"We've been out for too long; Mama Mia will worry if she doesn't see us! She might even report it to the police!"
While they were talking, they had already reached the doorknob.
The door was right behind them; just a gentle twist...
The human and the cat could even smell the sweet scent of the free air outside through the crack in the door.
As a result.
"Are you in such a hurry to leave?"
"..."
As soon as Heimdall's voice rang out.
Chloe's and Lunoire's hands immediately froze on the doorknob.
"Uh, uh... that..."
Chloe swallowed hard, her neck turning in clicks as if it were rusty, attempting a final struggle.
"Lord God... actually, we're really busy, meow..."
"Is that so?"
"That's truly a pity."
"I was thinking that since you're acquaintances with Miss Elf, I could turn a blind eye to some things and let them slide."
"But since you say you're busy."
"Then Captain Shakti probably hasn't gone far yet."
"How about I call Captain Shakti back now?"
"And let Captain Shakti discuss this with you again?"
"Deceiving a god and deceiving the Captain of the Military Police—combining those two crimes, how long do you think you'll be gnawing on black bread in the Ganesha Familia's cells?"
This is a threat, right?
This is definitely a blatant threat!
"No... please don't, meow!"
Chloe, who already had a psychological trauma regarding Shakti, was so scared that her pupils turned into slits, and her mental defenses crumbled instantly.
Her cat ears immediately drooped, and she looked as if her soul had been sucked out. Her hands waved frantically, even leaving afterimages.
"We'll do it! We'll do it, okay, meow?!"
"Just don't call that woman back! It's fine even if you make Lunoire clean this whole house, meow!"
"Huh?!"
"You stupid cat, what did you just say?!"
Hearing Chloe's words, Lunoire snapped her head around, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at this dead cat who had sold out her teammate so smoothly.
"The wise man knows when to submit to circumstances."
"That's more like it."
"In any case, you seem quite free to me."
"After all, your working hours are at night."
"You're idle during the day too. Instead of going around causing trouble, it's better to do something meaningful."
"Besides..."
"As Miss Elf's friends, you should naturally help lighten her burden, shouldn't you?"
"Don't you agree, Miss Black Cat?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Everything you say is right, Lord God, meow!"
Where would Chloe dare to say "no" at this moment?
As long as she didn't have to be taken to see Shakti, and as long as she could keep her backside from being beaten to a pulp, she would not only nod but even perform a handstand while washing her hair if asked.
However.
Just out of the wolf's den and into the tiger's lair.
Is this what they call karma?
What kind of situation is this?
The bitterness in Chloe's heart was three times worse than bitter melon mixed with Coptis.
"Very good."
"Since Miss Black Cat thinks there's no problem."
"Then how about Miss Black Cat and the other shop assistant lady come here every morning with Miss Elf to clean?"
"No problem, meow—"
Before Chloe's brain could react, she nodded again.
"No problem, my foot!"
Lunoire, standing nearby, immediately grew anxious upon hearing this.
This was clearly treating them as free long-term laborers!
And yet this stupid cat actually nodded and agreed?!
Thinking of this, Lunoire's hands immediately grabbed Chloe's neck.
"Are you crazy?!"
"Every day?!"
"Are you trying to work me to death?!"
"And!"
"How dare you agree to this on my behalf?!"
Lunoire was about to have a brain hemorrhage from the anger caused by this pig of a teammate.
They were already unlucky enough today and should have just accepted doing a day of hard labor.
But this stupid cat was great—she just sold herself into servitude!
Chloe's face turned beet red from being choked, and she frantically slapped Lunoire's arms.
"Ugh—! I'm dying, I'm dying, meow."
"You're strangling the cat! Let go, meow! I'm running out of breath, meow!"
"Stupid cat! It's all your fault!"
"*Cough, cough, cough*—I had no choice, meow!"
And so.
The person and the cat began to scuffle.
On the other side.
Ryu, who was holding a rag and standing on a high ladder wiping the top of a window, had to stop her movements when she heard the commotion behind her.
She turned her head and looked at Chloe and Lunoire, who were fighting with each other.
Lunoire was riding on Chloe, shaking her and roaring.
Chloe looked like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water; even though she was being choked, her tail was still flicking around restlessly.
"..."
Seeing this, Ryu opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
But the words reached her lips and were swallowed back down.
After all.
She looked down at the maid uniform she was wearing, then at the rag in her hand.
She herself was in this situation now, like a clay Buddha crossing a river—unable to even save herself.
How could she have the spare energy to care about these two who went looking for trouble and insisted on coming here to be free laborers?
In fact.
Deep in her heart, seeing those two "bad friends" who always teamed up to tease her in the tavern now suffering the same fate as her...
Her originally tense mood somehow relaxed a little bit.
She just hoped...
When they went back at noon.
Anya could make Mama Mia's mood a bit better.
After all, she, Chloe, Lunoire, and Syr.
—All four main employees were absent.
Just thinking about that scene, one could already imagine how fiercely Mama Mia's anger would burn.
At this thought, Ryu silently turned her head and raised the rag again.
...
Meanwhile.
Inside The Hostess of Fertility tavern.
"Eh?"
Anya, still unable to find anyone, stood there with her hands on her hips, blinking her eyes and tilting her head ninety degrees.
"Where is everyone, meow?"
Syr had taken a leave of absence; Anya knew this.
After all, Syr had said yesterday she was going to the orphanage to help. Such a compassionate thing fit Syr's character perfectly.
But.
Where were the others?
"Ryu-meow?"
Anya called out tentatively.
She ducked into the storage room to take a look.
No one.
"Stupid Chloe-meow?"
Anya looked under the chopping board.
Still no one.
"Stupid Lunoire-meow?"
Anya opened the lid of the giant stew pot and peeked inside.
Aside from a pot of bubbling broth.
Still no one.
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