"Rough day?" I asked, settling onto the bench's far end, maintaining a respectful distance.

She jerked upright, eyes wide with surprise before narrowing in professional assessment. Even in her current state, she was automatically scanning me for threats—a habit so ingrained it functioned despite her emotional breakdown.

"I'm... fine," she lied, voice cracking at the end.

"Sure you are. That's why you're having a private moment on a public bench," I gestured at her tear-stained cheeks. "Want to talk about it, or should I just sit here and pretend I don't notice you're about to have a complete breakdown?"

Her composure cracked entirely. "Can you believe it? My boss just... left me!"

*Knowing Odin from everything I've heard about Norse leadership, this actually makes perfect sense,* I thought, keeping my expression neutral. "Left you how? Like, fired you, or just disappeared?"

"He left for important meetings and said I wasn't needed!" The words exploded out of her. "After everything—covering for his drinking, his gambling, his completely inappropriate magazine collection, and his habit of trying to trade subordinates for alcohol!"

I blinked. "He tried to trade you for booze?"

She buried her face in her hands. "I've been handling his paperwork, scheduling his appointments, preventing diplomatic incidents when he gets drunk and starts hitting on officials' spouses, and this is how he repays me? 'Go have fun, Rossweisse! You worry too much! I can handle myself!'"

*Odin. Only he could make his most competent employee have an existential crisis about getting time off.*

"So your workaholic boss finally gave you a break, and you're crying about it?"

She stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "Break? This isn't a break! This is abandonment! What if he needs something? What if he gets into drinking contests with diplomats? What if he trades classified information for rare sake?"

*She genuinely has no idea how to function without micromanaging someone else's life. This is both tragic and oddly endearing.*

"When's the last time you did something just for yourself?"

"I..." She opened and closed her mouth several times. "I don't understand the question."

I couldn't help it—I laughed. "You poor, overworked woman. You've forgotten how to be human."

"I am NOT—" She caught herself, probably realizing she'd almost revealed something important. "I am perfectly capable of... joyous activities."

"Name one."

Silence stretched between us. Her face went through several expressions—confusion, panic, then dawning horror as she realized she couldn't answer.

"Come on," I said, standing and offering my hand. "You can join me for dinner. Consider it divine intervention before you have a complete psychological breakdown in public."

She stared at my outstretched hand like it might bite her. "But... I don't know you."

"I'm Akira. I can cook decent food, I don't abandon employees in parks, and I'm told I give excellent life advice to overworked individuals having career crises."

She took my hand—grip firm enough that I could tell she had considerable physical strength despite her professional appearance. "Rossweisse."

"Nice to meet you, Rossweisse. Now come on—my housemates are going to find this story fascinating."

---

"Everyone, meet Rossweisse," I announced as we entered. "Her boss ditched her for work meetings, and she's having an existential crisis about it."

Asia immediately set down her book, maternal instincts engaging. "Oh no! Are you alright?"

"I'm perfectly fine," Rossweisse insisted, then immediately contradicted herself. "Well, I mean, technically I suppose I am stranded. He didn't leave contact information or emergency protocols or even tell me where he was staying..."

*She's spiraling again. Time for intervention.*

"What kind of boss leaves their assistant stranded without any way to reach them?" Valerie asked, her dhampir senses probably picking up the genuine distress under Rossweisse's forced composure.

"The irresponsible kind," I answered. "He is a terrible leader if I must say"

"He's not—" Rossweisse started, then stopped. *Smart. Almost defended him by name.*

Xenovia looked up as I hoped she wouldn't say something outrageous "Did he not pay for your services?"

"Payment isn't the primary concern," Rossweisse said carefully. "It's more about... professional duty."

"Professional duty to someone who abandoned you?" Valerie's concern was clearly picking up on her past undervalued issues "Either you have questionable judgment, or there's more to this situation."

*And there's Valerie being perceptive. Rossweisse's trying to avoid revealing anything important, but she's fighting a losing battle.*

"There's always more to any story," I said, resting on the couch "But right now, the important thing is that Rossweisse gets a decent meal and remembers what it's like to have a conversation that doesn't involve crisis management."

Rossweisse looked around the room—taking in Asia's genuine concern, Valerie's protective interest, Xenovia's straightforward acceptance—and something in her shoulders relaxed.

"I... thank you. I can't remember the last time anyone offered help without wanting something in return."

*And that right there is the core problem. She's so used to being utilized that simple kindness confuses her.*

"We do want something," I said seriously. Rossweisse tensed, ready for disappointment "We want you to sit down, eat some food, and let yourself be a normal person instead of a professional assistant for one evening."

Her eyes went wide, then suspiciously bright. "That's... that's not asking for something. That's offering something."

"I'll cook amazing food for you, Rossweisse!" Asia said warmly. "We will give you a pleasant evening."

---

Watching Rossweisse slowly relax was like watching someone remember how to breathe. By dessert, she was actually laughing at Asia's story about accidentally burning food which she worked for over hours.

"I haven't had a meal where I wasn't simultaneously planning someone else's schedule in... I can't even remember" she admitted "This was one of the great evenings that I experienced in my life"

"You are helpless" Xenovia said with characteristic bluntness. "That's a high level servitude."

"I prefer 'dedicated professional support'" Rossweisse replied, but there was self-awareness in her tone now. She was slowly realising how much Odin had been exploiting her. Life do reward beautiful girls to some undeserving fellows.

"Call it whatever you want," Valerie said. "But when your boss abandons you without basic information about accommodations, maybe it's time to reconsider your professional priorities."

Rossweisse's face went pale. "I... hadn't considered lodging arrangements."

*Of course she hadn't. Probably spent so much time managing his schedules that she never planned her own.*

"You can stay here with us" Asia announced immediately "We have a guest room"

"I couldn't possibly impose—"

"Yes, you could" I interrupted, taking the final bite of sushi "It's either that or sleep on the park bench where I found you. Which sounds more appealing?"

"When you put it like that..." she said sheepishly, as we chuckled that she was easing into our circle.

---

Later, after getting Rossweisse settled and the others had gone to bed, I asked her to tag along, noticing her constant stares after the dinner was done.

"I'll grab some from the convenience store" I called out.

"I'll come with you" Rossweisse said quickly, appearing in the doorway.

*She's been observing me all evening. Based on her knowledge and smartness, It's not hard to assume she figured out that I wasn't a normal human. Firstly, the vast mana, thanks to holy water of life and next, is literally a dhampir living in the same house as me*

The walk started in comfortable silence, but I could feel her stare . When we were several blocks from the house, she finally spoke.

"You're not a normal human"

Not a question. Statement of fact, delivered with the kind of certainty that came from professional experience with supernatural beings.

"What gave it away?" I asked, genuinely curious about her deductive process.

"Your magical signature is enormous, but you don't use it like a trained mage would. Plus, there's clearly a vampire living in your house" She paused. "Also, you recognized I wasn't normal, the moment you saw me, didn't you? That's why you invited me to dinner"

*Sharp. Very sharp. No wonder she's working for Odin.*

"You're right on all counts," I admitted. "Though I should point out that an invite for dinner was to make you feel good. Seeing a girl cry by herself, isn't something I could turn blind eye to"

"Shall we introduce ourselves or do you still want to play the role of a helpless girl?"

She had the grace to look embarrassed. "I'm a Valkyrie from Norse, serving as Bodyguard for my boss known as Lord Odin.

"Fair enough. But since we're being honest—" I raised my hand, forming a perfect sphere of water above my palm. "I'm a human, who resides in this town with supernatural powers"

I flicked the sphere toward a nearby street lamp, where it exploded in a miniature rainstorm.

Rossweisse's eyes widened. "There was no mana fluctuation in that technique at all! How is that possible?"

Her question was answered by the sound of someone stepping out from behind the streetlight, completely soaked.

Vali emerged from the shadows, silver hair dripping wet but his trademark confident smirk firmly in place.

"Vali," I said, grinning despite myself. "Your stealth techniques need work if you're getting caught by random water attacks."

"Your detection methods are improving" Vali replied, shaking water from his hair with obvious irritation. "Though your greeting techniques could use some work."

Rossweisse had gone very still beside me, her senses clearly detecting the dangerous aura radiating from the newcomer.

"It's alright," I told her quietly. "He's quite troublesome and powerful, dangerous too, but not to you."

"Not to you either," Vali added, "at least not tonight. I came to warn you, of someone, who might be too much for you to handle"

*Is Ophis pulling up to my location?*

"What is it?" I asked, keeping my tone casual while preparing for potential complications.

He paused as he looked at me and revealed the overwhelming threat to me.

"Cao Cao"

. . .

Read upto 20 chapters at patreon.com/opeler

Check out my patreon, if you find it interesting do join or support me

Enjoy!