounds. How about that?

“As for the Origins… can we eliminate them all by tonight?”

Tonight is when we’re supposed to gather the wind orchestra club members, marking the time when we can return to our original world.

Most likely, many will want to return immediately, so we can’t dawdle.

Actually, that was our original plan.

“How about we try to eliminate one or two more before leaving? Would that be a fair compromise?”

So, Suzumoto proposed this idea, and it was agreed upon as a compromise.

If the Origins absorb magic, reducing their number should slow down the world’s decay.

Considering the world hasn’t perished yet, its destruction must be a slow process.

This seemed like a satisfactory point of compromise.

“So, here we go.”

With that, I took on the task of planting the “Sky-Blue Seed.”

Next to me, Kariya was on standby.

The plan was pretty straightforward: as soon as the monster appeared, we’d try to eliminate it quickly.

If the plan failed, Kariya would use “Ark” to make us invincible.

If that didn’t work, Katori’s “Eradicate EX” was ready to go. And if that also failed… well, I’d rather not think about that…

As I planted the seed, I mentally repeated, “Clean up immediately, clean up immediately.”

Then, as the light subsided, I didn’t wait to see clearly; I just thrust out the duster and started “cleaning” everything in a ‘pof-pof’ manner.

And wonderfully, with a ‘pof’ sound…

According to Katori, who was a bit away preparing “Eradicate EX,” the monster that appeared seemed a bit sad. Well, being eliminated within a second of appearing would do that.

“…Shall we go for one more?”

“Let’s do another one, huh…”

Well, it’s like this: if you strike immediately as something appears, it works. Right.

So, we managed to eliminate three more Origins.

The third one was tricky; when I tried to “clean” it, I could only get rid of its parts separately… The first strike only eliminated its leg, which was quite alarming.

Katori managed to eradicate the monster’s head, upper torso, and right arm with “Eradicate EX,” and the rest of us did what we could to handle the situation.

A monster reaching up to the sky is truly impressive. Seeing something like that makes all minor worries seem insignificant.

However, “eliminating” using the “Cleaning” skill was incredibly convenient. If I had combat adjustment, it would have been even more effective.

Unfortunately, it seems we can’t eliminate any more Origins than this.

So, I think we’ll leave the rest to Ariane and the temple people, and Ketorami and the others.

That’s the right place to draw the line, I guess.

So, it was time for an early dinner preparation.

Since today might be our last dinner here, I decided to use the ingredients generously!

…Today’s menu is fried chicken. But not limited to just chicken meat.

I had already marinated various meats earlier. Now, all that’s left is to coat them in batter and fry. That’s all!

…After all, I know that simple fried food is more popular than anything fancy here. I’ve fully grasped everyone’s food preferences during my time in this other world.

Also, if I get too elaborate, I won’t be able to make enough for the people in the gymnasium. There wouldn’t be enough time.

Now, for the poultry-like meat, I prepared two variations: a classic one with sake, soy sauce, and ginger, and a Western-style one with salt, pepper, and herbs.

For beef or deer-like meat, which tends to get tough, I chose the softer parts and fried them with just salt and pepper.

It’s more like beef cutlet than fried chicken.

I decided to stew the beef shanks because it would be a waste not to. I’m making two types: simmered in sweet and spicy sauce, and wine stew.

This way, it only requires the effort of two maid dolls to watch over the pots.

Similarly, for the boar-like meat, I chose the tender parts and prepared two versions: sweet and spicy, and salt and pepper.

Just keep frying. Fry endlessly.

Next to that, I was cooking a huge pot of minestrone and another of potage, full of vegetables. Beside that, I was cooking rice.

Stirring the pots was the job of the maid dolls.

They were very busy, hopping between pots, cutting vegetables, sautéing, and more.

In the oven, I was making grilled zucchini and tomatoes, and eggplant and potato gratin.

In the adjacent oven (which was installed for me, really grateful for that), I was baking a large quantity of pudding.

While releasing a bounty of ingredients, I had Toriumi and Katori, who borrowed the “Teleportation” barrette, transport the finished dishes as they were ready.

At the gymnasium, they were probably preparing something with whatever they had. But, you know, the main issue there seemed to be meat preparation. That’s why the cooking duty fell to me.

So, they should be making something vegetable-focused on their end. Probably.

“The fried chicken is a hit.”

“I can’t wait to eat it… I want to escape this torture soon…”

That’s great to hear. Please keep up the good work delivering it.

By the way, the frying is being handled by several maid dolls who have become veterans at it, working together in a team.

We’re probably frying about a hundred pieces of chicken per minute.

After endless cooking, we finally finished, and it was time for our meal.

The feedback was very positive.

Yep, you guys really love fried chicken. I do too, though.

After dinner, just before going to pick up the wind orchestra club members, I decided to check in one more time.

That would be at Kinoshita’s place.

According to Toriumi and the others, they wanted to think it over until the last minute.

The choir members would also be there until the very end.

They are… incredible.

Having once starved to death, they acquired “Starvation Resistance (Large)” and somehow managed to survive without nutrition through some mysterious power.

Whether that’s the reason or not, their remarkable speed of recovery is certain.

Toriumi moved the choir members to 2F south for the time being, while I went to hear Kinoshita’s decision.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. I have my family in the original world, and although I didn’t have many friends, I have a childhood friend there.”

I see, I see. Did that friend wake you up every morning or something?

“But in this world, I have Carissa and Shureira. It’s hard to part with them.”

Carissa and Shureira were sitting on either side of Kinoshita, holding his hands.

“…So, I’ve decided to take both of them back with me!”

…Ah, okay. Um…

Carissa and Shureira, are you okay with that? Is that alright?

“Of course, we don’t expect to live normally in a world unknown to us. But if that’s the best way for Yuuto, we’re willing to put in as much effort as needed.”

“I can do anything for Yuuto! Anything!”

…Alright. Their determination seems firm. I don’t know how it will go, but I understand. Okay, three guests, this way…

…May you both be cursed! May you continue to be cursed forever! And may you go bald! Become bald!

Bald, bald, bald! Are you Xavier!? Or is it an M-shape!?

Damn, but even if he goes bald, these two probably won’t… stop liking him…

After guiding the happy trio, it was time to pick up the members of the wind orchestra club.

I changed into my Demon King attire and, accompanied by Hariu, Toriumi, and Kariya for backup support, teleported to the wind orchestra club’s house.

Upon arrival, I found them already lined up, ready and waiting.

“We’ve decided. We’ll take your offer. If there’s a chance to return to our original world, we want to take it. Besides, we don’t care if a world like this perishes.”

Alright. Seeing their packed belongings, I thought it was a go, but hearing it confirmed is a relief.

However, their indifference to this world’s fate is understandable, if a bit sad. “A world like this, let it perish.”

“…I see. Then, let’s take you all with us. You will reunite with your companions there. Wait there for a while, alright?”

No need to worry about such things anymore.

So, I teleported nearly a hundred people… which worked surprisingly well. I thought I’d have to make multiple trips.

…An increase in MP… could it be that I’ve been unconsciously training with the Origins?

That would explain why my magical power, the source of energy, might have increased.

Ah, that also makes sense with what Glida said about me having a lot of magic. Right.

…Not that I can use it effectively or anything. Right.

Bringing the wind orchestra club members to where the gymnasium group was, they were still enjoying the fried chicken.

Looks like I didn’t make too much after all. They still have a good appetite for it.

“What is this…?”

And then, Itoigawa-senpai, whom I had briefed earlier, appeared.

“Hayata-chan!”

She hugged the wind orchestra club’s vice president with a beaming smile.

“Welcome back! Have you eaten yet? There’s still plenty left, so feel free to eat as much as you want.”

That alone seemed to drain a lot of the tension from the wind orchestra club members.

Being enveloped in a welcoming atmosphere right when they thought they’d be facing hostility, it’s natural for them to let their guard down.

The fact that many of them knew each other from the wind orchestra club also helped, but in any case, taking the initiative proved to be a winning strategy.

Having witnessed that, I returned to the 2F northeast, to the chemistry lab.

Itoigawa-senpai will handle the explanations, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

…Now then. To celebrate the completion of my work, I think I’ll have another pudding.

“We can go back now.”

It feels bittersweet, but returning was our goal, and we’ve achieved that.

Maybe I should be happier.

…But it’s true what they say, the anticipation of a trip is often the best part.

“How about we take one last look at the edge of the world?”

Following Toriumi’s suggestion, we decided to tour the world one last time before going to bed.

First, to the edge of the world. Then to the hill in front of the temple. The lava region. The desert. The grasslands… and we also picked up the signboard and the maid doll. Then to the snowy region. We admired the town of Deichemoore, gazed at the castle of Eitzol, visited the walls of the underwater city, and also went to Aegis and Kukurtz.

…It’s a beautiful world.

Really beautiful.

We ended up staying up all night, reluctant to sleep and miss any of it.

Watching the sunrise illuminate the world, I realized it was our last glimpse of this place.

Now, it’s time to return.

Even though we stayed up all night, we still had breakfast.

We kept it light with leftover soup from yesterday to avoid an upset stomach.

After breakfast, it was time to say goodbye to the 2F northeast forest.

Having taken a final look, we all teleported to 2F south.

There, everyone seemed to be taking their last looks outside, too.

“Maito—!”

“Whoa!”

Suddenly, Akashi leaped out of nowhere and tackled me, practically cracking my ribs. This is probably the last time that will happen. Please, let it be the last time!

Akashi, munching on bacon, seemed satisfied and left. What was that all about!

“Maito-san.”

As Kariya was healing my ribs, Utawaga-san approached gracefully, with Hanamura-san and Sagara-kun in tow.

“Thank you for everything. It must have been tough.”

“It was the same for everyone. You all did great, too.”

As I said this, Tsukimori-san emerged from behind.

“If Maito and the others hadn’t started, I don’t think anyone would have.”

“That’s right! We were helped by the seniors from the chemistry club!”

Hanamura-san jumped excitedly, affirming the sentiment.

Thinking about it, it does feel like we made a difference.

…Hmm, a sense of accomplishment.

While watching Romeo and Juliet get cozy, many people came up to talk to us.

It seems like we might have done pretty well. Not just me, but all of us.

Then, finally, the time came.

All the classrooms were deployed.

…Wow, chaos! Total chaos! All the classrooms are now single-story!

But, we already knew how to solve this.

“Everyone, let’s sing together!”

The choir girl floated in the air, waving her baton, and we all sang the school song.

Familiar lyrics and melody.

The classrooms floated, moved, and assembled to the rhythm of the song.

Finally, the last classroom clicked into place, and our familiar school building stood before us.

It was only a moment.

A fleeting moment.

The moment the school building was completed, we were crushed by a giant hand.

Blown away by gigantic wings, torn apart by huge claws and fangs.

Panic among the students, some armed, ready to fight.

Some tried to escape, some fell exhausted, others used healing magic, some fought with weapons, and others prepared spells. But everyone shared one feeling.

Despair.

The monsters that emerged from behind the school appeared at the worst possible time and plunged us all into despair.