Short Story: The Child of Babylon

My new master was a young boy. Apparently, Doctor Babylon learned about him by using an artifact that allowed her to see the future, but she refused to give any details and merely laughed about him in a discomforting manner. I could now understand why, for my new Master was a person who gave interesting reactions. I liked how he would retort to my minor jokes. Though, his shyness was something worth complaining about. I wondered if Doctor Babylon actually made the Babylon Numbers and the nine islands for his sake. The Doctor’s happy expression as she made various artifacts was burned into my memory.

“I have made you some black tea.”

“Hm? Thanks.” When I brought the tea to the living room, the young boy, my new Master, was doing something with his strange little handheld artifact. That was the object that the Doctor was the most interested in when peering into the future.

“What is that artifact of yours?”

“Hmm? It’s a useful multipurpose tool. For example…” He turned the artifact toward me and made it release a strange sound and a flash of light. It didn’t seem like I was attacked, but I had no idea what he just did.

“Here, take a look.”

“…I see. A image recording feature.” The artifact’s screen portrayed me, looking all confused. I could recall that the Sacred Empire of Partheno, which existed when Doctor Babylon lived, had similar objects. Was Master’s artifact from that era as well?

“That’s not all. It can also record sounds and moving pictures, too. Plus, these days it helps with my magic, so it’s a useful buddy of mine.”

As I looked at Master joyously explaining the artifact’s functions, I suddenly felt an urge to mess around with him.

“Could you take another one, Master?”

“Hm? Sure.”

I walked away from him, pulled one of my legs a short distance backward, took a light hold of the two sides of my skirt, and went into a courteous pose.

“Okay, here we go. Three, two, one…”

The moment I heard the shutter sound, I raised my skirt upward.

“BHHGHT?!”

And a flash. He took the picture. It seemed wearing fancy underwear that day was the right choice.

“Wh-Wh-What the hell are you doing?!”

“I thought it would help sate your carnal impulses.”

“Are you stupid?!”

Red to the ears, Master became loud and angry. However, it had little force to it, for I knew that he was shaking with joy deep inside.

“What are you doing…?”

“My, if it isn’t one of the ladies of the house.”

“Ah, Yumina?!”

One of the Master’s wives, who was here for a short while, looked at him with inquiring eyes. He wasn’t aware of her presence because she was behind him.

“…Why exactly were you taking pictures of Cesca’s underwear?”

“But I didn’t! She did that on her own, and…!”

“Well then, I shall take my leave, Master. Feel free to call me whenever you have other orders.”

“Ah! Hey! Don’t you dare run away now!”

I hastily bowed and left the room. No one, not even a maid, should get involved in a lover’s quarrel. Strange, considering I would later be involved with him in a physical manner.

He was quite different from Doctor Babylon, but I liked my new master quite a lot.