novelraw Chapter 195 : Kitsune-sama Goes to Karuizawa
Chapter 195 : Kitsune-sama Goes to Karuizawa
The road to Karuizawa carried its own history. At first, it had been nothing more than a car route winding up the mountain. That took time, but the roadside stations along the way thrived. Later came trains, bullet trains, and expressways, which made those stations vanish.
And now, with trains gone from the world, the mountain roads had been revived alongside the highways. The car carrying Servant Uniform Workshop and Inari also traveled along such a mountain road, pausing at one of the restored roadside stations for rest. Driving duties were shared in shifts by the maid squad—Inari excluded, of course.
Departing at night, they arrived in Karuizawa the next morning. By then, everyone but Inari wore rather weary expressions.
“My body aches…”
“If only the expressway hadn’t been closed…”
Yes—the expressways, being on the ground, were not entirely safe from dungeon manifestations. This time, a dungeon had indeed appeared. Fortunately, it was only a temporary one. And so, the Servant Uniform Workshop party had been forced to detour through the secure mountain road.
If ever a fixed dungeon appeared on an expressway, things would be catastrophic. For now, at least, that had not yet happened.
For the moment, under the refreshing morning air of Karuizawa, they began stretching their stiff bodies. Inari, meanwhile, looked curiously around where the car had stopped.
“…Say, Eri.”
“Yes? What is it, Inari?”
“This place… could it be?”
“Exactly as you suspect. Long ago, a certain foreign consul who chose to live permanently in Karuizawa had this villa built. Today it operates as a training ground for maids and butlers—that’s the setting we go with. In truth, it is Servant Uniform Workshop’s Karuizawa retreat!”
“And thou canst truly ‘retreat’ under such a setting?”
“Of course! Because when we stay here, the setting is that upper-class maids come from the main estate to test the level of our hospitality!”
“…Would it not be simpler to rest normally?”
“We want vacations. But we also want to remain maids and butlers. This was the compromise.”
Inari could not quite grasp this logic. But this was, indeed, the Servant Uniform Workshop retreat. Being both a corporation and a clan, they had to provide welfare benefits. And of course, they spared no effort here either.
Styled as a noble mansion to fit the narrative, the estate’s gates opened onto a manicured courtyard, while inside stood elegant furnishings crafted with modern techniques to look authentically antique.
It looked like stepping into a cultural heritage site. Inari had only seen photographs from Eri so far, but now she would see it with her own eyes.
“Oh, by the way, as Kuresaki mentioned earlier—today, Inari will be the Lady of the House. So please play along, Milady♪”
“Pleased to serve you, Milady!”
“Umu… well, very well then…”
Resigned, Inari nodded. Today, Eri was joined by the entire maid squad: Ririka, Shizuna, Mei, and Jane. Their jobs formed a well-balanced team—Eri, a Magic Fortress tank; Ririka, a Magician damage dealer; Shizuna, a Samurai Master physical dealer; Mei, a Priest healer; and Jane, a Shadow Thief scout and physical dealer.
“We actually wanted to bring one butler along too, but apparently it’s pretty hard being the lone man among all the girls. Too cruel, so we spared him…”
“Sebastian would have solved that…”
“He’s away on assignment in Yokohama right now…”
Thinking of Takigawa Sebastian—the Workshop’s head butler—Inari gave a small nod. If he was busy, nothing to be done.
“Alright! Since it feels like it’s been a while since you met us all, let’s do introductions again!”
At Eri’s signal, the five maids lined up in a row and struck poses one after another.
“Leader, Eri! Reliable tank—Magic Fortress!”
“Magician, Ririka! Leave the magic attacks to me!”
“Samurai Master, Shizuna. There’s hardly anything I can’t cut.”
“Priest, Mei. Any minor injury healed on the spot!”
“Shadow Thief, Jane! Scouting, traps, treasure chests—leave it all to me!”
Watching their shifting poses, Inari thought, “Ahh, this be like that show Atsuage always watcheth…”
“All five together—we are the Servant Uniform Workshop Maid Squad! Pleased to serve you, Milady!”
“U-umu… I am Inari. Let us work well together anew.”
From Inari’s robes, Atsuage popped out, clapping happily. No one knew how it produced the pachi-pachi sound, but it seemed most delighted.
“Oh, it’s about time.”
“Perfect. Then, Milady, let us proceed.”
Guided by the capable aura of the maids, Inari stepped into the mansion—no, the retreat. Beyond the opened doors, a full assembly of maids and butlers awaited.