(Zhenya Pov)

“Zhenya, where’s Virgil?” Nick found me sitting in the inn’s dining room, restlessly tapping away.

“He’s still in the washroom. Guy was even more mucked up than we thought.” It’s been a full-blown hour since he entered.

“Makes sense, he was pretty banged up when we found him.” *Squeak* *Squeak* “And that should be him finishing up.” The sound of rushing water petered out, and after that, an uncomfortably long wait. Seriously, how long does it take for a guy to change?

“Thanks for the hospitality!” Newly minted, Virgil called out to Diana. A bit more pep in his step, but still a far cry from his usual self. At least, the lapin owner seems to appreciate the energy.

“So, Virgil. What’s your game here?”

“Meh, about as you guessed it.” Virgil lowered his voice from here on out so only Nick and I could hear. “Bargas and his men s’been on the run since the jailbreak. Keep quiet on that front. The higher-ups are really trying to put on a strong public image at the moment.

The three of them were renowned in the dungeon diving business. Hell, their reputation even dates back to the war. Especially Kheru ‘The Dancer’ or, in your case, the guy who kicked your asses.”

“You’re scared any sign of weakness might pull in more enemies.” Nick successfully deduced.

“And considering what just happened, the A.A’s public image is at an all-time low.” I followed up.

“Pretty much. Everything added up, we’re in sore need of a win right now. But as you can plainly see, my team’s coming up short.”

“Team?”

“Yeah, the lot of ‘em. I have them roaming the streets gathering info. We know Bargas has been floating around Felschonheit for some reason. Thought it was to regroup at his clothing store, but nothing. The place is empty, and his employees are none the wiser.

So when we heard about a dungeon going berserk-”

“You immediately pinned it on the pudgy bastard, but lo and behold, it was just little ‘ol us getting into high-jinks again. You got so desperate that you even revisited the first place you searched.” I finished it off to save him the trouble.

“Pretty much.” He looks about ready to keel over anytime now. “But I still have to ask. Did you happen to see or hear anything involving the guy?”

And he dropped when we answered no. “Let’s take him upstairs.” Nick and I unanimously agreed.

And following that up. “You wanna-” “Go out and search a bit? Yeah, I’m game.”

Laying the silvery-haired receptionist in bed, the two of us started asking around town. Subtly, of course. Not like it was needed anyways. Being the town’s poster boy, people weren’t particularly tight-lipped around us.

And all that amounted to ““Squat!”” Bargas had quite the cult following here. A majority of people had good things to say about the guy. Even Nick admitted that he thought fairly highly or even admired him until recent events.

Of course, his generosity only extended so far, with the line being drawn at half-bloods. So nothing new here. Guy wears his heart on his sleeves but plays his cards close to his chest. He’s practically a saint, which has me wondering where this hatred comes from?

But no dice on that front. Apparently, he was already like this when he first stepped into town. The mentality but not his body which is interesting. One day he’s as muscled as a seasoned warrior than the next he’s pudgier than a full-up noble.

Other than some miscellaneous info that didn’t warrant mentioning, that was it.

Calling it a day, we returned to the inn. Exhausted, but hey, Nick did take the time to show me around a bit more. So, not a complete loss.

For the second time today, we dragged ourselves through that door. And for our efforts, we were treated to the most tantalizing aromas, which can only mean one thing. “”Food!””

Before Diana could even ask us how our day had been, we were seated and ready. “Jeez, must’ve been rough, I’m guessing.”

“You can say that again. But on the bright side, we had loads of fun.” Before we could dig in, a few squeaks from the staircase caught our attention.

It was Virgil, and judging by his messy hair and general ruffley-ness, he just woke up. Goodbye, sleep cycle.

With him here, we tucked in for dinner. I kept some hollowness to myself, seeing a distinct lack of three faces I haven’t seen since last night.

That is until a pair of downers stomped downstairs halfway through. “Freddie! Su!”

“Ugh, keep it down, will you.” Making landfall, the blond’s tired eyes grow wide at our unexpected guest. “Virgil?”

“Hey. Was just in the neighborhood when Zenni and Nick found me. They insisted that I had to visit this inn at least once in my life.” So we’re really keeping this manhunt under wraps.

“Yeah, what he said.” Nick rigidly followed up. Fredrica honestly did not care as she dug into dinner with reckless abandon.

While Su took cautious bites, not trusting the newcomer.

“Anyways, how are you two doing? Been locked inside your rooms for a whole day now.” Diana brightened up seeing her friend eating dinner outside her room for once.

Freddie choked up a noncommittal cough through her mouthfuls of food. But Su was glad to oblige her friend about her new lease on life. “I just needed to sort through a few old memories.”

Diana happily nodded along, nary a clue what her friend’s words implied.

“I think-... I want to go out and see the world again.” The flash crossed Diana’s face, hearing this sudden proposal stirred up a blizzard of emotions. Shock. Elation. Loneliness. Acceptance.

“T-That’s good to hear.” Diana’s voice held a slight quiver to it. “Do you know when?”

The pale girl looks down at her food, staying silent. Even she didn’t know.

“I think you should go with Zhenya.” Being the mood maker(breaker) *cough* he was, Virgil chipped in. “She and Fredrica are an upcoming team. Already accomplishing much in the three or so months they’ve been active. No doubt, they’ll have a buncha jobs across the world.

Sides they already have a place to call home, I’m sure you’ll find it pretty comfy.”

“Didn’t think you thought that highly that highly of us.” He never let it show before, at least.

“People will recognize excellence when it shines. Those that don’t usually don’t last long. Especially people in your profession. It’s all about seeing what works, what doesn’t, and applying them.

In a single day, you blazed a path to the second floor, you stopped Bargas’s plan, and now?

You somehow lived through and prevented a berserk dungeon from causing any further damages. Take a little pride in your achievements!”

I guess that was the extent of Virgil’s knowledge of the incident. Still, his whole rant had Freddie and me blushing like a pair of cherries. Nick this whole time nodded along, agreeing with everything he was saying, which was even more embarrassing!

Su sheepishly nodded in turn. “That would be nice. If you’ll have me. Zhenya still needs to take me ice fishing.” Oh, she heard that? But moving on, we’d love to have her along.

“So, come on. Why don’t you regal me with your latest legend.” Smooth, Virgil, smooth.

Having praise upon praise heaped upon her, Freddie’s mood turned for the better. For the rest of the night, she did just that, regaling Virgil of our adventures in Felschonheit’s dungeon, leaving out any confidential details.

And while it was some people’s second or even third time hearing the tale, Freddie injected her own... Let’s say unique tastes into it.

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Late into the night, we called it and returned to our rooms. Most of us. I woke up sometime later and decided on a glass of water. Which thusly turned into a jug as I took a stroll to the roof. Hard time getting shut-eye and all.

Idly gazing upwards, I let the night run away. Absentmindedly taking a sip every now and then. Hard to hear I’ve been part of all these amazing things. Wonder if the folks back home would ever believe it.

(Around the same time, Hallway outside Nirve’s room)

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Three muffled knocks heralded Sushila’s arrival. Hearing no response, the zombie girl waited and waited.

“Nirve?” Until she could wait no longer. “I can sense you are awake. You have not slept since we returned...

I do not blame you. Ries would not blame you either...

Nirve, please. It’s lonely. Trapping yourself in a room is not healthy” The overwhelming hypocrisy of the phrase was lost to the wind. Still no response.

“Do you remember how Ries would talk for hours about seeing the outside world? How he would always spin up these fantastical tales? If I recall, your favorite bedtime story would be the one about the friendly gobble-gator.”

Pausing the purpled-haired drowned gave a rare genuine smile as she heard Nrive plopping themselves on the other side of the door. “Once upon a time, there was a greedy but kind-hearted gator-...”

Perhaps because of her focusing on the story. Nirve’s soft promise that he’ll make it up to her faded as he drifted off.

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(Zhenya Pov)

“Freddie, you got everything?” Receiving a thumbs up, I started tying our luggage down to Rudi’s wagon. Basically, a week after we arrived. He traded for everything he wanted and spent the rest of the time waiting for us. Business was good, according to him. So it earned him some leeway.

Though I think he would’ve stayed for us anyways. When we met up again, he was rudely understanding of everything. “You got into some trouble again, didn’t you?” Tch, like I’m a kid who gets up to no good without supervision.

Anyways. As everything was set up and ready, we exchanged a heart-felt goodbye (also hugs, lots of hugs) with Diana. She’s been nothing but kind to us. It’s not a stretch to say we’ll need to repay her back some way. Not because she asked but because it would be the right thing to do.

Besides her, even the patrons saw us off. Those being the regulars we formed a working bond with let’s say.

Virgil similarly waved us off, returning on his hunt for Bargas.

Last but not least, Nirve. The boy detective came bolting out of the inn, tackling Su with a hug before running off with the promise that he’ll clear her name. Odd, but it looks like they worked something out. From the bits and pieces I heard from the roof.

And that was it, with Nick returning from saying goodbye to his mom. He, Freddie, Su, Rudi, and I set off for home.

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(Later that night)

As Zhenya and crew set off on familiar roads, a certain blue-haired baby-faced detective silently brewed at the head of his office. All the papers that recorded his findings laid bare before him.

He had to. No. He needed to find some way to make it up to Su, to everyone in his family. He had been one of the leading rumor mills in slandering her. So that would be a good place to start, he thought to himself.

But at this point, her name was known far and wide as the perpetrator behind that night. The only saving grace was that her face was never made public.

Now the question was how to spread the information as quickly as possible. *Knock* *Knock*. Just then, a series of knocks graced his ear. Learning his lesson with that brute of a knightess, he installed a reinforced chain and door frame just in case.

Not that it was necessary. As the person was one he knew well. “Bargas? Where’ve you been? Your store’s been closed for ages now and-.”

The bulky man quieted him down quickly before taking a seat on his couch, reserved for customers. “Now, now. I’m simply here to check up on you. I see that coat I made you is still well.”

He was referring to the trench coat that the boy was often seen with. “Still feels like I bought it yesterday. Honestly, your skill with the needle is unmatched.”

This earned the boy a slight chuckle. Followed by a worried look. “Nirve, is everything okay? I can tell that you are uneasy.”

As usual, nothing got past Bargas. “One day I’ll figure out how you do it. But, yeah. I remember your request, and honestly. I thought you were insane when you first brought it up.”

Nirve’s mind drifted back to that day. Bargas had been hiring his services for some time, one of his best customers. Then one day he asks, in verbatim. “To find proof of Sushila’s innocence.”

This went down as poorly as anyone would guess. But no matter how vehement Nrive got about Sushila’s guilt, Bargas’ patience eventually won him an ear.

This wasn’t the first time they had this argument. Usually, with the big man vouching that Nirve’s childhood friend and sister’s character wouldn’t allow her to do such a thing, and Nirve shrugging it off.

Really, he only accepted the job to get Bargas to shut up about it. And now here he is with egg on his face.

Slapping his notebook on the table, Nirve motioned for Bargas to read it. Watching him scan the book, the boy could only note the lack of surprise in the man’s face. But then again, Bargas has always had a good poker face.

“This is perfect.” The thickset man placed a warm hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Placing a sack of GP in Nirve’s hand, Bargas made slow strides towards the door. Only to pause when he heard the boy ask him to spread the news, knowing how influential Bargas was.

“Don’t worry. The world will know of your friend’s innocence.”