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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.