The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Oh, isn't this... um? May I ask who this is...?"

The female manager who recognized Tatia and Pais immediately approached. However, upon seeing Maya, she uttered a sound of doubt. After all, it was the first time she had seen this strangely dressed girl. The more energetic Pais introduced her...

"This is Mayera, a teammate we met yesterday after accepting the mission. She's an old acquaintance of Tatia."

"Oh? Is that so?"

The person in charge sized up Mayera. Since her crown had been taken by Tatia, Mayera now gave the impression of being of wealthy birth, but certainly not of royal lineage. After looking her over several times, the person in charge simply assumed she was the daughter of some rich man. While the Adventurers' Guild was supported by official kingdom funding, it also received private donations for business expansion and promotion. Maintaining good relationships with wealthy people was also crucial. The female person in charge immediately adopted a fawning attitude, bowing and offering Mayera a fake smile.

"Oh dear, I wonder which family this Miss Maya comes from? We are so honored to have graced our humble abode with our presence. Please, have a seat."

She instructed the staff to bring over three chairs, treating Tatsia with utmost respect. The rejection and resentment she felt yesterday towards this expelled troublemaker had completely vanished. She efficiently received them.

"So, may I ask what brings the three of you to my humble abode today? If it's about last night's mission payment, it will have to wait until our staff has confirmed the scene and completed the cleanup before it can be distributed. I'm truly sorry..."

"It's not that. We only temporarily teamed up with Miss Maya, but our teamwork in battle was excellent and very enjoyable, so we'd like to officially team up with her, so..."

"Oh, I see."

The person in charge nodded. It's common among adventurers for a small team to temporarily form due to shared experiences and goodwill to become a formal team after a mission, following guild procedures. Adventurer guilds also handle such cases. However, the prerequisite is that all team members must be registered adventurers. She asked Mayera...

Have you registered with any adventurers' guilds here or in other towns?

No.

Mayera shook her head

"No, is that so...? If not, then we need to complete the adventurer registration process first, and only then can we proceed with the party formation. Miss Mayera, do you have any documents to prove your identity?"

"ah..."

When the person in charge raised this question, Tatia suddenly realized that there was a crucial problem that had not yet been solved for Mayella to register as an adventurer: Mayella's identity.

Aside from the decorations and a parasol, Mayera carried nothing else. There was no way to prove its origin. The Adventurers' Guild wouldn't allow someone of unknown origin or background to register as an adventurer. Because of all the things that had happened these past few days, Tatia had completely forgotten about this important matter.

Mayella also looked bewildered. She tilted her head and answered truthfully.

"I don't have that kind of thing with me."

"You...you didn't bring it? Then how did you get into the city? Aren't you supposed to be checked when you enter the city?"

"I climbed over the wall to get in."

"...No way."

Pais wasn't disbelieving her. Having witnessed Mayera's ability to freely wield all sorts of bizarre magic last night, and to leap dozens of meters high to the head of a centipede, it was believable that she could easily scale the wall. However, this meant Mayera, without permission to enter the city, was completely illegal. If she had explained this earlier, Pais certainly wouldn't have brought her in. And now, she had unwittingly confessed her illegal entry in front of the guild leader. This left Pais, who was traveling with her, extremely embarrassed.

Upon hearing this, the guild leader, who had just been greeting her with a smile, frowned. She was also a government employee, a public servant. Such a person who deceived the government should be reported immediately and kicked out of the city.

But in reality, she didn't take such action immediately. Instead, she hesitated, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought. Her contemplation meant there was still room for negotiation and discussion. At this moment, Mayera once again unleashed her signature move.

She took off a ruby ​​bracelet made from high-purity raw materials and with high-precision craftsmanship, and placed it in front of the person in charge. Deliberately adopting a pitiful expression, she pleaded in a high-pitched, affected voice...

"Um, I had a fight with my parents and am currently running away from home, which is why I didn't bring those documents with me. All I have to offer is this insignificant thing... Could you please make an exception for me?"

"..."

After a few more minutes of contemplation, whether truly driven by greed or for some other reason, the person in charge finally tucked the bracelet into his pocket and quietly said to the three of them...

"...I'll turn a blind eye this time. But don't let it happen again."

"Yes, thank you!"

Mayra smiled and thanked her. Pais and Tatia breathed a sigh of relief. Mayra hadn't been kicked out, and they, who had traveled with her, hadn't been held accountable either; for them, it was the best possible outcome.

The guild leader is the head of the guild, overseeing all affairs and holding the power of decision-making. Forging identity documents and skipping necessary procedures are incredibly easy for them. In just a few minutes, Mayera had almost filled out her adventurer basic information form. Finally, only the routine ability check remained.

"What kind of adventurer is Miss Maya?"

"Hmm...I guess I'm...a magician."

Recalling Pais's explanation of the adventurer professions yesterday, Mayera chose a profession similar to her own fighting style as her answer. The person in charge readily wrote "Mage" in her profession column. Then, he took out a box-like object containing a lens and pointed the lens at Mayera.

"So, your ability stats are..."

"Oh no!"

Upon seeing this, Tatia, who had just managed to relax, tensed up again. She had not only forgotten that Meera lacked identification documents, but she had also just remembered her true identity. Although she appeared to be a human girl, she was actually the Demon King's daughter, a pure-blooded demon. Even if she could deceive anyone with her appearance, she would be exposed by a detection device that could accurately reflect a target's race, level, and abilities. The trouble that followed would be far more serious than simply being able to resolve with money.

Tatia's nerves were on edge, her hand stealthily reaching for the hilt of her sword behind her back. She was ready to lead Meera in a desperate fight out of the guild, out of Vado Town... She wasn't deciding to antagonize the entire town... or even human society, for the sake of the Demon King's daughter. But if she didn't, humanity would face unbearable losses... Unlike those modified monsters that could be killed by attacking magic circles, Meera's immortality had no weaknesses. Even if all the adventurers in the town swarmed her, they would ultimately be no match for her. If she were discovered, and the adventurers attacked her en masse, Meera would fight back fiercely. With her formidable fighting power and immortality combined, the entire town would suffer devastating damage. The once bustling city would be reduced to a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood tonight... To avoid this fate, Tatia had already prepared herself for the consequences.

However...

"Huh? What's going on?"

Upon seeing the results from the detection device, the person in charge slapped the instrument forcefully and said, "Is it broken?" seemingly incredulous at the result. Unaware of the situation, Pais asked without hesitation...

"What's wrong?"

"Why isn't this device displaying Miss Mayella's data?"

"...It's not displaying?"

The reality differed somewhat from their expectations. Tatsia chimed in. The person in charge turned the device around, showing the side displaying the information to the three of them.

The result shown above is one that Tatia and Pais have never seen before.

Occupation: ? Name: ? Race: ? Level: ?

strength:?

defense:?

Sensitive: ?

magic:?

Skill:?

"What, what is this?"

After reading it, Tatia and Pais couldn't help but have the same question. Not only were Meera's stats different, but even her name, race, and level were completely unexpected – "?".

When used on humans, it displays as human; when used on monsters, it displays as monster. Even when used on a Demon Lord, it accurately displays the Demon Lord's name, race, and stats. It's safe to say there's no creature in the world this device can't recognize... but when used on Mayera, a question mark appeared that no human had ever seen before.

Suspecting a malfunction, the person in charge pointed it at Pais again. This time, however, it quickly displayed her ability stats. Not question marks, but clear numbers. She used it on herself. The result was exactly the same as her own ability stats.

Just in case, the person in charge tried several different instruments on Mayella. The results were all equally perplexing. After a thorough check, none of the instruments were found to be faulty. This only deepened the person in charge's confusion.

"That's so strange..."

There is only one explanation for this phenomenon: "Meira is a completely new species that has not yet been discovered by humans."

The ability detection device works by scanning the ecological characteristics of organisms and combining this information with the kingdom's vast database to quickly identify the species with the highest matching degree. Then, based on the different power operation methods and magic transmission methods among different species, individual calculations are performed. Finally, these calculations are integrated according to a unified standard to arrive at the reference level and ability value.

However, since the former Demon King did not engage in conflict with humans, no adventurers dared to challenge him. Therefore, none of the documents and historical records available to humans mention a species called "Demon King's clone." Naturally, there is no relevant data available. The ecological characteristics and power dynamics of the unfamiliar species, Meira, are inconsistent with all the data available to humans. This is why only symbols representing errors can be displayed.

"that..."

However, before the person in charge could even think of this, Maya, who had been silently being probed by the detection device, spoke up.

"My mother once found me a sorcerer who claimed to be a reclusive master. He taught me some very strange spells. These spells don't seem to be recorded in any documents. Perhaps the side effects of those spells interfered with the detection results."

".....All right"

Because they simply couldn't understand it, and because Mayra's lie seemed plausible at first glance, the guild leader didn't think much of it and adopted Mayra's explanation.

"But how should I fill in the ability values? I can't just write question marks all the time, can I?"

"Well... just write around Lv20."

Because Mayra's performance is completely ineffable, even Pais, who witnessed it firsthand, couldn't accurately assess her strength. However, based on Tatia's statement that "even at my full strength, I couldn't defeat her," it's certain that Mayra is at least above Tatia. Since Tatia is Lv18, Pais simply suggested listing Mayra at 20. This was merely a formality; whether that represented Mayra's true level was irrelevant.

Not only was her identity falsified, but even her ability stats had to be specially programmed for her. Even when she offered expensive treasures as bribes, the person in charge still looked somewhat embarrassed. But in the end, she gritted her teeth. Since she'd already opened a back door for her, she might as well go all the way. She casually wrote a number on the document and then stamped it.

In this way, Mayera became an "officially" registered adventurer.

With the most troublesome issue of Mayera's identity resolved, the remaining party application process became much simpler. The guild leader quickly completed the party formation procedures for them. Thus, the seemingly well-balanced party of Tatia, Pais, and Mayera—comprising a hero, a saint, and a mage—was officially formed.

After finishing their business, the three thanked the person in charge for risking their authority for their sake, and then left the guild.

Watching the three women walk away, the person in charge said nothing. She picked up Mayella's file again and examined it carefully. Then, on a blank sheet of paper, she wrote the following line.

"Target Name: Mayella. Physical Characteristics: Long silver hair, red eyes. Wearing a white dress and carrying a light blue parasol. Target Ability: Unknown. Inform all departments."

It's hard to say whether it's a coincidence or not. Just one hour after Tatia and her two companions left the Adventurers' Guild, a figure wearing a cowboy hat and a black cloak arrived in front of the guild.

Beneath the brim of the cowboy hat was the handsome face of a young man who appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven. Even with the hat obscuring his features, many women passing by couldn't help but be drawn to his dashing appearance, their eyes sparkling with attraction.

"He's so handsome..." "I wonder if he has a girlfriend..."

The man, however, completely ignored these comments he could clearly hear. He had only one unwavering goal in his heart. Everything else was nothing but insignificant passing clouds.

He glanced at the guild sign, then at the sun. Suddenly, he pulled a ring from his pocket. He clutched the ring tightly in his hand, silently reciting...

"Lord Fan. It is now 10:20 AM human kingdom time. Your subordinate Diaz has officially arrived in the human city of Vado. From now on, I will begin the search for Her Majesty the Princess."

"Is that so... I understand. Tell Diaz to be careful and not reveal his identity. If he's going to kill someone, he should dispose of the body properly to avoid attracting the attention of the humans."

Naka, holding a cross, is communicating with Farn.

Not long ago, Fan sent a communication saying that General Diaz, whom Naka had sent to search for Mayera, had arrived at his destination. The mission must begin immediately.

To facilitate communication during the mission, before Diaz departed, Fan specially crafted a new communication device for him, similar to the cross Naka possessed. This device allowed for private calls that wouldn't be detected by any unrelated individuals. However, currently, this device could only facilitate calls from outside to the Demon King's castle; it couldn't enable direct communication between Naka and Diaz. Therefore, Diaz had to report his situation to Fan, who would then relay it to Naka.

And this was only the beginning of the mission. Naka couldn't offer Diaz any specific advice, only instructing him to be as cautious as possible. Farn said she would relay the message, then cut off the communication.

"Um... what's wrong?"

Lying prone on the ground, with Naka sitting on her back—essentially a human chair—the female knight Ruth was unaware of what had happened. However, she sensed that the demon lord on her back had been silent and motionless for a long time. She directly expressed her curiosity, which only provoked Naka's violent reaction.

Naka roughly grabbed Lucy's hair and pulled her in front of her.

"I don't need you to know what I do. You're just a slave. Don't speak without my permission. Understand?"

"Ee! Yes, yes..."

Lucy nodded repeatedly in fear, then dared not utter another word. She simply lowered her head and continued to play her role as the "chair." Naka also let go of her hair and returned to her work.

A day has passed since she turned Lushus into her slave on the mountain. Having become Naka's familiar, Lushus's hair and eye color have changed to the same silver and red as Naka's. Yesterday, when she returned to report, unable to reveal Naka's involvement, she could only use the excuse that "I dyed my hair on a whim, and the dye accidentally got into my eyes, so they've been red ever since." This, for the time being, managed to deceive the royal adventurer group.

Right now, Naka is at Lushus's home in the capital. Yesterday, she checked out of her hotel room and took over Lushus's house as her base. According to Lushus, her parents live in another city. Only she and her sister live here. When Naka arrived last night, Lushus's sister wasn't home, which saved Naka the trouble of dealing with another person.

Having become Naka's slave, Lucius was unable to resist, nor could she convey the fact that Naka was a demon lord to anyone in any way. Nearly desperate, Lucius began to obey. Whatever Naka commanded, she would obediently carry it out. Even if she was told to kneel down and lie on the ground as a chair, she would do so without complaint.

Meanwhile, Naka was writing down her upcoming plans on paper. Of course, she was using Ruth's paper, pen, and table.

Yesterday, Naka had asked Lucius if she knew anything about the Fang of Agh. Lucius, however, said she had never heard of it. Because the enslavement magic was still in effect, Lucius couldn't hide anything from Naka. Therefore, Naka knew she was telling the truth. Although Lucius was a royal palace-affiliated adventurer, her level didn't seem high enough to possess such confidential information.

Naka now faces two paths. One is to use Lucia's free access to the palace to gather intelligence for her. The other is to find Oz, kill him, and take his head to present to Scarface, the leader of the Thieves' Guild, thus directly obtaining information. However, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Although Lucius is a royal adventurer, her low status means that if she were to inquire about information she doesn't already know, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from the humans. If Lucius were to become suspicious or even be expelled from the palace, then this method would be rendered useless. Relying on Lucius cannot guarantee that information will be obtained.

Killing Oz is simple, and his head can be directly exchanged for information that pinpoints a single target. Gathering intelligence on Oz from the outside is also much safer than having Lucia gather information on Dragon Fang, avoiding unnecessary danger. However, searching for the missing Oz will consume a significant amount of time and effort. When he will be found is entirely up to fate. If the mission needs to be completed quickly, this approach seems unwise.

Should she prioritize efficiency or stability? Even this simple choice left Naka somewhat conflicted. She put down her pen, crossed her legs, and muttered to herself...

"Why don't we just break the contract and force that scarred guy to spill the intelligence..."

If neither option works, Naka has no choice but to choose the fastest and easiest method, which, however, detracts from the aesthetics of an absolute champion.

However, at this moment...

"Thump!"

Lucia's door was suddenly kicked open from the outside. A woman who looked remarkably like the original Lucia, but dressed in flamboyant clothes, slovenly, and reeking of smoke and alcohol, walked in. As she entered, she muttered curses.

"Damn it! Those stinky men don't have a single penny... Hey! Sis, are you there? Hurry up and get me some food! I'm starving..."

"Um?"

"what?"

Then, she and Naka, this stranger, locked eyes.

Delinquent "younger sister"

Having been away from home for several days, the young woman returned to find a complete stranger sitting at her table, acting as if she were no stranger at all. This immediately surprised her. Then, in a tone unusually rude for a young woman, she asked…

"Hey, who are you? Why are you in my house? Who let you in?"

"Lu, Lutis?"

Before Naka could answer, Lucia, who was sitting on Naka's back, immediately called out her name upon hearing the newcomer's voice. She jumped up and threw Naka off her back.

"Hey! You bastard...!"

As a slave, she completely disregarded her master's condition; if Naka hadn't quickly regained her footing, she would have been thrown to the ground. Lucia, however, didn't even glance at her. She quickly ran to the girl who had entered: Lutis. Upon seeing Lucia, Lutis immediately asked...