"If you're not going to sleep, fine. But why wake me up too?"
Baal rolled her eyes from within Sol's embrace, her resentment's clear.
"Haha, I was afraid you'd be scared sleeping all alone."
Sol patted Baal's head with a smile.
If I don't sleep, then of course you can't sleep either.
There was an old saying, wasn't there? If God hasn't gone to bed, then neither shall I.
"…"
Baal turned her head away, refusing to humor this mischievous man.
Instead, she focused her attention on Ellen, who was tidying the room, and couldn't help but be surprised.
She had only seen this pretty girl once before at the arcade, and the impression had been deep—she was the one who played against Sol so fiercely she fainted.
But now, just a few days later, she was already familiar enough to dress as a maid and clean his place?
Sol really was a roguish philanderer, with no small talent in coaxing little girls.
Baal shook her head as she watched Ellen.
A pity she could barely protect herself. Otherwise, she would've stepped up to help this girl.
A girl this capable of organizing and arranging a home—she would make an excellent steward of a general's residence.
Meanwhile, Nekomata was watching Ellen too.
The longer she looked, the more her heart pounded—this wasn't a cosplay maid outfit, this was the real deal!
This maid was too good. In just a dozen minutes, Ellen had rearranged things so neatly that the whole room looked larger, smoother, and much more pleasing to the eye.
A sense of crisis prickled at Nekomata.
Cleaning the house was her job. But now this maid had outshined her completely—and she was beautiful too. Would Sol optimize her away?
Even if she wasn't replaced, wouldn't the little dried fish Sol usually fed her end up being handed to this maid instead?
After all, sharks ate fish too. Shark-Thirens probably liked dried fish as well.
Nooo! Sol, don't do this!
Nekomata wailed in her heart, imagining herself back to sleeping under a bridge.
"Not bad, not bad at all, Ellen. You really did great work!" Sol clapped in admiration, looking around at the freshly renewed room.
As expected of a Victoria Housekeeping Co. maid. Even Ellen, who loved to slack off, was this impressive. He could barely imagine how outstanding the head maid Rina must be.
"As long as you're satisfied."
Ellen lifted her chin proudly, a rare smile tugging her lips.
Recognition from both a friend and a strong man filled her with quiet joy.
"Here, have a candy."
Sol turned his palm over, producing a few lollipops.
"Thanks. Just what I need to make up for the energy I spent."
Ellen accepted one happily, unwrapping it and slipping it into her mouth.
It wasn't as awkward as she'd imagined—being a maid for Sol was actually quite relaxing.
Aside from not being able to hang out with Ruby and the others, it felt no different from a day off.
"So then, anything else you'd like me to do?" Ellen teased lightly, her tone more at ease. "Since you're a VIP of Victoria Housekeeping Co, I'll try to meet all your requests."
"All, huh?" Sol's lips curved. "Then… let me touch your tail."
"No! Absolutely not!" Ellen rejected instantly, without even thinking. "Only friends can touch my tail!"
Honestly, she had just earned some praise, and he was already turning bad again.
A shark's tail was untouchable—that was taboo!
"But you already said we're friends," Sol said with feigned confusion. "Don't tell me you only said that to trick me, so my arcade skills would drop and you could steal the Ultimate Chaosedramon title?"
Ellen couldn't help but chuckle. Then, seriously, she said, "I wasn't lying. We are friends."
"Then let me touch your tail."
Sol grinned.
"No."
Ellen shook her head.
"We're not friends?"
"We are."
"Tail?"
"No!"
…
At that moment, Nekomata sensed something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Their interaction was too suspicious. They looked like "just friends," but naturally left her entirely ignored.
And now Sol was even asking to touch Ellen's tail!
Nicole, big boss, this is a major crisis!
Nekomata knew about Nicole and Sol's relationship. And this was clearly someone trying to backstab her boss.
This maid wasn't just challenging Nicole's position—she might even steal Nekomata's place in the Cunning Hares.
No, this couldn't continue. Nicole had to know.
Alarmed, Nekomata darted to the next room to alert her.
By now, Anby and Billy were already awake, each busy with their own thing.
Only Nicole's door was still shut, clearly still deep in sleep.
"Boss Nicole, wake up! A maid came looking for Sol!"
Nekomata banged on the door, calling urgently.
"Mm? Who is it? Don't bother me…"
Nicole lay sprawled on her bed, a faint trickle of drool at the corner of her lips.
She'd absorbed too much fortune last night—no way she was getting up now.
"Boss Nicole, wake up! A beautiful maid came for Sol!"
Nekomata called again.
"Wha—!?"
The moment Nicole sensed a "green hat," she was jolted awake, scrambling out of bed.
Throwing on clothes, she demanded, "What happened? Tell me everything!"
"Boss Nicole, here's the situation." Nekomata's expression turned grim. "This morning, a stunning maid came for Sol. And their relationship looks… far from ordinary."
She nearly said it outright—Sol's about to cheat on you.
"Sol, you bastard!"
Nicole exploded like an enraged prairie dog.
Last night, he told her she was his one and only treasure. And today, he already had a pretty little maid?
This guy was utterly hopeless!
She wanted to storm right over and demand an explanation.
But just as she reached the door, Nekomata leapt gracefully in front of her, blocking the way.
Clutching Nicole's hand, she pleaded, "Boss Nicole, calm down! If you rush in like this, it'll backfire!"
Sure, she had come to report—but she didn't want Nicole acting rashly.
Her mission was to protect this relationship, not destroy it.
"Then what should I do?" Nicole demanded, still seething.
She knew barging in wasn't wise, but her anger clouded all reason.
"Boss Nicole, what you need now is to unleash your earth-shaking, ghost-weeping charm and crush that woman utterly!" Nekomata advised cleverly.
She went on: "At the same time, subtly show off your special bond with Sol. That way, she'll back down on her own."
"You're right! That makes perfect sense!" Nicole's confidence blazed. "With my irresistible charm, I'll make Sol completely lose his mind for me!"
But as she watched, Nekomata worried quietly.
She had seen far too many people full of confidence—only to end up miserable failures.