Chapter 39: Can a Maid Be This Beautiful?

After rescuing Vanessa, Tina stayed in the city for a few more days, lodging at her home.
Vanessa and her father didn’t mind her freeloading—in fact, they hoped she’d stay and grow closer to their daughter.

But Tina felt uneasy relying solely on being a savior. Besides, she was a wanderer seeking opportunities, not meant to be trapped in one small place.
She had goals: cure her illness, gather energy for the next simulation.

“After the auction ends and I confirm Althea’s safe, I’ll leave.” That was her plan.
For now, she needed a temp job to sustain herself or pass the time.

After failing to persuade her to stay, Vanessa suggested a fitting job—
Working as a maid in a café.

At first, it sounded absurd. A café in a kingdom?
But Vanessa’s explanation made sense.

Valencia, teeming with witches, was full of reclusive potion-brewing shut-ins who’d faint at the sight of sunlight.
For these gloomy hermits, what mattered besides potions? Companionship they could only dream of.

Daydreaming of staying home, avoiding people, having no skills, just rotting away, fantasizing about a long-haired, curvy beauty shyly confessing: “Little brother, I’ve liked you for so long.” Then gently offering rare materials, endless funds, and after things get serious, blushing and saying, “Let’s brew potions together forever.”

Pure fantasy, of course. It’d never happen to them.
But for a similar experience, they could visit the café, pick their preferred type, pay, and enjoy a fleeting moment of glory.

That was the purpose of such places in Valencia.
Serving shut-ins, milking their wallets.

Irene wasn’t thrilled about the job. “Don’t you… think it’s shameful?”
“Shameful? It’s just serving drinks and some friendly company. What could those stuttering shut-ins do to me?”

Besides, if anyone got weird ideas, Tina could swiftly turn them into a girl with her expert skills.
She was an authority on permanent fixes through transformation.

“No more talk—I’m off to work.” Tina waved goodbye to Irene and dashed to the café.
It was busy today; no slacking, or she’d lose pay for being a second late.

To avoid recognition, she’d taken a transformation potion beforehand and changed her name. Now, she was Tyna, a blue-haired maid with a “treasure chest,” unrecognizable to anyone.
Unless someone really knew her.

But that was unlikely. First, that person probably hadn’t reached Valencia yet. Second, she wouldn’t visit a place like this. Even if she did, it wouldn’t be this café.
And if she came, Tina could hide, play the cowardly lizard.

No way all those coincidences would align and she’d be spotted.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

“Miss Tyna, hurry up with the orders! Guests are waiting!” The manager snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Coming, coming!”

…

Meanwhile, after confirming Tina had been in Valencia, Althea urged the Great Sage to speed up the carriage, arriving a day early.
She had to seize this rare chance away from the palace to turn the city upside down.

Who knew when she’d return?
“Your Majesty, you don’t need to rush. That woman only saw her long ago—Tina might not even be here now,” the Great Sage said, exhausted from a day and night of acceleration magic.

“I don’t care. Found or not, I’m searching.”
Seeing her stubbornness, he had no counter. He just complied.

“So, what do you need us to do?”
“You and Isha go to the investigation bureau for any news on her. I’ll check the streets, door to door.”

After showing credentials, the carriage entered the city.
The Great Sage parted ways, while Althea, armed with a portrait, questioned every household she passed.

From noon to near dusk, her legs ached, but she found nothing.
Most said they didn’t know her. A few vaguely recalled someone from years ago, sickly and near death, probably long gone by now.

Wandering the noisy streets, Althea felt lost.
Gravely ill? Was she even still alive? Was this search for a ghost all in vain?

In her daze, she passed a café where enthusiastic maids reminded her of old times with Tina.
Once, their bond began with such uniforms, overcoming trials, nearly reaching a happy ending.

But…
“I’m tired. Let’s rest inside.”

Her legs moved on their own, stepping into the café.
Unlike her, the patrons were greasy, unkempt men with messy hair and stubbly chins. She didn’t spare them a glance.

The manager noticed this unique guest and approached with a smile.
“Miss, how can I assist you?”

“Just here to rest. Pick a few people for me.”
“Of course.” The manager was surprised to see such an elegantly dressed woman here, especially one without worldly desires.

“Those are our available maids. Take a look…”

Althea glanced over—mostly scantily clad workers, here just for a paycheck, lacking the proper service attitude.
About to brush it off, she caught a glimpse of something blue vanishing behind a table.

“?”
Sneaky— an assassin?

Althea stood, magic at the ready.
The manager hurriedly yanked the blue-haired figure from under the table. “What’re you hiding for? Keep it up, and you’ll be sent to meet your maker!”

“No way! Coming out’s worse than meeting my maker!” The girl struggled.
Thud—

In their tussle, Tyna stumbled out, landing before Althea.
“Ah… haha.” She forced a smile, her revealing outfit barely containing her charm.

Althea turned her head oddly, gesturing for the fallen girl to stand.
“So… a maid can be this beautiful?”