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As we reached a complex network of alleys near the walls dividing the city and the outskirts, Luke stopped in his tracks. In his line of sight was a girl of about ten, dressed in ragged clothes resembling tatters, barefoot and singing on the roadside, begging for alms.

“…Oh dear”

Her features weren’t unpleasant, but the grime and dirt were so severe that it made for a pitiful sight. Just as I furrowed my brows, the girl noticed us, stopped singing, and flashed a bright smile like a sunflower.

“Hello, young master! Mr. Elf isn’t with you today? —Nice to meet you, young lady.”
“Why yes… Nice to meet you, I’m Julia Fortuna. Feel free to call me ‘Jill.’ —Excuse me, are you acquainted with Luke and Ashimi?”

In response to the friendly inquiry, the girl, whom I had crouched slightly to meet eye level, seemed to brighten even more and answered with a light sparkle in her eyes.

“Yes! My name is Anise. Also the young master and Mr. Elf are our benefactors!”

Contrary to Anise’s cheerful response, Luke’s expression remained somber. It seems this is the cause of his and Ashimi’s distress around here.

“Is that so? You’re quite impressive for offering proper greetings. If you’re acquainted with Luke, then consider me your friend too. Nice to meet you.”

As she said this, she compared our faces with a slightly flustered expression.

“Um… I mean, for someone like me to be friends with a lady and a young master…”
“Oh my! Did Luke and Ashimi really say something so narrow-minded!?”

With slightly widened eyes, Anise quickly shook her head. “N-no! …But I thought yesterday was just a joke or pity…” The latter part faded into a barely audible murmur.

“It wasn’t!”
“They would never.”

Our voices in denial blended in unison.

♦♢♦

“… I see. So, you called upon the wind spirits to extinguish the fire, and they responded accordingly.”

Sitting in the shade of a large tree with a perfect canopy, perched on a hill that overlooked the slum area undergoing reconstruction, Luke and I spread out the sheet and the lunch we had brought in a basket. We chatted about various topics, and naturally, the conversation shifted from the beggar girl Anise to the arson incident Luke and the others were involved in.

(So that’s what happened. It’s surprising, honestly, that Ashimi, of all people, went to such lengths for a half-elf girl and her dwarf foster parent. I wouldn’t have expected it.)

“—? What’s the matter, Jill? You seem to be in quite a good mood.” Luke averted his eyes from me, who was blushing and squinting as if seeing something too bright.

“Of course, it’s because I’m happy. You both did a good thing.” That’s why I feel so happy, almost as if it’s my own achievement.

In contrast to my delight, Luke’s face remained downcast.

“… Do you really think so? If I had been stronger, there might have been even fewer casualties. When I think that, I can’t help but feel frustrated with my own powerlessness.”

He glanced towards the remains of the buildings that had been completely burned down and the bodies wrapped in straw mats being carried out. They were being thrown into a hastily dug large pit, as there was no proper cemetery.

He sighed wistfully, barely touching the bagel sandwich I had prepared for lunch before setting it aside.

“Did you not find it delicious?”

Since I had made extra, I gave it all to Anise. She kept saying, “delicious, delicious!” and ate everything right away, but perhaps it didn’t suit Luke’s taste.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that my chest feels heavy…”
“…”

Hmm. If delicious food doesn’t help, this issue must be quite deep-rooted. I don’t think Luke is as powerless as he believes.

“I gave Anise her lunch earlier. Do you despise me for that, Luke?”
“???”
“For example, suppose I give all the food I have to other hungry children, or organize a soup kitchen with everyone from Letindüte —since it seems the authorities aren’t providing any relief—or even distribute all my wealth to feed everyone in the slums… Do you think I’m heartless for not actually doing that?”
“—Well… even if giving away everything is impossible, at least lunch or a soup kitchen…”
“But the lunch I have now isn’t enough to distribute among the other children. At the very least, Anise wouldn’t have enough to eat. Even if we organized a soup kitchen, we might last a day or two, but doing it every day would lead to bankruptcy soon enough. —So, perhaps this is just self-satisfaction, but since Anise is a friend of yours and an acquaintance of mine, I prioritized her. Would you condemn that as cruel?”
“That is…”

“I understand. But there must be a way to save more people.” — The anguish of a boy searching for that ‘one brilliant solution’ is evident.

“Of course, now that I know about this situation, I intend to provide as much support as possible. I’ll consult with Mr. Curtis and, if necessary, even with Princess Lieselotte to get the administration involved.”
“You’re….you’re right. I’ll also do the best I can!”

Luke instantly regained his vitality. I looked into his eyes, meeting his gaze.

“Yes, let’s do our best together. That’s why, please stop blaming yourself. You may not be omnipotent, but you’ve still saved many people. As your friend, I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished”
“Jill… Thank you…so much. But still, I was just so powerless that it’s…frustrating!!”

As Luke sobbed, I gently embraced him.

“It’s okay. You did what you could. It may not have been perfect, but don’t think of yourself as powerless. There are people you saved, a town that still stands because of you. Those are undeniable facts. Please, don’t forget that.”
“—”

I whispered into Luke’s ear as he clung to me like a child. Feeling his hot tears drip down, I couldn’t help but wish for his heart’s burden to be eased, even if just a little.

Author’s Note:

Meanwhile, around the same time, Ashimi was regaining his usual demeanor while having a verbal spat with Pryui.

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We eventually wrapped up the commotion at the haunted mansion safely(?), but it wasn’t until midday two days later that we returned to Cilento.

We attached Otto’s testimony and documents proving his identity. After arranging for the cleanup of the mansion, we also exchanged contact information with Otto for his address in Cilento. All of this became the reason for the lateness.

However, apparently there was a large fire in the outskirts of the city’s slum area the day before. As a result, there were significant restrictions on entering and leaving the city, making the gates quite crowded. In hindsight, it might have been the right decision to wait for a day.

Now, back at Letindüte III after three days, besides the usual hustle and bustle, there was an unusual gloominess in the expressions of Luke and Ashimi.

As I observed,

“… Ashimi, aren’t you going today…?”
“… What’s the point of going?”
“… Well… you’re right…”

Such a gloomy conversation was unfolding.

“So, what happened to them?”

Curious, I discreetly asked Pryui and Eren, but they both said there wasn’t anything particularly concerning going on.

“However, sir Luke and sir Ashimi unusually went out together yesterday, and when they returned in the evening, they were both so exhausted they could hardly stand. Oh, and they smelled like smoke and ash, so I had them take a bath immediately.”
“Yeah, they did seem off when they got back. Ashimi was enthusiastic about teaching wind spirit magic to Luke during their extracurricular activity… and sure enough, when Luke returned, he seemed to have bonded closely with the wind spirits. It was quite something.”

It was unusual for Pryui to carry a tone of praise for both Luke and Ashimi.

But the fact that they smelled burnt… Could they have gone to see the fire yesterday? However, Ashimi mentioned that it was an extracurricular lesson on wind spirit art. Indeed, Luke’s skill has noticeably—or rather explosively—improved.

It’s puzzling why they both returned with such gloomy expressions. Unless they made a mistake with their magic and caused a disaster… but that seems… unlikely.

“““ —Could it be?!!”””

With an ominous sign fitting perfectly, Pryui, Eren, and I exchanged grimaces, then collectively sighed.

“““…it couldn’t (possibly) be, could it?”””

Those two wouldn’t do something so foolish—then again, Ashimi is a wild card. So, what could have happened?

“““Hmm…”””

The mystery only deepens.

♦♢♦

“Shall we go for a walk, maybe followed by lunch?” I invited, but Luke was unusually hesitant, so I found myself half-forcibly dragging him out of the mansion. Thus, we, accompanied by Vier, set out on foot to the main streets of the town.

“I’m not really in the mood for a walk…”

Even at this point, Luke’s response lacked enthusiasm.

That alone is already a sign of abnormality. Normally, he would follow along when I invited him out, wagging his tail like Vier (a rather rude but fitting expression, figuratively speaking). But here he is, sighing and wearing an unusually gloomy expression.

By the way, Ashimi should have been taken outside by Pryui, who must have come up with an excuse to drag him out as well. They are both elves from the same homeland, they may have common interests.

“Don’t say it like that. Perhaps it’s because of the ghost trouble I’ve had the last few nights, but it feels good to walk under the bright sun… Or perhaps, is it inconvenient for you to be with me, Luke?”

Appealing with a slightly upward gaze is effective, courtesy of Monika’s advice. And true enough, Luke vigorously shook his head in a fluster.

“O-, of course not! It’s just… I have something I need to think about.”
“Is there something troubling you? If you don’t mind, I’m here to listen.”
“… No. This is my personal problem.”

Hmm. Your defences are quite strong.

“I see. However, I want to support you, Luke. If you think I’m unreliable, then there’s nothing I can do. But rather than keeping it all to yourself and pondering alone, sometimes talking to someone can help find a solution. So, if sharing even a bit of your burden with me can help alleviate your worries, don’t hesitate to… If not me, then someone else… Perhaps you could talk to someone more experienced, like Curtis or Norman.”

“Jill…” Luke looked at me with eyes like those of a lost child, somewhat bewildered, and he gently touched his bangs and looked down. “—I’m a lost cause, aren’t I? I even made you worry about me.”

Seeing him lost in thought, I couldn’t bring myself to press further, and we walked in silence for a while.

Suddenly, I realized that my feet had unconsciously led me towards the direction of the slums where the fire had occurred the day before.

“Aah, Jill. It’s not safe over there, especially now after yesterday’s… disaster. It’s dangerous. You shouldn’t go.”
“Well, is that so? By disaster, you mean the fire I’ve been hearing about?”
“…Yes. I guess the news has reached you as well.”

Luke sighed, looking melancholic. He still looks as beautiful as ever. Otto would probably be delighted to use him as a subject for his paintings.

“It was terrible. I didn’t even know that people were living in such conditions, in such a place. And… I couldn’t do anything.”

Seeing Luke blame himself, I reconsidered probing further out of sheer curiosity and decided it would be rude. I began to distance myself from the situation when suddenly—

“Oh? Is that singing? I don’t know who’s singing, but it’s a beautiful voice.”

I halted my steps and listened intently to the faint singing coming from somewhere nearby. It was a girl’s voice who sounded like a poised singer, albeit with some clumsiness.

“…Ah, I guess she’s here again today.”

On the other hand, Luke seemed to recognize the singer and hesitated for a moment before walking ahead towards the direction of the voice.

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““““—The painter who owns this mansion?!!””””

Faced with the astonished and skeptical gazes of the four of us, the dwarf, who looked very much like a vagrant with his shabby appearance, puffed out his chest proudly and declared, “That’s right!”

Like many dwarves, he had a long beard and a grumpy-looking face, with gray hair and beard streaked with black and white, resembling a human in their late fifties.

He introduced himself as Otto Keaton.

“You must’ve heard my name at least once!” he said confidently.

Though he spoke with such self-assurance, Bruno and Lynn tilted their heads in confusion, I thought I might have heard the name somewhere, and only Cestlavie seemed to recognize it, nodding and saying, “Ah, the one famous for his portraits.”

However, after nodding, Cestlavie frowned.

“But I’m pretty sure Otto disappeared about twenty years ago and was never seen again.”

Hearing that, we all thought the same thing; ‘So, he must be an imposter or a fake…’

Under our icy stares, the self-proclaimed Otto stomped his feet like a child. “Like hell, I’m the real deal! I’m just tired of those ugly nobles and priests swarming around and begging me to paint them so I’m traveling from place to place!!”

Incidentally, he claimed that this mansion was one of his bases. Due to the difference in body size between dwarves and humans, he had modified it to primarily use the basement and the attic.

He was annoyed when he returned after a long time and found it being treated as a haunted mansion. But then, when we arrived and the smell of delicious food and coffee wafted through the air, he sneaked through the attic to come and take a look, intending to sneak some food.

“…Well, whether it’s true or not, the work in the hallway certainly isn’t amateurish. If it’s true, then we’re the ones trespassing, so it would be reasonable to accompany him to the nearest guild and explain the situation,” I suggested.

“Agreed,” Bruno concurred.

However, the person himself objected.

“Hell no! That’s a hassle! Besides, if word gets out that I’m here, a bunch of pesky fools will come flocking me again!”

What a stubborn old man. Whether it was due to his dwarf nature or the whims of an artist was unclear, but he seemed immovable.

“I’m done painting portraits! I’ve already created my masterpiece when I painted you! Now I’m just painting still lifes!”

Otto crossed his arms and looked away.

“Huh? Painted me? When was this…?”
“What are you talking about? Have you gone senile? I painted a precise portrait as ordered, and you saw the one in the hallway, didn’t you?”
“The one in the hallway… Do you mean that?”

“Um, what do you mean by that?” Lynn raised her hand hesitantly, joining our cryptic conversation. Come to think of it, she was the only one who hadn’t seen it yet.

“Right. It would be faster to show you directly — the true identity of the ghost.”

♦♢♦

As the moonlight illuminated a corner of the mansion, the statue of a lady in a pure white dress appeared in the hallway. However, it was not a solid figure; it lacked any sense of life or presence, and it was partially transparent, like a ghostly illusion through which the other side could be seen.

“Uwaah—! What is this?!” Lynn exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

To reassure her, I reached out and waved my hand two or three times through the chest area of the ghost. My hand felt nothing and passed right through.

“It’s an illusion… or rather, it seems to be a stereoscope image created by some magical device.”

“Indeed. It’s called a magic lantern. It receives the moonlight and projects my masterpiece. It wasn’t cheap,” Otto said, puffing out his chest. Should he really be boasting about this?

“Isn’t that just creepy stalker behavior?! Gross!” Bruno remarked honestly.

Otto waved his short arms and legs in anger. “What’s wrong with displaying my own work? Besides, I got the subject’s permission! —Right?”

Why would you ask me…

“I don’t recall anything like that. Besides, this isn’t even my portrait.”

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that she was somewhat older than me, had different eye color, and a more modest chest size. Conclusion: it wasn’t me—but someone who looked very similar—likely my actual mother.

“Hmm…? Now that you mention it, you do look a bit younger, your boobs and butts also look much bigger… Have you discovered some new beauty regimen?” Otto mused, stroking his beard. Has this man’s mind been stuck twenty years in the past?

“Honestly, I don’t care anymore. Regardless, we are here for a job and can’t afford to lie. We need to make an accurate report,” I said firmly. Otto frowned at my resolute stance. He groaned for a moment, but realizing I wouldn’t budge, he reluctantly nodded.

“…Fine, but I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Yes. Don’t mention my name if possible. And once this is all over, make sure the mansion is securely locked and assume I’ve gone traveling again.”

That seemed like an easy enough request to fulfill.

“Also, I’ve been itching to try my hand at portrait painting again. You’ve become quite expressive and shapely while I haven’t seen you. My creative juices are flowing! Are you just doing odd jobs now? Well, I’ll pay, so be my model again like in the old days!”
“Huh―?!”

I couldn’t help but let out a dumbfounded sound at the unexpected condition.

But wait, despite his senile demeanor, could he possibly have seen through Regina’s recognition inhibition spell and is seeing my real face? Is this the discerning eye of a top-tier artist?

“If you’re not going to cooperate, then forget about it!” Otto said, sitting cross-legged on the spot. It seems like reasonable persuasion won’t work here.

“Um, but I usually live in the capital, so it’s a bit… inconvenient to come all the way here…”

“Then I’ll just actually abandon this mansion and return to my workshop in the capital!” He decided promptly, as if it was a matter of fact.

“It doesn’t really matter, it’s just a portrait,” Cestlavie, who was unaware of the situation, irresponsibly agreed, while Bruno and Lynn, who vaguely understood my situation, exchanged looks with indescribable expressions.

Well, even if I don’t have his cooperation, I’ll just lose the quest’s reward, and 8 gold coins isn’t a significant loss financially speaking. However, I’d prefer to avoid the reputation of “failed a mission” sticking with me, if possible.

I let out a sigh and made my decision.

“…Understood. However, the paintings you create will remain strictly private and will never be leaked or publicly disclosed. If you can accept these conditions, then I’ll agree.”
“Of course!”

Otto readily agreed, springing up like a jack-in-the-box.

“Now that it’s settled, I need to prepare for my escape… no, I mean, pack for the move! You boys, help me out! …Oh, but first, I’m starving. Get me something to eat!”

Giving instructions to Bruno, Lynn, and Cestlavie, he hurriedly returned to the main hall.

Left alone in the corridor, I found myself standing next to the white apparition. I sighed and peered into her unfocused, icy-blue eyes, almost the same height as mine.

“I never thought this is how I would see you, Mother. Somehow, I have a feeling I’ll continue to be dragged into your affairs, even though half of it is my own doing. But the other half is your fault, so I suppose I’m entitled to complain.”

I couldn’t help but vent my frustrations, but under the stark moonlight, the apparition of my biological mother remained silent, simply standing there.

As I turned to leave with another sigh…

—fufu.

…I thought I heard a faint chuckle, tinged with mockery or perhaps self-deprecation. Then again, it was probably just an auditory illusion created by the mesmerizing beauty of the full moon.

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I tried to make sense of Bruno’s rather incoherent story.

“…So, in other words, on your way to the restroom, a ghost that looked just like me in a white dress appeared from the corner of the hallway and chased you while laughing, right?”

That’s terrifying.

“Yeah, that’s right. It looked just like you, but there was this eerie, seductive vibe about it.”

Sorry for not being seductive enough.

“What… what could that mean?”

Hearing about the strange event second-hand rather than witnessing it directly seemed to unsettle Lynn even more. She shivered despite being in a perfectly warm room, hugging her arms as she asked. Cestlavie and I exchanged glances.

““…………””

Like me, he hadn’t sensed any spiritual presence during the time Bruno supposedly encountered the ghost. So that leaves us with—

“The possibilities are: 1) You simply mistook something else for a ghost.”
“Your mind can conjure a ghost out of curtains when you’re really scared.”
“I didn’t!!”

Even so, human perception is often quite unreliable, especially in a place known as a ‘haunted mansion.’

“2) Another possibility is that it was a creature that mimics the appearance of someone you know, rather than a ghost.”

Maybe something like a doppelgänger or a shapeshifter.

“That’s it!”

Bruno snapped his fingers with a ‘Eureka!’ expression.

““Hmm…””

But if that were the case, we should have noticed some correspondent traces or signs during our exploration earlier in the day. Besides, the ghost that was supposed to look like me started appearing a few months ago, so the timeline doesn’t match up.

“3) Maybe I’m prone to astral projection and unknowingly sent out a spirit form.”

Suddenly, Cestlavie and the other two all took a step away from me.

“…I’m just kidding. I only said it because I’m tired of thinking seriously.”

It’s saddening that they took it for granted.

“I mean, if it’s Jill…”
“She can do anything…”
“Yeah, it’s not entirely impossible…”

The three of them whispered among themselves, which was rather rude. It’s nice to see they’re getting along better with Cestlavie, but I’m not exactly happy to see it.

“Anyway, let’s go see the place where it happened! We can’t make any judgments without seeing it for ourselves!”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”

So, we decided to go to the place where Bruno saw the ghost, with him leading the way, followed by me and Cestlavie.

Lynn was to stay behind in case of emergency.

“I… I’m staying here alone…?”

A girl staying behind alone in a haunted mansion.
…It certainly feels like a death flag, doesn’t it?

“It’s alright. I’ve set up powerful protective charms in the corners of the room, and I’ll leave Vier here with you just in case. You’ll be much safer here than following us.”
“Vier will beat up any bad guys!”

Lynn looked at the energetic, tail-wagging Vier (now the size of a small dog) with a warm expression.

“…Understood. Please come back as soon as you can.”

After reassuring the teary-eyed Lynn several times, we left the room.

♦♢♦

“「Light」.”

The hallway was pitch black as the moon had hidden behind the clouds, making it hard to see our footing. It was both eerie and dangerous, so I immediately cast a light spell.

“I don’t sense anything suspicious… Where exactly did you see Jill’s ghost again?”
“Could you please not phrase it like that? It sounds as if I’m the one haunting this place.”
“Just a bit further ahead. Jill was standing at the corner past that bend.”

Are these two coordinating their stories intentionally?

As we walked towards the problem area, I suddenly realized something important. If we do encounter a ghost, how should I react? Should I scream “Kyah!” in a girlish manner? It seems necessary to maintain my femininity, especially considering how scared Lynn was earlier. But since I’m not actually afraid, it feels a bit insincere.

“…What are you mumbling about?”
“Uh, I was just considering what I should do if I encountered the ghost…”
“I’ll handle that part.”

Cestlavie responded brusquely. As expected of a boy, he’s trying to be very chivalrous.

“I’ll give it my all too!”

Bruno, leading the way with his sword drawn, declared earnestly. It sounded almost like the excuse of someone determined to prove themselves after a long period of inaction.

“Ha! The guy who pissed himself is acting all tough now.”
“You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲! And I didn’t even piss myself in the first place!”
“Oh, come on! Why do you two always have to argue? You’re on the same team, would you please get along!”

Just when I thought the atmosphere was improving, here we go again. I don’t know why, but these two always seem to compete with each other over everything.

While they bickered, we arrived at the problem area.

“The ghost appeared from over there and floated silently towards me,” Bruno said, pointing to an unremarkable corner of the hallway.

“Here?”

I moved closer to inspect, but it was just a dusty corner of the hallway, nothing unusual.

“Yeah, it came from right there…”

As Bruno began to nod, his words trailed off into a stifled gasp, “—hng,” like a suppressed hiccup, followed by a shocked exclamation from Cestlavie, “What the…!?”

“—?”

I turned around, puzzled, to see Bruno and Cestlavie’s faces paler than the bright light of the full moon peeking through the clouds. They both stared at me with wide eyes.

… … …

Feeling a sudden sense of dread, I slowly turned to look behind me. Standing there was a woman with cherry blossom-colored hair, dressed in a pure white dress.

♦♢♦

“—?!”

A shrill, undignified scream —“Gyoeeeee!”— echoed from afar, making Lynn jump in surprise. Watching Vier, the celestial wolf, pricking up her ears, Lynn guessed that something had gone wrong with Jill and the others. She began pacing nervously.

“Okay, okay! I’ll go check just in case. V-, Vier, will you come with me…?”

Lynn, still nervous, moved toward the exit, with Vier following closely behind. But suddenly, Vier stopped, looked up at a corner of the ceiling with a fierce expression, and let out a howl. Without warning, she leapt straight into the burning fireplace.

“Ahhh! Vier is acting like the bad wolf in old tales!”

Leaving the stunned Lynn behind, the sound of Vier running across the attic echoed loudly. Then, a hoarse male voice yelled out:

“Whoa! What’s with this dog?! Ouch, ouch! Let go, you mutt!”

The noise of a human scrambling about could be heard amidst the chaos.

“What…?”

As Lynn stood dumbfounded at the exit, she suddenly heard a goofy exclamation, “Ah!” A small figure, along with Vier, came crashing through the ceiling, landing with a thunderous noise like a bolt of lightning.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

Lynn shut her eyes and screamed, but through the commotion, she heard the voices and footsteps of three people rushing down the corridor.

“Lynn!”
“What’s going on?!”
“Ugh, now that’s a cute scream…”¹

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Thus, what I brought this time was a prototype of the convenient paper drip method. With Lynn’s help, we brewed the coffee, and its rich aroma became the perfect accompaniment to the relaxed atmosphere after the meal, allowing us to enjoy a peaceful moment together.

Despite his initial reluctance, even Cestlavie joined our conversation, and we chatted about various topics. However, Bruno, who had been acting restless, suddenly stood up.

“Ah, sorry, I need to… step out for a bit.”

It would be tactless to ask what he was up to, but looking out the window, I saw that the sun had completely set, and a round full moon was peeking through the trees. Clouds occasionally obscured it, but the bright, pale light of the full moon illuminated the night intermittently.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Should I come with you just in case?”
“Come on. I’m not a kid, and it’s just right outside. I’ll be fine.”

Bruno, looking exasperated, firmly insisted. Without taking any light, he quickly opened the door and disappeared into the dim hallway.

It still felt like I should have gone with him, but having a girl accompany him to the restroom at night would probably hurt his pride as a boy, so I couldn’t force the issue any further. Lynn seemed to feel the same, and we exchanged glances with a sigh.

Ideally, individual actions—especially at night—should be avoided, but we can’t exactly regulate physiological needs. It would have been best if Cestlavie had gone with him as another guy, but given how those two are like water and oil, there’s no way they’d happily go together… Besides, Bruno would outright refuse.

Just as I was thinking that, I glanced at Cestlavie. He was holding his coffee cup, and for some reason, was glaring intently at the ceiling.

“Is something wrong?”
“No… I thought I heard a noise coming from the attic, but it was probably just my imagination.”
“Really?”

Despite his words, his serious expression made me extend my magical Search art around the room, including the ceiling, to check. However, I didn’t sense anything unusual. In fact, many noble mansions, including this one, have barriers to interfere with magical detection for security purposes. This makes it feel like looking through frosted glass, with areas of uncertainty and blanks.

That’s why, during the daytime exploration with Lynn, I primarily used Search art and visually checked places I couldn’t confirm with magic.

“Maybe it’s rats, or maybe the house is just creaking because it’s old and abandoned?”

Lynn suggested hesitantly. Cestlavie and I both tilted our heads at that.

“That could be it. The wood might have cracked because of the room being heated.”
“…Yeah.”

Even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Listening silently, I thought I heard a faint creaking noise, like someone moving around in the attic.

✦✧✦✧✦

“Honestly, Jill should trust me a bit more…”

Muttering to himself as he rounded the corner of the hallway, Bruno was unexpectedly greeted by the full moon peeking through a break in the clouds. Its bright yet cold light illuminated the long corridor.

“It’s bright.”

He paused, looking up at the light source through an exposed window, the clarity so intense that even the shadows at his feet were sharply defined.

“…A ghost on a full moon night, huh?”

Reacting to his own murmur, Bruno shivered reflexively and decided to get things over with quickly, quickening his pace. As he reached the middle of the hallway, he suddenly noticed a slender figure in a white dress standing quietly in the shadows ahead. He tilted his head in curiosity.

The figure’s hair was as brilliant as gold threads mixed with cherry blossoms, cascading down to her waist. Her white dress was adorned here and there with purple lace. Lace gloves and enamel high heels stood out clearly.

“Jill?”

Facing a beauty that seemed sculpted from moonlight itself, Bruno’s heart fluttered strangely.

—What the heck, did you follow me after all? Stop treating me like a kid!

He was about to voice his complaint, but his mouth and feet froze as if they had turned to ice.

“Jill… is that you?”

Bruno’s small, uncertain murmur seemed to reach her ears, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. Jill turned to face him directly, her icy blue eyes locking onto Bruno’s.

She appeared more mature and seductive than usual, an eerily beautiful and almost artificial presence that left Bruno at a loss for words. He swallowed nervously, feeling an uncommon tension.

Ignoring his confusion, Jill slowly, silently approached.

“What’s going on…?” Bruno finally managed to ask. She gave no response, continuing to close the distance, prompting Bruno to instinctively step back half a step.

A sudden realization struck him like a revelation:

(Something’s wrong. How did Jill, who was in the room, get here before me?! And why is she wearing different clothes?!)

As Jill came within three or four steps, close enough to touch, Bruno scrutinized her again and gasped.

In the bright moonlight, her figure cast no shadow on the floor. Even more chilling, her enameled shoes weren’t touching the ground at all.

At that moment, the moon slipped behind a cloud, enveloping the surroundings in darkness. Simultaneously, Jill’s figure vanished like a mirage from right in front of Bruno. As he inhaled sharply, “S-S-S-She’s hereeeeeeeee!!!”

He immediately turned on his heel and dashed back the way he had come at full speed, as if fleeing for his life.

He ran and ran down the corridor, rounded a corner, and finally pushed open the door from which warm light was spilling out. Jill and Lynn, seated at the table, and Cestlavie, who was adding more logs to the fireplace, all turned toward the entrance in surprise.

Jill, dressed in her familiar black dress, held a coffee cup in both hands, her mouth agape. She stared at Bruno’s pale, breathless, and intensely serious face, blinking repeatedly with her jade-colored eyes.

“A g-g-g-ghost! Jill’s ghost appeared!!”

At his first words, Bruno yelled frantically, his voice loud enough to fill the room. In response, everyone present,

“““――Huh???”””

looked at him, heads tilted in confusion, regarding him as if he had lost his mind.

Author’s Note:

Next time on Bruno’s story.

I… I’ll tell you exactly what happened just now!
“I parted ways with Jill and was headed to the restroom when,
somehow, Jill was already there in front of the restroom.”
I don’t know what the hell I’m saying, but I don’t even know what I saw…
I felt like I was losing my mind…
It wasn’t a hallucination or a delusion,
it was definitely not something as trivial as that.
I glimpsed a fragment of something far more terrifying…

Translator’s note:

Author’s Note above could be a reference to something.

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So, we ended up splitting into two pairs and exploring the dilapidated mansion that was once a villa. However, we found nothing suspicious nor any traces of the ghost we were looking for. We regrouped in the entrance hall at the appointed time.

“In a haunted house exploration like this…usually someone would suddenly disappear from the group or there would be mysterious glowing traces left behind. This is so dull; there’s no excitement at all,” I remarked candidly.

“Literally what are you talking about?” Cestlavie retorted coldly.

Setting that aside, we decided to compare our reconnaissance results. Bruno and Cestlavie shared theirs first.

“There were no signs of people anywhere. There were some footprints from broken windows, but judging by their size, they were probably from men, gawkers who came after hearing the ghost rumors I think.”
“No lingering thoughts or anything of the sort. At least in the past twenty to thirty years, it doesn’t seem like anyone has died in this mansion.”

“It was the same on our side. Other than things that can’t be carried like shelves and magical devices that are fixed on their place, everything is picked clean.” The kitchen still had its hearth, oven, and simple cold storage magic devices, but their core magic stones had been removed—although it seemed no one dared to touch the magic stones for the toilet’s washing and disposal system, which was fortunately still functional. “We also checked the slightly distant storage shed, but there were only a few unusable tools and cleaning supplies scattered around.”

“…And that’s why you’re dressed like that.”

Cestlavie gave a light head shake, a mix of understanding and exasperation in his tone, as he looked us up and down. Lynn and I had our sleeves rolled up, hair tied back with ribbons for easier movement, scarves over our mouths as masks, and were armed with brooms and dusters.

“Well, we’re staying in this mansion tonight to wait for the ghost anyway. If we’re going to be here, we might as well clean up and make it a pleasant place to sleep.”
“Is that so? I think it’s unnecessary to go through all that trouble for a one-night stay.”
“…Yeah.”

Cestlavie and Bruno unexpectedly found a common ground.

Hmm, is this just a typical boy’s way of thinking? At the very least, I can’t stand sleeping or eating in a dirty place, so Lynn and I had been diligently cleaning the relatively undamaged dining room to make it usable. Perhaps feeling uncomfortable in a dirty place is more of a feminine instinct.

Even in the animal kingdom, it’s usually the females who stay in the nest for childbirth and childcare, naturally keeping the nest and its surroundings clean as part of their instincts. Now that I think about it, when I invited Luke into my rather messy personal room, he kept complimenting how “neatly organized” it was. I had brushed it off as mere politeness, but maybe he genuinely meant it.

♦♢♦

The fire flickered and crackled like coral, filling the room with warmth. Luckily, the chimney wasn’t clogged, so after lightly cleaning the brick fireplace, we threw in the firewood left in the storage and some fallen branches from the nearby woods. It revived the room with cozy warmth and a faint orange glow.

Unexpectedly, the day was already fading. I floated a Light ball to the ceiling of the hall, which doubled as a dining room. Then, from my storage, I retrieved a pot and a flask, gave them a quick rinse, filled them with water, and added some pre-cooked meat and vegetables. I measured out some seasonings by eye to prepare a stew.

“As efficient as ever,” Cestlavie commented nostalgically, a smile spreading across his face at the smell of the stew.

Well, when it’s dark, cold, and you’re hungry, it can really get you down. But being in a bright place, warmed by the fire, and surrounded by the smell of food can lift anyone’s spirits.

While I lightly toasted some bread and cheese pies and rehydrated some sausages, Bruno and Cestlavie brought over some disused tables and chairs. Lynn wiped them clean with a cloth so we could use them. By the time they were done, dinner was ready.

Once the food was arranged on the table, everyone naturally took their seats without anyone having to prompt them. We all said grace together (though Cestlavie, being a cleric, did offer a prayer, albeit somewhat perfunctory), and then began our meal.

As I started eating my portion, I observed everyone’s reactions.

“How is it? It’s just something quick and I added a bit more salt since we’ve been active all day. If it’s too salty, try the salad or the bread with raisins.”
“No, it’s delicious! As expected from you, Jill!”
“Is this really just a quick meal? I feel so inadequate because I can’t seem to improve my cooking at all…”
“For most adventurers, a meal on the road means hard bread at best. Dried meat would be considered a treat. There’s no point comparing it to such delicious food.”
““………””

Bruno and Lynn, wide-eyed, stared at Cestlavie, who had casually praised my cooking while reassuring Lynn at the same time. I hoped this would help them see the gentle side of his otherwise awkward demeanor.

After dinner, we had coffee. Recently, I had the chance to chat with the academy’s chairwoman, who treated me to some coffee. Although coffee is on the menu at Letindüte, the coffee beans, which can only be sourced from the south, are quite expensive. They typically arrive via sea routes or teleportation gates, making the supply unstable and the price variable, sometimes rivaling the cost of the finest teas.

I had always wanted to make it more affordable, so during our conversation, I mentioned this to the chairwoman. Thanks to her connections, I managed to secure a stable and cheaper supply route. Additionally, anticipating a larger supply, I switched from the current nel drip method (using a cotton flannel filter, nel being the abbreviation of flannel) to a paper drip method, which we developed after much trial and error. This change made it possible to enjoy coffee easily, even while traveling.

Incidentally, this paper drip method was patented under my name by our butler, Curtiss, and it quickly spread to other countries. Although it wasn’t entirely my achievement, I felt a bit guilty. Nevertheless, I decided to reduce the price of coffee at our shop, hoping to help make coffee more accessible to ordinary households.

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“This is for accompaniment. I won’t be the one singing.”
“I see… But what does listening to a song have to do with training in spirit arts?”
“…The thing is, spirits love music. Especially wind spirits, they have a strong affinity for songs and musical instruments. So, I thought we could start by listening to good music to enhance your affinity with the spirits.”

Glancing sideways at Ashimi’s calm expression as he explained, Luke had a feeling that this was an improvised excuse made up on the spot… but wisely chose not to question it.

Then— As they got closer to the outskirts of the city, a burnt smell wafted towards them from the direction they were heading.

“Do you smell something too, Ashimi?”
“It does smell like something’s burning…”

As the two muttered and squinted their eyes, they saw several plumes of smoke rising from beyond the low houses.

“Look at that… could it be a fire?”
“!!”

Ashimi’s face changed color, and he took off running. Luke immediately followed, sprinting at full speed.

When the two arrived at the gate separating the city from the outskirts, they saw the slum engulfed in roaring flames and smoke, on the verge of collapsing.

The slum was a cluster of shabby shacks made from scrap wood. The fire spread like a blaze through dry grass, quickly covering the entire area and becoming an uncontrollable inferno.

“This is… what on earth…?”
“—Gotta be arson.”

Ashimi’s stunned question received an answer from beside him.

An elderly gatekeeper with a troubled expression was approaching. The beggar girl, her face vacant, was being led by the shoulders by him.

Seeing the girl unharmed, Ashimi breathed a sigh of relief, but his brow immediately furrowed at the disturbing words.

“Arson… You mean someone set the fire on purpose? Did you see it happen?”
“No, but the flames erupted simultaneously in several places. All of them were usually uninhabited and had no sources of fire. It can’t be a coincidence.”

Luke approached the old guard.

“Have you contacted the city guards or the fire brigade? We need to extinguish the fire and rescue anyone trapped!”

In response to the boy’s plea, the old man replied calmly.

“Not happening. The slum is beyond the jurisdiction of the city. The people living here are nothing but drifters and demi-humans with no citizenship, let alone rights. The higher ups think it’s no problem if they disappear… so they just leave all these people alone. They might be vigilant to prevent the fire from spreading to the city, but that’s about it.”

With an indescribable expression, the old man lightly pushed Ashimi’s shoulder, releasing the girl, then shuffled off towards the barracks near the gate.

“Leave them alone… Could this fire be related to that eviction talk from yesterday?”

As Ashimi gritted his teeth, recalling his conversation with Bernd from yesterday, the girl, who had been staggering towards him, finally collapsed to the ground in front of him.

“Gramps is still in the fire… even though he has bad legs…” Watching the slum being ravaged by fire and smoke, the girl murmured like a delirium.

“Gah—!” Upon hearing this, Luke immediately attempted to rush into the sea of fire, but Ashimi intervened, using his body to stop him just in time. “Stop it! You’re just heading to your own death!”

“But there might be people who can be saved if I go right now!”
“What can you do alone?! Get a hold of yourself!”

“But—” Luke still attempted to break free, but as his eyes met those of the girl shedding tears while staring at the flames in silence, he suddenly lost all strength, collapsing to his knees. “Why… why am I so powerless…”

Ashimi, too, clenched his lips, but his eyes held a determined glint.

“No, it’s not over yet. There’s still something we can do! If human strength isn’t enough, then we’ll borrow the power of the spirits. Listen, Luke. I will summon rain here! You call upon the wind spirits to gather as many rain clouds as possible!”

“Rain clouds…” Looking up at the cloudless sky, Luke wore a puzzled expression. “That’s impossible. Besides, I’ve never even sensed the presence of wind spirits, let alone mastered wind spirit arts!”

“We ought to try it even if it’s impossible. You only have two choices—do it or don’t. If you choose not to, then take that girl and get away from here.”

Ashimi spoke while removing the lute from his back and tuning it, adopting an uncharacteristically calm tone devoid of tension.

In that moment, Luke also rose to the occasion, ready to act.

“I understand. I’ll do it!”
“Good. I’ll play a song praising the Wind Spirit King, so call forth the wind to match my melody! Let’s do this, Luke!”
“Understood!!”

♦♢♦

In the capital city of Cilento, where not a single cloud had been seen, a sudden gust of wind arose, followed by rain clouds gathering from nowhere, swiftly covering the entire sky. Soon after, large drops of rain poured down on the entire city.

People who hadn’t prepared rain gear panicked and rushed to seek shelter. Despite their complaints about the unexpected rain, it was a different story for the slums outside the city, which were engulfed in flames at the same time. The rain, coming at just the right moment, became a blessing, and the fire, which seemed to have engulfed the entire slum, was relatively quickly brought under control, mostly extinguished in its early stages.

Damage was limited to about one-sixth of the area, and remarkably few casualties occurred. The makeshift shacks that had been homes were expected to return to their original state after a round of repairs.

Simultaneously, it was revealed that the fire had been intentionally set. Those directly involved, related organizations, and the masterminds behind the incident were quickly identified and promptly executed.

Furthermore, it was discovered that the backdrop of the incident was a plan to evacuate the slums. Given these circumstances, the plan underwent significant revisions.

♦♢♦

“What the heck? Young ones these days are so gutless!”

With the first words being a reproach, Ashimi, exhausted and drained, slowly lifted his head from where he had collapsed onto the ground.

“…yo. Still alive, huh?”
“Well, obviously! A tough old dwarf like me wouldn’t just croak in a fire!”

Seeing Bernd laughing heartily, Ashimi, lacking the energy to retort, sighed heavily.

Sitting back to back, Luke seemed to have no strength left, as he was just breathing heavily without even looking in their direction.

“Anyway, Anise mentioned you folks helped us out. So, I guess I owe you a thank you.”
“Anise…?”
“What? You haven’t asked her name?”

Looking to where he pointed, among the victims flipping over the ruins, looters, and onlookers, that girl was singing a song.

At her feet sat a slightly charred wooden bowl.

“…Come to think of it, I didn’t.”
“Hah. You’re a carefree one, aren’t you? But thanks for protecting that girl’s smile. —Thank you.”

With an unexpectedly sincere attitude, Bernd bowed his head.

Seeing Ashimi’s eyes widened in surprise, he smirked and quickly turned on his heel, heading back to the slums.

Watching him leave, Ashimi spoke to his back.

“Did you hear it? And can you hear that song?”
“Yeah… It… It brought me some relief.”

With that, the two fell silent. Anise’s joyous song continued to envelop them, wrapping them in its embrace.

Author’s Note:

As for Luke’s awakening, it was a bit of a rush. He is crying as he realizes his own weakness, because casualties still appeared. Also Jill is expected to appear in the follow-up.

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“Just so you know, don’t think this means you owe me anything.”
“The food is meant for her. I couldn’t care less about you.”

With a sullen and indifferent tone, the dwarf spoke, and Ashimi responded in an equally unfriendly manner. In the end, the dwarf and the girl easily accepted the emergency rations Ashimi reluctantly offered with a, “Well, if it’s given, I’ll take it.”

Currently, Ashimi and the dwarf are having a chat outside while waiting for the girl to prepare dinner inside the shack. This was simply because the broken pots, pans, and scrap iron scattered inside the shack prevented Ashimi, who had a metal allergy, from entering. Meanwhile, the girl, accustomed to it, nimbly navigated her way inside.

“I can’t understand why anyone would willingly stay in such a place reeking of metal…”
“I’m not collecting it for fun. I repair broken pots and pans and cast unusable iron into knives and such to make a living.”
“Hmph, a tinkerer, huh?”
“That’s right. I can’t do full-scale blacksmithing, but I can manage that much. It’s quite useful around here.”

After all, even in a slum like this, there is still a semblance of human activity.

“…what’s with the half-elf?”
“I’ve got no connection to her. Well, we’re both outcasts, supporting each other… that’s about it.”
“You are a weird one.”

Despite his words, Ashimi felt a slight sense of respect for the elderly dwarf—though considering the lifespan of dwarves, which is only two to three times that of humans, the two were probably of similar age. Ashimi was surprised to recognize such feelings within himself.

“Hah! In a place like this, you can’t survive if you fuss over the details. That said, young one, you’re quite different from the usual Mister High-and-Mighty Elf. To worry about that half-elf girl and come to a dump like this that could be cleared out at any time, and to trade barbs with a dwarf like me, quite the peculiar one.”

As always, the dwarf spoke rudely, but there was a hint of admiration in his tone. Ashimi shrugged lightly, acknowledging it.

“Don’t call me ‘young one,’ my name is Ashimi. More importantly, gramps, tell me what you mean about the clearing out.”
“Hmph. I ain’t no gramps. The name’s Bernd. Also, that’s not something new. The bigwigs in the city don’t like this neighborhood. They call it illegal squatting, an eyesore, a breeding ground for crime and try to drive us out. Hah! They think that if we disappear from their sight, then poverty and discrimination will disappear too.”
“…That’s a disgusting thought.”

To Ashimi’s candid remark — “Heh,” this time, Bernd revealed a smile, showing his broken front teeth.

♦♢♦

The first thing that Silhouette (a pseudonym) —the president, salesperson, and procurement officer of the All-Solutions Firm— said to his employee who turned a simple delivery into an unexplained three-day absence was;

“Who might you be again?”

Despite her tearful apologies, he showed leniency by cutting her salary by only thirty percent, a surprisingly mild punishment.

“…I feel like it would have been better if I had just kept working at the café.”
“In that case, we would have sent an assassin under the pretext of maintaining confidentiality.”

Knowing there was no threat or exaggeration in the words that he spoke without as much as lifting his head from the account book, she replied, “Just kidding,” with a blank expression.

For a while, the sound of flipping pages and writing filled the store as he organized reports sent from various places.

Silhouette was organizing them in chronological order when he came across a report dated today about an evil deed planned to take place near the Imperial Capital, Cilento. “Hmm,” he grunted.

“Is something the matter, boss?”
“No. It seems there’s a request from some corrupt official to clear out the slums, but I doubt something like this can be done in a single day.”
“That’s true. That place has a strong sense of community and they’re not afraid of violence… In a way, it’s a gathering of people who have nothing to lose, so previous government policies should have failed. Let’s see… The contract was taken by the illegal adventurers’ guild ‘Dragon Tail,’ and it’s to be executed by Gustav Dahl, a former C-rank adventurer turned bandit and current bounty target, along with his comrades.”
“A corrupt official, an illegal guild, and a former adventurer with a bounty on his head—it’s a lineup that screams trouble. I doubt they’ll handle this peacefully… will it even work out?”
“Even if these people use violence for a living, the numbers and scale are different. I can’t imagine a few former adventurers could make much of a difference.”

While she predicted these bandits might at most resort to some thuggish intimidation or get beaten up by the slum dwellers, Silhouette, in contrast, tilted his head with a difficult expression (though his usual smirk didn’t reveal much change).

“Hmm. They should at least understand that much… but I have a feeling this could turn into a troublesome situation. It reeks of a short-sighted and foolish move. —If it escalates into something that can’t be covered up, make arrangements to offer them up as scapegoats.”

“Understood.”

Without any further unnecessary exchange, she nodded and immediately began making the necessary preparations. Silhouette, having given the instructions, returned his attention to the various documents detailing the criminal activities set to unfold across the continent, as if he had already forgotten about the matter.

♦♢♦

“Um, Ashimi, we’re already at the outskirts of town. How far are we going?”

When Luke was about to learn the basics of spirit arts under Pryui’s guidance just like yesterday, Ashimi had half-forcibly taken him out of Letindüte, saying, “It must be stifling to stay inside the mansion all the time. Today, I’ll teach you and we’ll go outside for a change of pace.” Luke, looking puzzled, glanced at the old houses around them where the lower-class citizens lived.

“A little further. Still, this area is within the city limits… If this is enough to scare you, the future looks bleak for you.”
“The future… Isn’t this for spirit arts training?”
“Uh… Yes, it’s training, practical training. It’s just that the location is a bit unusual. —By the way, do you have any cash on hand?”
“Well, I have some gold and silver coins. Why do you ask?”
“Then there’s no problem. I was thinking of letting you hear a good song, and that’s the listening fee.”
“Music? Are you going to play…?”

Luke tilted his head, looking at Ashimi’s lute, which he had taken out before they left and was now slung over his back. He had heard from Jill that Ashimi and Pryui sometimes pretended to be bards in Letindüte, hence the question, but Ashimi shook his head and said, “No.”