Prologue

When I opened my eyes, I didn't even bother getting out of the soft bed. I just clapped my hands, summoning the butler who stood near the door. A white-haired old man in a perfectly tailored suit responded to the sound.

He gave a deep bow of his head. "You called, Master Kazuma?"

"Yeah. I'd like my morning coffee, Sebastian."

"I'm Heidel."

"I'd like my morning coffee, Heidel."

Then I lay back down on the bed. Eventually the maid, Mary, would come to change the sheets. But I wouldn't make it easy on her. I had all kinds of ways of tripping her up as she tried to work. A certain Crusader somewhere had told me that was the proper way to behave toward maids.

Finally, a knock came at the door.

See? Called it.

It must be my personal maid, Mary…