“What…?”

Nigel slowly closed her eyes and opened them again. As if she had heard an unbelievable, fantastical story.

“Andy… Andy has disappeared?”

Julie shook her head vigorously while tears flowed.

In the corner of the inn, a bright smiling picture of Andy could be seen.

Above the picture were words stating that a person was being searched for. Written boldly and largely so it could be seen from afar.

…She was going to tell what happened in Sienna.

Receiving the teleport stone and being able to go anywhere in the academy, accidentally breaking through a classroom wall, teasing an arrogant noble boy who ignored her…

She was going to tell everything, everything…

Blink.

Nigel slowly opened her eyes.

Julie came into view, sitting helplessly on the floor, blankly staring at the door.

…This was not the time for this.

Step, step.

Nigel picked up the flyer and folded the top and bottom parts of the paper to hide the text. Now it was the Andy she knew.

She held out the yellowed paper, now shortened to a square shape, to Julie.

“Julie, please tell me. When exactly did Andy disappear?”

At the calm voice, Julie slowly raised her head.

“Uh… that… I mean…”

“Take my hand.”

With Noah’s help, Julie barely managed to sit in a chair. Allen ran to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and handed it to Julie.

“Thank you, you’re so kind…”

Julie barely raised the corners of her mouth after taking a sip of water.

“Julie. Please answer me. Since when has Andy not been seen?”

Nigel said calmly.

“5 days ago… before the Flores Festival started… she hasn’t been seen since then. Along with my childhood friend, the second daughter of the fruit shop.”

“Have you gone to the guard?”

Noah said with a worried face.

“Well… I kept thinking she’d come back today, she’d come back today… and only today did I realize. That something had happened to Andy… If only I had gone to the guards a little sooner… someone like me…!”

Tears began to well up in Julie’s eyes again.

“Ma’am, use this.”

Allen, who had also become tearful, held out a handkerchief to Julie.

“Sob…!”

Julie bit her lip hard and wiped away her tears.

“…On a chaotic day like today, it would be difficult for the guards to take action.”

A heavy sigh enveloped the inn.

“Where’s the mister?”

“Andy’s dad… went out to look for Andy. I should go out too, but Andy… it feels like she might open the inn door and come in at any moment. Maybe because she’s lived her whole life eating and sleeping at the inn, she doesn’t like entering dark places where no one is…”

Julie glanced out the window.

When Julie would send Andy on errands to feed the horses in the stable, Andy would always make a funny face at that window to make Julie laugh before she was satisfied.

“…lie, Julie, Julie!”

“…Oh, I’m sorry, Nigel.”

Julie lightly shook her head as she withdrew her gaze.

“…You don’t need to apologize to me.”

“Oh my…! What should I do. I boasted that I’d make something delicious when I brought friends… but I can’t serve anything today…”

Julie sighed and gave a tearful smile.

“That’s not what’s important right now. We need to find Andy, Julie.”

Nigel’s warm hand overlapped Julie’s.

Why was this indifferent tone, speaking as if it were an everyday occurrence, so reassuring…

“Nigel… our Andy… can we… can we really find her…?”

Julie grabbed Nigel’s hand desperately, as if it were the last lifeline.

“Yes.”

The answer came without a moment’s hesitation, blurring Julie’s vision.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You’re saying she hasn’t been seen since five days ago, last Friday? And you went to the guards today?”

“That’s right, Nigel. …Yes, that’s how it was.”

“Is there any possibility that Miss Andy went to stay with other relatives or friends?”

Julie slowly shook her head.

“She’s a child who always worries terribly about her parents, so she tells us even when she goes out for a bit. And all of her father’s and my family and relatives are far away in the south.”

“Then was there anything unusual last week, ma’am? Like her behavior being different from usual, or her physical condition being different?”

Allen asked while rubbing his swollen eyes.

“Come to think of it… there was one strange thing.”

“What was it?”

Nigel asked.

“It might be nothing… but the child seemed more tired than usual. She used to stay up late, but she started skipping dinner and going to bed early. I thought it was because she was running around for the festival and such. She said she would definitely wear a pretty dress for the festival… Today…”

“A dress?”

Allen responded.

“Yes, she’s very interested in dressing up, so she would earn a few coins separately from her allowance for working at the inn whenever there was a festival. You know, on the day of the royal ball, there’s a commoners’ ball held in the central square.”

“Then it’s unlikely Andy ran away… Julie, do you remember where Andy worked?”

Nigel asked.

“Um… that… where was it? I’m sure I knew…”

Julie furrowed her brow and held her head.

Thud!

Julie slammed her palm hard on the table.

“Ah…! Her diary! She’s been writing in her diary every 2-3 days since she was young, so it must be written there where she worked. Wait a moment, I’ll go get it.”

Julie, who had jumped up from her seat, came back a moment later holding a bright red notebook.

“Let’s see, where should I look…”

“When did Andy start working other jobs besides the inn?”

“Probably… about 2 weeks ago.”

Julie tilted her head as she answered Nigel.

“I found it. Thursday, two weeks ago.”

Allen said as he flipped through the diary instead of Julie.

“Let me see.”

Nigel read the diary entry aloud.

[Today I finally went to the place Liz had been begging me to go. They said if I go there and sleep for a while, I’d get a 1 gold coin in my hand when I wake up. It was so unbelievable that I refused several times even after hearing Liz’s words.

On the way home, I only realized it was real after slightly biting the gold coin. No, actually, I’m still not sure if the shining gold coin in my hand is really mine. I’m a bit tired, but to be able to earn money so easily! I’m so grateful to Liz for telling me about this job.]

“…This smells fishy, doesn’t it?”

Nigel said.

“Indeed it does.”

“The next entry is… Saturday.”

Allen flipped the diary forward and read the entry.

[I went with Liz again today. I was a bit tired, but it was 1 gold for just three hours of sleep. Liz and I were so excited! With this, I can not only get my Flores dress but also have a fancy dinner with mom and dad. You know, at that restaurant featured in the gossip magazine!

…Of course, my mom’s cooking is the best, but how can I not be curious about what the gossip magazine called the ultimate taste I’ve never tried before! P.S. Sorry, mom.]

“Andy…”

As Julie slowly caressed Andy’s picture, Allen, with reddened eyes, patted Julie’s back.

“…The next is Sunday. I’ll read it.”

Nigel cleared her voice.

[I argued with Liz today. It was because she said she was going to earn another 1 gold even though we had enough money. Liz has a weak body but is stubbornly persistent. I wonder if she even knows I’m worried. I’m annoyed. I’ll stop writing for today.]

“Didn’t Miss Andy stop… working at this point?”

Noah said cautiously.

“Well… It seems Andy went out often last week…”

Deep wrinkles formed on Julie’s forehead.

“Ah, last Tuesday, the final diary entry. I’ll read it.”

[Liz is acting strange. She responds several seconds after I call her name and barely reacts to anything I say. Liz’s uncle said she gets like that sometimes, but I know why. It must be because of the secret job.

I’m still upset, but when we were alone in Liz’s room, I tried to talk to her seriously. I told her she was acting strange and to stop going to Hyston. But Liz pretended not to hear me and just kept repeating that she had to go to Hyston until she fell asleep.

…Even if I’m mad, she’s still my friend, so I think it’s time for me to step in. Tomorrow, I’m going to get Liz out of Hyston. Should I tell my parents and Liz’s uncle? I’m still debating, but nothing bad will happen.]

“Hyston… Right, it was Hyston…!”

Julie said with wide eyes. Allen, who was beside Julie, also widened his eyes.

“Hyston…? I feel like I’ve heard that a lot somewhere… Ah…!”

Suddenly, Allen exclaimed.

“It’s that members-only social club that’s been gaining popularity recently! You know, the one on Main Street!!”

Everyone tilted their heads at Allen’s words.

“…What, nobody knows? That… place where members play card games, come up with fresh business plans, get investments, and become business partners!”

Allen thumped his chest as if frustrated.

“If it’s members-only… Allen, do you have an invitation to Hyston?”

Nigel asked.

“Yes. It’s probably at the villa Nigel went to today.”

“Then let’s go right away.”

Nigel, Noah, and Allen exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

“Julie, I’ll bring Andy back.”

“How can I thank you enough… Haven’t you eaten yet?”

Julie held Nigel’s hand and slowly caressed it.

“I’ll have dinner a bit late. With Andy.”

As Nigel smiled at Julie, Julie smiled back through her tears.

“Then we’ll be going.”

Julie wiped her tears and saw Nigel and the others off.

[This is the timeline separator]

As the sun had already set in the evening, the group arrived at Allen’s villa.

“Sebastian! Where’s my invitation? The one from Hyston!!”

As soon as they arrived at the villa, Allen shouted urgently in a loud voice.

Sebastian moved quickly without asking what had happened.

“…Found it.”

After a short while, Sebastian brought a black letter paper with a red seal. In the upper right corner, the word ‘Hyston’ was written in golden cursive.

“Thanks, Sebastian!! You saved me!”

“It’s my duty, no need for thanks.”

Sebastian bowed formally and left.

Rustle.

Allen quickly opened the invitation.

“…But what should we do… Only one guest is allowed.”

Another obstacle had appeared.