That’s when it happened. Suddenly, there was a knocking sound from behind us. The interruption stopped Tigaro mid-sentence. I opened the door, and there on the other side of the threshold stood a hybrid girl about sixteen or seventeen years of age and dressed in a maid uniform.
She had rounded ears like those of a squirrel, a big, fluffy tail, and something of a timid manner. After one look at her, Tigaro’s eyes immediately went wide.
“No way—Chestnut?”
“Tiga, you know this girl?” asked Frieze.
“We used to work together. What are you doing here... Wait, you didn’t get fired too, did you?” Tigaro asked, looking the girl over with worry in her eyes.
Chestnut shook her head.
“No. Actually, the only reason I’m still able to work is that you stood up for me, Tigaro.”
“Oh, I see...” Tigaro said, not seeming all too happy.
It was particularly difficult for hybrids to find good, honest work. There was already stiff competition for what little well-paying work there was to go around, let alone for anything as lucrative as maid work at Monstro’s mansion. Still, even if it was best to hold on to work when one’s livelihood was at risk, it was also understandable that the fear of being hit again would take precedence.
“Well, in any case, you seem to be doing well. That’s what matters,” Tigaro said.
“That’s thanks to you, Tigaro. If I got fired, I’d probably end up tossed out on the streets and... Well, you look good too, Tigaro.”
“That’s because getting fired from that job led me to this: the best living situation I could hope for. Hard not to be happy in my shoes.”
“Yeah, I heard all about it in Hybrid Town. You became the Sword Saint’s maid.”
“Right. Oh, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” Tigaro said, signaling Chestnut with her eyes.
Taking the cue, Chestnut turned to me and bowed her head in deference. “Ah, please forgive my rudeness, sir. I’ve neglected to introduce myself. My name is Chestnut. I apologize for my sudden intrusion,” she said. Quite the polite greeting, I noted. For a moment, I considered matching her formality, but...being spoken to in deference by the Sword Saint would likely just make her uneasy.
“No need to worry. More importantly, am I correct in assuming you came here to speak with Tigaro about something?” I asked. Based on what she’d said so far, it seemed that she had first gone to Hybrid Town. There, she must have heard about Tigaro becoming my maid and decided to come here.
“There’s no way Monstro gave you a day off. Did you come here to meet me on his instructions? He didn’t seriously send you all the way out here to shout at me or something, did he?” Tigaro asked. To send one maid out of her way just to come scold another who’d already been fired... It was the kind of thing only a truly malicious and petty person would think to do. Even so, Tigaro seemed not to think it was beneath him.
Chestnut shook her head, dispelling Tigaro’s suspicion.
“Quite the opposite, actually. I was sent not to reprimand you on Mr. Monstro’s behalf but to convey his apologies,” Chestnut said.
The information left Tigaro blank-faced and taken aback. “Monstro is...apologizing? To me?”
Chestnut nodded. “It would appear that Mr. Monstro has come to greatly lament the events of that day... He says he’d like you to return to work at the mansion,” she said. She didn’t seem to have confidence in her own words. Just a few moments ago, Tigaro had said that she now enjoyed “the best living situation she could hope for,” with a smile to back up the sentiment. Chestnut was probably expecting to be refused.
“Sorry, but I don’t plan on going back,” Tigaro said, turning the offer down without hesitation, exactly as Chestnut must have expected she would. It was good news for us, but Chestnut couldn’t have been happy given that Tigaro’s decision finalized their parting. That would have been the end of it, but...
“I— Of course. I understand... Tigaro, you seem to be exceedingly happy here. If only I could work here by your side,” she said, backing down with no resistance. A dark cloud seemed to settle over her features.
From what I had heard, Monstro was a very cruel man to the hybrids in his employ. Who knew what he might do to Chestnut were she to return empty-handed? She could be fired or, worse, suffer one of his violent outbursts. That being said, I had to prioritize Tigaro’s happiness as well. I certainly couldn’t force her to let Chestnut take her back.
Chestnut apologized once more for her unexpected visit before moving to take her leave.
“Wait. Tigaro, why don’t we go to Monstro’s estate with her?” I asked. Perhaps she was concerned for Chestnut’s well-being, just as I was; Tigaro’s determination seemed to waver. She did not shake her head in refusal, but neither did she show any interest in the idea.
“Of course I’m worried for Chestnut, but I’d rather not leave your side, Kaito...” Tigaro said. I realized that she may have thought I was using Chestnut’s situation as a pretext for sending her away. Her voice was choked with anxious hesitation.
“Of course not,” I said, facing her with a smile. “If you’d prefer, you could even stay here. I’m only suggesting that we go to Monstro’s house for the sake of expressing those feelings to him as well.”
“You mean to tell him that I don’t want to come back to the mansion?”
“Yeah. That way you can get Monstro to give up and get off your back while at the same time making it so that Chestnut can truthfully say she did the job she set out to and brought you back.”
“I see what you mean. Well, if it’s for that, then I’ll go with you,” Tigaro said. The enthusiasm she’d mustered seemed to relieve Chestnut, whose face brightened in the manner of someone just rescued.
“Oh thank you so much, Tigaro...and thank you as well, Mr. Kaito. Truly.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s a little too late to head out today. We could leave tomorrow, but how about traveling together, Chestnut? We could take a boat, but flying would get us there quite a bit faster,” I said.
“And it would be all right for me to accompany you in that manner?” Chestnut asked politely.
“Of course,” I said. If we successfully completed our request, I would be promoted to rank A. From then on, we would have to start flying with a fifth party member. Taking to the skies tomorrow with five people would be good practice for that eventuality.
“In that case, thank you for having me,” Chestnut said.
With that, it was decided. We would take to the skies as a party of five the next day and make for Port City.