"Cough! Aaaanyway…" Faking a cough, she began:
"Lyuuuuu will…feeeeel…beeeeetter. Feeeeel better!" She started spinning her finger in front of Lyu's eyes and nose.
"…"
"Lyuuuuuuu wiiiiiiiiiill smile!"
Her finger kept moving. Lyu froze up like a statue.
What is this?
Some kind of ritual?
Is this a psychological attack?
"Yay!"
"?"
She pressed Lyu's nose for the finishing blow.
"It's a good-luck charm to make you feel better. I do it for the kids I know all the time, you know?"
Saying that, Syr smiled as though she had finished a hard task.
Unable to intercept it, Lyu again froze.
"…H-huh? You didn't start smiling? That's strange…"
Syr looked genuinely confused as she watched Lyu stay frozen. When Lyu's head finally started moving, she glared with half-closed eyes as if to say, What are you doing? That's rude.
Syr awkwardly forced a laugh. She did not notice Lyu's sullen look.
Lyu's eyes, which had been empty just a minute ago, started to cloud with emotion after her back-and-forth with the girl.
"That bed-ridden elf up yet?"
Just then, another person entered the room: a female dwarf with a good physique. She was tall for a dwarf, taller even than Lyu. The word giant fit her perfectly, and her earth-colored ponytail made a strong impression. Without saying a word, one could tell she had a hearty disposition.
"Yes, Mama. It seems her name is Lyu Leon. Lyu, this person is mistress of the place where I work. Her name is Mia."
Mia…?
As Syr stood up, the word "Mia" triggered a reaction in Lyu. A certain piece of information crossed her mind, but she shook her head immediately, dismissing it.
"Jeez, more hassles when I'm already short on staff. And it's not a stray dog or a stray cat you go picking up, but a pain-in-the-ass elf."
"But, Mama Mia, you let me, didn't you?"
As Mia's grumbles mixed with sighs, Syr smiled back.
Lyu knit her eyebrows. Mia talked like a dwarf who naturally did not get along well with elves. The mistress looked down at her.
"I saw the clothes and gear that she took off you…You're Gale Wind, aren't you?"
At that, Lyu's expression immediately changed. Her eyes sharpened to a piercing gaze. Hearing the name Gale Wind, Syr looked surprised.
"And if I am, what will you do? Hand me over to the Guild?"
Lyu knew that a wanted person like her was deemed dangerous. It was fair to say she had already abandoned herself. As Lyu confronted her, Mia snorted at the inanity of it all.
"Why would I need to do something annoying like that, idiot?"
"Wh—"
"When you can move again, then do whatever you want. You just have to pay a reasonable price for the three days you've stayed here." Lyu looked stunned at her unthinkable response.
"Lyu? If it's convenient for you, why don't you stay here for a little while? If you stay at this tavern, you'll be safe. At least until the excitement has calmed down a bit."
What is this girl saying? It would be normal to be scared of a top-tier wanted person, or at least be excited by the opportunity to turn them in for money. Even if this is a trap, it would be pointless to trick me like this, though, since I can't resist anyway.
Lyu was confused by the fact that these two were entirely unconcerned about her identity. Her heart was in disarray.
"Mama Mia is reaaally strong. She can definitely protect you, Lyu. And I want to know more about you. So—" Don't get any closer.
And stop looking at me with that smile.
Don't stick out your hand with a smile that reminds me of Alizé.
Lyu's throat quivered, unable to endure the anguish oozing inside her heart.
"I—I…!"
Without realizing it, she shouted as though trying to shake off her confusion.
"I…I already have nothing left—comrades, a place to return to…I did something incredibly foolish, and I should have died then." Her fingers dug into the blanket, and all the thoughts that were stored up in her heart spilled out in repentence.
"Lyu…" Seeing Lyu's distress, a sad, lonely expression appeared on Syr's face.
"Arrrgh! No way, no way. This is what you get from elves. High-strung and obstinate—it's annoying." Mia responded bluntly, paying no heed to Lyu's pained expression.
"Your life would have ended if she didn't do anything. You should at least think of it as good luck. And what is that crap you're saying? When did elves become so impolite they can't even say thanks to the person who saved their life?"
"Tch! Like a boorish dwarf could understand!"
Lyu forgot her pain in her indignation. She had become more flexible after entering Astrea Familia, but the elf's stubborn side was exposed here.
"My reason for living is already gone!"
As Lyu forcefully said that—gurgle. A cute sound rang out from her torso.
"…"
"…"
"…"
Lyu froze, Syr stared in puzzlement, and Mia was in shock. Recognizing that her stomach had growled while she was talking, the proud elf turned bright red as she flailed in embarrassment.
"Looks like your body still wants to live, though."
"Gah…!"
A huge disgrace. Thinking back on it, given her total exhaustion followed by three straight days of sleep, it was natural her body would want nutrients. Lyu had not felt this embarrassed in years. Spurred on by Syr's stifled laughter, her slender ears got hotter. As she looked down, she resented her physiological response.
"Mama Mia."
"Hm?"
Syr winked at Mia as though plotting something. Lyu was too busy wallowing in shame to notice.
Mia looked dubious, but Syr smiled suggestively in return.
"No way around it. Ignoring a hungry person will hurt the tavern's reputation. Come on, eat some food."
"W-wait a minute! I didn't say anything about wanting to eat—!" Lyu did not know when to give up. Mia did not let her finish her refusal, glaring as she grabbed the elf's head in a vise grip.
"?!"
"Your babbling is annoying. Listen to what people say, you stubborn elf."
"...…?!"
Mia's large hand squeezed her head tightly, as if squashing a fruit. Still injured, Lyu could not evade it. She could not even react. More than anything, she could not escape the restraint at all. A trickle of sweat formed on the back of her head as the giant dwarf single-handedly restrained her. In that instant, Lyu understood the difference in strength between the two of them.
"Get changed and come get some food."
"Guh—"
Finally releasing Lyu, Mia turned around and lumbered out of the room. Breathing heavily, Lyu wiped away sweat as Syr whispered in her ear.
"Mama Mia is reeeeally scary when she gets mad. I think it would be better to come," Syr said with a cheerful smile.
Lyu looked back with frustration. She belatedly began to realize that she had been dropped into an outrageous place.
The reluctant elf was brought to the dining hall, a room not quite large enough to be called spacious. It was deserted; just the three of them were there. Mia disappeared for a little while into what was apparently the kitchen and returned carrying a plate with steam rising off it. It was a risotto with root vegetables of various colors and carefully boiled, finely cut chicken meat.
"There. Eat it before it's cold."
"Mama Mia's food is super-delicious."
"…"
She did not have the option to say no. She could imagine that vise grip on her head if she imprudently refused again. With a slightly reproachful glare at being forced to sit at the dinner table, Lyu picked up the spoon in resignation.
She scooped up a little bit of the rice and vegetables and brought it to her lips.
"…"
First, the pleasant flavor of the broth-soaked rice spread through her mouth. Next was the flavor of the vegetables. They melted into the mellow rice and warmed the inside of her mouth. At the same time, the chicken meat split apart and seemed to melt on top of her tongue. The ingredients' natural flavors mixed together and supported each other. Lyu looked down at the risotto as a rich scent wafted up from the plate.
"…The flavor is strong. I prefer it simpler."
"That so?"
"Dwarf cooking is too rough. Skillful elf cooking is more refined."
"That's too bad."
Mia ignored Lyu's disinterested complaints, as though she did not care. Standing to the side, Syr watched over the graceful elf. Lyu listed multiple broad complaints, but finally, her cheeks lightly flushed, she whispered in wonder.
"But…it's warm and delicious."
Mia's mouth curved into a bold grin. Syr smiled broadly. Like a snowfield under the spring sun, Lyu's stiff cheeks finally softened. The dwarf mistress suddenly spoke up.
" 'Eat delicious food.' That's a fine purpose to have in life, a reason to keep living."
The overly earnest Lyu, her body warmed by the food and the tranquil flavor still on her tongue, mistook what Mia said for a wise proverb.
She's right; the reason people go on living might just be something like that.
Lyu picked up her spoon and ate another bite of risotto. And another. And another. Before long the plate was empty.
"Ho-ho! You ate all of it."
"…Thank you…very much."
As Syr took care of the plate, Lyu thanked them awkwardly. She looked down at her bandaged hands with an embarrassed expression on her face, her lips loosened ever so slightly, and she felt like a little bit of happiness had spread through her empty shell.
"So—you ate it."
At that point…
Watching over Lyu from the side, Mia's tone of voice suddenly changed.
"That's the result of someone's labor, you know. Lots of valuable ingredients were put into it, too."
"…What are you saying?" Lyu's voice hardened again as she sensed a suspicious atmosphere.
"You didn't think that feast was free, did you? I let you eat some food, and I'll be sure to charge a price. I'll have you pay the bill in full." Mia grinned as she answered.
"The price…totals up to fifty million valis."
"Th-that's absurd!" Lyu slammed her hand on the table as she stood up forcefully, doubting her ears the moment she heard the price.
"Seems like you can't pay. Guess I've got no choice. I'll have you work here to pay off what you owe," Mia continued, unconcerned.
"Wh…!"
"It's perfect, since I've been low on staff."
She was lost for words as the dwarf mistress said that without any hesitation, as though she had planned it. Shocked, Lyu felt her voice rising.
"That's oppression—fraud!! Like I'd let you get away with an excuse like that…!"
Lyu would normally never lose her composure to this extent. Ordinarily, she would have instantly retaliated against an outrage like this, but she could not. Because Mia was stronger.
Her clenched fists trembled at the unreasonable humiliation she was suffering.
"This is Orario, you know? You never know what'll happen, aboveground or in the Dungeon."
Like a towering boulder, Mia did not waver in her arrogant demand. Lyu turned to Syr.
"In this tavern, whatever Mama Mia says is absolute~~." This girl's just crying crocodile tears…!
As Lyu's face gradually twitched, Mia delivered the finisher.
"Syr is right. Here we go by my law. If I say black is white, then it's white."
The giant dwarf smiled viciously.
—Looking back on this later, Lyu would recognize this series of events was a pretext to cheer her up. Syr and Mia were desperately conspiring to get her to keep going. However, there was no way Lyu would understand that at the time.
—I've been had!
The elf was screaming in her mind.
"It's decided. I'll have you work as an employee at my tavern."
From that day forward, Lyu was forced to work at The Benevolent Mistress.
Eight thousand valis rent. That was the cost of the apartment Runoa was leasing.
"I took it in the end, but…should this be my last job?"
The location was in the city's northwest block, seventh district. It was a corner of Orario near the giant wall that encircled the city. The three-story apartment building got no sunlight thanks to the wall, and it was cold at night because the building was made of stone. Runoa had taken a liking to this property. Because of the location, no one came by. People living in the building were all poor or had something to hide, like Runoa.
And since the dwarf owner's stated policy was "As long as you pay your rent, I don't care," Runoa was grateful to not have anyone prying into her business unnecessarily. And best of all, it was quiet. The occasional person talking to themselves and ominous laughter coming from the room next door were a bit of an annoyance, though…
Bounty hunting was a profession where it was easy to make enemies, so she had not told anyone this address.
"If it's going to be my last, then I'll end with a win. Well…except this one is Gale Wind, though."
The single stone room had only a handful of furnishings, the bare minimum: crude wooden bed, magic-stone lamp, etc.
The only thing of note was her work outfit—the black gauntlets and battle clothes—and a handmade sandbag.
The wooden chair creaked as Runoa sat down, after turning on the magic-stone stove to make a pot of hot milk. She looked over the information sheet for her target.
"Other than the place she's hiding, there's nothing. Even if she always wore a mask to hide her identity, it's weird they don't even know her full name. Adventurers are supposed to be registered with the Guild, aren't they?"
The paper she had received from the corporation that supposedly had the profile of Gale Wind did not even have a description of the person.
Useless. Runoa grimaced.
"Dammit, Guild, don't publish worthless information…"
The Guild was covering for Gale Wind. She was the last living member of Astrea Familia, who had worked with them to maintain the peace and order of the city.
No, protecting her isn't quite right. Maybe a final mercy is a bit closer.
Gale Wind had lost herself in revenge, exacting retribution against all the merchants and adventurers who supported her enemies—even the Guild members who had worked with them—so they could not get away without punishing her. They had revoked her status as an adventurer and registered her on the blacklist. The organization had kept up appearances.
"It doesn't seem like there's any more information, though…Guess I have to check it out myself."
Once she decided, she jumped into action. That was Runoa Faust, bounty hunter. Grabbing the scarf she always wore, she stood up. Her destination was the tavern The Benevolent Mistress, where Gale Wind had been taken. Quickly finishing her preparations, she opened the door and headed for that bar.
"Astrea Familia…That faction's rank was B. Eleven members, all of them second-tier adventurers. They reached the forty-first floor, cleared twenty-one floor bosses…Mrrow, the more I read, the more monstrous she looks."
Lying on a bed in her underwear, Chloe murmured. Her single stone room had an extravagantly plush carpet, a bed with a canopy on it, a chandelier-style magic-stone lamp, and magic-stone fireplace, everything heavily customized in order to be more luxurious. It was without a doubt a palace for Chloe alone, the epitome of bad taste and wasteful spending.
For the price, the room was perfect…other than that from time to time she could hear the dull sounds of something being struck in the room next door.
This was the secret address of the one feared in the underworld as Black Cat.
Propping her cheek up as she lay on the bed, her black cattail wriggling from her similarly colored lingerie, Chloe sighed as she looked down at the parchment.
"You can tell how tough she is just from the Guild's public information, meow. This familia caught a lot of the Evils."
The information sheet spread across her pillow was not about Gale Wind herself, but about the faction she belonged to—the no-longer-extant Astrea Familia.
"According to the Guild's public information, Gale Wind was a Level
Four. But if you add in that she destroyed the final ally of the Evils, Rudra Familia, by herself…then she is top class among Level Fours, no doubt, meow."
Ah, I don't want to kill her, Chloe thought as she lay facedown on the pillow.
Level Fours are hard to do, and if I'm not careful, I'll get killed in the cross fire.
Regret over jumping the gun welled up in her chest.
"…Oh well, meow. This is my last job anyway, meow. I'm getting a lot of money for this, and after I run away from here, I can live easy with lots of cute boys to take care of me, meow."
Chloe giggled evilly to herself as wicked ideas ran through her mind. Losing herself in wild daydreams for a little while, the catgirl rolled on her back and held her slender hand up to the light.
"Finishing off Gale Wind will be my crowning glory, meow."
She hopped to her feet and put on the tunic and robe that lay carelessly on the floor.
Facing someone truly strong head-on was suicide. Therefore, assassination—the ability to freely use poison, traps, and the like at the right time and right place to take someone out unaware. To do that, it was necessary to understand the target's habits and area of activity.
She was not going to be lazy about gathering information on her target. This was Chloe Lolo, assassin. Her target was the tavern The Benevolent Mistress, where Gale Wind had escaped. Wearing her hood for disguise, Chloe opened the door to her room.
""Uhn?""
As the two doors thudded closed at the same time, Chloe and Runoa saw each other. Both were dressed up like they were going out. Neighbors who had not met before today.
Who's that sick-looking human, meow?
Who's this degenerate catgirl?
They kept their opinions to themselves. Chloe snickered at the human who did not care about her appearance, and Runoa made a dubious face at the mysterious catgirl hiding her eyes.