Hill’s Views on Marriage

The undead knight proved far more dangerous than anticipated.

Its ability to evolve into a variant form alone was beyond what an ordinary S-rank adventurer could handle.

Had Ciel not ‘given it her all,’ she might not have been able to defeat him.

However, by the time the battle was over, dawn had broken, and Ciel’s strength had returned to its normal state.

Thus, they could only travel to a nearby town and take an airship back to the capital.

Ren Daozhen, assuming Ciel was simply exhausted from a fierce battle, didn’t press for details.

“Speaking of which, Head Maid, you dealt with that undead knight and even reshaped the terrain of the Sunset Mountains. Is that really alright? Won’t the Holy Adjudicator Knights question you?”

“My ability to defeat the undead knight is my own. I relied on no one. As they say, first come, first served. What could they possibly say?” Ciel replied, her tone even.

“That’s good, but… it was my first time seeing a six-winged angel. They’re even more impressive than I imagined.”

He recalled the divine, six-winged angel bathed in golden light.

Though he had been far away and the angel wore a mask, its sacred aura had still left Ren Daozhen stunned—it was a sight more breathtaking than any video game cinematic.

“Do you prefer angels to maids? I suppose it makes sense; angels are, after all, familiars who serve the divine. However, when it comes to etiquette and the art of service, maids are far superior. Those angels are little more than a pack of battle fanatics.”

“Huh?”

Ren Daozhen couldn’t help but look surprised at Ciel’s remark.

‘She’s definitely jealous!’

In the past, such a reaction might have secretly pleased Ren Daozhen.

But he understood now that her jealousy wasn’t for him.

She was jealous because he found angels more impressive than maids—the latter part being the crucial point.

It was like a child arguing with someone over their favorite show.

Ciel’s obsession with maids was almost pathological, tinged with a hint of masochism.

“Head Maid, I’m suddenly curious… have you ever considered marriage?”

“Marriage?”

Ciel tilted her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Perhaps. I might, or I might not. At present, I have no thoughts of romance or marriage. For me, fulfilling my duties as a maid is more than enough.”

“If… and I’m just saying if… you did get married in the future, would you continue to be a maid?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? Being a maid is my dream and my calling. Why would I abandon it for marriage?”

“Then would you marry your future master?”

“No. I could marry anyone in the future, but never my master.”

“Why not!”

“Because… if I were to marry my master, the employment relationship between us would be dissolved. Then I wouldn’t be a true maid, but merely a wife playing a master-servant game with her husband. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I think I get it. I feel sorry for your future husband.”

“Mr. Ren Daozhen, are you thinking something improper? Surely you don’t take me for some frivolous, careless woman? Even if I were to acknowledge someone as my master, it is merely an employment contract. I have every right to refuse my master’s unreasonable requests.”

“Sorry, sorry, that’s not what I was thinking. I just feel… it would be strange to see someone I love call another person, especially a man, ‘Master’.”

“I understand. That is the possessiveness inherent in everyone. It’s quite normal. And it is also normal for a perfect maid such as myself to be admired.”

“…”

Ren Daozhen sighed to himself. The first flutter of romance in his life had ended before it even began.

‘Oh well. At least from the perspective of a maid, Ciel is still outstanding.’

“Head Maid, could you brew me another cup of tea?”

“Of course.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sky, a luxurious small airship sped through the air, its insignia marking it as a special vessel belonging to the Royal Knight Order.

Aboard were the six Holy Adjudicator Knights, returning empty-handed, along with the victims they had rescued from the goblin cave.

“That woman… is she from the Cosmos family?”

The six-winged angel, Belinda, wore a pensive expression.

The emblem of the Stardragon was exclusive to the Cosmos family in this theocracy.

For even a maid of theirs to possess such immense power…

Recalling the spectacular sight of the mountain range that had been razed into a basin, Belinda’s expression grew increasingly grave.

“Captain, should we dispatch someone to investigate that maid’s identity?”

“There’s no need. It’s obvious she’s from the Cosmos family. We have no reason to antagonize them.”

“If the maid is from the Cosmos family, could that man be the rumored second young master of the house?”

“I’ve heard of him. He’s said to have had no aptitude for cultivation since childhood, a recluse who rarely makes public appearances.”

“There are plenty of ways to improve one’s aptitude. With his family’s resources, it should be simple. I bet the second young master has finally gained some strength and decided to become an adventurer for the experience.”

“Who goes looking for an undead knight for ‘experience’? Captain, what do you think? Captain!”

“Ah? Oh…”

“What’s wrong, Captain? You look lost in thought. Don’t tell me you know the second young master!”

“Ohoho, I smell gossip.”

“Get lost, all of you! What are you even thinking? Gossip!”

Seeing the others crowd around her, Belinda’s face flushed red. She snapped at them before turning to leave.

Her reaction only made the others more suspicious, and they huddled together to discuss it.

“I’ll tell you a secret. I heard… the captain might be engaged to a certain noble!”

“Could it be…!”

“Mhm, it’s very likely! In terms of status and background, the only family that can compare to the captain’s is the Cosmos family.”

After a full half-day of travel, Ciel and Ren Daozhen finally returned to the capital.

Although the latter was undocumented, the city gate inspections weren’t particularly strict.

Even without identification, one could enter by simply signing a register and pledging not to cause any trouble within the city walls.

Of course, this signature was no mere formality; to violate the pledge would truly result in a curse.

Upon their return, the two first went to the Adventurer’s Guild to report their completed quest.

When Ciel produced the nether scythe and slapped it onto the counter, she instantly drew the attention of everyone in the guild.

Even though the scythe had been sealed by Ciel, the faint aura of death leaking from it was enough to inspire fear.

Ciel briefly explained the situation.

Learning that the very terrain of the Sunset Mountains had been altered left the receptionist attending to her drenched in a cold sweat.

Soon after, the guild master himself came to receive them.

The guild had intended to purchase the scythe at a high price, but unfortunately for them, Ciel had already taken a liking to it.