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༺ Serena's Detective Agency ༻
"Eeek!"
Miho, having partially reverted from her monstrous form, struggled to get up with all her might.
"Stay still."
"Hiccup…"
However, with just a single command from Lulu, she hunkered down again. She started trembling in fear, without a hint of anger.
'…What's going on here?'
As I watched the scene unfold in a daze, I turned my gaze to the shattered Stone of Domination glistening in the distance and my mind raced with thoughts.
'The Stone of Domination clearly had been destroyed…?'
Miho, the mystical beast turned monster, was treated as the final boss of the first-year scenario. In other words, defeating her was a feat in itself, let alone control her.
So, how did Lulu manage to subdue her with just her words? Although many strange things had happened so far, for this one, I could no longer make sense of it at all.
"M-master, what should I do?"
While I was pondering these thoughts, Lulu turned her head and anxiously asked me.
– Crackle… ckle…
Her Magic Eyes were still burning in a deep, ruby hue.
"Could it be… that Magic Eyes?"
Only then could I grasp the circumstances to some extent.
This miraculous event was probably the result of the Magic Eyes that Lulu possessed.
'This is so strange.'
However, just as I said before, I could only grasp it to "some extent," leaving many lingering questions.
What was the exact nature of the ability newly acquired by Lulu's Magic Eyes? I thought it was simply the ability to help her analyze and comprehend something.
And what triggered this ability to develop? There weren't any signs leading up to it.
"For now… put her to sleep."
"Y-yes."
However, since Miho's condition looked dire, I decided to put my thoughts aside and instead give an order.
"…Go to sleep."
"Ugh…"
Soon after, Miho, having almost completely shaken off the effects of her monster transformation, closed her eyes and collapsed, unconscious.
"..."
And then, a silence followed.
"Uh, mmph…"
Amidst the silence, Lulu, who had been staring at me for a while, suddenly spoke with hesitation.
"P-pet me, please."
"…..!?"
And, simultaneously, I could feel a strange impulse.
Of course, as someone with a high mental strength, I could resist it, though an ordinary person might not have been as fortunate.
"Uh, uhh I'm sor…"
Meanwhile, Lulu nervously apologized for issuing the command she may have wanted to test.
"Ack… Ugh…!"
Suddenly, she reached out and touched her eyes, swaying unsteadily before collapsing.
"Uh… Uh…"
"Lulu? Are you ok… Ack!"
Startled, I rushed to her and, after feeling her body, found myself surprised.
'Why is her body so hot…?'
Her body was burning like a fireball.
– Crackle…
Moreover, her eyes were bloodshot from continuously emitting sparks.
Should this continue, Lulu would undoubtedly suffer grave injuries.
– Crackle!
Hence, I exerted a measure of force to lull Lulu into unconsciousness and, fortunately, extinguished her burning Magic Eyes.
"Phew…"
Looking alternately between the unconscious Lulu and Miho, I sighed, before I turned my gaze to Serena, who had been watching me all this time.
"…..Hmm."
She gazed at me, Miho, and Lulu in turn with a suspicious look, all the while staying silent.
Then, she fixed her gaze on me.
"So annoying, it was an expensive item."
Revealing my identity to the daytime Serena would put me in a difficult situation. So, to avoid being exposed to her, I spoke in a cold tone and then strongly kicked Lulu in her direction.
"Believe that I really kicked her."
Of course, I hadn't actually kicked Lulu. I simply pretended to, issuing the command to Serena, who was under the influence of the Absolute Obedience magic, to believe it.
"F-Frey."
While I maintained my facade, Serena, who had been staring blankly at me, approached me anxiously.
"What's going on…?"
"Don't mind that. Just bring a healing potion. After administering first aid, we're leaving here."
"H-here you go."
Saying so, Serena took out a healing potion from her pocket and spoke with a timid expression.
"C-could you stay a bit longer… We could simply chat or discuss what happened just now…"
"You don't have to worry about what happened just now."
"I see, but still, stay with me just a little more…"
"I've already told you."
My words carried a chill as I felt that staying here any longer could lead to various difficulties, but then Serena pointed at my lower attire hesitantly.
"…A-are you really going out in that condition?"
"Ah."
Only then did I realize that my lower attire was torn, and I frowned.
'…Come to think of it, I haven't accomplished my original goal of coming here.'
With that realization, I sighed and spoke to Serena.
"Now that I think about it, I have a request for you…"
"Yes! I understand! I'll prepare it right away!"
Before I could finish speaking, Serena responded with a wide smile, clapping her hands.
– Whoosh!!
Two masked assassins suddenly emerged from underground.
"…Take care of them."
Serena ordered the assassins with a cold tone.
"P-please wait for a while until the preparations are done. While you're waiting, can I offer you some coffee? You like coffee, right? Please?"
Then, she addressed me with a growing unease etched across her face.
"Sigh…"
Somehow, it had become a day that left me with many profound thoughts.
.
.
.
.
.
"Ahem, mhmm…"
"..."
I was looking at Serena, who was sitting on the sofa in the reception room, clearing her voice.
"So, what exactly are you doing now?"
Serena was deftly organizing the files when I asked this, and she eventually turned towards me, wearing a smile.
"You have seen it yourself, right? I'm taking on your request."
Sitting beside Serena, Miho was glaring daggers at me.
"I said I wanted to make a request to your newly established Information Guild, not to sit down and make small talk."
Feeling anxious that I could be attacked at any moment, I protested to Serena, and she replied swiftly.
"B-but… this is the required format at our agency…"
"Agency? Isn't this an Information Guild?"
"You didn't know?"
Serena's tone took on a serious note.
"The building I have newly set up here a few months ago is not just an ordinary Information Guild…"
"..."
"…I-It is a Detective Agency!"
She seemed to shrink under my cold gaze, her voice faltering during the conversation.
And, as if she had prepared it beforehand, Serena was wearing an old beret on her head, a checkered cloak draped over her shoulders, and even had an unlit cigarette in her hand.
"Uh, ugh…"
Blushing, she slightly hunched over and quietly checked my reaction.
'…She's so cute.'
Her composed expression replaced with a timid demeanor now looked so adorable, a striking contrast to her usual self.
Regrettably, we chose the first-floor reception room instead of the basement for our conversation.
"Hm…"
Anyway, this building appeared too shabby to be even called an Information "Guild," and now she wanted to call it a Detective Agency.
Also, why, all of a sudden, it was a Detective Agency?
"Isn't it rather unrealistic for a Young Lady, the present head of her family, to be running a Detective Agency? It seems like you have your head in the clouds these days, doesn't it?"
"W-well, I usually use a disguise spell when meeting clients!"
"No, that's not what I meant…"
I was about to bombard her with questions out of curiosity, but I stopped myself and fell into a contemplative silence.
'…Serena must have had her own thoughts.'
This couldn't just be a personal whim of "Daytime Serena." Even though her memories were erased, "Daytime Serena" was still somewhat under the control of "Nighttime Serena."
If that was the case, then this child's play must be part of Serena's grand plan… Unfortunately, I couldn't quite grasp her big picture.
Nevertheless, if her daytime activities were this focused on this "Detective Agency," then it must be worth it…
"Ah!"
While I was thinking about this, Serena suddenly clapped her hands and took out a letter.
"…What are you doing?"
Serena scratched her head before replying.
"I-I'm writing a letter to Miss Ferloche."
"…A letter?"
"Yes, Miss Ferloche had given me a request."
Serena said that while pointing at my shoulder, where the dove was perched.
"'My dove has left home! If you find it, I'll reward you generously!' That's what she said…"
"Gu?"
"M-Miss Ferloche is a regular at our agency because she often loses her dove…"
After imitating Ferloche's unique foolish intonation, Serena cautiously stared at me again when she realized my chilly reaction.
"...…"
Then, a long silence followed.
"B-but our agency has become quite famous! Despite appearances, our track record of solving cases is 100 percent. Also, recently, high-level status people…"
"I mean, none of the people who came here are of higher status than you.."
I let out a deep sigh upon hearing those words and started scrutinizing Serena, who, for some reason, had appeared somewhat timid since earlier.
"Eek…"
Unable to bear the mounting anxiety, Serena started to fidget.
"Playing childish games like this, how pathetic."
Then, I gave her the cold shoulder, pushing her to the brink of tears and mumbling.
"H-Her Majesty also entrusted me with a request…"
"Fine, take my requests then."
"…Y-yes!"
As I suppressed the cuteness I felt in her unusual, awkward and plain appearance, I continued to speak in a frosty tone. Serena swallowed dryly before her eyes began to light up.
"First, investigate the youngest paladin of the Church."
"W-why that person…"
"You don't need to know. Just investigate properly."
When I spoke to her in such a commanding tone, Serena, who had been trying to pry, had her pupils momentarily dilate, but she eventually nodded.
"Huh? Didn't you usually interrogate the client no matter what…."
"But why is that fellow here?"
While Miho, who was sitting next to her, grumbled, I asked Serena a question with a frown.
"S-She is my assistant!"
"Your assistant?"
"It's common for detectives to have an a-assistant…"
Serena answered timidly, glancing at Miho before continuing.
"I mean, she can fight when dangerous situations arise, can heal, and she's also surprisingly smart…"
"Fine, just listen to my second request then."
Cutting off Serena's lengthy speech, I darkened my expression and whispered to her.
"…Uncover the secret that the Church is hiding."
"H-huh what?"
Serena's eyes widened.
"T-to what extent…"
"All of it."
After firmly answering her, I stood up.
"Then, thanks for your service."
"W-wait, let's just talk a bit more…"
However, as I was standing up from my seat, Serena tried to grab my repaired pants.
"…If you do a good job, I'll take you on a date for a day."
"…..!"
Hearing that, she froze, her mouth hanging open.
"Then, I'll be going now…"
I smiled faintly at the cute Daytime Serena before leaving.
"…Gag."
Seated on the sofa, Miho made a displeased face and mimicked a disgusted sound, prompting me to shift my gaze toward her.
"What are you looking at, human?"
Miho glared at me as if she was going to devour me.
"Birds of a feather flock together, huh?"
I muttered under my breath, still wary of another possible attack. My only thought was to escape the reception room as soon as possible.
'…I guess there must be a plan, right?'
It still seemed like an eccentricity of the genius Young Lady, no matter how I saw it, but since it was Serena's plan, I tried to conclude my thoughts with the belief that there must be an intention behind it. With that in mind, I headed to the first floor.
"M-master…"
"Let's go, Lulu."
Along with Lulu, who was waiting for me with bandages over her eyes, I left the Detective Agency while muttering to myself.
'I should take a break today…'
I should rest well today and start looking for the other sub-heroines tomorrow.
.
.
.
.
.
As Frey guided his tired body and headed towards his carriage with Lulu…
"What the hell is this…"
Serena, who had been sitting in the reception room until then, looked down at a note in her hand with teary eyes.
[101 Ways to Win a Man's Heart]
Number 72: Appeal with a different appearance than usual.
Despite Serena dedicating her whole life to Frey, she had no experience in love, thus she had to learn about love through books.
– …And if the man shows any reaction, it means he noticed you. In other words, the mission is a success!
"Why isn't it working…"
Not realizing that her plan had completely succeeded, she was in tears.
"Oh, right! A date!"
Shortly after, she clapped her hands and stood up from her seat.
"Miho, reschedule all the appointments. I'm going to work on the task that Frey assigned from now on."
"What?"
To Serena's excited speech, Miho furrowed her brows, before eventually speaking..
"Are you being serious? You're postponing all the cases just for a date with that person?"
"Yes."
"…Even the case assigned by the Empress?"
"Yes."
"Sigh…"
Miho sighed deeply out of worry.
"Don't you actually hate that person?"
She asked with a displeased expression.
"Why should I dislike Frey?"
"…Never mind."
But soon, after realizing they were on different wavelengths, Miho shook her head, mumbling and frowning as she organized the files.
"By the way, what was that earlier…"
– Knock, knock.
All of a sudden, someone knocked on the reception room door.
"Lady Serena, a client has arrived."
"..."
A blind assassin informed that a client had come to the Detective Agency.
"Later, I'm busy right now. Add them to the appointment book and send them away for today…"
However, Serena, who was occupied with Frey's request, took out her coat and prepared to leave.
"I came on a recommendation!"
"…Whose recommendation?"
When someone entered despite being blocked by the assassin, Serena asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"It's, it's this person…"
"…Is it Miss Ferloche?"
Finally, Serena took a look at the messily written recommendation letter handed by the client.
"Please, come in."
Quietly sitting down, the client spoke.
– Creak…
"So, what brings you here?"
Serena inquired eventually as she studied the client patiently, Miho by her side..
"By any chance…"
Wearing a reversed robe, the client hastily clasped their hands together.
"…Have you heard about the rumor that's spreading widely these days?"
"Which kind of… rumor are you talking about?"
"It's about the Hero."
The ring on the client's clasped left hand softly gleamed.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02