Chapter 271 Where is Estesia？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A whirlpool of worries had been piling up inside me, making it impossible to focus on my tasks, so I decided to set out in search of one of those worries──Estesia-san.
First, I thought I’d check the guest room that the teacher used, where I figured Estesia-san might be hanging around.
Since the guest room was on the north side of the second floor, I planned to go through the entrance and ascend the stairs, but just then, someone was coming down from the second floor.
”Oh!”
”Well, if it isn’t Neil-sama!”
The person was a woman who worked at Toys of Preference, whom I had just reunited with during a covert outing with Lewya.
You might think that since I borrowed someone from ‘Toys of Preference,’ it wouldn’t be so surprising to see them, but this was actually the first time I’d encountered one of their women inside the mansion.
Due to the recent intrusion incident, it wasn’t wise to let outsiders roam freely in certain areas, so I had requested that the women from ‘Toys of Preference’ steer clear of my personal quarters, office, and the reception room, all located on the south corridor of the first floor.
The women from ‘Toys of Preference’ were only helping during the daytime, and since my activities during that time were confined to the south side of the first floor, it made sense that I hadn’t crossed paths with her until now.
”It’s quite unusual to see you here, Neil-sama. What brings you to this place?”
”Um, I’m looking for Estesia-san… Has your hair color changed again?”
The first time I met her, she had jet-black hair with light green highlights scattered throughout.
The second time, all the black had faded, leaving just the light green, and today, her hair was once again black, adorned with 3 strands of light green highlights just above her left eye.
”What do you think? Is it too strange?”
”Not at all; I think it really suits you!”
”Is that so…! Oh, you were looking for Estesia-san, weren’t you?”
”Yes, do you happen to know where she is?”
”I was helping with the laundry in the morning, but she went home in the afternoon since she didn’t have any more work.”
”I see…”
What rotten timing.
I can’t exactly barge into the inn where she’s probably staying, so I guess I’ll have to give up for today.
”Ugh…”
”What troubles you so?”
”Ah, it’s a rather personal matter, uh──”
”? Neil-sama?”
Crap, I can’t remember this woman’s name at all.
I definitely saw it when I picked her out from the wooden name tags the first time we met, but it’s been a while, and I’m terrible at remembering faces and names to begin with.
It’s a recipe for disaster.
”Um, I’m terribly sorry, but could you remind me of your name, miss?”
”Eh?”
”I’m so, so sorry! I know it’s awful, but I can’t remember your name even though we… you know! It’s not because you’re a woman, or anything like that. It’s just that I’m naturally bad at remembering people’s names. So it’s not your fault at all!”
”Pfft── Hahaha!”
She covered her mouth and belly with her hands, laughing at my pathetic excuse.
”It’s alright, no need to be so desperate. I wouldn’t be angry about something like this. It’s just a one-time transaction, so it’s only natural to forget. Rather, I was impressed that you even remembered my face when we met before,.”
”I appreciate you saying that, but I still feel like I’m being a bit insincere…”
After all, it was just a transaction, and I’ve slept with so many women.
I might sound like a hypocrite, but I didn’t want to just brush it off and say, “Oh well.”
”I feel bad that you’re so troubled, but if it bothers you so much, Neil-sama, then how about you try to remember my name?”
”Yes! Of course!”
”Then… my name is Stella.”
”Stella…san?”
Wait, was that it?
I thought I’d remember it when I heard it, but it’s not clicking at all.
I’ve always said I’m terrible at remembering people’s faces and names, but just how hopeless was I that I couldn’t even recall after hearing it?
As I started to lose confidence in my own memory, beads of sweat rolling down my forehead, Stella chuckled softly.
”Neil-sama, you’re making quite the face! But fret not, it’s no wonder you don’t remember, since this is my real name.”
”Your real name? Then what about the one you’ve been using for work?”
”That’s a pseudonym──call me Remia for that.”
”Aーーah!”
Remia!
That’s right, it’s Remia-san!
What a relief──I was genuinely worried I could forget someone so easily, and it almost felt like despair.
Thank goodness!
”Phew… I’m so glad!”
”Were you that anxious? What a funny person you are──oh, my apologies!”
”No need to apologize; I’m aware that I’m quite the oddball.”
Since I decided to stop trying to fit into societal norms and started acting on my own whims, I’ve come to realize just how much that affects my perspective.
The gods of this world are truly terrifying, preserving memories of ‘ihomono’ to prevent the fading of past lives.
Living with the common sense of my previous world in this one is a challenge, and forcing it… yeah, it creates friction with those around me, and someone’s bound to change, painfully.
Maybe what I’m aiming for is exactly what that god wants?
”Neil-sama?”
”Huh? Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought for a bit.”
”Thinking? You looked like you were about to slay a dragon… Ah!”
”Hmm?”
Stella suddenly froze, staring at something.
I turned around, and saw several faces peeking from the shadows beneath the stairs, from the north corridor on the first floor.
I didn’t recognize any of them, so they must be from ‘Toys of Preference.’
”Forgive me, Neil-sama. I’ll…”
”No, I’m sorry for interrupting you during your work.”
Stella bowed and dashed down the stairs.
The group of onlookers scattered, disappearing into the shadows like startled sprites.
I watched them go, then headed up the stairs to the second-floor guest room, where the teacher was.
”Teacher, it’s Neil.”
”Come in.”
I entered the room, and the teacher was seated at a chair.
On the desk sat the grimoire for interdimensional magic I’d borrowed from one of the elven elders and lent to the teacher.
I glanced around the room, but Estesia-san wasn’t there.
”How unusual, you visiting at this hour.”
”Actually, I have a question for you, and I’m looking for Estesia-san.”
”Estesia-san?”
”I have a small matter to discuss with her. I thought she might be here, so I came to ask.”
”That’s unfortunate timing.”
”Pardon?”
”She appears to be in the office right now. Try sensing her magical power.”
At the teacher’s words, I immediately began to search for her magical power.
My office is at the end of the south corridor on the first floor, so the range of my magic detection was rather limited.
But I barely managed to sense her.
At this distance, I couldn’t identify the person, but there was definitely someone in the office.
Did I just miss her right as I stepped out of the office?
It’s strange, she hasn’t shown her face around here in ages──so why today of all days… Could it be?!
”Excuse me, Teacher! I’m really sorry, but I have to go!”
I rushed out of the guest room, skipping down the stairs 2 at a time, and bolted towards the office at the end of the corridor.
SLAM!
I flung open the door, scanning the office for Estesia-san, but she was nowhere in sight.
However, when I focused my magical senses, I could feel a strong surge of magical energy coming from the direction of the desk──there was definitely someone here.
Come to think of it, Estesia-san can use a spell to become invisible.
I suddenly recalled that I had heard about her using such magic during a duel among Pordhail.
With a power like that, it would have been easy for her to conceal herself while keeping a low profile.
I had dismissed the idea that she would sneak around since she always acted boldly when investigating others, but normally, I should have been the first to suspect her.
”Is that you, Estesia-san?”
”────!”
I couldn’t see her and didn’t hear her voice, but my call seemed to rattle her──there was a faint rustle as if something shifted.
Still, there was no further response; the silence stretched on as if time itself held its breath.
Given the intensity of the magical energy, it was almost certain that it was Estesia-san.
There couldn’t be many people with the same level of magic as someone of Pordhail’s reputation, so I had to act──wait, the magical presence is fading?
This is bad; is she trying to escape by concealing her magic?!
”Not on my watch!”
If she disappears without a trace, I wouldn’t be able to find her again, so I lunged toward the direction where Estesia-san was likely hiding before her magic completely vanished.
”Wha-ha!?!”
”Gotcha! Now settle down──huh?”
What is this sensation?
It feels unusual, and the warmth is oddly high, almost damp with sweat.
Every part I touch responds the same way──could it be that──
”──you’re naked!?”
By the way, the office is located at the southern end of the first floor, but the true edge belongs to Neil’s private quarters, making the office correct in being at the far end.
Ironically, the receiving room is the closest to the entrance, so it takes a bit longer to get there from the rooms along the south corridor.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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