Chapter 112: Potential Homewrecker

"Tsk! This is a hassle and expensive."

Once again, I was trying to create another doppelganger.

Luckily, I’d just checked with the system and found out that the doppelganger being destroyed isn’t a big deal.

In fact, the only restriction was that after creating the doppelganger, the artifact had to wait a day.

But that time had already passed, and I could create the doppelganger again.

The artifact had returned to its original form—a handheld mirror.

Once again, I had to fill the gem on the back with mana, and since my power had increased since the last time, I had to put in more mana.

"Big sis, did you say something?" (Amy)

"Nah! Just remember to stay there a little longer—it’s good for your skin and will make you prettier."

"Yes, big sister." (Amy)

I was still in the massage room, but before everything began, I had Amy get into the bathtub at the back.

After all, I needed to focus entirely on what was happening on the other side.

And I was also planning to pull various things out of thin air and then make them disappear.

I didn’t have time to explain anything, but she obediently listened to me, and I had enough leeway to do all that.

It was also lucky that Lea and Silvia were still asleep.

I understood why Lea was asleep—she’d slept for a long time last time—but I thought Silvia would wake up.

Luckily, it seems that candle was worth the price.

Anyway, now that it’s all over, I have to get everything in order.

I needed to re-create a doppelganger, and it had to be one created during the fusion so it could use two abilities, so I had to desynchronize and fuse again.

After that, I had to have it sneak into the castle along with Amy.

I could use the new artifact, but as far as I know, there’s a barrier around the palace that blocks things like spatial magic and the like, which is why it’s so hard to get in and out without being noticed.

I’ve already confirmed that I can use it inside this area, but I don’t know if it works when trying to enter or exit this, and I also don’t know exactly what the situation is at the save points I left behind.

Maybe they’re already booby traps, so it was better for the doppelganger to go with Amy.

Ugh! Damn it! I also have to complete Amy’s mission—I wonder if I have time for that now.

Yeah, I had very little leeway for what I had to do.

...

.

"Big sis, can I come out now? I feel like my skin is moisturized. Hmm, they’re even a little wrinkled... is that okay?" (Amy)

"Oh, of course, my sweet Amy. Just a little while longer."

Ugh, I really wish I could preload this artifact, but I could only do it when the doppelganger died.

Anyway, I was almost done.

I also had one eye on Silvia and Lea—in fact, there had been some movement there, too.

Specifically, Silvia had gotten up a few minutes ago, after which there was a brief moment of confusion. She looked around until she found Lea asleep on the couch, not too far away.

She started staring at her.

And, in fact, she began examining her... very thoroughly.

I wonder if that’s something a maid—or even a friend—should be doing, but I’m not going to meddle in her business.

I don’t know what she was looking for, but I made sure to leave everything clean.

Anyway, she looked all around, but nothing happened there, and eventually she seemed to be searching for me; when she didn’t find me, it looked like she was about to go out and look for me... luckily.

"All right, now we’re talking."

I finally filled the gem in the mirror, and it grew to a large size.

Repeating the scene from before, I placed my hand on my reflection.The doppelganger took it, and I pulled it out.

And once again, the mirror shrank back to the size of a fingernail.

This mini mirror is my connection to the doppelganger and requires me to continuously channel a small amount of mana to keep the doppelganger functioning, so I usually wear it as an earring.

"Ah, so I can finally go out." (Amy)

Amy seemed to mistake my cry of completion for a signal that she could leave, but it didn’t matter anymore.

I quickly took on Astan’s appearance and left the room, letting the parallel consciousness enter the doppelganger.

She take care of Amy.

I stepped out just as Silvia was coming out of the other room.

"Oh! Silvia, I see you’re awake. I hope you had a wonderful nap."

I said calmly as I approached her with complete nonchalance.

"Yes, it was really good. I don’t even know when I fell asleep... Can you tell me what happened after I fell asleep?" (Silvia)

Oh!, her yukata is still a little askew, huehue~.

I didn’t have a chance this time, but I swear that next time I’ll definitely do whatever it takes to make this cute half-elf maid part of my harem.

"Ah, well, after you fell asleep, it was Lea’s turn. I gave her the massages she asked for."

"(≖_≖), what kinds of massages?" (Silvia)

Whoa, I’m actually starting to like that piercing, scrutinizing gaze a little. I think I saw some super-sexy maid+ latex cosplay at the store.

Huehue! I can just imagine my future—being trampled on and looked at like that by Silvia while wearing that outfit and... ahem! No, I need to focus. This isn’t over yet. I have to make sure the missions are completed correctly.

"Huh? D-do I have to say it?"

"Yes, and also explain why you’re getting nervous just because I asked you that." (Silvia)

"Hmm, well, normally I wouldn’t say this, since it’s the client’s personal information, but since you two came together and are friends, I guess it’s okay to say. To be honest, Lea asked me for relaxing massages and—and other kinds."

"(≖_≖), what do you mean by ’other kinds’? Spit it out." (Silvia)

"W-well, there are massages that, ahem, require touching a lot of the body, though, of course, I avoid the sensitive areas. But these massages require being completely naked, and, well, to be honest, even though I know it’s normal in my line of work, doing it makes me nervous.(≧﹏ ≦)"

"That shameless woman—she’s really going for it, using her indecent body!" (Silvia)

"Huh, Silvia?"

"Ahem! It’s nothing. What else?" (Silvia)

"Well, then there was this one peculiar session that was a combination of a foot massage and a whirlpool bath. Ugh! H-honestly, I think I should have Iris handle it next time, you know? I’m a massage therapist, but I’m also a man, and some things are just hard for me."

The mission is to keep Silvia from finding out about the infidelity. I really didn’t know how much she knew or what Lea had done or said.

But if it was as the mission said, she was basically just here to confirm it—in other words, she was already pretty sure of it.

Denying it outright would only make her more suspicious and further reinforce her conclusions.

So I had no choice but to make it seem like a one-sided thing, steering what looked like an almost certain conclusion on her part toward something almost equally reasonable.

"Yes, I understand what you’re trying to tell me, and you’re definitely not the problem here—it’s that potential homewrecker." (Silvia)

She’s the type who doesn’t easily trust others and prefers to figure things out for herself.

That means I don’t even need to make excuses or say anything directly; she’ll draw her own conclusions from the small bits of information I give her, as well as from my reactions.

Yeah, Lea will probably get into trouble, but I think she can handle it—plus, it’s a little punishment for almost getting caught.

Besides, an attempted affair seems better than actually having committed one.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing. Well, why were you leaving there? Are you attending to other people already? Have we been in the room too long?" (Silvia)

"No, it’s just that Iris called m—"

Bang!

At that moment, while I was still talking to Silvia, I heard the sound of a door being flung open violently.

"All right, everything’s ready to go. Okay, Amy, pay up and let’s go." (Iris)

Luckily, it was coming from the room and not the entrance.

For a moment, I thought Rose was going to come running in again, being chased or something like that.

’What happened to the mission?’

The doppelganger was supposed to stay with Amy a little longer and figure out a way to complete the mission.

’Oh, that was actually completed at some point. Maybe what she wanted was another hot tub session.’(Iris)

’Oh! Looks like we’re in luck.’

That’s good news—it’s a weight off my shoulders—though the hot tub thing makes me wonder.

Hmm, now that I think about it, before the doppelganger woke me up, she seemed to already be awake and was just pretending to sleep. Had she done something at that moment?

Well, even with my doubts, the doppelganger basically dragged Amy in front of me so she could pay me.

Now the problem is that technically I hadn’t given any massage, so she had nothing to pay for.

’Yeah, I thought the same thing, but that stingy system already told me that the whirlpool massage is charged by the minute.’

’Damn, that’s stingy.’(Iris)

That system is strangely strict about the weirdest things, but, as always, I’m going to assume there’s something else I don’t understand yet.

"U-Um... I brought more today..."(Amy)

At that moment, my train of thought was interrupted when Amy, a little nervously, pulled something out of her small handbag—which I now know is a space artifact.

It was a huge bag. It was big and heavy.

"Amy, this is..."

I doubt they’re copper or even silver coins, since Amy always carries gold.

"Yeah, wait, there’s more. I just—" (Amy)

This was too much for a simple spa treatment, and I really hesitated to accept it, but it seemed Amy didn’t feel the same way and was about to pull out more.

"Ugh, well, since you paid and left a very generous tip, let’s go. We can’t waste any time." (Iris)

But before that could happen, my doppelganger acted quickly and decided to drag her away.

"W-Wait, big sister. I-I’m not done yet. I want to talk a little more with my-my..." (Amy)

Amy, who looked like she wanted to say something, reached out her hand pitifully toward me once again, but the doppelganger was relentless and didn’t give her time to say anything else—she dragged her outside.

Well, that was for the best, too.

The investigation was already far removed from Amy, but it was better to get back as soon as possible to avoid any setbacks.

I’m also a little worried about not knowing what’s going on; who knows if things have taken an unpredictable turn, so the sooner they got back, the better.

On the other hand, I looked at the bag in my hand and gave it a quick glance. Knowing Amy, I was already sure they were gold coins, but when I looked at its contents...

"(°Д°)"

I was stunned and quickly closed it, rushed over to the counter, left it behind, and pretended I hadn’t seen anything.

And I went back to my conversation with Silvia.

"So, what was I telling you? Oh, right, my wife had called me because she wanted to spend some time with Amy outside."

"No, wait! Before that, what just happened?" (Silvia)

I don’t know exactly what she was referring to. I just hope it’s not because she saw what was inside the bag; if that’s the case, I don’t know how to explain it.