Chapter 80

After returning to the Black-winged knights, I immediately went to report about the girl I met in the shop to Gazelle. The commander’s office inside the barracks has a short red carpet laid out, and all the desks and bookshelves are made of a dark brown walnut material. There are no extravagant decorations, but it has a calming atmosphere.

As I opened the door, Gazelle was sitting at his desk, as usual, signing documents. Beside him was Iris, who was making a serious face when I entered, but gave a charming smile when she noticed me.

“Oh, welcome back, Takumi.”

“Takumi, welcome back. It must have been cold outside, good work!”

“I’m back, both of you.”

Iris is the strategist of the Black-winged Knights, distinguished by his feminine tone. His reddish-purple hair, pale skin, and slender figure make one’s heart skip a beat, even among those of the same sex, when he flashes a smile.

As I finished reporting what happened at the perfume shop, he tilted his head, placing a finger on his chin. 

“I see. Indeed, that girl is intriguing. It’s complicated because she assumes that Gazelle and Felix didn’t develop the potion, but the annoying young lady from that perfume shop did… She’s not entirely wrong but also not entirely correct.”

Iris then gave me a meaningful look. In response, I shrugged my shoulders.

Indeed, the girl’s assumptions are not entirely correct but not entirely off the mark either. I am the one who taught the potion and elixir formulas that are now in circulation in the Kingdom of Ritzheim.

I once shared my knowledge based on “Change the World” to prevent the annihilation event of my Black-winged Knights. At that time, I had Gazelle and Felix, the commander and vice-commander of the Black-winged Knights, claim to be the discoverers of the two elixirs.

So, the girl’s statements are half-correct and half-wrong.

More importantly, she got the most crucial part—naming the culprit—completely wrong! But who would have thought she’d assume the bespectacled shop assistant is from another world…

“Anyway, I can’t promise much with only the description of a teenage girl with dark brownish-black hair and eyes… but I’ll look into it as much as I can.”

“Thank you, Iris. I’m counting on you.”

Officially, Gazelle and Felix are recognized as the developers of the potions and elixirs, even within the Knights. However, a few higher-ups like Iris suspect that I taught the two the formulas.

No one has ever verbally confirmed this; it’s an unspoken agreement not to ask. I appreciate that discretion. After all, I haven’t told anyone but Gazelle and Felix that I’m from another world.

Therefore, I couldn’t share the “she might be from another world” part when I was explaining earlier. I only said, “She doesn’t seem like a native Ritzheim citizen, probably under someone’s protection. She was well-dressed, likely cared for by someone well-off.”

If I say she’s from another world, I’d have to explain my own circumstances.

I’ve known Iris since the day I arrived in this world, and I could probably tell him… but it’s still a little scary. What if he doesn’t believe me?

Well, for now, it’s enough that Gazelle and Felix know. Just having been able to confide in them has already lifted a significant burden off my shoulders.

“I’ll get back to you if I find out anything. See you later, Takumi.”

After listening, Iris winked at me and left the office.

Now alone with Gazelle, I shared things I couldn’t say in front of Iris. However, it seemed Gazelle had already guessed—based on my fragmented narration—that she might be from another world. He didn’t look all that surprised after hearing my full account.

“I see. Indeed, that young lady does raise some questions.”

“Right? I can’t imagine the peaceful Ritzheim royal family performing a summoning ritual now. But she’s here, in this world. What could this mean…?”

“For now, as Iris mentioned, I’ll have our intelligence agents look into her. I’ll also send someone from our Knights to ‘Ingrid Perfume’ for both protection and surveillance. She’s likely to visit the shop again, based on what you’ve said.”

“Thank you, Gazelle.”

Surprisingly, he said he’d provide security for “Ingrid Perfume.”

I heaved a sigh of relief at Gazelle’s generous offer.

With that girl’s adamant attitude, it seemed rather challenging for just the bespectacled store clerk and Mars-kun to handle her. If someone from the Knights is acting as a security guard, there’s nothing to fear anymore.

“But, can you tell them not to be too rough if they do find her? I think she’s probably just anxious in an unfamiliar world.”

“I think so too.”

“Gazelle?”

“Were you anxious too, Takumi?”

Gazelle, sitting at his desk, looked intently at me with his golden eyes.

Usually, the height difference means I’m often looked down upon by him, but because he’s sitting today, our faces somehow feel closer.

My face was reflected in Gazelle’s clear eyes.

“No? I’ve always had Gazelle and Felix by my side. So, I’ve never felt anxious even once.”

“…I see.”

Well, I’ve actually thought this several times, “Am I actually going to die?” especially when facing a Drainflower or a Wyvern!

As I said this, Gazelle’s face lightened up. He reached out, gently took my left hand, and drew me closer to his waist. Then, his palms tenderly traced along my back and buttocks as if handling something fragile. As I felt his ticklish touch, I suddenly came up with an idea.

“Gazelle. How about leaving the security for ‘Ingrid Perfume’ to me?”

“Hmm?”

Gazelle’s hand stopped abruptly.

“Look, I have black hair and black eyes, right? That girl seemed to have some business with people from another world. If I, who she can instantly recognize as a fellow countryman, am there as a security guard, she might be willing to talk.”

Yeah, isn’t that a pretty good idea coming from me? She seemed distressed before, but if she calms down and we meet again, she’ll surely realize I’m Japanese and we can probably talk.

I looked at Gazelle with full confidence, but against my expectations, he frowned.

“…Gazelle?”

“No… sorry, but that’s not going to work.”

“Eh?”

“See, the young lady ran away the moment you identified yourself as a ‘member of the Black-winged Knights,’ right? She might have some reason not to want to get involved with anyone from the Knights. In that case, you’ve already shown your face to her. So, if you’re there, she might be on guard and not show up at the shop.”

I see! Yeah, now that you mention it, that’s definitely true.

To determine that, it’s best to assign someone other than me as the guard.

“Understood. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“No worries. If that girl is found, I’ll contact Takumi immediately.”

But Gazelle is truly incredible! I hadn’t even considered such a possibility!

Yeah, leaving it to Gazelle is definitely the right choice.

I gazed at Gazelle with a look of admiration. Gazelle also returned my gaze straightforwardly.

***