The Interviewee, Nairin

"I-is this really the hotel?" the woman muttered, her eyes darting around as if she were incredibly nervous. Every time she turned her head, her short, dark blue hair swayed with her. Stepping cautiously into the hotel lobby, her eyes widened in shock. The brilliant chandelier hanging from the high ceiling cast a warm atmosphere, and the luxurious carpet spread across the floor seemed to guide her path. Even a casual glance at the walls revealed high-end interior finishes, and pure white porcelain pieces sat atop solid wood furniture placed throughout the room.

"...If I drop one of those, my salary for the next few months will just vanish, won't it?"

She tried her best to avoid touching the walls, choosing instead to focus her gaze on the people around her. But—

"Oh, my!"

Everywhere she looked, the place was packed with people dressed to the nines. A woman in a voluminous dress that looked like it belonged at a royal banquet was there, accompanied by a man in a tuxedo who seemed to be her partner, escorting her. They were arm-in-arm, whispering closely to each other, a sight that made even a bystander feel a strange, ticklish sensation in their chest. Because she was a knight, her senses were sharper than an ordinary person's, and the intimate conversations of the couples reached her ears with painful clarity.

"I haven't been to a place like this in so long... I should have dressed up a bit better...!"

She had come wearing the armor she had polished until it shone, thinking it was what a knight needed, but now she couldn't help but wonder if she should have worn a dress or a suit instead. Seeing the outfits of the people in her field of vision, she felt embarrassed by the comparison and hurried her steps. Beneath her worn-out robe, her well-maintained armor caught the light and glittered. Despite moving busily, she passed through the crowded lobby without making a single sound, weaving through the dense throng of people with surprising agility.

When she reached the counter, a girl with hair the color of water-blue greeted her. She wore a simple black-and-white uniform. A small metal plate pinned to her chest displayed her name.

"Welcome to the Everglow Hotel. How may I help you?"

The girl smiled, a bright expression that made anyone feel better, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm the person who was supposed to come today..."

"Ah, did you perhaps make a reservation? May I have your name?"

"Oh, n-no, it's not a reservation. I was supposed to meet with the owner here today..."

The woman waved her hands frantically at the girl, who had begun looking down to check the registry.

"I heard you needed security personnel to work at the hotel..."

When she pulled out an envelope—black with gold embroidery—from her pocket to show her, the girl seemed to understand immediately.

"Ah, you're here for the interview!"

"Y-yes! That's right!"

"Yes, please wait a moment. I will contact the owner right away. May I have your name?"

"Th-thank you...! My name is 'Nairin'!"

Relieved that she hadn't come to the wrong place, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she let out a long breath.

"Yes, Owner. The person who was scheduled for an interview today has arrived. Yes, she is right in front of me. Ah, you'll be a little late?"

Perhaps because her tension had eased slightly, she rested her hands on the counter to steady herself, and she could hear the girl at the counter speaking through a communication artifact.

"Yes, I understand. I will relay that. Yes, thank you!"

"Wh-where should I go...?"

"Ah, the owner said he has an urgent matter to attend to right now..."

"Oh, that's fine! It's such a large building with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so many people, of course you'd be busy!"

Nairin waved her hands to dismiss the girl's apology, assuring her it was alright.

"He said to make yourself comfortable while you wait."

"Right, then I'll just stand over there..."

Just as Nairin was about to say she would stand in the corner so as not to be in the way, the girl held something out to her. Something was written on a piece of stiff paper.

"This is...?"

"It's a voucher for our hotel's restaurant on the 13th floor."

"A-a restaurant voucher?"

"It's almost dinner time, so he asked me to tell you to have a comfortable meal while you wait."

"I-I'm fine just waiting, you don't have to..."

"He said he would come as quickly as possible, but he wasn't sure how long it might take."

"I-I see..."

"Yes, so please, feel free to use it."

Nairin stared at the voucher in her hand and swallowed hard.

"Hmm, her character seems fine. And as for her ability..."

As I flipped through the report containing her personal information, I saw records of her participating in all sorts of missions and surviving. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠excluding simple monster subjugation or escort missions, she had succeeded in quite a few high-difficulty, significant tasks.

"Wait, she even went on an expedition? Shion, is this 'Great Forest' the forest I'm thinking of?"

"Yes, it is the place you are thinking of, Young Master."

"...Isn't that a place only elves can enter?"

"According to our investigation, a very small, select number of personnel are allowed to enter the inner areas occasionally to facilitate exchanges with other nations."

I asked because I remembered the elf who had come to the banquet held previously, and the answer confirmed it was indeed the forest that served as the elves' base. It wasn't a place you could just walk into; you had to be skilled, have a clear identity, and be chosen as part of a select group...

"What is this? Why would such high-level talent..."

"As you can see on the last page, it seems her own personality was a stumbling block."

"Personality?"

Watching her interact with Delphi, she didn't seem to have a prickly or rough personality, so I wondered what it was and flipped to the last page.

It seemed that while she was usually weak and timid, once a mission began, she changed 180 degrees, becoming a machine-like personality that thought only of rules and mission execution.

"If the person you're working with changes like that, it would be a bit difficult to deal with."

However, even flipping back to the front, there was no mention of her failing missions or having conflicts with colleagues because of it.

"Still, isn't it enough if she just does her job well?"

If her personality were just a little unique, she would still be working busily as a very capable knight.

"Well, did I miss something..."

"...Young Master, this is not officially confirmed information, but would you like me to tell you?"

Shion, who had been silently holding her ground, spoke up cautiously. Since Shion was the one who brought this report, she would know everything written in it. The fact that she hadn't included this in the report meant there was a lack of concrete evidence. She wasn't the type to leave things blank if the information was inaccurate, nor would she write down unreliable content. But considering old clichés, such unofficial stories were often important clues.

"It is merely a rumor, but..."

"Haven't most of the rumors and scandals among the nobles here turned out to be true? I'll filter it out, so tell me."

Especially considering that most of the gossip and scandals circulating among the nobles turned out to be true. I mean, logically, does it make sense that a noblewoman with five grown children was caught sleeping with a nobleman her own son's age? And not just caught doing it in her own room, but in the garden bushes in the middle of a party?

"There is no clear evidence, but..."

"It's fine, just say it. When have I ever gotten angry at what you said?"

Seeing Shion hesitate, unlike her usual self, I became even more convinced. The probability that this 'unofficial rumor' was true was high.

"...There is a rumor that she likes women, and that on her days off, she dresses as a man to go meet women."

"...Huh? Wait, so she's a lesbian?"

"There are several eyewitness accounts that she never wears skirts when she goes out, and always dresses like a man."

"Then, the part about her liking women? Did anyone see her arm-in-arm with a woman entering an inn or something?"

"No one has seen her enter one directly, but there are several women who claim to have spent a night with her."

"..."

My mind went blank for a moment at this unexpected fact. I stood up to see and confirm it with my own eyes. She said she'd be waiting leisurely while eating, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so she must be in the restaurant, right?

I put on the jacket Shion held out for me and headed to the 13th floor. It was dinner time, so there were many people waiting.

"Oh, Owner!"

"You've worked hard. Is she inside by any chance?"

"Ah, yes! She's at the table by the window!"

"By the window... I see, thank you."

Thanks to the quick-witted employee who understood without me having to explain in detail, I was able to find her right away. 'Nairin Lazuli'. A capable knight and our hotel's prospective security team leader whom I was supposed to interview today. At the same time, a female knight suspected of being a lesbian who was often seen dressing as a man.

"I'm glad I came... It's so delicious...!"

I saw her happily eating with a bright smile in her eyes. Perhaps she had taken off the robe she wore over her clothes to eat, as it was hanging on the chair next to her. Her well-maintained, glittering silver armor caught my eye. I asked the restaurant floor staff, who recognized me, to bring a drink that would be good to sip after a meal. She seemed to have finished eating, so I could go over now. Why, you don't even bother a dog while it's eating.

"Did the meal suit your taste?"

As I sat down across from Nairin, her eyes widened in surprise, and she hurriedly wiped her mouth.

"Oh, oh? Th-the owner, by any chance...?"

"Nice to meet you. I am Julian Everglow."

Let's see... Is it really the right choice to hire this knight?