"Hey, Citry, you seemed really busy lately — are you free now?"
Excellent treasure hunters often had another side to them.
Among our members, there was Lucia, who boasted extraordinary power as a mage; Anthem, who had mastered healing magic capable of even regenerating missing limbs; and Citry, who had studied all manner of knowledge as an alchemist. All three had been inundated with requests from various organizations and were extremely busy.
Ever since she'd been stuck with that strange epithet, she'd barely shown her face in the lounge at all.
That said, one of her laboratories was on the third floor of the clan house to begin with, so she did come to see me from time to time. But among the newer clan members, there were probably some who had never even seen Citry's face.
"No... Actually, recently, at the lab where I'd been spending all my time... I was let go..."
"!?"
I kept my expression neutral but was genuinely shocked by the casual words from Citry as she walked beside me.
Citry was exceptional. Having a strange nickname might make people keep their distance, but her skills had once been called the finest in the entire imperial capital.
Being turned away at the door was one thing, but being let go — that was unbelievable.
As a friend, maybe I should offer some comforting words.
I was deliberating on what to say when Citry continued with a pensive look on her face.
"Well... rather than being let go, I suppose you could say the lab... ceased to exist. How should I put it... Ugh! ...As Klye already knows, it was my own lack of ability... It's embarrassing."
Citry's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down bashfully.
So the lab she'd been affiliated with had shut down. I filled in the blanks on my own.
The economy in the imperial capital wasn't doing badly these days, but businesses still folded. Alchemy was certainly a money-making discipline, but some research yielded profits while others didn't.
Citry was a genius, but she wasn't a god. She was an alchemist, not a businesswoman, so she couldn't make everything run smoothly. Whatever the circumstances, having just one excellent member probably wasn't enough to save the situation.
"As Klye already knows..." — I wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but maybe it was about a major lab that I should have known about.
"Well, these things happen. Learn from the failure. Next time you'll do even better, Citry."
"...Yes, that's right."
"I don't really understand alchemy, and I don't know which lab shut down, but I do know you, Citry."
She was smart, dexterous, curious, hardworking, and — while a bit eccentric — a girl who had it all.
From my perspective, she had a tendency to overthink things, but that wasn't exactly a flaw. It was more that I didn't think enough.
"...You're right. Klye doesn't know anything, does he."
"You could always continue your research in the clan house's lab, if you wanted..."
"!?"
When I tossed that out casually, Citry looked up and stared intently at me.
Had I said something wrong?
I was certainly an outsider. I didn't know anything about her research, and even if she explained it, I probably wouldn't understand.
But the clan house's alchemical facilities were top-of-the-line. Citry herself had acquired them. The rooms were spacious, and there was no shortage of supplies.
Of course, there might be reasons other than facilities that prevented her from continuing her research...
Citry seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then she smiled gently and said: "...Thank you. But I'd probably end up causing trouble for you, Klye, so I'll pass."
You don't need to worry about that — I almost said it, but stopped myself just in time.
Citry and I weren't the type to stand on ceremony with each other. If she said she might cause trouble, then it probably meant there really was a risk of some dangerous experiment going wrong.
For instance, if the facilities weren't sufficient, or if she didn't have enough hands to work alone.
It was sad that I couldn't help, but someone who didn't know the first thing about alchemy shouldn't be butting in.
Citry clapped her hands together and spoke in a bright voice.
"Besides, I'll be fine. I'll find a new lab right away. Next time I'll do even better."
"Mm-hm, that's the right attitude. Take your time with it. Resting your body is important too."
Citry could surely find a new connection quickly enough. There wasn't really anything I could do.
In the end, all I came up with were halfhearted words of consolation, but Citry smiled happily and nodded.
§ Despite it being daytime, a familiar crowd had gathered in the lounge.
They'd probably all just finished the big job of investigating the anomaly at the White Wolf's Den, so everyone seemed to be off today.
Being a treasure hunter didn't mean you went to the Treasure Hall every day. Exploring the Treasure Hall required extensive preparation, and you also needed to maintain your equipment and get yourself into proper shape.
The Footprint lounge was exactly the kind of place these hunters needed for downtime. You could gather information with fellow clan members, there were no outsiders, and food and drinks didn't cost a thing — the perfect spot to kill some time.
Citry squinted and slowly scanned the lounge as though appraising everything in it.
"It's been a while since I've been here..."
The Mourning Specter did regularly go out to eat together, but they basically never used the lounge. That was because the other parties would start picking fights with them.
Of course, we did try to stop them, but the sad truth was that it was better to go outside than to let bad blood brew among allies. Especially since Luke's sword was far too light.
"'Star's Holy Thunder' doesn't seem to be here."
"...Top-ranked parties are pretty busy."
Come to think of it, Star's Holy Thunder hadn't participated in the White Wolf's Den exploration either... I'd completely forgotten about that.
The parties that had been milling about started to notice my presence one by one. Suspicious expressions, furrowed brows, gleaming eyes. Someone waved at me.
Citry was counting on her fingers with a thoughtful expression.
"Eight mages... I have ten dozen and three bottles of high-grade Mana Recovery Potions..."
"Those Mana Recovery Potions taste absolutely awful, don't they?"
"Yes. The taste is otherworldly. The more effective they are, the more repulsive they taste. If you're not used to them, you'll lose consciousness."
Mana Recovery Potions were, as the name suggested, magic potions that restored mana.
They were extremely useful for exploring the Treasure Hall and battling powerful monsters and phantoms, but they had one fatal flaw: they tasted terrible.
And not just terrible — they tasted so awful that you'd hesitate to drink one even with your life on the line.
Once, Lucia had shared a tiny bit of hers with me. The moment it touched my tongue, I lost consciousness, and by the time I came to, several hours had passed.
I didn't remember the taste, but I vividly recalled that it was indescribably disgusting.
Being able to drink Mana Recovery Potions without hesitation was apparently the mark of a first-rate mage. Since then, mages had been objects of genuine respect for me. Mages were amazing.
"We might need to hire a cleaning service."
"The place is always spotless, though?"
"It's going to get... messy, I think. I doubt anyone here has ever drunk top-grade Mana Recovery Potions before..."
Was it really that bad? And more importantly, was it even feasible to ask?
If I were in their shoes, there was no way I'd drink that awful stuff just to charge someone else's Treasure Weapons.
Citry seemed to be thinking the same thing, as she continued with a somewhat apologetic look: "If you could set... priorities for which items to charge..."
"I guess we'd start with the Barrier Rings. There are fourteen of them."
"...Impossible. Charging those alone would require fourteen Spiritfolk mages."
Well, I'd kind of expected as much. Even with hired help, charging the Barrier Rings would cost an astronomical amount.
Most mages didn't have enough mana for it. But this was a problem.
"Is there no way around it?"
"...If we tampered with their brains, perhaps."
Citry said this with a pensive look. In other words... it was impossible.
Until Lucia got back, I'd have to keep someone close by at all times, then.
Just then, a familiar girl called out from a table in the back.
As usual, she wore a black-based jacket with half-pants. Her black boots, reaching past her knees, doubled as weapons.
She'd been looking like death lately, but since she wasn't with Liliz today, she seemed energetic. That raised its own questions, though.
"Mastaa! Why are you here of all places — did something hap—!?!"
Tinno's face lit up, and she started tottering toward me, only to freeze mid-step.
Her gaze had locked onto Citry beside me. She took several steps back as though witnessing the impossible, and called out in a hoarse voice: "C-Citry... Big... sister?"
"It's been a while, Tinny."
"Ngh!"
Tinno went rigid as a frog staring down a snake. Citry approached her with an unhurried stride.
Tinno was Liliz's disciple. She'd been subjected to all manner of harsh treatment by Liliz, but if anything, it was Citry that Tinno truly dreaded.
On the other hand, Citry seemed to be quite fond of Tinno, though I supposed there were various reasons for that.
Citry's eyes gleamed as she closed the distance until she was right in front of Tinno, who stood rooted to the spot.
"Hey, Tinny, how are you doing? Have you gotten stronger? Has Big Sis been making you suffer?"
"I-I'm... I'm fine, thank you."
"If anyone ever gives you a hard time, you can always tell me, okay?"
"I-I'm really... really fine, I promise."
Citry's gentle tone sent a shiver down Tinno's spine. She looked at me with an expression that was practically in tears.
...Yeah... I know.
Citry licked her lips in a faintly alluring gesture and pressed her palm against Tinno's cheek.
She peered into Tinno's dark eyes as if conducting an examination. Her voice was more excited than usual.
"If it ever gets too hard, just say the word, okay? If you leave it to me... I can make you stronger far more easily and far more quickly than training under Big Sis ever could."
"Ah..."
"You won't have to push yourself through near-death experiences just to train. With your aptitude, I could definitely do it. I could put in a word right now and get you into the Mourning Specter, if you'd like."
"Citry... Big sister...! Too close...!"
Citry's fingers slipped from Tinno's cheek, tracing down the side of her neck to her collarbone.
Her left arm circled behind Tinno's back, cutting off any escape route. An alchemist and a thief should have had a significant gap in physical ability, yet Tinno's slender body only trembled — she didn't take a single step back.
They stood pressed together like a pair of lovers.
The bizarre atmosphere was drawing the attention of the entire lounge, but Citry paid it no mind, letting out a voice of pure ecstasy. Her nose twitched slightly as she caught Tinno's scent.
Her hand touched Tinno's crimson face, tracing the shape of her shoulder before sliding to her upper arm and working downward.
Each time her fingertips grazed skin, Tinno's body quivered.
"High-quality muscles honed through real combat. Refined five senses housed in a delicate frame. A body specialized for the Hunter and Thief roles — healthy and perfectly honed. Blood, flesh, bone — all brimming with talent, all polished to perfection. Ah, Klye. If only — if only she had given herself to me instead of you... I could have made her perfect."
"M-Mastaa, please help me..."
"Knowing Citry, she's never going to find a disciple."
She really did have the look of someone examining a lab rat.
Her hand continued its relentless exploration of Tinno's body, kneading her chest, stroking her stomach, touching the exposed thigh extending from her half-pants.
It was like watching a snake slowly swallowing and digesting a frog.
Each touch made Tinno shudder, and her feeble voice cried out for help.
"Such luster. Oh, you're so precious. If only you were a boy, pairing would be simple, but since you're a girl — you'll need to be very careful about choosing a breeding partn—"
Yeah, this had gone far enough. I finally stepped in.
"That's enough. Tinno is Liliz's disciple, and that's final."
"...Ah... You're right."
The moment Citry pulled away, Tinno — at her limit — crumpled to the ground.
She was clearly terrified. Tinno, who never backed down from even the most vicious phantoms, looked like she was about to cry.
This was no joke — it was outright harassment. I couldn't even watch.
Citry's voice was tinged with regret.
She'd always been like this — when she focused on one thing, everything else fell out of view.
"But, if... if Big Sis gave permission, would that be okay?"
"No."
"...Even if Tinny herself said it was fine?"
Citry cast a sidelong glance at Tinno, who had plopped onto the floor.
Tinno's face — cheeks and all the way down to her neck — had gone completely red, and she looked up at me with the eyes of an abandoned puppy.
The victim would never agree to this in the first place.
I didn't need to think twice.
"No."
"...Not even if it was for the good of the party?"
"Absolutely not."
This was an absolute no. By any reasonable standard, a resounding no.
I couldn't let Citry become a criminal. If that happened, I'd never be able to face the Smart family back home. It already felt like things might be beyond saving...
I couldn't quite tell why, but every time I shut down Citry's question, Tinno's eyes glistened with emotion. Sorry. I'm truly sorry on behalf of our members. Sorry I was too slow to stop this.
I clapped Citry on the back as she slumped forward, crestfallen.
"Come on, let's charge the Treasure Weapons. You'll help, right?"
"...You're right."
Citry looked up. The dejection from a moment ago had completely vanished.
Her ability to switch moods was on par with her sister's.
She looked around at the other parties who had been watching with interest, and spoke with a dazzling smile: "Let's get the people who were ogling Tinny to help. This is where the Thousand Trials begin."