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Chapter 17 – The cat meets a noble
Rise and shine.
Now that I think of it, it’s only the eighth day since I arrived in this world.
And I’m already supposed to not only meet with a noble, but do something for them.
Am I ready?
Heck no.
I expect messing up and angering the entire noble industry…
They have an industry, right…?
Well, whatever.
I’ll just do my best to be careful!
Even though the other side is a noble…
I got out of the bed and dressed myself.
Then, I went downstairs and had my classic bread with some fruits.
I didn’t forget to tell the inn lady I would be leaving the city today.
She kindly returned the money I paid for the extra nights I wouldn’t spend here.
I said goodbye and left the inn for the adventurer’s guild.
As soon as I entered the guild, a very butler-like old man came to my view.
He stood right next to the entrance with his arms crossed.
When he saw me, he walked up to me and spoke.
“Good day, young lady. Would you happen to be Nina?”
Yes, that’s me.
Are you that someone who is supposed to pick me up?
“Hello. Yes, I’m Nina.”
“My pleasure to meet you.”
He bowed with a hand on his chest.
“My name is Rodrick. I am a butler of the Heinzel family. I am here to guide you to my lord’s mansion.”
Yep, he’s the escort.
I must say, I didn’t expect it to be a butler.
Well, never mind.
Let’s follow him.
But I’ll need to first get that quest document or whatever, right?
“I have already picked up the quest agreement form. Shall we be on our way?”
…
Hey.
He just totally read my intention.
Are all butlers like that?
“… sure.”
“Then, let me lead the way.”
We walked out of the guild.
It seemed like Rodrick’s presence discouraged a lot of people from approaching me.
Nice!
No more annoyances!
Good job Mr. butler!
Soon, we arrived at the mansion.
It’s one I’ve already seen when I toured the city.
But, it’s surprisingly small for a noble’s mansion.
Two stories high with a small garden surrounding it.
The building itself is only as wide as the inn I stayed at.
Well, okay…
I guess it’s pretty big.
But it’s not like one of these grand epic megamansions I had in mind.
The butler beckoned to the guards near the gate and they opened it for us.
We walked through and entered the mansion.
After that, we walked upstairs and stopped in front of one of the doors.
Rodrick knocked on it three times.
“Sir, I brought the adventurer with me.”
“Come in.”
A voice came from inside, prompting us to enter.
Rodrick opened the door and let me inside.
When I entered, I spotted a slightly obese man sitting behind a desk.
He had a mustache and the top of his head was balding.
Oh no…
A fat noble with a mustache?
Those are pretty much always the villains.
He got up and walked over to me.
“So you are the rumored girl imitating a beast person, huh?”
Wha-!
Is that something you say to a person you met for the first time?!
Yep, he’s definitely evil!
…
No, calm down.
I didn’t come here to cause a scene.
And I mean, he’s kind of right…
“So, what’s your name?”
Don’t you usually say your name first before asking that?
“I’m Nina. You?”
“… you don’t even know me?”
Nope!
Not the slightest of clues!
…
I’m not being rude right now, am I?
If he’s evil, he will totally just get offended now.
“My name is Aldrick Heinzel, remember it.”
“… okay.”
He didn’t get offended!
Maybe he isn’t evil, after all?
“Well then, Rodrick. What’s your judgment?”
Hmm?
Judgment?
What is this about?
“Well, it’s… difficult. She’s either absolutely perfect, or the worst possible choice.”
???
What are they talking about?!
I don’t like being left out when it concerns me!
“See? Even now, I can’t tell whether it’s an act or not.”
WHAT ACT?!
EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
“That is true, she really does seem oblivious.”
THEN HOW ABOUT YOU START EXPLAINING ALREADY?!
AAAARGH!
…
Yep, I got angry.
And yep, I almost stabbed them.
But, no, I didn’t do it in the end.
Well…
I DID kind of activate cat soul and hissed like an angry cat…
But all was forgiven.
… I hope.
Well, at least they explained what they were talking about.
Apparently, Rodrick tried to gauge my abilities on our way to the mansion.
Simply by observing my movements and habits, he came to the conclusion that…
I was a complete newbie when it came to combat.
Yep, absolutely correct.
But that didn’t make sense to him, since I was one of the people who defeated the werewolf.
So he thought there were only two possibilities.
1. I’m merely acting to be an inexperienced girl to hide my true abilities.
2. I really am inexperienced and the werewolf thing was a fraud.
He didn’t expect it to be option number three.
3. I’m inexperienced, but strong nonetheless.
Well, it’s mostly my clothes that make me strong…
And it’s also because cat soul allows me to fight without hesitation while remaining myself in non-combat situations.
“So a transformation skill… I see. In that case, you really are perfect for this.”
Or so he said.
Well, I read the quest form, but most of the details weren’t mentioned.
Just that a strong person who seems weak is needed.
And that I would board a carriage going to another city pretending to be harmless to attract the attacker.
So in a way, I guess I really am perfect for it.
“Well, let me explain the details now.”
Here we go.
“The truth is, my daughter’s life is in danger.”
Huh…
That got serious real quick.
“I still don’t know who, but someone is after her life.”
Aldrick crossed his arms and continued.
“On our way here, a large pack of wolves attacked us. Which wouldn’t be all that strange… However, their behavior wasn’t natural. They only aimed for my daughter with no regards to their own survival.”
That’s… awfully reminiscent of the werewolf summons, isn’t it?
“Moreover, while my guards dealt with these wolves, I spotted a figure in a tree’s shadow. And just before the wolves were dealt with, that figure ran away.”
How suspicious…
Did that person control these wolves?
“But it didn’t stop there. When we arrived to Buanna, we heard the news of a werewolf appearing just the night before.”
He dropped his eyes to the floor.
“And then… the day after the werewolf hunt ended…”
Hey, what’s with that dark look on your face…?
“Somehow… a wolf got into the mansion and invaded my daughter’s room.”
What?!
Don’t tell me she-
“Fortunately, the guards managed to kill the beast and save her.”
I see…
So she’s fine.
“But that one was the last straw… I want to catch whoever is behind this!”
Yeah…
Who the heck sends rabid dogs after a young girl like that?!
A creepy stalker like that needs to be punished!
“I want to catch him and make him pay for what he did!”
That’s right!
“And for that… you’ll disguise yourself as my daughter to lure him out and then we catch him!”
Yeah!
…
Wait, what?
“Since you’re more or less the same height, we just need to give you a wig and some similar clothes.”
W-wait a second now!
“And when that scoundrel appears again, we catch him!”
“W-wait…!”
“… is something wrong?”
Yes, there is!
“I… I can’t take this off…”
I grabbed the Kat dress and pulled on it.
“Huh…? Why not…? Is it… cursed?”
“S… something like that.”
My response brought a frown to his face.
It seems like this ruined his entire plan…
Well, I CAN take it off, but…
I’ll only end up turning into the weak girl that I look like.
And even if I did try to disguise as his daughter…
Would the culprit buy it?
And even if he did, there’s no guarantee he would participate personally like in the first attack.
This plan is just full of holes…
“Then… may I suggest an alternative?”
Rodrick spoke.
“How about miss Nina pretends to be misstress’ friend?”
“And let Deliah be used as bait anyway?!”
“Excuse me, sir… but if it’s about misstress’ safety, leaving her in the mansion might be just as dangerous…”
“T-that’s…”
“So why not have miss Nina be her personal guard under the guise of being her friend?”
Huh…
That does sound like a much better plan.
…
But, wait a second.
“… but it’s still impossible. Doesn’t the entire town know about her? The culprit is bound to know her as well.”
Yeah…
That’s the one problem with that.
“That’s right…”
Rodrick fell into thought for a second.
“But actually, that shouldn’t be a problem either. The rumor is that a girl wearing clothing that imitates a beast person defeated the werewolf. But isn’t it possible to easily hide those beast traits?”
Oh yeah…
He’s right.
I don’t need to take it off.
Just cover it with something.
Maybe a hat for the ears and keep the tail coiled under the dress…?
Aldrick thought for a second before finally coming to a conclusion.
“Alright. That might work.”
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