How did things end up like this?
The central district of the imperial capital. Near the Imperial Palace—a location boasting some of the highest property values in all of Zeburdia, though "near" still meant several kilometers away—was where the aristocrats, major trading houses, and first-rate clans all maintained their estates.
The Gradius residence was one such establishment, and it sat in the same upscale residential quarter where I now found myself for the first time in ages.
A building of somewhat old-fashioned brick construction. Anyone unfamiliar with the place would be hard to find—virtually everyone knew of that structure.
Rising like a tower, it stood taller than every other mansion in the vicinity, and rumors even held that from its topmost floor, one could survey the entirety of the imperial capital. The fact that the aristocrats had permitted a colossal building to be erected right in the middle of their own lined streets, even surpassing their own estates, spoke volumes about the prestige of that particular "Clan."
I remembered that back when I first arrived in the imperial capital, I'd gone out of my way to come here as a tourist.
It was the headquarters of the Magic Staff—a mage clan classified among the most ancient of the many Clans in the imperial capital.
And at the very top of that tower, the kind every Hunter would gaze upon with envy, I was somehow sitting there drinking tea.
Across the table from me sat a witch with eyes so sharp you couldn't even guess how many years she'd lived, a mocking smile playing on her lips, and a bald giant with tattoos covering half his face—the most terrifying-looking Hunter I'd ever seen—furrowing his brow. What on earth had I done?
"Heh heh heh… So you've gone and done something rather amusing, Thousand Transformations."
"Who would've thought—someone who's always running away would come here of his own accord… Did you eat something weird or what?"
I couldn't help but scoff.
?? Come here of my own accord? Are my ears broken?
There was no way I would voluntarily walk into this hellhole where two of the top five most feared people in the entire imperial capital were waiting.
I'd admit that I'd been getting a bit carried away lately thanks to the Martial Emperor Festival thing. But—but—however—my sense of self-preservation wasn't *that* numbed.
As I sat there calmly trying to escape reality, Marie and A-run—the very people responsible for dragging me here in the first place—poured tea in front of me and spoke with expressions of exasperation.
"Gaark, what do you think Klahi is? There's no way the great Thousand Transformations would run away!"
"Y-Yes! Just as Altobalan says! Klahi readily agreed to come along!"
Not that it matters, but what exactly do you two think *I* am?
I gave up and crossed my legs, mustering as much sarcasm as I could manage.
"Once you're invited for tea, you can't exactly refuse, can you?"
Tea. They said tea, right? "How about we have some tea together?"—that's what you said, wasn't it? Right? That's not a strange interpretation, is it?
Why are there two extra people here that I didn't sign up for? Well, I guess I'm partly to blame for actually showing up. But wait—this might not be… just tea, is it?
There was no way I'd refuse an invitation from two people who'd gone to the trouble of coming to the Clan headquarters! If they'd actually told me Gaark and the old woman would be here, I never would've come!
"Oh. Oh, is that so. Then it's fine."
It was absolutely not fine, but Gaark made a sound of understanding, looking somewhat confused.
I put on a brave front for A-run and the others, who were somehow looking at me with eyes full of trust.
"Just this once… Besides, I was just thinking it was about time I met with Deep Abyss Fire Destruction anyway."
I'm never falling for this again. Damn it—I hate myself for letting my guard down just because I knew their faces.
With no idea what was going on, the old woman crooked one eyebrow with surprising dexterity.
"Hmm… That's flattering. But you haven't shown your face until now… Why is that?"
Obviously. Because I didn't want to go. I didn't want to go, so I kept putting it off! And secretly, I was hoping I might get away with not going at all.
"Oh, Gaark, you don't have any business here, so you're free to leave."
"I'll knock you out."
"No, wait. You should stay… It'd be better if you were here…"
"I'll knock you out."
Even a War Demon would be at a disadvantage against Deep Abyss Fire Destruction. But at the very least, he could serve as a human shield.
I sipped the tea A-run had brewed and, to my surprise, it was delicious enough to bring a smile to my face. I was fully in acceptance mode now.
"Well then, Klahi—please, make yourself comfortable…"
"Wait! A-run and the others should stay too."
"!?"
We're friends, right?
A-run's eyes went wide in shock, but I wasn't about to let them off the hook.
A-run and Marie had toyed with my pure heart. When Deep Abyss Fire Destruction went berserk, they'd serve as shields. Even this old woman wouldn't be so reckless as to incinerate her own allies—right? If it came to that, Termu would actually be the better option. More dangerous than a fox targeting the emperor's life. Dangerous. Right?
Deep Abyss Fire Destruction furrowed her brow but gave a reluctant nod.
Whether she'd resolved herself to burn her allies too, or was disappointed that she couldn't burn me—I, with my hollowed-out eyes, couldn't tell.
I drained the exquisite tea, set down the cup.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have much time. I've had my tea, so let's get down to business."
"Klahi, would you like a refill? We have cookies too."
Oh. Ah. Thank you.
Even on a bed of needles, good food was still good food. I nibbled on the cookies A-run had set out, trying to stall for time, then let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"I know what this is about. It's about Still Water, isn't it?"
Even a hopeless case like me could figure that out.
Just a few weeks ago, I'd borrowed Termu—whose epithet was Still Water—from the Magic Staff Clan to take on the emperor's bodyguard commission. And that had turned out to be a catastrophic misjudgment.
Termu, the holder of the Still Water epithet, turned out to be a member of the notorious secret organization, the Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox.
For reasons unknown, Termu had faithfully carried out the emperor's protection detail for a while, then for reasons unknown had revealed his true identity, then for reasons unknown had fled, and now for reasons unknown was being used as a plaything by the Elder Fox inside the Treasure Hall. Why?
Even looking back on it now, it made absolutely no sense. I should never have accepted the emperor's bodyguard commission in the first place.
"Let me say this upfront—I'm not to blame. I was shocked too. Who would've thought that the famous vice-leader of the Magic Staff and Kechachacca, recommended by Gaark, were traitors? What a surprise."
Well, Kechachacca had looked incredibly suspicious, so I could almost forgive not seeing through that one. But Termu—far more composed than Deep Abyss Fire Destruction—turning traitor? Who could have possibly predicted that?
I nodded earnestly, and when I looked up, Deep Abyss Fire Destruction wore a deep smile. Her pupils were fully dilated.
Gaark also had a strained grin on his face—so terrifying that the old me would've been on his knees begging.
"Hmph, you've got a lot of nerve."
"…The staff member whose name was on the list… I dealt with them. They were uninvolved, though."
Dealt with!? What do you mean, dealt with!? And then I'm next on the chopping block!?
It seemed I'd phrased things poorly. I hurried to explain.
"N-No, please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying it was your fault. Termu's disguise was masterful, and Kechachacca had their own angles to work. It's no wonder that even a veteran Level 8 or a seasoned Hunter like Gaark didn't notice. Heh… Even I didn't catch on even after the truth was revealed. No one's to blame."
"Well… well well… To hear someone say that so clearly… It's been a while."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Of course—right?"
"!? Klahi, that's enough—"
A-run jumped in anxiously to cut me off. I couldn't help but furrow my brows.
I'd meant to defend them, so why were both Gaark and the old woman gritting their teeth?
"Anyway, I'm glad it all worked out. I told the emperor too that it wasn't your fault."
"Heh heh heh… To think I'd end up owing a debt to you of all people…"
Good… I was right to take this old woman's side after all.
Gaark? Gaark was… I'd say he was fairly to blame. But he wasn't incompetent, so it was more accurate to say the fox's methods were just that cunning.
Come to think of it calmly… was everyone except me innocent? Franz had gone down easily to Termu too, and the emperor's personal guard should've been even stronger.
When I really thought about it, nothing had quite added up. I let out a deep sigh.
"It's a sin to be weak, isn't it? At least you should have enough power befitting your position—"
"…Pick a fight or offer comfort—pick one!"
"Ah—no, I wasn't talking about you, Gaark. And of course, I wasn't talking about you either!"
Her gaze, far too intense for someone of her age, made me raise my voice involuntarily.
Besieged on all sides. It had just slipped out. Can a person not even mutter to themselves here? Let me finish this business and get out before I get incinerated.
I ate a cookie. These cookies were ridiculously good. I wanted to bring some home as souvenirs.
But even if it was about Termu, I hardly knew anything about him. I didn't think I could offer any answers…
Deep Abyss Fire Destruction spoke in a voice that seemed to echo from the depths of hell itself.
"Thousand Transformations, heh heh… There are many things I want to confirm with you—but how is Termu doing right now?"
"!! That's an excellent question."
I slapped my knee instinctively. This was the one question I could actually answer. I pulled my phone from my pocket, opened the image the Elder Fox had sent me, and placed it on the table.
Deep Abyss Fire Destruction leaned in with a suspicious expression—and her face froze. Gaark was staring intently.
The image showed Termu and Kechachacca surrounded by a crowd of fox-masked figures. The photo had been taken from above, and since the quality wasn't great, I couldn't make out their expressions. But given what the Elder Fox had said about them still being "lively," they were probably still being "played with."
I thought they should just prostrate themselves and apologize, but if they managed to escape from that place, that would be its own problem. After all, he was a Level 7—an enemy grudge born from humiliation would be devastating.
"They're still playing in the Treasure Hall. If they come out, we should get word."
"This photo—no, so this is what Franz's boy called the 'Lost Dwelling,' is it?"
"Yeah. They didn't do anything—they just got lost on their own. Really."
"Klahi, you bastard, you really… you always come up with the most underhanded tricks…"
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about…"
Did she think I'd trapped Termu? Impossible.
Common sense dictated that the Treasure Hall would never listen to anything a human said, and setting a trap there was even more implausible.
I don't set traps. Because if I did, I'd be the one to get caught. A pathetic reason, but a true one.
"…Will Termu come back?" Deep Abyss Fire Destruction asked suddenly.
Of course. If I said no, I'd be incinerated.
"Absolutely. It'll take time, but he'll come out eventually. Worried?"
"Being led around by a fox—what an idiot. Heh heh… I'll have to interrogate him personally…"
That cold voice made me straighten up involuntarily.
The tone was flat, but it carried emotions so vast that even a peace-addled person like me could sense them.
Her eyes were opened wide, as if burning the image into them, and a strained smile played at her lips.
I didn't even need to ask whether she was worried. This old woman intended to burn Termu alive. And she wanted him alive so she could do it. I couldn't imagine these were the thoughts of a fellow human.
I was truly thankful she wasn't my enemy.
It seemed she had no intention of burning me for failing to bring Termu back. But I wanted to flee this place as soon as humanly possible.
"Deep Abyss Fire Destruction, that's enough."
The tension in the air was suffocating. Then Gaark spoke up.
The man had genuine courage—befitting someone who bore the weight of the Explorer's Guild on his shoulders in this imperial capital.
Deep Abyss Fire Destruction straightened up and smiled.
"That's right… While I can still move, before I pass the torch to the next generation—I ought to turn them completely to ash, shouldn't I…"
Hmm?
"Let's get to the main topic. Thousand Transformations, this is a big job. Those foxes who looked down on the Explorer's Guild—we're going to crush them."
Hmmmmm?
A-run and Marie wore serious expressions.
I opened my eyes wide, clapped my hands together, and quickly snatched back my phone, raising one hand slightly.
"Sorry, could I borrow the restroom real quick?"