Haruki sat at the dining table eating breakfast with everyone. Judging by how he chatted and laughed with the women, there wasn't the slightest sign of exhaustion from last night's wild torment of Akame and her sister.
"Master, we'd like to go out and buy some necessities for the estate today."
After the meal, Taeko asked Haruki for permission.
Unlike the other maids who addressed Haruki as "Young Master," Taeko continued to call him "Master," likely to indulge Haruki's twisted desire to be treated with a certain dominance.
"Do as you like. And from now on, there's no need to ask me about things like this."
Haruki had no objections to such a normal request from Taeko.
"Taeko, I'll go ahead and check what we might need."
Sayo turned to Taeko beside her, then addressed the group of maids following behind.
Taeko, Sayo, and several of Haruki's maids were heading out to shop. Haruki's grand and luxurious estate housed not only Haruki and his women, but also a large number of servants. With such a massive household, regular supply runs were essential.
Taeko casually responded with a faint "Mm," signaling her agreement.
As she wandered the streets, Sayo looked around curiously, her eyes lighting up at everything she saw.
After all, she was just a girl from a remote, impoverished village. Her world had been small. Though she'd grown used to seeing lavish and expensive things in Haruki's mansion, the capital was on a whole other level. It was overflowing with rare and bizarre goods—most of which Sayo had never even imagined.
Her maid uniform, distinctive to Haruki's estate, made her identity easily recognizable.
As she strolled through the streets, many girls looked at her with envy. Even minor nobles showed her respect, completely unlike the disdain they usually reserved for low-status maids.
In typical noble households, maids were only marginally above slaves—often girls sold by their struggling families to survive. They were usually treated as expendable, subject to beatings or even execution. But things were different at Haruki's estate.
Haruki's fiercely protective nature was famous in the capital. He defended those around him to an almost unreasonable degree. Because of his overwhelming influence, even the maids under his roof enjoyed high status. Not even nobles dared treat them as disposable.
There was a saying in the capital: to become a maid in Haruki's estate was no different from becoming a noble. It had become the greatest aspiration of countless girls both in and around the city.
"Sorry, sorry..."
As Sayo wandered aimlessly, a cloaked figure suddenly bumped into her. His head was bowed, hiding his face. After murmuring a few quick apologies, he hurried off.
"Hm?"
Hearing his voice, Sayo's body tensed. Without hesitation, she followed in the direction he'd gone.
"Tatsumi, is that you?"
The two of them moved, one following the other, until they reached a deserted alleyway.
Sayo addressed the mysterious figure in front of her. Though her words formed a question, her tone was full of certainty.
Sayo, Tatsumi, and Ieyasu had grown up together—they knew each other inside and out. Just from hearing his voice, Sayo had been sure. Otherwise, there's no way she would have followed such a shady person into a secluded alley.
"…Yeah, Sayo, it's me. I'm so glad you're okay."
The cloaked man removed his hood as he spoke, his tone filled with relief. Sayo had guessed right. It was Tatsumi—the one she hadn't seen in a long time.
After joining Night Raid, Tatsumi never stopped searching for her. He still remembered what Ieyasu had said before he died—that it was a blessing Sayo hadn't been with him, which meant she was still alive. But as time passed, Tatsumi found no trace of her. Eventually, he had no choice but to give up.
Knowing how outsiders fared in the capital—and that Sayo was an especially pretty girl—Tatsumi feared the worst: that some twisted noble had taken her and she was now lost forever.
But just a few days ago, Leone, who had been gathering intel in the capital, reported back that a girl matching Tatsumi's description had been spotted among the maids in Haruki's mansion.
And so, today, Tatsumi had come to see her in person.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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