Chapter 5

Herta Shi.

This place was the setting for the Romance Academy game I played, and it was also the largest city in the Ein Empire.

Excluding the imperial capital, the empire’s economy and politics were largely based here.

Just walking through the streets, mansions and hotels where the upper class might stay were everywhere, making the scale of the city, which I couldn’t fully grasp in the game, feel all too real.

Looking at this, the mansion where my master resides might seem shabby in comparison.

Well, anyway, with such a large city, incidents and accidents are bound to happen, which means more opportunities to earn rewards by solving them.

Having realized this, I inquired around the streets and eventually arrived at the scene of an investigation that caught my interest.

“This area is off-limits.”

“Excuse me. I’m interested in the case, could I have a quick interview?”

I tried to make a good first impression with a gentle attitude, but the investigators guarding the perimeter were glaring at me with suspicion.

Could they be suspecting me of being a panty thief? Having just been summoned to the human world yesterday, this isn’t something I can take lightly.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, Captain Carly!”

At that moment, a woman approached from the crime scene towards the investigators.

From the title of captain, I realized she was in charge, and the investigators explained the situation to her.

“I’ll handle this, you guys continue the investigation.”

“Understood!”

The investigators saluted and stepped back, leaving the red-haired woman to face me.

Her heavy coat and tired face reminded me of the protagonists from detective dramas I watched in my human days.

“So, you’re the uninvited guest bothering my investigators?”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Sebastian. I’m interested in this case and came to visit the scene.”

“Herta City Security Bureau’s investigation captain, Calisto Noxianne. Just call me Captain Carly.”

“Haha, understood, Captain Carly.”

Though she’s casual with a stranger, thankfully she doesn’t seem as wary as the previous investigators.

She seems like a good person to gather information from. Thinking this, I subtly steered the conversation.

“Actually, I came because I’m interested in the case you’re investigating… If it’s okay, could you tell me about it?”

“It depends on what you want to hear. Showing you the crime scene or sharing investigation materials is obviously out of the question.”

“But you could summarize the case, right?”

“Well, that much is fine.”

Her gaze shifted towards the scene.

The investigation was taking place at a rather large mansion. Throughout, people presumed to be the mansion’s staff were giving statements to the investigators.

And the process seemed quite professional, even to a third party.

Despite it being just a panty thief, not a murderer or a robber targeting valuables.

“From what I heard, the case you’re investigating is about a panty thief. I saw in the news that there’s a reward for providing helpful testimony…”

“Ah, so you’re here for the reward?”

“Haha, is that a bit mercenary?”

“Not at all. There are many detectives and problem-solvers active here, aiming for bounties due to the high number of incidents.”

Carly shrugged, speaking nonchalantly.

Yet, her eyes sharpened as she gazed at the crime scene.

“However, this case isn’t just about a petty criminal; it’s quite high-level, making it hard to catch. Because of this, the nobles staying in the city are stirring up the Security Bureau, demanding immediate capture.”

“Nobles? The panty thief targeted nobles?”

“Yes. At first, we thought it was just a common pervert stealing housewives’ underwear, but at some point, they started targeting the heavily guarded upper class. We thought such incidents would only happen in back alleys, but they hit where it hurts.”

“Hmm, I see. To have the audacity to target the upper class…”

“Anyway, whoever it is, they’ve got guts. Not just nobles, but even the Security Chief’s house was ransacked. With such talent, they might as well steal artifacts from a museum.”

“Well, with the courage and skill to target nobles, that might be better… Security Chief?”

Among her words, an unmissable term caught my attention.

I wanted to ask her about the question that arose the moment I heard it.

“May I ask something…”

“Ah, that’s right. That’s why I was assigned to this case.”

So, she was a victim too.

“…You don’t seem very angry about it, though.”

“In a city where incidents never cease, getting angry over stolen underwear isn’t worth it.”

Her voice was not just indifferent but almost detached.

Suppressing a cough, I organized the information I heard from her and asked what I considered most important.

“I roughly understand the situation. In short, the perpetrator of this case has the capability to breach heavily guarded areas.”

“Exactly, that’s why we’re offering rewards just for testimony.”

“Then, if I were to catch the perpetrator myself, how much would the reward be?”

“…Hoh.”

After a brief pause at my question, Carly let out an admiring sigh.

Along with that, a faint glint appeared in her tired eyes as she looked at me.

“Boldly declaring you’ll catch them in front of Security Bureau investigators, you must be confident?”

“Not so much confident as my pockets are empty. If I don’t do something, I’ll get scolded by the person I serve.”

“Ha, seems like you’re suffering serving a high-ranking person too.”

Perhaps feeling a sense of camaraderie?

Despite her tired expression, Carly let out a small laugh and then spoke as if giving advice.

“If you catch them yourself, you could easily get dozens of times the reward for testimony. But be careful. This city is the most prosperous in the empire, but not every corner is under the Security Bureau’s watch.”

“Well, I’ll be careful then.”

Prosperity brings deep shadows, huh?

Certainly, in the game, incidents never ceased, leading to various choices ending in bad endings.

Though, compared to the struggles in hell, it’s nothing. Thinking this, I directed my fingertips towards her coat pocket.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now. But before that, just a moment…”

Magical energy responding to my will emanated.

As my hand, imbued with that energy, lightly brushed her pocket, she frowned and glared at me.

“…Hey.”

“Sorry, there was a thread stuck here.”

I thought I did it stealthily, but did she notice?

“Well, if that’s the case.”

No, thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice.

That’s good enough. Thinking this, I bid her farewell and headed straight to a secluded alley where no one would tread.

I took out what I hid in her pocket when the surroundings were clear.

“Testing my courage, huh. Stealing from a Security Chief’s pocket.”

What I took out was a handkerchief from Carly’s pocket. A trivial item, so it would probably take a while for her to notice it was missing.

And if she’s a victim in this case, this handkerchief would play a crucial role in tracking down the thief.

“…Good.”

After making sure no one was around, I quietly stretched out my hand and focused my power.

To summon my loyal ‘servant’ from slumber.

“Baskervill, it’s time to wake up.”

-Slurp.

Dark red blood gushed from my hand, pooling on the ground, then began to take shape.

From the shadows of the alley emerged a Hell Hound, my loyal servant.

-Grrr…

The searing heat beneath its sharp teeth would melt anything it touched the moment its mouth opened.

Anticipating it turning towards me, I smiled and reached out to Baskervill.

“My, have you forgotten who I am after being summoned after so long?”

If you’ve forgotten, I’ll remind you.

That this outstretched hand could split your body in half in an instant.

“Baskervill. You must not bite your master.”

-…Grr.

Finally, Baskervill lowered its head with a whimper.

Feeling the hostility fade from its red eyes, I withdrew my hand with a satisfied smile.

“Baskervill. I called you because there’s something you need to do. Are you okay now?”

-Grunt.

“Good, then… Wait, hold on.”

Just as I was about to start the search with Baskervill.

Belatedly realizing this was the human world, not hell, I shook my head as I carefully observed its form.

“My, it would be troublesome to start the search like this. Baskervill, can you shrink your size?”

Baskervill’s current size filled the narrow alley.

Moving around with such a size would surely cause chaos and turn many against us.

-Grunt!

Fortunately, Baskervill understood my concern and attempted to shrink its body.

Its size reduced to about mine, but it was still more beast than monster.

“That’s not enough. Smaller.”

-Grunt!

“More!”

-Grunt, ugh…

“That’s not enough, Baskervill. You can do it. Your potential is not just this!”

Encouraging the whimpering Baskervill, I continued to shrink its body.

After a few minutes, when it reached a suitable size, I knelt to look closely at Baskervill.

Its body was now only up to my ankle, with eyes that even seemed pure.

“Grr?”

Tilting its head to look up at me, as if checking if it was doing well.

Pleased with its response, I patted Baskervill’s head and praised it.

“Well done, Baskervill. I knew you could do it.”

“Arf!”

Baskervill barked loudly.

I handed Carly’s handkerchief to Baskervill and gave the command.

“Now, Baskervill, track the scent of this handkerchief.”

Hell Hounds can track scents beyond the horizon.

Wherever Baskervill heads next, the perpetrator’s whereabouts are sure to be found.