Another day passes by...

  Yuri tries to settle with Rina these days.

  She has to check the details of the terms in the contract between Victoria Housekeeping Co. and her mom. As expected...Her mom's retionship is quite good as she can access deeper information about this 'shady' company. Maids and butlers? Nah, they indeed do that work but it's just a cover-up for their agent's job. Only chaebols and bigshots know that they accept the commission inside the Hollow. The civilians and normal people only think their service was born to satisfy the rich.

  If it weren't for the blurry memory of that boy, she might have been kept in the dark the whole time. Since Rina is pyable in the game, it means she is a good girl, even though her chest has already presented this ideal.

  What is different between them and Hollow Raiders is the legal business certificate.

  Her mom has included that Rina will protect Kamiyama Yuri inside the Hollow; being a Noble Maid is also a plus.

  At first sight, it might be a good contract...However, in Yuri's opinion, because she knows that Victoria Housekeeping keeps in touch with the Proxy of Dark, Phaethon, the backer behind this company is a questionable identity. The boy's memory is stopped at Miyabi's banner, so Yuri is completely clueless.

  "Hmm...Rina-san, you even vioted the contract with my mother...just to reveal your hidden business of the Victoria Housekeeping Co. Is it worth it?"

  Yuri shows her confusion.

  "Hehe~, from the beginning, those terms were destined not being able to complete. With your huge experience and the name 'Proxy of Light', this matter will be exposed sooner or ter"

  "Isn't it good to express my sincerity? Then, we can work without any doubt"

  Rina smiles gently as she expins her purpose.

  "Geez. You're supposed to protect me behind my back but now btantly accompany me inside the Hollow"

  Yuri compins.

  "I believe this is the best possible solution for both of us. Please, midy, let me serve you"

  Rina closes her eyes as she waits for the answer.

  "Fine"

  Yuri scratches her head helplessly.

  "Thank you, Midy"

  Rina cps her hands as she begins to do her job.

  "Ugh"

  "Wearing this is ok?"

  Yuri wears herself a bck long-sleeved shirt with a navy blue midi skirt...Wearing a skirt makes Yuri feel uncomfortable. Unlike her long pants, she can do some extra exercise if she is stuck inside the Hollow...

  Of course, she also wears a gss in disguise just like when she visits the sibling on the 6th street.

  "Midy, you're so gorgeous, even in disguise"

  Rina ftters.

  "Oh? Does it include in the contract?"

  Yuri adjusts her sungsses.

  "Oh my, I believe your huge fans will say the same"

  Rina chuckles.

  "Sorry for being curious, what kind of a person can make your dress, unlike your usual self?"

  Rina finds Yuri amusing.

  "My ex-girlfriend"

  "Eh?"

  Yuri casually throws a bomb. Rina's eyes widen in surprise...Yuri likes women???? Rina's brain almost shut down.

  "What? Do you find me disgusting?"

  Yuri doesn't care what thoughts Rina has. She isn't a simp who is obligated to gain favor with the character in the game.

  "No, completely no...Sorry, midy, I was really caught off guard"

  Rina hurriedly apologizes. Same-sex retionship...She has heard about it but...

  "I respect your preference"

  Rina bows her head.

  "Is that so? Thanks"

  Yuri turns around in front of the mirror and checks one st time.

  "But ex-girl..."

  Rina hesitates as she doesn't want to dwell on it in the first pce.

  "Ah, I'm just kidding...She was once my senior in college"

  "But my tease fails miserably with your unchanged face, Rina-san"

  Yuri admits her defeat.

  "Fufufu~, thanks for your compliment"

  Rina covers her mouth, smiling sweetly.

  Is liking women also a joke? Rina ponders in silence.

  ---

  Lumina Square, Coff Coffee.

  "Aiyo, Here is your Cappuccino"

  The owner shop brings out the drink and Rina calmly accepts it.

  "Thank you, shop owner"

  Rina slightly directs her eyes on the upper floor.

  "Grace Howard of the Belobog Industry, huh?"

  Rina murmurs strangely. According to the information brought by Lycaon through the two little ones, Grace Howard is a true genius in the technology field; especially, the machines and mechanical stuff. The title 'Iron Witch' has its weight, so it should not be underestimated.

  "Yuri, your retionship intrigues me"

  Rina hums as she gracefully brings the drink to her current master.

  "Yuri-chan, it has been a long time, huh? Wearing this kind of clothes brings back so many memories"

  "At that time, your Onee-san helped you invent the badass guitar"

  "It's a pity that you abandoned and followed the proxy's path"

  Rina eavesdrops on something interesting...Yuri's past...

  "Grace-nee, you've not changed at all. This matter shouldn't be mentioned anymore"

  "I believe you wouldn't send me an Email just to reminisce about the past"

  Yuri speaks straight.

  Grace pouts her cheeks in grievance.

  "You're not cute anymore, even a little Himawari is more adorable than you now"

  Grace childishly squeezes Yuri's cheek.

  "Ahum...Excuse me..."

  Rina coughs dryly as she chimes in to pce the drink.

  "Midy, this is your order"

  Rina gracefully and elegantly serves the drink.

  "Ugh, who is this?"

  Grace frowns as she tries to remember something. If it weren't for her bad memory of remembering other's faces except for her true acquaintance, she wouldn't have needed to be confused.

  "Her name is Rina, a maid that my mom found to take care of me even inside the Hollow"

  Yuri briefly expins.

  "Aicha, my name is Grace Howard. A pleasure to meet you"

  Grace scratches her head awkwardly.

  "Me too. Then, pardon my rudeness. I will go out so Midy can have a natural conversation with you"

  Rina bows and retreats in a short time. She really wants to eavesdrop but her professional side doesn't allow her to do such a despicable thing.

  Leaving the two on the rooftop, Rina finds a pce to kill time and observe to protect her dy.

  "Yuri-chan...How are you today?"

  Grace carefully picks her word as she really likes Yuri beside those mechanical stuff.

  "It's still so...Nothing changes...My past is still in the dark"

  Yuri takes a ship of her cup.

  "Um...That's good to hear"

  Grace also enjoys her bck coffee there. Why did she say 'good'? Because Yuri's life has been miserable enough...

  "What's with your sudden change? Aren't you just so energetic just now"

  Yuri can't stand the pitiful look that Grace-nee gives her. Her temper and self-confidence are shaking...

  "Ah, nothing, it's just about that Chibi girl"

  "She hates her father..."

  "And we had a fight"

  Grace sighs.

  "..."

  Yuri can't find a word to comfort so she can only let Grace share.

  "Where should I begin with? Ah, from the moment you took down the Vision Company, their metro project fell into our hand, the Belobog Heavy Industry"

  "Yet, many forces target us, making my three little babies escape inside the Hollow"

  "Um...I had suggested Chibi-girl hiring you...but..."

  "This is the secret business so...I'm sorry"

  Grace feels extremely guilty. She looks at Yuri's expression to guess what she is thinking.

  "Ah, I understand. If I were in her shoes, I would do the same"

  Yuri shakes her head helplessly.

  "Now, I have both good news and bad news. Do you wanna hear which one first?"

  Yuri decides to spoil a little.

  Grace is surprised to hear Yuri's mouth. Of course, Yuri has always been trustworthy in Grace's mind.

  "Good news first, please"

  Grace demands.

  "Okay, according to my information and guess, Khors Belobog is a scapegoat of a hidden force inside our New Eridu. He can be innocent or guilty if I know the clearer the retionship between them"

  "I knew it"

  "I really love you, Yuri-chan"

  Grace excitedly yells as she hugs Yuri forcefully.

  "So, what's bad news?"

  Grace releases Yuri who is suffocated by the two melons.

  "What do you think? This force is so huge that even my sword can't even ssh them...It should be that the sword in my hand perhaps is granted by them"

  Yuri truthfully expins. She did want to change the plot but she was so powerless.

  "Okay, I've decided...Yuri-chan"

  "Huh?

  "Our Belobog indeed hired Phaethon in the retrieving my 3 babies and the Prototype"

  "I want to hire you in our st step of the Prototype"

  Grace holds Yuri's slender hands in expectation.

  "..."

  "But Grace-nee..."

  Yuri sadly turns her down.

  "I have a hunch that my past is reted to this hidden force"

  This is the possibility of haunting Yuri the whole time. She's afraid...She isn't the protagonist having the plot armor. It can't be helped that she can't control anything in her favor.

  Seeing Yuri's scared face just like in the past, Grace lets Yuri enter her warm embrace to comfort her. She does know the seriousness of this matter.

  Grace doesn't expect Yuri to investigate to this point. Back then, when Khors disappeared, she was the one crying miserably. Yuri comforted her in a various way and promised 'I'll help you uncover the truth, Grace-senpai'.

  Despite of being called 'Iron Witch', Grace knows that her heart isn't made of iron. It's hard for Grace not to grow a soft point.

  Moreover, Yuri's confession isn't a lie. This hunch has come since she read Grace's email. She felt extremely uneasy these days.

  "Don't worry, cutie. I'm always by your side"

  Grace suddenly loses herself, spouting out a cringe line. Perhaps, Yuri's fragance has been tickling her nose and the tactile of soft stuffs in her embrace gives her a whole new experience.

  "..."

  "..."

  'Are they really lovers?' Rina can't help but compins. No matter how you look at them, hugging and doing some intimate stuff in the public aren't different from a true couple.