The next day dawned, and Akira awoke feeling refreshed. He made his way downstairs, where he found the goblins diligently guarding the front gate. He called them over and retrieved the boar meat he had bought the previous day, handing it to the goblins to cook as they had with the wolf meat. While the goblins prepared the meal, Akira went through his daily workout routine. Noticing that his usual exercises were becoming less taxing, he decided to push himself harder. Alfred, his AI companion, pointed out that Akira's increasing strength required a more intense regimen. Akira agreed and followed Alfred's suggestions, intensifying his workout.
Returning to the house, Akira saw that the food was ready, but the goblins were waiting for him to begin eating first. Not wanting to make them wait any longer, he sat down and started eating, signaling for the goblins to join him. As they ate, the old man in the guest room woke up, drawn by the delicious smell of the cooking meat. Though he felt weak, he managed to walk to the door. Upon opening it, he saw Akira eating with his goblins.
Akira, noticing the man's condition, instructed one of the goblins to help him over to the campfire. The goblin promptly assisted the old man, guiding him to sit and eat with them. The man ate ravenously, savoring the meal as it was the first real food he had had in days. After they finished eating, Akira introduced himself and his companions. The butler, in turn, introduced himself as a servant of a lord from a nearby town. He began to recount his story.
"A few days ago," the butler began, "a wave of monsters attacked our town. Instead of protecting his people, the lord ordered his carriages to be filled with his treasures and fled his mansion. I was with him in his carriage when we were chased by wolves and other monsters. I suggested we lighten the load to escape faster, and in response, the lord kicked me out, calling me dead weight. I have served him my entire life, and he discarded me without a second thought."
Akira interrupted, "What is your name?"
The butler replied, "I don't have one. The lord only ever called me 'butler' or 'slave.'"
The butler continued, explaining how he managed to escape the wolves and wander through the forest until the previous day when he was chased again, leading to his rescue by the goblins. He concluded with a note of sorrow, "I have no life now. I'm old, without talent, and no one will hire me."
Akira stood up and placed a reassuring hand on the butler's shoulder. "Will you work for me as a butler?" he asked.
The butler's eyes lit up with hope. "I would be honored," he replied.
Akira smiled. "I will pay you well as long as you work properly—one gold coin every week."
The butler, who had never received any form of salary, protested, "I will work for a place to sleep and food to eat."
After some back and forth, Akira accepted the butler's terms but insisted on one condition. "You need a name. I can't just call you 'butler' or 'servant.'"
The butler agreed and asked Akira to name him. After a moment of thought, Akira decided on a name. "From now on, your name is Jarvis."
The butler smiled, happy with his new name. "Thank you, Master Akira."
"Now, let's get you some new clothes," Akira said. He instructed the goblins to guard the property while he and Jarvis made a quick trip to the city.
During their walk, Akira told Jarvis to keep his employment a secret and instead say he worked for an adventurer named Fate. Jarvis agreed without question. They went to a tailor shop, where Akira paid for three sets of suits for Jarvis. The tailor took measurements and promised the suits would be ready the next day.
Next, they headed to the market. Akira gave Jarvis money to buy food supplies for the week while he went to the adventurers' guild. At the guild, no one recognized him in his new attire. Akira saw a quest to kill a lake serpent preventing locals from fishing. He whispered to the receptionist his real name and explained his alias, Fate. The receptionist checked his ID and, respecting his wish, registered the quest under the name Fate. The quest had a one-week time limit.
Afterward, Akira met up with Jarvis at the market. Jarvis had bought all the ingredients they needed, carrying the heavy load himself. Akira offered to help, but Jarvis, prideful in his duty, refused. Akira thought about making another spatial bag for Jarvis to ease his burden in the future.
They returned home, where Jarvis placed the supplies in the kitchen and then knelt before Akira. "Master Akira, I will serve you for the rest of my life with full loyalty."
Akira nodded, appreciating Jarvis's dedication. "I will be a good master to you," he promised.
Jarvis immediately set to work cleaning the place, which was dusty and cluttered. Akira checked on the goblins, who were standing vigilantly at the gate and patrolling the grounds. With the house nearly complete, Akira could focus on other tasks. He had only eighteen gold coins left, so he needed to be prudent with his spending.
The rest of the day passed peacefully. Jarvis prepared dinner, and everyone ate together. After dinner, Jarvis offered to prepare a hot bath for Akira, but Akira declined, remembering the cracked bathtub. He went to the bathroom and repaired the tub, a simple task for him.
That night, Akira enjoyed a good meal and went to bed feeling content. Jarvis, having been shown his quarters earlier—a small bedroom on the first floor—finished cleaning the dishes and went to sleep as well. The goblins continued their watch as usual, ensuring the safety of their new home.