Chapter 108 - I Know Nothing
"...I'm going insane."
Once Perloché crawled into my arms and shut the cabinet door, darkness enveloped us.
"I-It's scary!"
I let out a sigh, waiting for the people in the bathroom to leave quickly, when Perloché began trembling in my embrace.
"Scary... scary... scary..."
"Calm down."
"Hah... hahhh..."
At first, I thought it was her usual fussing, but as I carefully looked down at her face, it didn't seem like it.
Her pale expression and cold sweat indicated she was right on the verge of a full panic attack. Having seen it many times in previous loops, I could tell at a glance.
'Right... Perloché's afraid of the dark.'
Perloché despises dark, enclosed spaces. Of course, I hate them too, but I can force myself to endure if needed... Yet despite her high mental strength, she's on the brink of panic.
"Just calm..."
I reached out with a worried expression, but soon froze and bit my lip silently.
She still doesn't know my true self. So, I can't be nice to her.
"Stop sniveling and get a grip... Ugh."
I deliberately chilled my voice to a low whisper, but Perloché suddenly clung to me.
"Hug me..."
"What?"
"It's scary, so hug me..."
She buried her face in my chest and hugged me tightly.
A dark cabinet in the men's bathroom. A man and woman tangled together in that tiny space—if a third party saw us, it'd look pretty compromising.
"...Urk."
Of course, as long as Perloché doesn't try to crush me with her monstrous strength.
"Ah, s-sorry..."
"Keep your voice down."
Only after hearing my groan did she loosen her hug. When I put a finger to my lips, she stared at me with her usual vacant expression.
"Ah..."
"...?"
Then, Perloché's gaze suddenly went blank. Sure, she often looks dazed, but that's usually limited to class or when Clana's scolding her.
Why now, though?
"Mm, ahh."
"...What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Really."
I tilted my head and asked, and she smiled innocently in response.
"Frey! But!"
"...Keep your voice down."
"Frey, but..."
I pressed my finger to my lips again as she raised her voice, and she leaned in close to whisper.
"Something keeps poking my stomach down there."
"...Huh?"
"Did you put something in your pocket?"
As she reached down, I frantically grabbed her hand.
"Why?"
"...Just wait a sec."
Sweat pouring, I tried to pull back, but the cabinet was too cramped—we just got more tangled.
Stuck like that, Perloché whispered with an innocent smile.
"Wow, it's twitching!"
"...Shh."
"So weird—what is it?"
As she tilted her head innocently, guilt washed over me until I noticed something off.
'The air's different from before.'
Not the bathroom's musty smell, but cool air laced with blood wafting into the cabinet.
Frowning at the anomaly, I hesitantly reached for the handle.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Hm? What... Ugh."
Perloché stared up, gripping my shoulder and staggering, freezing me in place.
— Fifteen watchers, two black mages, three swordsmen.
— Key in the gap below the cabinet.
— I'll definitely come rescue you.
— Left by Aishi.
- Swish, swish.
"Stop tickling my stomach, Frey! I can't take it!"
"N-No..."
- Splash...
Flustered, Perloché started emitting divine power from her hand.
"Wh-What are you doing?!"
"Look at this! Graffiti!"
"...Graffiti?"
I hurriedly blocked the entrance to prevent light from leaking, then looked up as she pointed at the ceiling.
"I see! It's a code!"
"...Yeah."
I mumbled vaguely at her dumbstruck stare at the graffiti, then my eyes widened at the end.
'Cloud Kingdom's princess.'
Now it clicked. This spot was likely an escape route set up by Aishi, princess of the Cloud Kingdom.
Her family—Rosewin and the church's youngest holy knight—would enroll at Sunrise Academy in their second year, but they're captured here.
'That's why this quest matters.'
Royals in the slave market is a huge issue. It could spark a diplomatic disaster.
The imperial family should handle it, but they're turning a blind eye—for the massive profits from the slave trade.
The Cloud Kingdom can't reveal them as royals either, due to their own circumstances.
So, the palace and kingdom secretly agreed to extract just them, but problems hit right before execution.
And from the graffiti, it's about to blow up soon.
- Creak...
"H-Huh?"
"...Out."
I shoved Perloché out first. It pricked my conscience a bit, but with my time limit and sealed powers, she's more useful.
Plus, she'd been rubbing my shoulder, trying to read the graffiti, making things awkward.
"...Here."
After confirming safety, I pushed past her, scanning the pitch-black basement sharply.
'Blood.'
As I looked around, the stench of blood grew from all sides. I'd smelled it so much in past loops, even a whiff turns my stomach.
"H-Hey, remember, remember..."
"...?"
"F-Frey! Where are we?"
I pinched my nose, frowning, and turned to see Perloché muttering frantically, question marks on her face.
"Please be quiet."
"Huh? What do you..."
"We need to sneak out as quietly as possible."
We'd basically trespassed into this massive slave market. My notoriety could've bluffed my way through leisurely, but with Perloché—whose face sells as well as mine—it's trouble.
Any ideas?
"...Aha, the cabinet."
"Pardon?"
"Perloché, back in the cabinet. Hurry."
After a moment's thought, I shoved the blankly standing girl inside.
"S-Scary!"
"Shut up and move."
Before footsteps approached, I crammed her in and sighed.
"Go back to that café. I'll find you soon."
"Wait! Where is this? You..."
- Bang!!
Ignoring her urgent protests, I slammed the door and muttered in relief.
"No idea what, but this might work out..."
"Frey! What are you..."
- Bang!!
But oddly, Perloché was still inside. Panicking, I slammed it shut mid-sentence and cautiously reopened it.
"I won't tolerate this! You and I were partners all second semes—"
Still there.
"...Close it yourself."
"Pardon?"
I ordered her to do it.
"I did?"
Her hand closed it, but her vacant voice echoed from within.
"Who's there?!"
"Damn."
Sighing over what to do with her, footsteps approached from afar.
This is bad. Really bad?
.
.
.
.
"Hands up! Identify yourself now..."
"Who are you to order me?"
The guard captain, spear aimed at the mysterious figure, frowned at his brazen response.
"Don't you know who I am?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"The empire's top scoundrel."
Hearing that, the captain eyed him suspiciously.
"What..."
"Get the boss."
"Pardon?"
"I said get the boss."
Frey repeated arrogantly, and the captain looked troubled.
"We can't just let a suspicious person..."
"Unbelievable."
"...Pardon?"
Frey sneered irritably.
"Top clients like me get previews before opening. You seem high up—didn't know?"
"I know, but you never had clearance..."
"Didn't I?"
As Frey slipped him gold, the captain stared blankly before coughing awkwardly.
"Ahem, well... I think I heard something..."
"Must've been announced at the entrance?"
"Ah, yeah, vaguely remember. What was it...?"
"Let Frey Raon Starlight inspect the slaves?"
"Yes, exactly!"
Each time he trailed off, Frey slipped more gold. The captain feigned reluctance but pocketed it with a smile.
"But time might be tight. We're training new arrivals now."
"Introduce a guide then. I'll tip extra next time."
"Got it! I'll handle your clearance!"
The captain saluted eagerly, then frowned.
"But who's that with you?"
"...My associate."
"I see. But their ID..."
As the captain reached out, Frey blocked him and whispered.
"They don't want their identity revealed. No need to touch."
"Mm, understood, but even with your guarantee..."
"Got it?"
"Yes! I'll tell the guide!"
Another handful of gold, and as the beaming captain turned, Frey asked quietly.
"Where's that gold going?"
"Savings, of course! Busy training slaves."
"Good habit. Save well."
The captain grinned ear-to-ear and vanished.
"...Serves you right for karma."
Frey smirked. The gold was cursed counterfeits that bring misfortune—targeted after learning the captain's stinginess from past investigations.
"Phew..."
Once he was gone, Frey sighed and eyed Perloché.
'It worked.'
Grateful his Deception Robe draped over her like a cloak fooled them. Spotting the approaching guide, he murmured to her.
"Don't say a word from now on. Don't complicate things. Got it?"
"Yes, understood."
"Good, then... Huh?"
Her calm reply made him sigh and turn, but he frowned.
"What..."
"...Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
"Pardon?"
Perloché beamed innocently.
"What are you talking about? I'm smiling."
"........."
Her usual ditzy smile, but Frey couldn't nod.
"What the hell."
In the thick darkness, her glowing eyes weren't smiling at all.
"...What are you hiding?"
Tucked in Perloché's bosom was a torn letter.
You know something about the DLC, right?
"I know nothing!"
Perloché Astellade knew nothing.