Gaudy decorations and excessive luxuries seem to be the norm for almost everyone rich in Ebrilyon. In a district where mostly nobles resided, there was a rustic yet impressive-looking mansion there. It stood out as the smallest of the street where it was built, but that said nothing about its owner. It was a villa, reserved only for special occasions, and considering that, it appeared more impressive than its neighbors.

  Inside was luxury left and right. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t been in places like this before. I’m getting used to it, and I’m starting to get tired. Don’t any of these guys have any personality?

  Bea’s humble office looks better in comparison. It’s much smaller, but it’s easy to see how everything there is set up for her and Flanne to do their work and not work. Way cozier.

  “So you’re the one they sent for me? One of the princess’s aides? Am I missing something?” Bea asked me to meet a noble with a request for Galene. We sat on two opposing couches in a large, carpeted room with expensive furniture along every wall.

  “Where’s the heroine? Have they forgotten what respect is in this country?”

  We had barely started, and this guy was already acting like an asshole. His name was Thivadi. He was a young man with wavy, silver bangs and red eyes. He leaned back on the couch with his legs crossed, wearing a white suit and a cape. And, as if he couldn’t get any worse, he had his arm wrapped around a woman who was clinging onto him.

  Like, is this what passes as respect where he’s from? What’s wrong with these guys?

  “I’m here as the heroine representative, and I’ve been entrusted with this role by the princess herself. I should be more than enough to handle this role, so if you have any problems, feel free to complain to the princess directly.” I’m not interested in dealing with his crap, so I leaned back and threw my weight around a bit. When I lay my cards down like this, I kinda sound like a big deal.

  The guy kept his nose up, looking down at me, but didn’t bring it up again. “Very well… As long as you can pass this onto the heroine, that will do.” He scoffed.

  Since Galene isn’t here, he wants to get it over as soon as possible. Honestly, I’m fine with that. Let me leave as soon as possible.

  “My request is nothing out of the ordinary… Nothing the heroine shouldn’t be able to handle. Simple monster extermination.” He leaned forward, grabbed a glass of wine that had been sitting on the small table, and took a sip. “My lands have been having problems with a strange kind of wolf monster. They’re more aggressive, mindlessly so, and they’ve been attacking farmers and anyone they can sink their teeth into. I want the heroine to go to their nest and exterminate them.”

  Monstrous wolves, huh? I was right… This is that one quest from the game… And if that’s the case… Then everything he just said is a lie.

  Farmers getting attacked? Indiscriminate aggression? All lies. All he wants is to expand his business, and the wolves are in the way. The ones getting attacked are the builder and lumberjacks he ordered to go into the monsters’ territory. That’s how it goes in the game.

  “I understand. I’ll pass that on to her.” But it’s not like I can do anything about it. The request has technically already been accepted. My job is just to pass on the details to the heroine.

  I can’t just call this guy a liar and get him arrested. It’s true that he’s trying to use Galene for his own gain, but this dude doesn’t even appear in the game. For all I know, there’s a chance that this isn’t even his plan, and he’s just parroting someone else’s idea. He might not be the mastermind…

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  …

  And that’s how my meeting went. That’s how I explained it to Carol while sitting next to her on the couch near the entrance of the dorm.

  “That’s how it went. How are these guys all so annoying? At least there were no footsteps outside the door from assassins trying to kill me. That’s a step up from last time.” We were the only ones around, but there was no telling when that would change. I leaned on her and grabbed her shoulder.

  “It was very draining… I need to recharge, so don’t mind me while I cling onto you!” Ahh… My sweet Carol… Lovingly listening to me go on and on about my problems.

  “Haha…” She let out a small laugh with a listless look on her face. “Sounds like a pain… Good thing I didn’t go with you this time…” She patted my head in a daze in a comforting way. She was listening properly, wasn’t she? “What about Galene? Did you meet her?” Carol moved things along. I mentioned her earlier when explaining Bea’s request.

  “Galene…? Yeah, I talked to her and Abby. Apparently Galene has been going around Ebrilyon doing favors for people, so that’s good for us. If we can earn her trust, that’s gonna help us with our goal.”

  “That’s nice…” The conversation had become more serious. Carol pulled back her hand, blushing at what she was doing in a trance.

  “Just so you know, earning her trust is fine, but you better not go around trying to get her into a relationship.” Carol suddenly pushed me away and poked my cheek accusatorily.

  “Uhmm… Do I look like the kind of girl who would do that?” I looked up at her, trying to appear as innocent as I possibly could.

  “If we were going by looks, I’d give you a maybe. But we’re not, and knowing you, you’re definitely thinking about it!”

  “…” Guilty as charged… I couldn’t say anything else, so I meekly hung my shoulders and waited for her to move on.

  Carol calmed down and didn’t mention it again. “So… Are you gonna need my help?”

  “Your help…? You wanna come with us? Sure! The more the merrier, right?”

  Carol stared for a moment without saying anything. “That’s fine and all, but do you actually think you’re gonna need my help?” Carol paused. “I’m actually pretty busy, you know? I can make some time, but only if you’re sure you actually need me.”

  “I think so…” We’re getting into a sensitive topic for her. I have to be careful now. “It’s hard to say ahead of time, but I’m sure there’s gonna be something where you can help.” She’s worrying about being useful again, huh? It’s not like it’s her fault or anything… I’ve just been a little too effective lately. She’s been doing well, and I have nothing to complain about, but it’s not that simple for her, is it?

  “I see… You should go without me this time then. I have something I need to work on…” She looked away with a conflicted look on her face.

  I wish I could do more for her, but… “Alright. I’ll be waiting.” It’s best to just trust her for now… I patted her head. At least she’s not at risk this way. “How did it go when you stayed behind to practice the other day? Were you with Ririna?”

  “Uhhh… Yeah…” Her tone was slightly avoidant. “She just showed me some places with weak monsters so I could try some things… Nothing major… But enough about this…”

  Carol stood up, and the vibe suddenly changed. She stopped in front of me with forceful steps and leaned over, grabbing my shoulders. “Huh? What…?” She had an intense yet playful look on her face, like she was ready for a challenge she was sure she would win.

  “Isn’t it obvious? I want to know what my naughty girlfriend was up to when I was working hard. You went on a date with Hecate, didn’t you? Did you enjoy yourself? Hmm?” She pinned me against the couch and almost climbed onto my lap.

  “Hehehe… It was amazing…” Remembering the cuddling and huddling made me melt a bit… Wait, not in front of Carol. “Hey, I told you about it, and you didn’t say anything. You can’t complain about it now, okay?”

  “I’m not complaining, but I do have to tease you a bit…” She fully climbed on top to poke me again. “This is payback for favoritism.”

  “You’re tickling me!” I couldn’t get away. “It wasn’t! It really wasn’t! I spent the whole day with you when we were helping Sarasa, right? Hecate stayed back by herself, so I had to make it up to her. It’s the opposite of favoritism.” Carol stopped and pouted.

  “I get what you’re saying, but…” Her voice grew a bit sulky. “We were together because we were doing something. With Hecate, you went out of your way just to be with her. It’s not the same…”

  Damn… That’s kinda true. “I didn’t mean it like that, okay? Don’t get mad. You want me to make it up to you somehow? Nothing too crazy…”

  Carol scoffed. She pulled back and looked down at me with a victorious grin. “As if you have a say in that. You’re gonna make it up to me, and you’re gonna do exactly what I say.” Huh? Is this getting a bit dangerous, or is it just me? Why is she talking like that? Should I be scared or excited?

  “Wh- what do you mean? You can’t really force me to do anything… That’s wrong…” Though, if she was insistent enough, what would I say no to?

  “Don’t act dumb. Back on the cruise ship, when you started dating Hecate, what was it you said to make it up to me?” Carol brought a hand to her ear. “Come on… I wanna hear you say it.”

  Suddenly, a set of words passed through my mind… Words that should never be said. Something along the lines of…

  ‘I’ll do whatever you want…’

  “You’re bringing that up?!” Ughh… What now…? Is it going to be alright… I did promise… “Wh- what do you want me to do?”

  Carol leaned forward, her hand reaching for my cheek. “I’ve been thinking about what the best thing to ask would be. It should be something special, something unique…”

  Special? Unique…?! Ca- Carol! We can’t! It’s too soon… I- is she after… my- my chastity?!

  “Iroha…” Wh- what?! “I want to visit your room.”

  …

  Mind completely blank. “My room? That’s just upstairs. We can go there right now.”

  “Not that one, you idiot. Your real room.”

  My real…

  “Huuhhh?!?!”