From the afternoon of returning to the Duchy, from the moment she returned to the mansion after driving away the Monster Tide, Elena noticed that Ai’er was acting strange.
This silver-haired sweetheart of hers seemed to be thinking about something, always looking melancholy.
And it probably had something to do with her, because Elena noticed that the silver-haired girl would steal glances at her from time to time.
It was like she was looking at her face, or perhaps her nose, her mouth?
Elena didn’t know… because whenever Elena tried to secretly meet Ai’er’s gaze, the silver-haired girl would look away.
She probably should talk to Ai’er.
But every time she wanted to steer the conversation in that direction, the silver-haired girl would skillfully change the subject.
Although her sweetheart looked a bit dazed and sometimes silly, in these matters, she knew her Ai’er was very sharp.
Whether it was regarding her mother earlier, or Anna…
But she couldn’t keep waiting like this.
This Monster Tide was strange, but it was indeed a Monster Tide.
Now that the Monster Tide had been dealt with, the nobles of the Duchy would hold a meeting—a sort of social gathering.
It was originally supposed to be a celebration after repelling the Leviathan, but given the abnormal circumstances, it probably couldn’t be called a “celebration.”
Not seeing the Leviathan’s arrival, plus the unprecedented small scale of this Monster Tide…
It would be good enough if the Duchy wasn’t in a panic.
“Ai’er, I have something I want to tell you.”
Before heading to the venue at the Marquis Residence, Elena called out to Ai’er.
Seeing Ai’er frozen, apparently not expecting to be suddenly called out, Elena couldn’t help but pat Ai’er’s head again.
“If you keep patting, I’ll go bald…”
But even so, Elena still liked patting Ai’er’s head. It wasn’t for the smooth texture of the girl’s silver hair; Elena just really enjoyed the feeling of being able to touch her sweetheart.
“When I come back tonight, can you come to my room? I have something to give you.”
The item she had previously commissioned from Sebas had arrived as a sample.
But since what she had received was only the initial draft of the blueprint, many things still needed adjustments.
It would be some time before she could truly give this “gift” to Ai’er.
“And then… if you have something you want to say, can you tell me tonight? I’ll be waiting for you in my room then.”
With a smile, Elena walked toward the carriage that had been waiting for her outside.
After silently waving goodbye to Elena and watching her carriage disappear at the end of the road, Ai’er still stood there.
“Anna, Fina, can you come with me for a walk?”
Elena hadn’t brought Ai’er because she didn’t want Ai’er to be seen by the nobles of the Duchy.
As for leaving Anna and Fina behind, it was so that there would be familiar people in the mansion to look after Ai’er.
In the end, only the Head Maid followed Elena to the Marquis Residence.
“Shall we… head to the tavern near the city center?”
Ai’er said, forcing a somewhat reluctant smile.
[Deducting points for maintenance. Please wait…]
[0.5 points deducted.]
[24 hours until the next deduction.]
[Remaining points: 7.]
…
“Hey, have you heard? This Monster Tide is said to be the weakest ever! Even that Leviathan didn’t show up.”
“Heh… but it still came early, didn’t it? Isn’t that an anomaly?”
The tavern was still bustling, even livelier than when Sebas had come a few days ago.
But the topics of conversation among the customers had shifted from the earlier discussions of the Martial Law Decree to discussions of the Monster Tide.
“Hey, you! Think positive! The Monster Tide’s scale decreased, and the Leviathan disappeared. Isn’t that a sign of decline? Maybe we’ll witness the complete disappearance of the Duchy’s greatest disaster! Come on, cheers!”
Maybe his spirits were lifted, or perhaps he was pressured by the table, but the pessimistic customer still raised his glass.
At that moment, Ai’er and her group, wearing hoods, entered the tavern. But the tavern was too rowdy, so no one really noticed them.
…That was for the best.
She scanned the surroundings, looking for anything that matched words like “black robe” or “suspicious.”
“Miss Ai’er, why have you come here?”
“I… I’ll explain later.”
She had brought Anna and Fina here so that they could become her “accomplices” in helping her.
After thinking all afternoon, Ai’er had a plan.
According to the System, this Monster Tide wasn’t a real Monster Tide.
But in the afternoon, she had overheard outside Elena’s study that the Duchy’s Magic Stone Bomb reserves had been about 60% consumed in this defense…
Ai’er knew she had to find reinforcements that could help Elena.
To this end…
Even if she had to pray to the Evil God, she would do it without hesitation…
Staring at the [177] in her field of vision, Ai’er let out a soft sigh.
But the problem now was—where were the followers that black-robed person had mentioned? -_-||
“Miss Ai’er, are you looking for someone? You can describe them to me, and I’ll help you look.”
“I can too! If Miss Ai’er needs it, I can also help.”
‘Hoho, then could you please look for someone wearing a black robe, looking very evil, maybe even holding some cultist books or something… Sigh. If only she could actually say that.’
“Thank you, but let’s wait a little longer. It should—”
At that moment, a tavern waiter suddenly appeared in front of the three. He smiled, carrying a tray with three glasses of poured drinks.
“Would the three of you like to try ‘Gungnir’?”
Ai’er blinked and looked at the light golden liquid in the glasses, which seemed to have bubbles continuously forming. ‘What the heck? Was that the name of the drink? It looked completely out of place with the atmosphere of the first floor of this tavern… It seemed more like some high-end product? So… Did they do sales pitches in the Otherworld too?’
“Thank you, but not for now.”
Before Ai’er could respond, Anna suddenly stepped in front of the silver-haired girl and rejected the waiter’s “sales pitch.”
“Is that so? It seems I’ve disturbed you three. But if you need anything later, you can come to the bar—”
But before the waiter could finish, another waiter, who seemed more neatly and elegantly dressed, suddenly appeared beside him and seemed to say something.
“Anna, what are you doing?”
“Miss Ai’er, besides being a tavern… this place also sells information. You may not know, but if someone orders that drink and drinks it in front of the waiter, it signifies a desire to trade information. But regardless of what Miss Ai’er came here to do, the alcohol content of that drink… is not low.”
‘R-really? O.o? Seeing it bubbling, I thought it was something like beer…’
Soon, the previous waiter withdrew. The more elegant waiter gestured toward the stairs beside him and then bowed slightly.
“The tavern owner feels a connection with the three of you. Could I trouble you to move to the second floor? The owner would like to buy you a drink.”