Cidro Tearoom. Second floor. VIP room.
My place is too cramped for talking, so naturally we ended up at the usual spot.
This time the Witch was with us.
The table was a three-person, three-meal affair.
I had a large serving of butter rice and fruit water. The Witch had wine and a snack.
Leold had ale and potato salad. With iburi, no less.
Iburi is, to put it simply, smoked pickles. Smoked tsukemono.
He'd chopped it up fine and sprinkled it over the potato salad.
Well, it wasn't dressed with mayonnaise, so it wasn't the potato salad I knew.
"First off — thanks for your help this time."
Leold said that.
I gave a small nod.
"Did you find anything out about Paired?"
"Yeah, things are starting to come together. For starters, they were originally operating out of the royal capital. They spread themselves wide — not just the Kingdom, they even expanded their territory into the Empire."
"Hmm, the Empire."
The Witch narrowed her eyes as she nodded along.
The Empire, huh… Around the Folklor Kingdom, there are all sorts of nations, big and small.
They're collectively called the United Nations. The Empire lies beyond them, with the largest territory on the continent.
Its formal name is something like "Holy So-and-So and Whatnot," way too long, so I just call it the Empire. Granted, it's several months' travel away, so it doesn't really register in daily life.
It wasn't exactly hostile with the Kingdom, but they hadn't entered into any sort of agreement either.
Because it was just too far away.
The Federation of Nations sitting between them, though — that was a different story.
"But Paredo relocated from the royal capital to Hydrangea. Like they were running away."
"Running away?"
"It's a power struggle, you know. Paredo lost."
"Oh my, oh my. A capital exile, then."
"That's right."
Leorudo answered and took a swig of ale.
"So that's why the cult leader was in Hydrangea."
"Yeah. They must have lost pretty badly. I was surprised when Paredo, who'd been the cautious type staying underground this whole time, suddenly pulled a move that stupid."
"The cautious type...?"
The spoon scooping up my butter rice came to a halt, and I found myself tilting my head.
All I could think was that "cautious" was miles away from what I'd seen of that idiot cult.
"I got curious and looked into the twins, and both of them were clearly panicking."
"Mm, mm. Panicking is never good. That's a bad move right there."
The witch sipped her wine elegantly while nibbling on cheese.
There was some kind of sauce on the cheese. I wonder what it was.
By the way, I was sitting across from Leorudo — which is to say, right next to the witch.
Sitting there quietly, all proper-like.
The witch's tail was wrapped around my back, all fluffy and comfortable.
"So because they were in a rush, that's why they did something so stupid and reckless..."
Lost the power struggle and got exiled all the way to Hydrangea.
When they were desperate for a solution, they found Pakira.
They used Pakira as a vessel to summon Lord Yomido, aiming for a grand reversal all at once.
I see. So that's why the grandmaster and the top executives all showed up at once.
For that, though... there were fewer of them than I'd have expected.
"And the ones besides the executives... they were former Kuun Hunt members."
"Former Kuun Hunt?"
"The guys Arveld threw out had become followers of Paled."
"Oh my, recruiting followers locally too — they must really be at the end of their rope."
The fact that they had hardly any followers left was truly dire.
No wonder they were desperate enough to make such a spectacle of themselves.
Leorudo drank his ale and let out a sigh.
"The ones who are left are holed up in their hideout. One executive remains, and everything's under their orders."
"Their hideout. Do we know where it is?"
"It's a ruined noble's estate on the outskirts of Hydrangea. There's a three-story building and a warehouse, and the grounds are quite spacious."
"So, so — we're going in guns blazing, are we?"
"The legwork is for the guards. However, there's one concern. The last remaining executive is strong — so I have a favor to ask, Wof. Could you take out that executive for us?"
"Why me?"
It was a simple question. There had to be plenty of qualified people.
Besides, Leorl was strong too.
"Hmm, hmm. Wouldn't it be best if Leorl took care of it?"
The witch voiced my doubt.
Leorl gave a wry smile that said the point was well taken.
"I have to head back to the royal capital right away. To investigate the heretical cult that drove out Pareedo, you see. The reason I'm asking you, Wof, is that you defeated the cult leader, right? Then you should be able to handle an executive too. Besides, among the people connected to this case, you're the only one who seems capable of taking one on. Which means you're the best fit. So please!"
Leorl bowed his head.
Ah, I see.
So bringing someone in from outside was a hassle.
I understood. I really did — I'd had a similar experience in my past life, after all.
There was a world of difference between asking someone already involved and bringing in an outsider.
There really was that big a gap. It had been a pain.
And if they had to ask someone else from here on, it would definitely take days.
There was paperwork, and it all took time no matter what.
They probably didn't want to spend any extra time on this particular case.
In that regard — I was, in this case, already involved. And I was the one who had defeated the cult leader at the center of it all.
I was quite literally the perfect fit. In that case, there was no refusing, and in a way, it even worked out nicely.
"Understood. I'll take the job."
"You'll do it? Of course, I'll make sure you're rewarded."
"About the reward — I have a request."
"What is it? I'll do whatever I can to accommodate you."
"Well, when I defeated the Cult Leader, I actually obtained a key. If there's a room in the hideout that can be opened with it and there happens to be a box inside, I'd like to have that."
"Wh— you have a key like that?!"
"Of course. If I find anything that could help advance the investigation, I'll be sure to let you know."
My words made Leold consider for a moment.
A few seconds, maybe. Leold let out a small breath.
"If you'll promise me that... well, finders keepers and all that... there's no helping it. Fine. I'll see what I can do about that. I'll make it work."
He seemed a little hesitant about it, but Leold agreed.
"Now then, Leold. When are we going to crash in?"
"Guard deployment and preparation. The raid authorization comes through in three days. But if those people make a move, the schedule might get moved up. The location is the former Viscount Turca's estate."
I didn't really understand it, but the Witch nodded knowingly the moment she heard it, so apparently she did.
Fallen from grace and abandoned though it may have been, we were talking about storming a nobleman's estate.
It kind of felt like this moment had finally arrived.
And in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
The outskirts of Hydrangea. The former Viscount Turca's estate.
Today was the last day of the parade.