There was no need for an answer. Fligel, who was faced with an unprecedented emergency, immediately threw down his kitchen knife and went up to the restaurant. Ash quickly followed him.

The guests in question were elegantly seated at the table. They greeted Fligel and Ash warmly.

“Fligel Knight, you’re finally coming.”

“Hey, Ash. Long time no see.”

✠

The grilled chicken lemon was served on a luxuriously set table, showing off its delicious appearance. A conversation with delicious food, the table setting at the negotiation table is excellent.

“Mmm, it’s delicious.”

“Eat lots, Ailet.”

"you also."

While Reed and I were happily cooking chicken, Fligel finished verifying the documents proving ownership of the building. A deep sigh almost pierced through his mask.

“What brings you here?”

“Didn’t the employee next to you tell you? I told him that I was here to request the demolition of an illegal facility.”

I answered calmly and put a piece of chicken in my mouth. As the lemon-scented juice coated my tongue, I felt a sense of happiness.

“I think there is a misunderstanding about illegal facilities. There is no such thing.......”

While I was munching on my food, Reed stopped holding his fork and knife and spoke.

“Earthquake.”

“......!”

A short, bold word. It was the initiation word of a high-level magic that would cause an earthquake.

“This is crazy!”

“No! There are colleagues in the basement!”

The moment when Ash and the mustachioed employee became thoughtful and screamed.

“There is no need to write.......”

Reed spat it out calmly and cut up the chicken with elegant hands.

'I got hit!'

Ash and the moustache employee were frustrated after being fooled. Fligel, who was an Auror Master, seemed not to have been fooled, and sighed softly at his subordinates' mistake.

"Reed said nonchalantly.

“While I am the Lord of the Tower, the Republic of Magic will become stricter in its adherence to the law. It would be best to demolish it as soon as possible.”

If you're curious, leave the room.

“Huh.... Don’t do that and make a deal. From this moment on, we, the Night Eagle Guild, will never accept any requests that would harm you.”

“Harmful?”

Reed's knife scraped lightly across the plate, a small dissonance deliberately intruded into the perfect dining etiquette. That alone caused the temperature around him to drop.

A cold smile appeared on the handsome man's lips.

“If we need to reduce personnel, then do so.”

“.......”

“No, you want us to just disband?”

“.......”

The quiet, maddening gaze that I only occasionally see pops out like a passive skill when dealing with others.

Feeling like he wasn't communicating with Reid, Fligel turned his head in the direction where I was sitting.

“Then how about a commission? Five people you wish to disappear from this world. Anyone can do it, as long as you tell me their names.”

But I didn't have time to answer.

“You should ask me for such favors, Aylet Rodelin.”

“.......”

“I can do better, you know?”

“......Well, I guess I know.”

In the previous timeline, Reed not only secretly took care of the magic tower, but also framed the Night Eagle Guild. Could there be a more clever way to handle things?

At this point, it seemed like Fligel had decided to change his strategy slightly.

I pushed Ash, who had been placed behind me, forward. The quick-witted guy begged with a pitiful face.

“Sister, is there really nothing you want?”

“There isn’t any.”

“Really, really?”

“Well, well.”

“Please, think about it. I’m sure it will happen.”

It was a good time to pretend to be moved by pity. I pretended to think carefully before letting the words slip away.

“Come to think of it, Night Eagle had a sister guild?”

“Yes! You mean the Dark Information Guild?”

“Yeah. Maybe you can help me.”

Fligel's eyes became sharp.

“Could it be that the purpose from the beginning was to connect with the information guild?”

"yes."

“.......”

Even though half of his face was covered by a mask, you could see the look of frustration on his face as if he was saying, 'But why!'

Of course, we had our own reasons.

“Because Reed wants to vent his anger.”

“.......”

If the final plot was to end at this level, wouldn't it be pretty cute? You should be thankful.

He changed his tone to a more serious one and sorted out his story.

“The connection is not necessary right now. Just promise me that you will write a letter of introduction in the name of Master Fligel Knight later when I tell you.”

“So, are you turning a blind eye to illegal structures?”

“As long as you don’t cause any major accidents.”

“Is there a separate period of tolerance?”

“While Reed is at the top of the tower.”

"okay."

Since it's common sense, there's no need to adjust it too much. Instead, there was something I wanted to add separately.

“And one more thing, I would like to hire one guild member privately.”

When I pointed at Ash with my eyes, Fligel put some strength into his eyes.

“He is my precious direct disciple. You must not do anything bad.”

“Isn’t there anything more dangerous than assassination?”

“I see. What kind of work do you want me to do?”

“Escort. Our cardinal is weak and I’m worried about leaving him alone.”

If there's anyone who's bothering Hilde while I'm away, I'm going to have them all written down.

Shadow Escort was one of the services provided by the Assassin's Guild, so there was nothing particularly to be concerned about. Fligel nodded in agreement.

“Master, am I being sold?”

“For the survival of the guild.”

“Ugh.”

The conversation ended with Ash pretending to cry and having him write a contract. It was a negotiation as clean as a plate that had been emptied cleanly.

✠

By the time we left the restaurant, the commercial district of Gehenid ​​had become more lively. Stalls selling dinner were set up here and there, and people were bustling about.

“Space transfer stone.......”

“Reed, I need to take a walk to help with digestion. Let’s walk back.”

I deliberately crossed the crowded market streets. The market in Gehenid ​​was as bustling and colorful as any town festival.

I was excited because there was so much to see, but Reed had a look of disgust even in his expressionless face.

I guess I'll have to appease him. There happened to be a large lollipop candy on display at the stall, showing off its bright colors. I bought two and handed one to Reid.

“I’ll buy you this. It’ll cheer you up.”

“Isn’t that just what you wanted to eat?”

“How did you know?”

He nodded vigorously, licking the round, flat candy bar with his tongue. Reed took what I gave him, but instead of eating it, he put it straight into the subspace.

“Do you hate people that much?”

It's an obvious question, but I asked it anyway.

"well."

It's a surprisingly vague answer. Is it because he's not aware of it? I was curious about his honest thoughts, so I tried to lead him in a little.

“Well, considering what you’ve been through, it’s only natural that you’d develop a hatred for humans.”

“Misanthropy.......”

He paused for a moment, as {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} if savoring the thought. He stood against the flow of people like a stone stuck in water, and looked around.

A worker moving a load, a merchant soliciting customers, a woman buying a lot of groceries, a young man helping an old woman who dropped something, a child holding onto his mother's hand...

The diverse crowd of people living their own lives create the world of this place and this moment. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Reed said firmly.

“I am not a misanthrope, Ailet Rodelin.”

“No?”

“It’s world-hating.”

“.......”

The world is a somewhat wider and larger concept. I could vaguely understand what Reed meant.

Reid wasn't in the mood to talk any further, and I didn't want to delve too deeply into it either. Talking about topics I didn't like only made me feel worse.

“I thought about it, Reid.”

"what?"

“I just had a meal, but I feel like something is missing. I think I should have dessert.”

“What is that candy you are biting into now?”

“This is a mouthful.”

Since the current location is a square, there were many street food stalls. Among them, my choice was the popular fruit crepe.

The line was quite long, but the cream and strawberries in the thin dough, rolled like a cone, seemed worth the wait.

“I’ll buy that. Reed, you wait here for a moment.”

“.......”

He instinctively opened his mouth, but he couldn't bring himself to stand in line with them, so he kept his mouth shut.

“I’ll be right back!”

I stood at the end of the line and checked the lead.

The final villain was obedient and stood quietly in front of the fountain as I had told him to. The tall, handsome man standing motionless was like a statue, pleasing to the eye.

'Look, my gods. Reed is spreading his beauty all over the place, giving the passersby the feeling of appreciating a master's masterpiece. How can this not be counted as a good deed?'

[The 'balanced cynic' tells you to stop whining and just pick a crepe instead.]

'yes.'

Agnes helped me choose the menu.

<For Reed, I'd like a crepe with crushed black cookies in ice cream.>

“Oh, I like it. The coexistence of black and white suits him.”

<No, I think a weak mentality is just like a broken cookie.>

Finally, it was my turn. The stall owner was making the strawberry crepes and Oreo crepes I had ordered.

<Hey, Eyelet.>

Agnes' call is suspicious. It's not exactly an emergency, but it seems like a minor, unexpected incident has occurred.

I instinctively looked back to where the lead was.