The picturesque rice cakes are delicious today

... so the next day. An idyllic afternoon.

Even though it's late afternoon, we're coming to a dimly lit backstreet.

"... I thought it might be somewhere in a big city, but I didn't know it was in the King's City."

Was it unexpected?

"... Lord, I thought the King's Capital or the Argent Territory might be the Gringal Territory or Gorda or something like that."

"Oh, that's pretty good."Yes. Just where you said it, there's an organization.This is where I mainly used to be.Is it okay to say "head office"? "

While listening to Laocles and Crore, I walk to the unfamiliar scenery around me.

Yes. We're coming to the capital.The backstreet of the royal capital, which is far from the section where the royal castle is located.

It seems to be called the "Dark City", where there is a secret detective's residence.

The streets are dim because of what is called the Dark City.

It's packed between buildings, and the streets are narrow.Therefore, it is difficult to reach the sunlight, and furthermore, there are tents and stalls there, so it is more and more dark.

I don't know. It's not a very beautiful place, though.

"Yeah... it's like an exotic feeling."

Sure enough, 'it's not a pretty place'.There are broken empty bottles and paper scraps rolling on the road, and even worse ones sometimes fall off.What makes the cobblestones red and black?... I wish it was wine or something.

Don't go anywhere near me.

"I know."

Laocres is proceeding with subtle vigilance because the eyes of those around him are facing us.

... if there's one more thing that makes this street [dark], it's the way people are living here.

A person who doesn't move while squatting at the end of the road.A person who is sitting and staring at the void in a daze.Quarrel-like rage rewards. Suspicious antiques line the stalls.Strangely, when I looked at the stalls lined with brilliant gems, painting plates, silverwork candlesticks, etc., Crore softly told me in my ear, "Oh, it's stolen."

... it looks like that, so somehow, it's insecure, that's all.

But it's an interesting place.

I know why Lao Cres is wary, and I know why Crore seems a little sorry.... but I'm still curious about this street.

"The tent cloth in that stall.It's an unusual weave. "

It's called exotic emotions. The impression is unmistakable.

The woven pattern of cloth used in the tent is somewhat exotic.Although it has faded and burned, it is interesting to see the state of the cloth, which was originally vivid.I don't have many opportunities to study design, so I'd like to remember this by looking at various designs and color combinations.

"Then, the vitreous perfume bottle I was selling at the street earlier."Oh, it was beautiful. A slightly distorted kanji is a more expressive expression of the smoothness of the glass...Also, the store that sold spices was interesting.It smelled good, and there was a pot full of colorful powder. "

I talked about what else had happened, thinking that there was a lot of things... suddenly, Crore's hand was stroking my head fluffily.

"... even in this place, you can see beautiful things in your eyes."

Crore, who seemed somewhat happy, said, "Fluffy, fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy f

"I've been seeing strange things for a while now."like weeds growing out of the cobblestones. "

Certainly, there was a place where little weeds were showing their faces where Crore pointed out.The heart-shaped leaves are somehow cute weeds.

"I didn't even notice such a thing before I lived in the forest."... it looks like I'm really becoming forest-like. "

Mr. Crore, who smiles gigglingly, looks so happy that I'm happy, too.

... I'm so glad that Crore lived in the woods!

Nevertheless, is this all you need as a souvenir?

I'm just worried.

Walking along the back streets, there are a lot of "stolen goods" and "illegal things".They are brilliant and have a demonic beauty... compared to that, the [souvenir] we brought seems a bit rudimentary.

"Oh, it's okay. Soleila's [Fairy Western Confectionery Shop] is now a popular shop with names in the capital.Everyone will be happy with the sweets there. "

Yes. What we brought as a souvenir was a baked goods package from a fairy Western confectionery store.There are many small paper bags with cookies and Madeleine in them, and I am walking with them.

”Besides... well, you'll be more than happy with the treats”

When I looked at Crore, she... smiled like a forest and stroked me on the cheek.

"It's okay, Mr. Togo, I've been doing my best."

... what happened?

I wonder what's okay with it.Certainly, I've been tinkering with Crore since morning and it's been like a fashion show... but does that have anything to do with souvenirs?

Aside from my doubts, we will eventually arrive in front of a building.

Most of the buildings in the back streets are old, but this building isn't old and filthy, and it's old and heavy... I felt a little different from the other buildings.

With a familiar look, Crore proceeds from the side of the door to the side of the building, not to the door of the building.When we followed it, Mr. Crore explained it to us.

"I'll give you a rough explanation of the building."This building stretches all the way into the depths.The back of it faces a normal street, and you have a normal shop.I wonder if it looks like a cafe during the day and a bar at night. "

Cheng Cheng. It seems that the residence of the detective has a "temporary appearance that endures the world".

"So this is the entrance for the people involved, but if you need to escape, you can escape from the front."Especially if you have to run away by yourself, remember that I think you should run to the front. "

"All right."

I pray that I don't have to run away on my own, but let's keep in mind that I don't have to pull the legs of Laocles and Crore in case.

"So... I wonder if there's something here that should be called the 'head office' and a desk that secret agents like me use."That's why you're here as an attractive type, an excellent detective, or a good detective to come to the head office. "

Cheng Cheng. In other words, the detectives who come here are people like Crore...

So, it's a souvenir.

Yeah.

When I talked about souvenirs, I thought it was my turn, and I nodded, and Crore smiled and said.

"Mr. Tougo, please distribute it to the women."I don't think there are that many men, but I'll give them to them. "

"Yeah... yeah?"

Isn't that more pleasant?

Yes, I wonder what it is. Well, I guess that's what Crore said.

"... that's why I made you dress up like a cane."

"Well, for one thing."Togo-kun, isn't it cute? "

I want you to wait a moment. I've been cutely finished!It wasn't the tie that wears on the collar of the shirt, it was the ribbon tie, but I thought it was normal in this world!

"Suspenders look good after all." Ufufu, it's cute. "

...... I'm getting very worried, watching Crore play around my chest trying to pull the suspender.

"Besides... well, for once, right?" It's a corner, so I made sure that you look like a "great big guy".I can't lick that one. "

"Sure, I'm wearing some gems, but..."

There are four jewels I wear. [M]Ribbon tie knots and watch-like bracelets.Also, there is one that is hooked to the suspender and one that is visible from the pocket of the bag.It was all different from a certain jewel with a summoning beast in it.On my way out, I drew and processed the gemstone that Crore had chosen from an empty box of cookies.

"Yes, it's from" "The Empty Cookie Box" "."If I had been wearing this manipulatively, it would be tough. "

Crore smiles funny, but I don't feel like it.In other words, isn't that what makes me look like a duck...

"Well, let's go, shall we?Since you're my employer, thank you. "

"Yeah..."

Somehow, I'm getting less and less confident, but let's do our best.Yep... cute finish... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

"Over here."

While being guided by Mr. Crore, we opened a kind of storage place on the side of the building... and went down the stairs that were inside.This kind of thing, it's a little jumpy.

The stairs are narrow and dark. It was a somewhat unsettling place.I can't see my feet, so I emit a magical light.Look, I borrowed a candle-like tool from Fay to practice magic control.I had one close to me, so I grabbed it and glowed, and I glowed at my feet.

And as the shoe sounded, we walked between the dazzling stone staircase and the stone wall...

"Hey, hey, hey."

A man suddenly appeared from the darkness.

I suddenly hold my breath and overwhelm myself with surprise.

"Oh, it's been a long time. How are you?"

Crore says hello... but his eyes are a little cold.

The other... the blonde man, who seemed a bit light-haired, looked at Crore somewhere in front of him and seemed to have a hard time doing it.

"Are you sure you're back...?"

"Yeah. Just a little bit."

"... what are you doing here?"

"I came to see your father."

"For what?"

"That's something you don't need to know."

Ms. Crore took a step forward, as if pushing a man, when she had a short conversation.The blonde man looked a little frightened... but suddenly, behind Crore, he looked at me and Laocles.

"Hey, hey, hey."

And then the blonde man slipped past Crore...... no, he gets close to Lao Cres.Then, approaching Lao Cres, he said, looking up at Lao Cres.

"Fuck you, Karen."

"...... Karen?"

When Laocles heard it back, the blonde man laughed, making a fool of himself.

"What, you don't even know his name?"

"I wonder what we're talking about..."

"Oh, yes, because I've already thrown that name away, right?"

Croa smiles... and takes the arm of Lao Cres.

And.

...... stretched her back and kissed Laocles's cheek.