After finishing my call with God, I passed through the gate and arrived at the Silver Dragon Pavilion.

Phew, glad I made it on time.

"I'm back!"

"Welcome back. I thought you wouldn't be coming back today."

I couldn't help but think she was quite rude. However, the old lady handed me the key, so I accepted it. But seriously, hasn't this person's tone really changed?

"Well, a few things happened, but I managed to make it back by nine."

"Hmm. Whatever happens to you doesn't concern me, but it's not good to worry those close to you."

"Alright, understood."

I don't have anyone close in this world, but... maybe she's worrying about me in her own way?

Thinking so, I took the key.

"The bath is ready, so hurry up and get in while it's still warm!"

"Huh? The bath? Can I really take a bath?"

This inn has a bath! Amazing! Thank you for introducing me to this place, Lady Ainya!! Wait... she's not going to charge extra later, right?

Seeing my suspicious gaze, the old lady shouted at me.

"What are you suspicious about!? Providing baths for free is one of our selling points! However, you need to rent or buy things like soap and towel sets from me, or bring your own. You can't enter the bath without bathing essentials!"

With that said, the old lady took out a bathing set from under the counter and practically shoved it in my face as if saying, "Buy it!!"

"A used rental bathing set costs five copper, while a new one costs eight copper coins. So, what'll it be?"

Is she trying to make me buy...? Heh, too bad, old lady.

"I have my own, thank you."

I said and opened my shop, bought a bath set, sponge, and bath towel, summoned them, and then showed them to the old lady.

"Hmm... I see, you have your own. Then go ahead and get in the bath quickly."

Huh? Surprisingly straightforward response. This somehow makes me feel frustrated.

"Miiiss!"

"Whoa!?"

Lima-chan hugged my stomach... no, she attacked me and then looked up at me.

"Welcome back!"

"I'm back, Lima-chan."

Normally, I should scold her, but seeing this smile, is it because of maternal instincts that I can't help but forgive her?

"Really, Lima, you..."

As soon as Lima-chan saw the scary face of the old lady, she hid behind me. Seeing her reaction, the old lady glared at me.

Stop it, it's not my fault.

"Sigh... hey, you."

For some reason, the old lady looked at me with a different, bewildered expression.

"Y-yes, what is it?"

"Since you're here, can you take Lima to the bath?"

Huh!? Is she planning to leave Lima-chan to me?

"Let's take a bath together, miss! Yay!!"

'Yay!!'? Lima-chan seems excited about it!?

"I think it's better to let her parents do that, not me."

"Lima's parents aren't here now."

Oh no! It feels like I said something I shouldn't have.

"Uh, I... I said something reckless. I'm sorry."

I said, bowing my head to the old lady.

"Huh? What weird thoughts are you having?"

"..Huh?"

When I raised my head, the old lady's terrifying face was right in front of me.

"If you're thinking that Lima's parents are dead, you're mistaken!!"

"I-is that so?"

"That's right!! They're both working away, so I'm taking care of Lima!! Such a strange child for imagining things like that!!"

Oh, that was the reason.

"I... I see. I misunderstood. I'm sorry."

I bowed my head to the old lady again, and she, placing her hands on her hips, still glaring at me, said:

"Hmph! If you understand, then hurry up and take Lima to the bath! It'll be troublesome if it gets cold by the time I bathe!"

"Hey, miss... let's go quickly!"

Lima-chan said, grabbing the hem of my clothes and pulling me.

"Alright, Lima-chan. Please guide me to the bath."

"Okaaay!!"

Lima-chan and I held hands as we walked towards the bath.

〜〜 ??? 〜〜

What on earth is happening!? We had an agreement. Breaking the rules like this!!

In the pitch-black night, a hooded woman, guided by the light of a lantern containing a light magic stone, ran with frustration evident in her demeanor.

...That guy was truly someone who should have been expelled from our organization after all. 'Retrieve him.' I'm sorry, but if we find Solde, let's just kill him. The others agreed before coming here. Should be around here... Huh?

As she approached Solde's location, for some reason, she sensed a humanoid presence, so she extinguished the light of the magic stone to avoid being noticed.

"They seem to be talking about something, but it's hard to see from here. Let's use a transparency spell and get closer. [Escape]."

And then she confirmed that her own figure had disappeared.

I'm just going to see what's happening, but could it be that Solde lost? ...No, even if Solde, who is said to be the weakest among us, faced humans, he wouldn't lose. Maybe if it were a descendant of a hero or something.

Carefully and cautiously, she approached, making sure not to be detected, until she reached a point where she could hear the conversation, then she stopped and listened attentively.

"...So, have you found any others?"

"No, only corpses of zombies."

"I see. But what in the world is going on here?"

"I have no idea either, Captain Guell."

Captain Guell? So Guell, the descendant of a hero and leader of the knights of this country, is here!! But it doesn't seem like they've wiped out the zombies.

"Man, we were told to investigate because there was an unsettling presence here. But I never expected something like this to happen. What do you think, Keith...?"

"Captain Guell, what do you think?"

"I want to know what you think about who gathered the zombies and who destroyed them. What are your thoughts?"

"In turn, I'll ask. Captain Guell, what are your thoughts?"

Guell, after crossing his arms, began to explain his thoughts to Keith.

"This corpse lying here is probably a demon."

"Indeed, Captain Guell, did you also think so?"

No way!? Solde was killed!! Who could have done it?

"That demon summoned the zombies to attack somewhere. That much is conceivable, but..."

"We don't know who exterminated them. Is that what you want to say?"

"Yeah, that's right. However, amidst the terrible stench of corpses, I faintly smell a scent I've encountered before."

A scent? ...Oh, right! That guy is from the Black Wolves clan!! He can judge opponents by their scent. Maybe I can find clues about the culprit who killed Solde!!

"A scent... you say?"

"Yeah, it's their scent."

"Captain Guell, who are you referring to?"

"Well, you know. E-" "Captaiiin!!"

Tch!? Interrupting!?

"We've finished our investigation over here!"

"Azeth, how was it?"

"It's the same here, just corpses of zombies! But I found footprints I've never seen before!"

"Footprints you've never seen before?"

"Those footprints are flat and long, like the wheels of a carriage, and they go on and on! And there are two of them, they seem quite heavy!"

Flat wheel tracks? Are there carriages with flat wheels?

"Strange tracks, huh? Did you find anything else?"

"Yeah. Near those wheel tracks, there were footprints of shoes!"

"...Azeth, were those shoe prints unusual?"

"Yes! They had patterns I've never seen before!"

"...Captain Guell, is it confirmed now?"

"Sigh..."

After looking exasperated, Guell began giving instructions to the two.

"We'll confirm this with the person in question tomorrow, and we need manpower to deal with these zombies. Let's go back to the Royal Capital and request support."

"Are we just leaving the zombies?"

"Zombies won't turn into more zombies, so it should be fine to leave them alone. Now, let's go call Beiger and the others!"

""Understood!""

As Keith and Azeth said so, they ran their horses in the direction where Beiger was presumed to be.

"...They're gone. That's good, they didn't find me. Thanks to the strong smell emanating from these zombie corpses."

After saying that, she released the magic she had cast on herself.

"They seem to have sensed the one who caused this tragedy. Hahahahahaha!! I can't wait to meet the person who did this! I wonder who it could be? Meeting them and seeing their face will be fun!!"

With those words, she disappeared into the darkness of the night.