"What about the help you spoke of earlier, Young Master?"
Esther brought our conversation back to the topic of world destruction.
"It's simple. Help with whatever I need and adjust to the situation."
"I don't think I can really..."
"Gold coin."
"I bark when I'm told to bark, and I crawl when I'm told to crawl."
"Bark for me."
"Woof, Woof!"
"You lack the gusto of a real bitch."
"Grrrr... Arf, Arf! Woof, Woof, Woof!"
"Hmm, that's much better. Still a long way to go, though."
"Young Master, I'm sure I heard the sound of a mad dog..."
Head Maid Mariette re-entered my room. Does she really think this is a passing yard?
Of course, seeing that we were engaged in our Master-Dog role-play, Mariette carefully closed the door.
"...Enjoy yourself."
Just the ordinary stuff, nothing special.
By the way, the bleeding from the wound on my neck that Esther had inflicted earlier had only stopped now.
"Tsk tsk, look what you have done to your Master's sacred body. Shall I leave you without wages?"
"Woof, woof! Would you like me to lick it? I'm confident in my skills, Young Master."
Letting out an ear-pleasing bark, Esther politely offered. I thought I now knew how to motivate this woman.
"...No, that would be too much. But it's commendable, plus one point."
The offer was tempting, but I shook my head. There were still more important things to do right now.
"You better use your pretty tongue to answer my questions properly."
"Whatever you say, Young Master."
"First of all, are you a woman?"
"Yes. I am a woman, or a bitch, as you prefer, Young Master. If you meant my virginity..."
"No, that's enough. It was a routine question."
Considering how often the unexpected gender bender happens in games, revealing the shocking truth at the very end, even with obvious evidence, I had to ask.
"That's good. As a woman, you should be good at understanding women's hearts."
It just so happens that most of the [Fates] in the Gallery were women.
I died a virgin, so I couldn't have predicted everything. Having Esther on my side would definitely be a plus.
"I'm counting on you, my companion."
Resolving the pressing issue, I looked out the window of my room.
Since we were on the highest floor of the Nilfheim estate, we had a great view of the city below.
"So Balmont, huh? It's not that far from that place..."
Since we were here, the first [Fate] we had to neutralize was already predetermined.
"Esther, get ready, we have a little trip ahead of us soon."
"A little trip? Alright, I'll start packing right away, Young Master."
As her pleasant voice carried to me, my gaze crossed the entire wealthy area of the city, the shopping district, the slums, until it left the walls of Balmont completely, stretching into the distance.
My eyes weren't good enough to see it, but if I could, there, far beyond the Empire, far, far away in the South, I would find what I was looking for.
And the one I had to stop.
"The Perfect Vessel."