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“Oooh…”

“Did your thoughts change a bit?”

“Yes. I think it’s better to have this.”

The Fellow Estate resembled a pastoral countryside castle and mansion, as if a scene from a fairy tale was plucked out and pasted here.

The thought of selling it off had completely vanished.

Spacious meadows and a tall, elongated mansion that seemed even taller from this perspective, along with a small forest nearby. Steam rising from hot springs in various places.

I was a bit worried about the low height of the castle walls, but seeing them up close, they looked sturdy. Besides, in case of an emergency, I could always escape to the nearby Coldon, so I understood this design.

Upon entering the castle walls, the excessively vast courtyard was lush and vibrant with various trees, bushes, and flowers.

The mansion, simple yet thoughtfully detailed upon closer inspection, wasn’t extravagant but caught the eye.

In the distance, beyond the castle walls, the sights of Coldon and Winterhome created an atmospheric scene, but Karem was too distracted by other things to notice.

“We welcome the new Contractor’s visit to the Fellow Mansion alongside our Kikimora friends!”

“””We greet the new Contractor!”””

At the lead of a girl with rolled hair and a conical hat, the other girls stood in line wearing similar hats, greeting loudly and neatly.

It looked a bit like a playtime game.

Their strange speech only amplified that feeling. It even had an oddly red vibe to it.

Their poised stances resembled that of Mary, who was welcoming the guests. Although it was mismatched for kids of Alicia’s age.

“Umm… uh, girls. The manager is—”

“Right in front of you.”

Catherine motioned toward the girls, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as if asking what was so strange. But no matter how I looked at it, it was odd.

“They look only as old as Lady Alicia?”

“Yeah. They’re Kikimora.”

However, even Catherine seemed a bit surprised, perhaps not expecting the house fairy to be the manager.

“That’s a characteristic of Kikimora.”

“Is it different from Brownies?”

“They fall under the same category of house fairies.”

“So, they’re like distant relatives?”

“Similar to Dire Wolves and Wargs… Ah, I guess you wouldn’t know what that means.”

“Um… I may not know what Wargs are, but I have an idea of the vibe.”

As Karem engaged in peaceful conversation with Catherine, there were others who were not having the same experience.

Mary, sitting atop the groom’s seat, was engaged in a silent contest with the Kikimora girls who had welcomed them.

‘It can’t be that the manager is a house fairy!’

Honestly, Mary hadn’t thought her suggestion would be taken seriously. After all, now that Catherine had made a contract, her managerial scope was strictly limited to Felwinter Mage Tower.

The territory and area of the Kikimora girls right in front of her included the Fellow Mansion, meadows, and the entire Fellow Estate.

If they invaded another house fairy’s territory, the magic of the house fairy itself would impose punishment on the perpetrator for such an audacious breach of rules.

But even so, Mary felt extraordinarily uncomfortable in this situation. It was annoying. She wanted to shout loudly, but as a servant accompanying them, she had no right to do so.

Tap-tap-tap—snap.

“…I request you to take the reins.”

“…Here, please take this.”

At Nascha’s gesture, one Kikimora who was welcoming Karem and his party stepped forward. Mary descended from her seat with a cautious attitude.

‘A greedy brownie would give in?’

‘There’s no way I can ask the Contractor for a break after coming all this way.’

Thus, the silent nerve war between Mary and the Kikimora standing behind Catherine continued.

The tension was indeed fierce!

Two predators facing each other.

It was only natural for house fairies.

Though they didn’t lack a sense of kinship, the prevailing instinct was to guard against possible encroachment on their territory.

They were trying to induce blunders from one another in a subtle manner.

Furthermore, the Kikimora group viewed Brownies as cruel dictators monopolizing work!

Instinctively, they were eyeing each other’s jobs, while rationally they were wary of losing their own.

In such a situation unimportant to those involved, it was Karem, Catherine, and the customary hospitality that kept things in check.

“Isn’t this more like a vacation home than an estate?”

“You said it’s an estate that’s close to a vacation home.”

Perhaps that’s why it didn’t resemble the typical estate.

There were grazing livestock and shepherds, as well as adventurers.

“The meadows are leased to Coldon’s ranch.”

“Oh? Is that the representative over there? What should I call you?”

“It’s Nascha. Contractor comrade!”

As Nascha waved her hand, her gray, well-groomed hair swayed.

Behind the skirts of her apron, an unseen puppy tail seemed to waggle vigorously. It felt like the aura of a golden retriever with a different color.

A chill of guilt climbed Karem’s spine.

‘They look just like kids of Alicia’s age.’

A girl who couldn’t be older than ten was calling him Contractor comrade! Contractor comrade! Just like the others.

People who enjoyed situations like this were probably creeps.

Karem felt uncomfortable in the current situation.

He could hear “Contractor comrade” loud and clear, but it sounded like “Master! Master!” to his mind, making him feel like putting on a silver bracelet.

Of course, there were no child protection laws in Europa. Ten-year-old boys and girls were excellent laborers. Just stepping out onto Coldon’s streets, you’d see plenty of working children.

Karem himself had been working since childhood, barely able to walk, in Moshton.

However, given his longer past life, his experiences made him feel guilty.

And then there was their serious attitude toward work.

Moreover, they were doing a good job.

Guilt began to creep up slowly.

Karem’s conflicted feelings were lost on Nascha and the Kikimora who only thought about welcoming the new Contractor and guests.

“By the way, I heard Miss Catherine is the Contractor comrade’s lover.”

Nascha, who was guiding Karem and his party through the mansion, asked.

“That’s right.”

“Then is the black sword your future partner?”

“That’s the case… um, wait a moment.”

“The black sword is your partner.”

Catherine seemed to have mentioned it casually, but Karem pretended not to hear. They exchanged rings, and even if he was a bit of a coward, things were gradually improving.

“Then I’ll give you something, Contractor comrade. Here.”

Nascha suddenly stopped. Then, she rifled through her seemingly empty apron pocket and pulled out a handbell.

“A handbell?”

“You just need to ring it whenever you need something.”

The red and green handbell passed to him honestly resembled a toy. Especially its shiny, newly made appearance reinforced that impression.

“Wherever you ring it in Fellow Estate, the nearest Kikimora will respond to your call. The prospective partner shall be honored as a formal spouse.”

While Karem struggled with feelings of guilt and betrayal stemming from the Kikimora’s unwavering dedication, the Kikimora’s efficiency appeared flawless.

At least one was different, but the entire group seemed to possess skills similar to Mary’s. Karem was half-convinced.

‘To be doing as much work with the body of a ten-year-old girl. Have they really matured that much?’

He couldn’t help but be amazed. Perhaps they were enhancing their physical abilities with house fairy magic, but the fact that it was impressive didn’t diminish.

‘But what’s with that weird “Chiki Chiki Boom Boom”?’

Each passing Kikimora hummed a strange tune that went “Chiki Chiki Boom Boom”, seemingly random yet repeating a peculiar rhythm and odd lyrics. It was strangely catchy. He felt like he had heard it before.

As Nascha guided them, she suddenly apologized, saying to ring the handbell if they needed something, and dashed off somewhere.

‘Does she not have the ability to pop like Mary?’

As the presence completely disappeared, Karem let out a sigh.

“But honestly, this is so burdensome.”

Though there were no Kikimora in the lounge now, as soon as he rang the handbell, they would come running with smiles on their faces like dogs that had spotted their owner, eager to help.

Mary kept her mouth shut with a sulky expression, but Catherine shrugged her shoulders with her eyes half-closed.

“Well, it’s not like we’re gonna fire them.”

“Then doesn’t that confirm there will be a disaster?”

They were already fairies who loved to work.

With the Kikimora who, including Nascha, guided her and the Kikimora experienced at welcoming guests, it was evident they all genuinely loved their work.

And behind them, without exception, they waved their invisible tails menacingly while grinning.

“I don’t know if they’re as obsessed as Mary is.”

To be honest, he didn’t want to imagine what would happen if he fired them.

Especially with their youthful appearance, guilt would be enormous.

It would’ve been better if they at least looked like Mary.

“Karem, it feels strange that you speak of my importance like you realize it.”

“Do you know what I’m thinking?”

“You don’t have to say it; I know.”

Karem decided to let Mary wallow in her happy thoughts about her own importance.

“By the way, why are you still sulking?”

“I’ve never sulked.”

“…Well, let’s say that’s true.”

“To say I’m sulking is disagreeable. I distinctly said I’m not.”

There was no sign of a lie. So, it must be competitive jealousy.

Mary’s basic expression was always deadpan. Therefore, simply by her slightly changing expression, her sulkiness came through.

Well, since the culprit is like that, what can be done? Karem thought that she was simply feeling this way out of envy toward the fellow house fairies who were working hard.

Or so he thought.

The probability was slim, but.

“If you’re uncomfortable about your appearance, think of it as your age.”

“My age?”

“Yeah.”

Feeling a bit annoyed, Catherine casually suggested an alternative and slumped over on the sofa in the lounge.

“I’m certain that any Kikimora from this entire estate will be older than you.”

“No, that’s a problem of appearance.”

Catherine shook her head as if she couldn’t care less, but Karem couldn’t help but find this situation unbearable.

I must emphasize again, the Kikimora’s appearances were at the level of Alicia’s age. Being served by such kids was an incomprehensible discomfort he could hardly explicate.

Of course, if they thought in terms of age, they would naturally be older than him, considering they were fairies.

Yet the destructive power of their appearances was something he could not ignore.

“So, it seems there’s only one answer.”

“Oh, finally.”

“You’ll have to get used to it.”

“I wonder if I can really get used to it.”

“Then you can always fire them, like I said before.”

Catherine laughed as if to say she didn’t think Karem would actually do that.

“Do you think I’d come up with a plan if Lady Alicia’s age girls started crying buckets in front of me?”

“No. I’ll just have to get used to it.”

Imagining little girl Kikimora crying in unison made him feel explosive guilt. Especially with their bright faces, like happy puppies.

“If we’ve reached a conclusion, let’s have a meal.”

It was about lunchtime now.

Catherine sprang up from the sofa where she had been leaning, and Mary quickly approached to tidy her disheveled appearance.

“I’m getting a bit hungry.”

“Then let’s head straight to the kitchen.”

“Hm? Not the kitchen; it should be the dining room.”

“Yes?”

Catherine spoke as if confused by what was wrong.

“Who prepares meals for the wizards at the Mage Tower? It’s Mary. So who prepares meals in this mansion?”

“That would be the Kikimora, right? Ah.”

“Exactly. Are you planning to take the house fairy’s job as the new contractor? Have you forgotten how Mary was when you first came to the Mage Tower?”

How could he ever forget that?

Even then, her expressionless face radiated a sense of pure malice, as if she would gladly kill him if he dared encroach on her territory.

“Mary, let me ask you something since you’re a fellow house fairy.”

“We’re not the same. I’m a Brownie. They’re Kikimora.”

“Oh come on, whether high elf, dark elf, or human, to our eyes, they’re all just different-colored elves.”

At Karem’s comment, Mary’s face turned even more sulky.

“The sensitivity of a Kikimora is exactly as it appears.”

“Which means?”

“Yes. The scene you’re imagining will play out.”

Karem struck his forehead lightly with his palm.

‘Oh crap. That means they’ll be sobbing like crazy, huh?’

And he couldn’t afford to neglect Catherine’s meal preparations.

He decided to head to the kitchen first to ask about it.

“Did those Kikimora do something wrong to Contractor comrade?”

In the kitchen, dozens of tearful eyes looked ready to burst any moment.

Karem felt as if the world was dimming before his eyes.

 

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