The Phantom Thief's Solution
Her proposal was simple. The only thing that had changed was the kind of compensation she demanded—from money to people.
"It's not easy finding people these days, you know? You get what I mean, right? Everyone's flocking to the cities for factory jobs. In the end, only a handful of capitalists are living it up, stuffing their faces."
Rafano, who was exactly one of those handful of capitalists, chuckled shamelessly in agreement.
"Haha, you're spot on! Once people get a taste of money, their heads get so stiff! Technological progress isn't all good, I tell you!"
"As expected, you know your stuff, boss. So, how about you help me out with some manpower brokerage?"
Rafano nodded at Veronica's request and asked,
"What exactly is the job? I need to know that before deciding who to send..."
"Nothing too tough, so just someone you can push around. Heck, you could even send over any servants who don't meet your standards."
Hearing that, Rafano stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Servants who don't meet my standards, huh..."
"Oh? So there are people like that."
"Haha, they're always overflowing."
Veronica flashed a radiant smile. Knowing full well how ugly and cruel she truly was, I couldn't help but shiver at the sight.
"Then it's a deal. Looking forward to working with you."
With those words, the scene shifted once more. The story was now hurtling toward its finale.
And at last, the protagonist of this tale, Rachel, reappeared.
The setting was the living room of an ordinary home. Rachel was talking with a woman in a maid outfit who seemed to be her older sister.
"What do you mean?"
"I have to move to a dorm because of my new job."
"Why the sudden job change? You just started at that mansion not long ago."
Her sister gave an awkward smile in response to her little sister's question.
"Heh heh... Like I told you earlier, I made a mistake, and the employer wasn't happy about it."
"No, that's not it! Why is it your fault? That ugly pig got his necklace stolen by the phantom thief—how is that on you!?"
"I mistook the balloon in the backyard for a thief... It was so realistic, probably magic."
My head went blank. To think this would trigger such a butterfly effect...
An extra who didn't even properly appear in my memories. A maid who simply spotted the balloon I'd prepared in the backyard and reported it to Rafano—that was all. How was I supposed to know she was Rachel's actual older sister?
"Argh! This is frustrating! It's obvious they fired you without a proper explanation—you're just the scapegoat! The thief's the one at fault, so why should you get canned...!"
"It's fine. I hear the new job's great. And they pay really well too."
Perhaps to avoid worrying her sister, Rachel's older sibling waved it off with a goofy grin.
"Where is it? What's the job? Is the dorm far from here?"
"It's close by. Same maid work. The employer's a really kind and pretty young lady."
"Hmph... Still better than that bald old creep."
And just like that, a connection formed between the seemingly unrelated Rachel and Drakan.
Only one question remained: Why did she voluntarily become a Drakan test subject?
The crystal orb's glimpse into the past resolved that final mystery as well.
Rachel pounded furiously on the mansion door, her face twisted in rage. Anyone could see she was seething.
Wait—timing-wise...
Calculating the past timeline, it matched perfectly. The day Theresia gave her interview at the church, when Rachel suddenly bailed for a "dinner appointment," leaving Sharon and me awkwardly heading to the church alone.
Bang bang!!
She kept hammering on the door until a man in a suit finally appeared.
"What business do you have making such a racket?"
"There's a woman named Leah here, right!? The maid working in this house!"
"Hm. And why do you ask?"
"Her little sister's here to see her—what do you mean 'why'!? I know all about the shady stuff going on here! Bring my sister out now!"
The man didn't even flinch at Rachel's outburst.
"Seems there's a misunderstanding. Come inside first. I'll explain personally."
As the front gate opened, Rachel strode in with a steely resolve, no intention of backing down.
In the mansion's opulent parlor, an awkward tension hung between the two women facing each other. Veronica sipped her tea leisurely while Rachel glared daggers at her.
"Let me ask first—what did you hear to make you react like this?"
"Cut the act. It's been over a week with no word from my sister. And when I went to that bald guy's old mansion, I heard all the nasty rumors about her new job."
In other words, worried sick after losing contact with her sister, Rachel had visited Rafano's mansion and picked up the bad gossip about her sibling's new workplace.
Even hearing this to her face, Veronica's expression didn't change. If anything, her relaxed smile widened.
"That uniform—is it from the Academy?"
"So what if it is? You got a problem with magic users?"
"Hehe, nothing like that. Just happy to meet a junior here."
Rachel's face flickered uncertainly at that.
"...You're a mage too?"
"Not anything impressive, but I managed to graduate somehow."
With a finger snap, a tiny spark ignited above her fingertip—the basic spell, ignition.
"Junior, to cut to the chase, it's all a misunderstanding. Servants in mansions love gossiping about their employer's scandals and rumors, right?"
"...Just let me see my sister. I'll admit I was wrong and apologize."
"Please wait just a moment. I've already called her—she should be here soon."
As if on cue from a perfectly scripted play, Rachel's sister entered the parlor right after Veronica finished speaking. She looked perfectly fine—better than before, even, with a brighter expression.
"Ah! Rachel!"
"You idiot sister! Why haven't you contacted me at all!?"
Perhaps from all the worry, Rachel's voice nearly cracked as she unleashed her adorable complaints.
"Heh heh... Sorry. I've been so busy throwing myself into work..."
"Leah, I told you not to overdo it—take it easy and enjoy some leisure time. Making such a cute little sister worry means I get the blame as the employer."
"I'm sorry!"
It was the picture of an ideal boss-employee relationship. No discomfort whatsoever between laborer and employer—Rachel seemed to wash away all her anxiety and relax completely.
After a brief catch-up to vent their pent-up feelings, her sister left the parlor first to return to work. As Rachel moved to exit the mansion too, Veronica stopped her.
"Junior, if you're not in a rush, could we chat a bit?"
"Huh? Sure, okay."
I wanted to butt in and warn Rachel. Don't fall for that fake mask—run away now.
But this was the unchangeable past. I had no room to intervene.
After a moment of silence, Veronica broached the topic carefully. Even on a potentially sensitive subject, her silver tongue made it sound like genuine concern.
"We've gotten close in our short time together. She's so kind, diligent, and good at her job—it'd be weirder if we didn't get along."
"Well, my sister's an idiotically nice person."
"So we talked a lot, and I vaguely heard about your tough family situation."
Rachel didn't deny it. In the original story, this was briefly mentioned in passing: their dire finances, compounded by the Academy's steep tuition, forcing both sisters into part-time gigs whenever possible.
"What can you do? Our deadbeat dad left us buried in debt. My sister's been slaving away like a dog because of it..."
"Without a scholarship, tuition must be a real burden, huh."
"......"
I see. So that's how she approached it.
"I happen to know a great side gig. You meet the qualifications perfectly, so I could recommend you. What do you think?"
"A side gig?"
"Yeah. Evenings only, just once or twice a week. Perfect pay, but it requires magic skills—which fits you to a T."
Rachel hesitated, her expression cautious. But the fidgeting fingers under the table betrayed her leaning interest.
"...How much?"
The sum Veronica quoted was tempting enough to make anyone's mouth water.
After agonizing over it, Rachel finally bowed her head.
"Give me a little time to think."
She didn't accept right away, but we all knew what choice she'd make next. She'd probably returned to the mansion a few days later to take Veronica up on the offer.
No need to watch any further.
In the end, tracing back most problems always led to money.
At least this was fortunate. It was something I could intervene in.
Money was the issue?
"Screw it, I'll just give it to her myself."
Don't underestimate the phantom thief's capital.