The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#167 - You blush like a bubble teapot

They arrived at the Dustiness mansion, located on the central avenue of the town.

This was Darkness's family home.

Kazuma Sato and Aqua were so astonished by the luxury here that their mouths hung open, looking like country bumpkins. Combined with their ordinary adventurer attire, it made the head of the Dustiness family somewhat suspicious.

"Lalatina, who are these three…?"

"These three are my adventure companions. For this matchmaking meeting, I would like to have them attend with me as temporary butlers and maids."

Darkness's words caused her father to frown with a troubled expression.

However, compared to her constantly resisting and refusing matchmaking meetings, if this was what it took to get his daughter to attend, he was willing to endure it.

So, the three of them were led to the drawing-room.

Soon, the maids returned with butler outfits and maid costumes, wanting to help the three of them change.

Two sets of maid outfits, huh…

"There's no need, I have prepared my own clothes."

Yunyun tugged at her adventurer's clothes in front of everyone, and her attire instantly transformed into a butler's uniform, even her hairstyle changed into a low ponytail.

"Oh, oh, oh!"

"Nice one!"

Kazuma Sato and Aqua clapped their hands, and the maids also gave a polite round of applause. Yunyun slightly bowed, elegantly accepting the praise of the crowd.

Having changed into a butler's uniform, Yunyun underwent a great transformation not only in her expression and demeanor but also in her overall aura.

"The Crimson Demons were specifically taught these things to deal with various situations. By the way, Megumin and Yunyun didn't learn this because they graduated early."

"What kind of messed up things are the Crimson Demons teaching?"

Kazuma Sato muttered under his breath.

Urged by Darkness, the two of them quickly changed into butler and maid outfits. To be honest, they looked quite presentable.

However, Yunyun and Aqua began to assess Kazuma Sato critically.

"Hmm… It's not quite suitable."

"I think so too."

Perhaps it was because his aura was a bit strange, but his laid-back attitude made him look less like a butler and more like a small-time hoodlum.

"I'm saying, why don't you just stop pretending to be a butler and instead act like a local ruffian trash who intercepts young ladies? Anyway, Darkness likes that kind of person. That way, the lord's son will definitely become enraged and choose to call off the engagement, right?"

"That's also a possibility, but unfortunately, I've already promised Darkness's father that I'll support him… Wait, what did you just say I should pretend to be?"

"A local ruffian trash."

"Hey…"

Kazuma Sato couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Indeed, compared to Yunyun in his butler's uniform, he was far inferior. Yunyun, with his low ponytail and a smile on his lips, possessed an inexplicable elegance.

Judging from the bright eyes of the surrounding maids, one could tell how popular this guy was.

Annoying.

For some reason, a surge of jealousy welled up inside him.

"Even if you dress like that, it's obvious that your heart is definitely unsightly. You're the epitome of a wolf in sheep's clothing. A defiled fiancée wouldn't be accepted even by the son of an evil lord, he certainly wouldn't be a coward who would admit defeat and suffer a loss like some wimp."

Infuriating!

Having been constantly subjected to venomous words, Kazuma Sato finally reached his breaking point.

"I was originally thinking of being a little more tolerant since this is a noble's residence. But since you're belittling me like this, I'll have to show you my power! After all, I'm an advocate for gender equality! Steal—!"

Without another word, he used his special skill.

A flash of light appeared.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph, the truth is already in my hands. If you obediently admit your mistake, I can return it to… you… huh?"

Kazuma Sato clenched his right hand.

His hand was empty.

"W-Wait, wait… I was definitely aiming for that thing, it's supposed to be an infallible move, but I didn't get anything? Could it be…!"

"That's right, I'm not wearing any!"

"Are you kidding me!?"

Yunyun raised his head triumphantly, and Kazuma Sato immediately couldn't hold back anymore.

"What are you even thinking! It's fine normally, but why are you always like this at times like these! What if someone finds out, you hopeless case!"

"Don't worry, even if they find out, I can push the blame onto Darkness!"

"I-I-I… I'm not that kind of woman! N-No, that's not right… That might actually be good… Ha… Ha…"

Darkness crossed her arms over her chest.

She thought she could restrain herself in front of the maids, but it seemed that wasn't the case. Or perhaps the maids in this mansion were very close to her and already knew her true nature?

"Hey, Darkness…"

"Wait, Kazuma."

Yunyun stopped the bewildered Kazuma Sato and slowly said, "We are now Miss Lalatina's butlers, her servants. When facing nobles, we must change our way of addressing them."

"…M-Miss?"

Hearing Kazuma Sato say that, Darkness felt a chill. She knew that a sad, thick barrier had already separated them.

Her expression gradually became lonely.

"…Did you think I would say that, huh!?"

"Don't get too carried away, you dare to act high and mighty, you idiot knight!"

"Stop pulling my hair! Stop it, stop it!"

Yunyun and Kazuma Sato reached out and pulled her hair, acting rudely and without any restraint, even resorting to violence in front of the maids.

The gap in their status was completely nonexistent.

Darkness finally realized one thing.

Her companions didn't treat her like a noble at all, or even like a person, for that matter.

Amidst the maids' teasing and ridicule, Darkness resentfully accepted their re-dressing, and her disheveled hair was re-tied.

It even seemed that they had deliberately changed her hairstyle to a noblewoman's updo so that it wouldn't be messed up again, making Darkness look quite mature.

Once everything was finished.

"You three, come this way. Listen carefully, you know what to do, right? I'm counting on you!"

Darkness, with a slightly uneasy expression, personally led Yunyun and the others to the entrance hall to greet her upcoming matchmaking partner.

With the Dustiness family maids accompanying them on either side, Darkness, with her head held high and chest puffed out, truly looked like a young lady of a noble family.

They arrived at the entrance hall.

The servants lined up in front of the mansion's entrance hall, with Darkness and her father standing in the center in front of the entrance hall.

Kazuma Sato and Aqua stood on either side of Darkness, while Yunyun stood half a step behind Darkness's father, and the latter tacitly approved of Yunyun's actions.

These two guys really don't understand.

If you want to show off your status, you should stand behind the person with the highest status in this mansion, which is Darkness's father.

Yunyun had a subtle tendency to become the Dustiness family's butler.

…Wait, what does becoming a butler entail?

Just then.

The mansion's door was opened, and the man from the photograph appeared in front of the door, accompanied by several followers.

Darkness, looking to take the initiative, rushed forward.

"You're the guy who's supposed to be my matchmaking partner, right! My name is Dustiness Ford Lalatina, you can call me Queen Dustiness…"

"Young lady, watch your step!"

Kazuma Sato stepped on Darkness's skirt, causing her to fall to the ground.

After stopping the out-of-control Darkness, Kazuma Sato and Aqua excused themselves to re-do their makeup and moved to the next room.

Yunyun stayed behind and accompanied the matchmaking partner with Darkness's father to buy time.

"Please have some tea."

"…Th-Thank you."

Yunyun poured him a cup of black tea, and the somewhat reserved Valta quickly thanked him.

He took a sip.

"Delicious! This black tea is so delicious!"

"Heh heh heh, it's just ordinary black tea… Hmm, it really is delicious!"

Darkness's father initially thought Valta was being polite and wanted to be modest, but after tasting the black tea, he found it to be incredibly delicious, leaving him somewhat surprised.

This tea was brewed by Yunyun.

Just like how he could inexplicably make delicious food, he didn't understand why his brewed black tea was so delicious.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Yunyun gave him a gentle smile.

Valta suddenly froze, his movements becoming more reserved and cautious, and his face gradually turned red.

Your face is as red as a teapot.

"Come, please have some tea. Don't be shy."

Yunyun kept pouring him tea.

Valta mechanically poured the black tea into his mouth, one cup after another, and in the blink of an eye, he had drunk 5 or 6 cups.

Darkness's father felt a little unbearable.

"That's enough, right? It's about time to…"

"That won't do, Master. For the sake of the young lady's future happiness, it's necessary to test Lord Valta's (bladder) endurance. Lord Valta, surely you won't disappoint us, will you?"

"Please, bring it on!"

Valta drank non-stop.

This was the method Yunyun had come up with. Instead of letting Darkness embarrass herself and have the engagement called off, why not let Valta embarrass himself and be rejected?

To go a bit overboard, they could spread rumors that Valta's kidneys weren't very good and that he couldn't satisfy the young lady's vigorous desires, making him give up… Wait, why does it sound like Darkness is some kind of nymph?

"It's hot!"

Valta's body flinched.

It turned out that while Yunyun was letting his thoughts wander, he didn't notice that the teacup was already full, and the scalding hot black tea spilled out, scalding him. In a panic, his clothes were soaked.

"I sincerely apologize, Lord Valta!"

Yunyun quickly grabbed a towel to help him wipe it off, and Valta's body became even stiffer.

Seeing this, Darkness's father quickly said, "Why don't you go change your clothes first? My daughter will probably need some time to come back."

"I see… That's fine."

Valta nodded.

Yunyun then bowed slightly and said, "Lord Valta, please come this way."

They arrived at the changing room from before.

"Um, are you going to be here…?"

"Yes, is there a problem? Or do you wish for me to serve you? I sincerely apologize, the Dustiness family rule is that we can only serve members of the main family, so please forgive me for not being able to help you change."

"No… That's not what I meant."

Valta seemed a little reluctant, but it was impossible for him to meet Darkness in such a disheveled state, so he reluctantly changed his clothes under Yunyun's gaze.

He didn't understand why he was so shy.

After changing his clothes, they returned to the meeting room from before, and Darkness had already returned.

Although there was a small interlude in the middle.

But the matchmaking meeting could finally begin.