After teasing the pure-hearted Emilia a bit and sending her heart into overdrive, Hayashi Maki headed back to the mansion in a very good mood.
Beatrice was already gone—most likely back in her forbidden library, holed up as usual.
Aqua, on the other hand, was happily preaching to Felt, talking her ear off about all the "benefits" of the Axis Church.
Roswaal had already left.
As lord of the territory, a noble count, and owner of the mansion, he had just been forced by Hayashi Maki's overwhelming power into awkwardly finding an excuse to withdraw.
Maybe he was going to look for outside help?
Hayashi Maki couldn't care less what Roswaal planned.
The forces Roswaal could lean on, aside from the maids Ram and Rem, were basically the head maid Frederica—an older beastwoman with a gentle personality—and the guardian of the Sanctuary, Garfiel, plus a bunch of artificial spirits.
The Sanctuary itself was really just the tomb of the Witch of Greed, Echidna. Her soul and corpse were both sealed there.
At Roswaal's current level, if he entered the Sanctuary now, he probably wouldn't be able to leave—the barrier would lock him in.
So he definitely wouldn't walk in there at a time like this.
Maybe he'd go hire more assassins to attack the mansion and "test" Hayashi Maki's strength again.
Anyway, none of that mattered.
Without disturbing Aqua's evangelism session, Hayashi Maki headed to the kitchen and found Rem washing dishes.
"Yo, Rem. Busy?" he said with a smile. "But aren't you forgetting something? You and Ram are my maids now, right? Pretty sure you don't have to keep working for this mansion anymore."
He smiled as he spoke, eyes shamelessly sweeping up and down her figure. Rem's eyes flashed with disgust as she straightened up and answered seriously:
"Even if my lewd master is still staying here as a guest, Rem can't just do nothing. If Rem doesn't work, then Master won't have anything to eat."
It was her way of silently protesting his behavior—and maybe secretly still hoping Roswaal would come back with reinforcements and "take her and her sister back."
It wasn't that she liked Roswaal.
On the one hand, he had taken her and Ram in and saved their lives.
On the other, Ram had lost her oni horn—the source of a demon's power—cut off by Witch Cultists. Without someone to supply her with mana, Ram would die.
And in this world, besides Roswaal, Rem had never seen anyone who could give Ram mana.
As for Hayashi Maki, with his leering gaze and shameless attitude, her impression of him was even worse.
Hayashi Maki didn't get angry at her hostility.
She'd understand eventually who was actually good to her.
Hadn't Yukinoshita Yukino glared at him the same way at first?
And now she was happily putting on maid outfits and cat ears, acting as his clingy little wife.
He was confident in himself. He didn't mind Rem's glares at all.
"Fair point," he said. "But Roswaal really squeezes you two dry, huh? A mansion this big, and it's just you and Ram doing all the work."
"Rem and Ram want to work here," she replied stiffly. "Rem can handle all the mansion's chores."
"That so? Then Rem sure is capable. Guess I'll benefit from that in the future," Hayashi Maki laughed, and then asked curiously, "Where's your sister? I haven't seen Ram."
His unexpectedly relaxed attitude threw Rem off a bit. She hadn't expected him not to get mad.
For men with strong possessiveness, she understood most would be furious about the way she addressed him.
Especially given that Hayashi Maki had come off as arrogant and lecherous from the very beginning.
"Elder sister went back to rest in her room. Please… don't disturb her."
Her blue eyes watched him cautiously, with a faint pleading look.
Hayashi Maki refused her request without hesitation.
"Can't do that. I haven't rested yet, so why is she allowed to slack off? Though, if she's resting to prepare for tonight's bed service, I might be willing to let it slide."
"B-bed service?" Rem repeated softly, fingers curling into fists as she glared at him in embarrassment and anger.
"What, you have a problem with that?" Hayashi Maki fixed her with a calm look.
"…"
After a moment of silence, Rem lowered her head, forcing down her anger. Her shoulders trembled as she quietly begged:
"Elder sister's body isn't well… Please let Rem attend to you instead."
Hayashi Maki couldn't help the wicked grin that tugged at his lips. He looked exactly like some smug villain.
"Oh? Rem will attend me instead? That's fine too."
He slid an arm around her slim waist, leaning in to take in the scent of her.
"Then Rem, remember to come to my room tonight. As for now, I'm going to see what's wrong with Ram."
He turned to leave.
Rem's face went pale at that. She rushed around to block his path.
"No! Elder sister really isn't feeling well. She is unwell. Hayashi Maki-sama, please let her rest. If there's anything you want, please ask Rem instead."
Her whole body shivered, but her eyes were firm as she stood between him and the door.
Hayashi Maki sighed.
"That's exactly why I want to see her—so I can heal her."
"If you're worried, come along. I may be a pervert, but I'm not a brute. I'm not going to force myself on a girl who's actually sick."
His sincerity made Rem furrow her brows, clearly unsure whether to believe him.
"What's wrong? Don't you trust me? Rem, think about it: with my strength, if I really wanted to use force… do you and Ram seriously think you could stop me?"
"…"
After several seconds of silence, Rem finally looked up at him, then bowed deeply.
"Rem understands. Please… follow me."
Led by Rem, the two walked to the door of a certain room.
As expected, it should've been Ram's room.
Hayashi Maki reached for the handle with some anticipation and opened the door.
Inside, however, was a pink bed… and a room lined with bookshelves.
A tiny blond girl with fluffy twin-drills sat on the bed, clutching a book and staring at him in surprise.
This was not Ram.
Hayashi Maki turned his face toward Rem, expression flat.
"This doesn't look like Ram's room to me. Rem, did you bring me to the wrong place?"
Rem hurriedly shook her head. "No. You… triggered a Door of Chance. Any door in the mansion might lead to Beatrice-sama's room."
"So that's how it is. Fine, I won't blame you then. Beatrice, I wasn't actually looking for you this time. We'll talk later. See you around."
Without giving Beatrice a chance to snap at him, he shut the door again, then immediately reopened it.
This time, Ram's figure appeared inside.
Hayashi Maki nodded in satisfaction and walked in.
Now this was more like it.
Ram's face paled when she saw him enter.
She glanced at Rem standing behind him, then forced herself to remain composed and asked:
"May I ask what business you have with me… Lewd Master?"