Gyaa!? I've Been Found Out!?

Okay. Time to consult in secret while hiding my identity!

I'd hide my face with a mask, greet politely as a suspicious passerby, ask my questions while they watch me warily from a distance, and then leave quickly.

Karina-chan here! With my mask — Phantom Thief Karina here! Let's go!

 

 

… Optical camouflage, off!

"Pardon me, madam. May I borrow a moment?"

"Hm? … How did you get here?"

"A little magic. I've no intention of causing harm — for now — so please relax."

I dipped in a theatrical bow. The aunties slid in front of Maria, ready to defend. Oh, nice. Proper guard positioning.

"Recently a young elf boy asked me to rescue his sister, captured by pirates. When I questioned the pirates, they said she'd become the lord's pet. I wondered if you might know something."

"Elf… Ah. That girl. No worries — she's being escorted back to her homeland as we speak."

"Oh, really?"

"It'd be an international incident otherwise. We're sending generous reparations. We've no desire to go to war with the elves… Also, you're the mage who wiped out the pirates, aren't you, Kari-chan?"

Geh — busted!?

"W-w-what do you mean, Maria-sama. I am not such a beautiful maiden."

"I've seen you naked. A mask won't fool me. Don't underestimate a former lord's wife, Kari-chan. At least pick a better mask."

"Ugh, well, that is… yes ma'am."

Maria shrugged. True, I recognized her at a glance too. Former lord's wife, huh. No wonder she has those motherhood vibes.

"We, on our end, were told to find the elf boy and return him. Then we heard the pirates tried to raid a licensed merchant ship, got taken out by a mage, their ship sunk, and the cargo was 'seized by a mage so we don't know where it is'…"

"Ah, yeah. I'm holding the cargo. And the elf boy."

"Good. If he's with you, he won't be mistreated, right?"

Well, he is in girls' clothes.

"Gomez had already gone too far; it was about time to deal with him. And then he went after an elf. You saved us the trouble, Kari-chan… Punishment is the lord's son's job, but the minimum is the mines."

"Oh? I figured he'd be released right away for his ties to the lord."

"Hah! I didn't raise my son that soft. If he tried that, I'd boot his ass and send him to the mines instead!"

Even if I hadn't acted, Gomez was done for.

Maria laughed heartily. If she says so, that's how it is!

"But Maria, why send the sister ahead without Dea — the elf boy?"

"Kari-chan, all the cargo vanishing into thin air is a big deal. With no lead on where to find him, the priority was to return the elf girl safely."

Gomez's crew had sailed outside their proper domain; Véraldo is at fault there.

"I'll send a bird to recall her. If you'd come yesterday, she'd still be here… When the sister arrives, will you return that Dea boy?"

"Okay. I'll keep him with me until then."

"Thanks. Given the nature of things, we can't make a big public fuss."

Maria shrugged again.

"Also, about the artifact Poseidon you destroyed—"

"Ah — sorry! I can't return it. Is that… bad?"

"We'll manage. We'll say we incurred a god's wrath and give up."

She backed off easily. Is that fine?

"We'd rather not repeat Alchemia."

"Oh. You know about that?"

"Of course. Who do you think I am?"

"A granny from the bathhouse who seems blessed for fertility and childrearing?"

"No lies detected."

Maria chuckled.

"Thanks to you, this will wrap up neatly."

"That's the job of a lord's family. As for your thievery and trespassing — we'll overlook it… My soldiers couldn't capture you anyway."

"Yay, thanks Maria. Want a boob squeeze?"

"Save it for the bath. These girls are on duty."

And so the matter was amicably resolved.