While the Imperial Mage Academy was thrown into chaos over the movie, the atmosphere at Edward Tavern was as peaceful as ever. After all, any thoughts of causing trouble were immediately quashed by the sight of a certain headless knight stationed at the bar.
Following the conclusion of Fate/Zero, patrons continued their usual routine of discussing the film at the tavern across from the cinema. At the same time, the tavern's reputation grew, attracting more customers intrigued by its name.
As a result, Viz, the tavern's proprietress and manager, found herself overwhelmed and had to hire more staff. However, since the cast of the latest production was preoccupied with their own affairs and unable to assist, she had no choice but to post a help-wanted ad.
Yet, whether it was the intimidating presence of the headless knight or lingering rumors in Nosrick about Edward Tavern being perpetually in the red, the recruitment process didn't go smoothly. In the end, the only applicant was a small girl who looked no older than twelve or thirteen but insisted she was an adult.
Despite there being no child labor laws in this world, Viz hesitated for a long time before finally hiring the girl due to the lack of other options.
<+>
Edward Tavern, Second Floor
"Haa..."
After several days of effort, Edward finally completed the script for the second chapter of Fate/Zero. Breathing a sigh of relief, he descended the stairs with tired steps, only to be surprised by the bustling scene in the tavern below.
Though it was still afternoon, the tavern was packed with people. Confused but unconcerned, Edward made his way to the bar, where the headless knight and Saeki seemed to be engrossed in conversation.
One was an undead, and the other a living corpse. Over time, the two had developed quite a camaraderie. Joining them at the bar were Zat, Aya, and Helena, who appeared to be discussing the same topic as the others.
"What's going on? What are you all talking about?" Edward asked curiously after greeting them.
The group turned to him, and the headless knight spoke first.
"Ah, Director Durin, you're just in time. We were discussing the new hire and were about to ask for your input."
"New hire?"
Edward's curiosity deepened as he followed their gaze. There, he saw a petite girl who seemed utterly out of her depth with even the simplest tasks.
She was so nervous delivering drinks that her movements resembled someone caught in a chaotic brawl. The seated patrons didn't know whether to help or stay put, awkwardly watching her clumsily set the drinks on their table.
Despite her unremarkable appearance, Edward's keen senses as an Grand Mage allowed him to detect something unusual.
"She seems to be... a Beastkin," he remarked.
At his words, the others chimed in.
"She's a Beastkin, indeed."
"Definitely a Beastkin."
"Knew it..."
"Huh? Really? She's a Beastkin?"
"Yep, definitely a Beastkin."
"..."
Seeing that everyone except Aya had recognized the girl's identity, even Edward was momentarily stunned.
"How could you all tell?" he asked, puzzled.
As a Grand Mage, Edward had discerned her true nature only through the subtle differences in the magical flow within her body.
Could it be that anyone could distinguish between a Beastkin and a human, even one concealing their traits?
Naturally, he excluded Aya from this observation.
Saeki was the first to answer.
"Well, if she were deliberately hiding her nature and didn't interact with people for long, it would be hard to tell. But this girl seems out of her depth with simple tasks. She's let slip several Beastkin Kingdom citizen habits while greeting customers, and her movements when doing chores are noticeably different from those of ordinary humans..."
"That's all it took to confirm she's a Beastkin?"
Not entirely convinced, Edward raised a skeptical eyebrow. Finally, the headless knight spoke up.
"That child... when she first saw me, her tail popped out in fright, and from the look of it, she didn't realize it..."
"Pfft..."
Even Edward couldn't suppress a laugh at that. Struggling to keep his composure, he asked, "So what? Why are you all so interested in her? Don't tell me... you're all beast-eared girl con?"
"Beast-eared girl con? What's that?"
Zat's confused expression made it clear he didn't understand Edward's terminology. Evidently, Zat still hadn't adapted to the strange phrases their lord often used.
Unwilling to explain further, Edward simply said, "At the end of the day, she's just a Beastkin. Why are you all making such a fuss?"
"Uh, but Director Durin, haven't you heard? Relations between the Beastkin Kingdom and the Empire have been tense lately, with constant skirmishes. For a stranger from the Beastkin Kingdom to show up here, deliberately hiding her identity as a Beastkin, isn't that highly suspicious?"
Saeki's comment immediately won the approval of everyone present, including Aya, who nodded along, albeit somewhat bewildered by the situation.
Seeing this, Edward couldn't help but laugh.
"So what? We're just a regular tavern, at most a movie production company. We're not some military or political stronghold. Are you telling me this girl could be a spy from the Beastkin Kingdom, brainwashed by our movies into thinking she'd uncover state secrets here? If that's the case, I might as well set up a Psychological Operations Bureau and trick the Beastkin Kingdom into surrendering on the spot. I'd even earn a marquisate for my efforts. Haha! Even the dimmest Beastkin wouldn't be that stupid."
"But..."
The headless knight, though understanding the humor in Edward's words, couldn't entirely dismiss his unease. As a former soldier, he had an instinctive wariness toward beastmen. This mistrust was deeply ingrained in the Empire's culture. After all, during the Empire's early days, the Beastkin Kingdom had led an allied army of non-humans in an invasion attempt. This history of animosity between the two races wasn't easily erased by the passage of time.
Recognizing the knight's concern, Edward sighed and waved dismissively.
"Look, we don't have any secrets here. Even if she is a spy, there's no need to worry about one little girl. As for potential danger? That's what we have you for, our resident bodyguard. Plus, there's an even more dangerous protector living upstairs. Even if an entire Beastkin army came knocking, I wouldn't lose any sleep. Just focus on running the tavern properly. Next time, I'll discuss with Viz about buying out the footbath next door. Maybe we can upgrade this place from a senior activity center to a full-fledged gym!"
"Well, if you feel that way, Director, I don't have anything else to say," the headless knight replied. Though not entirely at ease, he had to agree that the clumsy girl hardly seemed the type to be a spy.
<+>
After an eventful day of business, the tavern finally closed for the night. Despite some hiccups, the day's operations went smoothly enough.
Following Viz's instructions to lock up, Juno, the Beastkin Kingdom spy, dragged her exhausted body to her small guest room. The moment she reached the bed, she collapsed onto it with a weary sigh.
"Haah... Why is someone like me, the spy of the Black Blade, doing such menial work?"
Letting out her frustration on the pillow, Juno eventually forced herself to sit up. Grabbing a pen, she began drafting her first report since settling in Nosrick.
This report marked the beginning of her mission as she settled into this strange yet intriguing place. What she didn't yet realize, however, was how the very environment she had deemed mundane might soon transform her life in unexpected ways.
<+>
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