The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

Morning light cut through the gap in the curtain, thin and gold, falling across the small borrowed bed like a blade laid down to rest.

Aisha woke up on the small bed in Zeke’s borrowed residence with Kylin curled against her side like cat, snoring in tiny purrs while Nibbles laid on top of the furry spiritual beast’s head.

She sat up slowly, careful not to disturb either of them, and reached for her spatial bag.

Thinking about what breakfast she’d make for herself and the two spiritual beasts, Aisha took some monster meat and started to separate the miasma corrupting it, placing them inside another empty jar and doing the exact process of keeping it from escaping.

Cutting the meat into thin and cube slices, she pan-fried it. Fearing the same outcome that had happened to her last night where Kylin and Nibbles ate everything, she decisively divided the cooked meat into three portion.

After eating the food she cooked last night, Nibbles and Kylin no longer seemed to look down on it. Instead, the moment they smelled the scent of meat, they sprang up from bed and rushed over and almost knocking themselves against kitchen counter.

Fortunately, Aisha was there to manage them like two little kids who could finally eat a bar of chocolates after a week of abstaining.

When she was finally certain they got their own, she also started to eat. The taste was slightly different from yesterday. The meat has a tangy and buttery undertone taste in it. Add it with a but soy sauce, butter, garlic and pepper, and salt, the previously untasty-looking monster meat had transformed into a savory feast.

When she had just savored its taste, she heard the clatter of plates meeting against the countertop. Opening her eyes, she saw the spiritual beasts in front of her had already gobbled up their portion, looking up at her with greedy and hungry looks.

Learning her lesson from yesterday, Aisha gave them two slices each.

But they weren’t satisfied, both showing it on their faces with their gazes already falling on her plate.

”Sigh... fine. Just one more slice.” Aisha placed another slice on their plates. She knew these two weren’t satisfied with just one, but what could she possibly do?

She hadn’t expected a situation where the spiritual beasts would eat the meat she had cleansed and cooked for herself. Last night, she had to cook a few more pieces of meat as well till they were satisfied. And so, the remaining meat in her spatial bag had decreased to the point that she had to make another trip to the black market.

”I still need to meet with Anshel the next time I go to the Association.”

Kylin and Nibbles glanced at her.

”Alright, I’ll also let you both roam around.”

Since she was afraid having two spiritual beasts around her while walking along the streets of the Association yesterday, she didn’t allow them to mess around and come out.

Fortunately, the two listened to her obediently. But Aisha knew she’d need to bring them out soon.

The jar of Glazed Honey Sloth saliva sat where she’d left it on the counter, the golden liquid still swirling on its own even with nobody touching it. Beside it, the star-shaped fruit flowed faintly green in the morning light.

She unscrewed the jar first, and the smell of caramel immediately came out. Kylin’s ears twitched and floated over before she could even taste it, nose already pressed near to the rim.

”Wait.”

She dipped a finger in and held it out. Nibbles lapped it up without hesitation, and its entire body went still. It made a gagging sound as it dug its paws inside its mouth as if trying to wipe the taste away =.

”I take that as a no...”

”Guru! Guru guru!”

Nibbles crawled over next and pressed its face to the jar’s edge. Aisha scooped out a small amount and offered it.

The moment it touched Nibbles’ mouth, it savored it for half a second before it started spinning in place.

”You like it?”

Nibbles waved its antennae at her. Aisha giggled, finding its behavior funny.

She moved on to the star fruit, slicing a piece for each of them. Nibbles devoured its share and climbed onto her shoulder immediately, nudging for more. Kylin took one bite, finding the taste more acceptable.

By the time she returned to the villa that afternoon, the household had already received the news of her annulment ceremony with the prince.

Daisy met her at the door with a pale face, anxiously twisting her apron and making wrinkles on it already.”

”Mi—miss Aisha! What are we going to do? The news has been spreading around online. Everyone’s talking about you and the prince’s annulment ceremony!’

”I know,” Aisha nonchalantly replied and headed in. ”I’ve seen it.”

”What are you going to do, Miss Aisha?”

Since things had blown out of proportion, things wouldn’t look good on Aisha anymore. People would definitely look down on her more, and they would ostracize her!

What Daisy was most worried about was...

”Miss, what do we do about your dress?”

Aisha didn’t turn as she continued walking, and calmly replied, ”Don’t I have dresses at home?”

”Those won’t do! They’re outdated and have been used already. We need to get you fitted and have three dresses made for you. And the ceremony is in...” Daisy checked the date before saying, ”...in two days.”

Aisha halted in her tracks and contemplated it. Her maid was right. She couldn’t just waltz right into the grand hall in front of everybody without preparing anything.

Aisha continued walking and entered her bedroom. Without turning her head, she told her maid, ”Then we’ll find a tailor.”

”A tailor won’t be enough on such short notice for something this important! I’ll have to call the head seamstress from Sector 2, and she books months in advance, and even if she agrees, the fabric alone—”

”Daisy.”

The maid stopped and looked at her, chest heaving and eyes spinning already.

”Handle it as you see fit,” Aisha said, her calm composure instantly cutting through the maid’s panic. ”Spend however much you need to. I know I can trust your judgment.”

Daisy stared at her for a long moment, then nodded and hurried out of the room, muttering under her breath about having the best fabric and the most suitable color for that day.

”The color... what dress color do you want to wear?”

”Hmmm...” Aisha pondered before saying without thinking, ”Red?”

It was her favorite color.

”A red dress?” Daisy repeated, mulling those words. Then, as if she thought of something, she instantly lightened up and giggled. ”Yes... Why didn’t I think of it?! You’re really smart, miss!”

”...what?” Suddenly, Aisha felt a sense of foreboding.

”That’s right. If you wore red during the ceremony, no one would be able to look away from you!” Daisy didn’t hear her. Her mind had already flown to another place with an excited look on her face. ”And that scumbag of a prince... hehe...”

”D-daisy...” Aisha felt the need to rectify her words. ”What do you mean—?”

”Don’t worry, miss!” Daisy finally turned her attention to her. ”I’ll make sure that everyone will know about your message!”

Then she ran off before Aisha could tell her to explain things to her.

Seeing the maid leave so fast, Aisha let out a deep sigh.

”It’s alright,” she comforted herself.

If anything, her maid had been the one taking care of her since she had come to this world. She could definitely trust Daisy on this...right?

Aisha let herself fall onto the bed and stared at the ceiling where the holographic vines swayed lazily overhead.

An annulment ceremony.

To think she’d ever live to see a day where she would have one...