TSSAH 34

Chapter 34

There were two most important things Gisela Loth had urged me to do.

Not to speak about the crows, and not to draw people’s attention.

The first part was only natural.

It was an organization that had made me a member of the nest simply because I had discovered the existence of the crows.

If I ran my mouth carelessly, I’d be quietly disposed of without a trace.

So of course, I kept my mouth firmly shut about the crows.

On the other hand, the second part—

*’I failed again today.’*

I pretended to brush back my bangs while inwardly tearing at my hair, glaring resentfully at Deacon Gold.

How many eyeballs had turned toward me when that man loudly shouted my name, right in front of the main building?

“Oh dear.”

I wanted to flick his forehead—that perfectly handsome forehead of Deacon Gold’s, who was looking at me with pitiful eyes.

But remembering that he was wearing shackles because of me, I simply dropped my head.

“Still, it’s a relief.”

“……That I’m not receiving recognition from my superior?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that since Rookie is worrying about that, it seems you intend to stay in the action squad.”

“Of course, right?”

In reality, I already had a separate affiliation with the nest, but I played dumb.

“I heard a rumor that Rookie might transfer to the Intelligence Division.”

“Ah, that rumor.”

From my perspective, it had already been five days, so I’d nearly forgotten about it.

The rumor—*’The action squad’s little hero has been scouted by the Intelligence Division!’*—had heated up Knox Castle for about two days before dying down.

That was because it was revealed that the one who had taken an interest in me was none other than Graf Mueller.

Graf Mueller, barely a two-stick rank, an action squad transfer who could barely hold his own position in the Intelligence Division!

The rumor rapidly lost credibility and fizzled out on its own.

Thankfully, the whispers that followed me everywhere for those two days had disappeared.

“It’s just a groundless rumor. I have no intention of leaving the action squad. I’m very satisfied with my current life.”

“Hmm, that’s both a relief and a pity to hear.”

“Do you think it would be better for me to go to the Intelligence Division, Deacon?”

At my question, Deacon jumped.

“Of course not! Don’t say such frightening things!”

“Well, the Intelligence Division is a very important department to Knox. Someone like me is certainly insufficient…….”

“No! It’s the opposite!”

“Oh.”

This was only the second time I’d heard Deacon Gold raise his voice so loudly—the first being when he’d called my name in the plaza earlier.

“Ahem, sorry. It’s just that Rookie was talking nonsense—no, saying something utterly absurd.”

“But I don’t think there was anything wrong with what I said.”

“No, you’re wrong. All of it.”

“How…… decisive of you.”

“Of course. First, Rookie is not insufficient. No, rather, you’re too good for idiots like those in the Intelligence Division. And second, the Intelligence Division is not important to Knox.”

He held up his long index and middle fingers to explain.

“Originally, as Rookie said, it should be an important department. But they don’t have the capability to be one. So Rookie, don’t even look in the Intelligence Division’s direction.”

“Yes, understood.”

“If the Intelligence Division really does approach you, you should run in the opposite direction without looking back. Got it?”

Deacon Gold was saying the exact same thing as Gisela Loth.

At this point, it was practically an epidemic.

“And the reason I said it’s a pity…… is that if Rookie really wanted to leave the action squad, I was thinking of suggesting you come to the Finance Department or the Trading Company.”

“The Finance Department or the Trading Company?”

Those were departments I had never once considered.

“Aren’t those places where people good with numbers and calculations work? And I heard the Finance Department is the hardest department to get into at Knox.”

“After all, they handle money.”

And the person who oversaw both of those departments was none other than Deacon Gold.

It made me realize anew just how enormous his power was.

At that level, it wouldn’t have been a problem to beat a drum in front of the main building, let alone shout.

“But making one spot for Rookie wouldn’t be difficult for me.”

“I suppose so.”

“How about it? The Finance Department has a lot of work and strict rules, so I think the Trading Company, with its relatively freer atmosphere, would suit Rookie better. As for rank…… yes, something like Senior Member would be good.”

“But I’m only a single-stick rank in the action squad—just a low-ranking member?”

For reference, the only rank below mine was Trainee Member, who hadn’t even become a full member yet.

Senior Member was two ranks above mine—a high rank of three sticks.

“I’d need to give you a two-rank promotion, but that’s not a big problem. If your rank is too low, you’d get called around for all sorts of annoying tasks.”

“That’s tempting.”

“Right? You could be under the Trading Company, go around with me, eat lots of delicious food, have fun…….”

“Still, I like the action squad.”

“Oh, how heartless.”

Deacon Gold lowered his brows and put on a sorrowful expression.

It was an exaggerated actor-like display, but on a beautiful man, it suited him quite well.

Thanks to that, I felt like I was the world’s worst human trash.

Even a two-rank promotion and a free lifestyle couldn’t tempt me.

*’The Trading Company—that would be perfect for a secret organization like the crows to exploit.’*

Merchants were the ones who could travel through cities that ordinary people could hardly even glimpse.

Since their job was to go around earning money, they could also avoid unnecessary suspicion and surveillance.

If things went wrong, I might end up living an even more troublesome life than now.

“I could have kept you by my side legally every day.”

……It seemed turning him down had been the wise decision.

Fortunately, Deacon Gold didn’t push the transfer any further.

“If you ever feel like changing departments, tell me anytime.”

That was all he added.

After that, we had a few more cups of tea, switching varieties, before the meeting finally broke up.

If a Finance Department clerk hadn’t come running with documents saying they urgently needed his approval, we might have even had dinner together.

I said goodbye to Deacon Gold, who didn’t hide his regret even after several hours of chatter, and was about to step out of the office when I paused.

There was something I wanted to ask.

“Deacon, where can I buy the most delicious candy in Knox Castle?”

—

***

—

Deacon Gold’s advice hadn’t provided a solution to Gisela Loth’s ambiguous attitude.

Still, having vented my frustrations, even if indirectly, I felt a little better.

It was a new experience.

*’I wouldn’t have known until I tried talking about my worries.’*

It was the first time I’d had worries I could confide in someone else, and also the first time I had someone in a relationship where I could do so without burden.

And the day after the holiday when I met Deacon Gold, the realization came to me on its own.

No—it came to me on its own two feet.

*’So that’s what it was.’*

I thought as I crunched into a still-warm cookie.

“How is it, Rookie?”

“We tried putting in slightly different ingredients this time.”

The kitchen maids who had appeared before me as I was about to return to the nest after my shift change asked, full of anticipation.

Their sparkling eyes were a bit overwhelming, but just as they said—

“It seems much more savory this time.”

“Right?!”

The most sociable of the three, a curly-haired maid, tapped her friend beside her with a grin.

“See, Lyne? I told you Rookie would like it!”

“Mm, what a relief.”

“Lyne was really worried because she thought Rookie didn’t like super sweet things!”

“Did I say that?”

At my question, the maid called ‘Lyne’ nodded shyly.

“I tried modifying the recipe each time, and Rookie’s reactions were a little different each time.”

“She really, *really* likes Rookie, you know!”

“Elza!”

When the curly-haired maid teased, Lyne was horrified and tried to cover her mouth.

I thought she’d catch her quickly given the height difference, but—

The maid named Elza dodged all over the place.

“Do you think I’d fall for the same trick as last time?”

It seemed she was the one who had been dragged away by her friends last time after saying some strange word like ‘Rusamo.’

I took another cookie from the small pouch they’d brought and said,

“Now that I think about it, I’ve been receiving gifts like this every time, but I haven’t even asked for your names yet.”