The Butler's Promise
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Chapter 1 [The Boss, Once More]
[Grovanes House Conference Room]
While spending time at the estate…
I was summoned by Finlay-sama, together with several butlers.
Finlay:
Master of the Demon Butlers.
Thank you for responding to my sudden summons.
Finlay:
And… Lucas, Berrien, Nac-kun as well.
Choices:
Is this an urgent request?
Why have you called for us?
Finlay:
This time…
There is a matter I would like to entrust to you in secret.
Finlay:
There is an “underground casino” on the outskirts of Espoir…
I want you to infiltrate it.
Nac:
An underground casino…?
That certainly sounds suspicious.
Finlay:
Yes…
Allow me to explain from the beginning.
Finlay:
Recently, in the Central Lands…
The balance of power among criminal organizations has been shifting dramatically.
Finlay:
This is something you are not entirely uninvolved in…
so I assume you are aware.
In the past…
We dismantled a mafia organization in the city of Slick.
And more recently, Nac has been going around crushing antisocial organizations throughout the Central Lands.
As a result…
There are now many movements within the underworld.
Finlay:
Organizations are merging and reorganizing in a desperate bid for survival…
such movements have become increasingly active.
Finlay:
And among them…
There is one particular mafia that has been gaining remarkable strength.
Finlay:
The underground casino I want you to infiltrate…
is operated by that mafia.
Berrien:
I see. Before this mafia grows even stronger…
you wish to take action and investigate early.
Finlay:
That is part of it…
but there are also various rumors surrounding this casino.
Finlay:
It seems that not only mafias from the Central Lands…
but also mafias from the Eastern Lands have been frequenting it.
Finlay:
And recently…
financial transactions with the Eastern Lands appear to be increasing.
Nac:
Hmm… Mafias from the Eastern Lands as well…?
Nac:
However…
I was certain I had eliminated most organizations in the Central Lands myself.
Nac:
To think that one capable of maintaining ties with another land still remained…
Finlay:
That mafia…
has a powerful noble sponsor backing it.
Finlay:
For many years, they have paid substantial tribute to the Grovanes House…
so we have turned a blind eye until now.
Lucas:
I see…
A noble who uses the mafia and pays tribute to the Grosvenor House…
Lucas:
Could it be… the Sabino family?
You:
The Sabino family…?
Lucas:
Yes. They have long maintained ties with the mafia…
and contributed financially to the Grovanes House.
Lucas:
And it is also the family into which Zerashia-sama…
Finlay-sama’s cousin has married.
You:
(Zerashia-sama… I’ve never heard that name before)
Lucas:
At present…
She holds real power within the Sabino family.
Finlay:
The Sabino family’s contributions to the Grovanes House are significant.
Finlay:
That is precisely why…
We have not questioned their ties to the mafia until now.
Finlay:
However…
it seems this time we must investigate more thoroughly.
You:
Is there a reason?
Finlay:
Yes. After the incident in which Demon Butlers’ Master was attacked…
We investigated the flow of funds in order to identify the client.
Finlay:
As a result…
We found suspicions of money laundering taking place at that very casino.
You:
Money laundering…?
Finlay:
Simply put…
It is a mechanism for making illegally earned money appear legitimate.
Finlay:
“In other words, a method used by criminals who do not wish others to know how they earned their money.”
Lucas:
That is… certainly not something we can overlook.
Lucas:
We, too…
would like to uncover the truth behind the attack as soon as possible.
Finlay:
Indeed.
That is why I want you to investigate the truth.
Finlay:
If the casino becomes aware of your investigation…
there is a risk the ledgers will be falsified.
Finlay:
But with you, I doubt such a failure would occur.
Berrien:
Heh…
We are honored to have earned your trust.
Finlay:
It is simply an objective evaluation based on your past achievements.
Choices:
(I’m happy to be acknowledged)
(I must be careful not to fail)
Finlay:
There is one more matter as well…
Finlay:
There is a rumor that the owner of that casino…
is plotting to have me removed from my position.
Finlay:
I would like you to confirm the truth of that rumor as well.
Berrien:
The casino owner…
In other words, the Sabino family seeks Finlay-sama’s downfall…?
Berrien:
It is difficult to imagine Zerashia-sama devising such a plan.
Lucas:
Indeed…
I cannot imagine that of her.
Nac:
Hmm…
For Berrien-san and Lucas-san to say that so firmly…
Nac:
Is Zerashia-sama truly such a trustworthy person?
Lucas:
Hmm… Rather than trustworthy…
Finlay:
…There is no purer gambler than that woman.
Finlay:
Rather than maneuvering behind the scenes to seize power, she would choose to sit at the gaming table…
That is the kind of person she is.
Choices:
I see…?
A born gambler…
Finlay:
Personally, I do not take this rumor very seriously.
Lucas:
However, given the nature of the matter…
it cannot simply be ignored.
Finlay:
Exactly. I want you to meet Zerashia…
and confirm the truth of the rumor.
Lucas:
Understood.
We will do our utmost to put your mind at ease, Finlay-sama.
You:
If there is something we can do…
Finlay:
Good.
I shall await your work with expectations.
Finlay:
To summarize, the objectives of this infiltration are twofold.
Finlay:
First, investigate the casino’s ledgers…
and obtain evidence of money laundering.
Finlay:
Second…
confirm the truth of the rumor that someone is plotting my removal.
Berrien:
However, Finlay-sama…
Is it truly acceptable to carry out this mission?
Berrien:
If we uncover any evidence…
Berrien:
Depending on how things unfold…
we may drive the house of Zerashia-sama, your childhood friend, into ruin…
Finlay:
That is fine.
…You all know her well enough.
Finlay:
If she were the type to be depressed merely because her in-laws’ house fell into ruin…
I would not have struggled so much with her.
Berrien:
Well, that is true…
Zerashia-sama does not seem the type to be discouraged.
Lucas:
Heh…
She is resilient… or perhaps simply eccentric.
Finlay:
In any case,
do not hold back. Investigate thoroughly.
Lucas:
I see…
If it were only a matter of secretly retrieving the ledgers, Nac-kun alone would suffice…
Lucas:
The reason Berrien and I were also summoned…
is because we are acquainted with Zerashia-sama, correct?
Finlay:
Exactly.
Understanding her way of thinking is no simple matter…
Finlay:
Having someone with at least some familiarity with her
should reduce unnecessary complications.
Lucas:
Still, regarding the alleged plan for your removal…
would it not be simpler to confirm it with Zerashia-sama yourself?
Finlay:
sigh…
Speaking with her is exhausting.
Finlay:
And if I were to request a meeting myself…
she would undoubtedly attach conditions to it.
You:
(…What kind of person is she…?)
Berrien:
Heh…
Neither Finlay-sama nor Zerashia-sama have changed since long ago.
Finlay:
…In any case.
I leave the two tasks to you.
Finlay:
Other than Zerashia and any absolutely necessary parties…
do not reveal your identities.
Finlay:
If Demon Butlers and their Master were to appear at the casino…
it would cause an uproar that “the Grovanes House is conducting a crackdown.”
Meet Zerashia-sama and confirm the rumor…
and obtain the ledgers without being discovered.
That is our mission.
Berrien:
Understood.
We shall carry out our duties in accordance with your expectations.
Finlay:
Very well. That is all.
Master of the Demon Butlers, I am counting on you as well.
Finlay:
I heard you gave a splendid performance in Slick.
I look forward to seeing it again.
You:
Eh…?
Finlay:
As I said before…
your identities must not be revealed.
Finlay:
You will infiltrate as members of the mafia…
and you, Master, as their boss.
Choices:
(I have to act again…?)
(…This weighs heavily on me…)
[Carriage]
After concluding the discussion with Finlay-sama…
We set off back toward the estate.
Lucas:
Heh, regardless of the request itself…
I am delighted to see Master play the role of a boss again♪
Nac:
Indeed.
Nac:
During the Slick mission…
I heard your performance was nothing short of magnificent.
Choices:
That’s not true at all…
Please don’t expect too much…
Nac:
There is no need for modesty.
Nac:
Even as you are…
you possess the dignity to lead and command others.
Lucas:
Yes, yes.
How could we not look forward to seeing Master in the role of boss?
You:
sigh…
Berrien:
Lucas-san, Nac-kun.
Master is troubled.
You:
Thank you, Berrien…
Berrien:
Not at all.
Playing the role of mafia members is quite demanding…
Berrien:
…sigh…
Lucas:
Oh?
It is unlike you to sigh, Berrien.
Lucas:
Is something the matter?
Berrien:
Ah, my apologies…
to sigh in Master’s presence…
Berrien:
I was just wondering… whether I can truly portray a mafia member.
I have grown rather anxious.
Choices:
(I understand how you feel, Berrien.)
(Let’s do our best together…)
Lucas:
Hmm…
Perhaps you need not act much at all, Berrien.
Lucas:
If those around the boss are overly polite…
it may actually enhance the boss’s authority and make them seem more intimidating.
Nac:
I agree.
That would be preferable to forcing yourself to act rough.
Berrien:
I-Is that so…? Phew… I’m relieved…
Choices:
………
(I’m… a little envious…)
Nac:
By the way, changing the subject…
Nac:
Lucas-san and Berrien-san,
It seems you are acquainted with Zerashia-sama.
Nac:
What kind of person is she?
You:
I was curious as well
Lucas:
Zerashia-sama is…
four years younger than Finlay-sama, his cousin.
Lucas:
She is very intelligent, of excellent lineage…
Lucas:
At one time,
There were even rumors that she might inherit the headship of the Grovanes House.
Lucas:
Though in the end…
Finlay-sama was chosen from among the candidates.
Berrien:
Had Finlay-sama not been present…
Berrien:
Or had Lucas-san not become his tutor…
Berrien:
The head of the Grovanes House…
might well have been her.
You:
Eh? Lucas was Finlay-sama’s tutor?
Berrien:
Yes.
Berrien:
Lucas-san believed Finlay-sama worthy of becoming head…
and offered to tutor him from a young age.
Lucas:
An intelligent Finlay-sama
would likely have become head even without my instruction.
Lucas:
But I wished for him to study the “imperial arts” required of a ruler
from an early age.
Berrien:
There was opposition from those who said,
“A Demon Butler as a tutor?”…
Berrien:
But Lucas-san secured the position through negotiation.
You:
I had no idea…
Lucas:
It was also to build trust with the future head of the house…
so I was rather enthusiastic.
Lucas:
At the time,
Finlay-sama’s rank in the line of succession was low…
Lucas:
He was not greatly expected from the beginning,
which was one reason they entrusted him to me.
Lucas:
As for Zerashia-sama…
I met her during those tutoring days.
Lucas:
She lived near Finlay-sama,
and would often sneak away from her attendants to come play.













