Favor

,”So, what’s this favor you’re asking?”

As expected of an older woman, Estelle-ssi quickly calmed down. Her uniform was slightly torn, and she had a scratch on her arm, but let’s just move past that. I explained to Estelle-ssi about the Shadow Spear sealed in the Valley of Death.

,”The Shadow Spear, huh… Hmmm, just hearing the explanation, I can see why that greedy pig would covet it.”

,”That’s right. Oink oink.”

I casually chimed in playfully, and for some reason, Estelle-ssi narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

,”You seem different somehow.”

,”In a good way?”

At my question, Estelle-ssi crossed her arms and groaned unpleasantly.

,”Your gloomy impression has brightened up a bit, so it’s good in that sense… but somehow, it’s more unpleasant.”

Should I take being called unpleasant by a masochist as a compliment? Come to think of it, Luna-ssi also said last night that I seemed happier than usual. I just thought it was because I was in good condition, but if people around me can feel it, something must have changed.

,”Okay, we just need to move the investigation team in Destin Village as is, so there shouldn’t be any big problems. If we find any clues, I’ll contact you separately.”

,”Thank you.”

At Estelle-ssi’s cool permission, I nodded with a happy smile. As expected of an older woman, she’s straightforward. But if I called Estelle-ssi ‘nuna’ or mentioned that she’s older than me, she’d probably draw her sword again, so I kept my mouth shut.

Estelle-ssi suddenly clapped her hands as if she had remembered something and searched for something in her desk drawer. What I received was a document filled with requests for information disclosure. The name of the requester also included Goat, Bella-ssi’s alias. It was only natural for the Imperial Family, which exclusively owned portals and collected taxes, to be greedy for a new type of portal.

,”There are a lot of people asking about the Lily these days. They’re asking when we’re going to release the improved portal that was mentioned at the meeting. Some people, though a minority, suspect it’s a scam.”

I stroked my chin and thought for a moment.

The improved portal is something I can make right away. But there’s no need to be so hasty, and it was actually more of a bait product for the Lily character. I wasn’t the one in a hurry, so I needed enough time to thoroughly plan for the most profitable outcome.

I paused for a moment and then asked.

,”When is the next meeting?”

,”As early as a month from now. After all, everyone is looking forward to the meeting being held soon because of the appearance of the Lily. If you’re a merchant who sells information, you wouldn’t miss the moment when the value of the sale is highest, right? Well, that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll definitely participate in the meeting, so it’s okay if you don’t participate in the meeting. Just for once.”

I hesitated for a moment and then slowly shook my head. I was planning to buy time, but I wasn’t planning to miss the meeting.

,”We need to add fuel to the fire before the rumors die down. Announce that I will be attending the next meeting as the Lily. I will also prepare the improved portal to be revealed at the meeting.”

I will reveal the improved portal, but I don’t plan to show everything. It’s a place to prove that what I’m saying is true. I can drag out the time and wait for the most attractive buyer to appear.

At my words, Estelle-ssi nodded diligently with a happy expression. After all, it’s more beneficial for Modest if the Lily participates. From the guild leader’s point of view, she can’t help but be happy. Well, since I’m unilaterally receiving money, I should help where I can to at least have some conscience.

Estelle-ssi, who was excited, continued to talk about the Lily. As expected of being the center of rumors, there were many who wanted to buy information about the Lily. Through a long conversation with Estelle-ssi, I adjusted how much information about the Lily to reveal.

,”This pig…! I like you for the first time in a long time!”

As Estelle-ssi nodded with satisfaction, I, who had been waiting for an opportunity, subtly asked for a favor.

,”Then, can I ask you for another favor?”

,”Ah, I immediately feel bad… You’re like a clueless pig.”

Estelle-ssi, who had become serious, looked at me as if asking what the favor was. I cleared my throat for no reason and said in a serious voice.

,”Please find a way to enhance the power of [Destruction] that I mentioned before.”

Just because I obtained the Shadow Spear didn’t mean I was going to abandon the Spear of Destruction. I wouldn’t use dual spears, but the Spear of Destruction is a spear with a special power to destroy magic and barriers. It has advantages that I can’t give up. I was planning to change weapons depending on the situation.

I used the librarian to search for information about Destruction in the library’s forbidden section, but I found nothing. Then, I had no choice but to trust the power of the world’s best information guild.

As if she had noticed my thoughts, Estelle-ssi gave me a look of amusement.

,”If you keep being so greedy, you’ll get into trouble? I clearly warned you that the spear is a cursed object.”

I remember. That it’s a cursed spear that leads its owner to ruin. But right now, I need a tool to make up for my lack of skill.

,”Even if I get into trouble, I have to take what I can.”

Estelle-ssi sighed and nodded.

,”Okay. I’ll look into that too. If you’re a pig with a conscience, you don’t have any more favors to ask, right?”

At Estelle-ssi’s appearance, crossing her arms and glaring as if daring me to say one more word, I obediently nodded.

,”Thank you for your help.”

As if she didn’t even want to answer, Estelle-ssi waved her hand, and I got up from my chair, holding onto the desk. Just as I was about to say goodbye to Estelle-ssi, someone knocked on the door. The person who opened the door was a stranger wearing an animal mask who had guided me here. Looking closely, it was a cute puppy mask, no different from a cat’s natural enemy.

,”What is it? I told you not to come unless it’s urgent when there are guests!”

When Estelle-ssi said in an annoyed voice, the person wearing the puppy mask silently placed the paper on the desk and left. It was a sight of someone who had already adapted to Estelle-ssi’s tantrums.

,”What is this….”

Estelle-ssi muttered and checked the paper, then trailed off. After reading the paper silently, Estelle-ssi looked up at me.

,”It’s the Order.”

At Estelle-ssi’s words, my eyes widened. After reading the paper that Estelle-ssi handed me, I sighed and ran a hand over my face. The Order was requesting information from Estelle-ssi about Roel and the people around him.

Rumors that the youngest Transcender had appeared spread throughout the continent. It was only natural for the Order to be interested. Especially if they were opponents who had clashed several times.

,”I’ve already sent reports about Roel several times. But this time it’s different. It’s not just a simple report, but a detailed request for information about the relationships around him….”

,”That means the sparks could fly to me.”

When I took my eyes off the paper and looked at Estelle-ssi, she nodded and said.

,”The Order likes methods that minimize damage. They prefer to attack those around the Transcender rather than attacking the Transcender directly. It’s easier to deal with an opponent who has lost their reason after losing family and friends, and they don’t avoid fighting the Order. It’s also easy to trap them.”

I bit my lip and said with a desperate feeling.

,”If a member of Confession fought me… is there a chance of winning?”

,”Hmm… you can say there’s almost none. The enemies that Confession faces are mostly Transcenders. An academy freshman can’t compete.”

As if she sensed my uneasy expression, Estelle-ssi said as if comforting me.

,”It’s okay, you scaredy-cat. Confession is busy with the Pope’s orders right now, and there are vacancies, so they can’t move. And would Confession move just to catch you? Unless they’re trying to catch Roel, Confession won’t come. Stop being so scared~”

I sighed and nodded. The important thing is how far to comply with the Order’s request. Together with Estelle-ssi, I wrote a report about Roel to be submitted to the Order through another long discussion. As Roel’s younger brother, information about me was inevitably filled in the report.

As expected of being the world’s best information guild, they seemed to have found out even the most trivial things. It was even written that I have two moles on my right forearm. As I was reviewing the report to be sent to the Order for the last time, I read about myself with interest and asked a question.

,”I hate strawberries?”

,”Didn’t you not eat the dessert with strawberries last time, and you refused the strawberry smoothie too? You said you hated it because it made you nauseous. Are you already getting dementia? Or is your brain so small that you can’t remember?”

Did that happen? I scratched my head, but I couldn’t remember anything. I don’t think I’ve ever hated strawberries, but it’s not important, so I decided to move on.

,”This should be enough.”

,”Yeah, the Order will be satisfied too. I wanted to hide as much about you as possible, but they might think it’s strange that there’s not much information about Roel’s younger brother. It can’t be helped.”

I nodded as if I understood. Estelle-ssi handed the report to the person wearing the puppy mask and asked in a voice mixed with a yawn.

,”Haaam, even if Roel becomes a Transcender, there’s no problem in the future, right?”

At Estelle-ssi’s question, I nodded without hesitation.

,”There’s no problem. Because it’s Roel.”

Roel is a munchkin protagonist who always thinks of others and tries to be a hero for everyone.

If it’s the Roel I know, I can trust him.

Because he’s someone who will never give up no matter what trials come his way.