I took Lucia behind a shadowed wall and tried to console her.
Her face was bright red and she was trembling.
Apparently, she wasn't feeling too charitable toward Rusha, who shared a name uncomfortably similar to her own.
"Come on, calm down. It's just a coincidence."
"A coincidence!? How can there be such a coincidence!!"
"Oh, how fun, Lucia-chan!"
"Not fun at all!!"
At Riz's teasing words, Lucia for some reason glared at me and stomped her feet furiously.
Back in the day, Lucia used to be a meek little thing who trailed quietly behind me, but the influence of Citry and Riz had made her thoroughly aggressive.
She'd fought so many criminals that she'd lost nearly all qualms about firing magic at people. She couldn't possibly be so lacking in judgment that she'd attack a Hunter who wasn't a criminal — at least, I didn't want to believe that...
"Sure, sure, Rusha is different. But she doesn't mean any harm. I'm sure of it."
"She doesn't mean any harm!? She's one hundred percent malicious! If she didn't mean harm, that would be even worse! I would never say something like that!"
Never say something like that? Something like that... there was no need to bring it up now.
Klah and I, Lucia and Rusha — the only thing we had in common was our names. Klah was stronger than me, but it was unlikely that Rusha was stronger than Lucia. If she were, she'd already have earned an epithet by now.
"Mm-hm, you're right. Even back then, Lucia wasn't that clingy. Doing that sort of thing as an adult is kind of... questionable."
"Huh... it wasn't that bad? Hey, Lucia-chan?"
"Ghh... uuuugh..."
Lucia buried her flushed face in her hands. Their second names were different, so what did it matter?
The annoying part was that Rusha looked almost exactly like Lucia if you just listed off individual features. What a coincidence. I wanted to see what the other members thought.
It seemed Rusha wasn't all that famous yet, but once her reputation grew, she'd probably get compared to our group at every turn.
Luke, who'd been watching Rusha with great interest, spoke up.
"Hey, Kurahi. Lucia's one thing, but what about my fake? When's mine showing up?"
"She's not a fake—"
That was when Klah, who'd been hanging close to Rusha in the distance, deftly wove through the crowd and approached.
She addressed Lucia, whose face was still bright red, with a worried voice.
"Are you all right? You don't look well... Shall I cast a healing spell?"
"No, I'm fine. It's probably just the crowd."
She could use healing magic too? My real counterpart really was stacked with abilities.
Rusha clung to Klah's arm and spoke with a smug tone.
"Are you sure you're not just jealous of the lovey-dovey vibe between me and Onii-chan?"
"Whaa!?"
It was hopeless — Lucia was glaring at me with the full force of Riz's trademark death stare.
I wanted to keep chatting, but the compatibility between Rusha and Lucia was just too terrible. Besides, I'd need to ask Lucia to charge my Treasure Weapons later, and I didn't want her in a foul mood.
"Sorry, but I've got to get going..."
"Ahh, that's a shame. I was going to introduce you to our Party..."
That... I would very much like to be introduced. There was a Smjart or something she'd mentioned before that I'd wanted to meet.
Was that one similar to our Smart too? Riz's reaction would be terrifying, but it'd make for a great story.
Klah, still holding Rusha by the arm, surveyed the crowd and let out a small sigh.
"Do take care. I don't think there'll be any problems, but Crito seems rather dangerous during the Martial Emperor Festival... Apparently, participants in the festival are especially likely to be targeted."
That meant... I wouldn't be targeted, right?
The other three were participants, but there were no Thieves capable of defeating a Hunter who'd been involved in a Level 8 Treasure Hall.
"Huh? Take care? What are you talking about? There's no way anyone could beat Kurahi-chan. Besides, we're about to go beat up some criminals as a warm-up anyway."
"!?!"
Riz shot back an indignant retort at Klah's words.
If she'd been in a bad mood, she would have yelled, but today she seemed to be in high spirits.
No, we weren't going to kill anyone. We were just going to help out.
The Fox Mask Enthusiasts Club (Provisional) didn't deal with ordinary criminals — the goal was capture, not killing. Bounties paid more for captures anyway, and Tōka loved money too much to pass that up.
Thinking that far ahead, I came up with something good.
"That's right... if you'd like... Klah, would you want to join us? The criminal hunt."
Well, I wouldn't be participating myself, but I was curious about Klah's abilities.
Klah's eyes went wide. Rusha was definitely glaring daggers at me.
--- "What in the world is going on, Sora? What is the Boss thinking?"
"...Everything is as the White Fox Lady wills..."
The shrine maiden of the Fox God averted her gaze, spoke her usual words, and then looked at the wooden box placed in the corner of the room.
The spacious kitchen that had been set up was filled with the smell of soybeans. Inside the wooden box, there seemed to be tofu.
The shrine maiden, who always wore sacred vestments and carried an air of mystery, was now wearing a white apron.
Gaf had served the organization for a long time, but this was the first time he'd seen the shrine maiden in anything other than her vestments.
"By the White Fox Lady's orders... I am currently producing aburaage."
"???"
He couldn't understand. The Fox was a secret organization, and orders from the top were almost never fully conveyed to the rank and file.
Particularly when Gaf had been lower in rank, he'd been worked to the bone without being told anything, but even so, he'd never had cause to question an order.
"Aburaage? What does aburaage have to do with anything!?"
"...Everything is known only to the White Fox Lady."
The shrine maiden's eyes were completely dead.
The Fox was a secret organization! Gaf struggled to keep his face from contorting.
The reason Gaf had been able to carry out orders without doubt was that those orders had been clear and left no room for questioning. They had been straightforward sabotage operations.
And now... producing aburaage?
"Are you... putting poison in it?"
"...No. I have been instructed to make something delicious."
"What... what is the Boss planning to do?"
"Think for yourself a little, Gaf! Is that insubordination toward the White Fox Lady!?"
Sora jabbed a finger at Gaf and launched into a reprimand.
Her expression was one Gaf had never seen before.
The cheeks that had never so much as changed color under any circumstance were now beaded with cold sweat, and her voice was rising.
But being told that much, even Gaf had no choice but to fall silent.
"...N-No... everything is as the Boss wills."
He hadn't known Crito had a base like this, but the kitchen equipment set up here looked brand new.
There was no doubt that funds from the organization had been invested, including the ingredients.
Then, Sora asked timidly: "By the way, Gaf. This is just out of curiosity, but... why is this place—"
"Hmph... do you take me for a fool? Eyes are everywhere."
"How can you be so perceptive yet — no..."
Sora shook her head vigorously, then began frying the drained tofu in a pan.
"Everything, everything is the White Fox Lady's will. Look, Gaf. Aburaage — it's made from tofu. The tofu is store-bought for now, but eventually we'll be making that from scratch too. Everything is by the White Fox Lady's orders, so — ow!... I've never actually cooked before."
Why not hire someone? Why make a sacred shrine maiden — someone who held a special position even within the organization — do something like making fried tofu?
It made no sense, but Gaf gave up trying to think any further.
If it was the Boss's orders, a low-ranking member like Gaf had nothing to say. There was probably some lofty purpose behind this too.
As he watched Sora struggle, he suddenly heard a knock at the entrance door.
This was the organization's hideout. No one should have been visiting an organization hideout. Gaf shifted into a natural defensive posture as the door opened.
"Sora — hey, I need a favor..."
His thoughts froze.
The one who walked in was a dark-haired young man. But that wasn't what made Gaf freeze.
It was because that voice — belonged to the Boss.
"!? Boss!?"
Gaf let out a hoarse voice as those eyes turned toward him.
Sora, who'd been making aburaage, had gone completely rigid as well.
The Boss blinked several times, then spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Hmm... oh, perfect timing. I actually had business with you."
"Boss! Your mask! What happened to the mask!?"
Fool. The Fox was a secret organization, and the Boss concealed his identity. In fact, every executive Gaf had ever met had worn a mask.
There was no explicit rule, but the Boss had many enemies. Those who knew his true face would surely be few, even within the organization.
The Boss gave a blank look at Gaf's remark, then chuckled sheepishly.
"A-Ah... well, it's hot today, and that mask makes it hard to breathe. Cut me some slack. I can't exactly wear it all the time, you know."
"!? ??"
The demeanor was far too natural.
A supreme confidence that betrayed not the slightest fear of betrayal from his subordinates.
Every executive Gaf had encountered before had carried an indescribable air of intimidation, but the presence radiating from the Boss before him was something else entirely.
The Boss showed his completely unguarded back, passed by Gaf's side, and peered into the frying pan.
"Smells great... you're doing good work."
"Y-Yes, White Fox Lady! Everything is as the White Fox Lady wills! The White Fox Lady's—"
Sora straightened up and, drenched in sweat, called out in a trembling voice.
The Boss examined the frying pan with a serious expression, then furrowed his brow.
"This won't do, Sora. Aburaage like this — heh... won't win the world."
"!?!"
The shocking truth nearly drew an involuntary cry from Gaf, which he barely managed to suppress.
So he really was going to take over the world with aburaage!? How!?
"S-Sorry! I'll start over!"
"No, it's fine. Take your time. Don't worry — nobody gets it right on the first try."
"Y-Yes..."
He wanted to confirm, but confirming was impossible.
The Boss's true identity was the organization's greatest secret. Now Gaf understood.
The reason the Boss's face — shown so brazenly — hadn't spread was thanks to complete information control.
If Gaf so much as changed his attitude after seeing his face, he might be silenced.
Gaf was a Thief. He had confidence in his combat abilities, but he was no match for a Boss of Level 10 caliber.
The Boss pulled out a Treasure Weapon tablet — had he called it a smartphone? — from his pocket, snapped a few photos of the aburaage, and turned to Gaf.
"Ah, right, perfect timing. About that matter... I know it's tough, but I brought reinforcements again."
"...As you command."
Gaf knelt on the spot. He lowered his gaze, careful not to look at the Boss's face, and racked his brain.
Was he not trusted? Granted, it was a difficult operation with the main mission already underway, but so far, there had been no significant mistakes.
He was under the direct command of the Boss — there was no room for careless moves.
"...You don't need to be so formal. Hey, come on in."
The Boss called out casually. A small group filed in through the entrance.
They were not wearing masks.
A refined, dark-haired young man. A dark-haired Mage. A pink-blonde Thief. A red-haired swordsman. All of them carried the aura unique to those who had absorbed vast quantities of Mana Material.
Gaf reflexively searched the database of strong fighters stored in his mind. And this time, his heart nearly stopped.
The red-haired swordsman scanned the room and narrowed eyes that shone with the sharpness of a honed blade.
"So — where's the target I'm supposed to cut? That woman over there?"
"The Mourning... Specter...?"
There was no doubt. Gaf's mind held information on the strongest fighters across all times and places.
Peerless Shadow. Thousand Blades. Myriad Forms Freedom.
And the dark-haired young man standing before him was the one who had faced the Boss in that town where the Key of the Earth had been swapped — without question, the renowned Thousand Transformations.
The Boss's eyes went wide.
"Oh — wait, you already knew!?"
"Y-Yes. Of course..."
It was unbelievable. Impossible. But no matter how many times he blinked, the reality before him didn't change.
The Mourning Specter was the Party the organization was most wary of. They had, in fact, already destroyed several subordinate organizations.
The one who had defeated Hanneman — Gaf's subordinate who'd been used as a decoy fleeing with a replica of the Key of the Earth — was this very man.
But if he said that much, Tōka was also undoubtedly an enemy of the organization.
To deceive your enemies, start with your own allies. How much of it had been — a bluff?
He couldn't tell. There had been nothing suspicious at all about the Mourning Specter's movements. Their methods had been extreme, precisely why no one had doubted them.
A flawless cover-up, beyond perfection.
They could do anything. Even the Explorer's Guild would never suspect that the Mourning Specter were traitors.
The Boss smiled warmly, then said something even more unbelievable.
"Well then, I've got one more favor to ask. ...Ah, right. If it goes well, I'll give you that mask as thanks."