"So, did you see anything that we should know?" While Esme continued laughing, her eyes were deadly serious as she looked straight into mine. And damn, if not for my [Status Screen] revealing the hidden title, even without me actually concentrating on it, I am sure I would have spilled the beans.

In place of that, though, I would end up shrugging, saying that I didn't, and even explaining it, "I would love to help, but I was there worried about the girls and didn't pay attention to anything but them. As for when I helped, I really didn't see anything but wounded."

She would even ask again as if she was confirming it, but somehow, I felt it was more to make sure I didn't catch on anything. Considering that Kaid did know I was a mage, it was probable that she also did, so her interest was understandable. Yet, I did respond the same again, my mind far away from the situation itself, occupied with the thoughts of why [Status Screen] had begun to show me hidden titles. After all, until now, I could only get a hint of them and then discover the blurred skills and titles after concentrating on them!

Anyway, after Esme was sure I had nothing important to her, as I understand now that I think about it, to share, her manners actually changed. She quickly gulped the wine I had served her, and after sharing a few words of excuse, along with a couple of jabs at Kaid for not inviting her, she took off.

***

"Isn't she beautiful?" Kaid's question as Esme left took me by surprise, making me look at him with a blank expression. And indeed, of everything he could ask, that was the question he chose?!

"Mmm, she is." After he repeated his question, I couldn't find anything to say except that. And while I was now damn suspicious about her, with that title showing a connection to the arsonist caught during the events in question, I couldn't deny it was true - Esme was damn pretty.

"Huh? That's all? Damn, Lindar! She nearly jumped out of her armor before you, and you give me such a half-assed answer?!" Kaid's question was one thing, but he accompanied it with action, his empty jug hitting the table, prompting me to collect myself, considering that even without knowing much, I had already felt he was very into her. What a problem!

"I don't usually go for the women my friends like." After considering my options, I opted for a cheesy but effective line, also elevating Kaid into the friend status, which, at some point, could be far more valuable than the other options.

"Damn right on your part! You are a true man!" My response turned out accurate and well-received. Kaid even rose from his seat to land a palm on my shoulder while nodding to his words. Damn bear! I felt myself nearly squashed against the chair!

Anyway! With Esme leaving us alone and nothing else popping to distract us, Kaid's and I planned to continue our interrupted leisure time. And it was a good time, after all, I nearly forgot I hadn't arrived alone! But as it would turn out, the girls had finished on their side, and just as we refilled the cups, they entered the room without knocking, following after a man of impressive looks.

-*-*-

With long golden hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, Captain Amer looked more akin to a Hollywood actor than to what he was, the first of the six captains of Megvuroz's guard. And while his attire was nothing else than the usual waist-long chainmail and metal protectors on knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, he still looked somewhat different, classier if I had to find a word, thanks to the few added details like the coat he wore above the chain but below the metal parts of his armor.

This navy-blue cloak-like coat and the same-color decorations on his belt made him appear somewhat regal, especially considering that the color was the one of the Kingdom's banners. The only striking detail was that he bore no heraldry on either part of his attire, not even the city's one that all guards and captains had represented in some way.

As for his stats, they were equally impressive as his looks, even if they clashed a bit with his athletic but pretty lithe figure or his good looks.

NAME (AS SEEN BY ME) LEVEL (IF APPLIES) (ONLY ABOVE AVERAGE) Strength 14 Body 13 Speech 12 Manners 13 Education 15 Negotiation 14 Mapping 15 Danger-Sense 17 Slashing 15 Force 12 Quick 14 Close-Quarters 15 Counter-Attack 16 Parry 15 Double (Never seen before) 12 Command 16 Planning 11 Critical Thinking 11 Terrain: Urban 13 Terrain: Plains 11 Terrain: Hills 12 Dixer Sword Path, Master (Title, never seen before) -

Thankfully, there were no hidden titles this time.

-*-*-

"Il Lindar? I am Captain Amer of the Megvuroz City guard." An absolutely faultless introduction, coupled with a pronounced half bow, added to my first impression of the man as much as his following words, "I am sorry for my subordinates' actions from before. Be assured that I will explain to them what I mean when I invite someone to visit."

Standing up and giving him a similar half-bow would be my only actual interaction with the man, as after the barest of formalities, he turned around to face the girls, thanked them for their time, and quickly made his way out.

"Didn't even greet me! Now that's Amer for you!" Kaid's voice dispelled the ensuing silence after the blonde captain left.

***

With Kierra and Angelique assuring me that they could return alone or so, I didn't allow it, quickly excusing myself before Kaid and choosing to walk them home.

For one, I still felt I shouldn't have left them alone, allowing something like the events from the night before to happen when I wasn't present. Now with Captain Esme's title, I considered it unwise to leave them alone, not until I was sure of their safety.

And on the other hand, I was damn interested in what this time with Captain Amer was for. Questioning? Praise? Or was it something else? Thus, with them deciding to go home after being brought by Captain Amer to Kaid's office, I left along with them.

"So, if it is not a secret, what did the guard's captain want from you?" There should be no need to play around, so I just asked straight as we left the nearly-black building of the captainship.

"Mmm, he asked us to remember everything that happened and think if we noticed anyone or anything suspicious." Kierra's answer was concise and calm, making me wonder again about just how hardy she and Angelique were. After all, in short, they had just spoken about the past night's hell, and still, she managed to remain calm about it as if a shopping outing it was!

"He also asked a lot about Welo and his men. Stuff as what he was doing and if we lost sight of them at any time." Angelique completed her sister's answer in the same calm and collected manner.

"Welo..?" [Perfect Memory] or not, I truly paid zero attention to most of what was happening - concentrated on finding them. Yet, the boon was there, and a moment later, I had already connected the dots, even if not immediately as I would have liked to, "He's a believer of the [One], and the culprit they caught was one as well, right? Do the guards consider him related?"

"Yes, but they shouldn't do so. Welo is a good man. He was one of the first to jump into the fires." Kierra defended the man right away, making me believe her being overly trusting. After all, didn't I, just a few minutes ago, find out that even a guard's captain could be involved?

"I am unsure about the good man part, but he's not involved. He never left our side at the start and only retired from the rescue after receiving a serious burn." Once again, Angelique developed Kierra's answer, allowing me to understand why both had reasons to believe him innocent.

"I see. Then, I suppose you told that to the captain, right? And then?" Well, it was damn obvious they did. Now what I wanted to know was just what happened next. After all, they spent about an entire hour in Amer's office, so it couldn't be that he only asked something like three questions, could it?

_______

Engrossed in our talk, I didn't notice how we had walked until the street of the Guild and our house. And who could have thought that the person we had just talked about, the merchant Welo, to be waiting for us? But indeed, as soon as we neared our house, we saw a man and a woman waiting for us near the door. And while the woman was a person we very much knew, being Arxibiela herself, the man was someone I had not seen before, but the girls immediately recognized.

"Il Welo! Ile Xiela! Are you waiting for us?" Surprised or not, both girls greeted and asked nearly in unison. As for me, I just nodded to both, especially as it seemed the visit was for the girls and not me. Or at least I assumed so at that moment.

***

While Welo came here to thank and praise the girls for their actions last time, Xiela came as the girls' boss. She also praised them, but then she scolded them for putting themselves in danger. As they finished that, it seemed the merchant pair, as Arxibiela was here not as a [Hound], also wanted to discuss something else, but before the actual talk started, I interjected, "Have you two eaten yet?"

With time just nearing the usual one for lunch around here, somewhere close to the sixth hour of sun, it was a routine question, and I was pretty much ready for either answer. Thankfully, the answer was negative, the best of options. So, after asking them if they would like to join us and receiving a surprised but positive one, I excused myself for a second, going towards the kitchen and motioning for the girls to stay in their talks.

With us having nothing prepared and not eating breakfast before, I decided to summon everything of the ready food I had left in [Inventory], which actually amounted to six full dishes, several ones full with snacks, and even a pot of bone broth with a hearty amount of vegetables. Also, after considering the visitors, I checked the drinks part, summoning the only wine I had saved from my previous day's sit down with Soni, a small barrel with some 3 liters of the common-quality but pretty decent taste wine called [Traveler's Respite].

"Huh? Did you prepare for guests, or did we intrude on some feast preparations?" If my going back and forth with plates of still-steaming food wasn't enough, after I also brought the wine and three cups, as well quickly whipped up some water with [Oped] fruit, the local equivalent to lime, even if somewhat reddish when compared to the Earth's one, for the girls, I managed to surprise even Xiela, who asked me with widened eyes.

Kierra and Angelique also seemed surprised, as before, they were sure that we had nothing of sorts, and I couldn't have prepared anything in a couple of minutes I spent in the kitchen.

"One should not reveal his tricks, right?" Rephrasing the well-known phrase, I chuckled, dropping down on the chair I had barely left before adding a small explanation, "I had it stored, and with neither of us having eaten yet, guards taking us before breakfast..." I shrugged, not continuing further.

"You mean our brave ladies didn't even have a chance to eat today? I am so sorry! If we knew, we would have sought you later!" To an actor, I would say he overacted, but as Welo was not one, I will assume that his terror-stricken expression and paled face reflected what he truly felt.

"You are mistaken, my dear Welo. I would say that we arrived just right in time. When would we have the chance to eat food from another city but in the same condition it left the kitchen?" Xiela winked at me on the last part, her being the only one who immediately got the 'stored' meaning. The girls would also understand it without help after they heard her. As for Welo, well, we would look around at us, a blank expression on his face, until Kierra was so kind as to explain, "Lindar is a mage."

"I see..?" Discovering something like that seemed too much for the merchant, even though I couldn't understand the reason for his continued shock or his weak answer and head shaking as he stared at the cup I had just filled up with him before gulping it in one go.

***

Having excused myself for a smoke after we ate and going outside to do so, I also wanted to remain away from the talk that had restarted after we finished the meal. Yet, I had just lighted up the pipe as I heard the door opening behind me, Arxibiela having followed me for some reason.

{Damn, and here I thought that avoiding their talk would allow me not to get involved in something else!} Obviously, I wasn't planning to let the girls do anything remotely dangerous. But I would intercede only when required, not offer my services from the bat. After all, with Xiela being part of whatever they would discuss, I am sure it would end up with me involved in some shit again.

"Don't worry. It's nothing dangerous or bad." As if reading my thoughts, which probably were written all over my face, Xiela spoke first before suddenly asking, "So, Lindar, what do you think about Welo?"

"Hmm?" Considering that I had exchanged just a couple of phrases with him and that the girls had barely said anything but him being a decent man, what did she expect as an answer?

"Oh, I mean your impression of the man. I have known him for a good time, and while I have some doubts about a couple of things, he's an honest merchant with nothing to do with the other job of mine." Once again, Arxibiela read my thoughts, giving me a brief explanation on the matter.

"Well, I can't say I am the best judge of character, as look, I am having someone like you eating in my house-" Maybe unwise, but I couldn't resist getting a quick jab at her, still being pissed about how the [Hounds] had acted around me, "-yet, I think he looks like a proper merchant. And the girls believe he's a good man."

_______

Honestly? I couldn't be sure about Welo's being good or bad. Yet, with the girls' opinion and his lack of concealed titles, merchant-like stats? And with him actually being wounded during the previous night? I could only say he may be decent and certainly was a trader. Which I did.

NAME (AS SEEN BY ME) LEVEL (IF APPLIES) (ONLY ABOVE AVERAGE) Speech 14 Manners 12 Education 13 Persuasion 15 Deceit 11 Negotiation 16 Economics 13 Merchant Eyes 12 Counting 12 Tailor 14 Critical Thinking 11 Material Knowledge (Perk? Never seen before) - Wounds and Injuries: Left Shoulder, Burn, Intermediate.

I am unsure if his stuff survived the fire or if he bought clothing today - I should point out that Welo looked impeccable and that his clothes were exactly the ones of a merchant, which probably also played some role in my overall impression.

A pristinely white shirt topped with a bright crimson half-coat matching the red tone of his hair. Long black leather pants over black boots. And a couple of gold rings on his fingers decorated with matching red stones. He looked both rich and impressive without being too flashy.

_______

"In that case, you shouldn't worry much. The talks aren't anything bad. On the contrary, Welo's proposal will be fairly pleasant for Kierra and Angelique. Especially for the latter." As if my words were the ones she wanted to hear, Arx nodded, giving me just another bit of information. This manner of all [Hounds], revealing just the bare minimum, was damn starting to piss me off!

"Can't you just tell me what the gods it is? Or do you want me to go and find it myself?" I snapped at her.

"I think it will be better for the girls to speak it out with you." Arxibiela shrugged before adding, "I just wanted to be sure you knew it is nothing related to my work."

"I see." It was almost a nice thing to do on her part, but I knew it couldn't be so simple, "There is something more, isn't there? You wouldn't have come after me only to confirm that. After all, it could have waited for later."

"Ahh, you discovered me!" Arx's deep-black eyes widened as she raised her hands and shook her head, her cascading olive hair swinging from side to side, creating an unforgettable sight. {Damn!} Obviously, it was no surprise but an act, and I still felt danger from her as I did during our first meeting, probably even more, but still..!

Yet, as if the gods, or maybe the small-time Goddess I knew and somewhat served, didn't want Arxibiela to reveal anything right there, a vigorous shout interrupted my already prepared tirade about the damn [Hounds] hiding everything, "Lindar! Arx! How nice of you to expect us!"

I can not be sure if it was true, not with the usual manner of her not-so-secret-forces, but as soon as we turned to the shouter, which turned out to be my red-skinned and horned acquaintance, Soni, Xiela whispered, "The thing I wanted to ask you, it already arrived."

Soni wasn't alone either, Dart following right after her, his face (?) impassive as always. {Can it be that Arxibiela was here to ask me for the same thing Soni did yesterday? That can't be, can it?}

As the newly arrived pair approached, I instinctively scanned Dart to confirm that I wasn't mistaken about him not suffering injuries yesterday. And while he didn't, I couldn't help to think the same I did every time I saw him, {Damn Sepyre! Why my first meeting with such a race wasn't with a girl? Like in any of the myriad of isekai I read in my life?}

Honestly, I was never a die-hard fan of kemonomimi, but!!!