Serving Waitresses

After Core Number 629's Dungeon Battle, Kehma and everyone had returned to Golen Village.

And then, without anything in particular happening, everyday life returned.

"I thought we'd have to do a lot of stuff since we'd all been gone so long, but nothin's really happened."

"Mm, yeah."

Since nothing had happened while they were away, both Ichika and Niku were able to get right back to working at the inn without anything feeling off. Well, they'd set up their shifts in advance so they'd come back right as the Dungeon Battle ended, but still.

"Like, doin' waitress work again kinda makes ya feel like we're really back, don't it?"

"I understand. It's somewhat similar, but moving your own body is different."

"Moving around as a rabbit's fun though～. I wonder if we could keep one here to be a mascot or somethin'?"

"Maybe… a mascot would increase sales…?"

Lost in thought, Niku spoke.

However, Kehma wasn't exactly worried about the inn's income anymore.

Just then, a guest came in. It was no longer time for them to chat idly, it was time to work.

She looked up to the entering customer with a well-trained puppy dog expression.

"U-Umm, K-Kuro-chan? What's wrong?"

"?"

Niku inclined her head. As if to say you didn't bring a carrot?

Seeing that, Ichika realized what was happening.

"Senpai, senpai! Not that one!"

"Oh — s-sorry."

In [Rabbit's Paradise], Niku had spread the monitor across her entire field of view, and as she worked the controller, her own body had been moving right along with it. It wasn't possession-type control, but you might call it immersion-type. Because of that, the begging mannerisms had thoroughly sunk in.

Niku bowed her head deeply in apology. Although her expression was practically as nonexistent as ever, thanks to Ichika's production management, she managed to exude [Adorable] from every part of her body. It was to the point that even her expressionlessness could be interpreted as the cute, unreadable expression of an animal.

"N-No! R-Right, I was just going to ask for more pudding! Ahaha! I'll even give you some, Kuro-chan～!"

"Umm, th-thank you?"

Not really understanding what had just happened, Niku acquired a pudding.

"… I got this somehow?"

"I guess senpai's definitely the inn's mascot… still though, huh. Guess we can work this…"

Ichika decided to try it herself next time.

Right after that, the next guest entered. Ichika snuck up to him.

"…"

"Oh, Ichika-san? You're back… is something wrong?"

"…"

Ichika bent her body forward, used that upward glance particular to cute animals, and bent her head to the side. However, all the guest could stare at were her breasts and didn't notice any of it.

With how Ichika was sitting bent forward in her maid uniform, she was giving off quite the splendid view of her cleavage. Unfortunately, there was no stopping that from happening.

A man who didn't take notice of that would have to have been a foot fetishist or something.

"…"

"U-umm?"

"Tch, you're slow on the uptake."

"Umm, should I put this meal ticket into your cleavage?"

"Hah? (Anger)"

"Oh, no, nothing…"

Faced with her anger, the guest simply presented his meal ticket. Ichika accepted it and went to give him his food before coming back to Niku.

"Guess that's it. Cuteness is justice."

"Isn't it just the customer's temperament?"

"My route's different from senpai's, I gotta go with sexy. Goin' the cute route's impossible for me. That's all!"

It wasn't that she was lacking in charm. Rather, it was that hers was practically weaponized.

After letting her thoughts simmer for a while, Ichika turned to Niku and grinned.

"So, work as normal, huh… You'll try not to make that mistake again, right senpai?"

"… Muu, sorry."

Yeah. What Ichika had done wasn't a simple jest. In order to [Joke] about Niku's [Honest Mistake]—which was entirely possible of accidentally leaking information about the dungeon — she'd tried messing around as if she were seriously trying.

For being able to follow up like that, Niku couldn't help but feel marveled by Ichika.

"This debt's gotta be paid back with karaage."

"… Couldn't you have asked Goshujin-sama for some?"

"I'd have to pay copper for that. I'm already flat broke this month."

"? … Oh."

Come to think of it, Kehma did say something about putting Ichika alone on a purchasing system because she'd probably just eat forever and ever otherwise. Niku herself could only barely remember it.

"Haah, maybe I've got no choice but to beg Goshujin-sama for more…"

By the way, that money was apparently redistributed back to Ichika as allowance whenever she asked for slot money, so it wasn't unfair at all. …Though whenever it was Ichika spinning the slots, the money apparently vanished astonishingly easily even without anyone rigging them.

"So you need pocket money?"

"Yeah～. Fufufu, I'm such a beauty, after all. See? My cleavage is my strong point…"

"Should I put it in here?"

"Hyah!? N-No, ya can just give me some like normal."

I see. So that allowance really must be the redistribution, then, Niku thought as she pulled her finger out of Ichika's cleavage.

"Senpai, couldn't ya get more money if ya asked for it?"

"(There's nothing I particularly want, and if there were, he'd give it to me if I asked.) I'm not having any trouble, so I'm fine."

"Really? It's makin' me feel a bit bad for gettin' favorable treatment though…"

She'd forgotten about it a few seconds later, though.