All Quiet on the Western Maid Front
Before returning to NOA, I stopped by to see Ceres one last time.
Ceres was cleaning with brisk, efficient movements. When she spotted me, she smiled.
Welcome home, Master.
It was a flawless maid's greeting.
You're going to keep doing volunteer work?
Now that I've tried it, I think it suits me rather well.
Once the reconstruction of the West is complete, helping you at Candle Square might be enjoyable too.
It won't be easy.
I'm sure. But I've gotten quite good at maid work by now.
Just as I thought, there's nothing you can't accomplish with enough effort!
Except cooking.
...A Papaco doesn't fail to fly because it doesn't try hard enough!
And being a fat and ugly bird is just a survival strategy for making it through the brutal dry season!
Besides, my sister couldn't cook either!
Would you believe me if I told you there was someone who could even make instant noodles taste bad?!
In other words, it's hereditary.
Commander, I'm worried you're going to spread the stereotype...
That all the women of Lavistar are terrible cooks.
...That might be less of a stereotype and more of a fact.
...?
Still, aside from cooking, I've gotten used to everything else.
The residents seem pleased too, so I plan to volunteer from time to time.
To be fair, they're mostly happy because you look so much brighter now, Commander.
But still... thank you, Captain.
It's because you came that both the Commander and the people of the West are smiling again.
Let me thank you once again, Captain.
Now that you mention it, my sister appeared in my dream again last night.
She still had Dawn and the Daystar embedded in her body.
Lydia looked at Ceres tensely, and I swallowed hard.
...And what happened?
My sister, who had never said a word no matter what I shouted at her... spoke for the first time.
What did she say?
"Mint chocolate parfaits? I didn't raise you to have such terrible taste!"
...
Pfft!
Maybe my sister was such a bad cook because she had no sense of taste.
By that logic, Commander, your palate has plenty of problems too.
Lydia and Ceres chatted cheerfully about their memories of Venera.
The bond and friendship between them would surely continue to shine, no matter what trials awaited them.
My sister was especially harsh when she trained me.
Thinking back, she probably hoped I'd give up somewhere along the way.
Good thing you were too dense to realize she was trying to tell you to quit and just kept charging ahead.
That's how we reclaimed the West, after all.
Yes. Once she realized I would never give up, my sister changed too.
The intensity of her training remained the same, but she would treat my injuries every night.
And she would always say with an apologetic look on her face that...
If she ever had a niece or nephew, she'd dote on them enough to make up for how little she could spoil me.
There'd be no need for them to wield a sword in the reclaimed West.
She said she'd teach them only about beautiful, wonderful things.
You can still do that, can't you? The West has been reclaimed.
Yes... I'll tell them their aunt was a great hero.
After saying that, Ceres avoided my gaze and cleared her throat.
Ahem! B-but for my sister to have a niece or nephew for me to tell that to...
Ahem! Ahem! That's not something I can accomplish through effort alone, so I would need... some help...
Wow. So that's what you meant when you wanted a wish voucher from the Captain?
A-actually, forget I said anything, Captain! Pay no attention to what I just said!
Ceres?
Th-there's still some dust over there!
Ceres sprinted away at full speed. Then a familiar voice came from behind us.
See? I told you. It's always the quiet maid who gets on top first.
Where did you come from this time?
I got my hands on a pretty nice maid outfit of my own.
Please let me join the next volunteer job!
I've had enough of being a maid for one lifetime...
In the distance, Ceres desperately swept at dust that wasn't there while Besta and Lydia bickered behind her.
Everything was back to normal. All was quiet on the Western maid front.