Chapter 186 - Serena's Detective Agency
"Eek!"
Miho, whose monsterization had mostly worn off, strained with all her might to rise from her seat.
"Stay put."
"Hic..."
But at Lulu's single command, she collapsed back to the floor, trembling in terror, her anger forgotten.
...What the hell?
I stared blankly at the scene before turning my gaze to the shattered remnants of the Domination Stone glittering in the distance, lost in thought.
The Domination Stone is definitely destroyed...?
Miho, transformed into a monsterized spirit beast, was treated as the final boss of the first-year scenario. Controlling her, let alone defeating her, should have been incredibly difficult.
So how had Lulu subdued her with just a word?
A lot of bizarre things had happened so far, but this was beyond comprehension.
"M-Master. What do we do?"
As I pondered, Lulu turned to me with an urgent question.
Her demon eyes still blazed ruby red with crackling static.
"No way... those demon eyes?"
Only then did I piece together what had happened.
This miracle seemed to be the work of Lulu's demon eyes.
But that's weird...
I'd only grasped it partially, leaving questions unanswered.
What was this new ability in Lulu's demon eyes, specialized for analysis and insight? And what had triggered it? There hadn't been any warning signs.
"For now... put her to sleep."
"Y-Yes!"
Miho looked in such bad shape that I shelved my thoughts and gave the order.
"...Sleep."
"Ugh..."
Moments later, Miho's eyes fluttered shut as the monsterization fully faded, and she collapsed unconscious on the floor.
"........."
Silence fell.
"Um..."
Lulu stared at me amid the quiet for a moment before mumbling shyly,
"P-Pet me, please."
"...!?"
A strange compulsion hit me at the same time.
With my high mental resistance, I could resist it easily, but an ordinary person would have fallen for it.
"U-Uh... sorry..."
Lulu, who had apparently tested a command on me, fidgeted anxiously with an apology.
"Agh...!"
She clutched her eyes, staggering before collapsing.
"Ugh... uh..."
"Lulu? You okay... whoa!"
I rushed to her in alarm and froze upon touching her body.
Why is she so hot...?
Her body burned like a fireball.
Her eyes, bloodshot and sparking incessantly, would clearly cause serious harm if it continued.
With a slight exertion of force, I knocked her out, and mercifully, the blazing demon eyes dimmed.
"Phew..."
Sighing between the two unconscious girls, I turned to Serena, who had been watching me the whole time.
"...Hmm."
She eyed me, Miho, and Lulu suspiciously in turn before fixing her gaze on me.
"...Annoying. That was an expensive item."
I couldn't let daytime Serena uncover my identity, so I spoke coldly and kicked Lulu toward her—pretending to, anyway. I merely commanded the absolutely obedient girl to act as if kicked.
"Believe I really kicked her."
"F-Frey."
Serena stared dazedly before hurrying toward me.
"What happened..."
"Forget it. Get some healing potions. We'll do first aid and leave."
"H-Here."
She pulled potions from her bosom, looking timid as she spoke.
"P-Please stay a little longer... Let's talk, and about what just happened..."
"Don't worry about what just happened."
"Y-Yes, but still, just a bit of time with me..."
"I said no."
Staying longer risked complications, so I replied coldly, but Serena timidly pointed at my crotch.
"...Y-You're going out like that?"
"Ah."
Only then did I notice my pants were torn, frowning.
Come to think of it, I haven't accomplished my goal for coming here.
With that realization, I sighed and addressed her.
"On second thought, I have a commission for you..."
"Yes! Got it! I'll prepare right now!"
Before I finished, she beamed, clapping her hands.
Whoosh!!
Two masked assassins leaped from below.
"...Dismiss them."
Serena coldly ordered them away, then fidgeted at me.
"P-Please wait until preparations are done. Coffee? You like coffee, right?"
"Haa..."
What a day full of complications.
......
"Ahem, ahem..."
"........."
I watched Serena clearing her throat on the parlor sofa.
"So, what is this exactly?"
I asked the engrossed girl organizing her files.
She finally looked up with a smile.
"C-Can't you tell? I'm taking a commission."
Miho glared daggers at me from beside her.
"I said I had a commission for your new information guild, not to sit face-to-face like this."
Feeling uneasy about a potential attack, I protested, and she quickly replied,
"B-But... this is standard procedure at our agency..."
"Agency? Not the information guild?"
"You didn't know?"
Lowering her voice gravely, she began.
"The building I set up here a few months ago isn't just an information guild..."
"......"
"...I-It's a detective agency!"
She stammered under my cold stare, now wearing a worn beret, checkered cape draped over her shoulders, and clutching an unlit cigarette.
"U-Uh..."
Blushing and shrinking, she peeked at me cautiously.
...She's adorable.
Seeing her so timid and pathetic, a stark contrast to her usual cool demeanor, made her irresistibly cute. I regretted choosing the first-floor parlor over the basement.
"Hmm..."
The rundown building made sense for a detective agency, not a guild. Why a detective agency all of a sudden?
"The duke's lady and current head running a detective agency? Isn't your head full of flowers?"
"I-I use disguise magic for clients normally!"
"That's not the point..."
Curiosity exploding, I fired questions before pausing to think.
...Serena must have a reason.
This wasn't just daytime Serena's whim. Even with wiped memories, daytime Serena was somewhat controlled by nighttime Serena.
So this play-acting was part of a larger plan... though I couldn't grasp her grand design.
But dedicating daytime activities to this agency meant it had real value.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Serena clapped and pulled out stationery.
"...What're you doing?"
She scratched her head sheepishly.
"W-Writing a letter to Perloché."
"...A letter?"
"Yes, she commissioned me."
Pointing at the pigeon on my shoulder, she continued.
"My pigeon ran away! Find it and I'll pay handsomely!"
"Coo?"
"P-Perloché's a regular. She loses pigeons often..."
Mimicking Perloché's ditzy tone, she peeked at my cold expression.
"........."
Long silence followed.
"S-Still, our agency's pretty famous! With a 100% solve rate, even high nobles..."
"No one higher than you would come."
Sighing deeply, I glared at the shrinking Serena.
"Eek..."
She flinched anxiously.
"Playing childish games like this. Pathetic."
At my cold rebuke, she mumbled tearfully,
"Th-The empress commissioned us too..."
"Enough. Take my commissions."
"...Y-Yes!"
Suppressing the cuteness of her clumsy side, I spoke coldly. She swallowed hard, eyes sparkling.
"First, investigate the church's youngest holy knight."
"Wh-Why that person..."
"None of your business. Just do it properly."
At my commanding tone, her probing gaze softened, and she nodded.
"Wh-What? She used to grill me before..."
"And why is that one here?"
Miho muttered beside her, so I frowned and asked Serena.
"Sh-She's my assistant!"
"Assistant?"
"D-Detectives need assistants as standard..."
Glancing at Miho, she continued timidly.
"She can fight in danger, heal, and thinks quick..."
"Enough. Second commission."
Cutting her off before she rambled, I darkened my expression and whispered,
"...Uncover the church's hidden secrets."
"Y-Yes!?"
Her eyes widened.
"Wh-What scope..."
"Everything."
I stood firmly.
"Good luck."
"W-Wait! Just a bit more talk..."
As she grabbed my mended pants, I said,
"...Finish well, and I'll take you on a date for a day."
"...!"
She froze, mouth agape.
"Then..."
Smiling slyly at the cute daytime Serena, I headed out, but Miho gagged disgustedly from the sofa.
"What're you looking at, human."
She glared murderously.
"Birds of a feather."
Fearing another attack, I muttered and fled the parlor, thinking,
...She really has a plan, right?
It looked like the genius duke's lady's folly, but trusting Serena, I headed to the first floor.
"M-Master..."
"Let's go, Lulu."
Leaving with bandaged Lulu, I mused inwardly,
I need some rest today...
Rest up, then hunt the remaining sub-heroines tomorrow.
......
As Frey dragged his weary body to the carriage with Lulu,
"What is this..."
Serena, still in the parlor, stared tearfully at the note in her hand.
[101 Ways to Turn a Man's Heart]
— 72nd: Appeal with a side different from your usual self.
Having lived staring only at Frey, Serena had zero dating experience and could only learn love from books.
— ...Thus, any reaction from a man means he's conscious of you. Mission success!
"Why isn't it working..."
Unaware her plan had fully succeeded, she pouted.
"Right! Date!"
She clapped and stood.
"Miho, clear all schedules. I'm heading out to handle Frey's commissions now."
"...What?"
Excited, Serena declared, and Miho frowned.
"For real? Delaying cases for a date with him?"
"Yes."
"...Even the empress's?"
"Yes."
"Haa..."
Miho sighed deeply, then asked with a scowl,
"You don't hate him or anything?"
"Why would I hate Frey?"
"...Forget it."
Realizing words were futile, Miho shook her head, sorting files before muttering,
"By the way, what was that earlier..."
Knock knock.
Someone knocked right then.
"Miss Serena, a guest."
"........."
The blind assassin announced a visitor.
"Later. Busy now. Add to the book and send them away to..."
Blinded by Frey's offer, Serena grabbed her coat, but
"I was recommended!"
"...By whom?"
As someone slipped past the assassin, she tilted her head.
"Th-This person..."
"...Perloché?"
Staring at the messily written recommendation, Serena sat quietly.
"Come in."
Creeeak...
"So, what brings you here?"
Serena eyed the guest with Miho.
"Have you..."
The robed guest began,
"...heard the rumors spreading lately?"
"What... rumors?"
Interlacing fingers,
"Rumors about the Hero."
The ring on the guest's interlaced left hand quietly gleamed.