Idle Talk – A Maid’s Story.

 

＜　El and Es　＞

 

 

　There was a group of ten people directly under the chief maid Yukari―― The all-purpose maid squad reverently called 『The Great Ten』.

 

　Right now, each of those ten were “Demon Captains” who had over ten maids under them as subordinates, but they were originally “Newcomers” working under Yukari as their captain.

 

　……If any of the new maids would complain about something, those maids would surely answer with: “Work without saying anything is impossible”.

 

　Among the Ten Great were two red-haired sisters, called El and Es. El was the elder sister, at 16, and Es was the youngest, at 15 years old. El had shoulder-length hair, a bit improper for a girl, and her character was tough and strong-minded, like a tomboy. Es on the other side had a side ponytail, and she was more like a meek girl. Their names and appearances were quite similar, but their personalities were the complete opposite.

 

　There wasn’t a single maid in House Firstest that didn’t know of these two. Why? Because it was really easy to remember them. The sun and the moon, fire and water, convex and concave…… there could be many comparisons, but these sisters’ personalities were like that.

 

　And the characteristics of these two girls were remarkably reflected on their squads.

 

　The elder sister-led group called the 『El Squad 』 was known as the best “fighting group” among the all-purpose maids. Only those with higher than normal fighting skills were gathered here, and they were harshly trained until they were exhausted. Therefore, the new maids feared it. “It’s very hard to join them,” they said. On the other hand, those with strong fighting spirits actively volunteered for the El Squad. Being part of the El Squad was proof that you were a fierce person. But as a result, the surrounding people always saw them with weird eyes.

 

　The 『Es Squad』 led by the younger sister, on the other hand, was said to be the most “Orthodox” group in the all-purpose maid corps. In this squad, all members continued to polish and refine different kinds of skills every day, until they reached the level worthy of being called “All-purpose maids”. Obviously starting off with waiting, cleaning and laundry, but also self-defense techniques and language, going all the way to business administration. At first glance many saw it as wide and shallow knowledge, but in reality, it was outrageous. Extensive and deep, more extensive than anyone, deeper than anyone. The maids who didn’t measure up were quickly cut off. In that sense, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Es Squad was a carefully selected “Elite Group”.

 

　So, like this. Each Squad had their own characteristics.

 

　But those quirks weren’t visible at the beginning. Only as they spent time together, did their captain’s character and beliefs gradually influence them.

　In short, who they followed was how they grew. Almost like a parent and a child.

 

——

——

 

“Hey. Bitch, you stole my headband, didn’t you? “

 

　On a certain day. El Squad’s maid Momo grabbed another maid by the chest in the cafeteria. As one could see from the rough attitude and tone, she was a famous maid even among the newcomers as a hardcore bully. Whether it was good or bad, her 180 centimeters height was considerably intimidating, simply by standing next to you.

 

“Ara, what would you be talking about? I really have no idea.”

 

　The other maid was Marina, a member belonging to the Es Squad, and an Elite according to herself. She was a maid with a somewhat high amount of pride.

 

“Don’t lie to me!　You stole it! “

“Why would you think I did such an act?　There’s no evidence of it.”

“Ha!　I saw you when you did it! “

“Like I said, where is the evidence?　How can you prove it was me? “

“Evidence? It’s in my eyes……”

“You know, it’s a bother to be told so randomly that I stole something without bringing any evidence. Just like Es-sama has repeatedly said, it’s important to secure evidence. Right?　Girls.”

 

　Marina then asked the people around her. And surely, just as Marina said, the maids next to her, who were also close friends, nodded without hesitation. In a complete turn around, the atmosphere in the place now changed and Momo was now seen as the villain.

 

“……But I saw it.”

“Haaa, how many times do I have to say it so that you understand?　It’s just a waste of time. I’ll just say it one last time. How can I be a suspect if there’s no evidence? “

“…………Tch.”

 

　Momo, with a mortified face, released the hand holding Marina up. Marina dusted off her chest, then opened her mouth again.

 

“How can someone with this low of intelligence work as a maid?　Oh. Speaking of which, you aren’t very maid-like…… go away, your stinky sweat will stick to me.”

 

　She giggled, as if to make fun of her. Momo couldn’t say anything back, she just clenched her fist. Then, sensing she had the upper hand, Marina continued further.

 

“Get it?　We’re maids who serve the great one who will one day will become the world’s greatest. You should feel ashamed to call yourself a maid serving the Firstest Family. And what’s with those guys? Aren’t all the people in your squad more like mercenaries?　No wonder it’s hard to even call you a maid. That’s right, that’s why you shouldn’t be wearing headbands. I’m sure you’ll even poke your head with it.”

 

“Bitch……! “

 

　Too many words. Momo, whose self had not only been made fun of, but also her friends and captain, couldn’t suppress her anger and tried to take matters into her own hands.

 

“So, you’ll use violence?　Ohh, look at yourself. That’s why you’re disqualified as a maid.”

 

　But Marina continued to provoke Momo, who couldn’t talk back.

 

 

　――That’s when an unexpected person came.

 

“Ohh, what’s wrong Momo? You can go ahead and hit her.”

 

“C-Captain! ? “

 

　El of the Ten Great. Right now, it was meal time for the newcomers, so there shouldn’t be a captain in this place. However, El had appeared and the cafeteria became noisy.

 

“W-Why is El-sama here……? “

“Ara, I’m here too, Marina. Place your hands behind your back.”

“Es-sama! ? “

 

　The little sister Es also appeared. Marina’s face paled. The reason she froze was because her captain was there. In other words, their misdeeds so far had been known to their captains.

 

“Come one, hit her. Until you’re done.”

“Here you go, Momo-san. Do as you like.”

 

　El and Es said such a thing with a smile.

 

　Momo then turned towards Marina. Marina’s eyes were moistened and she was trembling. It was an expression of despair. Well, that’s a given. Her elite road on which she walked turned into hell in just a moment.

 

 

“……Sorry. I can’t.”

 

　Momo lowered her head after some contemplation. She felt she too was at fault since she couldn’t procure any evidence. And, she did not train in order to hit an opponent who was crying and offering no resistance.

 

“Is that so? Clench your teeth.”

 

　El said while floating a gentle smile.

 

 

　Immediately after―― A tightly clenched fist assaulted Momo.

 

“Gguee!　Agh!　Buh! “

 

　A relentless liver blow. Then, as her posture crumbled, an elbow right to the face. And after she fell to her knees, a kick to the solar plexus.

 

　Everyone present thought “That’s too much”, but nobody uttered a word.

 

　The 180-cm tall woman was one-sidedly beaten by a 16 years-old girl who wasn’t even 160-cm in height. All the newcomers trembled seeing the figure of the captain of the fighting corps, the『El Squad』.

 

“The worst thing you can do is go after someone without any proof. Properly remember it.”

“Y……Yes……Captain……”

 

　While bleeding from the nose in a crouching position, Momo answered.

 

“Next time, make sure you have enough evidence before going after someone. Then, you can go wild without problems.”

“……Yes……”

 

　El told her subordinates “Take her to her room”, and silently watched Momo being carried away.

 

“…………”

 

　Es watched her sister’s schooling with warm eyes.

 

　It looked like so long ago. These two sisters had fallen into slavery after being framed for a crime they didn’t commit―― but now, only a few people knew this fact.

 

　Right now, they spend their days as the happiest. However, the pain of those false accusations would probably never disappear from these two sister’s minds. Therefore, their aversion to doubting people couldn’t be wiped away.

 

　However, looking at it from the other side, this was engraved into their bodies and they understood the measures to take. Both Es and El knew that “Innocent and guilty without evidence” were pretty much the same.

 

　That’s why they both stuck to ‘evidence’ more than anyone else. At the very least, in the places where their eyes reached, in this house where their beloved master lived, false accusations must never be forgiven. This was something they kept in their minds every day. So, their subordinates should have grown following those ideals.

 

“Well now, Marina.”

“……Hiiii.”

 

　Still, there were exceptions.

 

　Like purposely erasing evidence after doing something they shouldn’t.

 

　Es took out Momo’s headband, which was of course proof of Marina’s misdeeds, and looked straight at her while spinning it on her finger.

 

　Heaven’s net has large meshes, but nothing escapes, as the proverb says. As their name of the Sun and Moon of Firstest, their judgement was strict.

 

“It’s re-education time. But don’t worry, I’m not as strict as my sister, El.”

 

　So she said, with a warm smile. Marina felt an immeasurable dread, cold sweat dripping down her spine.

 

 

　……After that. A few days later, a Marina that looked like a completely different person, returned. It became a topic among the maids about what kind of education someone would receive to suddenly change to an almost completely different person, and it became a rumor among them that the younger sister might be way scarier than the elder sister.

 

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Cheat sheet

Stats details

＜Status Details＞

• HP　Hit Points
• MP　Magic Points
• SP　Stamina Points
• STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
• DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
• AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
• INT　Attack Magic skill power.
• LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
• VIT　Simple defense.
• MGR　Magic defense.

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

1. Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
2. Lance(Kyousha)
3. Knight (Keima)
4. Silver General (Ginshou)
5. Gold General (Kinshou)
6. Bishop (Kakugyou)
7. Rook (Hisha)
8. Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
9. Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

Swordsmanship

1. 《Soldier Swordsmanship》　                  Normal attack.
2. 《Lance Swordsmanship》　                    Piercing attack.
3. 《Knight Swordsmanship》　                   Precision attack.
4. 《Silver Swordsmanship》　                     Strong single-target attack.
5. 《Gold Swordsmanship》                           Small-range attack to all directions.
6. 《Bishop Swordsmanship》                       ???
7. 《Rook Swordsmanship》　                      ???
8. 《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　    ???
9. 《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　       ???

List of Shieldmanship skills

Shieldmanship

1. 《Soldier Shieldmanship》　                  Normal defense.
2. 《Lance Shieldmanship》　                    Piercing deflection.
3. 《Knight Shieldmanship》　                   Defense + knockback.
4. 《Silver Shieldmanship》　                     ???
5. 《Gold Shieldmanship》                           Ranged guided defense + knockback.
6. 《Bishop Shieldmanship》                       Reinforced defense (Temporarily boosts VIT and MGR)
7. 《Rook Shieldmanship》　                      ???
8. 《Dragon Horse Shieldmanship》　    ???
9. 《Dragon King Shieldmanship》　       ???

List of Archery skills

Archery

1. 《Soldier Archery》　                  Normal range attack.
2. 《Lance Archery》　                    Piercing range attack.
3. 《Knight Archery》　                   Precise sniping range attack.
4. 《Silver Archery》　                     Strong single-target range attack.
5. 《Gold Archery》                           Weaker range attack with added knockback.
6. 《Bishop Archery》                       Strong piercing range attack.
7. 《Rook Archery》　                      Very strong single-target range attack with scaling % damage.
8. 《Dragon Horse Archery》　    Powerful piercing range attack.
9. 《Dragon King Archery》　       Powerful on-impact range attack.

Types of Magic skills

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

1. First Form　      　      Regular attack
2. Second Form　      　 Extended range attack
3. Third Form　      　    Strong single target attack
4. Fourth Form　      　  Strong extended range attack
5. Fifth Form　      　      Extremely powerful extended range attack

• Their cast time becomes longer in this order First→Third→Second→Fourth→Fifth.

Ranking of the skills

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.

1. 16th class
2. 15th class
3. 14th class
4. 13th class
5. 12h class
6. 11th class
7. 10th class
8. 9th class
9. 8th class
10. 7th class
11. 6th class
12. 5th class
13. 4th class
14. 3rd class
15. 2nd class
16. 1st class
17. Grade 1
18. Grade 2
19. Grade 3
20. Grade 4
21. Grade 5
22. Grade 6
23. Grade 7
24. Grade 8
25. Grade 9
26. Title

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 ToC    

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