~Chapter 40~
As soon as the twisted mana was absorbed, Nap of the Angel returned to its original painting.
When I placed the restored canvas back in its place, a few sheets of paper fluttered down from beneath it.
I immediately recognized what they were.
‘My diary!’
I quickly gathered the pages and hid them inside my clothes. Whew, I was so relieved to get them back safely.
“How can I ever thank you…”
The art gallery director, Ms. Blair, who had just been informed of what had happened, dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief again as she bowed gratefully.
“You’ve done an incredible job, Lady Relshiz. The angel’s hair seems a little messier than before, but…”
Gasp.
“To me, it actually looks more alive and… better, maybe?”
“Strange. I could’ve sworn it was neater before. Well, either way, it’s back now, and that’s what matters.”
“Haha…”
I laughed awkwardly and quietly took a step back.
“It’s getting late today, so you should leave tomorrow. Investigators, you’ll be heading back then too, right?”
Ms. Blair turned and asked the people behind her.
Standing against the dark night sky were Felix and his subordinates.
“Yes, that would be best.”
“Then I’ll arrange a place for you to stay. Oh, and Lady Relshiz, don’t worry. I’ll find you a different inn so you won’t be uncomfortable…!”
She whispered just to me, winked, and hurried off to make the arrangements.
That left a strange silence between the rest of us.
The other investigators looked uneasy—as if worried Felix and I might get into another fight.
I figured I’d better say my thanks and leave quickly.
“Thank you again for your help today.”
“No, not at all. You did everything, Lady Relshiz.”
“It was only possible because you all helped. Please rest well tonight, and have a safe journey back tomorrow!”
“Hey.”
Just as I tried to slip away, a cold voice made me freeze. It was Felix, glaring at me with intense eyes.
“…What is it?”
“What was that thing you picked up under the painting?”
My heart dropped. He saw that?! When?
‘I clearly checked he was far away!’
Before I could say anything, he stepped toward me. Even a small movement felt overwhelming because of his size.
“I warned you earlier—not to meddle with the scene.”
“That was… my personal item.”
“And I’m supposed just to believe that? Show me.”
I bit the inside of my cheek.
‘This is the guy with a 99.9% arrest rate.’
Felix Guffero—the mad dog who never let a suspect go. His hunter’s instinct was clearly kicking in again.
“Not cooperating?”
“…”
“Then maybe we should have a little chat. What do you think, mage? You’ve got plenty of time tonight, since you’re not going back to the capital.”
“Captain, please…”
His subordinates looked like they were about to cry.
“And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll come back with a warrant. You know what they say—no one comes out of a search squeaky clean.”
He bared his teeth in a grin. Oh no. He was serious. My blood went cold.
‘If he actually comes with a warrant and searches my place…’
He might find Shiz… or even the underground secret lab.
Now he was standing right in front of me.
“So what’s it going to be?”
I was completely stuck when—
Suddenly, I heard the fast patter of small footsteps.
Felix turned first, and then I followed.
A little girl with golden hair came running toward us at full speed.
She stopped right in front of us and—
“What the heck is this little—”
Wham!
She kicked Felix right in the leg!
“Oww!!”
“C-Captain?!”
The small girl huffed angrily and shouted:
“You mean bully man!”
It was Shiz, the little girl who was supposed to be back at my estate in the capital.
“Don’t pick on my mom!”
The whole area went dead silent.
Felix stood frozen for a moment, then turned his stiff neck toward me.
“Mage… you…”
“…”
“You have a kid?”
I clamped my lips shut and looked around. There was no way Shiz could’ve come here alone.
Sure enough, not far off stood the culprit.
‘You!’
Aska Willovis! When I glared at him, he just smirked.
Smirked?! He’s smiling at this?!
‘How could you bring Shiz all the way here?!’
I shot every insult I could think of at him—using only my expression. Aska shrugged, as if to say he had no choice. Maybe Shiz had thrown a tantrum.
‘Even if she cried and begged, you shouldn’t have brought her!’
Ugh. I’d see him later. Right now, I have to fix this mess.
Felix looked completely dumbfounded. He stared back and forth between me and Shiz like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
And the other investigators?
They looked just as stunned. It was obvious they were dying to know who the little girl was—especially since she looked just like me.
“…”
I took a deep breath. This was the third time something like this had happened, so I wasn’t panicking.
But still… I had no idea what to do.
‘Can this even be fixed?’
I looked at Shiz, then Felix, then the other investigators standing around.
I didn’t think long.
Yup. No fixing this.
Run.
“Shiz, come here.”
I quickly scooped her up from in front of Felix. I tried to look casual, confident—even a little cheerful.
“When the director comes back, just tell her I already left. You all get some rest and travel safely tomorrow!”
“Huh?”
“Okay, see you!”
Aska moved in perfect sync. I felt his familiar mana gently wrap around me and Shiz.
“Hey—!”
I heard Felix yell something behind me, but I didn’t look back.
I’m done. I don’t even care anymore…
***
Later that night, in a small pub-inn in the town of Para…
The four investigators who had solved the gallery theft were gathered around a table, drinking and trying to relax after the exhausting day.
“Ahh, that’s good stuff!”
“Take it easy, Sion. Don’t throw up in the carriage tomorrow.”
“Come on, drinking and puking is how you build experience!”
“Shut up. That’s how you ruin your stomach.”
“Captain, come on. What’s with you? Why aren’t you eating anything?”
“Leave him, Allet. He hasn’t said a word since earlier.”
“The food’s getting cold…”
While the three chatted nonstop, Felix Guffero just stared blankly at the beer mug in front of him.
Eventually, the most senior of them, Nasha, asked:
“Are you really that shocked that Lady Relshiz has a child?”
“I mean… I am.”
“Same here. She always seemed so perfect… how’d this happen?”
“She’s not married, right?”
“Nope.”
“If this gets out, it’ll be a scandal.”
“Definitely. The royal court cares a lot about appearances. We’re even expected to uphold a certain image.”
“It’s not as serious for us, but Lady Relshiz is basically the face of the Magic Bureau. They’ll tear her apart.”
The pub filled with loud, drunken laughter and chatter, but their voices soon lowered again.
“Maybe it’s not her daughter. Could be a much younger sister?”
“Are you kidding? She called her ‘mom.’ You heard it too.”
Relshiz hadn’t given them any explanation before vanishing, but everyone at the table had the same conclusion.
That kid was her daughter.
Sion, remembering the bold little girl charging toward them, chuckled to himself.
“That kid was something else. She actually kicked the Captain?”
“I’ve never seen anyone hit the Captain before.”
“Seriously. Most kids that age cry just looking at him.”
The subordinates giggled, but Felix remained silent.
“By the way… the guy who came with the kid—wasn’t he that guy?”
“Who?”
“You call yourself an investigator? The one from the Dawn Tower, remember?”
“Oh, him…”
Everyone suddenly looked toward Felix, nervous to see his reaction.
