Chapter 30: does not represent the past.

“Priest Letia is still as impatient as ever—it’s a bit exasperating.”

Otto said it with a hint of helplessness, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward slightly.

No one could tell what this guy was really thinking, and Ritter was no exception.

“I’m not Letia right now. Call me Ritter, and I’m a nun of the White Church, not a priest.”

“Heh~”

Otto downed the red tea in his cup in one gulp, his smile forced and unreadable.

“To me, it’s all the same.”

“Alright, alright, just give me the intel quickly—I did pay you, after all.”

“Actually, I would have helped you even without payment.”

“Sorry, I don’t like owing favors, especially not from you.”

With that, Ritter stretched out her hand.

“Come on, I’m busy.”

“I was going to say a few more words to you, Sister Ritter, but since you’re in such a hurry, never mind.”

For some reason, looking at the regretful expression on Otto’s face, Ritter felt like there was more to his words than met the eye.

“The intel you wanted, I’ve organized it for you,”

“including the main personnel of the Granny Merchants’ Guild,”

“and issues like their tax evasion and human trafficking are also recorded in there.”

“I have to say… that Granny really is a character. Clinging to the leg of a great noble, keeping two mistresses, and on top of that, holding a Diamond Lifetime Card at a succubus brothel.”

At Otto’s words, Ritter’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

Though she knew Otto was reliable, hearing this still left her dumbfounded.

She had only wanted him to investigate the background of the Granny Merchants’ Guild a little, but he practically gave away what color their underwear was today.

“My service is always thorough.”

Otto seemed to read the expression on Ritter’s face and smiled in response.

“By the way, how do you find the Pseudo Codex I gave you?”

“I haven’t used it yet.”

Ritter deliberately raised the Pseudo Codex in her hand, but this made Otto stroke his chin thoughtfully.

“Tell me, Sister Ritter, don’t you feel that something’s off with the thing you’re holding?”

“Off?”

Ritter weighed it in her hand a few times but didn’t feel anything unusual.

It still worked just fine for smashing people.

“Don’t you want to open it and see?”

“No need,” Ritter shrugged.

“Although you’re not human, I trust your character.”

“Should I feel flattered?”

Otto chuckled.

“But I am curious—why exactly are you investigating the Granny Merchants’ Guild, Miss Ritter?”

In response, Ritter gave Otto a big eye-roll.

“If you were willing to give me intel on the White Church Mission, would I even bother looking into the Granny Merchants’ Guild?”

“Oh?”

Otto looked a bit puzzled at that.

“What do you mean?”

“Yesterday, a gang of thieves attacked me at home. It was obvious they were after me—or more precisely, the ‘Ritter’ disguise I use. From what they said, they were sent by the Granny Merchants’ Guild.”

“Since they came for ‘Ritter,’ they must have some grudge against the White Church Mission, so they decided to target them.”

After saying this, Ritter sighed helplessly and shot a sidelong glance at Otto.

“So can you tell me what the White Church Mission’s purpose is? That would save me a lot of trouble.”

“Sorry, I honestly don’t know.”

Otto gave her a sarcastic smile in response.

“Fine, if you won’t tell me, I’ll just find Granny’s boss myself and get to the bottom of this. Goodbye.”

After Ritter walked away, he muttered quietly to himself.

“That silly girl, doesn’t she realize the Granny Merchants’ Guild is causing trouble for Red?”

***

The Granny Merchants’ Guild might not be well-known throughout the Imperial State, but here in Dawn Town, it certainly held considerable power.

In a way, they were a formidable local force.

Ritter hid in a dark corner, watching the lively festivities inside the guild and thinking about how to slip in unnoticed.

“Ugh… my head hurts.”

She didn’t know why, but since the afternoon, her head had been pounding.

Various chaotic images and memories piled up in her mind, but she couldn’t make out what any of them were.

“This damned script—does it have any use besides torturing me?”

If it gave her something, a reward at least, she could treat it as a golden finger.

But this cursed thing only made her sleep poorly, eat badly, and suffer headaches—no use at all.

Ritter cursed silently, then carefully made her way inside the guild.

With so many people around, she couldn’t just storm in head-on.

After all, although this world wasn’t as peaceful as her previous life, there were still laws and regulations.

Making a scene would only bring her trouble.

The best plan was to infiltrate the guild and confront Granny directly.

“Has the President’s succubus arrived yet?”

“Probably still on the way.”

Two passing guards were chatting idly.

“I don’t get it—if the President likes succubi so much, why doesn’t he just keep one?”

“Are you stupid?”

the other sneered.

“Sure, succubi aren’t expensive for home visits, but without skill, you can’t just take one home.”

“Needs a lot of money?”

“No,” the guard shook his head, “no money, but you have to do it at least five times a day, with no backing out.”

“…”

“Forget it then…”

Their idle chat was clearly overheard by Ritter.

She suddenly recalled that on the way here, a rather lost succubus had asked her for directions.

She had even asked specifically how to get to the Granny Merchants’ Guild.

Out of kindness, Ritter had pointed in the direction of her own residence.

After all, Red liked white silk stockings, right?

This white silk succubus was practically delivered to his door.

Now it seemed the succubus Granny hired was exactly her.

Thinking this, Ritter placed her hand on her disguise mask, and as the Magic Array activated again, she transformed into that provocatively dressed succubus girl.

“Hello, is this the Granny Merchants’ Guild? I’m Technician No. 108.”

“Speak of the devil.”

The two guards saw Ritter and didn’t find it strange, pointing to the second floor.

“The President’s been waiting for you in his office for a while.”

“Understood.”

Ritter walked right into the Granny Merchants’ Guild openly and honestly.

On the second floor, she pushed open the office door and stepped inside.

A man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and noble clothing sat in his chair, looking at Ritter with a stern expression.

“Close the door.”

“Yes.”

Ritter shut the door and discreetly lifted the Pseudo Codex from behind her back.

From the man’s imposing aura, it was clear he had noticed something.

Granny stared silently at the succubus girl before him for a long moment, then spoke.

“You… are not Anna.”