[After five and a half years]
In a room appropriate for a nobleman's home, Baal and Slime were seated at a table. Two of them and Effraye were the only ones present in this mansion. For his hosts, Effraye was now preparing food. He was dressed in a butler's uniform and wore an apron over it. Baal had developed into a fairly attractive woman and was dressed up neatly. Her grey eyes, white hair, and average height complemented one another beautifully. Her brother, who was sitting in front of her and appeared to have a girlish look, also had long white hair. He was well-groomed and had a coat on.
Baal yelled, "Hurry up!!!!!! I'm starving over here."
"We worked all day, and I'm starving like crazy right now."
Food was brought by Effraye at a mobile tray table. He elegantly placed the food on the table, only to see two wild cats eat it up without regard for things such as manners.
"I would want to correct your earlier comment; I completed all the work,"
"Yeah, yeah, now let us eat."
when we had finally finished eating. Suddenly, I was brought back to the memory of someone who wandered the streets with us.
"Hmm Baal, should we try to find her?"
"Who?"
"You remember the blonde girl with us?"
"Had she not found herself a job?"
"We can welcome her over now that we've acquired money!"
"Think she'll come with us?"
"Why not?"
Overhearing us, Effraye made an odd remark.
"Ho? so even you two can make friends?"
"We don't lock ourselves in a dungeon at random like a specific someone, therefore of course we can," Baal replied.
"He couldn't even fight in there, in fact," I said.
The next day, we returned to the little town where we had been living before that incident and strolled through its market-filled streets.
"If I recall correctly that she was hired as an assistant maid at the nobleman's home?"
I spoke with Baal, Effraye wasn't present with us.
"Why don't we check it out on the way?"
"I don't feel like it, so whatever."
"Why not?"
"Idk, those noblemen are disgusting."
"Yes, they are."
The blonde-haired girl should be working in the nobleman's residence, so Baal and I walked there after purchasing some sweets from the food stalls. The town was small so there was only one large mansion with a noble there. The house where we are currently living was near the capital city of the country.
By the time we arrived at the nobleman's home. The sweets box was already emptied.
"We ate them all, how sad."
"So, did you intend to share any there?"
"I guess so."
"Oh my goodness, do you even recall her name."
"I do! it was Maria... I think"
For whatever reason, Baal spelled the name "M-A-R-I-E."
"That's it! it was Marie!"
"Of course, you forgot," she said.
"Don't blame me," I said.
"Your memory sucks."
"Likewise,"
I walked forward and requested the guard to summon the house's chief servant. And we were greeted by an elderly man who had grace and etiquette and looked like a basic butler. I tried to question the old guy about Marie around that time. Baal sat down and took a break against the wall. At that point, a young, blonde woman her own age ran over and hugged her.
Baal said in bewilderment, "What the."
Marie, the blonde, yelled at us, "WHERE THE HELL DID YOU TWO DISAPPEAR TO!!!!"
"We just had a trip with some traveled adventurers."
"TRIP???? YOU GUYS WERE GONE FOR FIVE FUCKING YEARS!"
Marie had Baal in such a tight grip that she was having trouble breathing. "Ahh- Marie... can you get off of me?" Baal said.
"Suits you!" I wheezed.
Butler had already departed. maybe to give us a moment?
Baal struggled to free herself, "Marie?"
"just a few more minutes."
I guess she truly did miss us. Back then, she followed us and wouldn't even leave us alone back then.
In the past...
Our close buddy Robert was the leader of a gang of orphans.
The two of us located Marie. She was a nobleman's daughter, but her parents were slaughtered, and the wagon they were riding in was completely destroyed. I have no idea how she arrived where we discovered her.
During our time with Robert. I don't have much memory of that time. To be very honest, Baal and I don't remember much from that time with exception of Robert and Marie.
Well, the gang functioned properly because Robert was the son of a Pirates whose parents left on some treasure hunt and never returned. However, he had the leadership and plundering talents of his parents. Baal and I were one of the core members as we were the only friends Robert had when he started his gang thingy. We had some elder kids with us too.
The basic idea was to find orphans that weren't in any orphanage and bring them to our shelter place. And later use their talents to help ourselves for survival. Robert, though, abruptly requested us to leave one day. We left before things got worse since Baal and I didn't care for that spot much. Marie, but While we were at the shelter, she followed us everywhere and didn't care to leave even after we were expelled from the group, To that little village, she persisted in following us. After arriving, she resisted eating the stolen food and secured a position as an assistant maid. She wasn't with us during the incident because she was away for the training period. We both failed the examinations and were never hired as she was.
And I didn't understand that I was the one who was currently having respiratory issues.
"Don't you think it's enough Marie?"
On the opposite side, Baal grinned and said, "fits you!"
"YOU FUCKING IDIOTS"
Marie released go of me before striking both of us at once.
I questioned, "Oii, what for?"
"At least inform me that you were going somewhere. Do you have any idea how worried I have been for the past years? My heart didn't believe the idea of you being dead. Seriously, I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU TWO FOR 2 DAYS AND YOU DISAPPEAR!"
"And we returned with one heck of a tale," I said.
"Yea! I want to demonstrate my current strength to you," said Baal.
I kept going on to describe what had transpired over the years and to fill her in. And now that we have money, she is welcome to move in with us. Marie needed some time to comprehend the facts.
"I'm unable to accompany you two."
"Huh? But-"
"I genuinely appreciate you inviting me, but you two must have toiled long and hard in that dreadful dungeon to get to this point. I cannot simply take it from you."
"Then come work for us," said Baal.
"You're a maid, right? You should work for us, please."
I continued with Baal's Idea. Marie was confused as hell for the moment but finally replied.
"I - I accept."
"Sure then let's go"
"Oii wait it's not that easy. First I need to formally quit this place."
"Oh right-"