Chapter 83: Heartfelt Bracelet ⑧ · Munieka Eldorado
One of the guest rooms on the second floor of the witch’s house has now become Munieka-san’s room.
Munieka Eldorado.
A Class I explorer known as “Autodoll.”
She commands a maid unit consisting of eight Minos Units.
Short golden hair.
Long, sharp eyebrows and piercing blue eyes.
A dignified, overly perfect facial structure.
She wears a maid outfit based in white and black, immaculately pressed without a single wrinkle.
She is tall, with an outstanding figure.
Even through the loose-fitting maid outfit, the fullness of her chest is clearly visible.
She possesses a body as attractive as a woman could possibly have.
Her frozen beauty and bearing make her look like a finely crafted doll.
She possesses only Auto-type relics.
Combined with her appearance, this is why she is called an “Autodoll.”
Her race is Edda, but her eye color is altered by a hair ornament.
And for some reason, she is my maid. For some reason.
“Welcome home, Master.”
“I’m back, Munieka-san.”
When I told her I had something to discuss, she brought me into her room.
There has only been one time in the past when the two of us were alone in this room.
I was made to sit on her bed.
“How was the dungeon?”
“A lot happened.”
Really, just like last time—but this time, even more so.
Well, how to put it… Most of my memories from my previous life preferred extra vegetables, light fat, normal flavor, firm noodles.
But last time was extra vegetables, normal fat, strong flavor, firm noodles.
And this time was extra vegetables, extra fat, strong flavor, extra-hard noodles.
This was the kind that only a very small minority of my past-life memories—basically just one person—would enjoy.
In other words, it was that intense.
Especially “Death Abstract.” Without [Rave Move], there was no way we could have beaten it.
Even if everyone had challenged it at full strength, I don’t think we would have won.
That thing operates on a completely different premise. Fighting it is fundamentally wrong.
It was the embodiment of energy dominated by negativity—especially death.
In terms of my past-life memories, it was basically a grim reaper.
There’s no way you can defeat something like that. That’s why it was sealed.
It’s complicated, but I’m grateful to Alweld von Rutvelt.
Munieka-san bowed her head to me.
“I am simply relieved that you returned safely, Master.”
“Thank you. Actually, there’s something I want to give you, Munieka-san.”
“A bracelet?”
“Eh—you knew?”
“Of course. Shaldina and the others boast about it every day.”
“Ah… uh…”
I was left speechless.
Munieka-san continued, still expressionless but clearly displeased.
“They do not boast directly. However, while it does not violate service regulations, they always wear their bracelets. And whenever they have even a brief moment between tasks, they stare at them—as though they had received something precious from someone they love. Even Shaldina looks at her bracelet with shy, gentle eyes. Please consider the feelings of me, their leader, who alone has none. My husband.”
“I—I’m sorry. I truly apologize.”
Feeling genuinely apologetic, I bowed my head.
I never imagined they cherished them that much.
I’m very happy about that, but still—I’m sorry to Munieka-san.
If necessary, I’ll even perform Soil Under Occarla right now.
For that reason, I deliberately ignored her calling me “husband.”
“So then, Master—will I receive one as well?”
“Y-yes. Of course. I do. I made one properly for you as well. It’s a token of my daily gratitude.”
I took a bracelet out of my pouch.
She naturally extended her hand. I took it and slipped the bracelet on.
A bracelet made of white platinum rather than gold, set with a blue-violet gemstone instead of purple.
“So this is my bracelet?”
“Yes. The color of the band is basically based on the recipient’s hair color. Your hair is gold, Munieka-san, but it’s closer to silver-gold, so I chose white platinum.”
“I see. And the blue-violet gemstone?”
“Purple for you as an Edda, and blue for you as a maid.”
“I’m very happy. Truly… thank you very much, Master.”
Munieka-san gazed at the bracelet.
There was one more thing I wanted to give her—though I wasn’t sure if it could even be called a gift.
Even now, I wasn’t sure if bringing this was the right decision.
But I’d already brought it. So all that remained was to give it to her, just as I had originally planned.
“Actually, there’s one more thing I want to give you, Munieka-san.”
“Something besides the bracelet?”
“Yes. This… was found in dungeon ruins.”
“Ruins?”
Looking puzzled, Munieka-san watched as I took a small wooden box from my pouch.
My hands were trembling slightly as I handed it to her.
She accepted it without hesitation and asked if she could open it.
I nodded. She opened it—and then froze.
“Munieka-san?”
“Master… where did you obtain this?”
I told her everything.
About the ruins.
About the seal on “Death Abstract,” and how it was defeated.
And about the woman I hadn’t told Aranz-san about.
“Lunierika Eldorado.”
Munieka-san listened silently.
When I finished speaking, she suddenly reached into her chest and took something out.
“Th-this is…”
It was a silver pocket watch with a cord attached. Exactly the same as the other one.
“This is an item passed down through the women of the Eldorado family for generations. I inherited it from my grandmother. This is the same item that a distant ancestor once gave to her mother as a birthday present.”
“……”
The card had said, ‘Happy birthday. From your daughter.’
So she had possessed the same pocket watch as her mother.
“I never imagined that we would meet like this.”
Munieka-san gently embraced the two pocket watches, holding them as if they were priceless treasures.
“I feel the same way.”
I was glad I had brought it. Somewhere deep inside, I felt relieved.
Munieka-san then removed the pocket watch she had been wearing around her neck—not the one she was holding in her hand.
And, unbelievably, she offered it to me.
“Please, you keep this one, my husband.”
“Eh? But that’s an Eldorado family—”
“Yes. It is something very important to me. Something truly, truly precious.”
“Then why—”
“And besides, I don’t think it’s right to separate the two pocket watches that have miraculously been reunited like this, do you?”
“Of course. That’s true. Then why…?”
So why give it to me?
“—According to legend, this pocket watch was once a gift given by a daughter who wished for her mother’s safety. By carrying the same one herself, she believed that even if they were apart, their hearts would remain connected. But the result was…”
“That’s…”
My chest tightened. Even if it couldn’t be helped, I was the one who killed her.
I lowered my head. But then Munieka-san said something unexpected.
“But you saved her, my husband.”
“Eh—no, I… I killed her.”
“No. You saved her. Though she was a researcher, she became part of a monster and was sealed away for a very long time. If she had been released into the world, death would have spread everywhere. That is something she herself… Lunierika would never have wanted. My husband—no, Wof-sama—you saved her heart. On behalf of the Eldorado family, thank you.”
Munieka-san bowed deeply and politely.
Hearing her words, I felt… just a little bit saved myself.
“My husband. I, too, wish to think of you and believe that even if we are far apart, our hearts will remain connected. That is why I wish to give this pocket watch to you. With gratitude and heartfelt feelings—from Munieka Eldorado.”
Munieka-san smiled.
“…All right. I’ll accept it.”
After being told all that and seeing that smile, there was no way I could refuse.
I stood up and took the pocket watch in my hand.
“Don’t just keep it put away—please use it every day.”
“Y-yes.”
The pocket watch I received was faintly warm.
Suddenly, Munieka-san’s face was very close—so close it was right before my eyes.
“And this is my thanks for the bracelet.”
She whispered that, and kissed me—not on the lips, but on the forehead.
For just a moment, it felt like she hesitated. But then… um, they’re big. Aren’t they really big?
That was what I thought as I stared at the two rounded shapes hanging down right in front of me.
Munieka-san didn’t move, still kissing my forehead.
“Chu… I really wanted to do it here, but I’ll restrain myself with this.”
Saying that, she lightly tapped my lips with her finger and pulled away.
I boiled over.