Her Own Path
When I arrived at Candle Square, Claire was quietly packing her things.
Ah, Captain. You're here.
What is all this?
I thank you for everything you've done for me.
I will resign from being a Candle Square maid and return to being the useless ruffian I am.
Wh-what are you talking about?
That is who I am by nature.
Since that day, when I received Ms. Carnelia's grace, I've been trying to become a new person...
But I gave in to a moment of impulse and fell back into the ways of my past.
I thought I had gotten rid of my past rotten self, but I suppose it was still within me.
It was just my delusion that I thought I had erased it in the first place.
Blinded by the foolish notion that no one would see me, I climbed onto the hog without hesitation.
And how pathetic I was. As I raced through the night, I even let out a shameless laugh.
Ms. Carnelia would never do such a thing.
I've come to realize. I could never hope to be the respected Master Maid I aspired to be.
If you had fun... isn't that good enough?
...What?
That is... ridiculous.
A Senior Maid of Candle Square is someone who dedicates their life to serving Saviors of the world.
Someone like me who chases after fleeting pleasures could never aim to become a Master Maid, nor could I possibly be a role model for other maids.
You were just letting out some steam, right?
That... is true.
But Ms. Carnelia must have also endured a lot of stress.
But she never failed to maintain grace.
You don't need to be Carnelia.
What do you mean?
Ms. Carnelia always fulfilled her duties as the Master Maid flawlessly. Anyone could see that she was perfect.
Only by striving to follow in Ms. Carnelia's footsteps can I hope to become as admirable—
...What? I'm already doing good?
It is true that I rarely ever make mistakes when carrying out my duties...
But I still have a long way to go.
And that is why I try to follow the exact path she walked.
Everyone walks their own path.
But still...
*Sigh* What would my companions think if they saw the real me?
They would laugh at me.
Thinking I could lead them in spite of that would be nothing but a foolish ambition.
No one would ever need someone like me.
No, Claire. We need you.
I don't know...
Would the others really think that?
There you are!
What's all that? Going on a trip?
If you're going on a business trip, can you approve this before you leave?
It's the storage room inventory list you made me take care of.
I am not going on a business trip.
I will be taking my leave from Candle Square.
...What?
Wh-what is this suddenly all about?
It is what it is. I will be returning home and—
NO!
What you mean, no?
Without you, who's going to put a leash on that red lizard?
She's going to cause absolute mayhem!
...That is not so different from you, Ms. Bell.
Th-that's... Urgh!
Claire, with you not around...
R-right! Without you, I'M going to have to deal with all the paperwork...!
I won't have any time to admire my precious collection...
Then, all my beautiful headstones will get all dusty... No, wait, that's not important...
...Anyways, you can't!
Claiiiire!
Oh, you're here too, gravedigger!
What do you want, lizard. Did you cause trouble again?
Trouble?! I did art!
Hmph! Not like a lousy rock scrounger like you could ever understand the masterpieces a noble Dragon like me can make.
I don't want to hear it from a lizard with the tackiest—n-no, wait! That's not important right now...!
What you say? Hey! What do you know?!
Could the two of you please—
That lizard started it...! Grrr...
Scarlet, what do you need?
So, I have given many thoughts about our uniforms, and I decided that they lack dignity—
Wait. What's all this stuff?
Claire said she's quitting her job as a maid and going back home...
What? You can't!
You're the one who asked me to be a maid, Claire!
I won't allow it!
Who's going to wake me up when I oversleep?
Who's going to teach me all these human rules I don't know—ahem—I mean, Dragons are unfamiliar with!?
And lastly! Not being able to eat your pancakes anymore is too much for me to handle...
It's been a while since I agreed with her on something...
Still...
I've come to realize that I am not worthy of taking on this position.
I cannot become a Master Maid who is respected by everyone like Ms. Carnelia was.
You may still be lacking compared to my sister. But!
B-but...
It's also true that there's no one more suited for that position than you, Claire!
So, uh... What I'm trying to say is...
You should... have a little more confidence in your own worth... At least, that's what I think...
You humans are so fussy about being worthy or whatever.
You are enough as you are.
Be proud! Like I am!
We need you, Claire! Not just me, but everyone.
...
...Anyway, I'm going to pretend I never heard anything about you leaving.
If that damn lizard is stressing you out... Right! How about taking up a hobby?
Why not take this chance to do something refined. Like stone gazing and meditating with—
I refuse.
...Mm.
I... understand what you are trying to say. Please head back for now.
...
See. Everyone needs you.
Perhaps I've been seeing it all wrong.
Please forget everything I've said today.
I think I... still have a place here.
Then, if you'll excuse me. I still have some paperwork left to finish.
Just as Claire was about to leave, she suddenly seemed to remember something. She rushed back to me and tightly clutched onto my wrist.
Huh...?
Captain. About that night.
Do not.
Under no circumstances.
Tell anyone.
Do you understand?
Okay...
Only then did Claire finally turn to leave with a beaming face.