Chapter 15 - 15: A New Task
(AN: This Chapter is dedicated to today which is actually my birthday!)
(Thanks for the constant support everyone.)
Chapter 15: A New Task.
The Ghoul was wearing the same servant attire as him which suggested he was a low level servant like him but,
Feeling unsure, Hitoshi still decided to be polite.
He gave a small bow. "Good morning, Senior... I'm sorry if I offended you in any way." He said meekly yet the ghoul didn't respond.
He simply stared at Hitoshi in silence, His hollow eyes seemed to study the little human boy before him as if dissecting him with an unreadable expression.
Hitoshi felt pressured by his lifeless gaze, gulping unconsciously.
The silence dragged on for awhile before the ghoul finally spoke.
"...So you're the one the Head Maid is interested in."
' Eri Onee-san was talking about me?.'
Hitoshi blinked in confusion.
The ghoul's expression remained impassive, but inwardly, his mind was a storm of questions.
'Just what's so special about this brat?.'
He had never given the kid much thought before. In fact, he barely even noticed his existence until the Head Maid had warned him and his friends about him, seemingly giving him with a level of attention that no other servant had ever gotten the pleasure of receiving.
As for why, he just couldn't tell.
The human before him didn't seem particularly strong. His presence was practically nonexistent.
And yet...
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The ghoul exhaled slowly, deciding not to think too much about it.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
"The Head Maid has prepared a task for you," he finally said, his tone flat. "Follow me."
"O-okay!." Hitoshi tilted his head before nodding his voice a stutter.
Without hesitation, he followed the ghoul down the corridor, moving through the dimly lit servant quarters. The journey was silent, the only sound being the soft patter of Hitoshi's footsteps against the cool stone floor.
Eventually, they ascended a set of stairs, leaving the basement-like quarters behind as they entered the grand floor of the manor.
The difference in atmosphere was immediate.
Hitoshi's eyes widened in amazement, The hallway stretched wide, its polished marble floors reflecting the dim chandeliers that hung high above. The air smelled of incense and something faintly sweet, like fresh roses.
Hitoshi's eyes darted around, taking in the intricate wall tapestries and gilded pillars.
Everything felt big here.
But before he could get too distracted, a familiar voice called out.
"Hitoshi~!"
Hitoshi's ears perked up, and his face brightened.
"Eri Onee-san!"
He beamed, waving as he spotted her standing at the end of the hallway. Without thinking, he rushed toward her, his previous soreness completely pushed to the very depths of his mind.
Eri watched him approach with an amused smile before placing a hand on her hip.
"You look awfully cheerful," she remarked, a light smile on her lips. "Did something good happen?"
Hitoshi nodded excitedly. "I think I got stronger and it's all thanks to you!."
Eri's brows raised a bit as she scrutinized him with her gaze.
She had merely allowed him to soak in her Vitality pool, intending to strengthen his frail body. But after taking a look at him, she discovered that his body was more sturdier than before and not by a small amount.
She couldn't help wondering whether his body was really special to have absorbed so much vitality and improved so much in such a sort span of time.
Before she could respond, her crimson eyes flickered toward the ghoul standing stiffly behind Hitoshi.
Immediately, her expression darkened.
"...You've completed your task," she said coldly. " You may now take your leave."
The temperature seemed to drop in an instant around the ghoul as if several non-existent Icicles were hovering all around him.
The ghoul stiffened.
His earlier confidence shrank under the weight of her gaze, and for the first time since his arrival, a flicker of fear passed through his sunken eyes.
"Yes, Head Maid."
His voice was quiet and even more so Submissive.
Without another word, he turned and left in hurried strides, his clawed hands curling slightly at his sides.
Hitoshi watched in confusion.
"Eh? Onee-san, why was he in such a rush?"
Eri exhaled through her nose before flicking Hitoshi's forehead lightly.
"Never mind that," she said, her smirk returning. "You have work to do, don't you?"
Hitoshi pouted, rubbing his forehead which now had a pinkish hue. " Onee-san you're being mean."
Eri chuckled.
"Come on, let's go."
" I decided to change up your task for today." With that, she led him further down the hallway, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor.
Hitoshi bounced on his feet as he followed after Eri Onee-san through the long, dimly lit corridors of the manor. His small hands clenched into excited fists at his sides, barely able to contain the giddy anticipation building in his chest. The polished wooden floors creaked beneath their steps, and the glow of enchanted lanterns flickered against the ornately carved walls.
Eri Onee-san walked with her usual elegant grace, her tall figure cutting a commanding yet strangely reassuring presence ahead of him. Hitoshi craned his neck to look up at her, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Onee-san!, Just what is my new task anyway?" he asked eagerly, his voice bright with enthusiasm. He beamed, rocking forward on the balls of his feet, barely resisting the urge to skip beside her.
Eri Onee-san let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head slightly as if she couldn't quite understand why he was so excited. "You're always so eager, aren't you?" she murmured, a touch of amusement in her voice. "Very well, since you're so excited, I'll tell you before we reach our destination."
" I'd like you to tidy up the guestrooms on the first floor."
Hitoshi gasped, his excitement nearly making him trip over his own feet. "The guest rooms?!, I get to clean them?, All by myself?!" His grin stretched impossibly wide, practically splitting his face in half.
Any normal person would've been pressured when they were given such a task since not only were the Guest bedrooms normally big, the troublesome part was how important they were.
When cleaning rooms, a servant had to be extremely careful to avoid any mistakes, even Hitoshi who had read the Aoi family rules and regulations guidance manual already knew this yet, in Hitoshi's mind, such a task was simply the best since it would allow him to prove himself even more!.
"That's amazing!, Tidying rooms sounds cooler than washing dishes!, Onee-san, your the best!."
" I promise I'll make them all spiffy and shinny after I'm done!"
Eri Onee-san raised a brow at his overflowing enthusiasm before sighing softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Keep all that energy for cleaning up the rooms." she said, though the corners of her lips twitched ever so slightly, betraying her amusement.
" Ok!" Hitoshi nodded rapidly, though the sheer excitement vibrating through his body wouldn't let him stay still. He fidgeted, practically bouncing with every step, making Eri Onee-san inwardly wonder just what sort of chaos he might bring to the task.
Still, she said nothing, merely leading him toward the main staircase. The deep red carpet cushioned their steps as they ascended, the air growing slightly cooler the further up they went. The flickering sconces along the walls cast elongated shadows across the grand hall below, but Hitoshi's focus remained on his task ahead.
Soon, they arrived at the first floor's main corridor. It stretched far, lined with sturdy wooden doors, each leading to a guest bedroom waiting to be cleaned.
Eri Onee-san turned toward Hitoshi and gestured down the lengthy hallway. "These are the rooms you'll be tidying up," she explained. "But since this is your first time, don't push yourself too hard. Cleaning three rooms a day is more than enough."
Hitoshi nodded obediently, but inside, his mind raced with a grand plan.
' Three rooms?. Hehehehe!.' he thought to himself as a devious thought came to mind.
' What if I don't clean every room in the corridor, but all the rooms on the first floor?' He grinned at the thought.
' Onee-san would definitely be impressed!, Maybe she'd even give me an even bigger task next time!' he thought.
While he was still thinking of his ambitious goal, Eri Onee-san waved her hand.
A small ripple of magic shimmered in the air before a tiny pouch, no larger than a coin purse, appeared between her fingers. She held it delicately, then extended it toward Hitoshi.
' Woah..., what was that!.' He blinked in amazement at the magical scene but still reached out, gently taking the pouch in both hands.
The material felt soft, like finely woven silk, yet there was an odd weight to it, as if it held something much bigger inside. His curious eyes darted up to Eri Onee-san for an explanation.
"This is a spatial treasure," she told him, her voice calm and matter-of-fact, Though not the answer of the question he wanted to ask.
"I figured you wouldn't be able to carry all the cleaning tools yourself, so I took the liberty of storing them inside here. When you need something, just imbue your mana into the pouch and envision the item you want."
Hitoshi wanted to ask how she caused the pouch to manifest out of thin air but his eyes still widened in awe at her explanation. "Onee-san... you made something this amazing?!" He held up the pouch, turning it over in his hands as if trying to see where the magic was hidden. "You're incredible!, This is the coolest tool ever!"
" Silly little brat, I didn't make it, I just got it for you." Eri Onee-san's expression remained composed, but inwardly, she felt a small sense of satisfaction at his open admiration. Praise had never really mattered much to her, yet somehow, hearing it from Hitoshi made her mood a little lighter.
" Ehem..." She cleared her throat lightly before continuing, "Just remember not to overexert yourself ok, and be careful when tidying up the Guestrooms, I don't want to come back and see any torn fabrics, understand?."
" Understood!." Hitoshi gaze an adorable salute.
' This cheeky brat....' Eri Onee-san struggled to hold back her laughter at the sight, fortunately she managed to reel in her emotions in the end.
With that final warning, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Hitoshi standing in the hallway, still marveling at the little pouch in his hands.
His excitement bubbled over. "This is going to be so much fun!."
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(AN: It frustrates me to say that my book "Noir Born of Beasts" was rejected as well, but that's not gonna dampen my writing journey!, since my books aren't destined for Webnovel, I might as well revice them and try else were.)
(Thanks for the constant support everyone, I really appreciate it, i hope you get to read more of works in the future, as for this book, I'll try to upload a few more Chapters as thanks for your support.)