The Sword Saint’s Second Life As a Fox Girl

6-10 Dark tidings

“I am terribly sorry, Lady Fae, but we are simply unable to find you in our records.”

“...” Erin stared intently at the brunette sitting behind the counter. The woman was a receptionist of the Adventurer’s Guild.

“M-M’lady?” the receptionist stared back at Erin. The receptionist knew Erin wasn’t trying to be rude or disrespectful but she couldn’t help but feel fearful and slightly threatened.

“Are you truly sure?”

“Yes, absolutely,” said the receptionist. “We have checked it thrice. You are simply not in our records.”

“How can this be?”

The receptionist chose her words carefully. In cases like these, the most probable cause would be fraud. The person in front of her was not Erynthea, just someone who was pretending to be her. However, the person in front of her was a Fox-kin with seven tails. A Fae was already a rare sight, much less a Fox-kin with seven tails. At this point, the guild in its entirety had already heard about Erynthea, given her achievements. “I do not know,” the receptionist answered.

Erin sighed.

The receptionist didn’t know what else to say. This was unprecedented. As an employee of the guild, it was her job and responsibility to tell apart a fake and a genuine article. The adventurer’s tag was indeed genuine but there was nothing in the tag. There was no detail or any other sort of records. At the same time, she could not register a new individual with the said tag as it was already registered. If that was the case, there should have been information in the tag. But there was none.

“I am truly sorry, Lady Fae. Such an issue has never happened before. This tag is clearly registered but I can’t find anything within. If you care to wait, Lady Fae, I can bring this issue to my—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Erin said and snatched the tag from the receptionist’s hand. “The problem isn’t on your side. It's mine.”

It was midday. Most of the adventurers were out on their quests. There was barely anyone in the building. Erin specifically chose this time of day. She already had her suspicions ever since she was unchained from the System. She had to make sure.

“M-m’lady, that may be so, but if you will allow me, I can—”

“I said that won’t be necessary,” Erin repeated herself.

The receptionist stopped insisting. She shrank into her chair as if to avoid Erin’s condemning gaze.

“Please, don’t let this trouble you. I trust that discretion of an adventurer’s circumstances is being religiously practised here like everywhere else.”

The receptionist nodded. The other clerks were looking this way but they were prudent enough not to stare for long and keep their distance.

Erin thought about bribing the receptionist to ensure her silence but she decided against it. There was no guarantee the guild could truly be silenced. She doubted there was even a way.

Though there were barely any other adventurers, there were still a few. She couldn’t make too much of a scene. Her being removed from the System was not something that could be known by just anyone. She didn’t even want to imagine what the guild or the kingdom’s reaction would be. Still, she wasn’t so naive to believe she could hide it forever. It would be bound to be noticed or found out. Until then, she wanted to enjoy as much peace as she could.

“Damn it,” Erin cursed as she strode out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

The passers-by instinctively stole a few glances at her.

Erin had long gotten used to these stares. Her beauty was undeniable. Even if she changed or concealed her appearance, it could never hide the aspects that made her a goddess in most people’s eyes. She would never admit it but drawing eyes with just her mere presence was something she was secretly proud of as she came to accept her new self. However, today was different. She was in no mood to be revered or adored by strangers. She challenged those sneaky glances by returning their gazes.

The passers-by immediately turned their eyes away. Their faces paled. In just an instant, they became terrified of even being in her presence. All those who had snuck glances at her were subtly distancing themselves from her.

“What’s wrong, Mistress?” asked Siv, who was waiting for Erin at the bottom of the perron leading to the Adventurer’s Guild front doors. “Is it as you feared?”

Erin nodded.

“That sucks,” said Amyra who was sitting on an overturned barrel that was littered by the side of the perron. “What did they say, m’lady?”

“Nothing. I insisted that it’s nothing and simply walked out.”

“Given your reputation, Mistress, whoever processed you would not be silent about this. The ones in the upper echelon will know about this.”

“I’m well aware.” Erin looked to Amyra. “What are your thoughts about this?”

“As long as you have the support of the Valdruns, the Ruvans, and the Aeryons, no one would approach so callously.”

“What if those who approached me so callously are the Valdruns or the Ruvans? How am I to explain to them?”

“...I have an idea, m’lady, but you wouldn’t like it.”

“Just say it.”

“It’s not exactly an idea. Just the possibility of an idea. You wouldn’t like it.”

“I am happy to expand my proclivity.”

“Our dear hostess, the Umbrum, Iris.”

“Oh… her.”

“She is very influential, m’lady. She has the gold. She’s well-connected. She’s more knowledgeable than I would like to admit.”

“I concur, Mistress. Lady Iris is a business-minded person. She has a lot to gain from you. She is actively pursuing a friendship with you, Mistress. Be her friend, I would recommend. We would also have a lot to gain from her.”

“A friendship built upon transaction is no friendship at all.”

“I was being broad with my words, Mistress. As far as we are all concerned, your relationship with Lady Iris already spans more than just friendship. You have shared a night and a bed with her, after all.”

“Oh?” Amyra’s face beamed with interest. “Tell me more, m’lady.”

Erin groaned with her hand clutching her head. “Please don’t remind me of that… It was a drunken mistake. And no, I will not tell you more.”

“I’m sure His Grace would know more.”

All Erin could do was glare at Amyra.

“What say you, Mistress? Should we consult Lady Iris about this?”

“We should consult with Aedan beforehand. He would know more about Iris than us, considering their history.”

“Wise decision, m’lady,” Amyra said. As she stood up from the overturned barrel, her expression darkened with caution. “We are being watched.”

Siv frowned. “I smelled nothing out of the ordinary.”

“I am aware. We have been closely observed ever since we walked into the proximity of the capital. But I can’t tell if they’re allies or enemies, or just people who are doing their jobs.”

“Nah, m’lady. I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about the ones who are watching us from across the streets”

Erin didn’t look in the direction Amyra was hinting at. She didn’t need to. She let the Spirits do her bidding. They were quick in their efforts. She got their response in just a few seconds. “They are beggars.”

“Aye, they are, but they are also deeply pious.”

Siv was prepared to draw her weapon but her hands stayed by her waist so as to not give away their realisation. “Which faith?” she asked.

“...Unable to determine. All I can sense is divinity. Only devouts would ooze divinity.”

“They are not hostile.”

“Aye, they are not. They are, however, ill at ease. They are terrible at this.”

“Only for people who are accustomed to being stalked, Lady Amyra.”

“I’m no lady, Siv. I don’t deserve such a title. It’s too overbearing for me.”

“Should we approach them?” Siv asked.

“There’s no need for that,” Erin answered. “They are coming to us.”

Siv and Amyra looked towards the beggars that were hiding in the alley. They had not moved from where they had perched themselves on. However, they looked relieved. Their eyes were no longer on Erin but on another individual. Siv and Amyra followed their gazes, leading them to an elderly man who was approaching them from the street.

The elderly man was a priest, given his choice of garments. He was wearing a pendant that announced the divine he prayed to, Ruva.

“Careful, m’lady. The old man’s a fighter, even though he may not look like it.”

“I can tell,” Erin said. She no longer has Appraisal but she could still discern a person’s stature from their body language. The elderly priest must have been a knight or the sort when he was young. She could faintly make out a scar that ran along from his chin and disappeared into his clerical collar.

“Good Afternoon, Lady Erynthea,” the elderly priest greeted once he was close enough. The beggars were no longer in the alley. “My apologies for the theatrics. I am Joseph.”

Erin didn’t respond. She simply crossed her arms and glared at the priest.

“It would be kind of you to return the good gesture,” the priest named Joseph said with a warm smile.

“I would have returned the gesture if you didn’t have me watched and followed,” Erin responded. “If you hadn’t, I would have felt obligated.”

“I understand and I am truly sorry about that. My hands are tied regarding that act. I am but a humble priest of Ruva. The decision was made by the High Priests. If it’s any comfort, I was against this.”

Erin neither feigned nor showed any sympathy. “I was under the impression that I am no longer an enemy of the Ruvan faith. Was I under the wrong impression?”

“You are not, Lady Erynthea, but the others are still wary of you. Your talents are frightening, to say the least. Your growth is unmatched. The last time we encountered such a talent was Lady Azaela.”

“Is that your reason? You stalked me because you are afraid of me?”

“We are cautious, my dear. While I do not agree with their decision, I do understand their concerns.”

“I don’t care why they are afraid of me. Is that truly why I am being followed and watched? Fear?”

“That’s not all, Lady Erynthea.”

“Then, spill it.”

“Perhaps we can move to another place that is much more—”

“Spill it now.”

The priest relented after realising the absence of warmth in Erin. “As you wish, Lady Erynthea. I will be blunt then. There have been dark tidings in the capital. There are suspicions of Dark Arts at play.”

“And?”

“We require your assistance in rooting out the truth of these omen and suspicions.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be your responsibility?”

“It is and it still is. We are not delegating our responsibilities to others. This is merely a… precaution. A warning. You are a friend of Lady Azaela. As fellow Ruvans, we are obligated to warn you of any likely threat or danger that may befall you or us.”

Erin raised an eyebrow.

“Do you doubt us, Lady Erynthea?”

“Why wouldn’t I? What if I’m the cause of these dark tidings? Wouldn’t you be jeopardising the entire undertaking?”

The priest tittered. “If it was anyone else, we would be reserved in revealing so much information. However, you are the last person we would suspect to be the cause, given your past dealings.”

“So much trust… just because I’m a friend of Azaela?”

“Lady Azaela is the Grand Apostle of Ruva. If it wasn’t for her lack of interest in diplomacy and politics, she would have been the pontiff. Many even considered her to be the vessel of Ruva herself. Her trust in you is the equivalent of having the confidence of a king. Take pride in that, Lady Erynthea.”

Erin stared silently and dubiously.

“Do you still distrust us, Lady Erynthea?”

“I don’t distrust the Ruvans… for now. If what you say is true, I have plenty of reasons to be suspicious.”