Having just become a newly crowned Stellaron being, Sol was already facing a tremendous crisis.
It seemed as though he had been sealed to the bed by Baal.
Even though the sun was already high, with Baal's soft body in his arms, Sol wanted nothing more than to spend a lifetime sleeping on a sun-drenched bed.
A vague realization dawned in his heart—perhaps this was the side effect of [Photosynthesis], stripping him of the will to move forward.
So, whether to get up or not—he left that decision to Baal.
"Baal, the sun's up already. Should we get out of bed?"
Sol leaned close to Baal's ear and asked lazily.
"I think we can sleep a little longer."
Baal muttered softly.
Back in Inazuma, when she was Raiden Shogun, there had been little chance for sleeping in.
After toiling so many long years, wasn't she allowed to enjoy herself a little?
"Then let's sleep a while more. Anyway, today and tomorrow are the Cunning Hares' off-days."
Sol, satisfied, cuddled Baal tighter and burrowed back into the covers.
However—
"Ding-dong!"
A crisp doorbell rang.
Not the Cunning Hares' front door, but the entrance to the apartment he rented.
So… was Nicole here to drag him out of bed so early? But she'd been so tired last night, and today was Saturday, a holiday.
Before Sol could even get up, Nekomata, sleeping next door, had already jumped awake to open the door.
As the bottom of the Cunning Hares' food chain, Nekomata was always quick on her feet.
It sounded a little pitiful, but she had to admit—
Even without a salary, only getting allowance money, cooking and cleaning every day… she still didn't want to leave the Cunning Hares.
Nicole was kind, Billy was hilarious, and Sol often tossed her dried fish snacks.
This was a cat's dream life!
The Cunning Hares were warm, almost like a family. If only that poker-faced boss would praise her more often, it would be perfect.
So, thoroughly domesticated, Nekomata opened the door—expecting to greet Nicole.
Instead, standing there was a Thiren maid with shark features.
She wore the classic black-and-white maid uniform. Her long, slender legs were sheathed in thin black stockings, and the plump flesh beneath her thighs was all too alluring.
Her face was delicately cold, a faint shadow beneath her eyes.
No—that wasn't eyeshadow, but dark circles.
Behind her, a plump shark tail drooped gently, while her neck was adorned with a collar of shark teeth, lending her a sharp, dashing air.
She looked every bit the high-class maid, the aura of weary nonchalance only heightening her charm.
"Sis, you smell so good, meow!"
Nekomata's two tails swished as she stared at Ellen Joe.
Cats loving fish was instinct. And sharks… were still fish.
"Hm?"
Ellen raised her eyes to the Cat Thiren girl before her, narrowing them slightly.
What was this about?
Coming to Sol's place to act as a maid for the day had already put her in a mood. She had other jobs she could've been doing instead, but she'd accepted this one anyway.
Yet unexpectedly, here was a Cat Thiren—a dumb, cute little girl, no less.
Recalling the intel gathered by Victoria Housekeeping, Ellen narrowed her eyes further.
This Cat Thiren had once been the adopted daughter of Red Fang Gang boss Miguel Silver, but left the gang over ideological differences.
She still bore some lingering attachment to Miguel. Upon learning Miguel's death was linked to the Cunning Hares, she'd tried to lure them into the Dead End Butcher's nest for revenge.
When that failed, the Cunning Hares forgave her and took her in. Now she worked part-time as their maid.
And now, finding her at Sol's place, it was clear he had pitied the girl and given her shelter.
How kind of you, Sol.
Ellen sighed inwardly. Her impression of Sol rose another notch, though her view of Nekomata remained middling.
Meanwhile, Nekomata snapped out of her daze and stammered, "Sorry, I just woke up… didn't mean to blurt that out."
"Mm. I get it."
Ellen gave a small nod.
She understood—blurting out truth when half-asleep.
This cat was such a weirdo. Poor Sol, having to live with her.
Relieved that Ellen didn't press the issue, Nekomata asked, "Miss Maid, did you come to the wrong door?"
With the Cunning Hares' modest size, they couldn't afford a maid—nor did they need one.
So clearly this shark-Thiren maid had come to the wrong place.
Ellen sighed helplessly. "No mistake. I came here to serve as Sol's maid for the day."
"Meow!?" Nekomata's ears shot up. She called out toward Sol's room: "Sol, your maid is here for you!"
As she said it, a prickle of unease crept in.
Was Sol hiring a maid because he thought her housekeeping wasn't good enough? Did he want to optimize her out of the Cunning Hares?
"Oh, so it's Ellen."
Sol got dressed, smiling as he welcomed his one-day maid. "You came early, Ellen."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Sol." Ellen smiled and bowed, delivering her line with practiced sincerity: "It is my honor to serve you. I hope you have a pleasant day."
Normally, she'd brush such lines off, but Sol was now a VIP client of Victoria Housekeeping Co.—she couldn't afford to slip up.
Still, saying it out loud felt like both a drain on her energy and unbearably awkward.
"Ellen is so polite today," Sol praised before adding with a smile, "But it's fine to relax. I actually prefer your natural self."
Her stiff, awkward act made him cringe.
She was much cuter in her usual cool, aloof state.
"Oh."
Ellen straightened, nodding flatly.
That was better. With the employer's permission, she wasn't derelict.
But… hearing him say he liked her natural self was unexpectedly hard to handle.
"This is much better," Sol nodded. "A little lazy, sure—but definitely adorable."
"Could you not say things like that? I'm not going to blush." Even as she spoke, Ellen's ears flushed pink.
Her skin was thin. Stop flattering me already!
"Mm-hm. Please, come in."
Sol stepped aside naturally, letting Ellen into the apartment.
Ellen glanced around. The décor wasn't luxurious, just a simple, everyday style.
She hadn't expected someone as skilled as Sol to live in such a cozy, homey place.
And it was fairly tidy too—nothing in dire need of scrubbing. That meant she could save some energy.
Smiling, Ellen asked, "So then, what is my task for today?"
"Just tidy things up, make the place look nicer," Sol said casually. "It's comfortable to live in, but I feel like it could be even more so."
Truth was, aside from a bit of arranging when he first moved in, he hadn't changed much.
And Nekomata only did basic cleaning—you couldn't expect a stray cat to know how to properly organize a home.
With Ellen, a high-class maid, the improvement would surely be noticeable.
"True. Some of the placement is messy—it really hurts the aesthetics," Ellen remarked bluntly. "Whoever tidies this place does so with care, but their sense of style… could use some work."
From her professional maid's eye, the room definitely fell short.
"Tsk, you don't hold back," Sol chuckled. "Well then, show me what Victoria Housekeeping Co's maids can really do. Don't let it just be talk."
"Hmph, I won't let you underestimate me."
Ellen tilted her nose up slightly.
She would show her true skills. She couldn't let Sol look down on her.
In combat or video games, she was no match for him. But in housekeeping, she would never lose face.
For some reason, in front of Sol, she always felt the urge to excel.
Was it rivalry? Pride? Or… something else?
"Well, I'll be watching closely."
Sol gestured politely, then picked up Baal, who was still dozing in bed, and sat back to observe Ellen's work.