Feeling the atmosphere grow increasingly tense due to Aesc's intervention, El-Melloi II sighed, pressing a hand to his face.
Reines, meanwhile, wore a smile that clearly relished the chaos. Beside them, Gray looked on, unsure of what to do, her gaze shifting anxiously toward El-Melloi II.
"Might I ask who you are…?" Hishiri Adashino addressed Aesc, her tone measured. "As far as I'm aware, the Department of Policies has had no conflict with you, correct?"
"Indeed, we haven't," Aesc replied, lifting the wide brim of her hat slightly as she gestured toward the fuming detective behind her, veins bulging and fists clenched.
"However, the great detective, Lord El-Melloi II, has already taken on this case and intends to investigate. I must ask you to refrain from making any rash moves against our client."
Damn it!
"My apologies, madam—let's not joke around any further." After taking a few deep breaths, El-Melloi II stepped forward, having regained his composure.
He introduced Aesc to Hishiri Adashino, "This is a new member of the El-Melloi classroom. As she said, I have accepted the request and will be looking into this matter."
"The El-Melloi classroom truly never fails to produce remarkable talent," Hishiri Adashino remarked, her eyes narrowing as she studied Aesc. She let out a soft, muffled laugh behind her wide sleeve.
Waletta Codrington, standing behind Hishiri Adashino, took a step forward. "You can't be serious. Is the Modern Magecraft Department attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of the Spiritual Evocation Department?"
"What a coincidence—the commission we accepted came directly from your own department," Reines replied with a light chuckle, spreading her hands innocently.
"Before the storm subsides, I would like to request your permission to investigate this workshop," El-Melloi II added, gesturing toward the window as he met Hishiri Adashino's gaze.
"Any findings will be shared openly with all parties. How does that sound?"
"In that case, I shall look forward to it." After exchanging a glance with Waletta, Hishiri Adashino turned and left the hall without another word.
Watching her departure, Wills let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Ladies, please wait a moment. I'll arrange your rooms right away." Wills then turned to El-Melloi II. "Lord, would you mind accompanying me to the study in private later?"
"Of course," El-Melloi II agreed without hesitation.
After the rooms for the ladies had been arranged, Wills led El-Melloi II away for their private discussion.
Meanwhile, the women who had chosen not to retire to their rooms continued to wander and converse.
"Shall we resume our little girls' gathering?" Reines suggested, propping her chin in her hand as she looked toward Gray.
Though it was called a "girls' gathering," it felt more like a storytelling session.
Gray still seemed a bit uneasy but settled beside Reines nonetheless.
Aesc also found a seat and joined them, listening with interest as they recounted El-Melloi II's unusual adventures.
"Back then, we were trapped inside a bounded field—ah, Miss Luviagelita was there too," Gray recalled, her hand unconsciously brushing over her cloak.
"Oh? So even Luviagelita got caught in a bounded field?" Reines's lips curled into a mischievous grin, as if already plotting how to tease Luviagelita about it later.
"Mm… In the end, we managed to escape thanks to Teacher's guidance." Gray decided it was best not to mention the part about Luviagelita and her teacher connecting their magical circuits.
Thinking back to the events at Adra Castle, Gray's hand drifted to touch Add, and she murmured softly, "Inside that castle, it was the first time I used…"
"Well, we've been sharing so many stories—how about you tell us something, Aesc?" Reines interjected, seemingly having missed Gray's last murmured words as she turned her attention to Aesc.
"If you want to pry into my background, you could just say so."
Not like it matters—even if I tell them tales from a Lostbelt, there's no way they'd guess I'm Morgan from one.
Aesc removed the hat from her head and placed it on her lap. "Hmm… You might not believe it, but I'm actually a fairy."
That certainly was a bombshell. Both Gray and Reines stared in astonishment, and even Add began repeating the word "fairy" in disbelief.
"I was adopted by fairies of the Rain Clan when I was young. Life among them was joyful, but later…" Aesc's nostalgic expression hardened, her hands on her lap slowly clenching. "Everything was destroyed by another group of wicked fairies."
"Miss Aesc…"
"But then, I met a new group of companions and began a new journey," Aesc continued, forcing a smile to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
What followed was the tale of a savior.
"By the way, I've noticed most of your stories revolve around El-Melloi II. You rarely speak about yourselves."
Aesc adjusted her glasses, the lenses reflecting a sharp white gleam under the light. "Don't tell me you don't have any friends to talk about?"
Reines, who had spent her childhood constantly on the run: "…"
Gray, who had been feared and shunned by villagers because of her resemblance to King Arthur: "…"
"Do you have any friends, Miss Aesc?"
Aesc, who only found companions after becoming a savior: "…Gray, you've become quite the little troublemaker, haven't you?"
"You started it, Miss Aesc," Gray retorted, puffing her cheeks in defiance.
"…Let's take a look around instead," Reines suggested, deftly steering the conversation away from the uncomfortable topic.
"Agreed."
With that, Reines and Aesc stood and began to explore their surroundings.
Watching Reines start to inspect everything in sight, Gray felt compelled to caution her. "Miss Reines, isn't it inappropriate to investigate privately like this?"
"It's fine. Hishiri basically gave us the go-ahead," Reines replied, dusting off her hands after examining a nearby surface. "And as for safety, isn't Aesc here with us?"
"I can't promise I'll step in if something happens," Aesc remarked without looking up from a book she'd seemingly produced out of nowhere. "Be careful on your own."
"Eh? And here I thought we were getting so close. How cold." Reines grinned and leaned in closer to Aesc. "By the way, you looked pretty cool earlier when you introduced our famous detective."
"Heh~ I'm starting to see the appeal of your little games," Aesc replied, sharing a knowing smile with Reines.
"Speaking of which, aren't you curious about this workshop?"
"I was a little curious before we arrived," Aesc admitted, casting a brief glance toward the floor before returning her attention to the book. "But once I got here, the workshop's secret became obvious to me."
Using the souls of the deceased to create artificial fairies—'Black Dogs.' The craftsmanship is mediocre, honestly. The efficiency in utilizing human material is lacking—such a waste, not even making use of the physical bodies.
Has the discerning eye of the Witch of the Rain made even my current self more critical?
Suddenly, a faint ripple of magical energy emanated from the direction of the study.
Hm… Has he already encountered that uncommunicative fairy?
And that location… Wait, why is he here?
Aesc casually teleported the book in her hands back to the study, then turned to Reines, who was already poking around another area. "Reines, press the gemstone beside the fireplace. There's a gentleman waiting below for someone to open the way."
"This one here?" Reines located the mechanism as instructed and pressed it.
Rumble…
"Whoa."
"This is…"
Both Reines and Gray gasped in unison as the space beneath the fireplace slid open, revealing a hidden staircase.
Seated on the steps was a burly man whose face was marked by a scar, the heavy scents of blood and gunpowder clinging to him.
"Well now, ladies—thanks for opening the door." The man, whose wild hair and beard gave him the look of a lion, grinned fiercely as he stepped into the room.
"If it weren't for you, I'd have had to take one hell of a detour to get out from down there."
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.