(18) Beware of Librarians: 03

Otto Suwen, a merchant by trade and a self-proclaimed bard by ambition, was not entirely sure how his life had taken this turn. Scrubbing a particularly stubborn stain in a restroom while dressed in a butler's uniform was not what he had envisioned when he agreed to manage the legend that was Natsuki Subaru.

Why was he here? Why was he under the tyrannical rule of a petite, pink-haired maid who seemed to delight in pointing out his every flaw?

"There's still a stain there," Ram's voice cut through his inner monologue like a knife, her crimson eyes narrowing as she leaned against the doorframe with all the grace of someone who had no intention of lifting a finger.

Otto sighed, rolling his eyes in exasperation. He had seen enough to know this woman didn't miss a thing. He jabbed at the offending spot with his scrub brush.

"I saw that," Ram warned coolly, her tone dripping with the kind of authority that sent shivers down his spine.

"Yes, yes, I'm on it," Otto muttered under his breath, scrubbing harder as he plotted his escape from this humiliating servitude. But his spirits were not entirely crushed. After all, he had managed to squeeze a story out of Subaru-sama earlier, and what a story it was!

Subaru, ever the charismatic hero, had regaled him with tales of her homeland—a magical realm of swords and sages, emperors and epic battles. And, naturally, Otto had written every word with enthusiasm, never once doubting the authenticity of her grand narrative.

The Kingdom of Japan, as Subaru described it, was a realm of wonder and majesty, ruled by the wise and powerful Emperor Kenichi. A man of unparalleled strength and unmatched skill, Keichi was not merely an emperor but the Supreme Swordsman, a title earned through countless duels and daring feats.

By his side stood the Great Sage Naoko, a woman of immense wisdom and ethereal beauty, whose knowledge of the arcane arts had saved the kingdom from calamity more times than could be counted. Together, they ruled the land with justice and kindness, their bond unbreakable even in the face of the gravest perils.

One fateful day, a shadow loomed over the kingdom. The Dark Tyrant Rengoku, a sorcerer corrupted by his insatiable thirst for power, unleashed his horde of monstrous beasts upon the land, threatening to plunge Japan into eternal darkness.

Kenichi, wielding the sacred blade Kusanagi, led the charge against the Tyrant's forces, his swordsmanship a dazzling display of precision and power. Beside him, Naoko summoned ancient spells, her magic a blinding beacon of hope that drove back the encroaching shadows.

Yet, even their combined might was not enough to defeat Rengoku. As the battle reached its climax, Kenichi and Naoko stood before the sorcerer atop Mount Amaterasu, the highest peak in the land. There, beneath the shimmering light of a thousand stars, they joined their powers in a final, desperate act.

Kenichi struck with Kusanagi, its blade imbued with Naoko's magic, cleaving through Rengoku's dark heart. The sorcerer let out a deafening scream as his body dissolved into ash, his reign of terror ended. But victory came at a cost, for the Great Sage Naoko had exhausted her magical powers in the spell.

Kenichi, heartbroken but resolute, vowed to honour her sacrifice by ruling the kingdom with the love and compassion she had shown. And so, Japan flourished once more, its people forever grateful to the Emperor and the Sage who had saved them.

Otto grinned as he reread the page he had written, his mind racing with ideas for more. Oh, the epic poems he could compose! The ballads he could sing! This was just the beginning. Subaru-sama's tales would become the stuff of legend, and he, Otto Suwen, would be the chronicler of her glory.

But first, he had to survive the pink-haired demon currently overseeing his every move.

"You missed a spot," Ram's voice snapped him back to reality, her tone colder than the northern winds.

Otto sighed, his dreams of fame and fortune momentarily overshadowed by the grim reality of his current situation. "Yes, Senior Maid Ram. Right away, Senior Maid Ram," he muttered sarcastically.

Ram's eyes narrowed further. "I heard that."

Otto gulped. Perhaps it was best not to test her patience. After all, legends could wait, but surviving Ram's training? That was a battle he wasn't sure he could win.

 I will be posting chapters every day. Big chapters will be broken into 3 or 4 chapters, you can read it ahead by checking out the tips in my bio.