Spy
I had some documents to drop off, so I stopped by Claire's room.
But then...
What was Emily doing in her room?
Worse yet...
She was climbing up Claire's bookshelf.
Her behavior was beyond suspicious.
...?!
Emily dropped from the shelf in one shift motion, pressing her hand firmly over my mouth.
Mmph...!
Please be quiet...!
You'll get us caught!
I'll let you go if you promise you'll listen to me. Do not scream!
Do you understand?
Captain? Say something!
Mmmfmmghh...!
How am I supposed to say anything when I can barely breathe?!
...Whew. My apologies. I didn't think that through.
I almost passed out...
My deepest apologies.
So... what exactly were you doing?
...Are you sure you want to know?
Are you prepared to learn the world's darkest truths?
Some things are better left unknown, Captain.
Just tell me already.
*Sigh* I suppose I have no choice.
I'll tell you Captain, but only you. About my true mission.
Your true mission...?
Yes. My true mission.
I was deployed here under direct orders...
To uncover the secrets buried in Candle Square.
A top-secret directive entrusted to the Antares Mercenaries by the Observation Council, Polaris.
To carry out my mission, I secured a position as a maid of Candle Square and infiltrated it from within.
Hmm...
I understand it's hard to believe.
The maids of Candle Square are all good people.
It's hard to believe that any of them would be involved in something so sinister.
But... I cannot let my guard down!
There's a massive conspiracy taking shape here in Candle Square.
One so significant that even Polaris is keeping watch.
I will uncover the truth behind it all.
That is the order I've been given.
So... I formally request your assistance, Captain.
Me?
You now know my identity.
By definition, that makes you my accomplice!
You have no choice in the matter!
F-fine. What do you need me to do?
Okay then. Can you help lift me up?
There should be archived accounting records on the upper shelf.
I need to examine them...
But I might fall if I do it alone.
Can't you just use a chair?
Fufu...
That would leave footprints on the chair.
A true professional leaves no trace at the scene.
You could just wipe them off later, you know...
...
...That just reminded me of something.
I completely forgot I had my cleaning tools with me.
I don't see anything suspicious.
Whoever's behind this... they're incredibly thorough.
In any case, it's time we cleared out.
You'll help me again next time, won't you, Captain?
...If the situation calls for it.
Emily left the room wearing a smug expression.
Captain, did I keep you waiting?
No, not at all.
Thank you for your patience.
There was a minor complication, so I had to switch to Plan B—
Hmm...? Why is there a cleaning cloth on the chair?
This looks like one of Emily's...
Captain, did Emily come by?
Umm... N-no...?
...She didn't do anything strange, did she?
Like... rummaging through bookshelves, perhaps?
...!
*Sigh* She's such an amateur.
You knew?!
Oh, are you talking about Emily's true mission?
Of course I knew.
I also know that her so-called true mission... is, in fact, a lie.
What are you talking about?!
Well...
A long time ago, before I became a maid, I owed someone a great debt.
That person was the Commander of the mercenary corps that sent Emily here.
Head to NOA and become a maid at Candle Square!
W-what? Commander, what kind of order is that...?
Ahem...! Yes, well. I'm sending you on a covert mission.
A covert mission...?
At NOA's Candle Square...?
That's right, Candle Square. There's something... fishy going on there. You are to infiltrate and report anything out of the ordinary.
''Something fishy'? That's far too vague. I need clear parameters in order to—
A-anyway, I'm entrusting the mission to you. *Sigh* Look... don't tell anyone about this, but...
This order came directly from the Observation Council! Only you can handle it!
...!
So basically...
Emily's covert mission was entirely made up.
Back when she was still with the corps, Emily's comrades would urge her to get some rest.
But she would insist, "Resting is also combat!" and refuse to take a proper break.
In the end, she was tricked into taking a vacation disguised as a mission.
...That's the real story.
As for this cleaning cloth... I'll just sneak it back where it belongs.
I think I've got the full picture now.
But... wasn't the plan to give Emily a break?
She's working harder than ever here and still obsessed with combat.
So... is this really helping at all...?