CHAPTERS 38-39-40 FREE ONLY FOR FREE MEMBERS ON MY PATREON!
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Leaving the training grounds, Xuan felt his facial muscles growing stiff. Maintaining a gentle, approachable smile at all times was an exhausting chore.
For some reason, his mind suddenly wandered to Aizen from Bleach. Back when that particular villain was still playing the role of a benevolent Soul Reaper captain, he had constantly visited the Shin'ō Academy to mentor students, farming his prestige in the exact same way.
Shaking his head to dispel the thought, Xuan made his way home.
Upon arriving, he found that his little maid had already prepared dinner and was waiting for his return. Seeing him walk through the door, the young girl, who was kneeling obediently in the entryway, bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, Xuan-sama!" her crisp, cheerful voice rang out.
Xuan set his sword, Amanokumo, aside. After washing his hands, he sat at the table and accepted the bowl of rice she served him, digging in without a word. He had grown thoroughly accustomed to being waited on like this at home. Sometimes, he couldn't help but sigh at the realization that if he were ever forced to live alone and do everything himself again, he probably wouldn't survive.
While he ate, the little maid kept staring at his face. She clearly wanted to say something but hesitated, too timid to speak up.
"Xuan... sama, are you upset?" she finally asked, mustering her courage to speak in a quiet, fragile voice.
"Hmm?" Xuan set down his bowl and chopsticks, touching his own face in genuine confusion. "I thought I was hiding it pretty well. How did you know?"
He was certain he had kept his smile perfectly intact. His demeanor was no different from usual. How had his little maid seen right through him?
She quickly lowered her head, replying meekly, "Your expression is the same as always, my lord. But usually, when you walk through the door, your footsteps are very light. Today, they were twice as heavy. Normally, when you come home, you have me help you change into a loose yukata before washing up and eating. But today, you sat straight down at the table right after washing your hands. Also... you just carelessly tossed your sword aside. You are always so meticulous about maintaining your ninja tools; you never just throw them around."
Xuan stared blankly at Senya Hotaru. He hadn't expected her to pick up on his foul mood through such minute details—details he hadn't even consciously noticed himself.
"M-My lord!" Uneasy under his intense gaze, Hotaru shrank back, lowering her head even further.
"Stop burying your head. Any lower and you'll turn into an ostrich," Xuan said, letting out a soft chuckle as his dark mood lifted considerably. "And the title 'sama' sounds too distant. I don't like it. Pick a different way to address me."
"Oh!" Hotaru gave a soft squeak and actually lifted her head. Furrowing her delicate brows, she asked, "If I don't call you 'sama', what should I call you?"
"How about 'Xuan-nii'?" he suggested with a grin, completely ignoring the fact that Hotaru was actually a year older than his current eight-year-old body.
The little maid shook her head like a rattle-drum, adamantly refusing the idea.
Xuan offered two more suggestions, but she stubbornly rejected both of them as well.
Finally, Xuan shot her a mock glare, pretending to be angry. "This won't do, that won't do. Fine, you think of something then."
Hotaru looked like she was about to cry. You were the one who told me to stop calling you 'sama', and now you're making me come up with a title? That's so unreasonable!
But she kept her grievances to herself, too timid to speak them aloud. After a long moment of contemplation, she whispered, "I-I'll call you Master!"
"It's acceptable. Call me whatever you like."
"Master!"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Master!"
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
The little maid seemed to genuinely adore her new title, repeating it tirelessly until Xuan severely scolded her twice. Only then did she restrain herself, though she remained bubbling with joy.
Unable to do anything about her, Xuan casually reached into his robes, pulled out a pouch, and tossed it in front of her.
Hotaru grabbed it and peeked inside, gasping in shock. "Master, there's so much money in here!"
"You're in charge of it now," Xuan said dismissively. "From now on, you will manage all the household finances. If I need anything, I'll ask you for it directly."
Hotaru's eyes lit up like stars. She hugged the heavy coin pouch tightly to her chest, her face tense with excitement. "Really? I'm still young, so you're not allowed to trick me!"
Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. How had he never realized his little maid was such a money-grubber?
Having secured absolute financial authority, Hotaru became even more attentive. She buzzed around the house with boundless enthusiasm, washing the dishes and boiling the bathwater with a newfound vigor. Watching her busy silhouette lifted Xuan's spirits another notch.
After a refreshing bath, Xuan felt completely revitalized. Wearing a thin, loose yukata, he laid down on his futon. The hour was still early, and sleep eluded him.
"Hotaru, come in here for a moment!" he called out.
A short while later, the little maid slid open his bedroom door and entered with her head bowed. She had clearly just finished bathing as well. Dressed only in a thin robe, beads of water clung to her jade-like arms. Her small face was flushed pink, and her long, jet-black hair tumbled past her shoulders. A faint scent of cherry blossoms mixed with something sweet and milky drifted into the room.
Xuan flipped over, lying flat on his stomach. "I'm a bit tired. Give me a massage."
"Yes, Master," Hotaru replied. She knelt beside him, extending her slender hands to gently knead his shoulders. Her touch was incredibly soothing, but there was one glaring flaw—she lacked the strength to actually work out the tension.
"Harder."
Hotaru nodded, putting a bit more weight into her pressing, but to Xuan's hardened shinobi muscles, there was barely any difference.
He frowned slightly. "Stand on my back. Walk on it with your feet. Your hands are too weak."
The little maid turned deathly pale. She shook her head frantically, absolutely terrified of the very idea.
It wasn't until Xuan pulled a long face and sternly scolded her again that she finally climbed onto his back with an expression of absolute resolve, looking as if she were marching to her execution. Sometimes, Xuan noted to himself, you just have to be firm with the little maid.
As her small feet began to walk back and forth across his spine, her full body weight applied the perfect amount of pressure. Now this is the life, Xuan sighed internally, closing his eyes in quiet bliss.
He silently called out to the System in his mind. The familiar interface materialized in his consciousness. Looking at his current points balance, a single thought crossed his mind:
What should I redeem this time?
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