Vol 3 Chapter 24: The Necklace’s Secret

The next day.

After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast, just like the luxurious dinner we had the night before, the three of us decided to explore the town.

“Since we already visited the guild yesterday, I think it’d be good to casually talk to the townsfolk today. Is that alright?”

“Sure, that sounds good!”

“I believe that would be the wisest course of action.”

I felt relieved by their agreement. Just as we began walking, ready to head out, I felt a soft mugyuri♡.

“Alright, let’s go♪.”

“Yes, let us proceed.”

Soft sensations pressed against both of my arms. Lena and Kaguya clung to me like affectionate lovers, holding onto my arms tightly.

“Um, you two, this makes it hard to wa—”

“Hehe, Fana-san told us to do this♡.”

“We have no idea where Leia might be lurking. Protecting you, Shin-sama, is part of our mission as well. I understand it may be inconvenient, but please bear with us♡.”

Their reasoning, cutting off my protests, was somewhat understandable. Understandable, yes, but still…embarrassing.

“It’s fine, Shin. Just stand tall and leave it to us♪.”

“Precisely. Pay no mind to the touch of our chests…♡. If it becomes unbearable, we’re always ready to offer you mercy whenever you desire♡.”

“A-ah… fine, I get it…”

Pressured by their teasing remarks, I resigned myself as we strolled through the lively town.

Ugh… The stares from people around us were painful.

“──Ah, the taxes have gone up recently. It’s tough to manage, really. What’s the lord, Ruflas, even thinking?”

I overheard complaints from the owner of a restaurant.

“It’s honestly troubling. I can barely source thread anymore, so I can’t make my products. By the way, you lot have such great figures! Oh, how I’d love to tailor something perfect for you.”

A woman from a clothing shop seemed especially taken with Lena and Kaguya.

“Taking a break, are you? We’ve got some nice rooms here. ──Oh, not interested? Gossip about the lord, you say? Well, I’ve heard he’s infatuated with some woman, but no one knows who. By the way, our inn guarantees no noise leaks through the walls—perfect for a comfortable time together. What do you say, young man?”

An elderly innkeeper persistently tried to sell me on her establishment.

“Hmm, it seems people are dissatisfied, but it’s mostly just rumors.”

“Indeed. It appears they’re careful not to reveal too much.”

Gathering information methodically was proving difficult. I gained newfound respect for the hard work Nina and Kaguya usually undertook.

“Oh! How about we check out that place next?”

“That place is──”

“──A shop for appraisals, it seems.”

The quaint little store I pointed at was, as Kaguya said, a shop specializing in appraisals—evaluating items, gemstones, and the like.

“Yeah. I want to gather more information and also get something checked out.”

With no objections from the two, I headed toward the shop.

Opening the slightly shabby door, I found a small, cluttered interior filled with all sorts of gems and magical tools.

“Welcome──if you’re just here to browse, kindly leave.”

An old man wearing a well-worn hat frowned at me, likely disapproving of the women hanging off both my arms.

“S-sorry. I actually have something I’d like to get appraised…”

“An appraisal, huh… Let me see it.”

The old man, who seemed like a stubborn, old-school craftsman, stroked his long beard as he extended his hand toward me.

“Here. It’s this…”

I pulled out a necklace from under my clothes, where I had kept it hidden, and placed it into his wrinkled hand.

“This is… quite unusual.”

It was an object I found peculiar myself, but even the experienced old craftsman widened his eyes, scrutinizing it as if to bore holes into it.

“Silver threads… No, woven magic stones, perhaps? And this transparent gem—it seems to be a magic stone as well. Let’s see…《Appraisal》.”

Using his skill to examine the stone, the old man’s expression remained unchanged. Yet, there was a certain air of excitement about him.

All of us held our breath, careful not to disturb him as he worked.

Seconds turned into minutes. How much time had passed?

“──Hah… I have no idea!”

The old man declared this with absolute clarity.

“You can’t figure it out?”

“Yeah, I can’t. I can tell it’s a magic stone, and that it contains some kind of light attribute. But beyond that, even my appraisal skills can’t determine what it truly is. Where did you get this, lad?”

“Um… I found it by chance in a dungeon’s underground area.”

I gave a vague answer. There was no way I could admit in front of them that I had met a fairy there—or that I had been asked to do something indecent with the mage present at the time.

“I see. I can’t say anything for certain, but… it’s probably not a bad thing. Treat it as a charm and take good care of it.”

With that advice, he handed the necklace back, and I put it around my neck once more.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to cherish it. Oh, here’s the fee.”

Expressing my gratitude, I handed a few coins to the old man, ensuring he had them firmly in his hand.

While I didn’t learn its true identity, it was reassuring to hear it likely wasn’t harmful.

“Right. By the way, you lot… are you traveling from somewhere far away?”

“Indeed, we’ve come from a distant town,” Kaguya answered politely.

The old man gave her a sharp glance. Any other man might have ogled her elegant beauty, accentuated by her maid attire, but he only spared her a brief look before turning away.

“I see. I won’t say much, but you shouldn’t stay in this town for too long.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

Lena, puzzled by his cryptic words, asked cautiously. The old man sighed deeply.

“Does it have something to do with the recent tax hikes?”

Prodding him further, Kaguya posed the question. Again, the old man let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m a man of this town myself, so I don’t want to say too much… but there are rumors that with the way the current lord, Ruflas, is behaving, worse oppression might be coming soon. Some folks have already fled.”

Oppression. As someone who had left a peaceful village to become an adventurer, I struggled to grasp the full weight of that word.

“If it were just taxes, that’d still be manageable. But when it goes too far, it leads to uprisings, suppression… and bloodshed.”

“…That’s terrible.”

The old man spoke as though he had witnessed such events firsthand. Given his years, he likely had. The weight of his words was unmistakable, and Lena let out a faint gasp of disbelief.

“Ah… well, it’s just the ramblings of an old man. Take it as a piece of advice, nothing more.”

Perhaps feeling guilty for making the young girl lower her eyes in sadness, he tried to downplay his words.

“…Thank you. We’ll be careful,” I said simply but sincerely.

With that, we left the shop.

It wasn’t just about avenging Alice. This issue was tied to the livelihoods of countless townsfolk.

“Let’s do our best, Shin.”

“Yeah. For Alice’s sake and for the sake of this town… we have to try our hardest.”

Standing by the shop’s entrance, Lena and I exchanged a quiet yet determined promise. It felt like a spark deep within me had ignited into a stronger flame.

“…Shin-sama, Lena-sama, we’ve covered quite a lot of ground. Perhaps it’s time to rest for a bit?”

“Yeah… you’re right. We’ve heard a lot today. Let’s take a short break. Is that okay with you, Lena?”

“Of course, I’m fine with that♪.”

“Understood. I noticed a suitable shop nearby. Please allow me to guide you there.”

As always, Kaguya’s attentiveness shone through. Following her lead, we made our way to the place she suggested.

I made a mental note to organize my thoughts later for when we report back to Fana-san and the others.

At the time, that was all I was focused on.

“Welcome.”

“Uh, this is… a café, right?”

We were greeted by a calm-voiced attendant. According to Kaguya, this was a café, but there were no tables or chairs in sight. Upon entering, the space resembled more of an inn, with a long corridor stretching ahead.

“Yes. Our establishment is undoubtedly a café. All seating is in private rooms, allowing our guests to relax at their leisure.”

“I-I see? That’s… an interesting concept, isn’t it?”

I had meant to ask Kaguya, but the woman answered instead. Well, if the staff says so, it must be true.

“Now then, a party of three. Please follow me.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

We walked down the carpeted hallway, deeper and deeper, following her lead until we reached a door at the very end.

“This is your room.”

The attendant turned the doorknob and, leaving the door open, gestured for us to enter.

Inside, the room was about the size of a standard inn room. Or rather—

“—Wait, is this an inn?”

Lena muttered under her breath, and the attendant visibly flinched, her voice rising in pitch.

“W-what are you saying⁉ This is absolutely a café! It just happens to have private rooms! Y-your tea is right over there, so please relax!”

She rattled off her response in a flustered manner before hastily shutting the door and leaving.

A café where you had to prepare your own tea… what a peculiar place. And yet—

“—I get the sofa, but… why is there a bed in here too?”

Right in front of me stood a surprisingly well-made bed.

“Now, now, Shin-sama. Let’s not dwell on the details. The walls seem thick, so this is the perfect place for a private conversation,” Kaguya said, brushing aside my concerns with a composed tone.

I still had questions, but her explanation seemed reasonable enough, so I let it slide.

Meanwhile, Lena wandered around the room, curiously inspecting every corner.

“Wow, it really feels like an inn! Oh, and over here… there’s even a bath!”

She raised her voice excitedly, pointing toward a door that led to a bathroom. The fact that there was even a bath made the whole “café” concept increasingly suspicious.

“Lena-sama, you’ve walked quite a bit today. Perhaps you’d like to take a bath and refresh yourself?”

“Really? Hmm, but taking one alone feels a little awkward…”

Intrigued by Kaguya’s suggestion but hesitant, Lena fidgeted nervously. Kaguya stepped closer, lowering her voice to a level I couldn’t hear, and whispered something into Lena’s ear.

“Hehe, Lena-sama—taking care of one’s scent is an essential part of a lady’s charm. Don’t hesitate. Besides—”

“What? Oh—yeah, you’re right! That makes sense! Alright, I’ll take you up on that. Shin? Don’t even think about peeking… okay♡?”

What was that supposed to mean?

I didn’t know what Kaguya had whispered to her, but Lena seemed thoroughly convinced as she hummed a cheerful tune and headed toward the bathroom.

Left behind, Kaguya allowed her serene expression to soften slightly.

It was a smile that hinted at some kind of foresight, as if she was anticipating something.