"......So, you were about to dispose of the zombies you defeated when you noticed Captain Guell's group approaching so you ran away?" 

Aid spoke to me in a calm tone while glaring at me.

"......Yes."

The crystal I'm holding remains transparent. Meaning, I'm not lying, okay!?

"And what did you do after returning to the inn?"

This time, Guell threw a question at me, glaring at me just like Aid.

"After returning to the inn, I took a bath with the child at the inn and then went to bed."

Ugh! It feels like I'm being interrogated as if I were a criminal!? I haven't done anything wrong!!

"There's no reaction from the crystal, it seems you're not lying."

I just want to go back to the inn alreadyyyyyy!!

Thinking so, I hung my head.

"Hey, El-chan."

"W-What is it, Ms. Lizlina?"

When I raised my head and looked at Lizlina, she was staring at me with a serious expression.

"Why didn't you consult us?"

Lizlina said, bringing her face close to mine.

"Um... there wasn't enough time, and I didn't want to attract attention, and... well..."

"And?"

"I didn't think you would believe me."

"...You didn't think we would believe you?"

As soon as Lizlina heard those words, her cheeks puffed up like mochi.

Huh!? What's wrong, Ms. Lizlina? Are you angry?

"Ah, fuah!?"

"Elaina-chaaan. When you say things like that, it hurts our feelings, you knoww~"

Through the gap in my plate carrier's arms, Myurina stuck her hand in and started groping my chest with her fingertips.

"Hey! Stop, haah!?"

Just now, a shiver ran down my spine!!

"I thought it was padding, but it's not. And it feels good to squeeze~~ Squeeze-squeeeeze~"

Stop squeezing already! It's getting weird!!

"Nyaauuuu~!?"

"Myurina, leave it at that."

"Yes, Captain."

After saying so, Myurina stopped groping and removed her hand from my chest.

Thank goodness. Thanks to Mr. Guell, she let go.

"Now, Elaina. As Myurina told you earlier, it's upsetting to hear that you don't trust us. Why didn't you tell us?"

"...Even if Guell believes it, I didn't know if the palace guards would relay my story to Guell."

"You could have mentioned your name first, then mine, and they would have let you through."

Really!? Would that have allowed me to meet Mr. Guell?

"I'm sorry I didn't inform you about this."

"...Yes."

"However, it wasn't good not to inform anyone about the kingdom's crisis. Understand?"

"...Yes."

"We at the General Guild were also dealing with it."

This time, Aid told me, but with a stern face, indicating that he was also angry like Guell.

"The Guild Master likes you, so if you had spoken up, he would have come to you."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, that's right."

But if I had done that, it would have become more complicated, wouldn't it?

While thinking about that, Duke Valdeck started speaking.

"Well, let's set that aside. I'm sorry, Elaina, but regarding this matter, Guell will report to the king, and I will report to the Guild Masters of the other continents before reporting to the branches in various locations."

As expected, since Mr. Guell and Duke Valdeck have found out, they must report it. But, that in itself poses a problem for me.

"Um, if that's the case, it's going to be a problem for me..."

"Why is that?"

"I'm already fed up with situations like the one in Gozes."

"...Ah, I see."

Everyone except Myurina seemed to understand, but Myurina looked confused as she looked at each person's face in turn.

"Eh!? What? Captain, what happened in Gozes?"

"You know about the incident in Gozes, right?"

"Yes, I know."

"After that incident, Elaina was thanked by the entire town..."

"So?"

"Even from my perspective, that was abnormal."

"Abnormal?"

As Myurina tilted her head, I decided to explain from my side.

"After capturing Gulbert, everyone in the town thanked me the following day."

"Well, isn't that a good thing?"

Yes, if only gratitude were all there was.

"Many residents surrounded the entrance to the General Guild, and all those people came up to me to express their thanks. Moreover, to the extent that it was causing difficulties for entry and exit at the Guild..."

"Eh!?"

"At that time, because there weren't enough staff, we knights and the town's soldiers were also called in to help."

Keith seemed to be recalling that time with a wry smile.

Though I didn't say it out loud, for some reason, Barbos was very angry with me at that time.

"If that's all, it would have been fine, but..."

"Is there still something else?"

"Yes... a fan club was formed, and those people caused quite a bit of trouble for the General Guild. Even though they had no business, they came to the General Guild to greet me, and after greeting me, they didn't disband but instead talked or argued within the fan club on the spot."

"That's, like, going too far, isn't it?"

"In reality, they were banned from entering, but the fans didn't listen and kept entering the General Guild, and the Guild members gave up after the fifth warning."

"Eeeeeh~...?"

Myurina looked incredulous.

"I read the letter from Barbos, but it seems there were others."

"Yes... I was confessed to by fans, stalked, and it even reached the point where they came to the inn I was staying at."

When I was in Gozes, I really felt exhausted every day.

"That sounds like quite the ordeal."

"That's why I'd rather not have the mass zombie defeat reported so publicly... Really."

"Hmm, I see... I understand the situation. But, Elaina-chan, regardless of your position, we are obligated to report this."

Myurina said with a troubled expression, placing her hand on her cheek.

Argh!? So, it's no good even if I explain the situation!?

"Elaina, I have a proposal for you. Will you hear me out?"

A proposal? Duke Valdeck isn't the type to make threats, so it should be okay to listen, right? Plus, just listening won't cost me anything.

"Please tell me about your proposal."

"Guell will report to the king, and I will report to the other General Guild Masters. As a condition of the information restriction, it will only be shared among relevant parties, the King of Liedgarm, and the General Guild Masters in various regions. How does that sound?"

It's certainly a good proposal, but I have some concerns.

"I trust Duke Valdeck and Mr. Guell, but I can't trust people I haven't met. I can't help but feel hesitant to talk about it so easily."

"That's where this paper comes in. It's a Contract Magic Paper."

Duke Valdeck took out a rather sinister-looking black paper and showed it to me.

"What kind of paper is that?"

"Don't you know?"

"...No."

"Sigh..."

After giving a clear answer, Duke Valdeck closed his eyes, exhaled deeply, then turned to me and started speaking.

"Do you even know what's common sense and what's not...? I'm starting to worry about your future. Listen up, Elaina. I'll explain it to you, so make sure to listen carefully."

"P-Please."

I should listen for the sake of my future. And more importantly, because I promised to listen properly, please don't look so scary!!

"You must abide by the contents written on this paper without fail. If you violate the terms during the contract period, you may be branded as a criminal, and in severe cases, the contract may result in death.

Be careful when you see this paper. There may be cases where you are coerced into unfair contracts."

Even death!? Scary!!

"There is no need to go that far!"

"What? You can decide the punishment yourself when you write it. Also, this contract won't activate if the terms are too unreasonable."

If it won't activate with excessively unfair terms, then that's reassuring, but...

"Besides, my brother, I mean, the king, and the other General Guild Masters are tight-lipped individuals, so they won't mention anything about you defeating the horde of zombies."

Can I really trust that? By the way, Duke Valdeck and the king are brothers. Hmm... Alright!!

"I understand. Since you're going to such lengths, I'll trust those people!"

"Oh! That's right!!"

"However! While you'll write the contract magic paper properly, I'll be the one to determine the penalties."

"I don't mind, but what penalties will you impose?"

I felt uncomfortable thinking about that just by talking about me defeating the massive horde of zombies, they could become a criminal or even die. So, I proposed deciding the penalty myself to ensure the contract includes consequences other than death.

Alright! Let's go with that choice often used in light novels!!

"Well, for that..."

"For that?"

"It's 'Laughing so hard it hurts when you try to talk'!!"

""""""Huh!?""""""

If they laugh like that, they won't be able to talk even if they try! So, this is the best choice, right!?

"Is that really okay?"

"Yes, that's fine!"

Duke Valdeck seemed perplexed or worried, then looked at Guell and the others with furrowed brows before turning back to me.

"Understood. Let's make the contract here with those present. Wait a moment while I write it."

Duke Valdeck took out a fountain pen from his breast pocket and started writing on the contract magic paper, but I can't help but be curious about what Duke Valdeck is holding.

"Duke Valdeck."

"Hm? What is it, Elaina?"

"That's a fountain pen, right?"

"You know a lot."

"Yes, I've seen it before. Is it expensive, by any chance?"

In an era where using a quill pen is the norm, fountain pens might seem out of place, but I think they're one of the things that the hero brought to this world.

"Yeah, fountain pens are popular and expensive, so they're not easy to come by. I finally got one recently, so I'm really happy."

Duke Valdeck speaks with a relaxed expression, but he doesn't stop writing on the paper.

"I see. Please be careful not to lose it."

"I'm also careful about that, so it's fine... Alright, it's done. Elaina, please check the contents."

"Yes, understood."

I read through the paper handed to me by Duke Valdeck, confirming that there are no mistakes in the content, and the contract period is until death, with the penalty being [Laughing so hard it hurts when trying to talk about Elaina defeating the zombie horde]. There were no errors.

"...I've checked it. It's all good."

"Alright, then. Fetch the Guild Master. She should also sign the contract here."

"Duke Valdeck, I'm right here."

"Oh!?"

I was startled to hear a voice suddenly behind me.

Turning around, I saw Lamuel standing there.

"Lamuel!?"

"What's wrong, Chairman?"

"The conversation just now... No, you didn't tell anyone about Elaina defeating the zombie horde, did you?"

"It's fine, Chairman Valdeck. Don't worry."

H-How did she get into this room and come up behind me!?

"Alright, that's perfect. I want you to write your name here as well."

"Understood. Aid, bring the quill pen and ink from over there."

"Understood."

Aid took the ink and quill pen and handed them to Lamuel. Then, Lamuel started writing her name on the paper.

"Duke Valdeck, please verify."

"...Hmm, it's your name. Guell and the others, write down your names too."

"Understood. Well, I'd like to, but I won't."

"Why not?"

"I'll report to the king, so I'll do it then."

"Oh! That's right. Understood. I'll also write it when I report to the other Guild Masters. Is that alright?"

"That's fine."

Duke Valdeck and Guell aren't liars or forgetful people, so I'll trust them.

"Alright! Everyone else, write down your names."

""""Yes!""""

The knights and Instructor Aid responded, and they wrote their names on the paper in the following order: Keith, Aid, Myurina, and then Lizlina. After that, Duke Valdeck checked to make sure that everyone had properly written their names on the contract magic paper.

"Alright, everyone has written down their names. Let's finish the contract."

Those who wrote their names cut their fingers lightly with a knife and let a drop of blood fall onto the paper before starting the incantation.

""""We hereby pledge to enter into a contract with the Goddess Meltinas in the name of our own.""""

As they finished saying this, the contract magic paper glowed and disappeared.

"It finished safely."

Duke Valdeck looked relieved.

"Huh? Is that all?"

"Yeah, El-chan. Now then. El-chan was... Pfft!?"

For some reason, Lizlina covered her mouth with her hand.

"Ms. Lizlina, are you okay?"

"Hahahaha!? Ahahaha!? It hurtsh... A-Ahahaha!! He-, hel-pfft!? Hahahaha!?"

"Ms. Lizlina! Pull yourself together!"

W-Why is this happening?

Lizlina continued to laugh uncontrollably while I was worried, and by the time her laughter stopped, she was exhausted as if she had just finished running a marathon.