Chapter 7: A New Enemy?! The Mysterious Rabbit Mask Strikes!

"Oh my? My, my, my?"

"...Well, well. This is quite unexpected."

At the inn’s dining hall—our usual base of operations—we were in the middle of discussing how to gather intel on the demons while stuffing our faces with cheap soup and bread meant for commoners.

"I’d heard the rumors, but to think you’d truly lowered yourself to mingling with commoners, Von Weltmund."

"My, Lady Sakura, what a pleasure. All for the sake of our goal, you see."

The gangster noblewoman’s dull brown hair swayed in the wind.

Our party, led by Karl, had just crossed paths with the noble Sakura Von Tendo, who had come to inspect the establishment.

---

"So, this inn is under the management of House Tendo?"

"Indeed. Most lodging and dining establishments in this area are affiliated with my family. It’s our primary business, after all."

Hearing that left me utterly shocked. The inn we’d been frequenting all this time was actually owned by her faction.

Today, she just happened to be here for an inspection. Then again, her family does control the underworld’s vice trade.

"Now then... Hmm. So you’re the one Irine spoke of—Karl, the so-called demon king slayer?"

"Uh, y-yes."

"...You seem rather unreliable. Is this talk of the demon king’s revival even true?"

"I-It is! I mean, even I find it hard to believe."

Commoner Karl was flustered, suddenly put on the spot by a noble. But the nobles in this town are just gangsters-turned-fake-aristocrats—no need to be so nervous.

"And why should I believe something even you find dubious? How utterly suspicious. Are you certain this man isn’t a fraud, Lady Weltmund?"

"I don’t take idle gossip at face value. Every action I take is based on my own judgment of character."

"If you insist, then I’ll say no more."

Sakura looked down at the visibly unreliable Karl with half-lidded eyes.

Well, if you just hear the story, he does sound like a complete con artist. "The demon king’s returning, so fund our cause!"—who’d believe that?

"...Karl is not a fraud."

"My, my, that’s exactly what a fraudster would say."

"...Tch."

"Lev, calm down."

"And now the child is misbehaving. This is why commoners are so difficult to associate with—so uncouth."

Says the one whose family is literally in organized crime.

"Nobles really do vary by household, huh? Some look down on commoners from the start, while others actually listen."

"My, my. Don’t you think those who are looked down upon earn that treatment?"

"Did we do something to you?"

"Maika, please, stay calm."

Maika glared at Sakura with clear displeasure.

Whoa, this is getting tense. Why pick a fight, both of you?

"If we show you proof of the demon invasion, you’ll cooperate with us, correct? Sakura Von Tendo. I’ll be sure to visit you again soon."

"Well, I doubt that day will ever come. But by all means, I shall patiently await your return, Irine Von Weltmund."

With a smirk, Sakura spun halfway around.

"Now then, farewell—"

Before anyone could return the gesture, she vanished on the spot—like smoke dissipating into the air.

"...Huh?"

—Teleportation? Invisibility? No way, that’s high-tier arcane magic!

Even Maika and the others were wide-eyed in shock. Despite being little more than a glorified gangster, Sakura was still nobility—she must’ve had proper magical training. But to this extent?

"She’s gone..."

"...Was that magic? Teleportation? Can you do that, Irine?"

"Not at all. That type of magic is outside my expertise—I lack the aptitude. Besides, that’s advanced arcane mastery. My strengths lie in offensive magic, like what I demonstrated on the plains."

More like, I never studied hard enough.

Big, flashy "BOOM!" spells? Easy, I can cast those on instinct. But anything requiring intricate magical theory? No clue.

Real mages are insanely smart. Gotta make sure they don’t figure out I’m just a muscle-brain compared to Sakura.

"Well, everyone, look at it this way—if someone that powerful is willing to help once we show proof of the demons, that’s a good thing."

"Hmm. I appreciate the help, but I really don’t like her. She talked down to us so much."

"Nobles are all like that..."

...So they’ve taken a dislike to her, huh?

Hmm. Ironically, Sakura’s one of the more reasonable nobles in this city.

Guess commoners and nobles are just fundamentally incompatible. The exploited and the exploiters.

"Let’s forget the unpleasantness and focus on today’s plans."

"Right. How about taking on a group quest as adventurers? We could gather intel from fellow travelers while earning some coin. Even with Lady Irine’s family backing us, we shouldn’t get complacent about funds."

"Do we all have to take the quest? I’d rather focus on information gathering..."

Well, for now, let’s just—

...Rustle, rustle.

"...Huh, an insect?"

"Lady Irine, something wrong?"

"No, it’s just..."

For a second, I thought I heard the sound of something skittering. But this is a dining hall—better not say anything careless.

I glanced around, ready to discreetly squash any roaches if needed—

"Ah."

—There she was.

Near the entrance, hidden under a table, was the same haughty noblewoman from earlier—Sakura, her ears burning red, shuffling awkwardly.

...Turns out, she hadn’t teleported at all. She’d tripped completely silently mid-stride and faceplanted into nothing.

"...It’s nothing. Just my imagination."

"Ah, got it."

Still crouched in hiding, Sakura stealthily slipped out of the inn. After all that grandstanding, she must’ve been too embarrassed to get up after wiping out.

Nobles are creatures of pride. Out of warrior’s mercy, we’ll pretend we saw nothing.

---

"Oh, isn't this nice?"

"You think so too, Maika?"

Around noon that day, we finally fulfilled our long-standing wish and bought new equipment.

"Whoa, this feels perfect. Exactly like the sword I used to swing back in my homeland."

"It does look a bit long for your height, Karl."

"Nah, it's fine. I love this solid, weighty feel."

The longsword—something Karl couldn’t afford on his meager income—was a rugged, unadorned blade with a stark, utilitarian beauty.

Karl stared at his sword, cheeks flushed, utterly enchanted. This guy might just be a weapon otaku.

And yet, he turned pale as a ghost when he saw me naked.

"Aren’t you two buying anything, Maika?"

"I’ve restocked my arrows, so I’m good. Besides, Lev says the quality here isn’t anything special."

"...Yeah. Most of it’s mid-tier at best, so don’t get your hopes up."

Maika and Lev didn’t buy any new gear. Partly to save money, but mostly because their own weapons were still superior. Since they hadn’t degraded yet, they’d keep using them as usual.

Meaning, this round of shopping was just for me and Karl.

"So, Irine, how’s your new gear? Think you can wear it?"

"Easily. Though… I expected something a bit sturdier."

"...Heavy armor just tires you out. For women, bikini armor is standard."

"But I can enhance my strength..."

"Full plate doesn’t suit women."

And then there was my so-called armor.

What kind of nonsense is "bikini armor that only covers the vitals"?!

Seriously, do female adventurers actually wear this stuff? All I can think is how ridiculously lewd it looks!

"Full plate is seriously heavy. You gotta be used to metal gear to handle it."

"And it chafes pretty bad. The pressure points get raw and red real quick."

"...Well, I’ll make do with this for now. But next time, I am getting full armor."

"Uh, magic users wearing heavy armor is kinda weird to begin with? Most stick to light gear."

I could handle full plate no problem. But if I turned into a buff muscle-woman, it’d ruin the family’s reputation...

"Try it on once we’re back in the room. If it’s too heavy to move in, we’ll return it."

"...Understood."

Ugh, guess I’ll have to endure this for a while.

I really wanted full plate… It would’ve been such great training...

---

"BWAAAAAH?!"

Back in the room, I changed into the new gear as instructed and went to show the others.

"Irine?! What are you wearing?!"

"Huh? Oh, just the bikini armor you got me."

Sure enough, it was very revealing.

But from now on, I’d have to wander around like this, so I’d better get used to it.

"O-oh..."

"...Pervert."

"Cover yourself! The—the front!"

The moment they saw me in my new gear, Maika’s face turned bright red, and she completely lost it.

Did I mess up again?

"UNDERGARMENTS!! You can’t just wear the bikini armor alone! Put something underneath!"

"Eh, really?"

"Everything’s practically on display! I can see things!"

"...Right, you are a clueless rich girl. Listen, Irine, bikini armor is meant to be worn with tights underne—"

"Stop explaining so calmly while staring! Karl, turn around!!"

Turns out, wearing bikini armor without anything underneath was considered perverted in this world. Huh. Guess I got too hung up on my past-life image.

Makes sense. Sideboob’s practically out, and it’s basically lingerie. Yeah, this is pervert-tier. Glad to know my sense of shame isn’t broken.

"...I’ll teach you how to wear it properly."

"Ah, thank you."

As I stood there scratching my cheek in embarrassment, Lev—of all people—grabbed my hand with a resigned look.

"Come to my room."

"O-okay."

Pulled along by this small, animal-like girl, I left the room.

I never expected her to reach out to me. Maybe she’s starting to warm up?

The bikini armor was a mistake, but if this helps me get closer to Lev, then—

"And stop trying to seduce Karl."

"Y-yes, ma’am."

Never mind. That was a warning.

So they are in a love triangle. Figures.

---

"Ah, right. Irine, there’s something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it, Karl?"

"Well… I was just wondering, what kind of place is it where you’re working…?"

That evening, just as I was about to head out for my usual part-time job, Karl stopped me.

Hmm, so it’s that question. Good thing I’ve already prepared an answer.

"You remember Lady Sakura, the noble’s daughter? Thanks to her introduction, I’ve been working as a waitress at a dining establishment."

"Ah, I see. So that’s how it is. That’s good to hear."

"I’m sorry, but please keep it a secret from Sakura that I’m the one working there. She introduced me under the pretense of 'recommending an acquaintance' for the job."

"Got it, understood. Right, it’d be bad for your reputation if people knew Irine herself was working there."

"Precisely."

In situations like this, the trick is to avoid outright lies—instead, mix a pinch of deception with truth and let it harden into something believable. Far less likely to fall apart, and harder to detect in your demeanor.

"Well then, I’ll be off."

"Yeah, do your best."

And just like that, I’d successfully fooled Karl. Alright, time to work hard again today.

But little did I know at the time…

I never could have imagined that he of all people would be waiting for me at my destination—

────

As usual, I walked the nighttime streets.

Disguised in cheap leather gear and a monkey mask, I came across them.

"……Wha—!?"

Those incomprehensible figures stood silently in the darkened city.

Two silhouettes, illuminated by a bonfire, their robe-like ethnic garments fluttering faintly in the wind.

────They stood there, staring straight at me.

"……"

They weren’t part of any gang—that much was obvious at a glance.

Those thugs would never wear something with such a dangerously suspicious aura.

"────"

The figures on the other side seemed slightly shaken upon seeing me too.

Had my bizarre appearance startled them? But no matter how you looked at it, they were the sketchy ones here.

A grinning, twisted rabbit mask.

Two rabbit ears, one of which was inexplicably torn and shorter than the other.

A robe covered in carrot patterns, radiating an utterly bizarre presence.

────Even if you crammed every word meaning "suspicious" in this world together, you still wouldn’t find one that could properly describe these freaks.

They were practically Suspicion Incarnate.

"Th-The Monkey Mask…?"

"Wh-What kind of shady person is this…? How can someone that suspicious even exist…?"

For a few seconds, we just glared at each other.

What were these guys after? They looked human, but for all I knew, they could be demons in disguise.

Technically, I was a bodyguard hired by Sakura. For the sake of this city’s security, I figured I’d do a little professional questioning.

"You two over there—the sketchy ones! Who the hell are you!?"

"We don’t wanna hear that from you!!"

Tch, smartasses. You’re a hundred times more suspicious than I am!!

"We merely adopt this appearance to live in secrecy. What, pray tell, is your reason for dressing like that?"

"If you wanted to live in secrecy, you’d pick something less noticeable!! What kind of reason could you possibly have for looking like walking red flags!?"

"W-Well, I said the same thing, but the young la—ahem, but Rabbit Warrior No. 1 insisted on this outfit!!"

"You call yourselves Rabbit Warriors!?"

The smiling rabbit mask, illuminated by the night, was downright eerie. Their clownish way of speaking made it impossible to steer the conversation.

"What’s your problem, approaching us out of nowhere!? We’ll call the guard patrol on you, you creepy monkey weirdo!! You’re scary and unsettling!!"

"Fine by me! Let’s have the guards decide which of us is actually suspicious!"

And so, on that day… I met the two suspicious individuals who would become my lifelong rivals.