Vol 2 Chapter 5- The Maid and the Cigarette Smoke (【Just Trying to Be Kind】Arc)

A few days after the executive meeting, various strategies and countermeasures against the Guardians were being devised in the Empress’s hideout.

Since we were preparing to face the Guardians directly, the entire hideout had taken on an even more tense and grim atmosphere. The executives, too, carried a different air about them than usual.

“Haah…”

Unable to withstand such an oppressive atmosphere, I retreated to my private room within the hideout.

This was my brief oasis.

No matter how hellish the environment, there’s always an oasis to be found.

In my room, cut off from the hostile air outside and filled with a serene atmosphere, I lay sprawled on the sofa, watching videos on a streaming site that I enjoyed.

Is this what happiness feels like?

Just as I was thinking that, while lying on the sofa, I heard a knock at the door—ton, ton, ton.

——This is bad!

I instantly donned the mask I had removed earlier and quickly adjusted my appearance. The only ones who could enter my room, except in emergencies, were the executives. Which meant that whoever was at the door had to be one of them.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

The one who entered the room was a woman wearing a maid outfit, her long hair cascading down to her waist, with an impression of serene beauty. After bowing politely at the doorway, she slowly approached me. As soon as she looked at my face, it seemed like she gave a slight smile.

“Ah, Arisu, is it? Did something happen?”

She stood upright and began to speak, embodying the perfect image of a dutiful maid.

“Yes. My apologies for disturbing you, but there is something I would like to confirm with you, Master…”

“I see. Well, no need to be so formal. Please, speak freely.”

Upon hearing my words, she thanked me and then…sat down next to me.

Why?

There’s a perfectly good sofa right across from me. Wouldn’t it be easier to talk from there?

Sitting so close just makes me nervous.

Meido Arisu.
An executive ranked fifth in the Empress’s hierarchy. She calls me “Master” and dresses in a maid uniform.
What on earth does she want to confirm with me?

Turning toward me, she began to speak.

“It’s about the matter of ‘the meal’ we discussed previously…”

“Ah—right. That’s today, isn’t it?”

The meal.

Not long ago, Arisu came to me with a request: “I’d like you to taste-test my cooking.”
At the time, I thought she could just let the subordinates handle it, but apparently, no matter what she told them, they would sugarcoat their feedback, which she found unhelpful.

Since it was such an unusual and innocent request, utterly unrelated to crime, I decided to lend her a hand. We agreed that I’d help with her culinary training.

I mean, it’s a rare experience to taste a meal cooked by someone of the opposite sex who’s around my age, so why not?

And today was the promised day.

To be honest, I had completely forgotten about it until Arisu brought it up.

“By the way, I don’t think you mentioned where you’d be cooking, Arisu.”

“I’ve reserved a rental kitchen, so I’ll send a car to pick you up in the evening.”

“Understood. Haha, I’m looking forward to it.”

With the hideout’s atmosphere being so oppressive lately, this would make for a nice break. For the first time in a while, I found myself smiling naturally in front of one of the executives.

Glancing at Arisu’s face, I noticed—

“…”

She was expressionless.
Same as always. That was a relief.

Expressionlessness was her default state. I had never seen her look angry or sad. The only time I’d ever seen her smile was when she was talking with me.

Honestly, if she weren’t expressionless, I’d start to worry.

“Then, I’ll come to pick you up this evening.”

With those words, she left the room.

This would be my first time eating a meal made by one of the executives.
I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

——————

“Man, I’m exhausted…”

After finishing discussions with Hirata and Kuzuryuu regarding the upcoming confrontation with the Guardians, I was on my way back to my room.

“Master, you’ve worked hard.”

Arisu was waiting for me outside my room.

The clock showed it was a little past 8 PM—dinnertime.

“Arisu, huh. Is it time to head out already?”

“I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re tired, but…”

“It’s fine. I’m looking forward to this as well.”

“Is that so? Then, shall we go? The car is already prepared.”

Walking alongside me, her expression seemed just a bit brighter than usual.

And then, it happened.

“Phone Call—?”

The ringtone from Arisu’s phone echoed in the quiet night. She glanced at me.

I motioned for her to answer the call. She stopped in her tracks and took the call.

I couldn’t hear the conversation, but it was likely a report from one of her subordinates. However, as the seconds ticked by, although her expression didn’t change, the atmosphere around her shifted—it felt dark, almost angry. It was terrifying.

——————

After about three minutes, she ended the call.

“Are you all right? Did something happen?”

When I asked, she replied:

“—My apologies. I just received word that the spy we’ve had planted for some time has successfully kidnapped a high-ranking member of the police force.”

Huh?

“I need to head over there immediately for an interrogation.”

“I see. That’s… understandable.”

No, it’s not! What’s with the sudden shift? Weren’t you just talking about cooking earlier?

“I deeply apologize for wasting your valuable time with this sudden interruption…”

“It’s fine, really. I’m free anytime. I look forward to another invitation.”

Arisu exuded an air of regret.

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly busy as long as the other executives didn’t rope me into anything, so she didn’t have to feel so bad. Still, she maintained her usual expressionless face, though there was an unmistakable hint of guilt as she stepped into the car waiting to take her to the scene.

——————

A car sped through the nighttime streets.

In the back seat sat Arisu, while a man, one of her subordinates, was in the driver’s seat, his hands on the wheel.

“Hand me ‘that.’”

“Understood.”

At her command, the subordinate handed over a box. It was a box of cigarettes. She took it, pulled one out, and lit it.

“What a waste of a perfectly good evening…”

Her face remained expressionless, but her words carried a clear undertone of anger and malice.

“Well… I guess I’ll deal with it soon enough.”

She lit a second cigarette, gazing out at the nighttime streets. It was almost like a ritual to calm her emotions.

“…”

With each inhale and exhale of the smoke, she felt her nerves steadying. That cigarette was something important to her—a source of comfort.

——————

“Lady Meido, we’ve arrived.”

“—Hm.”

Her subordinate’s voice pulled her out of her peaceful reverie and back into reality.

“All right, let’s get this over with.”

She put out her cigarette, grabbed a toolbox with her right hand, and stepped out of the car.

Her footsteps were light as she made her way to the designated location.

“Master… I’ll make this quick and return soon.”

With those words, she opened the door to the room.

——————

After seeing Arisu off, I was taking a short break in my room when, for the second time that day, I heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I called out.

This time, the one who entered was Hirata.

“Boss, I have something to give you.”

“Oh—what might that be?”

Hirata held several documents in her hands. It seemed she had prepared all of them specifically to hand over to me. From the stack, she handed me one document.

“I would like you to review these documents and provide guidance for the next steps.”

“I see. Understood.”

I flipped through the pages of the document Hirata handed me.

(Huh? Wait a second.)

The document was filled with names I didn’t recognize.

“…”

After reading through it, I came to a realization.

(This is just a list of people marked for murder, isn’t it!?)

“What do you think?”

“Uh… well…”

(It’s not a matter of what I think! This is obviously not okay!)

“For now, I’d like to see the other documents as well.”

“Understood. How about this one?”

The next document she handed me was a list of people marked for abduction.

“The next document…”

A list of people marked for brainwashing.

“And the next…”

A list of people marked for torture.

“…”

I can’t take this anymore. I want to go home.

What kind of instructions am I supposed to give for these?

“…By the way, how are these individuals chosen?” I asked, trying to divert the conversation.

“They are selected based on information from spies within the police force or from individuals previously associated with the Guardians.”

“I see…”

(Arisu also mentioned ‘information from spies’ earlier…)

“How many spies are currently embedded within the police force?”

“Approximately ten.”

“I see.”

Seriously? That’s a lot of spies. Is the police’s management system even functioning properly?

“This is the final document,” Hirata said, bringing the discussion back to the documents.

What kind of document could this be? I nervously took the last document from her.

“This is…”

It was titled “List of Prospective Allies.”

(Huh—? What is this list?)

If it’s a list of “prospective allies,” then it must mean people we intend to befriend, right? Are they criminals?

“The individuals on this list are meant to be treated amicably from now on, correct?”

“That’s correct. Is there a problem?”

Hirata tilted her head slightly, answering my question.

I continued probing.

“By the way, are the people on this list criminals or something?”

“No, they are individuals we believe will play a significant role in our future activities. The goal is to approach them amicably.”

Hirata’s response was exactly what I wanted to hear.

(If it’s just about building friendly relationships, that’s not a crime. Let’s focus on this list for now. I don’t know how it will affect us, but it’s certainly better than killing or abducting people.)

“Prioritize the Prospective Allies list.”

“The Prospective Allies list, is it…?”

Hirata seemed hesitant at my suggestion.

(Of course, for the executives, killing or abducting people is quicker and easier…)

“Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s fine. As expected of you, Boss.”

“Expected?”

Maybe they also wanted to increase friendly relationships for a change instead of focusing solely on murder and abduction. It’s nice to see they can have some sense once in a while.

“Understood. We’ll prioritize the Prospective Allies list.”

“Yes. Please do.”

——————

“With the future policies and details decided, I’ll take my leave for now.”

After wrapping up a detailed discussion about the Prospective Allies, Hirata left the room, leaving me alone again.

The clock showed it was already 11 PM.

Just as I was thinking about heading home, my phone’s ringtone echoed through the room.

The name “Meido Arisu” was displayed on the screen.

Come to think of it, she did say she was going to gather information. Is she done?

“Hello?”

“—Hello, Master?”

Over the phone, Arisu sounded a little tired.