Maid Extra 02: Tokoyo Was Eager To Hear Stories

The maid doll “Tokoyo” seemed to be listening to Ketorami and Hunter’s stories.

Chronologically, this is around episode 65.

---

…Hey, what’s up, you?… Huh? Ah, what, you got a name? Hmph, hmph… Tokoyo… Eternal night, huh? Not bad. That’s right. It must’ve been someone other than Maito who named you… I get it, you know mine and Hunter’s names, right? That guy has no naming sense.

…Well, then, let’s reintroduce ourselves.

I serve as Maito’s watchdog. The name given to me is Ketorami. It’s supposedly a lousy origin, but the sound isn’t too bad. I reluctantly compromised with it. Hm. Then, nice to meet you, Tokoyo.

…Hm? You have something you want to ask? Oh, ask away… Ah? Why am I serving as a watchdog for such a weakling? Well… it’s a hassle to explain… Oh? You really want to know?

…Well, yeah. It must be curious why someone like me would be a watchdog for such a weakling, huh? Alright, it can’t be helped, I’ll tell you.

The first time I met her was supposedly when she got kidnapped. I heard it later. She was easily snatched by that guy called Fukuyama, and while being transported, she apparently encountered me.

Then, well, this Fukuyama guy came at me… but he was so weak that, ah, should I skip this part?

…So, Maito, huh. That guy is a serious weakling, but she’s a weakling who is aware that she’s a weakling. Ah, I can give her that much credit. Even then, she knew she couldn’t escape from me, so she braced herself, I guess, and said something.

And what do you think she said? Shaking with fear, it’s laughable, “Hey, dog, don’t you think training a watchdog is also a maid’s job?” was it? She dared to say that, that guy.

From my perspective, a weakling like her could be killed in an instant. So, there’s no need for me to take the bait of such cheap provocation, and I thought it might be interesting to watch this amusing weakling a bit longer, right?

Then, next thing you know, that guy said something even more amusing.

“Sit,” you know? “Sit.” To me. To me, who is practically the lord of this area. Ah, what is this guy saying, I thought. I thought, but… well, for a weakling, she seemed to have some backbone.

Her eyes, you know? They didn’t waver. In a situation where she could be killed at any moment, she only looked straight at me. There was an inexplicable intensity. …And then, I thought, you know. Her rational thinking, or rather, boldness… no, that’s not it. It was her vulnerability. Despite looking straight at me, the fragility that seemed like she might die if poked attracted me, I think now. …What, is that bad? Huh?

…I am strong. I’ve been strong since I was born. Never been weak. That’s why… that sort of thing, how should I say, was rare, or rather, well, what, it never bored me to watch, I guess. Actually, the way weaklings fight is interesting, you know? That guy also wracks her brain and tries various things.

…Well, then, I made a contract with her. Ah, of course, I didn’t mess with the contents of the contract. She would have collapsed before I could, that guy was like that. So, the content of the contract was entirely decided by me, you see? Stupid, right, that guy.

So, I decided. First, if I get bored of this guy, the contract is null and void. Obvious, right? Next, I don’t side with humans. I refuse to get involved in human disputes. And, of course, even if she fights with the master of another area, I won’t join in. I’m in a ceasefire agreement, after all. …And in exchange, I’ll stay by her side. If she wishes, I’ll protect her from the riffraff around here. Well, having interruptions in observing this amusing weakling isn’t fun either.

…So, that’s why I’m serving as Maito’s watchdog.

Then, you know, she was really weak.

My master, you could say, well, if there were about 100 people, they might give me a decent fight… but surprisingly, Maito was weak. Weak, but… what, her ability to acquire the power she desires was high. If it seemed like a skill that wouldn’t be useful in combat, she mostly got what she wanted. Ah, she seems to want combat ability, but she’s hopeless at that, you know? Otherwise, you guys wouldn’t be mass-produced.

Besides combat, her other abilities seem pretty high. I don’t know much about humans… well, what was it? It’s about putting the right person in the right place, I guess. Maito, being unable to fight, compensates with other abilities to find value in herself, but, well, if you ask me, that’s meaningless.

Her value isn’t in such things. Her value is in that vulnerability. While being aware of herself as a weakling, she can make the most rational decisions and expose her life in front of a powerful enemy and then dare to say “sit” to that enemy. That ability is her value. She would mercilessly discard herself if necessary. You probably understand that somehow, right? Hm. Right?

…I want to see the moment she burns out after using herself up. I’m interested in what that weakling will do. So, I thought I might protect her until that moment. I thought… that was… the reason, but… no, never mind. Forget it, forget it. …Ah!? Emotion has transferred to me!? Nonsense! Like that would happen! After all…

…

…So, are you satisfied now? If you are, go back. You have work, right? Ah? None? On a break? …Really, you, a maid doll, you don’t work much, huh…

Ah, hey, Tokoyo! Don’t you wander off, okay? A walk? Stop joking around and go back, Maito will worry!

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Ah, Tokoyo! Tokoyo, Tokoyo, what’s up? …Eh? You want to hear about me? The story of when I met Maito?

Yeah, sure. So, um… yeah, you see, it wasn’t me who first met Maito, but my mom. We lived in the desert, you know? That area was my mom’s territory. …Yeah. When I grow up, that place will become my territory.

And, well, Maito got eaten by my mom but… Eh? Oh, yes. Maito said she killed my mom. That’s why Maito is alive. …Eh? Yes, yes. …I think differently. Probably Suzumoto or Kadomi, I think. Maito also said she’s not that strong. I know because I’ve seen it, Maito being weak. Maito is, you know, weak. That’s why I need to grow up quickly and protect her!

…Ah, sorry. That’s not what you asked, about when we met. Well, when Maito killed my mom, I don’t really understand, but she left my mom inside her. And it seems Maito had a hard time because of that… Yeah, and then, the mom inside Maito made her find me. I’ve been living in a crack in the desert rocks since I was born, you know? That’s where Maito and the others came to me. We talked there, and connected, and that’s why I decided to go with Maito!

Hm? You don’t understand? But Tokoyo, you’re the same, right? Connected to Maito, right? You understand?

Pass, that’s what it’s called, right? Because of this, I can talk to Tokoyo, Ketorami told me. Ketorami is knowledgeable, isn’t he? He seems younger than my mom but knows so much. But, he won’t tell me why he’s so knowledgeable. He teaches me a lot of other things, though. You know, I love stories about fights with dragons! Ketorami is so strong and so cool! I wish I could be like Ketorami soon. Then, not just getting carried on Maito’s shoulder when I grow up, but I can carry Maito! …But I can’t run like Ketorami… Hmm, what should I do? Hmm, it would be nice if I could fly in the sky like Tokoyo.

Eh? …Um, I don’t hold a grudge against Maito. I knew that my mom would be killed someday, and she told me so. Plus, Maito brought my dead mom with her. My mom is still inside me now. So, I’m not lonely. It seems my mom is satisfied too. Plus, there’s Maito, Ketorami, and the Tokoyo… Eh? Ah, Katori? …Ah, yes, I understand. Tokoyo loves Katori, right? …Um… Eh, the mechanism has been acting up lately, right? Eh? Beam? Um, I’m not quite sure about that…

…Yeah, yeah. That’s right. I love them. I love everyone. Because Maito loves everyone, and everyone loves Maito, right? So, I love them!

Tokoyo feels the same, right? …Eh, different? Tokoyo doesn’t love everyone? …Eh? Maito and Katori are special to Tokoyo?

…Yeah yeah, I see. Tokoyo was created by Maito, and Tokoyo became Tokoyo thanks to Katori, right? Just like I think Maito is special, Maito and Katori are special to Tokoyo.

Oh, now that you mention it, Tokoyo, do you not have any more work? Eh? It’s finished? Now you’re on a walk? …Yeah, yeah. I see. But it’s almost time for Maito to go to sleep. Maito will worry if we don’t return. …Eh? Me? I’m fine! Because I’m going to be the one protecting Maito outside! …Eh? Ketorami alone is enough? No! Then I won’t become strong! …Ah, yes. They don’t come. When Ketorami is here, the monsters around this area don’t approach. But, Ketorami teaches me. On nights when Maito doesn’t sleep with Ketorami, there’s Ketorami’s class. He teaches me about magic. “Shadow Edge” was taught to me by Ketorami. …Ah, yes. Ketorami can’t do it. Ketorami has no aptitude for dark magic. Ketorami is good at wind magic, but I’m not so good at wind magic. But “Edge” is more or less the same for both “Wind” and “Shadow”. …Yeah. That’s how it is. And Ketorami is a good teacher, so I understand quickly. He really knows a lot.

…Eh? Tokoyo also wants to use dark magic? Hmm… I think Tokoyo is fine just with healing magic. If Tokoyo becomes able to use dark magic too, then there wouldn’t be a role left for me!

…Eh? Tokoyo, did you fall asleep? You can’t sleep here. …Can’t be helped, I’ll carry you. I’m the older brother to Tokoyo, after all!