The number of betting chips makes the situation crystal clear.
The participants in the collaboration all expected that I would do well in this game.
As a result, every one of them bet at least one chip on me.
'...I should’ve aimed for second place instead of first.'
But there was no helping it. I couldn’t possibly predict how others would escape, so waiting and timing my escape for second place wasn’t an option.
In hindsight, my biggest misstep might have been betting too few chips on Sora.
"Ouroa-san, you came in last in the betting round. How do you feel about that?"
The first thought that came to mind was, The rule prohibiting self-betting is terribly unfair.
However, I didn’t say it out loud. Kaiser had undoubtedly imposed that rule intentionally.
After all, this collaboration was meant to serve as a kind of social exchange.
By implementing the betting system, Kaiser aimed to prevent PK (player killing) and encourage thoughts like, I’ve bet on that person, so I should help them escape.
I suspect Kaiser wanted all the Fantasy League participants to bond more closely.
"As befits the daughter of a duke, I will accept it with humility."
That’s what I said.
Although losing in the betting competition stung, in a way, it also proved my excellence.
After all, every participant had bet on me, leading to this outcome. Even though I lost, it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant feeling.
What can I say? I’m the daughter of a duke.
More importantly:
"So, what punishment game do I need to perform? A horror game?"
"Hmm... Ouroa-san, you’re known to be rather fearless, aren’t you?"
"Who knows."
If someone lacks the emotion of fear, they don’t experience tension. And without tension, people tend to make mistakes.
In that sense, there are indeed moments when I feel fear. I just know how to keep it from showing on my face, and modern society rarely provides situations that are truly fear-inducing.
If a nuclear bomb were to drop above my head, even I would feel fear, I imagine.
"If you want me to do a horror game, I’ll gladly oblige."
"Though I’m not sure if it would count as a punishment for you..."
Kaiser chuckled as if he found it absurd. He was right.
To be honest, I’m curious myself—what sort of punishment could possibly suit someone like me?
As Kaiser said, a horror game wouldn’t qualify as a punishment. Ghosts, zombies, jump scares—they’re not real threats to my life.
Because of that, I couldn’t promise to give the kind of over-the-top reactions expected in horror games. I could fake being vulnerable, but my viewers know me too well by now to fall for that.
So, what other punishments could there be?
Punishment games are meant to entertain, not to genuinely punish someone.
The first thing that comes to mind is something humiliating, like buying and reviewing adult products.
While that could work as a punishment game, it would likely raise questions about the person’s character. It would also tarnish the brand and image of "Ouroa," the VTuber.
Thus, the punishment couldn’t be too extreme but also couldn’t be too mild—finding the balance was tricky.
"Deciding the punishment game isn’t up to me," Kaiser said suddenly.
"Then who decides, dear sir?"
"I told you not to call me that... Of course, each winner decides."
"The winner?"
"The person who escaped first gives a punishment to the one who escaped last, and the one with the most betting chips gives a punishment to the one with the least. How about it?"
Kaiser sought agreement. Hmm, in a way, it was reasonable.
Now that I think about it, there had been mention of punishment for the losers, but nothing about rewards for the winners. Kaiser must have intended this as a reward for the winners all along.
"So I get to decide Ouroa-chan’s punishment, then?"
Anna suddenly jumped into the conversation.
Now that I recall, she was the top in betting.
"Yes, that’s correct. Anna-san, what punishment would you like Ouroa-san to perform?"
"I already have something in mind!" Anna declared confidently.
"Ouroa-chan, you’ll be my maid from now on!"
...Excuse me?
"Did you pack everything, sis?"
Leon asked as he dragged a suitcase over.
What a foolish question.
"Dear me, why would you ask me that? You’re the one who packed my things, aren’t you?"
"...Why do you leave your packing to someone else?"
Leon muttered in exasperation.
It seems Leon still doesn’t understand how noble ladies operate, even after living with me for three years.
Noble ladies rarely pack their own belongings.
Of course, heirlooms representing the family’s honor or engagement rings from their fiancé—items too important to entrust to servants—are exceptions.
But things like clothing or accessories? Those are always managed by attendants.
As the daughter of a duke, it would be unthinkable for me to pack my own outfits.
"A duke’s daughter, huh... all while going to someone else’s house to play maid."
Leon frowned as he lugged the suitcase.
He loaded my luggage into the car trunk and opened the door for me. I waited until Leon had opened the car door before stepping inside.
"...Sis, are you sure about this? Living at Anna’s place is going to be rough."
"A punishment is a punishment. What choice do I have?"
I crossed my legs and folded my arms.
I couldn’t help but recall what happened after the escape room game.
"You’re using your winner’s privilege to make me your maid?"
"And it seems you’ve forgotten that I, too, hold a winner’s privilege."
Anna might have been first in betting, but she was last to escape.
On the other hand, I was last in betting but first to escape.
In other words, I could also decide a punishment for Anna.
"Just so you know, punishments canceling each other out isn’t allowed!"
Anna declared firmly.
"It’s more fun if we each perform our punishment! Canceling them would be boring!"
"Fine by me. But remember, Ouroa-chan is my maid from now on!"
"And stop calling me that."
"I’ll call my maid whatever I like!"
Anna was more formidable than I had anticipated.
I briefly considered scaring her with a horror game punishment, but Anna was unshakable.
Her determination to boss me around was unwavering, to the point it felt like a life-or-death mission for her.
‘What a handful.’
Admiring her resolve, I decided to humor her and go along with the punishment.
Of course, there was no way the noble daughter of a duke would be anyone’s maid forever.
With less than two weeks until the Fantasy League starts, I agreed to stay at Anna’s house for only a week.
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"Just so you know, I’m not staying at Anna’s place," Leon said, sensing something ominous.
"...I only do housework at your place because I’m freeloading. I’m not doing it at Anna’s place."
"I see."
"So don’t call me. Got it?"
Leon pleaded earnestly. This could get a bit tricky.
‘If only someone else had come in last instead of Anna.’
Then, just as Anna made me her maid, I could have turned someone else into my maid and delegated the chores. The classic "outsource the outsourcing" strategy.
Unfortunately, Anna was the one who came in last.
I did briefly consider making Anna my maid as well.
We’d both be each other’s maid, forming a bizarre, chaotic relationship where roles constantly reversed. It could’ve been amusing.
But upon reflection, Anna would make a terrible maid.
She can’t cook, can’t clean—she’s practically a house cat in competition with pets.
If she hadn’t become a VTuber, she’d probably be a shut-in.
VTubing is her true calling. She should stick with it for life.
So, no matter what punishment I gave her, house chores wouldn’t get done. That’s why I decided to give Anna a different kind of punishment.
Even though I could’ve chosen a horror game, it felt too predictable and dull.
Watching her during party play sessions, Anna was clearly hopeless with horror games. I couldn’t even assign her something like Phasmophobia.
Instead, I came up with a much more terrifying punishment.
Anna might regret choosing to make me her maid.
And for Anna to perfectly carry out her punishment, I needed to show her how it’s done.
A maid.
If I’m going to do it, I’ll do it thoroughly.
After all, as a duke’s daughter, I must always be perfect.
Even as a maid, I’ll be nothing less than flawless.
"Sis, we’ve arrived."
Finally, the car came to a stop.
Leon stepped out of the driver’s seat and opened the door for me.
We had arrived at a department store.