Chapter 81
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I went to see Ms. Wendy from “Hooters” to check on the mini tomatoes I could grow in the dungeon, but… there was also Ms. Shirley from “Silver Orchid” there.
Both of them were sitting on the sofa, and behind Ms. Shirley were 2 women who were her attendants.
This situation was really bad.
I had talked to both of them as “Mose,” but… I had spoken to Ms. Wendy in my normal voice, while I had used a voice changer when talking to Ms. Shirley.
If both of them were together, it would raise questions no matter which voice I used, and they would definitely point that out.
What should I do… As I was panicking inside, Ms. Wendy offered me a seat.
”Good morning. Please, have a seat.”
’…’
Not responding to her, I turned my face toward Ms. Shirley. Ms. Wendy noticed that I was concerned about her and tried to explain the situation.
”Um, I believe you’ve met Ms. Shirley before, so there’s no need for an introduction. The reason she’s here today is…”
”…to ask for your help regarding the ‘Gem Snake’.”
Ms. Shirley’s tone sounded a bit tense, and it was easy to guess that it was about the Ferris issue.
I had given Nina (an employee of Silver Orchid or the watcher when assessing ability) this place as one of her contacts, so she probably thought it was likely that I would show up here for work if I was affiliated with them.
I had heard in casual conversation that Nina hardly ever came out of the dungeon.
So, I didn’t expect Ms. Shirley to show up… Regardless of the content, how should I deal with my voice?
While I was thinking about this, Ms. Wendy offered me a seat again.
”Well, you see… first, let’s just talk. It’s about something that affects the safety of the city, and we can’t ignore it.”
If the “Gem Snake” guys use Ferris as a pawn, they won’t be controllable anymore. If that happens, it’s easy to imagine they would harm merchant guilds or their partners that aren’t connected to them.
Since Ms. Shirley is here, it seems “Hooters” doesn’t have ties with “Gem Snake.” Even if they do get involved with them, if it’s known that they had connections with “Silver Orchid,” they probably won’t be treated well.
Of course, if the safety of the cityt worsens, the impact will be stronger, and Ms. Wendy probably intends to prevent their plans from succeeding.
For me, I want to avoid situations where ‘acquaintances might get hurt’, so I’m willing to cooperate.
However, there’s the issue of my voice, and to avoid pointing that out… After thinking it over, I put my bag down on the floor, took a seat, and pulled out a piece of paper and a writing tool.
*Thud, plop.*
*Flip, rustle…*
””?””
As everyone around looked puzzled, I showed the written content to the two of them.
”My throat isn’t feeling well, so I’m writing.”
”Oh, have you been feeling unwell?”
”People say it’s easy to get sick when the seasons change. Especially now, since it’s getting colder, so it’s not surprising if that happens…”
Ms. Wendy looks genuinely worried, while Ms. Shirley seems a bit suspicious.
When I met Nina last night, I was perfectly fine, so if she heard that, it would sound like a strange excuse.
But if I don’t keep this up, they’ll notice the difference in my voice.
As I think about this… Ms. Wendy smiles and asks me.
”Mr. Mose, which one is your real voice?”
”!?”
I gasp, and Ms. Shirley continues.
”It’s not like I can say much… but since we haven’t seen each other’s faces, we can’t ignore the possibility that you might be different people. So, we should compare information, and it’s natural that voice will be part of that, right?”
I can’t see her since we’re both in full armor, but I can sense that Ms. Shirley is probably smiling too, just from her tone.
Oh… so they already figured out the difference in my voices.
However, it seems they still don’t know which one is the “real Mose’s voice,” and I can’t let them find out about “Koji,” so… I decided to answer with my voice.
’This is Mose’s voice. For some reason, I started sounding like my younger self, and I was embarrassed about it, so I used writing instead.’
I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say that the voice through the voice changer is “Mose’s,” but I answer like that anyway.
I know this voice, and since my throat got better, I’ve been using it. But Ms. Shirley, who doesn’t know my old voice, can’t really confirm anything now.
Even though I explained it with words, Ms. Shirley seemed to have trouble believing me. So, she decided to check if I was really “Mose” in another way.
”I see… then, to confirm that you are indeed Mr. ‘Mose,’ could you show me your power?”
’Sure, then…’
In response to her request, I made my shield bigger.
Seeing that, Ms. Shirley looked at Ms. Wendy, but since she also knew this as a type of “Magic Mending,” she didn’t seem particularly surprised.
So, Ms. Shirley accepted that I was “Mose” and finally got to the main topic.
* * *
Ms. Shirley’s request was pretty much what I expected: she wanted my help to prevent Ferris from becoming a pawn of the “Gem Snake.”
However…
’That’s fine since the girls using the base too, but without knowing their methods, we can’t really respond, right?’
If Ferris loses her power, it would be hard to maintain the base both in terms of strength and finances.
As someone who is responsible for Iris and the others, losing access to that base would be a problem for me. So, I’m not against cooperating, but if I don’t know their tactics, I can’t prepare any countermeasures.
As a result, I answered like that, and Ms. Shirley nodded.
”I understand. Their target seems to be Ferris, and as long as we don’t let her come into contact with ‘Gem Snake,’ it should be fine. However, judging by their movements after their main force returned from the dungeon, they might attack our office or the ‘Silver Orchid Inn’ to lure Ferris out.”
’Well, that’s possible. But I’ve heard they’ve been quiet since last night.’
”That’s true. However, since we don’t know what made them quiet, we can’t rely on that, can we?”
’That’s true.’
It’s dangerous to make decisions based on an unknown and uncertain presence.
It’s like spending money assuming you’ll win the lottery.
As the person involved, I wouldn’t mind being expected, but if “Mose” is brought into this, do I have to respond as “Mose”?
This situation is my fault, so I can’t complain, but if Ms. Shirley intends to make “Mose” do something, she’s made a bit of a mistake.
And now she comes to me again with a request.
”They’re likely planning to make a move tomorrow when they return. Since you can go to the 4th District alone, could you go there, stay with Ferris, and come back?”
In other words, she wants me to act as a bodyguard, but I disagreed.
’Their focus might not be solely on Ms. Ferris, you know? If I’m with her, I could get caught up in it and become one of their pawns.’
It’s true that Ferris is being targeted, but others might be in danger too.
”That is…”
I ask Ms. Shirley a question based on my own prediction, which makes her hesitate.
’I’m not sure what it means to be at their mercy, but… I predict that they will either take someone close to her hostage or somehow force Ms. Ferris to act against her will. Which do you think it is?’
After thinking for a moment, Ms. Shirley clearly answers.
”…If they take a hostage, I would be the best choice, but I don’t think that would make Ferris obey. If she becomes their pawn, her power could harm many people, and in that case, she would likely choose to abandon the hostage.”
Even if she’s the best choice for a hostage, she would be abandoned in a crisis.
I’m curious about the nature of that relationship, but I move the conversation forward.
’If that’s the case… it’s more likely they will try to control her body. Assuming they succeed, the people from ‘Silver Orchid’ won’t just stand by and watch.’
”Well, that’s true.”
’Then they would use Ms. Ferris, and I think they would need some instructions, so it’s important to understand her position.’
If they want to cause chaos indiscriminately, they probably wouldn’t need instructions, but then they wouldn’t say they’re making her obey.
So, they would likely give some kind of instructions, and to do that, they need to know her position.
That means the person controlling her must be present at the scene, and in that case, Ferris herself might eliminate all the ‘Gem Snake’ members there to prevent being controlled.
Considering that risk… they might try to set a trap in a clear, open area, blending in with unrelated people, right?
When I told Ms. Shirley this, she put her right hand on her chin and thought deeply.
”…That’s true. So, it would be after she returns to the city?”
’In my guess, it would be in the square in front of the dungeon. I also thought about luring her out by targeting the “Silver Orchid” office or the “Silver Orchid Inn,” but if they act that obviously, Ms. Ferris might be too cautious to come out.’
I can’t imagine they would abandon Ms. Shirley, who is the perfect hostage, and instead, try to lure Ferris out with their movements.
Ms. Shirley nodded at that prediction.
’Well, since I can think of it, it’s not surprising if someone on their side notices that possibility too. If that happens, they are likely to set a trap in a place that is definitely safe to pass through.’
”So, that square then.”
’Yes. There are probably many unrelated people there, and those controlling Ms. Ferris can act while blending in with them.’
After sharing my thoughts with Ms. Shirley, she agreed but then made this suggestion.
”Then… how about you blend in with the general public, and eliminate anyone controlling Ferris as soon as you find them?”
’That would be difficult. I’m already attracting attention because of this armor.’
I answered that way since I was speaking as “Mose.”
If I took on the role of “Mose,” I would be so noticed that even a minor conflict with Ferris’s attack would likely make the other side back down.
So I talked about what happened with Ms. Kokol the magician girl yesterday, and Ms. Shirley should have understood that it’s hard for me to blend in with regular people.
As I pointed to my armor while saying this, Ms. Shirley looked troubled again.
”Ah, speaking of which, I got a report from Nina about that armor. But if that’s the case… the simplest way would be to just not show Ferris, right?”
’…’
”…”
To her words, Ms. Wendy, who was silent with me, seemed to understand.
I had already told her that this armor is made of magical power and about the magic thread, so she knew I could hide Ferris’s appearance.
However, according to our contract, she can’t reveal anything about my ability… Her eyes kept glancing at me, pleading to know if it was okay to tell Ms. Shirley about it.
Of course, it’s not okay.
If I cover Ferris with the Magic Armor, I can’t make her invisible, so she would have to take on some other form.
I had said it was just an outer appearance, so I can’t change her face to look like someone else. It would have to be in armor or a wooden box, but… if I can change people or things appearance, Ferris might realize that invisibility is possible, and then she might think of magic items for invisibility or “Koji.”
Well, considering the influence of Ferris being controlled by the “Gem Snake,” it’s a range I could tolerate… but it’s still not acceptable.
Being able to turn invisible and fly means that ability could be misused in many ways, and once someone suspects me, it’s hard to prove I didn’t do something.
Even without that, if I were to change her appearance, it would mean acting together, and I might end up being manipulated too, so I have to avoid that by taking separate actions.
It might be enough to keep my distance, but if I do that, Ferris, who can see magic, might notice the magic thread connecting us, and that feeling of being covered in magic could make her remember “Koji.”
In the end, there’s no benefit in tell her that I can transform someone.
So, I decided to stay silent about the disguise using “Magic Mending.”
Ms. Wendy seemed to sense my decision from the atmosphere, but then she spoke up.
”Um, for now, let’s have Mr. Mose convey this matter to Ms. Ferris… If we can’t prevent it, it would be better to discuss the seriousness of this issue with him to get as much help as possible.”
”That means… it will ultimately reveal my true identity.”
””!””
When Ms. Shirley responded to that, the two people standing behind her directed a killing intent toward Ms. Wendy.
Ms. Wendy flinched a little at that, but she continued to propose to Ms. Shirley.
”Um… However, I believe that this is a necessary situation. I’ve heard that he can withstand Ms. Ferris’s power, and if she gets manipulated, it will be a valuable countermeasure against her. So, if that’s the case…”
”Should I reveal all the circumstances, then?”
”Yes. Of course, if Mr. Mose can promise not to disclose the secret.”
Saying that, Ms. Wendy looked at me, and in response, Ms. Shirley turned her face toward me as well.
””…””
Huh, what’s going on?
I don’t really want to know, and I plan to handle things as best as I can without asking.
”Well, it’s not like…”
Just as I was about to say that, Ms. Shirley moved.
*Clatter… Swoosh, whoosh.*
From under her helmet appeared the beautiful face of a woman who looked to be around 20, with long, straight blonde hair that reached down to her chest.
””Lady Shirley!?””
When her 2 attendants exclaimed at her action, she answered while fixing her hair that had been freed from the helmet.
”It’s fine. This matter is indeed serious, and we need to take action as much as possible.”
Saying that, Ms. Shirley revealed her true identity to me.
”I am the third princess of the Kingdom of Orlando, Charlotte Orlando. Please remember my name.”
Oh no… this is going to get even more complicated, isn’t it?
Thinking that, I glanced at Ms. Wendy, hoping she could help me pretend I didn’t hear this… but she shook her head apologetically.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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