The best thing about the Threefold Empire is that it doesn’t have an annoying rainy season. With the prospects of a dry and refreshing summer just around the corner, I had almost stopped worrying about my client.
Word does come through from time to time. The magical communication methods through which Eliza receives her self-study curriculum remain active, and her living expenses and necessary costs are always neatly placed on the table, so she is certainly alive.
Alive, yes.
But it is still unclear exactly what her situation is. Still, that noble Lord Raizenitz is out there breathing in such pleasant air means he must surely be in some wildly serious trouble.
In my mind, I’ve been hosting my own Derby, imagining Lady Agrippina’s current situation and assessing the probabilities of various scenarios.
ⅰ. She’s being lectured by some important personage for behaving too extravagantly. 1.12x odds.
ⅱ. Relatives from her homeland have come to visit, embroiling her in family disputes regarding marriage or the like. 1.75x odds.
ⅲ. She’s been approached for a national project and has been cooped up. 3.6x odds.
And so forth, though personally, I’m putting my money on ⅱ. I’d absolutely love for that troublesome woman to be saddled with a wedding collar and calmed down by someone. Picture her wearing matrimonial robes with a face twisted as if she’d crushed a thousand bitter insects—it would definitely be a memory that would linger, providing both laughter and intimidation material.
Of course, whether there exists a man in this world capable of handling her is highly questionable.
Putting aside these poor jokes, after using up my stock of pieces, I’ve been doing mainly odd jobs from the job board, but with the stock finally coming back, it’s time to reopen the store after quite a long while.
Now, the slightly cheeky色情 military series I made—simply consisting of pieces of women in provocative poses—sold out in an instant. Subsequently, I’ve received so many requests for similar pieces featuring different races that the womenfolk have been giving me rather sharp looks, as if to say, “Men, whether German or otherwise, are all the same…” It stings like stepping on a 1D4.
Putting aside the mental damage or social judgment attacks, the business is off to a smooth start. Though not every day, with this, my monthly income reaches about 20 Libra, proving the old saying that skills can indeed be life-saving. Reflecting on this brings back memories of my father repeatedly advising me to focus on my studies, saying it would always be helpful, and this was certainly something I could agree with even in my previous life when academic credentials could often be burdensome.
After completing around six matches and feeling my brain get a bit tired that evening, I stretched my stiff muscles, preparing to close the shop. But even with closing time imminent, she didn’t come. Not for new pieces, not for a chess match—she just didn’t.
Though we didn’t have any particular personal connection, and the fact that I hadn’t been open for business for a while certainly explained her absence, it was undeniably true that I had been expecting to experience her trademark challenging style of play. Despite things going well—earning around 5 Libra alone from the sexy army series—I did feel a bit disappointed.
Given the tendency of most species in the Imperial Capital to be diurnal, as the sun began to set, the market stalls began dispersing one by one. Following their lead, I also decided to close up. It’s an uncomplicated process, with just a simple table and chairs, along with a box containing the entire set of pieces.
Well then, after stashing away the earnings and tools, perhaps I could take Eliza to the public baths. Since I’ve earned well today, going to a somewhat finer establishment wouldn’t be out of the question.
Feeling the pleasant weight of the coins in my pocket, I took a shortcut that led me to a narrow alleyway. Suddenly, an unfamiliar sound struck my ears. The streets away from the market were eerily quiet, and the sound seemed to be coming not from nearby but rather… from above. The sound of constant screeching accompanied by occasional sharp cracks could only mean one thing: tiles on the rooftops were being trampled.
Needless to say, walking on rooftops in the Imperial Capital isn’t customary. While agile Rat People or Winged Beings with innate magical capabilities may sometimes use rooftops as shortcuts, they generally avoid damaging tiles because they risk being reprimanded by the guards.
Though one can understand why assassins-in-disguise might use rooftops in places where tall residential buildings are densely packed, such behavior is rather bothersome. Roof tiles can be surprisingly expensive, and the repairs can be high due to the need for special high-altitude work fees, so one’s wallet might end up getting roughed up.
That said, anyone rushing around on a rooftop is inevitably wrapped in some kind of trouble. Whether it’s gang rivalries or assassins trying to eliminate each other, such entanglements are guaranteed to yield no profit, so it’s best just to stay far away.
Fortunately, the sound was only being heard from a block ahead. At this distance, keeping quiet would let it pass by easily. I hid in the shadow of a wooden crate by the roadside and prepared to wait for the footsteps to fade away.
Just as I cautiously peeked out to observe the situation… the footsteps were coming towards me. Either my prayer to not have them come my way was only partially granted…
The sound seemed to emanate straight from the diagonal building across. At this rate, it looked like the figure would leap across my alleyway and land on the opposite building. Good, that’s fine; just get it over with….
Then, the cataclysmic sound of shattering tiles rang out. The buildings in the Imperial Capital are maintained with public funds for scenic appeal, but the roofs of structures off the main streets tend to be neglected due to budgetary reasons. Some roofs have indeed deteriorated over the years.
The person on the roof just wasn’t lucky today either. At the moment of the critical leap, one of the tiles they stepped on likely cracked due to degradation…
The sound of shattering tiles, scattering debris, and the shadow falling against the backdrop of the setting sun filtering through the dim alley—
Ah, that’s a deadly fall.
As I watched the shadow fall headfirst—since the human body typically has more weight in the head unless intentionally controlled—I instinctively started casting the spell “Invisible Hand.” The distance was around thirty meters, well within my range. Mobilizing all available hands, I positioned them to support the critical points—shoulders, knees, waist—preventing any injury. Rather than slamming into a sudden stop, I gradually decelerated the fall until it was safe to land.
The tactile feedback through the simulated touch was soft and enticingly alluring. It was clear: the figure was indeed a fully blossomed woman.
There’s no other way around it! Her physical age is equivalent to a second-year middle schooler!
No, no, no distractions! Focus. What am I doing here? True, it’s not something I’d want to see—a dead body fallen from the sky—but getting involved in obvious trouble is something I should absolutely avoid. The incident at the Magic Palace should have driven this point home quite clearly by now.
“Eh… why…?”
The shadow, gently placed on the ground, was feeling her body in confusion, realizing she was unscathed.
And I also found myself surprised and confused.
The familiar voice, the known uniform, the moon ornament glittering in the fading light…
The figure that had fallen from the sky was a regular customer, a Priest of the Night Shadow God.
“What… what are you doing…?”
I instinctively stepped out from my hiding place and called to her.
“You’re from the chess stall… what are you doing here?”
“Rather, that’s my line. What were you doing on the rooftop? You were perilously close to dying from a fall.”
“It’s… rather, did you… did you save me?”
She observed me carefully, with a hint of suspicion.
Indeed, my appearance doesn’t suggest someone who could rescue someone falling from a height. Clad in a simple linen tunic and pants I’d brought from my hometown, there were no immediate visual cues that I had magical capabilities on standby.
However, I seemed to lack the time to explain in detail. The sound of footsteps on tiles was approaching. Whoever had been chasing her had finally caught up.
Now, I had three options before me.
First, pretend nothing happened and dash off. This would certainly sever our connection, but it would likely be the most peaceful option.
Second, hand her over to the pursuers for a bit of profit. Though this would sever not just our connection but also invite significant trouble, the threat to my life would be relatively low. Unless the witnesses weren’t meant to live…
Third… Oh, come on! Romance aside, this is the only right choice! What kind of man would I be if I didn’t help a girl being chased?
“Wait, wha—”
I grabbed her hand, approached the nearest door, and activated the “Invisible Hand” spell.
Thanks to the multiple add-ons I had applied, including the “Third Hand” add-on that grants tactile sense to the typically senseless “Invisible Hand,” it’s a spell I consider highly effective despite being in need of updates according to my personal opinion.
The ability to unlock simple door bolts purely by touch is invaluable.
“Hurry up, in here.”
“Uh… uh-huh…”
With the door suddenly opening, the mysterious chess stall man who never gave an explanation, and the inexplicable survival all together, the priest stepped into the dim, uninhabited space in confusion. As a precaution, I stayed at the door to see if the pursuers were still investigating.
The footsteps approaching were considerably lighter and accompanied by the soft sound of shuffling tiles, informing me that the pursuer was far from amateurish. They were trained professionals used to running on uneven terrain, not ordinary folks.
“There’s a trail of broken tiles! Over here!”
“There’s no sign! They might have descended to the alleyway, search carefully!!”
“Damn, spread out!! Surround and block them off!!”
There were multiple pursuers. Upon careful listening, I could discern at least five distinct sets of footsteps. Five seasoned ones at that—whoever she encountered must have done something incredible. Though it could also be that she possesses something they want.
One of the footsteps drew near, judging based on the broken tiles ahead, and the pursuer lightly leapt down from the rooftop edge utilizing protrusions and decorations. With almost no sound, they landed effortlessly in the alleyway.
Their tall, flexible figure flipped gracefully. Their attire, plain yet well-tailored, complemented a simple dagger they carried at their belt—a testament to the Imperial Capital’s prohibition on swords. Everything about them radiated their high status as a trusted servant of some dignitary.
A superior retainer capable of performing duties ranging from serving meals to protection.
They approached me, who was pretending to idly stand in front of the door, subtly dispersing a pleasant aroma of incense—not overly intrusive but enough to catch attention. Their bobbed chestnut hair framed a sharp face, which looked even more severe at this moment. Any weak-hearted child nearby might start crying.
“You there, can I have a word?”
“Uh… what is it?”
My act of a confused passerby witnessing a sudden descent from the sky was flawless. It wasn’t because I’d had experience in role-playing games—it was purely due to my genuine state as a bystander named Person A. Speaking in a colloquial manner masked the truth without much effort. In role-playing terminology, even if persuasion hadn’t worked, a simple roll would have granted me a situational modifier from the GM for sure.
“Did you see anyone pass by? If you let me know, there’s a bit of a reward…”
A classic negotiating technique. The subtle glint of silver showed their experience with such tactics. People tend to react most genuinely when offered an appropriate amount of money. Too little reduces motivation, too much prompts unnecessary details. Under time constraints, this works quite effectively.
“A little while ago, I saw someone flying like that older sister did. It was so sudden, I got really scared. I was just returning from the flea market with this table and chairs and the chess pieces when suddenly some tiles fell nearby, and I thought I might die.”
Half lies, half truths. Between the foldable table tucked under my arm, the chair, and the box containing chess pieces, my appearance genuinely matched a passerby. Even if a passerby who might daydream about the TRPG scenario of “Master! Girl falling from the sky!” would never have guessed I was the one involved…
“Thank you, you’ve been helpful. Here’s a token of appreciation, go enjoy something nice.”
She placed a silver coin in the box of chess pieces I was carrying, then, with the same lithe movements as before, gracefully climbed back onto the roof using a wooden crate and overhang as steps.
…She’s incredible, showing no signs of magical emanation. Pure physical skill, I wonder if I can learn that too? It would be incredibly useful in urban adventure sessions.
I should probably tone down the game-related thoughts. Actually running on rooftops would definitely get you penalized by the guards unless you had exceptional privilege.
I waited until her presence had sufficiently faded, then quietly entered the building I had opened earlier.
The small room with only a tiny window for light was dimly lit, like a cat’s eyes adjusting to the darkness, proving to be some kind of warehouse. Amid stacks of sacks, the concealed priest anxiously waited in silence.
“Did the pursuers…?”
“They’ve left. I convinced them you went into another alley. You should be safe for a while.”
Then, let’s have a chat. If the servants of nobles are sent as pursuers, there’s no way she’s just an ordinary priest.
Still, whether in TRPGs or any other ancient conventions, some “promises” remain constant.
Help the woman being chased, and… so on…
