The Peaceful Life of a Maid Who Hides Her Power and Enjoys It

<Episode 52>

 

The assassin-butler said nothing for a moment.

His eyes, which had been full of suspicion at first, gradually became more and more bewildered.

“I need an explanation. What kind of process does it take to achieve such a result?”

 

After a brief description of the duel, the assassin-butler uttered words of rare admiration.

“Incredible, you beat Jean Berkeley Gratten? I wonder if you used a legitimate method to win.”

“What other method would there be?”

“I was trying to compliment you on your good work.”

“I’m afraid I can’t say the same.”

“To accept her defeat and such a huge price… She’s still young, but she’s quite mature. Alright, just help me have a one-on-one meeting with her, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“Don’t kill her. You’re a butler now.”

“Of course, I have my ethics as a butler. I don’t wish to cause trouble for people from the same profession either.”

 

I liked that the assassin-butler was a human afterall.

Smiling contentedly, I lowered my upper body slightly and whispered to him.

 

“Now I must receive what I was supposed to get. This is what this partnership was for; isn’t that right?”

 

Information on Rue and Dian Cecht.

The intel was supposed to be exchanged for the deprivation of Jean’s right to succeed the Berkeley Grattens.

 

The assassin-butler nodded and took out a small notebook.

“The information about Dian Cecht has been put together in that notebook.”

 

Put it together? There must’ve been quite a lot. I happily roughly skimmed through the notebook for now. It was nice to be in a partnership. The assassin-butler, who was looking at my smiling face, calmly parted his lips to speak again.

 

“Ten days ago, a strange visitor came to the mansion. He was the first outsider to visit after the master became the owner of the mansion.”

Was he giving intel on Rue now? My ears perked up.

“The visitor’s Imperial language was a bit slurred. When I paid close attention, I could detect a northern continental accent in his speech. His stay in the mansion lasted merely 10 minutes, with half of that time dedicated to piously paying greetings to the master.”

 

“…….”

 

“He knelt down and bowed several times while singing praises and chants. He probably assumed I wouldn’t recognize it, but the salutations were familiar. That type of greeting is reserved for esteemed leaders within Rogue, an organization affiliated with the United Northern Continental States. This intel holds substantial value.”

 

That was for sure.

“I know that.”

“What?”

“I know it. That Rue is a member of Rogue.”

 

You’re trying to sell me information I already knew after I went through all that trouble at the noble council? When I threw a cold glare at the assassin-butler, he pursed his lips.

 

Ha.

“Since we’re at it anyway, answer this. Do you know what a Calepa is?”

“The Calepa of Rogue?”

“Yes, that.”

 

The assassin-butler replied, his eyes telling that the information wasn’t very secret.

 

“Calepa usually has two meanings. First, the religious leader of Rogue. Like the Holy Church has the pope, Rogue has their Calepa. However, since Rogue is divided into three powers, there are always three Calepas.” 

“Three? Hmm. Is it like a general manager, a behavioral manager, and a salesperson, respectively?”

 

The butler assassin ignored my words.

“The center of the sanctuary where Rogue’s main headquarters is situated is also called Calepa. Originally, Rogue’s leaders were called Calepa because it meant ‘people who are able to enter Calepa, the land of God.’”

 

Calepa, the religious leader of Rogue, just like the pope to the holy church.

 

‘Rue… is that Calepa?’

Rue was one of the most devout believers in the Northern Continents?

Rue, who seems to even breathe arrogantly?

Rue, who feared nothing and was brazen and shamelessly audacious?

 

‘It doesn’t suit him at all. Shouldn’t they take people’s appearances into consideration?’

 

Even me, whose information about the Northern Continent’s culture was fragmented and limited, knew that Rogue was a religion that dominated the region. 

 

When I recognized it, everything about Rue seemed to fit like a puzzle.

 

‘The overflowing amount of money. He seemed like he was used to being served. He said he wasn’t an aristocrat. It was because he was the Calepa of Rogue.’

 

Then which one of the Calepas was Rue?

 

Secretary, commander, leader… Hm. The action-oriented type? However, he wasn’t the type to willingly take on tedious tasks. Then, perhaps a sales representative? He did have good talking skills, but..

 

Above all.

‘Why is a person like Calepa working as a chef?’

 

I thought my questions would be answered if I knew about Rue’s identity, but the reality was the opposite. Rather, my questions only increased.

 

“The dangerous people looking for Dian Cecht’s relics; who are they?”

“From the Northern Continental Union… Rogue.”

 

According to Yeager’s testimony, Rogue was looking for Dian Cecht’s relics, just as I was. At the very least, it looked like they’d be pleased to have them.

 

‘But the Calepa himself is the one moving?’

Wasn’t it on the level of the Pope of the Holy Church making a move himself?

I’m sure that Rue has a purpose other than just Dian Cecht’s relics.

 

It was a plausible hypothesis when I recalled how his reaction to Dian Cecht’s eyes was strangely bland.

 

“You seem to know a lot about Rogue.”

“…The assassins who survived the magic war are generally familiar with Rogue.”

“Why are the surviving assassins familiar with them?”

 

The assassin-butler looked at me with a darker expression.

“The reason…”

“What?”

“I’ll reveal it in 60 seconds.”

 

What…? Still, I counted to 60 seconds. However, even after 70 seconds, the assassin-butler did not open his mouth.

 

“You said you’d reveal it in 60 seconds.”

He replied with a rare look of irritation.

“You really can’t read the mood. I meant I didn’t want to talk about it.”

 

What was that supposed to mean? Was it the way assassins talked to other assassins? I might use it sometime.

 

I got up slowly from my seat.

 

“It’s a shame, but some of the information that you shared about Rue is invalid. This transaction doesn’t pay me for my work. I need additional information.”

“It is a perfectly understandable objection. I accept it. I have to say something, too.”

“Do it.”

“Berithlet will soon be aware of the state of this branch. So far I’ve controlled this pub with no problems, but if Berithlet moves, it could cause a big problem. Have you dealt with them?”

 

No.

“I didn’t.”

“Sigh.”

 

I let out a sigh of my own, too. The only thing awaiting me here after I came back from the tiring noble council meeting was more work.

A maid’s life was so hard.

 

“I’ll think about it. In any case, this place is like a battle base for us.”

The moment I turned my back to leave the storage room, the assassin-butler jumped out of his seat and grabbed me by the ankle.

 

“Wait. I have one last thing to ask you.”

 

I looked at him nervously.

“What is it? If you have something to say, say it all at once. Don’t keep taking short intervals.”

 

The gaze of the housekeeper assassin fixed upon me this time had an unusual intensity. I swallowed hard, my mouth parched. I could sense that the matter about to be discussed held great significance, something the housekeeper assassin had pondered and contemplated for a long time.

 

He asked me in a grave voice.

“How do I take care of the bathroom when it’s wet? No matter how many times I wipe it, the water stains still remain on the walls and the floors. Do you have any tips, maidservant?”

 

Water stains. I see.

He was fighting a very tough opponent.

 

“No tips.”

“……Are you sure?”

“The water stains in the bathroom… the only solution to them is sincerity in the work.”

 

The assassin-butler’s cold eyes shone.

“Diligence. I’ll remember that.”

 

* * *

 

The five relics of Dian Cecht.

The artifacts usually referred to the following items;

 

<Dian Cecht’s eyes, Dian Cecht’s diary, Dian Cecht’s hand mirror, Dian Cecht’s seal, Dianket’s open cage.>

 

This complex and diverse composition of items, which sounded obscure and random, were quite literally the artifacts left behind by Dian Cecht. In the case of the diary, it is said that Dian Cecht’s own handwriting was recorded, and traces of his use were said to remain on the hand mirror and seal. In other words, they were both magic tools and household items.

 

According to the notebook handed over to me by the assassin-butler, as many as three of them have been released to the public.

The most famous relic among them was <Dian Cecht’s Diary>.

 

‘It’s currently on display at the Jansen Exhibition Hall in Westwinterre…’

 

The Jansen Exhibition Hall was established by the famous treasure collector, Polo Jansen, and in short, it was established for the purpose of showing off his treasure trove. The highlight of this place, the heart, and the deepest display, <Dian Cecht’s Diary>, was my second goal.

 

‘But why isn’t the swordmaster touching this relic?’

 

One of the relics was on display. It was much easier to steal since it was open to the public, so why?

 

I decided to put aside this question for a while until I arrived in Westwinterre.

It’s because something more urgent arrived earlier than expected.

 

–

 

Decided to leave Calepa as it is because it has another meaning in the story as well!

I think that something more urgent has to do with a certain swordswoman excited to meet a certain viscount again bahaha

most normal servants in Midwinterre