Chapter 26: The Nun’s Departure and Lua’s Arrival

My impression of the girl who suddenly appeared at the counter was simple.

Barely 150 cm tall.

An elegant black dress and black high heels that contrast with her cute appearance.

Silver twin tails that make her look even more adorable.

And a red ribbon headband that accents her silver hair.

“What did you just say? Do you know who I am to give such a rude compliment…!!”

Her hamster-like voice, trying so hard to sound mature, only adds to her adorable actions and tone.

“Too… too cute…!!”

This girl was the very definition of ‘cute.’

“Grr…!! You rude man!! Do you think such compliments will make me ‘spare’ you!? Right here, right now…!!”

Pat!!

“Eek!?”

Pat!

Pat!!

Even her angry outburst was like a tiny kitten meowing.

Unable to resist, I started vigorously patting her head.

“What—what are you doing, patting me without permission!! You rude…!!”

“Aww, does our little Butterfly feel good?”

“Let go of me right now!! Ugh!!”

As if enchanted, I kept calling her ‘Butterfly’ and patting her head.

“What… what kind of power is this…?? And who’s Butterfly!? Stop it already!!”

Even as she squirmed, protesting, she kept tilting her head toward my touch.

Pat!

Pat!

After a while of patting.

“Gasp!!”

For some reason, the fatigue I’d built up today.

No, not just ‘fatigue,’ but something heavier and stickier melted away.

I snapped back to my senses.

“…Why did you stop? Not that I’m saying to keep going, but did you get tired of patting me already?”

Before I realized it, she was sitting on my lap like a real cat, enjoying the pats.

She spoke to me in a sulky tone.

“Was it… okay to pat you?”

“You’re asking that now? Truly a clueless, pathetic manager.”

“Well… I just couldn’t help wanting to pat you…”

“Sigh… Whatever. I don’t want to go through this unpleasant experience again anyway.”

Tidying her disheveled hair from my patting, she hopped off my lap.

And extended her hand again.

“I’ll forgive your rudeness this time, so hurry up and give me the room key. Oh, and change the milk to warm hot chocolate. After letting you have the honor of patting me, you can at least do that, right?”

Her bold request for the room key and warm hot chocolate.

Since I hadn’t yet confirmed the appearance of the 4 a.m. guest.

I asked her to wait a moment.

“Um… could you wait here for a bit? I need to check a few things.”

“Making a distinguished guest wait like this. But I’m merciful, so I’ll wait.”

I opened the response manual on the counter to check the 4 a.m. guest’s description.

[4 a.m.]

[Notice: All information in this section is true. If any future section contradicts this, it is false.]

This is the time when a silver-haired, twin-tailed young girl visits.

This guest is the only ‘invited’ guest in this motel. Be cautious not to be rude and treat her with utmost respect.

Below is the list of ‘room service’ items and schedule for this guest.

– 4:10 a.m.: Lukewarm milk or warm hot chocolate.
– 4:23 a.m.: Light snack (e.g., chocolate cookies, gummy bears).
– 4:30 a.m.: Homemade meal (ask the guest for her preference and provide exactly what she wants).
– 4:45 a.m.: Dessert (if no dessert is available, provide a glass of chilled milk).

Refer to the management manual for the location of the kitchen and food preparation area.

After providing all the above items on time, conduct a ‘satisfaction survey’ with the guest.

If the girl responds that her satisfaction is ‘high,’ the manager’s ‘safety’ for that day is guaranteed.

Remember: She is the only one in this place you must ‘trust.’

“…What?”

After reading the manual, a ‘reasonable suspicion’ about the previous owner crept in.

For the two previous guests, the shy guest and the blind nun, there were barely a few lines.

The nun’s section even had weird ghost-story scribbles.

But this cute little girl’s response manual is this detailed?

‘This guy… was he a lolicon…??’

“Taking too long to check, aren’t you? Making a guest stand around like this—you’re truly pathetic.”

Come to think of it, even the response manual for the VIP ‘doll lady’ wasn’t this long.

Yes, my suspicion has turned into certainty.

The previous owner was definitely a lolicon.

“If it’s going to take longer, I can wait. But I’ll get bored, so you can pat my head more. Not that I like it, but since you seem to enjoy it…”

Jingle.

“Here’s the key to Room 105.”

“….”

Anyway, I confirmed this cute little lady is a reserved guest.

So I handed her the key to Room 105.

“Room service will be brought soon. Rest well.”

“…Tch.”

The girl, seemingly displeased, glared at me venomously.

“Hmph!!”

With a cute huff, she turned from the counter.

Her short legs toddled away, accompanied by the clacking of high heels that didn’t quite match her steps.

Just as she was about to leave, she paused.

“When the room service arrives, call my name at the door. Call me ‘Lua,’ and I’ll come out myself.”

With that, she disappeared into Room 105.

‘Lua? Her name?’

The first guest in two days to share their name.

‘What an unusual little guest…’

Musing to myself, I checked the time again.

It’s 4:07 a.m.

‘4:07… She asked for hot chocolate. The manual said to check the kitchen, so I’ll look at the management manual…’

Maybe because I patted that cute kitten—no, cute guest.

The distracting thoughts and worries faded.

I returned to my ‘normal’ state, free of impure ideas, and started checking the management manual.

Just as I was looking for the kitchen section.

[First floor. The door is opening.]

The elevator doors opened, and the shy guest and the nun approached the counter together.

“Huh? Sister? Customer? Why are you two together…?”

Seeing the two guests come down to the lobby together for some reason, I hurriedly stood.

“…An intruder has come. Something has ‘disappeared’ from your body, brother.”

“U… uh…”

The two guests stood silently by the elevator, murmuring something.

“Is something wrong?”

Unable to hear their conversation, I stood and asked again.

The shy guest stayed still, but the blind nun approached the counter first.

Her smile was still gentle and compassionate, but this time it felt unnatural and forced.

‘As expected, she’s disappointed after hearing my story…’

I’d already guessed why her warm smile seemed awkward.

Crying inside, I kept my composure outwardly.

The nun, now at the counter, asked me.

“Brother, has anything… or anyone else entered this motel besides us two?”

“Oh, a cute little guest just checked in. Why do you ask…?”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it…”

“Huh?”

For a brief moment, a cold contempt flashed across her face upon hearing about the cute little guest, Lua.

But she quickly returned to her compassionate expression and handed me her room key.

“It’s unfortunate, but… could I check out early today, brother?”

“Oh…? Did I do something wrong…?”

“Oh my, what are you saying? It’s not because of you. It’s just…”

Slurp…

“For a private conversation with the sister behind me… I’m stepping back for today.”

Confirming it wasn’t because of me, I sighed in relief and took her key.

“I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”

“Hehe… This sister and I go way back. I look forward to seeing you again, brother.”

“Yes! It’s late, so please be safe, Sister.”

As the nun’s checkout was complete, the shy guest quietly approached the counter.

“…Uhmm.”

“…Uh.”

From the ‘massage incident’ to the ‘tasting.’

After several ‘suggestive’ moments in just a few hours, the atmosphere was far more awkward than before.

“Um… I couldn’t say earlier because you, uh, tackled me(?), but I’m really sorry about the massage.”

“…A-uh.”

After my sincere apology, the shy guest stared at me silently for a moment.

“…Do—it… again.”

“…!!”

The ‘room service’ request she’d made when opening the door earlier.

This time, she asked clearly.

“Yes…!! Next time, I’ll make sure not to mess up the massage!!”

Realizing she enjoyed my massage.

And that I didn’t have to stop pursuing her as a heroine, I suppressed my joy.

And answered her with an excited voice.

“Just—one—more… no, three—more… then forever—together…!!”

For a moment, the shy guest nearly lost herself to my response.

“Sister?”

“…!!”

“It’s time to go now.”

“…U-uh.”

Stopped by the nun’s voice from behind, she quietly handed over her key.