Chapter Ten: The Maid ‘Dantalian’ (Thanks to the Leader for Their Undivided Attention)

Inside the vertical elevator, floor after floor of the framework passed by. Hersia gazed down at the city’s nighttime panorama through the blue-tinted glass, the ground receding further below, and the pedestrians on the streets shrinking into tiny figures.

Though the people remained the same, looking down at such a scene always stirred an inexplicable sense of subtle superiority—or perhaps it was simply joy?

Hersia wondered if this was why many executives preferred to place their offices high up in skyscrapers.

[Arriving at the 37th floor.]

With a soft chime, Hersia stepped out of the elevator into a floor imbued with a style of blue glazed glass.

The entire floor was open, without walls, spanning roughly a thousand square meters. The floor resembled a deep blue starry sky, polished to a mirror-like shine. Above, an artificial azure sky stretched realistically, with clouds so detailed that distinguishing real from fake became difficult as the perspective shifted. Supporting the levels were columns shaped like mushroom stems, each encircled by a circular bar, where one or two maid waitresses stood.

Perhaps due to a silencing barrier, Hersia could only hear the ticking of her footsteps as she walked; only near the bars could she catch snippets of conversations between waitresses and customers.

“Hello, is this the ‘Sweetheart Flutter Café’?” she asked hesitantly at a bar in the center. Something about the place felt distant from what she imagined a café to be.

Inside the bar, a maid with rabbit-ear headgear was crouched, searching for something. At the sound of her voice, the ears perked up suddenly.

“Yes, yes, that’s right. Who else would call it such an old-fashioned name?” The girl hopped up, still holding a water gun.

Hersia then took a clearer look at her: about seventeen or eighteen, with short light brown hair, a slightly round face dotted with faint freckles—radiating youthful vitality.

“Hello, I’m here to apply for a job.” Hersia projected the recruitment information from her personal device.

“Oh, that! I thought so—who would still use such a dated name?” The rabbit-eared girl bounced excitedly.

“Follow me; the manager is over there.” She led Hersia toward a corner in the distance.

“Actually, we usually don’t call it Sweetheart Café. Most customers call it ‘Dream of Glaze,’ which fits the style here better.”

Dream of Glaze—that resonated with the girl inside: the sky and the glass theme perfectly matched the décor.

“The café name dates back to when we first applied for the business license many years ago. Since then, the place has changed owners, styles, and themes repeatedly, but the license remained the same. In truth, the shop’s business now is quite diverse,” she explained enthusiastically as they walked, making Hersia feel unexpectedly privileged.

“There, that’s the manager.” She pointed toward a woman seated under blue curtains, sipping tea.

Hersia recognized her from the earlier phone call and approached.

“Hello, I’m Hersia. We were in contact before regarding the job application,” the young girl bowed politely before looking up.

---

“Hmm, very good, you seem well-mannered,” the manager said, seated on a lounge chair, sipping tea slowly, nodding slightly, clearly pleased with Hersia’s demeanor.

“Have a seat; don’t be nervous,” she gestured for Hersia to sit.

“Okay.” Hersia, still a bit anxious, took a seat. After all, this was her first time entering the workforce for an interview, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“You just graduated this year, right?”

“Yes.” Hersia nodded.

“That’s wonderful. You know, I started here right after junior high, and I’m still here…” The manager’s slightly round face carried a nostalgic expression, like a country pig recalling running through wheat fields.

Though such a comparison was impolite, Hersia couldn’t help but think it.

“Ahem, I digress,” the woman set down her teacup.

“This afternoon, you can get accustomed to the environment, and start work tomorrow. Remember to arrive before 9 am every day.”

“Alright... is that the end of the interview?” Hersia blinked.

“No worries, it’s always awkward at first; you’ll get used to it,” she said, standing up just as the rabbit-eared girl returned carrying cold drinks.

“Is the manager leaving already?” Hersia tilted her head, surprised at how quickly it ended.

“She still has to come back tonight; for now, she’s going home to sleep.” The manager picked up a floral hat hanging on the side of the lounge chair, placed it on her head, and ‘elegantly’ departed, like a pig strolling home at sunset.

“Oh, Belfinger, you’ll be taking care of Hersia today,” she called out before vanishing into the distance.

“Eh?” The rabbit girl exclaimed but couldn’t stop the manager from disappearing.

Left somewhat bewildered, Hersia watched as the rabbit-eared girl set the cold drinks down and casually sat in the manager’s former spot, crossing one leg over the other.

“Phew, the manager’s getting lazier lately.”

“Wait, I haven’t introduced myself! My codename here is ‘Belfinger.’ You can call me Sister Beibei if you like!” Though not taller than Hersia, she seemed quite particular about being called ‘Sister.’

“Okay, Sister Beibei.”

“Good, say it a few more times; I’ll be looking out for you from now on.” The petite girl patted her chest confidently.

---

Seeing her like this, Hersia’s initial nervousness gradually melted away.

“Here, have some drink first. I just grabbed this triple-leaf snow crystal milk tea from the bar~”

“It’s free, don’t worry. Since you work here, you’ll have plenty of chances to enjoy the drinks on the house,” she whispered, raising a finger in front of Hersia.

Taking the chilled milk tea, Hersia quietly asked, “Does the manager know about this?”

“Of course. She drinks it all the time herself. It’s normal here—daily wear and tear. Who opens a tea shop and doesn’t let employees drink milk tea?”

On her very first day, Hersia was already learning how to enjoy the shop’s beverages for free—but it seemed this was just the beginning.

“All right, tell me about yourself. How old are you? Are you at least sixteen? If you’re too young, the shop won’t hire you.”

Hersia introduced herself again.

...

“I see, I understand.” The rabbit-eared girl nodded while sipping her straw.

“First, let me give you a nickname.”

“A nickname?”

“Yes, you can’t go by your real name here. If a customer bothers you, it would disrupt your private life, which is not good.”

“Let me see which of the 72 Demon Lords’ codenames haven’t been taken…” She flipped through her personal device in front of her.

“All our maid waitresses use the codenames of the 72 Demon Lords of Solomon. You’ll be no exception.”

“Hmm, only two left unused. Okay then, your codename will be ‘Dantalion,’ the 71st Demon Lord.”

Dantalion: The 71st demon among King Solomon’s 72 demons, appearing in various male and female forms but always holding a book in his right hand. He teaches all arts and sciences to the summoner, can discover anyone’s secrets and thoughts, alter their minds at will, mimic any person’s appearance, and create illusions.