“Puhaha! Really? That’s just so like you, Tanton! First, you go around forcefully ravaging the bodies of the foreign dignitaries, and now you’re trying to steal their hearts too?”

“…Wow, how do you even come up with this stuff? That’s a talent in itself.”

“Thank you! I hear that a lot. Hehe.”

Agartha’s ability to take even the most sarcastic remarks as compliments left me speechless.

I had explained that during the encounter with the dragon slayer, I had grabbed their horn and forcefully pushed them over, and suddenly, as if something had malfunctioned, they stiffened up and flew away.

And that’s the reaction I got.

Suddenly, I recalled the way the dragon slayer had reacted when I grabbed their horn. Was their intention to take me away not just a simple kidnapping but an acceptance of my unintended proposal?

So that’s why they… did those things to me.

Seriously, what kind of messed-up fantasy world brain does it take to think that just because someone grabs your horn, you should happily accept it…?

“If they flew away that quickly, then you were harshly rejected, weren’t you? Normally, a dragon will accept someone who meets their criteria, even on the first encounter, if they touch their horn.”

Criteria that match their ideal? In other words, they’d accept someone if they closely resemble their type. But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t recall being the dragon slayer’s type at all.

I really don’t get it.

Of course, since I didn’t explain what actually happened, Agartha seemed to be enjoying herself by teasing me.

Well, I suppose it’s better this way.

If I had said, “I grabbed the horn, and they blushed and accepted immediately,” I can’t even imagine the amount of teasing I’d have to endure.

“…How do you even find out this kind of information?”

“Sometimes, there are mystics who don’t value their lives.”

…I felt like I was looking at a scientist who had inadvertently discovered a breakthrough by trying something random and then striking gold. Except, in this case, the mystic had probably done something they shouldn’t have and ended up with tragic results, while Agartha was just relishing the knowledge.

Considering the terrifying strength of the lesser dragons that no amount of physical prowess could overcome, I decided not to imagine the horrific outcomes those mystics might have faced. I just hoped their journey to the afterlife was peaceful.

Now that I knew this, I started to wonder what kind of face I’d have to put on the next time I met the dragon slayer.

I had been planning to summon the chef because I wanted to have some proper food after a long time, but since the flute called all foreign dignitaries I’d contacted, that would mean the dragon slayer would definitely show up too.

Maybe I shouldn’t call them at all?

I could almost hear the chef’s disappointed voice, but thinking about the dragon slayer showing up was making me feel incredibly burdened.

“It might seem like a good problem to have, but you should probably call that half-wit soon.”

The sudden voice of the gardener made me frown. Why was he pushing me to call the dragon slayer?

“You saw it last time, didn’t you? The way they casually destroyed the Recorder’s words. It means they have enough power to briefly anchor themselves in the human world, using any excuse they can. But if you keep ignoring someone who’s so infatuated with you, what do you think will happen?”

The gardener was calmly saying some truly terrifying things.

…Why was I suddenly picturing it? Like in one of those comics, where they approach me with eyes glazed over, grab me tightly, and then drag me to their lair to kidnap me.

No way the dragon slayer would actually do that, right? We haven’t even known each other that long.

…Right? They wouldn’t, right?

“Anyway, be careful. …Or else, I might…”

Huh? What did you say?

“…Never mind, you idiot. I’m going to sleep.”

The gardener suddenly grumbled and then went quiet. I still didn’t know what he’d been mumbling about lately, but since he didn’t say it out loud, it was probably something I didn’t need to know.

Anyway, it seemed like I’d have to summon the dragon slayer after all.

Ugh, just thinking about it was dreadful. But I guess it was better than possibly facing some horror scenario like “imprisonment, kidnapping, ruin, obsession.”

“Tanton?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You were spacing out. I thought something was wrong.”

Agartha’s voice brought me back to the present. Ugh. Why does reality have to be scarier and more horrifying than fiction?

“Is that all the information you wanted?”

“Yes, for now.”

“Hehe, I’m glad you’re satisfied. Your visits are always welcome, so feel free to drop by anytime.”

I couldn’t help but scoff at Agartha’s playful tone.

What was that?

“If I don’t know where you are, your welcome is meaningless, isn’t it?”

“Ah, that’s true. But if I told you my location, your life might be in danger.”

What kind of place are you working in, exactly? I thought about looking into it once I’d dealt with the immediate problems and climbed higher in the knight ranks.

“Here’s an idea: If you want to see me, buy information, or if you find yourself in danger that even the knights can’t protect you from, come to this market and clap your hands on the back of one hand. I’ll understand what you need based on the speed of your clap.”

“Not a bad method.”

“Even if you come at night and clap, I’ll show up… assuming you don’t mind a swollen face.”

“Your dedication is tear-jerking. I like it.”

“Hehe.”

With that, Agartha finished her drink and stood up.

“Well, I should get going. Just because I have some free time doesn’t mean I have nothing to do today. Oh, by the way, the Hunter seems to be doing well these days.”

“Yes, well, we had a bit of friction recently, but it seems like he’s managing.”

“The Hunter is such a stickler for rules. The moment you try to act independently, he’s like, ‘You’re so reckless. If that’s how you’re going to be, act on your own.’ I don’t know why he’s more sensitive than I am, and I’m a woman.”

“Don’t tell me he’s actually a woman?”

With that joke, Agartha and I both burst into laughter simultaneously.

It was such a ridiculous idea.

There’s no way someone as manly as the Hunter could be a woman, right? If such a twist were true, it would utterly shatter my image of the “foreign dignitary killer,” and I’d be in total shock.

“Ah, if we keep going, we’ll be here all day. You know, Tanton, I really like how you listen to me. How about quitting the knights and joining us? I can hook you up with a great position.”

“…No thanks, you thief. Just hurry up and take the highest position so you can help me out later.”

“Che, what a shame. Got it. It was great seeing you today.”

With a cool wave, Agartha headed out the door.

She’s still as chaotic and noisy as ever.

As I stared at the remaining drink, someone came up beside me.

“Did you have fun?”

“The level was too low to stay, Master. So I came back.”

Hearing Asti’s words, I felt like I could hear the sound of babies crying all around me.

Oh.

She’s done it again, hasn’t she?

Feeling a cold shiver down my spine, I quickly stood up, sensing that something bad was about to happen.

“…We’ll talk about this back at the branch.”

“…Am I going to get scolded in your room this time, Master?”

“Stop talking nonsense and follow me!”

I rushed to the counter to pay the bill, then hurried out the door.

I managed to escape just before a group of mothers came charging toward me.

After running all the way back to the branch, my initial anger at Asti subsided, so I gave her only a mild scolding.

…And no, this is not one of those situations. I genuinely intended to reprimand her.

“Go inside the branch for now. I still have things to do.”

“Yes, Master.”

Watching Asti reply so obediently as she went inside, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Now.

What should I do next?

The information I got from Agartha confirmed that there were many more beings like Asti who identified as maids. And there had already been a series of murders.

But there wasn’t much I could do about it. The scale of the problem was far bigger than I could handle, even if I lived to old age.

So…

I guess I’ll have to rely on the knights’ help.

Maybe I should ask the vice-captain to crack down on the illegal slave traders. That should at least take care of the immediate issue.

…It seems like I’ll have to head to the library and dig through some books to get a clearer understanding.

Ugh, I really don’t want to do that—book digging is pure drudgery. It would have been nice if Asti could just tell me everything, but last time she either evaded the topic or got censored and couldn’t finish.

Alright, let’s go look it up. Maybe I’ll find a hint about the Recorder, too.

With that thought, I was about to head to the library when—

“T-Tanton!”

Suddenly, the branch chief’s voice called out, forcing me to stop in my tracks.

“Branch Chief.”

“Good, I thought you had left when I only saw the child come in.”

The branch chief, uncharacteristically, looked rather troubled.

What’s going on?

“Come with me. It’ll be faster to show you than to explain.”

I followed the branch chief.

The place he led me to was the detention center where Agartha, the Hunter, and I had once been held together.

Wow, it’s been a while since I was here. The memories were coming back, and I felt oddly nostalgic.

But what business could I possibly have in the detention center?

“Here.”

The branch chief pointed to a cell where someone was being held.

Who is this person, and why do they want to see me?

Curious, I slowly peeked in.

“Ah, Observer! The one you spoke of has finally arrived!”

The voice was filled with an unsettling mixture of desperation, and the person’s expression was equally disturbing. It was someone I had seen before.

“As a disciple of the Observer, I ask you—are you Sir Tanton?”

This old man who knew my name was the same cultist I had seen when I was being dragged away by the knights from the underground prison.