「…最近のメイドさんは、飛行機の操縦までするんだね」
『いえ、私個人がライセンスを持っているだけですよ、ランお嬢様』
零すように洩らしたランの言葉に、タイムラグも無く即座に機内放送で返答が返ってきた事に、ランは戦慄した。二人が座っている座席から操縦席までは座席３つ分、しかも客席と操縦席を隔てるドアは閉められた状態だ。恐るべき地獄耳である。
「驚くのも無理はない。コルは音に敏感にならざるを得ん環境で生まれたからな。ま、特技のひとつという事にしておくが良い」
『自慢できない過去でございますけれど』
何気なしに言うエルザと、それに答えるコルの苦笑。片方が機内放送でなければ普通の会話と何ら変わりない。
『乗り物の操縦は、かつて私の持ち主だった方々のやり方を見て覚えました。車から航空機から船舶まで、大体の乗り物は乗りこなせます。ああ、ちゃんと正規にライセンスは取得していますので、ご安心を』
当たり前だ、無資格で飛行機を操縦するような奴に命を預けるバカが居るか。今度は心の中でそう呟いた。仮に墜落した所で、幽霊であるランなら平気なのだろうが、それでも進んで怖い思いをするつもりはない。
『この子の操縦桿に機銃のトリガーが無いのが、少しばかり寂しく思いますが』
とかいう物騒な台詞は聞かなかった事にする。気にしたら負け、って言葉は誰の言葉だっけ。隣に住んでる義姉の弟子だったっけ？
なんだか考えれば考えるほど馬鹿らしくなってしまって、これ以上はもう見たもの聞いたものをありのままに受け入れるしかないな、と諦め、備え付けの冷蔵庫からジュースを拝借しようと立ち上がる。するとメイドが一人、すっとランに近寄ると、後ろに付き添った。見事なまでに「お嬢様とそのメイド」の構図である。
「あの…」
戸惑い気味にメイドを見やると、メイドは得心したと言わんばかりの表情になり、
「お嬢様、お手洗いは後部座席の後ろにございます。揺れるかもしれませんので、どうかお気をつけて」
等と言い出した。見当違いも甚だしい。
「そ、そうじゃなくて。ただ、ジュースを貰おうかなって…」
「まぁ！でしたら私共に一言申し付けて下されば、お持ち致しますのに…お嬢様自らがそのような事をする必要はございませんわ」
「えぇ？で、でも…」
「ささ、お嬢様」
背を押され元の座席に戻されたと思えば、これまた別のメイドが高級ワインを持つような手付きでジュースを運んでくる。
「申し訳ございません。オレンジジュースしかご用意していないのですが…」
「あの、その…うん、大丈夫、アリガトウゴザイマス…」
畏まるメイドに、倍以上に恐縮してしまったランは、目の前に置かれたコップに注がれたオレンジジュースに口を付けて、窓の外に視線をやった。ありのままに受け入れるしかないと思った矢先にこれだ。この調子では帰る頃には胃がボロボロになっているのではあるまいか。そもそも今の自分に胃に相当する器官があるのかどうかさえ疑わしいが。
（どうしてこうなった…ホント、どうしてこうなった）
オレンジジュースの味なんて全然解らなかった。

２時間後。
ランは完全に脱力してシートに沈み込んでいた。ちなみにまだ自家用機の機内である。エコノミー症候群が少し怖い。
正確には、一度空港に到着し、入国手続きを済ませてある。小型ジェットが滑走路に危なげなく着陸した感触を感じた時には、やっと着いたと安堵したものだ。だが、まだ甘かった。空港のロビーでくつろいでいる間にコルと数名のメイドの姿が見えなかったのは、迎えの車を用意しているのだろうと思っていた。しかし実際にはコルはフライトプランの確認、他のメイドは自家用機への給油の為に席を外していただけで、軽く昼食を済ませた後に再び自家用機に乗り込む羽目になったのだった。つまり空港はあくまで中継地点に過ぎなかったのである。本日二度目の離陸の際には、なんとも悲しげな眼で地上を見つめるランの姿に、エルザは心底不思議で仕方がないといった表情を浮かべていたりした。
そして今に至る。その間、自分がやろうとする事を全て押し止められ、代わりにメイドが動くというＶＩＰ待遇に、ランの精神は相当な勢いで削られていった。それはもう、カンナで木材を削るが如く、ご～りご～りと。
良くも悪くも、この少女は庶民気質なのだった。
「ほれ、ラン。到着じゃぞ」
優しく頭を撫でられ、外を指し示す指につられ窓の外に視線を送れば、そこには空港よりも遥かに規模は小さいが滑走路が見えた。辺りは広い範囲で開けた草原と森があり、壮大で豊かな自然が迎え入れてくれているような気分になる。ごちゃごちゃと積み木を詰め込んだように建造物が立ち並ぶ日本ではお目に掛かれない絶景だ。
…認めたくないものを視界から除外すれば、の話だったけれど。
「どうしたラン、ほれ、目的地じゃぞ？」
頭をがっしりと掴まれるも、最早抵抗の気力さえ無いランは、虚ろな目でそれを見た。見てしまった。
空港でも、飛行場でもない。どう言葉を慎重に選んでも”阿呆みたいにバカでかい、世界レベルの大富豪が住むような大豪邸”という子供みたいな説明が一番理解が早い、そんな建造物。それを辺りの大自然ごと囲んでいる塀。今では陳腐な揶揄になっているが、「東京ドーム○個分」で測るような敷地が、そこにある。
「あれがこの国での儂の家。シュトラヘルツの本家…ん、意味が違うか？」
首をひねるエルザの横で、とうとうランはシートに崩れ落ちた。

滑走路から直接格納庫に向かった小型ジェットから降り、そこに用意されていた車に乗り込んで５分。ランにとって殆ど別世界と言っても過言ではない、そこかしこに落ち着きのある美しい装飾の施された柱やら彫像やらが立ち並ぶ道路を通過して、玄関先の噴水前で車を降りた頃には、ランの頭の中はすっかり真っ白になっていた。
なんじゃこりゃあ。
最愛の親友ならそう言っていたに違いない。
えらく適当な成り行きで自分を家族に迎え入れてくれたシュトラヘルツという家が、実はとんでもない大金持ちだったという事実を次から次へと突き付けられた事で、
（脳のお味噌がパンク寸前でし。もうおうちに帰りたいでし…）
キャラまで変わってきてしまったランである。
目の前にはなだらかな階段、その先には宮殿を縮尺したような玄関が見える。視線を上げれば、まるでドーンと効果音が付きそうな勢いの佇まいを見せる大きな屋敷。
右を向いても屋敷。
左を向いても屋敷。
上を向けば空。ちょっと安心した。
下を向けば石畳の床。どう評価していいのか解らない。
後ろを向けば映画でよく見る噴水。見なきゃよかった。
「何をキョロキョロしておる、ここが儂らの本来の家なのだから、堂々としておれば良いのじゃ」
等と言われても、どうしても足がまずの一歩を踏み出してくれない。
ランとて嫌という訳ではない。幼い頃にはお姫様やお嬢様なんてものに憧れ、こんな豪邸に住む事を夢見ていた筈だ。ただ、ほんのちょっとだけ、気後れしているだけなのだ。
（地下に正義のミュータントの基地があるに違いないでし）
訂正、きっちりパニクっていた。
「お二方とも、こんな所に立ちっぱなしでは日差しにやられてしまいますよ。ランお嬢様なんて、こんなにお綺麗な白い肌ですのに、シミでもできたら勿体のうございます。さ、中に入りましょう」
そう言って先導するコルの言葉にやっと我に返ったランは、太陽がヤケクソでも起こしているのではないか、と疑いたくなるような日差しが自分の肌を焼いている事に気付き、心の中で「えいっ」と掛け声をかけて戸惑いを振り切ると、階段に足を掛けた。そこからは気後れよりも暑さの方が勝ってしまって、一秒でも早く日陰に入りたいが為に早足でコルの背中を追った。
玄関まで続く短い通路にかかった屋根の影に入って一息つくと、改めてこの建物は豪邸なのだと思い知らされる。石造りの柱や屋根の内側には、ただ通過するだけではつい見逃してしまいそうな彫刻が彫り込まれているし、通路に沿って植えられている木々は手入れが行き届いているように見える。たったそれだけの事なのに、ランはこの屋敷の存在感のようなものを感じ取っていた。
そして玄関に辿り着く。一般に見る玄関の倍以上もある両開きの扉の向こうからは多数の人の気配。おそらく屋敷のメイド達が出迎えに集まっているのだろうとランは予測したが、外まで聞こえてくるワイワイガヤガヤと賑やかなそれは、多過ぎる気がしてならない。
先導していたコルが呼び鈴を押すと、その賑やかさが一転、軽い地響きに変わった。それもすぐさま静まり返り、驚くよりも虚を突かれたランがきょとんとしている内に、コルは扉に手をかける。そして振り返り小さく頷くと、エルザがそれに頷き返し、ギッ、と重い音と共に扉が開かれた。
「な、なに、今の地響き…？」
「さあ、ウチのメイド達が儂らをお出迎えじゃ。フフフ、驚くなよ？」
「え？」
悪戯を仕掛けた子供のように笑うエルザに、ただただきょとんとするしかない。

「皆さん、お嬢様がお帰りになられましたよ！しかも、日本でお嬢様のご家族となられた妹様、ランお嬢様もご一緒です！」
凛と響く一声の後、コルはすっと玄関の脇に移動する。それを確認したエルザは、まだきょとんとしたままのランの背を押して、屋敷の中へと歩を進めていく。
「え、ちょ、え？」
そこに見えた空間、その光景に、ランは目を白黒させた。そして、微かに背筋を駆け上る緊張。
「お帰りなさいませ、お嬢様」
頭を垂れ静かにコルが言うと、
「お帰りなさいませ、お嬢様！」
それに続く、ずしんと空気を震わせる程の大きな唱和。
玄関ホールであろう開けた空間は、派手さは無いが落ち着いた内装が施され、ダンスパーティでも開けそうな広さがあった。床には通り道のように真っ赤な絨毯が敷かれ、中央奥には２階に続く階段があり、そこに大きな扉が見える。更にそこからぐるりとホールを一周できる通路も確認できる。高い天井からはいくつもシャンデリアがぶら下がり、日の光の差し込まない部分を優しく照らしていた。
そして、その空間にひしめくメイド達。十数人どころではない、数十人単位だ。それだけの視線がランとエルザに向けられているのだった。ある者はエルザに主の帰還を喜ぶ視線を、ある者はランに好奇心の視線を。
各々の視線を受けながら、エルザは大きく息を吸って、言った。
「皆、久し振りだな。変わりはないか？中には儂の留守中にここへ務める事になり、儂と顔を合わせるのが初めてという者もおろう。今回は一時的に帰ってきただけなのだが…日本へ戻るまでの間、宜しく頼むぞ」
「はい、お嬢様！」
そしてランの肩を抱き寄せると、メイド達をぐるりと見渡し、
「それから、この子はラン・シュトラヘルツ、日本で家族となった儂の大事な妹じゃ。儂同様、ランの事も頼むぞ！」
「はい！私共にお任せ下さい、ランお嬢様！」
それを聞いて満足そうに頷くが、当のランはあまりの事態に挨拶を返す事もできないでいた。
「ほれどうしたラン、おぬしの身の回りの世話をしてもらうのじゃぞ、挨拶くらいせんか。すまんな皆、いつもは礼儀正しい子なのだが」
「お嬢様、ランお嬢様に何も説明なさらなかったでしょう？それでは仕方ありませんわ、ウチのメイドは…」
苦笑交じりのコルの言葉に、ランは小さく、何度も、物凄い速さで頷いた。
何故なら、絨毯の両側に所狭しとひしめきあうメイド達は、その７割余りが人外の者で占められていたからだ。
ブラウニーやシルキーフラウ辺りは、人の手伝いを生き甲斐とする精霊だからまだ解るが、軽く見渡しただけでもゴブリン、コボルト、オーク、トロール、スライム、ピクシー、マーメイド、ダークエルフ等のメジャー処が目に付くし、サラマンダー、シルフ、ウンディーネ、ドライアドの四大精霊までいる始末。つぎはぎだらけなのはゾンビかリビングデッドだろうか？流石はネクロマンサーといった所だろう。流石にスケルトンが見当たらないのはＴＰＯを考えているのだろうか。その割には青い炎に包まれた頭蓋骨が浮かんでいたりするが…あれもメイドなのかと疑問が浮かぶが、一応頭にホワイトプリムを付けている辺り、そうなのだろう。なんだか不意にこめかみを揉み解したくなるランだった。
見渡す限りでランにも解るのは、ラミア、リザードマン、ハーピィ、グリフォン、コカトリス、ワーキャット、ワ―ウルフ、ワ―タイガー、ワーベア、マタンゴ、アラクネ―、ジャイアントオクトパス、クラーケン、サハギン、リビングドール、ビホ…（仮名）スカイライン、etc、etc。
良く判らないものなら、体中のそこかしこから触手を生やしている者や、ナイフ片手に何やらニヤついている赤いキャップを被った者、動く金属の塊、にこやかな笑みを絶やさない金のヤカン、巨大なムカデとアリ、背中に翼の生えたやたら艶っぽい女性、どうやって収まっているのか解らないが中から人間の体が出ている壺と宝箱、牛ほどの体躯を持つハムスター、人間の形をして動いている植物、他にも腕がデカかったりたくさんあったり足があったりなかったりと、とにかく枚挙に暇がない。
ホールが広いとはいえ、この空間にこれだけのモンスターが集まっている様相は、まさしく人種の…もとい、モンスターの坩堝といっても過言ではないような気がした。そしてこれらが皆、程度の差はあれど人間に近い姿を取り、更にはメイド服を着用しているのだ。普通の人間の感性ならば、ここに招待され接待でも受けようものなら、喜ぶどころか卒倒するのではないだろうか。事実、日本で玉竜と紫月を初めとする妖怪の友人を持つランでさえ、目の前の光景に軽い眩暈を禁じ得ないのだから。
「か…帰りたい…」
やっとの思いで絞り出した言葉がこれだ。
「先も言ったろう、ここはおぬしの家だと。て事はもう帰ってきてるではないか。お帰り～」
ホールにメイド達の笑い声がどっと広がった。

"...Maids these days can even fly planes."
'No, I just have a personal license, Mistress Ran.'
Ran's words that thoughtlessly spilled out, were instantly responded to over the plane's speakers, and Ran trembled. There were 3 seats between their seats and the cockpit, and the cockpit door separating them was closed. She has hellish ears that should be feared.
"It's natural to be surprised. Col has always been very sensitive to sound, ever since she was born. Well, it's a good unique skill."
'Though I can't be proud about my past.'
When Elza casually said that, Col responded with a bitter laugh. If it hadn't been for the broadcast throughout the plane, it would have been no different than a normal conversation.
'I learned how to operate vehicles by watching how my previous owners did it. From cars to planes and ships, I can operate just about any vehicle. Ah, I've obtained a proper license, so do not worry.'
Obviously. There isn't an idiot in the world who would trust their life to someone unqualified piloting an airplane, she whispered in her mind. Even if it did crash, Ran, as a ghost, would be fine, but still she had no intention of continuing on with such a scary feeling.
'There's no machine gun button on the control stick, but it feels a little lonely.'
She pretended that she didn't hear such dangerous words. Who was the one who said that if you let it bother you, it's your loss? Was it her half-sister's apprentice who lives next door to them?
The more she thought about it, the stupider it got, so she decided to just take everything she sees and hears as it is, and give up. She stood up, intending to get a juice from the refridgerator that was installed. But when she did so, one of the maids, immediately came over to Ran and escorted her from behind. It was like a wonderful portrait of "a misstress and her maid".
"Umm..."
Giving the maid a look of confusion, the maid had an expression on her face as though to say that she understood.
"Mistress, the restroom is behind the rearmost seats. There might be some turbulence, so please be careful."
Is what she said. She was way off.
"N, No, not that. I was just wondering if I could have a juice..."
"Oh! in that case, you only need to order me, and I will get it for you... Mistress, there's no need for you to do it yourself."
"Ehh? B, But..."
"Now, now, Mistress."
Pushing her from behind, she was returned to her seat. Another maid came carrying the juice like it was an expensive wine.
"I'm terribly sorry. We only have orange juice..."
"Umm, uhh... Ok, that's fine. Thank you very much..."
Ran, who was twice as embarrassed as the attending maid, took the cup of orange juice that had been placed in front of her and brought it her her lips, and gazed out the window. She thought she was going to take everything as it was, but then this happened. If things keep going like this, she's going to have an ulcer by the time she goes home. Or at least, whatever organ or whatever that takes the place of her stomach.
(How did this happen... Really, how did this happen.)
She couldn't even recognize the taste of the orange juice.

2 hours later.
Ran was completely exhausted and sinking into the sheets. By the way, they're still inside their personal airplane. Economy class syndrome is kind of scary.
More accurately, they've arrived at an airport and finished the entry formalities. Once she sensed that the jet had safely touched down on the runway and they've arrived, then she felt relieved. However, that's too naive. While they were relaxing in the airport lobby, she couldn't see Col or the many maids, and so thought they're preparing a car for them. However, in reality, Col is checking the flight plan, and the other maids are just outside checking on the refueling of the plane, and finishing up a light lunch, after which they will reboard the personal jet. Basically, this airport is only a stopover. When they began their second takeoff of the day, as Ran stared at the surface of the earth with sad eyes, Elza had a deeply strange expression of it can't be helped.
And now they arrived. In between that time, every time she tried do something herself, she would be stopped, and in her place, a maid would do the work. It was a VIP treatment, and Ran's mentality had been slowly whittled away. It was just like how one would whittle away wood. Scrape~Scrape.
This girl had the mentality of the common people, for better or for worse.
"Look, Ran. We've arrived."
With her head being gently patted, she followed the finger pointing towards the window, and looked outside. There she saw a much smaller and more distant runway than a normal airport. Around it was a large field and forest, which gave off an impressive and rich feeling. Unlike in Japan, where it was a bunch of buildings crammed together like building blocks, this was a scene she had never seen before.
...However, it was the thing she didn't want to recognize, and she wasn't looking at, that she was talking about.
"What is it Ran? That, our destination?"
Even though her head was being firmly gripped, Ran already didn't have any will to resist, and with empty eyes, she saw it. She inadvertently saw it.
It was an airport, but it wasn't a place you go to get a flight. No matter how carefully you selected your words, the fastest to understand was a childish explanation like "It's ridiculously stupidly big, like a huge mansion where one of the world's richest people live". It was surrounded by a wall of nature. It's a bit overused, but it about the size of "x Tokyo Domes".
"That is my home in this country. The main house of the Schtlehertz... Mm, that has a different meaning, doesn't it?"
Next to Elza, who had her neck tilted to the side, Ran finally collapsed into the sheets.

It was 5 minutes between the jet going from the runway into the hangar, them getting off of it and getting into the car that was prepared for them there. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this was a completely different world for Ran. Everywhere, there were calmingly beautiful decorated pillars and statues, etc, lined up along along the footpath, and when they got out of the car in front of the fountain in front of the entrance, Ran's mind went completely blank.
What is that.
Even her best friend would have said that.
It was very appropriate as she had been inducted into the Schtlehertz family, but being hit time after time with the reality of actually having a ridiculous amount of money...
(My miso brain is about to explode. I want to go home...)
Even Ran's character was starting to change.
In front of her was a gradual staircase, and before that was an entrance that looked like a mini-palace. Looking up, she saw a giant estate, that the sight of had so much force that it should have come with a thud sound effect.
Turning to the right, there was the estate.
Turning to the left, there was the estate.
Looking up, there was the sky. That was a little reassuring.
Looking down, there was a stone floor. She didn't know how to assess that.
Looking behind her, there was a fountain like one that you'd see in a movie. She wished she didn't see that.
"What are you doing, nervously glancing around, this is our home, so you can boldly do as you wish."
Even though she was told that, she couldn't even take one step.
It's not that Ran hated it. When she was a little girl, she wanted to be a princess or a rich girl, and living in such a mansion should have been like a dream. But, now she was just a little nervous.
(I'm sure there must be a justice mutant base underground.)
Correction: She's in a full blown panic.
"If the both of you stand here, you'll get tan. Mistress Ran, you have such beautiful pale skin, so if you get a blemish, it would be such a shame. So, let us go inside."
Saying this, Col led them. Her words calmed Ran down. Ran began questioning whether she ever got tan, and realizing that the sunlight would sunburn her skin, with a "Oomph" from inside her heart, she shook off her bewilderness and stepped onto the stairs. And then, the heat defeated her nervousness, and for a moment, she wanted to get into the shade. Col quickly took the opportunity and followed behind her.
There was a short path to the entrance, and she paused as she came into the shadow of the mansion, and once again she realized that it was an estate. As she passed by, there were easy to miss the engravings in the stone pillars and interior of the roof, and well maintained trees flanking the path. Just from that, Ran felt like this was a mansion.
And then they reached the entrance. From the double door entrance, which was twice as big as a normal entrance, it looked like there were many people. The mansion's maids probably gathered to greet us, Ran guessed, but she didn't pay much attention the clammering and movement that was loud enough to be heard outside.
When Col, who was guiding them, pushed the doorbell, that movement turned into a slight rumble. And that too soon went silent. Ran wasn't just surprised, she was dumbfounded, and Col put her hands on the door. She turned around and gave a small nod, and Elza nodded back, and with a creak, she opened both doors.
"W, What, is that tremor...?"
"Oh, that's our maids greeting us. Heheh, are you surprised?"
"Eh?"
She could only look dumbfoundedly at Elza, who had a mischevious smile.

"Everyone, the Mistress has returned! In addition, Mistress Ran, who joined the Mistress' family in Japan as her sister, is with her!"
After a dignified and echoing voice, Col moved to the side of the entrance. After confirming that, Elza pushed the still dumbfounded Ran forward, and they stepped forward into the mansion.
"Eh, wai, eh?"
The scene of the area she saw made Ran bewildered. And then a chill ran up her spine.
"Welcome home, Mistress."
As Col bowed and said that,
"Welcome home, Mistress!"
A chorus large enough that it vibrated the air followed.
The area of the entry hall wasn't gaudy, but had a calming design, and it was wide enough that it looked like it could hold a dance party there. The floor had a red carpet laid out like a path, and in the middle, there were stairs leading to the second floor, and she could see a large door there. Also, she could see there was a pathway running all around the hall. There were many chandeliers hanging from the hall ceiling, and the areas where the sunlight didn't reach were also gently illuminated. And in that area were the crowded maids. It wasn't a dozen people, it was dozens of people. And their sights were all fixed on Ran and Elza. Some of their gazes were on Elza, as the return of their mistress, while others had curious gazes on Ran.
Taking all of the gazes on her, Elza took a deep breath and said:
"Everyone, it's been a long time. Is anything new? Some of you have started working here while I was away, and this is the first time I've met you. I've only returned for a brief time this time, but... Until I return to Japan, I'll be in your care."
"Yes, Mistress!"
And then, she put her arm around Ran's shoulder, and looked out over all the maids.
"And this girl is Ran Schtlehertz, my precious sister who became part of my family in Japan. Please treat Ran just like you would me!"
"Yes! Please leave it to us, Mistress Ran!"
Hearing this, she nodded her head happily, but Ran herself couldn't properly return the greeting as she was.
"Hey, what's wrong Ran, they'll be taking care of your needs, so won't you greet them. I'm sorry everyone, she's normally a polite girl..."
"Mistress, you didn't explain anything to Mistress Ran, did you? In that case, it can't be helped, your maids are..."
As Col said that with a strained laugh, Ran slightly and very quickly nodded many many times.
Because, about 70% of the maids, who were crowded together on both sides of the rug, were not human.
She knew that ones like Brownie and Silky Frau were spirits who try to help people, but just from a quick look around, she saw a goblin, kobold, orc, troll, slime, pixie, mermaid, dark elf, and others, and even the 4 elementals of salamander, sylph, undine, and dryad. And there's a patched up zombie, or living dead? Though that's expected of a necromancer's place. She didn't see a skeleton, but that's probably due to the suitability of one here. And there's a skull cloaked in a blue flame that's floating, but... is that also a maid? The question popped into her mind, but there was a white frill on it's head, so it probably was. Ran suddenly felt like she was getting a headache.
The ones that Ran could recognize just from looking out were a lamia, lizardman, harpy, griffon, cocatrice, werecat, werewolf, weretiger, werebear, matango, arachnid, giant octopus, kraken, sahagin, living doll, behol... (aka) skyline, etc, etc.
For those she didn't know, there was one who had tentacles coming out all over their body, one with a knife for a hand who was grinning for some reason wearing a red cap, a moving metal ball, a metal grinning pot, a giant centipede and ant, an enticing woman with wings coming out her back, a pot and treasure chest that somehow has a human body coming out from it, a hamster with the body of a bull, a plant that moves with the form of a human, and others, with huge arms or lots of arms, with legs and without, and others, too many to mention.
Although the hall was big, with the fact that the monsters were all gathered in this area, it probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a melting pot of races... I mean, monsters. And all of them, for those who had forms close to human, were wearing maid outfits. A normal human with any sense, even if it looked like they were being welcomed here, wouldn't be happy, but would probably faint instead. In reality, even Ran, who had youkai friends like Tamaryuu and Shizuki, felt a little lightheaded from the scene in front of her.
"I... I want to go home..."
Those were the only words she could make come out.
"I already told you, this is your home. So you've already made it back. Welcome home~"
The hall was suddenly filled by the laughs of the maids.