The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family

Chapter 021

Rohan and I, who had been talking in the quarters, both jumped in surprise.

Several days had passed since I first opened my eyes in this new body inside the mansion, but not once had I heard the bell ring like this.

“What is it?”

“So your memory really has not fully come back yet. Get up first! Three rings of the small bell. That is the summons signal for apprentices. We have to get moving now. If we are late, we will get chewed out.”

“A summons signal?”

Had something happened to the House?

It almost felt like one of those signals in a strategy game that turned workers into soldiers.

Surely a war had not broken out or anything.

My heart started pounding for no reason. This world’s information network was so pitifully underdeveloped that it felt as though war could break out at any moment and no one would find it strange.

For the moment, I followed after Rohan.

I tried to think positively. Maybe they were calling all the apprentices together to announce what had happened with Training Officer Cornel.

Hah. There is really no need to make such a huge production out of this.

“What are you all daydreaming for? Move it!”

A harsh voice rang out from all directions.

The butler newly appointed as Training Officer stood at the front, urging the apprentices onward. Before long, all the Butler Apprentices had gathered in front of the Training Ground.

This kind of group action was reflected in the Attendance Evaluation too, so not a single person dared slack off.

Beron was the perfect example of the opposite. Even that bastard, who used to rampage about relying on the backing of the Arkain Merchant Company, was now running hard with his heavy body.

And so the apprentices converged in one place and quietly began arranging themselves into neat ranks.

I looked over there and saw that the Knight Order was moving too. Since I could spot Arthas among them, it seemed the apprentices on that side were being summoned as well.

“Now then, it seems everyone has gathered. Before I deliver the announcement, I will introduce myself first. I am Vesper, newly appointed as Training Officer as of yesterday. From now on, I will be responsible for all training.”

When another butler standing at the front began clapping, the apprentices who had been listening all followed suit. I clapped along mechanically.

“Good. Then I will tell you the reason for this assembly. We have received word that an important guest will be visiting in haste today. Count Astria himself will be arriving. For reference, he comes at the invitation of Lord Prah, the Second Young Master of our House, so every preparation must be made perfectly.”

The tension drained out of me all at once. They had summoned every apprentice for a reason like that?

It reminded me of the army. The same sort of event as when some division commander came for an inspection. Wasting manpower on pointless things really was the same anywhere people lived.

Maybe I should be grateful it was not snowing today.

But the reactions of the apprentices around me were anything but ordinary. They began murmuring excitedly.

Was Count Astria really that important a figure? Since I knew nothing about him, I had little interest, but the others were glancing at one another and letting out admiring remarks.

I would have to ask Rohan about him in detail later.

“Silence!”

At that one word, all the murmuring vanished. The Training Officer, wearing a stern expression, clasped his hands behind his back and continued,

“For that reason, we will begin maintenance of the mansion immediately. You will be divided into three teams and move quickly. You have only two hours. In that time, I expect you to produce the best possible results. That is all!”

The Training Officer stepped down from the platform.

After that, it was the turn of the regular butlers. They split us into three groups and assigned us tasks like maintaining the garden, cleaning the inside and outside of the mansion, and preparing the banquet hall.

It seemed it was not just the Butler Corps moving. The entire House appeared to be busy. The maids also poured out in groups and began sweeping and cleaning all over the place.

I was assigned to the garden group.

And “garden” was a very broad term. The grounds contained not only flowers and trees, but also walking paths, sculptures, and all kinds of facilities arranged throughout.

It was a vast space, hundreds of pyeong across.

Maintaining a place like this was no easy task. Tending a garden in particular required specialized skill.

Fortunately, the apprentices who actually possessed such skills went to get the proper tools on their own. I was still considering my options. What would be easiest while also standing out the most?

“Dilen!”

At that moment, one of the butlers called my name. I quickly ran over to him.

“You called for me?”

“Why are you just standing there thinking? Hurry up and move.”

“My apologies. I was considering what task I would be best at.”

At my bold answer, the butler let out a short laugh. No, was that a sneer?

But it turned out that was only my small misunderstanding.

“They said you had become a new man lately, and it seems that was true.”

“Hahaha. You flatter me.”

“There are still plenty of brooms left. How about cleaning the main gate?”

The main gate was one of the mansion’s hot spots, including the entrance hall itself. It was where the carriages came in, and the first place that entered the sight of visitors.

A satisfied smile spread across my face.

“I will prepare at once.”

“Good. Then get moving. Ah, right, I heard your apprenticeship has been secured now.”

“That is correct.”

“Congratulations. So now there is a chance you may get to wear a tuxedo.”

The tuxedo was practically the symbol of a butler.

All butlers apart from apprentices could wear the elegant tuxedo, the necktie, the white gloves, and the rest of the proper equipment. Apparently, regardless of rank and pay, simply being able to wear such splendid clothing made one an object of envy.

Honestly, even to me, someone who had come from the modern world, it did look stylish. After all, the so-called tailcoat was something most people would be lucky to wear once in their lives.

And if one added the white gloves for an extra touch of professionalism, and armed oneself with sweet words besides, one could probably make most young ladies fall in love.

The tailcoat was also what distinguished a regular butler from a Butler Apprentice. Apprentices got no more than shabby shirts and waistcoats.

Still, there were occasional chances to wear the full outfit while working. Proper dress was required during practical training, after all.

“Thank you. I will do even better from here on.”

“That is right. Working hard is not what matters. Working well is what matters. Now go do your job.”

“Yes, sir.”

I grabbed a broom and threw myself straight into the work site.

Swish, swish!

I began sweeping the ground ferociously, like some general brandishing a halberd.

To tell the truth, I was quite confident in my sweeping. Anyone who had served in the military not too long ago, and had experience with snow removal or cleaning up a base, would probably feel the same way.

And on top of that, I added one more special touch.

I infused a small amount of mana into the broom.

Until now, every Swordmaster in the stories and media I had seen only infused mana into his weapon. But I had once been a promising engineering geek. I made full use of my gift for application.

As a result, the broom filled with mana cleaned the ground so thoroughly that it left not a speck of dust behind.

On top of that, the strengthened fibers of the broom even polished the surface slightly, enough to make the ground shine.

I could feel the gazes around me concentrating on me.

This feeling is not bad at all.

“Did the ghost of someone who died because he could not sweep in his past life attach itself to you or something?”

It was Rohan. He carried a basket full of broken twigs in his hands, so it looked as though he was working on the garden itself.

“Quit slacking off and go do your own work. Do not end up failing the Butler Exam for no reason.”

“Tch. And that is coming from someone who was practically a dead-man apprentice until recently.”

“I should have joined the garden group too. If I could have loafed around like this... hey, come on! Go do your work! Stop getting in my way!”

Annoyed at how he kept hovering beside me, I swung the broom wide, dust and all, as if I meant to sweep him away too.

And then, right at that moment—

Tap!

The broom struck something and stopped. Instantly, I knew something had gone wrong.

It was not Rohan’s rough foot.

White, lovely legs.

And elegant red shoes.

The broom had struck there, and filthy dust from the ground was now all over someone’s legs and shoes.

“H-hey, you idiot!”

I heard Rohan cry out, and I straightened awkwardly.

Then my eyes met those of Young Lady Sapiela, who was looking at me with cold eyes.

In an instant, I had become the shameless wretch who had laid hands on a noble young lady’s person. I lowered my head at once.

“My deepest apologies, my lady. I have committed a crime worthy of death!”

“......”

Her Status Window did not appear, and neither did any reply.

Though Young Lady Sapiela stood far from the line of succession, she was still a jewel cherished by the Marquis and by every member of the family. It would have been nothing for her to send someone away with a single breath.

Which was exactly why I had reported Training Officer Cornel’s corruption to her in the first place.

A rose with thorns, perhaps.

But then, to my astonishment, Young Lady Sapiela brushed the dust from her legs and shoes with her own hand.

“It is all right.”

“...Thank you.”

It truly felt as though my life had just been shortened by ten years. Things had been going well, and one petty mistake like this had almost turned everything to nothing.

Then she asked,

“Your name is Dilen, is it not?”

So she had completely remembered my name now. I lifted my head and met her eyes once again.

“That is correct. Thank you for remembering my name, my lady.”

“Work diligently. I will be watching you from now on.”

“It is an honor.”

She stared at me for a moment longer, then turned away. Arwen was there nearby too. She gave me a small smile and raised a hand in greeting.

But I could not return her greeting.

Because the Young Lady’s last words were still echoing in my head.

She said she would be watching me from now on?

Somehow, I had a feeling something good was about to happen.

“Hah... You nearly got yourself a carriage ride to the afterlife. That is why you should not go around showing off. You should have just quietly kept sweeping. So, how does it feel to still be alive?”

“Go do your work!”

I snapped in irritation and kicked Rohan in the backside.

And so time passed. Thanks to everyone working hard, all the cleaning was completed perfectly. After finishing the job successfully, we were given a small snack. Just a piece of bread, of course.

Sitting side by side in Alio, the Fifth Dining Hall, chewing on bread, I continued the thought that had been bothering me before the assembly.

That mysterious box.

How in the world was I supposed to open it?

“Rohan.”

“What?”

I finished the bread on my plate cleanly, then picked up a piece from his. A torrent of crude curses flew at me, but he did not actually snatch it back.

Such a tsundere little bastard.

“There is something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Suppose you had a treasure chest. But there was no way to open it. There was no keyhole, and no visible mechanism of any kind. What would you do?”

“Why think about it so hard? Just smash it.”

What?

That was a reply I had not expected in the slightest. I stared at him blankly.

“Smash it?”

“Yes. There is no reason to rack your brains trying to open it. Just hit it hard with a hammer and be done with it.”

I see. Right... that is a method too.

I am sorry, Rohan.

I repent for having underestimated you all this time. You really are a genius! So genius! Why did I never think of that?

Of course, if the box were made of some unknown, ridiculously durable material, then perhaps it could not be broken.

But if I thought about it another way, I had mana. If I poured mana into a tool and brought it down, I might actually be able to break the box open.

“Hey, you little—stop stealing my food!”

I shoved the last piece of bread from Rohan’s plate into my mouth, then rose from my seat.

It was time to see what exactly was inside that box.

Surely it was not empty, was it?