Head Butler 'Sebas' (2)

"S-Story...?" Lady Anastasia echoed the one word that had come out of the butler's mouth.

She didn't know exactly why, but... that single word alone seemed to carry a strange weight to her.

"And now I've finally gotten myself involved with this 'game,' after so long trying to avoid it..." The butler continued his loud muttering, all while ignoring the perplexed expression of the red-headed noble lady.

The Lady's confusion grew with each passing second, hearing the bizarre words this supposed butler of hers had been spouting.

Some phrases stood out, but none of them made any sense to her.

And of course, they wouldn't... because...

This was knowledge only the butler, a reincarnated 'otherworlder,' would know.

The butler knew of this beautiful, red-haired noble and the circumstances that had brought her to this place. It was not just because he had studied the nobility of Florentia or heard recent gossip, no...

It was even more than that.

It was because, to him... she had once existed solely as a 'character' in his mind.

She was... Anastasia Rosavich, the noble daughter of a grand duke's family, the woman who was supposed to be married to the crown prince of Florentia, and...

She was the main antagonist villainess of an Otome Dating Sim Video Game.

And now... fate had brought him face-to-face with the villainess herself in this very game world he had been reincarnated into.

The butler couldn't help but find the entire situation to be an ironic twist of his life. So much so that he let out a laugh, finding it both humorous and absurd.

Though, much to the discomfort of the Lady in front of him, who was still baffled by the butler's unexpected reaction.

This sentiment was, of course, shared by her two aides, though their reactions varied.

"Oi! You scoundrel! What nonsense are you spouting?!" Knight Martha interjected, her voice a mix of confusion and irritation. "And why do you laugh in the face of your new mistress?! Have you no shame?!"

She stepped forward, confronting the strange man. Her hand already rested on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it should this man continue his mockery of her mistress...

But instead, the man fell silent. His sudden shift in demeanor only served to further confuse the three women—and to agitate the knight even more.

"Hey... did you hear what I just said, butler?" she demanded, inching closer, her grip tightening on her sword's handle. "Cease your foolishness at once, or I'll—"

"Martha, stand down."

"What...?! But, My Lady, this man is—"

"Do not act rashly," her mistress warned, her previously confused expression turning serious. "We are not here to cause trouble. This man is here for a reason... and you should know by now that your actions could worsen our situation."

The knight faltered, momentarily puzzled by her mistress's words. But then she noticed her mistress's gaze dart to the side—to the grotesque pile of dead monsters just a short distance away.

It finally clicked in her mind. Her mistress's meaning became clear.

This man... was most likely the "culprit" behind that scene of carnage.

He was the 'true bodyguard' assigned as one of Lady Anastasia's aides.

As Martha turned back toward the butler, she finally grasped the vast difference in power between them. In her eyes, she saw a deadly aura emanating from his entire being...

If she had attempted to discipline him, she might have ended up joining the pile of dead monsters.

Lady Anastasia could not sense the aura herself, as she was not an adept warrior. But her logical reasoning had led her to the same conclusion.

And as for the maid Bella? Well... she was still utterly confused and bewildered by the entire situation in general.

Eventually, after a tense silence, the butler let out a sigh and dragged a hand down his face. He looked up and faced the three women once more.

"Ah... sorry, ladies," he said, offering an apologetic smile. "Something crossed my mind for a moment, and I couldn't help but feel amused."

"I see..." Lady Anastasia replied, still unsure of the man.

"Oh wait, I should've been more proper about this," he said, realizing his blunder.

He cleared his throat before bowing his head courteously.

"Forgive my uncouth behavior, My Lady," the man said. "I am the butler assigned to aid your household. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too, sir..." the Lady replied, before adding, "Forgive me, but... I have not yet received your name."

"Oh, yeah! Damn...!" the butler cursed, realizing his further blunder. "I still haven't figured out what I should introduce myself as..."

"Sir Butler...?"

'Sir Butler' fell silent once more, deep in thought.

"Oh well, you can just call me... Sebas," he finally said.

"Sebas?"

"Yes, My Lady," he confirmed, bowing his head again. "I am your personal butler, Sebas."

"Sebas..." Lady Anastasia repeated, testing the name. "Sir Sebas, I have a few questions."

"Hmm? Sure~, what is it, My Lady?"

"Thank you... My first question is... are you the one who slaughtered the monsters here?" She directed her gaze toward the gruesome pile nearby.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I did."

"...!"

His simple answer sent a jolt of alarm through the three women. The Lady and her knight had suspected this, but hearing it confirmed so nonchalantly was another matter entirely.

"Sir Sebas... since when have you been here?" she asked, now glancing at the small campsite behind him.

"Hmm? Since yesterday."

"Yesterday...?!" she exclaimed in shock. "You've been here since yesterday... and you killed all those monsters?!"

"Uh, yeah?" he confirmed again, now confused himself by the Lady's shock. "Didn't you already ask that?"

"No... that was not the matter of my question!" Lady Anastasia exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. "Why would you go so far as to clear the entire path of monsters? Why not just wait for us at the entrance to the Garden of Hell or somewhere safer?"

"You're trying to revitalize this place, right? That's why I killed all of the monsters on my way here. You can't build anything with those monsters around, can't you? So..."

Sebas clasped his hands behind his back and straightened his posture, a confident grin spreading across his face.

"Let me assist you in building your legacy here, My Lady~!"