The castle of the Underworld King, Kuromueina, located in a corner of
the Demon Realm. The owner of the castle, Kuromueina, was staring at
a certain person with a complicated expression on her face.
[…Kuromu-sama? How can I help you?]
[Unnn, Ein. I've been wanting to ask you this for a while now… Do you
remember when I told you to take regular breaks?]
Noticing her presence, the maid, Ein, stopped cleaning and greeted her
master. Ein then straightened her posture and asked, politely bowing
her head.
[But of course. This Ein has never forgotten the words Kuromu-sama
says, not even for a day.]
[…So, when have you ever taken a break?]
Ein is the most hardworking member of Kuromueina's family, handling
almost all the chores of Kuromueina's castle by herself. Kuromueina
had worried about this back then, so she had instructed her to take a
break from time to time… but she doesn't remember seeing Ein resting
at all.
Even though she's a high-ranking Demon with extraordinary physical
strength, that doesn't mean that Ein couldn't get tired. When
Kuromueina asked this, hoping that her family wouldn't be too reckless
with their body, Ein replied without hesitation.
[Yes. I took a "15-minute break 10 days ago". "In another 20 days or so",
I plan on taking a break again.]
[...…]
Hearing Ein say that she only took about 15 minutes of rest a month, as
if it was a matter of course, Kuromueina's eyes narrowed.
[…Have you ever taken a whole day off?]
[Kuromu-sama, I'm the maid who fights against the moment of time.
For a maid like me, laziness is an act of indulgence.]
[...]
Looking at Ein who was puffing her chest as she proudly exclaimed her
extreme theory, a vein popped out of Kuromueina's forehead.
[…nned…]
[…Yes?]
[…Ein, tomorrow, for the whole day… Maids are banned.]
[…Huh? K- Kuromu-sama, w- what in the world are you…]
[Maids are banned for the whole day! You are also banned from
wearing a maid uniform! Go play around outside for the whole day…
You're not allowed to come back until nightfall! That's an order!]
[Wha!?]
Hearing Kuromueina, gave her an "order" which she hardly did… Or
rather, this is the first time she had ever given her one, Ein looked as if
the world had ended.
And thus, towards Ein, who has a strange obsession with being a maid…
A limited time "Maid Prohibition" has been issued.
[Ummm, errr… I had somewhat understood what happened now. I'm
not going to say anything about you trespassing my room since it's too
late to say it now… but… Why is it that you've come here again…]
Carefully choosing the words I say, I spoke to Ein-san, who was hugging
her knees in the corner of my room, radiating a negative aura around
her.
No, seriously…"When I came back to my room after having breakfast, I
found Ein-san crouched in the corner of my room, not wearing her maid
uniform". I wonder how this happened…
[I- I don'd… habe anyone… else… t- to rely on…]
[I understand, it's alright. That's why, please don't cry.]
Ein-san said, with an extremely feeble voice… or rather, with a voice
drowned in tears. U- Unnn, what should I do about this…
[…not a maid… Today's me… is not a maid… What's even the worth… of
a me who is not a maid…]
[There's a lot I want to tsukkomi about with that unusual obsession
with maids that you have but… Well, anyway, I take it that Ein-san won't
be able to go home until tonight?]
[…Yes. I'm just a bother… aren't I? For trash like me suddenly intrudes
and asks to stay here… My apologies, Kaito-sama… I'll be going now.]
[It's alright! You can stay here as long as you like!!!]
The situation's very tricky. I don't know if it's because Ein-san is really
proud that she's a maid or not, but she becomes very frail when she
loses her identity as a maid.
Her usual cool appearance has disappeared, and she now looks as
fragile as a puppy drenched under the rain.
[…But you can't just stay like this for the whole day, right? Kuro told you
to go play around outside, didn't she?]
[…Yes.]
[Well then, since Ein-san have a day off, let's have a date. Staying in the
room will only make you feel depressed anyway… I'll be with you for
the day.]
[…Kaito-sama…]
I mean, it's not good for my mental health to be in a room with such a
negative aura all the time. I feel like I was a bit pushy on my invitation
though. Asking Ein-san out on a date, I pulled her up from the corner of
the room.
…I guess it's "just as planned" huh? I'll say this now… Ein-san getting
depressed is unexpected but…
Through the busy streets of lunchtime, Ein-san and I walked side by
side. If it was our usual dates, Ein-san would have stubbornly walked a
little behind me, so it's refreshing to be able to walk side by side with
her like this.
Moreover, the clothes she's wearing weren't her usual maid uniform,
but a neat black long skirt, which looked refreshing… I mean, this is the
first time I saw her wearing something other than a maid uniform.
[…Kaito-sama.]
[Am I walking too fast?]
[N- No, it's just, how should I say this… It slightly… feels
embarrassing…]
What is this sweet-looking person… Anxiously gripping the hem of my
clothes, she snuggles up to me, as if she's trying to hide herself… She
looked like a different person than usual.
H- Hmmm, I don't know if it's that gap moe or not, but perhaps, I'm so
used to seeing Ein-san's usual cool demeanor that I find her current
anxious expression to be quite cute.
[It's alright. I'll firmly escort you on our date today so… Even if it's once
in a while, you can count on me.]
[Y- Yes… That's very reassuring.]
Unnn, it really is nice to see Ein-san like this sometimes… Rather than
urging your desire to protect her, it makes me feel like I needed to
protect her.
Well, there's actually a vast difference in specs between me and Ein-san,
just like the difference between an ant and a dragon, so it's difficult for
me to protect her but… I at least wanted to show her that she can
mentally count on me.
[Well, I know that you're worried about lots of things but… let's think of
positive things. I think new things can be discovered when you look at
something from a different perspective. Whether it's the Ein-san, the
maid, or the Ein-san that isn't the maid, I still like you so… Well, how
should I say this… Please don't worry.]
[…Kaito-sama. You're right… I'm currently not a maid… Just Ein, and as
Kaito-sama's… lover, spending time like this might not be a bad idea.]
[Yeah, that's for sure…]
[Yes. Kaito-sama, for this whole day… I will be relying on you.]
[You can count on me.]
It seemed that Ein-san was starting to feel a little more relaxed, as a
smile finally returned to her lips. She doesn't have her usual elegant
smile, but a lovely girlish smile, making me feel like I'm seeing another
side of her.
Now then, according to the "plan"… I'll be with her for 6 around hours?
Putting that aside, I'll make sure that Ein-san is having fun…
Just like that, as Ein-san and I firmly held each other's hand, we decided
to enjoy this rare opportunity to the fullest.
After her date with Kaito, Ein walked back to Kuromueina's castle,
absentmindedly thinking about things.
(I think it's safe to say… that today was the most fun I've ever had huh.
Perhaps, the pride I have for being a maid has also been a restraint on
my emotions.)
Even though she had been walking around all day in a state she's
unaccustomed to, Ein's body was still full of energy and was even in
better shape than usual.
Her mind, which had always been tense because she's the perfect maid,
was refreshed, making her cheerful.
(Kuromu-sama must have been trying to make me realize this. I see,
indeed… I guess going back to just Ein… isn't so bad.)
Remembering her date with Kaito, Ein came home with a gentle smile
on her face… only to be greeted by "the sound of crackers".
[ [ [ [ Ein (-san), happy birthday! ] ] ] ]
[…Eh?]
Her beloved family gathered in the center of the room, in the center of
them was the smiling Kuromueina. That unexpected sight completely
caught Ein off guard, which is quite unusual for her.
And then, as Ein was still standing blankly, her mind still not catching
up with the situation, Kuromueina gently spoke to her.
[Welcome back, Ein.]
[K- Kuromu-sama, t- this is…]
[Fufufu, you must be quite surprised, aren't you? Today's the first day of
the Heaven month, Ein's birthday.]
[…Ah.]
[I tried to make a surprise party this year, but it was really hard to slip
through Ein's eyes since you're doing everything around the house.]
Yes, the main reason why Kuromueina issued the ban on maids was, of
course, she wanted Ein, who was usually straining herself, to get some
rest, but she also wanted to keep Ein away from the castle while she
prepared for the surprise party.
[Come on, Ein. Over here.]
[K- Kuromu-sama?]
Pulling the stunned Ein by the hand, Kuromueina took her to the dining
hall where the party was to be held. When Acht and Eval, who had been
waiting for her, opened the door to the dining room, they saw a large
cake and "a certain something".
It's very familiar to Ein as it is placed in the center of the dining hall as a
decoration…
[T- This is…]
[Fufufu, this, you see… It's a new maid uniform made with materials we
all gathered and asked Shalltear to make it for us.]
[...…]
Yes, it's the apron dress that Ein usually wears… The design was very
similar to that of a maid uniform, but it was made with the best
material and techniques. A birthday present from her family to Ein…
Holding it with her trembling hands, Ein seems to be overcome with
emotion as she spoke.
[…T- Thank you. Kuromu-sama… Everyone…]
[Unnn… Ein, thank you for always looking out for us everyday.]
[…Yes.]
[…By the way, did you have fun today? Well, you're with Kaito-kun, so I
think it should be okay but…]
[…Eh? Kuromu-sama, how did you know that?]
As his family members warmly watched Ein thank them with tears in
her eyes, Kuromueina suddenly asked, to which Ein tilted her head in
wonder.
Thereupon, Kuromueina smiled, as if her prank was a success and she's
currently revealing her hidden trick.
[Well, I knew that Ein would go to Kaito-kun's place… so I asked Kaitokun to take care of Ein beforehand.]
[S- So that's what happened…]
[Unnn, it would have been great if Kaito-kun came to the party but…
saying "This is a good opportunity for all of you to have fun together as
a family", he refused. Ahh, but he still prepared a birthday gift, and I'll
give it to you later.]
Apparently, Kaito knew about this surprise party right from the start.
Hearing that, Ein thought back to the time she spent with Kaito today,
and remembered about how he was indeed looking like he was
checking the time.
[Well, anyway, let's start the party!]
[…Kuromu-sama…]
[Unnn?]
[…I'm quite the lucky person, aren't I? For me to have so many people
care about me…]
[That's just how much everyone loves you, Ein.]
[…Yes. I'm really happy about that.]
The smile on Ein's face as she said that… was the brightest smile she
ever had.
Talking about what happened after that day, Ein started taking a day off
about once a month. For that one day, she changes her maid uniform to
casual clothes, and spends the day not as Ein, the maid, but as just Ein.
During her day off, Ein would always visit the Human Realm, and her
family, who knows about what was going on, would see her off with a
smile