In the end, I made the bird go back and forth three times. I should’ve designated a location from the start to save it a trip... Though, the bird closed its eyes blissfully each time I scratched it above the beak and around the neck, so it was probably fine. I was used to handling birds, since I had cared for my cherry Java sparrow Pippi and white Java sparrow Jaja back home. I was good with dogs and cats too. I was pretty popular with animals...but not with human men or little girls, for some reason.
Aren’t men and little girls technically animals too?! Damn it! Huff, huff, huff...
Anyway, I was standing in front of the goddess statue when six men started walking directly toward me.
I was in Edith Mode—obviously, since they’d come to meet the free priestess Edith. Reiko—in Can Mode—and Falsetto were nearby, pretending to be unrelated strangers. The Goddess Statue in the capital’s central square was a classic meeting spot for visitors from out of town, so there were plenty of others waiting for people like we were. I was pretty sure we didn’t stand out...but the men walked straight toward me without hesitation.
They must have researched my appearance beforehand; they were working for Mariel, after all. Both sides were associates of the Order of the Goddess Kaoru, and given the timing, they likely knew about Falsetto too. I’d had her wear a disguise, though I wasn’t sure if they’d see through it or not. Even if they did, they wouldn’t know about Reiko...or the C-Rank hunter Can. She was with me when I’d met with Emile, but they’d likely assumed she was just a temporary companion or guide, not my peer.
The information being circulated among the Order of the Goddess Kaoru likely only mentioned Reiko as some woman accompanying me, and they had no way of knowing about a rookie hunter named Can in this distant country, nor her connection to me. They might have heard I’d hired a bodyguard, but she and Reiko were in disguise. No matter how capable their intelligence network might have been, there was no investigating something they didn’t know existed.
So, to prepare for a surprise attack, I’d positioned the disguised Falsetto nearby for her quick reflexes, while Reiko stood farther back, where she could get a good view of the entire situation, cast magic to protect us, and not worry about her own safety. The bird’s existence made it almost certain these were Mariel’s men, and I didn’t think she would send anyone shady, but it was always best to prepare for the worst.
That was the Nagase way...and the KKR way!
“We’re terribly sorry to keep you waiting!”
Yup, arriving after me and making me wait was, given their position, outrageously rude and disrespectful. It was no wonder they were sweating bullets. As the Angel, the considerate thing to do would’ve been to arrive exactly on time or slightly late, but that would’ve given them time to set something up, so I’d arrived over an hour early and gone to an inconspicuous corner to watch for any suspicious figures taking positions. I’d moved to my current spot about thirty minutes ago, ensuring we’d spot one another immediately, and they wouldn’t be able to move their operatives into position afterward.
Six men to meet a little girl seemed a bit much. Had they planned for one of them to meet with me while the other five snuck into the crowd unnoticed? Or maybe they intended to gang up on me and take me to their base by force. Either way, I had no obligation to play along.
I flicked my fingers, signaling Reiko, who was positioned to my right-front and their left-rear. As planned, Reiko cast a soundproofing field around us (including Falsetto), so no one could hear our conversation.
“No, no, I just arrived too early,” I said. I’d deliberately said “I” instead of “we,” though I wasn’t sure if they believed me.
“We can’t talk standing out here, so we should find a nearby shop...” the man who seemed to be their leader suggested, but I cut in.
“Yes, let’s go to a place I reserved.”
“Huh?”
The leader looked surprised. I mean, after all this careful preparation, there was no way I was gonna let them take me someplace where they could have all sorts of traps prepared. I wasn’t stupid. That was why I’d arranged a location myself. Even with the soundproofing field, I wasn’t brave enough to hold a conversation out in the open like this.
I gave Reiko a subtle glance, and she had her arms crossed, signaling that there weren’t any suspicious targets nearby.
All right, let’s go...
After ten minutes or so of walking, we arrived at the reserved restaurant.
It was quite a fancy place. We’d secured a room in the back, so there was no worry about suddenly being surrounded by big scary men. The other patrons were either wealthy or on company expense accounts, so there weren’t any unsavory types mixed in. The high price wasn’t just for the quality of the food; it guaranteed safety and a comforting environment. We hadn’t spotted any tails or ambushers on the way, so after our group entered, Falsetto and Reiko followed, casually joining us in the private room.
The reserved room had a table for six with three seats facing one another. There were three of us, so I figured there’d be two or three of them. Well, they could squeeze four in on their side and put chairs at the ends if needed...or so I thought, but only two of them ended up sitting, while the other four took up guard positions—standing, of course.
Apparently, only two of them would do the talking. That was good, since being surrounded by six old men would’ve been overwhelming...
“We are deeply honored to be granted this sacred audience...”
The man who seemed to be higher-ranking of the two bowed reverently as he spoke, the other following suit. They’d waited to sit before bowing, maybe because grown men bowing to a little girl would’ve stood out too much. This world had no concept of gender equality, and the young were expected to respect their elders. Even in a private room, the waiter who’d shown us in was still here, since we hadn’t ordered yet.
And “sacred audience”? That’s not a term to use for a little girl in a place like this...especially not in front of the waiter.
I decided to shut him up for now. “No, let’s talk after we order...”
And so, we ordered some food and drinks. No one ordered any alcohol, which felt discourteous to the restaurant, since it was a high-margin menu item that didn’t take any cooking on their part. But of course, Falsetto and Reiko were my bodyguards, and their side was here for an important discussion with someone they saw as a goddess or the Angel, so it was natural that no one would drink. I felt bad, so I ordered some expensive fruit juice, and Reiko did the same, while Falsetto ordered water. She clearly had no intention of consuming anything, and was instead ready to draw her sword and strike at a moment’s notice.
The men probably didn’t plan to eat or drink much either, but they ordered a decent amount as a courtesy, including for the four standing guards. It was basic etiquette for customers.