Chapter 17: Victoria Housekeeping II

Phaga froze for a moment, until Ellen gave him a push on the back and reminded him, “Go on, hurry inside.”

She stepped through the doorway first, adding casually, “Rina, you don’t need to be so formal. I brought him here to join Victoria Housekeeping.”

“Oh?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Rina’s face, though her smile never wavered. “So Ellen has found herself a promising new recruit!”

“But Ellen, until this guest officially joins Victoria Housekeeping, he remains first and foremost our client. You must still show proper etiquette in front of clients.”

“Ugh, fine!”

Ellen immediately stopped in her tracks, turned back, and performed a formal bow—forced professionalism in every gesture. “Welcome, honored guest, to Victoria Housekeeping.”

“Mm, that’s better.”

Satisfied, Rina nodded and drifted gracefully to Phaga’s side, extending her welcome. “Welcome, esteemed guest.”

Half-reluctant, Phaga stepped inside. A man hardened by countless battles, he now felt stiff and awkward, completely out of his element.

Rina noticed his discomfort, covering her mouth to stifle a silent laugh.

Being perceptive, she immediately understood why Phaga was so tense. Gliding aside, she instructed Ellen gently:

“Ellen, please escort our guest upstairs. I’ll go prepare some coffee for him.”

With that, Rina floated away into the kitchen.

The moment she left, Phaga let out a breath, as though a crushing weight had lifted off his body. Only then did he realize how heavy his legs had felt, and now that the tension was gone, his heels felt weak.

He glanced briefly at Rina’s retreating figure and shook his head.

That kind of considerate warmth was almost terrifying—like standing before a blazing torch. To ordinary people, it was comforting. But to someone like him, who had grown accustomed to solitude, it was only overwhelming.

“What are you staring at? Hurry up!”

The instant Rina left, Ellen dropped the act. She leaned casually against the railing, glancing back at him.

After going through life and death together, treating Phaga like this felt much more natural than acting like he was a guest.

“Mm.”

Phaga grunted in response, following her up. Inwardly, he thought, This way of interacting feels much better.

Even in the hallway, the faint sound of the television reached their ears.

【Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s New Eridu Evening News.】

【Today at precisely 2 PM, a Hollow suddenly manifested in a district near Lumina Square, consuming half the street—including a school.】

【Though it is currently summer vacation, one grade had begun classes early and was holding a parent-teacher meeting at the time.】

【According to the school, all parents were in the gymnasium for a lecture when the Hollow struck, and so they escaped unharmed.】

【This, however, meant the school was unable to respond to the students’ situation.】

【Most classes chose to wait for rescue, but due to inexperience, some suffered casualties. In certain classes, internal disputes even broke out, and individuals or small groups recklessly entered the Hollow alone. Many remain unaccounted for.】

【Yet, our reporters discovered that one class chose to break out together. Along the way, they defeated every Ethereal that blocked their path, found the correct route, and successfully escaped the Hollow.】

【The entire class survived without a single casualty—an absolute miracle.】

【Now, let’s hear from the Class President for more details.】

【Uh... honestly, we were planning to wait for rescue at first too...】

...

Ellen brought Phaga to a second-floor door and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

A deep voice answered. Ellen slid back the bolt and pushed the door open.

Inside, a Wolf-Thiren sat on the sofa. He looked broad-shouldered and imposing, his broom-like tail lying still across the couch, radiating calm authority.

Phaga recognized him immediately—this was the one who had attended Ellen’s parent-teacher meeting.

Suddenly, the Wolf-Thiren turned his head, his sharp gaze lingering on Phaga for a moment.

Phaga’s brow arched, about to react, when he felt a cool hand press against his back.

He turned slightly to see Ellen’s palm resting there, patting him reassuringly while her tail swayed energetically.

After a few pats, Ellen led Phaga forward and sat beside him on the sofa. “Lycaon, this is our guest.”

At the name, Lycaon’s expression instantly softened. He rose, one hand placed across his front, the other behind his back, and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome to Victoria Housekeeping. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Von Lycaon, steward of Victoria Housekeeping.

I sincerely apologize for my earlier demeanor. Should you choose to engage Victoria Housekeeping, we will reduce our commission fee by half as an apology.”

“It’s fine.”

Phaga’s tone was even, but inside his mind was in chaos.

This Victoria Housekeeping... it’s so professional!

But then...

He frowned in confusion, glancing at Ellen. Then why is she always so indifferent?

“What are you looking at?”

Ellen caught his gaze, pouting as she glared at him, clearly annoyed.

But she didn’t press the matter. Soon, she was scanning the room as if searching for something.

After a moment, she asked, “Where’s Corin?”

“She accepted a Hollow commission and is currently working.”

Lycaon’s answer was smooth, almost promotional, as though responding to Ellen while pitching their services to Phaga at the same time.

“Every member of Victoria Housekeeping is capable of exploring Hollows independently.

Take Ellen, for instance. Look at the news on the TV—that was her school. She led her entire class out of the Hollow.”

On the television, a student was being interviewed:

【We only made it out thanks to three people. I can’t reveal one of them, but the other two were incredible fighters—Phaga and Ellen.】

【Especially Phaga—those wings were amazing! When Ellen collapsed from exhaustion, he carried the whole class alone. Look, I even have a picture of him!】

Soon, a high-definition photo filled the screen.

A young man in simple clothes hovered in midair, a pair of vast crimson wings—each nearly three meters long—unfurled behind him.

Before him, the headless corpse of the Dead End Butcher crashed heavily to the ground.

Its severed head was clutched in his hand.

Lycaon froze, staring between the TV and Phaga.

The white fur covering his body served as the perfect disguise—no one could tell what color his face had turned.

Abruptly, he coughed. Ellen, her face scarlet, reacted instantly. Her hand blurred with speed as she snatched up the remote and slammed it down.

Buzz!

The TV clicked off.

Phaga sat rigidly, struggling to catch up with the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Ellen slapped her cheeks lightly and glared at Lycaon.

Brag all you want—but don’t drag me into it!

“Cough... cough, cough!”

Lycaon forced another cough, scrambling to recover. “My apologies. I overstepped. I feel ashamed for my earlier behavior.”

“Uh... it’s fine, I get it...”

Phaga was just as flustered, scratching at the sofa cushion. A little more force and he might have ripped right through it.

Just then, another figure floated into the room.

“Thank you for waiting, esteemed guest. Would you like your coffee with sugar, or with milk?”

Rina drifted in carrying a tray, then suddenly froze midair.

Ellen was slumped over the sofa, sulking. Lycaon turned his head in embarrassed silence.

Phaga forced an awkward smile.

Beside Rina, the two Bangboo tilted their heads, slowly forming glowing question marks.

Huh?