Arriving at the cathedral, it had been transformed into a "League of Heroes" facility!
Though this was the heart of the Theocracy, Heroes rarely needed combat assistance, support for family visits was still needed!
This city, once named after a noble family, was now…
Forever City!
(Hero Family Support City)
At the cathedral, the believers offered the four Heroes a rest.
Ariana refused, immediately beginning to gather information from the believers, preferring to understand the situation before resting.
As for Anyi and the other two, the believers had no assignments for them; they were told to rest.
However, Anyi had a plan.
Not going home, but something more important.
Taking Miruku home.
He placed the seemingly lifeless Miruku in the carriage. Hearing they were leaving, Ariana rushed over, asking Anyi;
"You won't stay to finish the work with me?!" Ariana whined.
Anyi got into the carriage: "After you finish your work, I'll take you to my and Mr. Layton's homes.
Now, I'm taking Miss Miruku home."
Ariana: "Ai——!!!"
Anyi: "You have your work to do; we'll be back soon."
Ariana looked a little dejected: "Fine…
But why take Miruku home separately?"
"Because, she won't want to go home once she wakes up," Anyi explained briefly.
Ariana: "That…"
Layton: "Holy Maiden sama, please attend to your work! Anyi and I will go ahead!
We'll take Little Miruku home!"
"…Alright." Ariana felt something was amiss.
Without further ado, Anyi and Layton boarded the carriage, the sleeping Miruku oblivious to the events unfolding.
As the carriage departed, believers arrived to urge Ariana to resume her work. She suddenly slapped her forehead!
"Ah!" Ariana exclaimed.
The believers were startled.
"Holy Maiden sama, what's wrong?
You suddenly made such a loud noise?"
"I understand!" Ariana said excitedly, "I know what's wrong!
Normally, Anyi wouldn't care if Miruku went home or not!"
He doesn't care about that kind of thing!
Even if he did care, it would be related to combat or monster extermination.
Why would he care about Miruku going home?!
Something's wrong!
But after realizing this, Ariana hung her head in despair…
He didn't take me along!!
...
"Right, Anyi, why did we take Little Miruku home separately?" Layton asked, echoing Ariana's question.
He knew Anyi avoided trouble; this sudden "trouble" was uncharacteristic.
"Because we need to deal with the Succubi," Anyi said.
"Succubi?!" Layton exclaimed, "Are there Succubi in the city?!"
"I don't know," Anyi shook his head.
Anyi and Layton sat together; Miruku slept on the opposite side.
"Therefore, we need Miss Miruku's family's assistance," Anyi said, looking at Miruku.
"But Succubi don't kill people, do they? Is it necessary to deal with them?" Layton asked.
Layton's question was a common misconception; many believe Succubi wouldn't directly harm humans, thus not requiring intervention.
Many humans, even past-life Heroes, thought this way, making Layton's question understandable.
But…
"Even if they don't kill people, can you accept monsters living in your city?
Knowing monsters are in the city, would you still feel safe?
If, one day, monsters invade human territory, colluding with these Succubi, and you're far away fighting monsters, what then?" Anyi countered.
Layton was speechless, scratching his head.
True, if that were the case, even if they weren't currently harming people, they could indirectly or directly harm Hero families later.
"Right, I didn't consider that," Layton chuckled, then asked, "So, are we going to kill them this time?
I remember last time we let the Succubi escape?"
Anyi, in his past life, would have killed every Succubus. But now…
"No killing," Anyi shook his head, looking out the window, "Their value surpasses the experience points they provide."
...
Miruku opened her eyes.
She was in a bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
「I've been brought to the believers' quarters…」
What time is it? How long did I sleep?
"Miss, good morning."
A maid's respectful voice came from beside her.
"Hmm…"
Miruku responded casually, then sat up abruptly!
"Lena?!" She recognized the familiar voice!
It was her personal maid!
"Yes, Miss. Do you need anything?" the maid smiled.
"Wait! Where am I?!" Miruku looked around.
"Miss, you're home. Three months of monster extermination, you must be tired," Lena said softly.
"Aaaaa——!!" Miruku frantically pulled her hair, "I didn't want to come home!
Wake up! Wake up!!"
Miruku repeatedly banged her head on the pillow, then rolled around on the bed, clutching her head.
Why?! Why?!
Why am I home?!
"Miss, this isn't a dream," Lena said calmly; she was used to Miruku's outbursts.
"Why am I home?!" Miruku stopped and asked.
"Why… Because Sword Hero-sama and Shield Hero-sama brought you back.
They're both very handsome, Miss. Which one do you prefer?" Lena asked with a smile.
"Don't suddenly bring up irrelevant romance topics!" Miruku slammed her hands on the bed.
Her mind raced.
What now?! They must have seen my parents!
An image flashed in her mind——
Father: "I know those two, the renowned Sword Hero-sama and Shield Hero-sama!
Not being able to meet the Holy Maiden is a pity!
My useless daughter, Miruku, hasn't achieved any fame among such outstanding Heroes; it truly saddens me!
Ah… I set my expectations too high."
Anyi: "It's fine, she's just useless. We three carried her without any pressure."
Layton: "Exactly! Useless is useless! I don't care!"
Father: "Ha ha ha ha ha——!!"
Layton: "Ha ha ha ha ha——!!"
Anyi: "…"
…
"Eaaa——!!" Miruku cried, clutching her head, "No… No!
Father?! Where's Father?!"
Lena paused: "The head of the family… isn't currently in this city."
Miruku: "…A?"
"Father… isn't here?" Miruku looked at Lena questioningly.
Lena nodded: "Yes, the head of the family is still at the ancestral home; he hasn't moved here.
Currently, only the servants who usually attend to you are in this residence."
"A?" Miruku was stunned again, "Why didn't he move?"
"With your intelligence, Miss, you shouldn't need much explanation." Lena smiled.
"Ah…"
Miruku quickly figured it out.
Her family, unlike other Heroes, lived deep within human territory, unlike those on the border.
Essentially, they didn't need protection.
Her family was a renowned assassin clan, under the rule of a lord, training personnel for him.
Unlike mercenaries, they received direct protection and aid from the lord.
Publicly visible was only the tip of the iceberg. The members secretly serving the family and lord were the true guarantors of their safety.
That territory wasn't near monsters; the main threat came from other nations. Thus…
How could Miruku's father, the head of a large family, abandon his base overnight and relocate to Aldrich Theocracy?
The personnel here were previously in Miruku's service.
Trained from a young age, they were Miruku's maids and attendants, directly under her.
Like a carrot in a hole, with Miruku gone, they had no other purpose within the family.
They were idle anyway; the Theocracy had provided an empty residence for them.
"Take me back… where are they? Have they left?" Miruku asked.
"Not yet, but… the two Hero-sama intend to request some information from us.
Though they're your important friends, our family rules prohibit providing assistance to outsiders.
Without your or the head of the family's permission, we cannot provide information.
We're currently negotiating with them; we'll wait for your decision," Lena explained.
"Information? What information?" Miruku was puzzled.
Lena: "It's not suitable for you to know."
Miruku: "How can I decide if I don't know?!"
Lena: "Alright, they're asking about the location of brothels."
Miruku: "…"
Did I just hear something I shouldn't have?
Their families are in this city!
Without even seeing their families, they're looking for brothels?!
But, if they meet their families, they'd have to hide their whereabouts, so it's better to go while the Holy Maiden is busy.
Men still have those needs…
Miruku's face flushed slightly.
But…!
Mr. Anyi aside, shouldn't Mr. Layton be home with his wife?!
Perhaps he wants to spice things up with his wife?
Are married men like this? Completely… incomprehensible!
"Right," Lena suddenly remembered something, "They said they were looking for a brothel with exceptionally high return rates, the best business, good enough to drive all competitors out.
A place where men who visit once never seek others."
"…Tell them," Miruku sighed in relief.
So that's it.
They're looking for a Succubus brothel.
Miruku quickly reacted.
In her mind, Anyi was an absolute celibate!
His mind was only on hunting and slaying monsters; why would he seek women?!
She couldn't imagine what a lustful Anyi would be like!
"Then…" Miruku said, "Tell them the information.
Help me change; I'll go with them to find what they're looking for."
Lena's eyes widened slightly: "Is it because it's your first time, so you want to go with someone experienced to avoid nervousness?"
Miruku's face flushed crimson: "What are you talking about?!
We're going on official business!!"
Lena: "Alright, Miss, should we inform the head of the family to perform the ceremony?"
Miruku: "No! You're misunderstanding!!"
Lena chuckled: "Okay."
She knew Miruku's personality; she was just teasing her.
After all…
She couldn't imagine the usually timid Miruku acting so boldly in front of others.
...
As an assassin family, they naturally had intelligence personnel assigned to Miruku.
Their first task in this city was gathering surface and underground intelligence.
Even the cleanest city couldn't hide the shadows lurking beneath.
So, Anyi asking about that kind of place…
Was expected!
"Thank you," Anyi murmured to Miruku, who walked beside him.
"A… Um," Miruku nodded weakly.
She knew she hadn't done anything; without her intelligence network, she couldn't have provided any help.
Walking through a dark alley, Layton sighed, "This city seems so holy.
I didn't expect places like that to exist…"
"There… there…" Miruku stammered.
Anyi finished her sentence: "Where there's demand, there's a market.
Where there are men, there will be such places."
"Right!" Miruku nodded vigorously, then hastily said, "I wasn't talking about you!"
Realizing she'd nodded while talking about men, Miruku felt she'd offended Anyi and Layton.
"Ha ha ha—— I know, I know!" Layton laughed heartily.
They were used to Miruku's personality.
She was overly sensitive.
Even simple words made her overthink, worrying about unintentional offenses.
Hypersensitivity wasn't entirely negative for her.
She mostly gathered intelligence; her strong analytical skills allowed her to quickly process information.
Seeing Miruku walking silently beside him, Anyi thought of something and asked:
"Disappointed at not seeing your parents?"
"A? Ah! No!" Miruku quickly waved her hands, "Quite the opposite!"
Anyi: "No need to force yourself. Cry if you need to."
Miruku: "…"
Who wants to cry!!
She'd cry if her parents were actually here!
"Is that it?"
In the distance, Layton pointed to a large door. Several beautiful women and girls stood at the entrance, using seductive poses even in broad daylight, scanning the surroundings.
They noticed Anyi and Layton, but seeing the two with a young girl, they merely glanced and didn't approach.
"Yes, this is it," Anyi nodded.
From a distance, he could already smell the Succubi's unique scent.
On the way, Anyi whispered instructions: "Use monster language when interacting with the Succubi."
"Okay," Layton responded.
Miruku heard but remained silent.
It wasn't her turn to speak…
Soon, the three arrived before the shop, under the questioning gazes of the Succubi. They'd seen men arrive alone or in groups, but two men with a young girl was unprecedented.
Perhaps…they were helping the girl find her father?
They didn't offer such services; even as Succubi, they wouldn't casually reveal client information.
"Three gentlemen, may I ask…" a Succubus approached.
Anyi spoke: "Is your superior here? (Monster language)"
The Succubus froze.
…Huh?
What strange dialect was this customer speaking?
She looked to her peers, who were equally confused.
Anyi again used monster language: "Where is your superior? I need to see her."
The Succubi exchanged glances, completely bewildered.
Succubi working in such places were essentially "local demons."
They didn't use monster language in human territory; most hadn't learned their "mother tongue."
"They don't seem to understand," Anyi said in monster language, gesturing towards the Succubi.
Layton feigned a sleepy expression: "Then use human language to communicate with them. (Monster language)"
Unsure if the Succubi understood monster language, they needed to act.
Seeing Layton's confused expression, a Succubus approached, trying to appease them: "Um… gentlemen, we've never learned those languages."
"Gibberish, Makka Pakka?" a Succubus attempted to respond.
Another Succubus elbowed her: "What nonsense are you saying?"
"Well… what if they understand?" the Succubus muttered.
Anyi: "Alright, my previous statement was a request for your manager to come out."
"Look, he understands."
"What's it to you!"
"Gentlemen, do you wish to see our madam?" a Succubus asked.
"Correct. It's not like you need reservations to see your madam?" Anyi asked.
"Yes," the Succubus nodded, smiling, "To see our madam, you need a three-day advance reservation.
She's a very busy woman."
The highest-ranking individual in the establishment would receive important clients; unannounced visits could lead to conflicts.
"She's busier now?" Anyi glanced at the sky.
"Um… sir, that's our rule," the Succubus said respectfully.
"Rules? What if I'm looking for your manager… regarding a monster?" Anyi said flatly.
All the Succubi's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was a Hero family support city; they knew about human monster-slaying Heroes.
Their bodies weren't as strong as other monsters; if discovered, they'd be in grave danger!
Their secret was now revealed!
"Don't be afraid, we used monster language just now; we're not your enemies.
Can we see your manager now?" Anyi asked.
"I… I'll inform her!" A Succubus quickly ran inside.
The other Succubi eyed the three vigilantly; they clearly smelled human.
Why would humans claim to use monster language?
They didn't even know monster language!
Furthermore, the trio's language sounded more like monster language than another country's.
If they intended to harm the manager, the Succubi would fight back!
Layton and Miruku were filled with questions, but they didn't ask.
Even Layton wasn't foolish enough to ask directly.
After about 10 minutes, a gentle, quiet Succubus with short hair hurried out.
Seeing Anyi and the others, she assessed them for a few seconds before asking seriously: "Are you three clients from the monster side?"
Anyi shook his head: "Not exactly, but what I'm about to discuss concerns the future of all your Succubi."
The Succubus pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Then you're… similar to us."
She didn't specify what "similar" meant; it was a vague statement to probe Anyi's intentions.
Anyi nodded slightly: "Yes.
We're here to exchange information."
The Succubus's eyes widened slightly, before she nodded: "Alright, follow me. I'll take you to our madam."
Anyi: "Let's go."
Layton: "???"
They agreed so easily?!
He didn't understand the situation, but Miruku did.
The Succubi were in human territory for two reasons: to make a living and…
To gather intelligence.
Despite their seemingly frivolous nature, they were essentially the city's "information brokers."
They gathered information from various clients.
Most was useless for monsters, but their intelligence-gathering ability was top-notch.
Their superior, the manager, filtered this information and passed useful intelligence to the monsters.
When Anyi mentioned "intelligence," it confirmed his identity to them.
They walked a long corridor with numerous rooms. The deeper they went, the fewer rooms there were, until they reached a turn, entering a corridor with no rooms on either side.
A red carpet stretched along the corridor, leading to a single door at its end.
"Madam,"
The Succubus knocked.
"Madam, three clients have arrived," she said.
"Let them in," a seductive voice replied.
The door opened; the three entered, the Succubus remaining outside to close the door.
Inside, the spacious, luxurious room was devoid of furniture, save for a golden screen dividing the room, behind which was a large bed.
A figure could be vaguely seen reclining on the bed, seemingly avoiding direct contact.
"Greetings, you must be the manager of this establishment. (Monster language)" Anyi began in monster language.
The figure chuckled: "Humans using monster language… rare clients indeed."
She responded in monster language.
"So… why have three clients come to visit? (Monster language)" she asked.