Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. I read in some magazine that being attracted to the word "widow" is a sign of being an old man. In today’s world, where many people divorce before death or become single mothers without marrying, the word has probably become less familiar.
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“Alright then, be careful out there.”
I saw Arisa and the others off in front of the West Gate. We planned to meet up at the Labyrinth Villa. I stayed behind to hire a manager for the mansion. Also, since I couldn’t just leave the weakened children unattended, I kept Nana as their caretaker.
After watching everyone disappear through the door, I headed to the Explorer's Guild.
Last night after dinner, the guild master invited me to a drinking party. Despite it being late at night, the guild was bustling with staff and explorers—it almost felt like it was open 28 hours a day. The dragon spring liquor I gave as a gift to the guild master quickly disappeared as high-level explorers and veteran staff came by, drawn by the scent of premium alcohol. I decided to turn a blind eye to the fairy wine (Brownie Wine) hidden on a shelf by the guild master, out of samurai kindness.
Maybe because of last night’s party, it seemed like there were fewer staff around today.
I headed to the real estate department that had introduced me to the mansion yesterday. The young man from before wasn’t there. Instead, a middle-aged man with receding hair was waiting, looking bored.
“Hello.”
“Welcome to the Guild Real Estate Department.”
He seemed friendlier than I expected.
“I’m the one who was shown the mansion yesterday.”
“Is there some problem?”
“No, I want to hire a stable hand to look after the mansion and horses while I’m away. Do you know which department handles such placements?”
“This Explorer’s Guild sometimes arranges jobs like mansion security or odd jobs, but it’s best to hire someone reliable for house-sitting when no one from your side is around.”
I wondered if this man, despite being a guild employee, disliked explorers.
“Well, I’m not saying all explorers can’t be trusted, but many are easily tempted. If you want someone to look after the mansion, it’s better to ask noble acquaintances for recommendations or simply buy a slave for convenience.”
Hearing “noble acquaintances,” the first person I thought of was Viscount Seemen.
I wasn’t sure if he was still in Labyrinth City, but since his mansion should be in the wealthy district, I searched for his location on the map. Surprisingly, he was also in the same Explorer’s Guild. I remembered he said he came to buy demon cores. I thought the East Guild mainly handled trade, so maybe the West Guild was responsible for demon core procurement?
His subordinate seemed to be waiting outside, so I decided to ask them to arrange a meeting.
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“My lord, I am Mitelna. Though I lack learning and talent, I will serve you to the best of my ability. Please treat me well.”
“Likewise, I look forward to working with you.”
The unnaturally polite greeting came from Ms. Mitelna, who was introduced by Viscount Seemen to be the mansion manager. She’s human, 26 years old, not exactly beautiful but quite slender. Her straight posture was appealing, but her chest-to-waist line was too straight. She’s tall at about 160 cm, with long reddish-brown hair braided neatly. Her eyes under thin eyebrows were tawny.
Though she’s only level 7, she has skills such as “Etiquette,” “Service,” and “Negotiation.”
When I consulted Viscount Seemen, he immediately introduced her. She’s the eldest daughter of a family that has managed the viscount’s secondary mansion in this Labyrinth City for generations. Currently, her brother and his wife manage the main mansion, so she was considered surplus.
Originally, she had been serving at a baronet’s house through the viscount’s introduction, but she was dismissed after refusing that baronet’s sexual harassment. I checked the city and found only baronet Dukeri—not that it confirms he’s the culprit, but I decided to keep Nana and Lulu away from him.