Shardina stands out, even among the Minosdolls.
She has blue horns and golden hair, but her skin is fair.
She possesses a Relic. She carries a cutlass.
She can talk. The model for her personality is Munieka's turbulent dark-phase age.
And right now, she's trying to pin me down.
"You're the worst, des!"
"Huh? What's wrong with—"
"Master. Do you like Anna Kreuzen, des?"
"Um, what—"
Anna Kreuzen?
Oh wait, maybe that's the name of the Minosdoll I gave the bracelet to.
"The bracelet, des!"
"That was a token of gratitude. There are ones for everyone, you know."
When I said that, the Minosdoll maids erupted in excitement.
Shardina quietly clapped her hands — pat, pat — and they settled down.
"Really? There are ones for everyone, des?"
"There are."
The Minosdoll maids erupted again.
And some of the Minosdolls passed through the gate, or took the elevator down.
I wondered what was going on, and Haiyaan answered.
"Probably went to call the others."
"So you were here after all, Haiyaan."
"I've been here from the start! So, Wof — what's all this about? Annakreuzen is going to kiss you? I'm so jealous!! Someday you're going to get stabbed, I swear!"
Why did he say it with that tearful intensity?
Chardina asked.
"Master, are you going to get stabbed?"
"I'm not going to get stabbed."
Why would I get stabbed?
The Minosdoll maids. Please don't nod like you agree with him.
Somehow, I was starting to think I really might get stabbed.
Annakreuzen stepped forward and pointed at the bracelet.
"Here. I'll hand it over now."
Just then, Annakreuzen stopped my hand as I was about to pull it out of the pouch.
It was a gesture that said "wait a moment."
Before long, two from below. Two more came through the gate.
Eight Minosdoll maids. Everyone was gathered. It made for quite a splendid spectacle.
Annakreuzen gave some instructions to the assembled Minosdoll maids.
Right after that, all of them except Chardina lined up side by side and extended their arms in unison.
Their flawlessly synchronized movements looked like a scene from a musical.
I gave them bracelets one by one starting from the closest and received kisses on my cheeks and forehead in return.
Their lips were so soft they hardly seemed artificial.
It had turned into something of an assembly line, but each kiss had its own personality.
The shy Minosdoll who closed her eyes and gave a gentle one.
The bold Minosdoll who held my face in both hands and kissed both cheeks.
The passionate Minosdoll who placed one hand on my cheek and planted a deep kiss on the other side.
The proactive Minosdoll who kissed me twice for some reason.
The dangerous Minosdoll who tried to leave a hickey.
The hazardous Minosdoll who stared at my lips before finally kissing my cheek.
After the kiss, every Minosdoll gazed at her bracelet with passionate intensity.
They must be happy. Good.
"Master!"
Last was Chardina.
Basically, the bracelets were designed to match each wearer's characteristics.
So the Minosdoll ones had blue bands with black gems. But Chardina's was the only white one.
I slid the bracelet with a gold band and a white gem onto Chardina's wrist.
"...How is it?"
"Master..."
Chardina's silver eyes wavered as she looked at me. What was that about?
Chardina gently closed her eyes.
Hmm, wait — Chardina is... just standing there? Like she's waiting for something.
When I hesitated, Anna Kreuzen urged me to kiss Chardina.
So that's what this is. As expected of Chardina. Unique to the very end.
I let out a soft laugh and pressed my lips to Chardina's cheek.
Chardina kissed my cheek in return, with a kind of impulsive momentum.
When we pulled apart, she looked shyly pleased.
That finished distributing to everyone. They bowed their heads to me. I bowed in return.
Then they dispersed and work resumed.
Chardina held up her arm to admire the bracelet she'd put on, then headed back to work.
"Hey. Wof."
"Oh, you were here. Haiyaan."
"I was. That's fine. You — you treat them like it's nothing, huh."
"...What do you mean?"
"No matter how much self-awareness they have, minotaurs aren't human. Have you forgotten that?"
"I haven't forgotten. But they are who they are. Whether they're human or not, I really don't care."
Besides, in my past-life memories, there was "golem-girl moe." This runs deep.
What about Haiyaan, I wonder.
"Does Haiyaan mind?"
"I suppose, to some extent."
"Even though you're a rabbit."
"That has nothing to do with it. Well, I won't say anything about your stance, Wof. But I'll say this much: someday you're gonna get stabbed, you hear me?"
So why are you yelling like you're about to burst into blood tears?
"Actually, get stabbed already, you hear me!"
"That's just your wishful thinking! And for someone who keeps claiming he cares, you treat Minosdor perfectly fine as a girl!"
"Shut up, you! You dared to sully my Maid Paradise!"
"How should I know?"
"I'll stab you myself! Prepare yourself, you womanizer!"
I quickly grabbed Haiyaan by the ears and lifted her up.
"Right. Tonight's dinner, secured."
"I'm sorry."
Honestly.
After that, I learned spear techniques in the training room.
This was training worth doing. Once a day, no exceptions.
When training ended, I was hungry.
"...Shall we go get some food, Haiyaan?"
"What is it?"
"Hungry?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Want to go eat?"
"It's gonna be 'Cidlo-ya' again, isn't it."
"Well, I guess so."
"Of course you're treating."
"Then I'll go by myself."
"Wait, I'm kidding!"
As soon as she said that, she hopped onto my shoulder. This girl, honestly.
"By the way, what happened to Dagaa?"
"She's with Mineha and the others today."
"Her mother was here, right?"
"That's right."
I passed through the transfer gate.
Now then, what to do. What to do...
"Wof. As I expected, you were fated to be stabbed."
"........."
Should I use this rabbit making unnecessarily smug faces as nunchucks in this situation?
Should I throw her instead? Or maybe pull her into the Knife Magic spell?
For some reason, I was surrounded by men in a back alley.
I tried to take a shortcut and got sandwiched, herded into a back alley, and cornered.
It wasn't exactly unusual. Lately, it had been happening quite often.
Even though the festival was over, its lingering afterglow still echoed through Hydrangea.
It would be a while yet before things truly quieted down.
It was the same with crime.
Most of the victims were women and girls, but occasionally men and boys got caught up in it too.
These men, though, seemed to be after me specifically.
Out of nowhere, the first one we ran into asked, "You. You're Wof, aren't you?"
"You. Prepare yourself."
The man in front pulled out a knife.
Taking that as the signal, everyone armed themselves — swords, axes, spears, knives, and whatnot.
"So I'm going to get stabbed after all. Fine, come at me."
".............."
For now, I threw a Hiaan at the men.