Chapter 426: Velmeria's Tears

After repelling the attack of the magic sword, we had retreated to a mansion in the noble district. This is the mansion where we first met Count Bailleys.

In fact, I wanted to report to Count Bailleys on various matters and discuss our future moves with Frederick and the others……

『Fran, get up』

「Unya…」

『Come on, we have to discuss our future moves with the count』

「Nyumu～…」

Last night, Fran was so sleepy that we couldn't talk at all. Count Bailleys went out of his way to greet her, but she was asleep while standing.

I was really glad that the Count was the tolerant type. He smiled and forgave her. However, as expected, I couldn't keep him waiting again today.

『Come on, get up』

「Mu~…」

『Hai, I'll wipe your face』

「Muyu―」

『We need to fix your bed hair, so don't move a bit.』

「Uaa~」

What a 15 minutes exchange.

「Good morning, Master」

『Ou, good morning』

Fran managed to wake up, and the next thing she do is rubbing her stomach and looking sad.

「…I'm hungry」

『Hai hai. In the meantime, you can put this in your stomach.』

Last night, after the battle, she slept without eating. Well, I predicted that she would be starving in the morning. I took out some snacks such as rice balls and sandwiches and laid them out in front of Fran.

The mansion would have prepared breakfast for her, but they would not be able to handle Fran's appetite. It would be better to fill her stomach first.

『Urushi too』

「woof!」

「Munch Munch」

15 minutes later.

「oof oof!」

「Munch munch」

Fran and Urushi were having their second breakfast in the dining room of Count Bailley's residence.

「What do you mean!」

「――……」

「I can't accept that I'm being left out!」

「――……」

A loud angry voice was coming from upstairs. It was Velmeria's voice. She seemed to be arguing with someone, but I couldn't hear the other person's voice. Velmeria must have yelled very loudly.

「Excuse me!」

Bam, A sound of a door being roughly closed can be heard along with Velmeria's voice. Then, I heard the sound of someone running down the stairs.

As expected, it was Velmeria running into the dining room with a flushed face.

「Velmeria?」

「Fran…」

「What's wrong?」

「No, nothing…excuse me」

When she comes face to face with Fran, Velmeria stopped for a moment. However, she quickly turns her head and leaves the place in a hurry.

(Velmeria, crying)

『Yea』

What on earth had happened? With tears welling up in the corners of her bloodshot eyes and her teeth clenched, Velmeria's figure seemed fragile, as if she was about to collapse on the spot.

That Fran stopped eating and wondered if she should go after Velmeria. That's how weak she was.

However, Fran could not go after Velmeria. She was called by a new person entering the dining room.

「Fran, Sidre-sama called you」

「Velmeria, what's wrong?」

「…don't mind her」

「I'm concerned」

「…I can't talk about it」

As long as the tight-lipped Frederick couldn't tell me, he wouldn't tell me even if I persisted.

『Fran, we're not going to get anywhere by arguing here. Let's just go to the Count's place.』

「…understood」

Frederick guided Fran in, looking somewhat relieved. And in the office where she was guided in, Count Bailleys with a tired-looking face was sitting on a sofa.

「So you've come, Black Lightning Princess. I would like to discuss our future plans immediately, do you mind?」

「Nn」

「First of all, thank you for all the information. Thanks to you, I was able to get permission to enter Count Olmes' villa without any problems. Even if it's owned by a marquis family, they can't object with the decisions of the royal family」

The villa belonging to Count Olmes is now the property of the Marquis Ashtner, but I guess they can't resist if it's in the name of investigating a case.

No, in the past, he might have defied us. However, his power has declined due to his repeated blunders, so now, he can no longer resist. He must have lost his ability to manipulate from behind the scenes.

「We haven't received permission to enter the Marquis' residence yet, but if the investigation of the villa produces evidence, we should be able to use it as a reason to investigate the main residence.」

「Nn. What should i do?」

「I need your help in raiding the Olmes residence tonight. What do you think?」

Today? That was crazy fast. Fran seemed to think so too, and was surprised.

「To night? so quick」

「The longer we wait, the more likely for them to notice. What's wrong with that?」

「Unn. That's fine」

「I see. In the meantime, you'll be treated as a collaborator hired from the outside, just like Colbert. You'll be working under Colbert's direction in the field, is that okay?」

「Nn」

「I'm grateful」

Seeing Fran nodding, for some reason Count Bailleys looked relieved. Was he worried that Fran might not be able to wait and go off on her own?

「I know you're capable, but in this case, Colbert knows how to do it better than you do.」

I can understand from his words. Count Bailleys had seen the match in which Fran had defeated Colbert. That's why he was worried that Fran might say that she was uncomfortable following the instructions of an opponent who was weaker than her.

Knock Knock

「Who is it?」

「It's Colbert」

The man who appeared there at the right moment was Colbert himself. But there was a hint of confusion on his face.

「Ahh, excuse me. I passed miss Velmeria back there, but is something wrong?」

Oh, good one Colbert. You just asked the question we were afraid to ask!

「…It's not a big deal, but. I told her I'd remove her from the investigation of Count Olmes' residence tonight, but she wasn't happy about it.」

「You're going to remove Miss Velmeria? Why? I'm sure she's quite skilled. At least she's a better scout than I am.」

「This was a pretense. she has gotten a little better at it, but she's still immature. and she's not as strong as you guys」

If we compare our fighting prowess only, that would be true. However, as Colbert said, the true value of Velmeria lies in her scouting skills. Rather, I’m sure she is suitable for searching inside the villa. I think the Count does not understand that……

Is there some other reason?

「Velmeria, crying」

「……I know. But it's not the kind of place where you can take inexperienced people.」

The Count replies to Fran's words in a weak tone. But it's a lie. It seems that Colbert has figured it out. He stares at the Count with sharp eyes.

「Count. I understand that Miss Velmeria is cute, but she's an adult now. You can't keep her away from danger forever, can you?」

「…ugh」

He was simply being overprotective while saying all the right things. The look of dismay on the Count's face showed that Colbert's point was right on the spot.

I guess even if you're an outstanding warrior, a parent will always be a parent aren't they.

「Isn't that why you're teaming her up with Frederick, so that she can get some experience?」

「A-anyway! I'm not taking Velmeria with me on this raid!」

Colbert shook his head in dismay at his words, and Frederick slumped his shoulders in disappointment.

「Thi-this is my final decision!」

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