A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires Volume 4 E-Book

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• Herausgeber: J-Novel Heart
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 277

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Ellie and her friends are back in the imperial capital after successfully resolving the kidnapping incident in Kellevan. While everyone is fine, the incident has left its mark on both Misha and Lunoa, who will both need to learn how to move forward while dealing with their feelings of guilt. As for Ellie, she continues to plot the destruction of her homeland, the Kingdom of Haldoria. Thanks to Ellie’s machinations—and her mortal foe’s own failures—Prince Friede has finally lost his power at court and his position in all but name. His half sister, the competent Adel, has returned to replace him. She may very well prove an even tougher opponent for Ellie, whose latest scheme is about to take her to one of Haldoria’s vassal states—the United Beast Kingdom.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Prologue

Chapter 1: Our Daily Lives in the Capital

Chapter 2: Journey to the United Beast Kingdom

Chapter 3: The United Beast Kingdom

Chapter 4: Farewell, Father

Afterword

Color Illustrations

Bonus Textless Color Illustrations

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Color Images

Table of Contents

Prologue

“Miss Ellie, I have the report on our line of products for beastkin.”

I was working in my office in the imperial capital, poring over the latest financial statement from Traitre’s production base in the east of Lebrick Margravate, when Mireille approached with a stack of papers in hand. Her maid dress was as impeccable as always, the fabric devoid of even a single crease. I accepted the documents and untied the string that kept them bound together, then quickly reviewed the pages and signed them.

“There don’t seem to be any issues,” I said. “No need to change anything.”

“All right, miss.” Mireille took the papers from me and started walking away, but I stopped her before she could leave my office.

“Ah, wait. This too, please,” I said, handing her the financial statement I’d been perusing.

“Of course, miss,” she replied, taking the papers. She bowed and left the room. I stretched a little, then turned to the catkin girl who was busy reorganizing the documents lining the shelves behind me.

“Misha, do I have anything scheduled after this?”

“No, that was all for today.”

“All right, thank you. I’ll leave the rest of the work to you, then,” I said.

“Yes, miss.”

I put away my pen and ink before leaving the office.

“Miss Ellie,” a young girl with braids called as I stepped into the corridor.

“What is it, Lunoa?”

“A letter came for you.”

“Thank you.”

I checked the name of the sender. The letter was from Hauel, the employee I had put in charge of Traitre’s branch in Count Hammitt’s territory, which bordered the sea. Next month, I planned to head to one of Haldoria’s vassal nations, the United Beast Kingdom, and I intended to travel by ship. I’d asked Hauel to arrange that for me, so I assumed this was his report on the matter. A quick look confirmed my suspicions. After I’d read the letter, I asked Lunoa to bring it to Misha in my office, and I continued on my way to the courtyard.

A little girl crouched in front of a flower bed, peering intently at the flowers as a few maids watched over her. As she heard my footsteps, she turned to look. As soon as she saw me, a bright smile appeared on her face and she ran up to me, her beautiful blonde hair radiating in the sunlight.

“Mama!” she squealed.

“I’m sorry for the wait, Alice,” I said.

“Are you done with work?”

“Yes, I just finished.”

“Then can you read me a book, mama?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Of course. But let’s go back inside. It’s getting colder.”

“Okay!”

I dismissed Alice’s maids with a wave, then picked up the little girl before heading to my room.

Chapter 1: Our Daily Lives in the Capital

“Alice truly said that?” I asked, surprised.

“She did,” Misha confirmed. “She wants to help you with your work.”

“Oh my.” Apparently, Alice had told Misha she wanted to assist me. Needless to say, there was no real work she could do, but she seemed very eager to help. I remembered reading in a book on child-rearing that supporting such endeavors was important for fostering your young one’s independence.

“I suppose I should come up with something for her to do,” I mused.

“Will you give her some easy tasks?” Misha asked.

“That’s the thing,” I replied, pausing to think. “I’m running a company here. There aren’t exactly that many ‘easy’ tasks to do...”

I didn’t mind allowing Alice to help, but as I racked my brain, I wasn’t able to think of anything she could do. I couldn’t let Alice do the things Lunoa and Misha did for fear that she would disrupt the business.

The next day, Elsa brought me a report, so I took a break to enjoy a cup of tea with her. I told her about my current worries, and she gave me a breakthrough.

“You don’t need to have her help you with anything related to the firm,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“Alice wants to help you out, not Traitre. Just have her run an errand for you or something like that.”

“You’re right!” That was it! Elsa was absolutely correct! But could I send her out on an errand alone? It hadn’t been long since she’d been kidnapped. I didn’t want her to be scared, and I couldn’t stand the thought of her being in danger.

“First, I must eliminate all danger...” I whispered.

“Huh?” Elsa questioned, confused.

I paid her no mind as I started mentally devising the perfect mission for Alice.

◆

A line of tents bearing the crest of the Church of Ibris stood by the ruins near Kellevan, the city that was home to the most famous entertainment district in the empire. In the largest tent of all, a sister wearing a nun’s garment lay on her makeshift desk, surrounded by piles of documents.

“Haven’t we done enough already? Who cares about the details?” she whined.

“How could you say such a thing, Cardinal Tildania? Come now, please have a look at the next document.”

Tildania, otherwise known as Tida, sighed as Deacon Rivus, the commander of the sixth squad of the Fourth Division of Holy Knights, pushed more documents toward her. It had been a month since the kidnapping incident that had rocked Kellevan.

“Aah... Miss Ellie and the others returned to the capital, yet here I am, stuck here, in a tent outside Kellevan. I wanna go home too, forget about all this work, and have a good drink! Urgh... I can’t do this anymore!” A stream of complaints poured out of Tida’s mouth as she sluggishly turned the pages and scrawled her signature at the bottom.

“I’m really not suited to dealing with such borin—um, I mean sensitive work. Can’t you just deal with it as you see fit? This is all the fault of that traitor—Dondor, was it? He must be deep, deep in Hell by now. A piece of trash like him has no place by God’s side,” she continued, her hands still busy with the papers.

Eventually, she shoved the mound of documents back into Rivus’s hands.

“There you go. I’m done,” she said.

“Thank you, Cardinal Tildania. Now if you could be so kind as to check this—”

Tida cut Rivus off in the middle of his sentence. “No! No more, Deacon Rivus! That was more than enough for today!”

“B-But, Your Eminence—”

“Hello, God! Huh, what’s that? You agree!” she exclaimed. “Did you hear that? God spoke to us! The Lord wishes for me to rest!”

“I didn’t hear anything...” replied Rivus hesitantly.

“That won’t do! You clearly lack devotion! Pray, Deacon Rivus. You must meditate and pray for at least five hours!”

“U-Understood, Your Eminence!” Rivus meekly squeaked, immediately starting to pray.

While he was busy, Tida quietly sneaked out of the tent. She made sure none of the holy knights noticed her escape as she headed to Kellevan. As soon as she arrived, she barged into a tavern.

“W-Welcome,” the owner said, surprised by her sudden intrusion.

“Hello. Hmm... I guess I’ll start with whatever you recommend.”

“Coming right up,” the owner answered, swiftly preparing a glass and plate for her. “Here you go. Rice wine and demondeer offal stew.”

“Oh!”

The owner served Tida a glass of clear alcohol and a stew made from the organs of deerlike monsters.

“It’s not often that one sees such clear alcohol on this continent. It’s from the eastern archipelago, isn’t it?” Tida inquired. She’d once received alcohol just as clear from the Rank A adventurer Yuuka Kusunoki, hence her guess.

“So young yet so knowledgeable,” the owner praised. “You see, I used to be an adventurer. I get my stock from people in the east who I met back in those days. Like you said, there aren’t many taverns around here that’ll serve you rice wine.”

“Wow!” Tida was pleased that she’d found such a rare beverage in a tavern she’d picked at random. She looked down at her glass once more. It was polished to perfection, allowing her to study the transparent liquid. The wine’s color—or lack thereof—contrasted with the strong aroma of alcohol that wafted through the air.

Tida picked up the glass and took a small sip. A burning sensation began in her mouth and accompanied the liquid’s passage all the way to her stomach. She felt the heat diffuse through her entire body. This was nothing like the wine or ale she was so accustomed to consuming. The taste was hard to describe—refined yet wild. Tida then tried a bite of the demondeer dish.

“What a rich taste!” she exclaimed. Deer offal was a delicacy usually enjoyed by hunters in the heart of the forest. Freshness was of the essence for such a dish, which meant it wasn’t often served in restaurants. Even on the rare occasion that a restaurant carried it, it usually tasted mediocre. In this case, however, Tida could hardly smell any foulness from the viscera—proof it had been prepared by an expert while the meat was still fresh.

“Oh! What’s this mysterious flavor I’m tasting underneath?” asked Tida.

The owner let out a satisfied laugh. “That would be the taste of miso, missy.”

“Miso?”

“Fermented soybeans,” he explained. “It’s a condiment they use in the eastern archipelago. A few firms have started importing it. Goes well with the rice wine, doesn’t it?”

After eating a few spoonfuls of stew and savoring the way that the peculiar taste of miso melded with the unique texture of offal, Tida washed it all down with a big gulp of rice wine.

“It goes amazingly well!” she said. “And chasing the rich taste with strong alcohol feels great!”

The owner laughed again. “You’ve got great taste, missy! Here, try this!”

“What’s in it?” Tida asked as he handed her a small container. She shook it and immediately noticed that it was filled with some sort of powder.

“That’s chili pepper powder. They use it a lot on the Southern Continent. Add some to your miso stew. It might sting a bit, but I promise it’ll go even better with the alcohol.”

“Interesting!” Tida did as she was told and took another bite. The flavorful saltiness of the stew took on a new dimension with the distinct spiciness.

“That’s amazing!” Tida exclaimed.

“Glad you like it!”

“I sure found a hidden gem! I never knew there was such a great place around here.”

After that, Tida enjoyed sampling a myriad of drinks from the east she’d never had before, downing everything from a sweet rice wine with low alcohol content to a strong and spicy sweet-potato spirit. She also got to try tempura and soy sauce along with her stew.

And so, Tida happily drank the night away, feeling her stress and irritation from overwork melt from her body.

A few days later, after she finished all of the work that the ever-serious Rivus had thrown her way, Tida left for the imperial capital. Marquess Cobatt’s territory was not far from the capital, and the roads were well maintained, which made her journey on foot easy.

One day, after several hours of walking at a leisurely pace, Tida came across a village.

“The sun is starting to set. Let’s hope I can find a place to spend the night there,” she said to herself.

The gatekeeper eyed Tida cautiously as she approached, but he lowered his guard as soon as he noticed her religious habit.

“Welcome, sister.”

“Good evening. I’m looking for accommodations for the night. May I enter the village?”

“Sure thing. I’m sure the mayor will receive you. Go to the largest house, in the center of the village.”

“Thank you.”

“For a sister to come by at such a time... It must be God’s will!” the gatekeeper whispered after she’d walked away. Tida hadn’t heard him, but she saw him clasp his hands together in prayer.

“Huh?” She tilted her head to the side in confusion. “I guess he must be very pious.”

Tida reached the center of the village and immediately spotted the house the gatekeeper had told her about. It was at least twice the size of the other houses. She wasn’t surprised, though. In such remote villages, it was common for the mayor’s residence to double as an assembly hall and an inn for travelers.

Shortly after, Tida had successfully obtained permission to stay for the night. She ate the simple meal served to her by the mayor’s wife.

“Sister, there is something I’d like to ask you...” the mayor said as he and his wife approached Tida after she was done eating.

“I’d be happy to help if it’s in my power,” she replied.

“Well...” he said haltingly, “it’s about our grandson...”

“Your grandson?”

“He was wounded very badly by a monster a few days ago.”

“A few days ago... During the stampede?”

“Yes. Some of the monsters that swarmed out of the nearby dungeon reached our village.”

When the core of a dungeon was destroyed, it would trigger a stampede. Tida had heard about a recent stampede while traveling. However, according to what she knew, the lord of the territory had ordered the core to be destroyed intentionally because he didn’t want a dungeon near his city. His army, which he had raised to deal with the monsters, had done the deed, erasing the recently established dungeon that had only been two floors deep.

“The monsters were all killed by the adventurers who came chasing after them, but...before they could slay the beasts, our grandson was attacked. My son and his wife lost their lives trying to protect him. All we have left is this boy, and he doesn’t have long left now,” he said before pausing. “Please, sister, could you pray for him?”

“Of course.”

The monsters must have been more numerous than the lord of the territory had anticipated, Tida assumed. Or, perhaps his soldiers and the adventurers he had hired were too weak. Either way, this was tragic. A good lord would take the time to inquire about any damage, dispatch healers, and hand out suitable compensation. It was too early to assume this lord would not do that, though. Unfortunately, relief efforts usually had to wait until after things were completely cleaned up at the source of the stampede.

Tida followed the couple to a room in the back. There, a boy who looked to be about five years old was lying in bed, his breathing heavily labored.

“He is badly wounded,” Tida said. “But this looks fixable with healing magic.”

The mayor let out a gasp. It made sense that he and his wife had given up previously. No one in a remote village could possibly heal such injuries. Tida, however, could.

“In fact, I can heal him myself,” she added.

“T-Truly?!”

“Yep. Intermediate Heal.”

As soon as Tida cast her spell, the boy’s breathing stabilized and he wearily opened his eyes. The couple, on the verge of tears, couldn’t stop thanking Tida. She soothed them as best she could before instructing them to feed the boy nourishing food to help him regain his strength.

The mayor ran off, picked up an earthenware pot, and brought it to Tida.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Fruit liqueur,” the mayor answered. “We’ve been making it in this village for generations. We usually drink it for important celebrations. Please, have a glass with me.”

“I’d love to!” Tida received a small wooden bowl from the mayor, which he quickly filled with the liqueur.

“Thanks for the drink,” Tida said, taking a big gulp. The refreshing aroma of fruit entered her nostrils as the taste of alcohol filled her mouth. There was a tinge of sourness amid the sweetness.

“That hit the spot!” she exclaimed. It was somewhat unrefined compared to other drinks she’d had, but that gave the liqueur a charm of its own.

“Please try this too!” the mayor’s wife said, eagerly offering food.

“What is it?”

“Grilled and salted freshwater fish. We eat them a lot here.”

The fish she presented to Tida was only the size of a finger, and it had been grilled whole. Tida ate half of it—including the head—in one bite. She noticed the stomach of the fish was filled with eggs, to the point that some almost spilled from its bitten body.

“It’s mating season,” the mayor’s wife explained, seeing Tida’s confusion. “Makes them the perfect snack with a drink.”

The sensation of the eggs popping in Tida’s mouth, the bitterness of the innards, the flavorfulness of the fish’s flesh, and the saltiness of the seasoning all melded in perfect harmony. The taste of the animal paired exquisitely with the fruit liqueur, which itself represented the very peak of what the garden had to offer.

Tida had come to this place by chance, but she’d been blessed with the opportunity to save a boy’s life and enjoy delicious alcohol and fish as a reward. The thought put her in a very good mood.

Tida sat on the terrace of Grimoire, one of the most popular teahouses in the capital. She was drinking hot chocolate, Grimoire’s newest product, in the company of Ellie Leis, the shop’s owner.

“And so I dumped the rest of my work on that boring deacon and returned to the capital,” Tida concluded. She had finished telling Ellie everything that had happened in Kellevan after her departure.

“Tida... You should think of keeping up appearances sometimes.”

“You already know the kind of person I am, so what would be the point in hiding? Besides, I’m an eminent cardinal. Letting my subordinates do the annoying work is exactly what I should be doing.”

“I disagree. Those who hold positions of power must honor their responsibilities,” Ellie said. Then, she let out a deep sigh.

Tida had yet to respond when Grimoire’s pâtissier and another employee, who was pushing a small tea cart, approached.

“Miss, I’ve prepared the chocolates you requested,” said the pâtissier.

“Thank you,” Ellie replied.

The pâtissier set down a plate of small chocolate treats on the table.

“What are those?” Tida asked. “They don’t look all that dissimilar to the rest of the chocolates you can buy here. I’ve had some with almonds and dried fruits before. Are these ones any different?”

“Do you remember telling me that chocolate would go well with alcohol?” Ellie saw Tida’s eyes widen in surprise. “Well, this is the result of the research we conducted afterward,” Ellie continued. “We enclosed whiskey, a distilled liquor from the Northern Continent, in a sugar shell and coated it with chocolate.”

“Oh!” Tida picked up one of the chocolates and gazed at it intently. “While it looks the same as other chocolate treats, I can definitely smell the liquor up close!”

“Do try one,” Ellie said. “I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.”

“Here I go!” Tida popped the chocolate into her mouth. At first, she sensed only a hint of liquor among the alternating sweet and bitter tastes of the chocolate. Then she bit into the center, shattering the thin sugar shell and letting the liquor escape. It coalesced with the chocolate melting on her tongue.

“Incredible! Miss Ellie, this is unbelievable! Each flavor stands out against the others before they all merge together! This is the delicacy every drinker dreams of!”

“I see. That’s good to hear. I’m sure the nobles will like it, in that case.”

“They will! I couldn’t even imagine a better snack myself!” Tida exclaimed.

Tida sampled every morsel on the plate, all the while singing the chocolate’s praises.

“The type of whiskey used for each of these is different, isn’t it? They all have a distinct flavor! Miss Ellie, you must tell me, what is the name of these treats?”

“The name?” Ellie repeated. “We haven’t decided yet.”

“Is that so?”

“We only just finalized the recipe.”

“Heh heh. In that case, I, the great Cardinal Tildania, shall bless them with a name.”

“You? Well, I suppose that’s fine...”

“Seriously?! You don’t mind me naming them? I was just joking.”

“In a way, we could say you invented them,” Ellie replied. “And you are a cardinal of the Church of Ibris, so I imagine there is a chance we might be blessed with divine grace if you were to name them... Perhaps.”

“You seem rather unsure.”

“No way, that’s just your imagination. Anyway, what did you want to name them?”

“Let me see... My, that’s a big responsibility. The bestowing of names is an important religious rite.”

According to the doctrine of the Church of Ibris, every being born into the world had to be given a name in order to receive God’s benediction and thereby be acknowledged as an individual. As a clergywoman, Tida had been asked to bestow names upon newborns on many occasions. She’d also learned the importance of this ritual during her studies at the monastery.

“This time I’m naming a product, not a child, so I’ve got to take that into account... A catchy name that people can easily remember would be best, right? Whiskey and chocolate... And a sugar shell...” Tida paused again before continuing. “Speaking of sugar shells, I feel like I’ve heard of another sweet like that.”

“You must be thinking of bonbons. They’re rather popular on the Northern Continent,” said the pâtissier, who until now had been watching Tida and Ellie in silence.

“Bonbons... Chocolate bonbons... Whiskey bonbons... Hang on...” Tida mused. “All right! I think I’ve got it! Catchy, easy to remember, and has a nice sound to it—the perfect name!”

“Have you made up your mind?” Ellie asked.

“Yep! These chocolate treats shall henceforth be known as whis—” Tida was proudly announcing the name when a gust of wind blew a leaf right onto her nose. “Choo!”

“Very well. We shall call them ‘whischoos,’ as you wish,” Ellie declared.

“Huh?”

“I’m leaving the rest to you,” Ellie told the pâtissier. She swiftly wrote the name on a piece of paper and handed it to him.

“Huh?” Tida repeated, utterly baffled.

“Yes, miss,” the pâtissier answered. He bowed before disappearing back inside the shop.

“What in the world?” Tida whispered, staring at Ellie, who was sipping on her hot chocolate, unbothered.

“Now that the matter is settled, I have a request for you,” Ellie said.

“But I just arrived in the capital!”

“I’ll give you three boxes of whischoos in exchange.”

“What do you need?”

◆

Since returning to the capital, Misha had gone out to jog every morning. Today, she’d run for around an hour before returning to Ellie’s mansion in the capital’s high-class residential area. She was out of breath, and her tail trembled with every inhale. After taking some time to catch her breath, Misha returned to her room and wiped off her sweat with a wet towel before changing into her work uniform. Then, she joined Mireille to begin the day’s work.

“You’re five minutes late, Misha,” warned Mireille.

“I-I’m terribly sorry.” She’d taken too long to get ready and had ended up late. Feeling sorry that she had made Mireille wait for her, Misha bowed in apology.

“You were training in the morning again, weren’t you?”

“I-I was...”

Mireille sighed. “Your wounds were so bad that it’s a miracle you didn’t die. How many times must I tell you it’s too early to resume strenuous exercise?”

“I’m sorry, but I...” Misha said weakly, averting her eyes.

Mireille patted her head. “I understand how you feel. I have been through something similar.”

“Miss Mireille...”

Mireille sat on the sofa and gestured for Misha to sit down opposite her. Misha bowed once more before complying. Mireille then started brewing tea with the practice tea set she’d prepared.

“You must know by now that Miss Ellie is a former noblewoman from the Kingdom of Haldoria.”

“Yes.”

“Her talent was discovered at a young age, and before she even reached the age to properly make her debut in high society, she started being involved in politics and trade. I, too, am a former noble. After the downfall of my house, I found myself with nothing. I thought my only choices were to become a beggar or sell myself into slavery until Miss Ellie took me in.”

Mireille’s story reminded Misha of her own, though Misha had, in fact, become a slave.

“I was lucky that Master Cedric was kind,” Misha said. “But realistically speaking, my odds of being purchased by a horrible master were high. Miss Ellie saved me. While I am a slave, I am not treated any differently from the other employees. Miss Ellie allows me plenty of rest and even gives me money that I’m free to spend as I wish.”

That’s exactly why I must be of use to her, Misha stopped herself from adding. But Mireille knew what Misha was thinking even without her saying it.

“Afterward,” Mireille continued, “I started working at Miss Ellie’s residence. I was taught how to behave as a proper attendant without casting shame on my master. It was back then that I decided I’d do everything in my power to serve Miss Ellie faithfully, to the best of my ability. One day, the two of us were walking through the streets of the royal capital of Haldoria on business, and we were attacked by a group of men.”

“What?!”

“I tried to protect Miss Ellie, but the men promptly captured me. They used me as a hostage to prevent her from fighting back, and the men kidnapped her.” Mireille took a sip of tea, ignoring Misha’s astonished look, before continuing. “Then, the men let me go. They shoved a ransom demand into my hands and ordered me to bring it to her family. I felt terribly guilty for having put her in that situation. Without me holding her back, she would have escaped. I started thinking that I would be better off dead than a burden to her. I made my way to her home, despising myself every step of the way. And when I arrived...I found Miss Ellie waiting there.”

“Huh? Did someone save her?”

“No. After the kidnappers took her to their hideout, she defeated them all and left.”

“That’s...quite something.”

“Miss Ellie saw me crying and said, ‘Dry up those tears and go pour me a cup of coffee. You did what you could, and that is enough. Leave what you cannot do to others, and focus on what you can do. Brewing me the perfect coffee, for instance. Only you ever get it right.’”

Misha remained silent.

“You may not know what it is yet, but one day you also will find the one thing only you can do,” Mireille said with a smile, setting her cup down on the table. “Now, shall we practice brewing black tea?”

“Y-Yes!” Misha gulped down the rest of her tea and stood up. She couldn’t help but think that while Mireille didn’t often show her feelings on her face, she truly was compassionate.

Despite her kindness, Mireille hadn’t forgotten about Misha’s tardiness, and she made sure to be especially strict that day.

After her lessons with Mireille on tea and etiquette, Misha moved on to her work for the firm. It was slightly past noon when she finished checking the inventory in the warehouse. She dropped by Ellie’s office to deliver her report, and her mistress gave her a task.

“I’m sorry to bother you with this, Misha, but could you deliver this letter to the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Of course.”

“Once you’re done, you may take the rest of the day off,” Ellie said.

“All right, miss.”

Sarasa, the catkin receptionist, read the letter from Ellie, then handed Misha a signed paper attesting that the guild had accepted the request.

“All done,” she said. “We’ll contact you again when an adventurer takes on the mission.”

“Thank you very much,” Misha replied, stowing the document in the small bag she carried on her shoulder. She bowed to Sarasa before turning back. Since Ellie had granted Misha half of the day off, she didn’t have any more work planned. The sun was still high in the sky when she exited the Adventurers’ Guild.

Even though Misha was a slave, Ellie gave her pocket money. On her days off, she often wandered about the city, trying out dishes from the many stalls around the market. Today, however, she wasn’t in the mood for snacking. She walked away from the center of the city, where most of the guilds’ buildings and government offices were located, and found an empty lot on the outskirts. There, she unsheathed her dagger and started practicing.

“I must...grow stronger...” she panted.

Ellie had repeatedly told Misha that she was to be an attendant, not a bodyguard, and had no reason to beat herself up over the kidnapping. Mireille had also assured Misha she’d eventually find a talent unique to herself. Nevertheless, Misha couldn’t let go of the past. On that day, she’d been the only fighter present. If she’d won... If she’d at least had the strength to buy enough time for Lunoa and Alice to run... Misha kept swinging her dagger as thoughts of regret filled her mind.

She swung her blade downward and upward, then spun and pretended to slash at an invisible enemy before finally thrusting into its heart. This sequence was the most basic of dagger training routines, one her father had made her repeat time and time again back when he was still alive. Misha single-mindedly practiced with her dagger until the sun crept back below the horizon, and she found herself standing in the dark.

She was about to head home when a rough-looking man called out to her, “What are you doing in such a place, little catkin?”

He carried a bottle of alcohol in one hand, and a rusty sword hung from his waist. He very much looked like the sort of man whom a young girl out alone wouldn’t want to encounter after sundown. Misha wasn’t scared at all, though. After all, this man was one of her mistress’s subordinates.

“Good evening, Mr. Barl,” said Misha.

Barl, befitting his ruffianlike appearance, had until recently been lurking in the underworld of the capital of Haldoria at Ellie’s direction. After the recent affair concerning the counterfeit money distributed by order of the crown prince of Haldoria, Barl had come to the imperial capital. At the moment, he worked as an executive for Traitre and was in charge of the guards.

“Hey,” he greeted her. “It’s a bit too late for a kid to be out alone, don’t you think?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was so engrossed in my training that I didn’t notice the time...”

Barl hummed. “D’ya still have some time?”

“Huh? Y-Yes, I do. I’m off from work.”

“I see. Come on, then, let’s go grab dinner.”

Misha followed Barl to an eatery in one of the oldest parts of the city. During the daytime, most restaurants around served cheap meals to cater to local workers. At night, however, these establishments mostly provided alcohol and snacks.

Barl ordered and a worker brought several small dishes to the narrow counter.

“I got a few things at random, so eat whatever you’d like.”

“Thank you!”

Barl’s manners fit his appearance quite well, and he ate heartily. Misha imitated him, and soon the counter was bare while their bellies were stuffed.

Barl had ordered fruit-infused water for Misha, while he knocked back some strong alcohol. He downed his glass, then asked

“So, what’s troubling you, little catkin?” he asked after downing his glass.

“Well, the thing is...” Misha told him about the kidnapping. She spoke of how much she regretted her inability to protect Alice and Lunoa as well as how she wanted to become stronger. She also told him what Mireille had said to her earlier in the day.

“I see. So you wanna become strong enough to protect Alice and Lunoa next time they’re in danger, is that it?”

“Yes... But I don’t know how to achieve that... How to become strong...”

“Hmm,” Barl said, then paused. “D’ya know what being ‘strong’ means, little catkin?”

“Huh?”

“You want to be strong, sure. But what do you actually mean by that?”

“Well, I...”

“No one is ever strong enough to protect their comrades in every situation. No matter how strong you become, there’s always gonna be someone stronger.” Barl took a big gulp of his liquor before continuing. “See how adventurer parties are? They’re a force to be reckoned with because each member does their job, don’t you think?”

“I-I do.”

“Every member has a role to play. You’ve got the scout, the damage dealer, the shield, the supporter, and the healer. If one is missing, the party won’t work as well anymore. What Mireille was trying to tell you is that you’ve gotta find the role that fits you.”

“My...role?”