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“Sorry for keeping you waiting!”

Around an hour after she entered the room, Iris was done and she came out.

“Welcome back, did anything happen?”

Iris was looking rather pale, which made Mira worried that the girl had pushed herself too much. In response, the fake smile on Iris’ face vanished, her whole body taking a disgusted look as she replied, “He’s such a degenerate!”

Apparently, August’s plan that had given Iris a phobia was still on-going.

Iris was clearly appalled and upset by all the lewdness she was forcefully exposed to, but she still pushed herself to complete her duty.

“You worked really hard, you did well.”

It was commendable that Iris kept going despite what she had to endure, which Mira made sure to state.

“…Mhm!”

Mira looked younger than Iris, but that mattered little when receiving a compliment, as Iris smiled with a bit of embarrassment.

The next step was to report on Iris’ new findings through the communications device, installed in the living room.

‘Thank you as always, Iris. Did it go well?’

Alma’s voice answered as soon as the call was placed, her voice tinged with worry.

Iris first glanced over at Mira before enthusiastically saying, “It did now that Mira is here!”

She had found the strength to smile despite the twisted ideas forced into her mind, allowing her to present her report effortlessly. In short, there were no major developments.

They also realized that anything they planned would be seen by Iris, so they were struggling to get anything done.

All of the connections and experience August had built up over the years were of no use to him anymore, and all the underground trading routes he managed were compromised.

It did not matter if there were things he kept secret or locked away. The moment he thought of using them, Iris would know, and Nirvana would ruin his efforts.

Even if he still had cards up his sleeve, for now all he could do was enrage Iris.

At the same time, not much could be gained from him anymore, but he would remain restrained for as long as Iris continued checking on him.

‘Thank you, Iris. You should take a well earned rest now. And Mira, thank you too, take care of Iris.’

Those were Alma’s final words once Iris finished her report. She sounded both proud and relieved that Iris could rest now.

It was already past ten in the night when the report wrapped up. Normally, that meant it was bedtime, but on the days that Iris had oracle work, she would first take a bath around that time. To wash off all sorts of things.

“Mira, you should come with me too!”

Iris’ eyes twinkled as she invited Mira. The bathroom there could easily fit two people, maybe even up to five. If anything, taking a bath together was the more efficient choice.

But Mira shook her head.

“Ah, sorry…I have something to do at the moment, I’ll take one later.”

Usually, Mira’s response would have been an instant yes, usually.

Things were just a little different here, there were simply way too many people nearby who knew Mira’s identity. There was Alma, Esmeralda, and the rest of the Twelve Apostles by extension, who all knew Mira was actually Danbulf.

Anyone else would not think twice seeing a beautiful girl like Mira entering a bath together with Iris. But Mira knew that Alma and the rest likely would see her as a pervert taking advantage of a young girl.

So despite the enticing invitation, Mira grit her teeth and forced herself to reject it.

“That’s too bad…”

Iris’ smile saddened a little.

She had lived secluded in that room for a long time, having no one else around, so she longed for the opportunity to share a bath with someone else. Being shot down like that left her heartbroken, even if she tried to smile through it.

“Ah, don’t feel sad! I should be done with everything tonight! So tomorrow it should work out!”

Just looking at Iris was enough to tell she had grown used to always being alone, which tugged on Mira’s heartstrings, who spoke without thinking.

Mira could resist temptation, but not guilt.

Those words also returned Iris’ smile. “No taking it back now!” She shouted as she hopped and skipped into the bathroom.

(Now then, what should I do to get out of this alive…)

Mira wasted no time to think up ways to explain her behavior once others found out she had bathed with Iris.

She could appeal to duty, claiming that it was the best way of keeping her safe at all times. Or she could rely on emotions, saying that she refused at first, but had no choice when Iris became depressed. There was also the combative option, saying there was no issue whatsoever with taking a bath together since Mira just saw Iris as her daughter.

And yet none of those options seemed like the best.

Amidst those thoughts, she suddenly thought of Mariana.

Was there any excuse she would accept if she found out that Mira was locked together with another girl, and even took baths together?

There was only so much Mira could think about, so in the end she gave up. Sometimes it was best to just let things happen and worry about them later, her mission was more important now.

“This balcony looks like a good first spot.”

Mira had not lied when she said she still had something to do, even if it helped her turn down Iris.

She wanted to perfect the room’s defenses, and she knew just how to do it. After pushing all other thoughts out of her mind, she began running around.

The booklet included detailed blueprints of the room as whole, which aided Mira in picking the best defensive spots.

First, she placed various Dark Knights all over the garden, with orders to restrain intruders.

Next, she focused on the more vital areas, like the living block, which was fully opened to the garden like an atrium. With no walls there, anyone who got to the garden would have no issue sneaking further inside.

To combat that, she placed Holy Knights on the balconies of every floor. And they were no regular Holy Knights either, they were imbued with the power of Worthramble, turning them invisible.

“Good, they shouldn’t get in the way like this.”

She nodded proud of herself as she looked at the balconies from the garden.

There were two reasons why she made the Holy Knights invisible. The first was out of consideration for Iris. Holy Knights were not gendered, but their appearance did resemble that of a burly powerful man, which could trigger Iris’ phobia.

The other reason was to keep them secret.

There was the danger of the enemy finding out about them through Iris, if she became aware of them, making their defense far less effective.

Since Iris was currently taking a bath alone, she would never know that Mira had been strengthening the defenses.

Summons filled all the areas that Mira felt needed more defenses.

Then again, this was the oracle’s room, within the imperial palace of Nirvana, protected by multiple layers of security. Alma also spared no expense when installing this room’s defenses. It was like an iron fortress impervious even to the most skilled spy.

Now that place was being guarded by Mira’s summons as well, so it was no exaggeration to say it would be impossible to break in.

“Let’s see how this goes for now.”

No matter how they got in, Mira would not let them lay a single finger on Iris. To ensure that, she went into her bedroom.

The only time someone was more defenseless than in the toilet, was while sleeping.
So Mira placed a special defensive summon in the bedroom.

The best guard that could stand watch all day without rest, with strength comparable to an A-rank adventurer. An Ashen Knight. Which was also concealed like the rest.

“Yes, now it’s perfect!”

Even if they were hidden, every important spot was protected now.

With that done, she set foot in the garden again. Not to reinforce it this time, as instead she took out her wagon. Specifically, she wanted to use the communications device inside the wagon. She wanted to report to Solomon, who surely was curious to know what she was up to.

‘Hello, this is Solomon of Arkite Castle.’
“Ah, it’s me, it’s me!”
‘Ahh, hey. How’s it going? Did you find her?’
“Yes, my senses are as sharp as ever…”

After their usual exchange, she began her report.

Mira had successfully tracked down Meilin with Alma’s help, finding she was staying with the Adams, a family of knights. She had also secured the help of a maid there, who would ensure the disguise was used.

“…So there’s no need to worry about her anymore. I’ve also asked to be told ahead of time when her matches will happen, so that I can double check myself.”

Mira had also asked Alma to know whenever Meilin would show up in the tournament, so that Mira could verify alongside the maid that Meilin was in disguise. That way, no one would know her identity, unless something extreme happened.

“Ahh, and before I forget…”

After telling him about Meilin, Mira then mentioned how she became the oracle’s bodyguard, at the behest of Alma and Esmeralda.

Solomon’s response was, ‘I see I see, that’s probably the main priority at the moment, yes.’

As it turned out, Alma had spoken with Solomon a few days prior, asking for advice on how to protect Iris now that she was afraid of men. That was when Solomon suggested that Mira would be the ideal pick, as she was already there for the tournament.

In the end, everything had been planned by Solomon.

‘Good luck as bodyguard. Maybe something good can come out from becoming friends with the oracle too.’
“I can’t believe you’re saying that…”

Mira could glean from Solomon’s words that he was looking forward to borrowing the oracle’s powers for his own plans eventually, which exasperated Mira.

That concluded Mira’s update for Solomon, so after hanging up, she quickly put her wagon away and returned to the room.