HTPTMOTMM Chapter 3

It seemed like Minyuel was quite interested in me. He sat down uninvited in the empty chair next to the table and looked at me with sparkling eyes as he asked.

"It's really not me? I'm quite popular among prospective caregivers. You chose Room 7 just because there was only one spot left, right?"

But this yellow kitten, cute as he is, you've been teasing our Dian too much since earlier. I could feel Dian trembling as he heard Minyuel's words, and it made my heart ache.

I didn't understand why the caregiver profession, which didn't exist in the game, had been automatically selected, and I didn't fully grasp the current situation either, but there was one thing I could answer with certainty.

"I chose Dian because I wanted to."

"What, that's impossible! So Room 7 was your first choice from the beginning?"

Minyuel was shocked. Dian, who had been hanging his head low and biting his lips as if he didn't want to hear the answer, suddenly looked up at me.

Of course, even among game players, Dian was rumored to be difficult to raise and wasn't very popular, but I wondered if it was really that surprising.

"Then, what was your second choice?"

"Dian."

"Third choice?!"

"Dian."

Of course, it was true that I had briefly considered switching to a different character instead of Dian. While Dian was my unwavering favorite, I naturally had other characters I liked as well.

'But I can't say something like that in front of my ultimate favorite!'

As the questions and answers continued, the shock and astonishment on Minyuel's face grew larger. I put the final period on it.

"For reference, I've had a total of 43 opportunities to choose so far, and I picked Dian every single time."

Minyuel seemed completely speechless. Dian's eyes looking at me had been glistening for some time now. At first, he looked at me with disbelief, no less than Minyuel, but as I continued speaking, he seemed to be moved. Seeing Dian's bright, sparkling eyes, I felt a slight pang of conscience.

'It's true I chose him 43 times, but I also got him killed 43 times...'

But that wasn't my fault. It was the game developers' fault for making Dian's upbringing so difficult!

"Ha, now I see you're a caregiver with no eye for people! Fine, I don't want such an idiot on my side anyway!"

When Minyuel realized his name wouldn't come from my mouth, his pride seemed hurt, and he left the room huffing and puffing. After that, only Dian and I remained in the reception room.

"Really... was I your first choice?"

Dian asked, fidgeting with his hands clasped together on the table like before. His eyes glancing up at me were still sparkling. He looked so cute that I wanted to break through walls again.

"Of course...! I mean, yes! Young Master Dian was truly my first choice."

"Really?"

"Really, really!"

Only after I repeatedly confirmed it did Dian seem satisfied and closed his mouth. This time, instead of the uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere from before, an air mixed with shyness and joy was floating around him like fluffy clouds.

'What a shame! I should save this moment as a video!'

It was regrettable, but since the system wasn't responding, there was nothing I could do.

Anyway, seeing Dian like me so much made me feel motivated too. So, wanting to show Dian a cool side of myself, I straightened my posture and voice and said.

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Lynne Rochester, and starting today, I'll be serving the young master at Redford Manor. Please take care of me."

"...I'm Dian. Please take care of me too."

Now even a faint sense of trust had appeared in the white kitten's eyes looking at me. He had seemed anxious earlier, but now that he knew I was someone trustworthy, he seemed to relax a bit.

"But Lynne, you have an unusual way of speaking for a caregiver. You sound just like a maid."

I felt a jolt for a moment.

Our kitten is quite perceptive. It's because this sister has been stuck in the maid profession for so long.

"This is more comfortable for me. Does it make you uncomfortable, young master?"

"I don't really mind. Just do whatever feels comfortable for you, Lynne."

Looking at Dian's face, it seemed difficult to ask him directly about the 'caregiver' profession that had been automatically selected this round. He was looking at me with such trusting eyes that if my ignorance were exposed, it would probably be awkward for both of us... Above all, how could I crush the hopes and expectations of a growing young child?

It would be better to first explain to Dian what had just happened.

"And about that head maid earlier, I didn't kill her for no reason..."

"I know, it was Morose, right? Do you think I wouldn't know something like that?"

As soon as I opened my mouth, Dian spoke matter-of-factly as if he knew that much.

"I was just panicked earlier because it was an unexpected situation. So... so don't mistake that I'm scared of such things, Lynne. Got it?"

As if he was now embarrassed about cowering like a frightened rabbit earlier, Dian widened his eyes and belatedly tried to act tough. I was moved by his bravery and screamed internally.

'Cute, so cute...! Was he this adorable at this age originally? Of course, teenage Dian was cute too, but since it's been a while since I've seen this baby version, he seems even cuter than I remember?'

This game was unnecessarily realistic, so the characters you raised would go through turbulent adolescent periods as they aged. So when Dian reached his mid-teens, he would often disobey me like a contrary child and act selfishly.

But seeing Dian's charming appearance again after the game reset was incredibly refreshing. It felt exactly like a brave kitten was giving my heart soft punches, making me clutch my chest.

"R-right. Of course our Young Master Dian wouldn't be scared of such things at all."

Dian fidgeted with his fingers and moved his lips as if he had something to say.

"And... I'm not as useless as Minyuel said either."

Then he looked at me with determined eyes and spoke.

"I couldn't do anything earlier because I was surprised, but if something like that appears again next time, I'll protect you, Lynne!"

Aaaah...!

I screamed internally. I couldn't hold back anymore, so I covered my face with my hands and bit down hard.

"Seriously, so cute. What kind of fairy are you?"

"What...?"

"Oh no, did I actually say that out loud? I'm so sorry. You were just so adorable that I was trying to mentally coo and fuss over you, but it slipped out instead."

I wanted to pat his bottom and squish those rice cake-like cheeks, but I held back because I felt like handcuffs would be slapped on my wrists any moment.

"Cute... fairy...?"

Dian blinked his eyes that were swaying violently in confusion.

"Don't tell me you just said that about me..."

That's right! Totally about you!

I nodded vigorously.

Seeing Dian's soft cheeks gradually turn red, I internally screamed to save the video countless times. But unfortunately, Dian's cute appearance was only saved in my heart.

"Caregiver, if you've finished your greetings, I'll guide you to your room."

Just then, a maid called for me from outside the reception room. It seemed like they had finished cleaning Dian's room, as the other maids were also withdrawing.

Dian stood up abruptly with his reddened face.

"I, I want to rest, so leave now."

"Already? Can't you stay just a little longer?"

"No, I want to be alone, so leave right now!"

Dian glared at me as he shouted coldly. But his face was still like a ripe apple, so it wasn't scary.

His embarrassed appearance was cute too, but I felt like I shouldn't tease him more here. I didn't want to be labeled as a weird person from the first day, so let's just retreat for today.

"Then I'll go to my room first to wash up and change clothes. I'll be back soon, so please rest, young master!"

I greeted Dian and left his room.

The room the maid guided me to was very familiar. It was natural since it was the same room provided to all players when starting the game.

Bed, sofa, desk, chair, tea table, dresser, display cabinet, and other furniture to complete the set were all provided in the room. Plus, it had a small dressing room, washroom, and bathroom attached, which looked quite luxurious to me.

You could spend additional money to decorate the room to your taste, but I wasn't really interested in that. Rather than spending money on such things, buying one more cute outfit for my child was a hundred times more rewarding.

By the way, the game system still wasn't responding here either.

'There's a setting for automatic logout after 48 hours in real time, but surely I don't have to wait until then?'

Let's see. The flow of time between reality and the game is designed differently, so 48 hours in reality would be about two weeks here?

"Damn it, fix the error before then. I have to go to work after the weekend."

I'm usually quite optimistic, but this was the first time I'd encountered such an error while playing a game, so I was a bit anxious.

'Really? Is that what I have to do?'

'Sigh. I guess I'll just have to trust that everything will work itself out.'

Being alone in such a quiet room reminded me of what happened earlier. It was definitely too strange a phenomenon for a simple error. Recalling the sensation of the red corpse flowers covering my entire body made the back of my neck feel cold.

Moreover, I kept remembering the vivid sensation at my fingertips when I stabbed the head maid earlier. Whenever that happened, it felt exactly as if this wasn't a game but real reality.

But that couldn't be. This had to be a game. Right?

"This won't do. I need to move."

Staying still just made me think unnecessary thoughts.

First, I went to the washbasin and thoroughly washed my face and hands with water again. When I checked the mirror, my face was exactly as I had customized it. Seeing that made me feel relieved.

'See, it is a game after all. I'm glad this didn't have an error.'

After finishing washing my face squeaky clean, I opened the dressing room.

Inside the closet was a uniform that seemed to be provided by the manor. But it wasn't a maid outfit, it was a uniform I'd never seen before. Was it exclusive to the 'caregiver' profession? Since they only gave me one set, it didn't seem like something to wear every day.

'But it's not here either?'

What I'd been looking for since earlier was my luggage bag.

The starter bag that should have appeared on the bed was nowhere to be found. Without it, I had no access to my basic weapons, items, or the profession manual that would explain what a 'caregiver' actually does.