“I’ve come to the slums on a secret mission.”
After saying this, Krishna sat down at the dining table in the back with a natural motion.
Zenos was worried that if he pushed her away too strongly, it might lead to unwanted scrutiny, so he reluctantly decided to at least hear her out.
Just in case, he had asked Lily to hang the yellow flag on the roof to avoid any encounters with the demi-humans.
It’s a signal to existing customers to stay away due to the unusual situation.
“By the way, is it okay to talk about a secret mission to a complete stranger?”
“The secret mission is to find and capture a certain person.”
“You started talking without hesitation.”
Is this one also the type that doesn’t listen to people…?
Krishna continued, expressionless.
“It can’t be helped. It doesn’t seem to be an opponent I can find easily. To some extent, I must disclose information or I won’t be able to get your cooperation.”
“I never said I would cooperate.”
“Cooperating with the Imperial Guard is a citizen’s duty. Besides, you’re retired and have plenty of free time, right?”
“Well, yeah…”
He couldn’t exactly say he was working as a black-market healer, so he had to nod vaguely.
“Apparently, the person I’m looking for is quite the individual.”
“Oh, really…?”
“But they haven’t been caught in the Imperial Guard’s net at all. This means they’re likely hiding in an inconspicuous place, like you. It’s said that ‘it takes a snake to know a snake’s path,’ right?
Translator’s Note
In case it’s not obvious, “It takes a snake to know a snake’s path” Ja no michi wa hebi (蛇の道は蛇) is a Japanese proverb meaning it takes someone with similar experience to understand someone else’s actions/methods. Basically, “it takes one to know one”.
Since you’re in a similar situation, I thought you might have heard something.”
“Who exactly are you looking for?”
Krishna leaned in close to Zenos, and said in a hushed voice, as if checking their surroundings.
“The ‘Mediator’, the person who ended the sub-human conflict in the slums.”
“Gofuh.”
Zenos spewed out the tea he had in his mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing…”
He wiped the table, quietly holding his head, and Camilla’s face popped out from the ceiling board.
She had an incredibly excited expression. Damn it, this girl…!
Krishna clenched her fist tightly.
“I thought it was impossible to end the demi-human conflict, but the slums have indeed changed completely. As a guardian of order, I cannot ignore a person with such influence.”
“I-I see, calm down.”
“But the demi-humans won’t talk, even when threatened. Apparently, this person is also skilled in controlling people’s minds. Such actions can only be described as the work of a devil’s minion.”
“A devil’s minion…”
He’s just a humble black market healer, but he’s being described so terribly.
“In any case, I must find the ‘Mediator,’ even if I have to search every nook and cranny.”
“Couldn’t you just not bother looking for them…”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Zenos cleared his throat.
“No… I mean, maybe that person doesn’t want to be in the public eye, and would rather not stand out, and I think it’s best to leave them alone.”
“Could it be that you know the ‘Mediator’!”
“There’s no way I’d know them. It’s just a hunch, HAHAHA…”
Zenos’s hollow laughter echoed in the room, facing Krishna’s stone-hard expression. Behind her were Lily, with a pale and flustered face, and Camilla, with puffed-up cheeks trying desperately to hold back laughter.
It was quite a hellish situation.
“I cannot simply leave them be. They are a powerful figure who has the power to unite the slums. They could eventually become the leader of a rebel faction and a threat to the nation.”
When Krishna spoke in a grave tone, Lily suddenly interjected from the side.
“I think…that person probably isn’t thinking about anything so grand.”
“…What do you mean?”
“That person…is a bit obsessed with money, but I think they really just don’t want to see people getting hurt in front of them.”
“Lily…”
He wasn’t sure if that was a criticism or praise.
It wasn’t far off the mark—
The day when he was a child.
In the pouring rain.
From his mud-covered hands.
The feeling of a life slipping away resurfaced in Zenos’s mind.
Krishna was silent for a moment, then stared intently at Lily with her blue eyes.
“Could it be that the elf child knows about the ‘Mediator’?”
“I-I-I don’t know. Lily doesn’t, kn-kn-know anything.”
Lily looked away and started whistling awkwardly.
Is she bad at lying?
“…I know it won’t be easy to even grasp their shadow, as they are a powerful figure in the underworld.”
Good, she’s convinced.
He’s not just a shadow; the real thing is right in front of her.
Ah… this is bad. Camilla is about to burst out laughing.
Before the wraith could explode, Zenos hurriedly stood up.
“Well, that’s that, so the conversation is over. I’ll show you the way to the city, so please leave soon.”
“Why are you rushing me?”
“You have an important mission, right? You shouldn’t have time to waste on someone like me.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Krishna stood up reluctantly, turned around, and said, “Then, I apologize for disturbing you.”
Zenos sighed in relief.
He was exhausted, but it seemed like she was finally leaving.
But, Krishna, who was heading for the door, suddenly stopped.
“By the way…why is there a bed here?”
Her already low voice seemed to drop another level.
There’s a patient bed in the entrance room.
Because it’s an under-the-table business, the interior isn’t really designed like a clinic, but it’s certainly an unusual place for a bedroom. Has she figured out he’s a black-market healer?
Zenos immediately thought of an excuse.
“Oh, that’s a spare bed, and I was going to throw it away, so I put it there.”
“What was that…?”
Krishna slowly turned around. Zenos slightly lowered his posture and braced himself.
“Then, if you don’t mind, could you let me use this bed?”
“…Huh?”
“Actually, I was having trouble finding a base of operations. It’s far from home to commute to the slums for investigation, and since I’m on a secret mission, it would be conspicuous to stay at an inn in the city. But this place is close to the slums and completely inconspicuous. It’s the perfect base for my investigation.”
“I refuse.”
“Why?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
“If it’s spare, it shouldn’t be a big loss for you, right? Of course, I’ll pay you a fee from my investigation expenses.”
Krishna pressed closer to Zenos.
“Or, is there some reason why it would be inconvenient for me to stay, even though you’re retired?”
It’s nothing but inconvenient. He couldn’t exactly say that.
The Imperial Guard, the guardians of the royal capital, were behind Krishna. He couldn’t afford to refuse carelessly and attract their attention.
He wanted to spend an hour thinking about where he went wrong, but reflection could wait.
For now, he would let her stay for just today, and in the meantime, he had to come up with a solution.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Zenos. I will definitely find and capture the root of all evil, the ‘Mediator.’ Until then, I’m sorry, but please bear with me.”
He nodded reluctantly, and Krishna held out her hand with a straight gaze.
And so, the “Mediator” Zenos was upgraded from a devil’s minion to the root of all evil.
“And so, as always, the number of troublesome women in the clinic continued to increase…”
A/N: The last line is Camilla’s narration…!