No matter how much I drank, waking up refreshed without a single hangover was truly a blessing worth calling one.
For some reason, the bed was soaked through, and my whole body ached, but I'd long since stopped caring about that.
It must be because my wounds haven't fully healed yet.
"Ugh... Haaah~"
As I stretched my sore body and let out a long yawn, I habitually groped around for a bottle of liquor.
Tang!
"...Huh?"
Instead of the hard, cool feel of a glass bottle, I felt something warm and soft. Tilting my head, I turned to look.
"..."
"Ah, fuck, you scared me!"
I jolted in shock at the black silhouette staring down at me with wide eyes.
I was so startled that "Ah, shit, you scared me!" came out as "Ah, fuck, you scared me!"
Oh, and what I'd touched was her thigh, for the record.
"Mu, Murel...? What are you doing?"
"...You are...awake...Alzen...sir..."
"Uh, y-yeah...?"
Her mumbling chant-like murmur, unsteady pitch, and halting voice.
Her clearly abnormal reaction puzzled me, so I scooted back a bit.
"What's wrong? You okay?"
"I am...fine. Currently...sleeping...so..."
"...Sleeping? You're answering me right now."
"Consciousness...is...awake...Soon, required sleep time...will be...fulfilled...so please...excuse me..."
"You're not some kind of robot, are you?"
This was my first time seeing her like this, and it felt really strange.
Come to think of it, she had said something about sleep before, but I never dreamed she'd handle it this way.
...Didn't I tell her to sleep comfortably? Or was it "do whatever"?
Surely this wasn't her idea of comfortable sleep. That would be horrifying and pitiful.
I frowned without realizing it and grabbed a bottle of liquor.
"Awakening complete. Alzen sir. Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your health."
"..."
I ignored her completely and took a swig.
"Phew..."
As the strong liquor burned down to my stomach, the soreness in my body floated up like buoys, throbbing all over.
"Alzen sir. I'll bring breakfast."
"No need."
"Please eat just a little."
"I said no need."
I glared at her irritably, but she stared back with a resolute expression, refusing to back down on this.
"I'll bring it."
"Sigh... Fine, do what you want."
"Yes. Then."
She curtseyed lightly and returned with simple bread, stew, a salad-topped steak, setting it down in front of me.
Gurgle!
The appetizing aroma wafted up, making my stomach rumble.
If the people down there working hard on repairs saw this, they'd call it extravagant.
But I stayed lying down and drank more liquor instead.
As if she'd expected that, Murel picked up the utensils in a neat posture, placed the stew bowl under my head, and brought a spoon to my mouth.
"...What are you doing right now?"
She'd only nagged me to eat before, never actually done this.
I glanced at the heaping spoonful of stew and grimaced, but she ignored it.
"I'll feed you."
"No need, mmph."
"Alzen sir. Meals are essential for survival. Liquor and cigarettes can never replace them."
Mid-sentence, the spoon slipped skillfully into my mouth, spreading the rich, savory stew over my tongue.
I squirmed instinctively before I could even taste it, but she'd already pinned my body down with her knee, looking down at me with a gentle smile.
"You...!"
"I'll feed you by force if I have to."
"..."
If she was set on it, I honestly had no way to resist.
No, did I even need to resist in the first place?
Just eating obediently would end this without the hassle of arguing.
"...Sigh, fine. I'll eat."
"Wise decision."
She removed her leg and stepped back.
"Damn... Is this for real? What kind of maid does this?"
I sat up on the sofa and eyed the steaming food, reaching out with a fork.
But that hand was promptly smacked away by Murel's thigh, now right up close.
It was covered by the long maid skirt, but the elastic feel was vivid.
"...Now what?"
"I don't know what trick you'll pull, so I'll feed you myself."
She held out another spoonful to my lips.
I stared at her in disbelief.
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
"Even so, isn't this a bit much...?"
"Not my fault."
"...Ugh, fine. Got it."
I obediently took the stew.
I hadn't tasted it properly before, but this time, the melted meat's richness, the vegetables' umami, and a nutty aroma stood out clearly.
I didn't show it, but honestly, it was delicious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After finishing the meal courtesy of Murel, I was given a simple wash by Murel again, then greeted Vivian's visit.
"Oppa! Are you feeling okay?"
"You ask that every time. I'm fine."
"Mother said since you don't take care of yourself, I have to check every day!"
"I see..."
"Today, I even brought a get-well gift! Look."
She held out a bouquet, her eyes sparkling.
The flowers weren't uniform in color, and the roots were dirty—clearly picked straight from the garden.
"Thanks, Vivian. I'll heal faster thanks to you."
I patted her shoulder, and she beamed proudly.
"Vivian miss. How about decorating the flowers here?"
"Ah! Murel! That's a great idea!"
Murel had quietly brought a vase and handed it over. Vivian grinned widely and started arranging the flowers with all her aesthetic sense and handiwork.
This was supposed to be a sick visit, but I'd already been forgotten.
Isn't our youngest a bit too childish for 13?
And when does puberty hit? She's tiny even for that.
...Please, just don't fail as a heroine...
"Oppa! I'll come again!"
"Sure."
Soon after, she placed the unevenly arranged bouquet on the table, gave her final well-wishes, and left the room.
"Sigh... Do I really have one-on-one meetings all day today?"
"Yes."
"How many are there?"
"Currently, 137 are scheduled."
"That's disgustingly many."
Gulp.
I grumbled while drinking, but deep down, I was prepared to endure it.
I might even meet game story characters like Rebecca yesterday.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Contrary to expectations, all of today's visitors were duds.
Merchants only after info, mages demanding artifact recipes like the mana frequency blocker, money-hungry adventurers and mercenaries, an old man trying to sell elixir info.
They all had high social status or strong power, and some were even in the setting book, but none were worth trading with or sharing info like with Rebecca, so I sent them packing without a second thought.
By evening, after brushing off all those frauds from morning, I'd handled all 136 visitors.
"..."
But the last one remaining was the problem.
A jackpot or a bust, sitting across from me with hands clasped in prayer.
Clothes symbolizing the Church of the Goddess, pure white and frail-looking blonde hair, a gentle and delicate impression—but golden eyes gleaming with hidden holy power deep within... and an enormous faith pouch asserting its presence on her chest.
"Hello. I am Cecilia, humbly serving as the Saintess of the Church of the Goddess."
"...Yeah."
Out popped a basic heroine just like our youngest Vivian.
I'd expected the Church of the Goddess to show up ever since rumors of prophets and incarnations started, but I never thought the Saintess herself would come.
"Hooo..."
I took a sip of liquor and exhaled cigarette smoke, and her serene smile faintly frowned.
I stared at her without a word, even seeing that reaction.
She gradually looked troubled, then started fidgeting restlessly.
"Hey."
"Yes? Ah, yes!"
At my call, she widened her eyes, then smiled brightly as if expecting something.
"You came here with something to say, right? If not, leave."
"Eh...? Ah, no! I do! I have something to say! B-but, um... I'm a bit sensitive to cigarette smoke..."
She glanced at me timidly, assuming I'd get it, with a slightly apologetic look.
"Your business is probably to check if I'm really the incarnation, right? And you would've known the moment you saw me. That I'm no incarnation."
"W-well, that's true, but... that's not it..."
She fidgeted, then gripped her skirt tightly and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Th-that... Isn't blowing cigarette smoke everywhere rude?! And drinking too! It's not how you treat a guest!"
"So?"
"Wh-what...!?"
She gaped in shock at my calm response, floundering.
Then she mumbled timidly.
"Um... I'm the Saintess...?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
She was young and raised like a flower in a greenhouse, so she was still naive.
For reference, she was 13, same as our youngest Vivian.
Puberty must've hit early; her development was already formidable.
When would ours start growing...? No, even accounting for that, the difference was huge.
Vivian, please, please don't fail as a heroine...
"I know you're the Saintess. So?"
"Uh, um..."
Even pulling rank as Saintess, my rude attitude left her speechless and lost, which was pretty cute.
"Suuuck, foooo..."
"Eek...!"
I demonstratively blew out smoke, crumpling her already frowning face like tissue paper.
"H-how can you be so rude! Don't you have any manners or consideration!?"
"Cecilia. Instead of quibbling over that, wouldn't it be more efficient to just get to business and minimize unpleasant time?"
Her mouth dropped open at my low mutter.
If I could've built rapport and used her, I'd compromise, but using the Saintess was too high difficulty.
The Duke's youngest Vivian was no pushover either, but as the third son above her, I could at least maneuver, so that was that.
Thank goodness the Duke's family hadn't fallen.
"..."
Plus, considering the goddess 'Tumoah' they worshipped might be the culprit who possessed me, wariness surged automatically.
Especially since I couldn't tell if she was top priority for prayer or someone to avoid at all costs.
"Hoo...! Hooo...!"
Suppressing her anger with a face red like boiling octopus, she forced a blank expression and stared at me.
A faint halo seemed to glow around her.
"...Fine. First business, confirming you're not the incarnation, done. Second business: Where and how did you obtain the information you have?"
"One day, a divine being came down, whispered it, and left."
"What...? Don't lie. I detect no trace of a divine being on you."
"Too bad. But my answer stays the same. Lately, I give that to all those questions, and they get it and leave."
I waved her off with a laugh, and her face flushed red.
"Using a divine being like that, that's..."
"What? Heresy?"
"Not quite... but so irreverent."
"Oh dear~ What a shame."
"..."
Her glaring face was quite fierce.
I could almost hear her favorability dropping from here.
"No intention of answering properly?"
"You gonna believe me if I say I suddenly knew without reason one day?"
"...No."
"Exactly. Next business then."
"Sigh..."
She sighed with irritation and looked at me sharply again.
"Recently, one of our cardinals fell under a curse. Can you resolve it?"
"Curse~? Wow, handing your specialty to an outsider? Is the Church of the Goddess finally done for?"
"What are you saying! It's just a bit unusual and bizarre!"
"Whatever, you wouldn't come on vague rumors alone... It's not a scam, is it?"
She frowned unpleasantly at my words.
"Why would we lie about that?"
"Hmm, to test me? You guys love that."
"Sigh... No. Be serious. It might lead to victory in the war against the demons."
"...Oh?"
An unexpected story drew admiration from me.
"Tell me the details."
Gulp. I chugged a big swig of liquor, gazing at her hazily, and she sighed again, looking utterly untrustworthy.