#its december which means akuneko anniversary!!!

[kotegiris]

[Event Story] 1st Anniversary -Butler's Prayers-

I recommend reading Episode 1 before this event story if you want to avoid spoilers!

all ✧ next chapter

Chapter 1: Ritual of Prayers

-One day in December-

Muu: Aruji-sama, it’s already almost the end of the year!

> Yeah

Muu: Just a while ago, I could hear the cicadas chirping, but…

Muu: Now I can’t hear anything anymore!

Muu: Winter’s so quiet.

> Yeah, it is

Speaking of quiet… I feel like it’s especially quiet today.

There were no signs of the butlers in the mansion.

> I wonder where everyone is

Muu: Huh? Now that you mention it…

Muu: I haven’t seen them in a while… Did everyone go somewhere?

Knock, knock

Muu: Huh? Aruji-sama, someone’s here.

> Come in > I wonder who…

Opens

Berrien: Pardon me, Aruji-sama.

Muu: Ah, Berrien-san!

Muu: Hm? I’ve never seen you wear that before.

> What’s the outfit for? > What is it?

Berrien: Actually…

Berrien: Uhm… Aruji-sama? Pardon me for asking out of the blue, but…

Berrien: Could you come with me?

Berrien: There’s something I’d like to show you.

> O-Okay

Berrien: Thank you.

Berrien: Please follow me.

Step…step…step…

Muu: Hm~... I feel like Berrien-san looked more serious than usual.

> Yeah, he did

Muu: Just where are we going…

-A little later-

Berrien guided Muu and I to an old church.

Muu: Heh~. So there’s a church this close to the mansion.

> I had no idea

Berrien: Yes. This church is usually closed.

Berrien: Once a year… Only at this time, right before Christmas, the church is open to hold the “ritual”.

> Ritual…?

Berrien: Yes. Please take a look.

I looked in the direction Berrien was pointing.

Everyone was gathered there.

Butlers: …………

Butlers: …………

Muu: Ah! So this is where everyone was.

Muu: Everyone’s wearing the same outfit as Berrien-san… Looks like they’re quietly praying.

Muu: They’re so focused; it doesn’t seem like they’ve noticed us…

> I wonder what they’re praying for…?

Berrien: They’re…

Dong… dong…

At that moment, the church bell rang.

Muu: Waah! That surprised me…

Berrien: Hm… It seems like praying time is over.

Just as Berrien said, when the church bell finished ringing…

The once silent butlers suddenly began talking.

Flure: Guh…

Lato: Are you alright, Flure?

Flure: Y-Yeah… I’m fine.

Flure: I just remembered some things while praying.

Flure: Sigh…

Flure: H-Huh? Where did I put my handkerchief…

Lucas: Flure-kun. If you’d like, use mine.

Flure: Huh? A-Are you sure, Lucas-san?

Lucas: Yeah. Please use it to wipe your tears.

Lucas: I brought it to wipe my own, but…

Lucas: It seems that my tears… have all dried up a long time ago.

Flure: Uhm… T-Thank you, Lucas-san.

Lucas: Don’t worry about it. Now moving onto the next ritual…

Lucas: Oh? Over there is…

Nac: Aruji-sama. And Muu-kun too.

Fennesz: Huh? Aruji-sama?

Noticing us, everyone walked over.

Lucas: Berrien, you’ve brought Aruji-sama.

Berrien: Yes.

Berrien: I thought it’d be better for Aruji-sama to know about the ritual.

Lucas: I see… Yes, you’re right.

Lucas: It would be hard to hide it from them…

> So… what kind of ritual is it?

Lucas: I-It’s…

Butlers: …………

Muu: H-Huh?

Everyone suddenly went silent…

Muu: Is it… Hard to talk about?

Berrien: I’ll explain.

Berrien: I leave it to everyone else to continue the ritual.

Lucas: Yeah… Sorry, Berrien.

Miyaji: Then, we’ll be excusing ourselves for now.

Lamli: Yeah. See you later, Aruji-sama.

The butlers bowed to me and left.

Only Berrien, Muu, and I were left in the church.

Muu: Everyone seems gloomier than usual today…

Muu: Is this “ritual” that bad?

Berrien: No. It’s not that they dislike it.

Berrien: But… Remembering those who have passed away…

Berrien: It’s unavoidable that they’ll feel sorrow.

Muu: P-Passed away…?

> Is this ritual for…

Berrien: Yes. This ritual of prayers…

Berrien: Is for mourning the Devil Butlers who have passed away.