The Magic City and the Great Detective

Luphtesia flinched at Seong-il's words. She quickly composed her expression and began her explanation.

"Ah! That's... the truth is, it needs about five minutes of warm-up time..."

"Hmm... and what happens after those five minutes pass?"

"Once you activate the ring and keep thinking about the place you want to go, a portal opens right in front of you! When the portal opens, you can pass through it for three minutes!"

"Oho..."

Seong-il's eyes gleamed with greed at her explanation. She looked at him and continued.

"...If you hand that over to me, I might just let you go. But as you said earlier, isn't that your most important escape item? Handing something like that to me doesn't make sense...?"

Luphtesia responded to his skepticism with a confident expression.

"That! There are two of them! I stole them from an ancient ruin. After investigating, I found out they were made as a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pair to protect the king and queen of the ancient magic kingdom! That's why even if I give one ring to the detective, I still have one left!!"

"Oho..."

"How about it? Pretty good, right? This isn't an item you can just get because you want it! Since the ancient magic empire fell, this magic has been in sleep mode... This is the last teleportation ring left in the world, you know?"

"Hmm..."

"Think about it carefully! Detective! I can't give you any more of my other items since I need to make a living too. But one ring like this should be fine if you think of it as the price for my life! Can't you make it work...?"

"Alright. I'll consider it."

"Thank you!! Detective!"

"However."

"....?"

Just as it seemed he would accept Luphtesia's proposal, Seong-il cut her off. When she looked puzzled, he continued.

"Since you might be lying, I need to verify the ring's abilities for myself. Can it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be used here? You'll also need to tell me the exact usage and any precautions."

"Of course! Detective!"

Seong-il lifted her upper body, which he'd had resting on his lap, and requested the explanation. She genuinely taught him the proper usage, but to prepare for any possible tricks like an explosion, Seong-il held her tightly in his arms while testing the ring.

Squeeze. Grope.

"Huh...?"

Luphtesia was flustered by the sudden sight of Seong-il kneading her ample breasts. Ignoring her confusion, he shamelessly urged her to continue the explanation.

"What? It's not like they'll wear out from being touched. Don't mind it and just keep explaining."

"Ah... yes..."

Luphtesia wore an expression of utter disbelief at his brazen attitude. She let out a short sigh and continued.

"First, think about the space you want to go to. Preferably somewhere without other people..."

"Okay."

Seong-il obediently pictured his own room on the second floor of the detective agency. After a while, the light emanating from the ring grew stronger, and a round portal gate opened.

"Whoa..."

Seong-il marveled at the portal's performance. Seeing his reaction, Luphtesia answered with a triumphant look.

"See? It's real, right? Now, could you say 'seal'?"

"Huh? Alright. Seal."

The gate closed in an instant. Seong-il frowned at the situation and pressed her.

"What the hell? Why did you suddenly close the portal without explaining?"

"That's because. How would I know if the detective, who covets my item, might drag me through there and kill me? Right?"

"Hmm....."

"If I'm going to die anyway, isn't it better to keep the detective here so I can at least negotiate? I'm sorry for not explaining, but please consider it my final act of desperation and overlook it just this once."

"Fine. I'll understand. And I'll believe the item is genuine. By the way, what about those restrictions you mentioned earlier?"

"It's nothing much. Five minutes of concentration time and a one-month recharge period after each use. Just those two things."

"I see..."

At Seong-il's words, Luphtesia steadied her breathing and spoke to him.

"How about it? Isn't this enough to make a deal? If you hand me over to the Metropolitan Police, I'll spill everything about my magic items! Then you'd miss your chance to obtain a great artifact!!"

"....Did you think I wouldn't consider just killing you here and stealing it?"

"The police aren't idiots. If they find me tied up with ropes, subdued without a single wound, and then dead, what do you think they'll assume?"

"Hmm..."

"They only seem foolish because of the regulations that come with being public servants. They're not real idiots. Especially if something like an artifact is involved, they'll come after you like hawks, squeezing you dry, right? Even if not, the chances of them harassing you are high!"

Once his thoughts reached that point, Seong-il spoke up.

"Alright. I accept. But there are two more conditions."

"....What? The offer I already made is incredibly generous, isn't it?"

"I'm not asking for any other items."

"??"

Luphtesia looked puzzled. Seong-il smiled at her reaction.

"Just give up on the jewel."

"Ah..."

"And act like you failed to steal the jewel because of me and my partner."

"What?!"

"The main reason we run this detective agency is for fame and reputation. If you put on a little performance to boost our prestige, I'll let you go."

"....Are you kidding? You're telling me to become your clown and give up my gains?"

"You're rich anyway. Honestly, what's the big deal about giving up that sapphire? It's huge and has a unique design, so its value as stolen goods would be low anyway. Don't you think?"

"Ha... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This is ridiculous. Let's say I agree. How can I trust that you'll keep your promise? You might just make a false one to get out of this situation, right?"

"No. You won't do that. You've never lied while committing theft, have you? You're a phantom thief with your own strict rules. You're more likely to live for your own aesthetic than for money. Whether you admit it or not, you'll definitely keep your promise."

"...."

"How about it? Like I said before, that sapphire has zero appeal as stolen goods. Just give it up."

At Seong-il's words, Luphtesia sighed and replied.

"The reason I'm trying to steal 'Delon's Eye' isn't because of money."

In truth, Seong-il already knew why Luphtesia wanted to steal 'Delon's Eye' from his game playthrough. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠When a special light was shone on 'Delon's Eye,' a hidden secret map would appear, containing information about a secret location with special magic crystals and a code. She had learned about that secret place through some method and was trying to steal the jewel to satisfy her overflowing curiosity.

'I know your goal, you know?'

Seong-il had successfully drawn out Luphtesia's true objective with his cunning rhetoric. The moment her words slipped out, he cut her off as if he'd been waiting for it.

"Ah. You're stealing it because of the map and code hidden inside 'Delon's Eye,' right?"

"!!!!"

She had believed it was information only she knew in the entire world. When that secret about Delon's Eye came from an unexpected person's mouth, she stared at Seong-il with a look of pure shock.

"Why? Why did you think only you would know about that?"

"H-how... how did you...?"

"Despite how I look, my partner and I are quite close with the eldest daughter of the Aibek family. We even attend regular gatherings together."

"...."

"So I got interested in the item you were trying to steal and asked her to let me see it. She gladly showed it to me?"

"...."

"While I was looking at it, I used the 'Magic Ultraviolet Investigation' method from the currently popular book The Scarlet Study of Great Detective Moriarty. I shone the light on the jewel, and the map and code appeared. That's how I found out."

"...Oh my god. Then all my efforts were pointless? I went through all that trouble for information everyone already knew..."

"No. Only I know that information."

"?!"

Luphtesia looked at Seong-il's face in confusion. Seeing her expression, he continued.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? Why would I share information like that? While performing the 'Magic Ultraviolet Investigation,' only the Aibek young lady and my colleagues were around. I took advantage of the moment they were distracted by chatter and quickly recorded the map and code using a magic tool. I plan to keep it all to myself."

"!!!!"

"Why? Isn't that obvious? Did you think I was some apostle of justice? Seriously??"

"Hmm..."

Luphtesia looked at Seong-il with a strange expression. Then she suddenly spoke.

"Detective, how about partnering up with me?"

"...What?"

"Honestly, your insight in predicting my movements and ambushing me, plus the martial prowess to subdue me so easily—you seem quite capable. How about becoming my partner?"

"...."

"If you do, I'll fulfill all your requests. How about it? And we'll split whatever's left in that secret map fifty-fifty!!"

'Well... you're saying that because you don't know what's inside...'

In truth, the secret room contained within the crystal could only be visited in the second playthrough. Following the records hidden in the crystal to enter the secret room would reveal a row of massive artifacts called 'Record Crystals.' Their purpose was precisely... to replay H-scenes. It was literally a recollection room designed to let users easily rewatch past H-scenes.

'I don't know how amazing that jewel is, but it's nothing more or less than a recording device for replays...'

Seong-il unintentionally let out a chuckle. Mistaking his laughter for a sign of refusal, Luphtesia began persuading him with an earnest tone.

"Let's join hands! Us!! Despite how I look, I'm quite skilled at detecting and disarming magic traps, and I'm pretty good in combat too, so raiding the secret room together would be much safer!"

"Hmm...?"

"Trying to hog such a huge secret all by yourself will just make your stomach burst! Let's team up and raid it together! Us..!!"

'What the hell is she talking about... Never mind. If she's coming at me like this, it's actually good.'

"Alright. But you'll have to accept those two additional conditions I mentioned earlier."

"Of course! What do I need to do? Of course, getting caught by the police is off the table."

"....Do you even know what I'm going to propose before agreeing to it????"

"Well... I'd just have to put on a little performance in front of the jewel, call out the detective's name a few times, and say 'Just you wait!!' or something, right?"

"....That's roughly correct. But don't call out my name. There's a cute blonde girl with ringlet hair named Charlotte in the jewel room. Recite your lines while looking at her."

"Ah~~"

"Something like 'Kuhk! Detective Charlotte Moriarty! I will never forget this interference!! Just you wait!!' would be perfect...?"

"Easy! I'll do it! As long as you partner with me!!"

"...Want to hear the other condition before agreeing...?"

Seong-il continued with an extremely tired expression. Luphtesia nodded in response.

"Go ahead!"

"You and I should occasionally strip naked and enjoy the night together."

"?!?!?!??!?!"

Luphtesia wore an expression of utter disbelief at the sudden sex proposal.

"What did you say?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. You're disguised right now, but it's obvious you're a beauty... I like women. If I can sleep with a beauty like you, I'll gladly become your partner."

"....."

"If you don't like it, just say so."

"If I refuse, will you hand me over to the police?"

"No. I'll just let you go. As payment for the ring. But the jewel is completely off the table. If you break your promise and steal the jewel, I'll reveal the secret hidden inside it to the entire world."

"Wow.... How vicious..."

"Shut up! You thieving wench. Hearing the word 'vicious' come out of your mouth?"

In the end, Luphtesia closed her mouth at Seong-il's words and pondered for a long time. After finishing her deliberation, she answered him.

"Fine. I'll accept it. But I have an additional condition too."

"...What is it?"

"Let's set how many times per month. And give me some of that potion from earlier. It looked good."

'Huh...? I was just planning to give her one or two doses and let her go, but she's offering to be my steady bed partner? Jackpot!!!'

Seong-il was excited by her counteroffer. He hid his joy as much as possible and replied.

"Really? So how many times per month were you thinking?"

"Hmm.... How about once a week?"

"So four times a month total?"

"Yeees..."

"Can't we make it five? I'd like to do it on a day I choose at least once."

"Aww come on.... Let's just cleanly settle on once a week. Okay...?"

At her coquettish tone, Seong-il thought,

'Tsk... It didn't work. Well, just being able to do it consistently is already more than satisfying for me...'

"Alright! Let's do that. We'll decide the dates separately later."

Having said that, Seong-il opened his inventory, hid the ring and the It Hurts Stick, then released her.

"Just what... is that magic?"

"Don't think you're the only one who knows ancient secrets. This is one of my hidden cards, so I can't tell you until I can truly trust you."

"Hmm... If you say so. Ah! Give me some of that potion first! It looked really good!"