For some reason, the saint of our school drops her façade when she's with me (GL) - Chapter 4

In this world, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

There are plenty of shady advertisements that promise easy money, like “Earn 5,000 yen just by having tea with men!”—stuff you’d expect to see on the back of a sketchy flyer.

But since this was a job recommended by the Saint, I figured at least it wouldn’t be anything indecent.

I thought that, anyway.

“It looks great on you.”

“Tch… just kill me already. I won’t be humiliated.”

“What on earth are you saying? This is just a uniform. Plenty of part-time jobs require them—just like how family restaurant employees wear their uniforms.”

I had always assumed that maid outfits were only worn in maid cafés.

But apparently, common sense didn’t apply when dealing with the Saint.

Because right now, I was wearing a maid outfit.

The location?

The Saint’s mansion.

Yes, mansion.

It wasn’t just a house—this was the kind of grand estate that you only see in movies or high society dramas.

“Hehe, I knew this kind of outfit would suit you, Suzuki. I was right to hire you.”

“So what, am I just your dress-up doll now?”

“I want my very own personal maid.”

There were plenty of actual professionals she could hire…

“I’m not good with strangers. That’s why I need a cute girl my age, someone I already know and who has good communication skills.”

“That disqualifies me completely.”

“Thank you for the exact opposite evaluation.”

First of all, that shy claim was a blatant lie.

Did her flawless Saint persona at school not count?

“You’d probably look good in a butler uniform too… Maybe I should make it a daily rotation?”

“If you’re that desperate for a guy, why not just hire one of our classmates?”

“Ugh, no. That’s gross.”

She spoke in a way that could turn the entire male high school population against her—yet paired with her enchanting smile, it would probably make them fall even harder.

Terrifying woman.

“Sigh… So, is this actually a job, or am I just a dress-up doll?”

“Oh, it’s a job. But being a dress-up doll is part of it.”

For some reason, even though I knew this wasn’t some shady gig, I couldn’t help but feel like it was shady.

“Your main duties are taking care of me—household chores, preparing meals, and being here after school and on weekends. I’d also like you to make my dinners and bentos.”

“Couldn’t literally anyone else do that?”

She had professional staff, after all. Wouldn’t I just be in the way?

“I miss homemade food.”

“I mean, I don’t mind… but do I have to wear this the whole time I’m here?”*

“Yes, it’s mandatory.”

I thought this was a simple housekeeper-type job, but it felt like being her personal dress-up doll was the real job.

“Honestly, you don’t even have to pay me for something this simple.”

“For example?”

“If you cover the cost of ingredients, I’ll make your bento every day.”

“…Very well. We’ll consider that outside of your job duties.”

I had just negotiated away some of my own pay, but it felt wrong to accept money for cooking when I was already doing it regularly.

Besides, I didn’t really mind making meals for the Saint.

Just then, I noticed her gaze lingering on my neck.

“We should add one more accessory.”

Saying that, she pulled out a collar.

A collar.

She didn’t have a dog.

She didn’t have a cat.

Yet she had a perfectly sized collar that would fit me.

More than the fact that she owned one, the serious glint in her eyes as she held it was the real problem.

“I’ll wear literally anything else. Just… please, not that.”

“What a shame.”

Reluctantly, she set the collar down.

I had dodged a bullet.

Something told me that the moment I put that thing on, I wouldn’t be allowed to leave this mansion as a human being anymore.

“Alright then, let’s get to work.”

She put the collar away and… pulled out a deck of cards?

Not just any deck—this was from a recently revived old-school trading card game.

The one with all those cute monster illustrations.

And since she had two decks, I could already tell what she wanted.

“I don’t know the rules.”

“Me neither. I just collected them because they were cute. I never had anyone to play with.”

She even handed me a neatly printed rule sheet.

“If you win, I’ll double your pay.”

“And if I lose?”

“Your skirt will be two centimeters shorter.”

This had suddenly turned into a shadow game.

The Saint was practically glowing with excitement, so there was no way I could refuse.

“Hope you don’t regret making my salary more expensive.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t strip you completely.”

We were both beginners.

I figured it would be a fair match.

I thought that.

At least, at the time…