"Huh?" Nightingale stared at me, completely confused.
"As I said," I repeated calmly, meeting her eyes, "I am the Hero."
This was the first time I had ever confessed this to someone who wasn't my slave.
It was a huge leap of faith.
But hopefully… the returns would match the risk.
"You ha—" Nightingale snorted loudly. "You? You, living in a mansion with a harem of slaves, are claiming you're the Hero? Don't bullshit me."
Sherry shot me a smug look, even flashing Nightingale a discreet thumbs-up.
"Who said a Hero can't enjoy his life?" I replied dryly, giving Sherry a stink-eye. "And I'm sure you could just check if I'm lying."
I stared back at Nightingale with a smirk.
She froze, stunned.
"How do you even—" she whispered, unable to finish. "Alright. Repeat what you just said."
Nightingale vanished into mist, but her voice still echoed through the room.
The girls tensed immediately.
"Relax," I said, calming them with a gesture. "She's running a test."
I turned my gaze toward the empty chair where my Appraisal marked her status bar.
"Nightingale, I knew your secrets from the very start. No one told me anything," I said clearly.
What she was doing now was essentially a lie-detection test.
Nightingale in addition to her invisibility had another branch ability—Eye of Truth.
When she enters her mist form, the world turned completely black and white to her, and anyone who tells a lie would momentarily darken.
She was, effectively, a living lie detector.
It was one of the reasons she must have backed down so quickly during our earlier confrontation—
As she knew I wasn't lying when I said I didn't want to harm her.
And it was also why I had chosen my words very carefully just now… so I could pass her test.
"So was I saying the truth?" I asked with a small smile.
"…Yes," Nightingale answered reluctantly.
"And I am the Hero," I said again, confidently.
Nightingale instantly reappeared, sitting there with a stunned expression.
"Are you satisfied now?" I asked with a light smile.
"No." Nightingale folded her arms stubbornly. "All this proves is that you believe it's the truth. That doesn't make it the objective truth."
"So she can figure out who's lying when she goes invisible…?" Anastasia muttered, stunned.
"Huh? But Master is the Hero. He already told the truth," Vesta said, visibly confused.
"Who else but someone as great as Master could be the Hero anyway." Roxanne added proudly.
"That's why I was signaling you not to tell her, Master," Sherry said in annoyance. "She clearly won't believe you even after confirming you're not lying."
"Well, I understand why it's hard to accept," I admitted, though her stubborn refusal was getting a little insulting. I shook my head. "Roxanne, show her my Intelligence Card."
I raised my left hand, having already switched her job to Village Chief moments earlier.
"Gladly, Master," Roxanne said with a bright smile. She chanted the spell, and an Intelligence Card popped out of my hand.
"Here," I said, presenting my hand to Nightingale with a smirk. "Check it yourself. See if this is the 'objective truth.'"
Nightingale hesitated—
but I could see in her eyes that a part of her already believed me.
She stepped forward.
Her gloved fingers touched my palm.
Her violet eyes scanned the card carefully.
After a few moments, she exhaled and slowly released my hand.
"…So you really are the Hero," she murmured, her voice tight.
"Yes," I said simply.
"Why?" She let out a shaky breath. "Why… after all this time—"
She cut herself off, pinching the bridge of her nose as she turned away.
The girls—some of whom were ready to gloat—fell silent instantly at her unexpected reaction.
"Are you alright?" I asked, standing up and gently touching her shoulder.
"Ha… yes," she said after a moment, turning back toward me. Her expression had relaxed a little, though her eyes were still sharp. "So you told me all this because you plan to help us, help the witches—is that it? And this still doesn't explain how you knew things you shouldn't. My old name, my abilities, the Witch Cooperation Association…" Her tone rose. "And don't tell me becoming a Hero gives you magical knowledge about all the witches. I won't believe that," she added through clenched teeth.
Even the other girls—Sherry, Anastasia, and a few others—were staring at me with the same unspoken question.
"Nightingale, I've put a lot of trust in you by showing you this," I said, slipping the Intelligence Card back into my hand. "I know it doesn't answer all your questions… but for now, it has to be enough. In time, maybe you'll learn the whole truth."
She held my gaze stubbornly… then finally exhaled and looked away.
"And about helping the witches," I added, earnestly, "if I can do something for them, for you, then I'll try my best."
Her shoulders relaxed—only slightly—but she nodded.
"Now then," I said, retaking my seat with a sigh, "since all the misunderstandings are cleared, can we please finish our meal? I don't want the delicious food my girls worked so hard on to get any colder."
"Nightingale, please—continue your meal," I added, gesturing toward her with a smile.
Nightingale sat down and immediately dug into her food with renewed ferocity, clearly expressing her lingering frustration at me through the speed she devoured her plate.
The atmosphere softened.
The girls even started to chat in low voices—some, like Shea and Shera, immediately started asking Nightingale questions about witches and her abilities.
I could only pray she didn't lose her mind dealing with their endless curiosity.
Somehow we finally managed to finish the morning breakfast without any more surprises.
"Nightingale, do you know a place called Border Town? It should be in the westernmost part of the Empire," I asked as she finished her meal.
This was one of the things I wanted to know the most—
the reason I needed her to trust me quickly.
"Yes… we had a camp on the outskirts of that little town. Why?" she asked, patting her stomach with a satisfied smile.
I couldn't help but smile back.
The way she answered so casually about their hidden camp…
Did that mean she had started trusting me?
"I need to visit that town," I said seriously. "Do you know any Adventurer who can take me there? It's very important that I reach there as soon as possible."
"If you really want to go to that town," she replied, tilting her head thoughtfully, "a friend of mine can take you. I had to introduce you to her eventually, so this works out perfectly."
"That's great. When can she take me?" I asked, excitement slipping into my voice.
"Right now, if you want. She's near the Quratar Adventurers' Guild." She said with a shrug.
"Oh?" I turned toward Roxanne and Sherry. "Then we'll need to adjust our plans."
While Nightingale stayed downstairs chatting with the girls, I headed up to my room with Roxanne and Sherry.
I explained that I needed to visit that town urgently—and depending on what I find, the trip might be short… or longer than expected.
They asked what exactly I hoped to find, but I couldn't answer fully.
"I'm not sure yet," I told them honestly. "I'll only know once I get there."
And it was the truth.
I hoped my canon knowledge still applied…
but in this mixed world, nothing was guaranteed.
In the end, Roxanne asked to come with me.
I couldn't tell whether it was because she didn't trust the witch…
or because she wanted to make sure I didn't bring another girl home.
Either way, I didn't mind her tagging along.
In the meantime, Sherry and the others would clean the mansion and the back garden.
After I returned, we will all head to the labyrinth and then the market for shopping.
Also I plan to keep Sherry in my party just like yesterday, so I could stay in contact and update her instantly if my plans changed.
Roxanne and I changed into our labyrinth gear, pulling black cloaks over everything to stay inconspicuous. As we had no idea what we might encounter in that town.
Downstairs, Nightingale was casually playing a lying game with Shera and Shea—using her ability to catch them every time they tell a lie.
"Let's go. We can directly reach the Adventurer's Guild from here," I said, opening a warp gate in the dining room and sending Nightingale a party invite.
"Alright," she replied—then promptly vanished.
I blinked in surprise.
"I'm just more comfortable traveling this way," her voice clarified from thin air.
"You could've just said you don't want to be seen with me in public," I joked with a chuckle.
"What?" she replied, confused.
"Nothing," I said with a wry smile before turning back to the others. "Girls, we'll be back soon. Sherry's in charge until then. Don't tire yourselves too much—we'll be heading into the labyrinth later."
The girls nodded obediently, though a few looked disappointed that they couldn't come.
"Your girls really like you, huh," Nightingale muttered invisibly beside me as she stepped into the warp.
I simply smiled, following her through with Roxanne while waving goodbye to the others.
The Adventurer's Guild wasn't very crowded—as most people preferred the Explorer's Guild in Quratar.
"She's in the alley behind the guild building," Nightingale whispered as her status bar slid toward the exit.
I held Roxanne's hand and followed her out.
We quickly reached the back alley, where my Appraisal picked up a figure standing quietly in the shadows.
[Wendy
Adventurer Level 10
Bonus Job: Witch Level 18
Equipment: Leather Boots, Sacrificial Misanga]
"Nightingale? Is that you?" a soft voice asked as that figure stepped forward.
"Yes, it's me," Nightingale replied, dropping her invisibility.
"Oh—did you bring friends?" The woman emerging from the darkness smiled gently at us.
She had long, waist-length reddish-brown hair and warm brown eyes. A simple white-and-brown tunic clung to her body—especially around the chest, where her generously large breasts strained the fabric.
On her head were small, straight horns paired with soft, horizontal brown animal ears.
"Hello, you must be Wendy. I'm Michio, and this is Roxanne," I said, stepping forward with a charming smile and offering my hand. Roxanne greeted her politely as well.
She was unmistakably Wendy from Release That Witch—one of the more important witches in the story. Someone I absolutely needed on my side.
"Oh, hello. Nice to meet you," Wendy said, shaking my hand with a polite smile. "So—you already told them about me?" she asked, glancing at Nightingale.
"No, I never even mentioned you," Nightingale said, blinking at me in surprise. "Anyway, ignore that. We need to head to that backward little Border Town—right now. And by 'we,' I mean these two," she pointed at Roxanne and me, "but I'm coming as well."
"Border Town? But that's on the western end of the Empire…" Wendy said with a wry smile. "We'll have to make multiple stops on the way. I'll be exhausted long before we get there—especially carrying three extra people."
"Don't worry about exhaustion," I said, pulling out a clear glass vial with a blue stopper. "One sip of this and all your fatigue will disappear."
I presented it with the flair of a street vendor showing off his best product.
"Oh—thank you, but I don't drink alcohol," she said, waving her hand politely. The motion made her large chest jiggle noticeably.
"It's not alcohol," I clarified quickly. "It's the liquid version of the strengthening pill."
"Is that… real?" Wendy asked, touching her chin with uncertainty. "Why have I never heard of this before?"
"Just trust him," Nightingale sighed. "It's probably something only he has. With that, taking us there won't be a problem, right?"
"But we still need to buy supplies from the market, remember? That was the whole reason we came here in the first place," Wendy said with a wry smile. "How about we finish shopping first and then leave? Would that be alright for you two?"
"How about this instead," I suggested, placing a hand over my chest. "After you take us to Border Town, I'll bring both of you straight back here using my Field Walk. So you won't need to worry about the return trip. And as payment, I'll cover the cost of all the supplies you planned to buy."
I looked her in the eyes, earnest and serious.
"I really need to get there as soon as possible, without any delays."
"But—" Wendy looked helplessly at Nightingale.
"Are you sure, Michio?" Nightingale asked, brows raised. "It might cost you gold coins. We need a lot of supplies."
She gave me a meaningful look, one I instantly understood—they weren't just for her and Wendy… the supplies were for the entire Association.
"I told you—if I can help all of you, I will. Consider this a start," I said with a smile.
"…Thanks," Nightingale said softly, a rare warm smile crossing her face.
Wendy glanced between us, suspiciously—until Nightingale lightly smacked her arm.
"Stop staring. You heard him—we're going straight to Border Town first."
"Okay, okay," Wendy sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Let me add you to my party," I said, sending her the invite. "By the way, if you don't mind me asking… what tribe are you from? You don't seem like a Sheepkin."
"Oh, I'm a Cow-kin," she said cheerfully. "Our straight horns are a dead giveaway."
She touched one with a smile—lifting her arm just enough that it brushed across her chest, making her breasts bounce violently.
"Yeah… definitely. I should've known by just looking…" I muttered under my breath.
Because my eyes weren't even close to her horns.
"…Holy cow."
***
[Oleksandr has redeemed an Extra Chapter this week]