Night fell.
Count Mott's manor was still ablaze with light.
As a noble, Count Mott lounged in his hot spring with a wicked grin. He ordered a maid to wipe him down; the maid's shy expression only fed his pride. To toy with the lives of commoners at will, to stand above lesser nobles as a royal envoy—that was the source of his arrogance.
Thinking of the maid named Siesta he'd seen at the academy while delivering a royal decree, he felt a hot stir in his gut. He wanted nothing more than to pin her down and have his way.
With a wave, he dismissed the two maids he'd already grown bored of and murmured, "Heh… Siesta, you won't escape the palm of my hand—"
"Oh? Is that so?"
A man's voice rang out; Count Mott's face changed. "Who's there?" He snatched up his wand and turned toward the voice.
Hayashi Maki materialized, as if from thin air, giving the curled-moustache noble a look of disdain.
"So you're the one after Siesta. Vile. Pressing down on commoners as a noble comes with a price."
Mott snorted. "So you've come for Siesta? Name yourself. For daring to slight a noble, even ten thousand deaths—argh!"
Before he could finish, a searing pain shot through his loins. He looked down—his manhood was engulfed in flame. The agony was unbelievable; the "honorable" count screamed and passed out, froth at his lips.
The guards at the door noticed nothing; Hayashi Maki had already sealed the room with a mana barrier. With a wave, he healed the now… unequipped count, then invoked the power he'd gained from Mashiro:
Absolute Command.
A red flash in his eyes—and Mott's soul slotted neatly under his control. The count's eyes snapped open, a red glow flickering and fading.
"Master—your orders," he said, trembling, kneeling on the floor, not daring to meet Hayashi Maki's gaze. Noble pride and dignity meant nothing when your soul and life were held in the palm of someone's hand. He couldn't even kill himself; he could only obey.
Hayashi Maki gave three orders:
1. Cancel the "request" for Siesta to leave the academy and serve at his manor.
2. Convey news of the Vallière family's third daughter summoning a powerful familiar to the palace—make sure Princess Henrietta hears it.
3. Find a way to attribute your future "contributions" to me, so I'm granted enough merit for a title and made a noble.
Hayashi Maki didn't want to sit around waiting for Henrietta; he'd send the earl running errands. As a royal envoy and a count, even Duke Vallière gave Mott three steps. With a court envoy smoothing things among the nobles, a title should come quickly.
In another world, how could he stay a commoner? Better to be the man behind the princess.
"As you command, Master," Mott said, and like the tool he was, mounted up and rode for the palace that very night.
With Mott handled, Hayashi Maki left that world. He'd been there long enough; time to see Mahiru and the others. He hadn't even had decent meat there—better to return to warmth.
His figure shimmered and vanished. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his own room. Mashiro Shiina had fully occupied his bed, sleeping soundly. Hayashi Maki smiled, kissed her, pinched her cheek, and left her to rest.
Humming drifted from the kitchen. There, in an apron and ponytail, a golden-haired girl was preparing ingredients. His heart stirred. He slid up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.
"Knock it off, Maki-kun—I'm cooking," Mahiru Shiina said, bumping his chest with the back of her head. "If you're bored, go game—or find little Yukino… or Shino."
Breathing in her scent, Hayashi Maki felt a rare peace. This was home. Without letting go, he leaned in and kissed her earlobe.
"But what if I missed you? It's been days."
"Days? Idiot—did you wake up wrong?"
Mahiru pushed him away lightly, a strange look crossing her face. Hayashi Maki didn't hide it—he told her about being summoned as a familiar to another world. Mahiru had been binging light novels lately; her eyes went wide.
"Really? What's that world like? Fun? Can I come? And the person who summoned you—is she easy to get along with? She's definitely a pretty girl, right?"
…
He scooped her up with a smile, carried her to the bedroom, and kissed her.
"First things first. I missed you. We'll talk slowly."
"Mm—you're impossible…"
Blushing, she gave him a token push and sank into his affection.
Much later, with Mahiru nestled in his arms, he stroked her hair and told her about the other world.
"The one who summoned me is Louise—pink hair, petite, a noble lady. She's a second-year at Tristain."
"If you want to go, I can take you. You've got strength now, and the scenery's worth it. But right now I'm still a 'commoner'—a familiar—so I can't enroll you. I'll work on becoming a noble first, then arrange it properly."
Hearing she could go, Mahiru's interest piqued.
"Then work hard, Maki-kun. I'll look forward to it." She wasn't in any rush. "Shinka would definitely be interested. Can I tell her?"
"Of course. I don't plan to hide it. We'll vacation in another world—together."
He laced fingers with the little angel's hand, heat rising, and leaned down again. Mahiru rolled her eyes and met his kiss, lips warmly joined.
Everything else went without saying.
~~~
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