"Not bad."
"...!?"
The maid relaxed and nodded her head after breathing out in relief, making Ross stare at her in disbelief.
"Ross, our lady was surprised by your sudden departure, but I believe that you are excused. Good afternoon, Miss Catherine."
The maid spoke to the Pigkin Orc and then bowed politely towards the girl in his arms.
"...h-hello…?"
The black-haired girl shimmied around while still in the Orc's embrace and hesitantly returned the greeting.
The atmosphere between the pair and the maid was rather awkward - at least until another person showed up.
"Adiiiiii~! Did I get it? Wasn't my attack too weak?"
A girl with sharp golden eyes and shoulder-length golden hair slicked back was calling out in a cute way that contrasted the thuggish first impression her looks made.
"No, I believe you got it, my lady. As you can see."
The maid let out a tired sigh and shook her head while pointing at the bisected monster's corpse.
"Oh."
The gold-haired girl raised her brows at the sight before closing her mouth and looking away in an attempt to play it off.
"I do confirm that there was no shockwave this time around, though. And I believe that this is the projectile you used?"
The maid pointed out while carefully walking around the spilled gore until she made her way towards a tree, where she pointed at a plate-sized heart-shaped leaf, half stuck into the trunk of said tree.
The visible part flopped down, and a tiny bit of blood was about to drip down from its stem.
"It is. Hmm. I expected it to disintegrate upon contact with an additional surface. I guess there are more mechanics I am not aware of."
The gold-haired girl admitted, nodding her head with a profound expression.
Then she turned towards the Pigkin Orc and focused her surprised eyes on the black-haired girl he released but who remained by his side.
The gold-haired girl glanced between the gory sight and then back at the black-haired girl.
"Ehem… We don't have to delve into the details of what has happened here, right?"
She cleared her throat and smiled innocently, tilting her head to the side as if nothing worth noting had occurred.
"To be honest, this is still less disturbing than the other time she received help from Ross, and then you stepped in, my lady."
"...?!"
"...?!"
The maid rolled her eyes and pointed out, making both the black-haired girl and the Pigkin Orc flinch and stare at her in shock.
"Yeah, I think so, too, and… hmm? Oh? Did someone end up changing her mind regarding the gift?"
The gold-haired nodded in agreement before her eyes caught the shine of the silver buckle of the blue collar in Cartherine's hand, making her completely change her focus.
"A-ah… th-this… well… yes…"
Catherine flinched and began to fidget while blushing before admitting and showing off the control collar.
"I-I do have a t-taming s-skill book for you t-too, Melinda…"
"For me?"
The black-haired girl added hurriedly, taking out the thin book she purchased together with the collar, surprising her gold-haired friend.
"Y-yes…? I-I thought that th-this could work as a th-thank you p-present for you too…"
Catherine fidgetted and explained timidly.
"I greatly appreciate the sentiment, but I have to refuse my part of that gift."
"...eh…?"
Melinda raised her hands in the gesture of surrender and took a step back, making her friend let out a confused gasp.
"As a member of foreign royalty and, momentarily, finance of Diamondium's crown prince. It would not look good if I showed up in the Academy, or even the city as a whole, with a tamed monster. Not to mention that Ross would end up in the spotlight and under constant watch of the highest alert. You know how things are. Everyone would assume that he is a monster spying for demons, and rumors about me being an idiot who got fooled would pop up like mushrooms after an autumn rain."
The gold-haired girl shook her hands and explained.
"On the other hand, you would have much less trouble getting him into the city. I heard that you made yourself dependable at the local guild—and you aren't a noble but a hard-working commoner—making you the perfect front for the whole thing."
"M-me…!? R-Ross's…?!"
Melinda pointed out, making Catherine gasp while blushing so hard that not even her face but her neck and ears went completely red. She gulped down her saliva before looking up at the burly Pigkin Orc whose torso she was leaning against.
"Are you against the idea…?"
"N-no! I-I didn't mean it l-like th-that!"
Ross asked quietly, unintentionally making the girl flustered.
"My lady, I will take care of the monster's corpse."
"Oh, I'll help you, Adi~! Hey, you two can figure it all out on your own, right? Cath, after learning the skill, fill the control collar with your mana before purring it on Ross, so it will show him as your familiar when tested."
The maid announced, moving towards the halves of the Armored boar and Melinda decided to join her but not before instructing the back-haired girl and the Pigkin Orc.
"Having Ross recognized as a familiar will make things easier in case of his unexpected reunion with Zane~"
Melinda added happily and trotted after the maid without a care in the world.
"..."
"..."
The human girl and the Pigkin Orc left behind looked after the leaving gold-haired girl and then exchanged quick glances before looking away equally bashful.
"A-are you okay w-with me posing as your m-master…?"
Surprisingly, it was the timid girl who ended up speaking first.
"T-to not make p-people s-suspicious about you, w-we will have to s-spend a lot of time t-together s-so others w-would not s-suspect anything…"
"I understand. I will do my best not to be a problem."
Catherine swayed from one side to the other and pointed out while nervously rubbing her arm, but Ross's response made her stop and gaze up at his beastly face, where his intelligent pale-blue eyes were looking at her softly.