Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At the Eternal Kingdom Adventurerâs Guild located in Winterfellâs old district.
âItâs like this, we want to recruit 50 warriors to take charge of the conference security. I hope that you can make arrangements as soon as possible. If possible, let them gather at the Winterfell East Gate and report to me.â
A Werewolf in a western suit sat inside the office of the Adventurerâs Guild and spoke to the Succubus.
âDonât worry, weâll arrange for suitable warriors to report to you tomorrow.â
Evelynn recorded the details as she asked, âWhich category would you like to register? Is it C, B, or A?â
âI havenât heard of the Adventurerâs Guildâs categories. Hmm, considering the importance of the conference, I think itâs more appropriate to register for A,â the Werewolf nodded and said solemnly.
âCategory A? Hmm, the price will be slightly higher. Are you sure?â
Evelynn was taken aback as she didnât expect the client to choose the category A.
âWeâre sure,â the Werewolf nodded and said.
Evelynn confirmed the clientâs choice and recorded in her book: Winterfell Annual Hairdresser Association Conference, mission category A.
After the registration procedure, Evelynn stood up and politely bade the Werewolf farewell.
Evelynn went back to the office and took out a small book, recording the registered mission.
Though Evelynn was only a receptionist and the actual mission registrations were made by Bru, she would faithfully record down all accepted missions.
Though it wasnât really useful, she felt better. Otherwise, she felt like she was sponging off Lord Sherlock.
The newly registered mission appeared on the mission panel, which was only accessible by the gamers.
A few gamers from the Meat Vegetable Rice Alliance accepted this category A mission. Evelynn had worked there for a few months, and although she wasnât fully aware of all of the Guilds and their names, she recognized the familiar faces of the Guild members.
Due to recent events involving Eternal Kingdom, the reputation of the Adventurerâs Guild was spread far and wide. Many Winterfell residents and other Dungeon Lords would visit the Adventurerâs Guild to contract the services of the reliable gamers.
The gamers wouldnât quit before meeting their goals. The clients of the Adventurerâs Guild said that they had only contracted the services of five to ten warriors, but they felt that they were being serviced by tens to hundreds of warriors.
As the contracted missions were completed all the time by the resilient gamers, a reliable reputation was created for the Adventurerâs Guild.
The gamers not only served as workers for house chores, but they also provided comprehensive services for conferences and ceremonies.
However, the charges remained the same. The Adventurerâs Guild wouldnât reject clients if there was money to be made.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The gamers didnât care if the work was meaningful or suitable for their statuses.
While Evelynn was recording the new mission, Brainiac walked in as usual.
He put his briefcase on the table and sat down.
Evelynn looked worriedly at Brainiac and said, âBrainiac, are you alright? We were worried when you went missing.â
âIâm alright. There was a problem, so I went out with Lord Sherlock. Donât worry about me.â
After the incursion of Frangipani at Specter College was resolved, Brainiac didnât go back to work at the Adventurerâs Guild immediately. Instead, he was busy concocting the Fireproofing Potions, which were meant for the gamers of Victoria City. They were going to use the Potions when they fought against the Wyvern.
Sherlock gave this task importance because Queen Victoria had requested the Potions.
The Fireproofing Potions were concocted successfully and sent to Victoria City by the gamers. Hence, Brainiac returned to work at the Adventurerâs Guild.
He wouldnât be staying at the Adventurerâs Guild for long, as he had to work at the Magical Items Creation Workshop and Alchemy Workshop.
After greeting Brainiac, Evelynn continued with her work. Brainiac was reticent and didnât converse much with Evelynn.
The gamers in front of Evelynn said, âGosh, we havenât asked Brainiac and Missy Succubus!â
âWhat are you asking?â
âItâs about the black kitten, Polio, learning about ballroom etiquette. Yesterday, a gamer triggered Polioâs Strange Encounter Mission. Have you forgotten about it?â
âWasnât the mission aborted as discussed on the forum? Is it still valid? If so, it wonât be a Strange Encounter Mission anymore!â
âOf course, the mission is still valid. If you can tell Polio how to be a qualified dance partner, heâll give you a reward. Anyway, heâll say that youâre fooling him, and the reward will be denied. Itâs a mystery how this mission is to be completed!â
Evelynn overhead the gamersâ complaints and pondered hard.
Evelynn remembered that Polio was Lord Sherlockâs pet. Why did Polio ask the gamers about ballroom etiquette?
Her intuition told her that things werenât that simple.
âCan you tell me what happened? Why is Polio learning ballroom etiquette? I attended Winterfellâs Ball with Lord Sherlock, so Iâm able to help him,â Evelynn said softly.
The eye sockets of Brainiac lit up when Evelynn was talking to the gamers. Brainiac took out his journal and observed intently while taking notes.
The gamers werenât interested in Brainiacâs behavior. Instead, they were curious about the strange behavior of Evelynn.
Evelynn seemed interested in the Ball. Perhaps it was a series of Strange Encounter Missions?
âOf course, we know about it. Weâll tell you!â a gamer said immediately. Before he finished speaking, Evelynn took out an item from her pocket and passed it to him.
That was Evelynnâs titbit for afternoon tea. As a girl, it was hard to work without titbits.
The gamers didnât have to receive Magic Stones as a reward as long as they were compensated. Evelynn knew that they would be just as happy.
The gamers took Evelynnâs titbit and started talking.
âLord Sherlock is going to Winterfell for a Ball. I heard this from the customer service Black Dragon.â
âHe chose Polio to accompany him, but Polio doesnât know anything about ballroom etiquette.â
âIt was difficult for us. We thought for a day on how to teach him.â
Evelynn was dumbstruck.
âWait, doesnât Lord Sherlock require a female dance partner? Why did he choose a black kitten?â Evelynn asked.
âPerhaps itâs Sherlieâs special interest. Heâs special and has many interests. Sometimes, I wonder how his character was designed.â
âItâs hilarious. You speak as if you know about Sherlockâs character. Even now, we have no idea of Sherlockâs character.â
âAt the very least, heâs an animal lover. Look at the number of pets he owns.â
âHeâs a philanthropist and a kind Devil. If he hadnât set up those factories, we wouldnât have any jobs.â
âYouâre cracking me up.â
âDonât say anymore. Anyway, Sherlieâs awesome. Awesome is the word.â
The gamers discussed Sherlock enthusiastically, but Evelynn was lost in thought.
Sherlock was participating in a Ball and was only bringing that black kitten. The black kitten Polio could be a female cat or other female creature. She was in the guise of a black kitten so that she could be by Lord Sherlockâs side!
That was infuriating. If Evelynn wasnât careful, a sinful cat would sneak to Lord Sherlockâs side.
That was what Evelynn thought.
She had to find out more. Nobody could obstruct her progress with Lord Sherlock, not a black kitten and not a decadent troublemaking Angel.
Evelynn had to act now.
...
Polio was in the Dungeon Lord Main Hall. He was thinking over the information provided by the gamers. Some of the information was weird. For example, he had to take off his pants while dancing in the Ball.
He felt it was strange, but he didnât have any reason to rebuke. He thought that dancing was for a couple to emit hormones, shake their heads, and do silly things.
If there was time for dancing, why was money not given? How could there be love without money?
Polio was still undecided whether he was going to take off his pants while dancing with Lord Sherlock. His life was at stake. If he made any mistakes, he could be killed by Lord Sherlock.
He heard a knock at the door. Was it the Lich?
Polio didnât know. He was lying in his dwelling and had no intention of getting up.
âArenât you on duty today? Like opening the door and brewing tea?â the parrot said to Polio.
âArenât these chores taken care of by the small Black Dragon?â Polio was lying lazily in his dwelling as he said, âHeâs a secretary, while Iâm Lord Sherlockâs pet. Have you seen a pet open the door, meow?â
âYouâve accepted your fate as a pet? Oh my god, thatâs the reason why youâre a disgrace to the 72 Devils.â
The parrot shook his head. Eggface had his headphones on while playing a computer game, so he didnât hear the knock.
Even if Eggface was aware, he wouldnât open the door since it was Polioâs duty today.
Finally, the parrot flew to the door and used his claws to open it.
It wasnât the Lich at the door, it was the rare appearance of Evelynn.
âEr... Is Miss Polio in?â Evelynn asked timidly at the door.
âPfff... Miss Polio... hahahaha!â
Evelynn didnât know why the parrot was laughing so hard.
A black kitten walked over to Evelynn and said, âMiss Polio, what a graceful name. Take a look at me. How am I a Miss, meow?â
âArenât you Miss Polio? I heard that Lord Sherlock is taking you to participate in the Ball.â Evelynn asked curiously.
âI donât wish to talk about it, meow,â Polio said firmly.
âIf thereâs nothing else, please go back and continue with your work. This is the Dungeon Lord Main Hall. If there are no special reasons, please donât come here, meow.â
Polio was sick of hearing about the Ball.
âApologies, youâve misunderstood me. Iâm here to help,â Evelynn smiled and said.
...
âAre you saying that you can help me, meow? Anything related to the Ball?â Polio sat at the door of Evelynnâs house and asked Evelynn.
âYes, Iâd like to help you,â Evelynn replied.
Polio asked curiously, âWhy? We havenât spoken before, meow.â
âIâm not really helping you. Iâm only thinking of helping Lord Sherlock,â Evelynn replied honestly.
She then took out some cat food and poured the contents into a box as she said, âApologies, I donât have any good food for you.â
âCat food! What do you take me for? Youâre giving me cat food, meow?â
Polio was agitated, but his expression betrayed him.
He sniffed hard and walked towards the cat food.
He wanted to resist, but as a kitten, he was instinctively drawn to the cat food.
The kittenâs instinct was engraved into his soul.
Polio approached the cat food.
âHow are you going to be a dance partner? As a kitten, youâre unable to be a dance partner.â
Evelynn asked while she watched Polio enjoy the cat food.
âI have my ways. Do you think Iâm only a black kitten? Iâm not a simple black kitten. I can transform into anything I want. And that includes you. I have specially created a dance partner in the image of the Ancient Gods!â
Polio chewed the cat food as he took out a picture.
The picture depicted a vicious monster with frightening fangs and claws. Even the Underworld creatures would be fearful of this monster.
âWhatâs this?â Evelynn asked as she examined the picture.
âThis is the appearance of the dance partner for Lord Sherlock. Donât you think itâs cool? It was designed by the citizens of Eternal Kingdom.â
Polio said, âThey said that if Lord Sherlockâs partner looks like the picture, heâll be very happy, meow.â
âI donât think so,â Evelynn said in disbelief.
âReally? But I feel that Lord Sherlock will like it, meow.â Polio smiled and said, âHeâs such an evil Devil, and his soul is rotten to the core, meow...â
âWhen is the Ball?â
âWhy do you have so many questions? Itâs tonight. Iâll leave with Lord Sherlock in the afternoon, meow.â
Polio was enjoying his cat food, so he didnât notice that Evelynn was behind him holding a wooden club and getting close to him.
With a swing of the club, Polio fell to the ground.
Evelynn trembled as she held the wooden club.
âApologies, but this is the only way I can help. Youâll be fine.â
Evelynn dragged Polio into a cabinet in her room.
After putting sufficient water and cat food inside, she locked the cabinet. Then she apologized silently in front of the cabinet.
After that, she left the room.
Soon after Evelynn left, Polio opened his eyes and muttered to himself, âDonât blame me, the Succubus has to shoulder all of the responsibility.â