You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02
༺ Vague But Enough ༻
"A rumor about the Hero?"
The client quietly nodded as Serena started giving sharp glares, having dispelled her previously lovesick state.
"Um… What kind of rumor are you talking about regarding the Hero?"
Serena asked, her voice lowered slightly after she cast a quick glance at the client.
"Just a rumor about the Hero."
In response, the client also replied in a hushed tone.
"Just the Hero… So, excluding the 'Hero of Money' and also…"
Upon hearing the answer, Serena widened her eyes and started examining the files in front of her one by one.
"Oh, by the way, how do you know Miss Ferloche?"
With her gaze fixed on the files, she asked casually.
"Is it really necessary to know?"
"Ahaha, I'm sorry. It's a professional habit."
The client stared at Serena with confidence and asked in a bold tone. Serena responded with a smile.
"We met a few times at the hospital and the orphanage."
"A few times? But if you received a recommendation letter, there must have been some significant reason for you two to become close, right?"
As the client hesitated for a moment with a wary glance, her gaze then intensified.
"I'm sorry, but it's related to the Saintess and my personal circumstances, so I'd rather not disclose it."
"…I see."
However, the client remained firm, and because of that, Serena nodded though she wore a slightly disappointed expression.
[Recommended(?) Letter!]
[I, Ferloche! Guarantee this child's credibelity? And will introduce her to the detective agency…]
"That's what it says…"
She glanced at Ferloche's recommendation letter lying next to her and fell silent.
"So, do you know about the rumor?"
"Ah, yes, of course."
When the client looked at Serena with a hint of disbelief and asked her questioningly, Serena rested her hand on her chin and started speaking..
"Lately, there's a rumor spreading rapidly within the Imperial family and the church. Most high-ranking officials are already aware of it."
"Hmm…"
"And it seems like you know to some extent as well."
As Serena spoke in that manner, narrowing her eyes and fixing her gaze on the client, the client quietly tightened the robe she had been wearing inside out.
"You're using an interesting magic, aren't you? I can't see inside the robe. This is the first time I've encountered something like this…"
"Hmm, ehem."
Serena looked at the client with a slightly fascinated expression, but then turned her gaze back to the files when she sensed the client's discomfort, clearing her throat as she did so.
"Do you want me to share what I know about the rumors and information, or do you want further investigation?"
After rummaging through the files for a while and then glancing beyond them to the client, Serena asked.
"Both."
The client replied as such.
"Hmm… understood."
Hearing those words, Serena nodded and organized the scattered files on the table.
"By the way, have you brought the commissioning fee?"
Serena asked, tilting her head.
"Investigation requests require a deposit, and information sharing falls into the realm of trade. So…"
"You foolish human. You're going to return it later anyway. So, why bother asking for it?"
"…Shh."
Serena silenced Miho, who was grumbling from the side.
"A certain amount of money is needed… Oh."
As she turned her gaze back to speak, Serena's eyes widened when she saw the bags of gold coins on the desk.
"This should be enough."
Serena said that as she quietly gathered the bags of gold coins. Then she started to speak on the topic at hand after opening the organized files.
"First, do you know about the prophecy from a thousand years ago that predicted the appearance of the Hero and the official announcement of the Commoner's Dormitory Raid Incident' regarding the Demon King's appearance?"
"Yes."
"Then, you also know about the 'Slave Market Raid Incident' to some extent. right?"
Upon hearing that, the client frowned for a moment.
"Yes, all of it."
The client answered briefly.
"Hmm."
Serena stared at the client, her legs slightly crossed.
"Why did a person of such importance like yourself come to the detective agency, and why did you purchase information?"
She then showed a faint smile as she threw the question.
"Why?"
Then, once again, the client responded in a dull voice.
"It was because I need to confirm with my own eyes whether you actually have the ability and whether you are trustworthy enough."
"...…"
The reception room fell into a short silence.
"You are…interesting."
Eventually, Serena commented in a whisper, her amusement growing more evident than ever.
Then, she gazed intently at the client, whose face remained obscured in the faintly emerging light, and spoke.
"The first time the Hero revealed themself was during the Slave Market Raid Incident. The Hero infiltrated that place wearing armor known as the 'Hero's Armament'."
"Yes."
"The hero who appeared there engaged in a battle with the Demon King's army that had appeared. For some reason, without revealing their identity, they fled and disappeared."
Upon hearing that, the client frowned, and Serena tapped the files while continuing to share information
"Up to this point, it's a well-known fact. Well, though ordinary people aren't even aware that the person is the Hero."
"So, you do have a rough idea about it."
"…Is this what you consider high-level information?"
Hearing Serena's words, the client leaned forward and inquired.
"Is that all there is?"
"No, there's a bit more. After that, the Hero, who had gone into hiding, somehow secretly contacted the Imperial family and the Church, revealing their identity as the Hero."
"Hmmm."
"I don't know what methods were used, but the current 'Hero' is somewhat recognized by the upper class, and once the upcoming 'Verification Ceremony' is over, they will officially be known as the Hero to the public."
When Serena finished her sentence, she stared directly at the client.
"So, is that the end?"
"What?"
"Is that all the information you have?"
The client asked with her arms crossed.
"…Well, it is but…"
Serena shrugged and replied, causing the client to briefly sigh and mutter with her head bowed.
"It's not as much as I hoped for… What should I do? I have to protect the Hero somehow…"
"However, although it isn't credible information… I have a personal guess."
"A guess?"
Serena whispered in a low voice to the client, who looked down after hearing that.
"The Hero currently active is a fake."
Serena stated confidently, closely observing the client's reaction.
"…..!"
As a result, Serena noticed a slight tremor in the client's body.
"Hmph…"
Serena, who had expected such a reaction, let out a snort.
"How did you know?"
The client in front of her asked with a trembling voice.
"D-did you deduce it? Were there other informants? If not, then…"
"Fufu, maybe…"
Serena smiled calmly and mumbled to herself.
"Among the people I know, there is one who will inevitably awaken and become the Hero, you see."
"…..?"
'…Probably.'
"Excuse me?"
Serena, who had her mind filled with the images of the man she loved even though all her memories were erased, regained her composure and opened her mouth when the client asked with a bewildered voice.
"With this, is this enough proof for my ability to be considered sufficient?"
"Yes, yes."
"Then, will you entrust me with the request?"
"Yes! I'll provide you with all the information I know, so please investigate everything about the 'Hero'!"
Upon hearing the client's eager voice, Serena smirked, put the files away, and asked a question.
"Besides that, do you have any other requirements?"
"Oh, right."
The client started rummaging inside her inner chest pocket.
"Th-this, I mean. I want to find the owner of this item… Is it possible?"
What the client handed to Serena were shattered buttons, glinting and attached to the white fabric.
"This…"
"Where did you get this? And why do you want to find the owner?"
"Uh… it's a bit complicated to explain… Um…"
The shattered buttons, bearing the faint engraving of the Sunrise Academy emblem, felt all too familiar to Serena.
"These are most likely … from the academy uniform…"
"Do you happen to know the Hero of Money?"
"Huh?"
"I secretly tore this off their clothes… Um, how should I explain this?"
As Serena gazed at her muttering quietly, she casted a more penetrating gaze upon the client, who began scratching their head awkwardly.
"...…."
Because of that, the reception room fell into deep silence for a while.
.
.
.
.
.
As time passed and evening approached…
"Well then, I'll entrust it to you."
"Very well, goodbye."
Serena bid farewell to the client, who had left the reception room after their conversation had ended.
"Huwaa…"
She released a deep sigh, reclining on the couch while nibbling on a lollipop.
"Human, cut it out with the candies. Your teeth will rot."
"…In order to get the brain working, I require sweets."
Eventually, with her eyes gently closed, Serena continued to savor the candy.
"You seemed strange today."
"Huh?"
"Why aren't you showing off your usual deduction skills and laying out your analysis of the client like you always do?"
"..."
When Miho tilted her head and asked, Serena fell silent, removing the lollipop from her mouth.
"Perhaps you couldn't figure out the identity this time? Well, I felt the same way, human. That client, for some reason, concealed her appearance…"
Seeing Serena like this, Miho scratched her head and spoke.
"…I'm just trying not to provoke anyone for no reason."
"…?"
After answering like that, Serena muttered to herself while tapping her fingers on the desk.
"I don't know about you, but it would be rather odd if I couldn't see through it as well, don't you think?"
"Again with the boasting, human."
"I can't believe this. Even when I used the analysis magic created by Miss Irina and me, I still couldn't discern that person's identity… Who on earth was that?"
"….."
Ignoring Miho's words, Serena continued to mumble, prompting Miho to stare at her intently.
"So, in the end, was it because you couldn't make deductions that you didn't showcase your skills this time?"
She asked while tilting her head.
"…I failed at making deductions? Not at all."
At that moment, Serena, with a slight frown, replied while biting onto the lollipop again.
"That client is a petite girl in her teens who has led a difficult life, likely an orphan. However, she probably has at least one family member to support. She may also have a fiancé or someone who holds significance in her life. And most likely, that person is the Hero of Money."
"H-How did you figure that out?"
At first, Miho didn't believe such words, but as she continued to see the astonished reactions from clients, she came to believe Serena's words as an unwavering truth, so when Miho posed a question.
"It was a clever move that she flipped the robe to conceal her body shape. However, she couldn't conceal the wrinkles and creases that had accumulated over time on the robe she had frequently worn."
As she nibbled on the lollipop, Serena began her explanation.
"Based on the shape left in the robe, it's safe to assume that she's a petite girl with a height that only reaches my chest and a slender build."
"Oh…"
"She tried to disguise her voice but didn't do it perfectly which gave it away. Even roughly listening to her tone and manner of speech would reveal that she had already passed through puberty, so she's at least a teenager, right?"
"Is that so? I couldn't tell even though I listened…"
As Miho listened to Serena's deduction with sparkling eyes, she soon showed a curious expression and asked a question.
"So, how did you guess about her being an orphan…"
"Simply put, she took all the candies I offered. Even though she had plenty of money, she took every one of them, which is a characteristic of street kids who instinctively seize everything when they have the chance."
"But I sometimes take everything too…"
"There's a hint in the gold coin she gave us earlier. That gold coin pouch is identical to the one that the 'Hero of Money,' whom I've been investigating lately, distributed to the children in the market streets earlier this year."
As Miho tilted her head, Serena continued with her speculations.
"Most likely, she was rescued by the 'Hero of Money.' That's why she managed to escape her life of poverty. And if she has parents, they probably wouldn't have allowed a child to carry such a large sum of money, so we can assume she's an orphan."
"But you mentioned she had a family member to support…"
"All the snacks that person consumed were not sweet, and even though I deliberately gave her quite bitter tea, she didn't add a single spoonful of sugar. But the fact that she took candy with her probably means she has a family to take care of."
"Then, it can be a friend, too…"
"Children from the streets often struggle to make friends, and even when they do, they instinctively shy away from sharing something. The kids around them are all competitive rivals when it comes to sharing food."
Serena paused for a moment and let out a sigh before continuing her story.
"Of course, things might be better now, but gathering all the candy was definitely an unconscious act. If that thought is deeply ingrained in her, she is likely an older sister to someone, perhaps a sick younger sibling."
"I… I don't really understand. My head hurts."
"If I were to choose one out of those three reasons, having a younger sibling would be a compelling motive to gather candy. But this is entirely within the realm of probability, so let's move on."
Serena continued her deductions while observing Miho, who was massaging her throbbing head, just as she always did when she had a headache.
"And she wears a ring on her left ring finger, right? She might be young and not fully understand the significance, but judging from how well the ring is maintained, she likely knows its meaning."
"Left ring finger? A ring? Is there significance in that?"
"…When you consider the old coin purse she's been keeping, the trembling in her voice when talking about the Hero of Money, and, most importantly, the request she entrusted to me to find the 'Hero of Money'…"
After speaking for a while, she finally broke the lollipop she had been holding in her mouth.
"I have come to the conclusion that her fiancé, or at the very least the person she wishes to meet, appears to be the Hero of Money."
"Oh…"
Serena stared at Miho, who applauded with her mouth wide open when she heard the conclusion.
"The reason I didn't show off, or rather, made deductions in front of that client today… Well, it's due to these reasons."
"…Huh?"
"Most of my deductions are related to sensitive personal matters, and…"
She spoke seriously.
"…she could be a dangerous person."
"How come?"
"An orphaned girl in her mid-teens with such terrifying abilities, it's only natural to assume she could be a significant threat, don't you think?"
After uttering those words, Serena began to grasp the gravity of the situation and wore an anxious expression.
"However… she might not be a threat but rather a beacon of hope."
She muttered as her eyes sparkled .
"What, what did you say?"
"…Never mind. Anyway, let's prepare for the investigation now."
Immediately, Serena rose from her seat.
"…So, what should we investigate first?"
"Well…"
Just as she had been answering questions effortlessly until now, Serena was about to respond to Miho.
"Um…"
But then, she froze.
"D-Date… I want to go on a date… I've been reading [101 Ways to Win a Man's Heart] all month long, and I need to put it to use, and… um…"
"Sigh…"
Miho glanced at Serena, who hesitated for a moment before reverting to her timid state.
"…Humans are indeed strange,"
Miho mumbled as she let out a deep sigh.
.
.
.
.
.
At that moment.
"Hmm…"
There stood Glare, the client who had just departed from the Detective Agency.
"So, about these buttons…"
A few days ago, she had snatched away the robe of the 'Hero of Money,' who had hurriedly left the orphanage where Ruby had collapsed, by using her abilities.
She mumbled while looking at the sparkling buttons.
"…Are these from Sunrise Academy uniforms?"
At that moment, she emitted a faint light in the dim alley.
"How do I get into the academy?"
Although the light was faint, it was enough to drive away the darkness that had settled in the alley.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02