The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ninth Floor—the maid cafeteria.
This was where Nazarick's many maids usually ate. Whether they were ordinary maids or combat maids, they generally took their meals here.
Naohara dropped by once in a while as well. The food couldn't compare to what was served in the Supreme One Restaurant, but eating while watching the maids had its own special appeal.
Of course, that only worked if he disguised himself as an ordinary maid. If he walked in as himself, it would cause an uproar, and that was the last thing he wanted.
Rather than going straight to the fifth floor, Naohara came here first. He needed to find Clementine a guide, someone who could show her around and help her get familiar with the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
He could have done it himself, sure, but why bother when there were maids who could handle it?
It was already night, yet the cafeteria was still brightly lit. Standing outside, Naohara could clearly hear the laughter and playful chatter spilling out from within.
"Naohara-sama, Lupusregina is inside."
Entoma, sitting in Naohara's arms, spoke in her soft, sweet voice after catching a familiar sound.
"Good. Clem, I hope you like the guide I picked for you."
Naohara turned to Clementine, who had been unusually quiet ever since entering the Great Tomb, and smiled as he spoke.
He'd been thinking about how to ease her nerves, and after a moment, he decided Lupusregina would be a good choice.
Lupusregina was one of the combat maids. A werewolf with vivid red hair and brown skin, she gave off a lively, energetic impression at first glance.
With how naturally friendly she was, she should be able to relax Clementine pretty quickly.
Naohara knew that was only the surface, though. Underneath, she was the type who looked sweet but had a nasty streak, a sadist who could go toe-to-toe with Solution. Still, as long as he made things clear, she was perfectly fine in day-to-day situations.
"I'll do what you say."
Clementine listened to the noise coming from inside. She was tense, but she still nodded obediently.
She trusted Naohara without reservation. Even if he told her to die on the spot, she wouldn't hesitate.
That was why, despite seeing all kinds of bizarre creatures along the way, she'd mostly just been nervous rather than truly afraid.
Naohara gently ruffled Clementine's short blond hair, then pushed open the door and stepped inside with a smile.
The sound immediately drew the attention of the maids who had been fooling around. Curious looks flew toward the entrance, but the instant they saw Naohara, they froze.
It was like someone had hit a pause button. After a few seconds of stunned silence, the maids hurriedly stood, bent at the waist, and called out loudly in unison.
"Naohara-sama!"
As they bowed, they also stole glances at him. The moment they noticed Entoma in his arms, shock spread across their faces.
Seeing Entoma sitting there so naturally was enough to scare them. As for Clementine behind Naohara, almost no one paid her any attention. She was just a human, after all.
"Don't mind me. Carry on. Just pretend I'm not here."
Naohara waved a hand, signaling them to continue. His eyes swept the room, and when he spotted a particularly eye-catching head of red hair, he nodded in satisfaction.
Lupusregina. Found you.
He strolled over. Seeing Lupusregina looking a little nervous, Naohara considered it for a moment, then reached out and patted her head.
The details could wait. First things first, a friendly head pat.
"Awwooo~"
The reaction didn't disappoint him. Lupusregina let out a strange little sound and immediately melted into an expression of pure enjoyment.
"Naohara-sama, is there something you need?"
She spoke brightly, savoring the pleasant sensation on her head, and subtly tipped her head up to make it easier for him.
Maybe it was the werewolf in her, but Lupusregina clearly loved being patted. The wolf tail swishing behind her made it obvious she was in a great mood.
(Lupusregina is a werewolf, not a wolfman.)
Lupusregina narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at Entoma in Naohara's arms with a hint of surprise. Her little sister had moved far faster than she expected. Things had already progressed this far.
Entoma, Entoma… my dear little sister. Who would've thought you were the one hiding it the deepest?
Entoma seemed to notice her gaze and looked back. Their eyes met briefly before both turned away at the same time. A faint tension quietly settled between them.
"Lupusregina, I have a task for you."
"This is my friend. I'd like you to show her around Nazarick."
Naohara, completely unaware of the subtle undercurrents between the maids, continued enjoying the simple pleasure of patting Lupusregina's head. Her hair really was excellent quality, and the ears hidden beneath it were incredibly soft.
Still, he didn't dare go too far. Just now, when he lightly brushed one of her ears, Lupusregina had let out an involuntary moan.
That was probably a sensitive spot. Better not touch it. I'm not some kind of pervert, he thought to himself.
"Mmm Since it's Naohara-sama's order, then I have no objections~"
After flashing a bright, sunny smile, Lupusregina gave her answer in a slightly drawn-out tone.
"Good."
After satisfying himself with one last pat, Naohara withdrew his hand. For a split second, he thought he saw a flicker of disappointment cross Lupusregina's face, but when he looked again, she was already smiling as brightly as ever.
"I'll be heading off. Clem, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask Lupusregina. She'll explain it to you."
"Understood, Naohara-sama."
Clementine knew how to read the room. At a time like this, using the proper honorific was essential. She had no intention of being disliked the moment they met.
With the guide settled, Naohara turned to leave. But after a moment's thought, he extended a finger. Under Clementine's puzzled gaze, he gently tapped her forehead.
A small magic circle flickered and vanished in an instant. On her previously smooth forehead, a pure black dragon-shaped mark appeared.
"Just a bit of insurance."
After imprinting the mark that signified his protection, Naohara smiled. Now he could leave at ease.
There weren't many "good people" in Nazarick. Considering Clementine was human, he decided to add an extra safeguard.
The mark would better ensure her safety and spare her from unnecessary trouble.
He waved casually at the surrounding maids, activated his ring, and disappeared on the spot.
"Phew…"
Someone let out a breath they'd clearly been holding. As if a switch had been flipped, the previously quiet cafeteria instantly filled with noise again.
"So intimidating… as expected of Naohara-sama."
"He's obviously gentle, but the pressure he gives off is incredible!"
"As expected of the most gentle and powerful Supreme Being!"
…
After a brief pause to compose themselves, the maids began chatting all at once. Getting to interact with a Supreme Being up close left them brimming with excitement.
As they talked, their gazes repeatedly drifted toward Clementine. Her relationship with a Supreme Being intrigued them, especially since Naohara-sama had personally given her a dragon-shaped mark.
Being stared at from all sides made Clementine deeply uncomfortable. She hated being the center of attention. Under normal circumstances, she would have already started killing.
"Hehe, relax a little. I'm Lupusregina. As Naohara-sama instructed, I'll be showing you around Nazarick from here on."
Seeing Clementine's stiff expression, Lupusregina casually slung an arm around her shoulders and grinned.
Just as Naohara had expected, Lupusregina's easygoing nature quickly eased Clementine's tension.
Sure enough, after meeting her, the restlessness in Clementine's heart faded considerably. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke.
"I'm Clementine. I'll be in your care."