After Yamato, Yuki and Lucy returned to the inn, Yuki finally had the opportunity to sleep in the same bed as Yamato again, since the day before, she was still occupied with her "spy-work" as she called it. Though in reality it was ultimately just a sleep over.
After immediately taking the opportunity she was given, doing what she would have done if they had been alone earlier, she changed into night garments. Cuddling up to you Yamato, she reflected upon what had happened today. It had been quite eventful.
"…Master, when this whole remove Jonathan plot was in motion, why didn't you include me more…"
"Are you jealous because I included Lucy instead?"
"…Yes. I could have done what she did just as well if not better."
"I don't doubt that. But I gave you a different task during that time, did I not?"
"Yes, but dealing with the church was more like a chore… It felt like you just wanted me to have a task…"
"I wasn't trying to get rid of you."
"Then what was the reason for that…"
He turned over to face her, pushing her head against his chest. The need to reassure her was a feeling he was not quite adjusted to yet, but he felt as though this was the right approach.
"What you did at the church, from what you told me it was quite impressive. Do you think Lucy could have done it as well as you did?"
"…No."
"Me neither. I think you did fantastic, at such a vague task. You exceeded my expectations, even your own, it seems. Because you don't yet see how valuable it was what you did. So trust me when I say what you were doing was very important. You were, and still are, the most important."
"Okay… I feel better now."
"That's nice. Good night, Yuki."
"Good night…"
The night was as peaceful as ever, unlike the morning, where Yuki was suddenly woken up by someone trying to enter the room. Whoever it was just ruined her morning. As she went out of the bed and answered the door, Lucy stood there impatiently. As she looked at Yuki who sleepily stood in the doorframe, rubbing her eyes and putting away what looked like a knife which apparently she had in her other hand, though Lucy was not sure if it actually was one as Yuki held it in a way from which it was hard to see from Lucy's position.
"Yuki, Count Lintone is looking for us. He said it's urgent."
"…Uh huh. Then… Tell him to get lost."
Yuki shut the door and only the sound of it locking could be heard as she went back into bed. Though as she was about to cuddle up to Yamato again, she noticed his absence, making all forms of comfort impossible.
He apparently left the bed right after she answered the door, and was now at the door himself ready to leave.
"What are you doing, Yuki?"
"We didn't even have breakfast yet…!"
"So? I'm sure we get something on the way."
"But you're only supposed to eat things I made!"
"…Then make something on the way."
"You're impossible! How am I supposed to create a healthy, perfectly balanced and delicious, filled with love breakfast while walking through this gross town?!"
"Just make a sandwich…"
"That is…! So degrading… Curse you, Count Flinstone! Why do we have to listen to his summon at like 7 in the morning anyway?!"
"…It's Lintone. And it's 10 a.m. Also, we don't have to do anything, it just doesn't make sense to make an enemy out of him yet by being disrespectful."
"…Curse you, social expectations!"
Followed by more complaints and insults, Yuki quickly got ready to leave. The three went back to the Baron's castle, where they were led to a room that seemed to be used for conferences and meetings. Count Lintone waited on a chair at the end of a large, oval table. Next to him a sat a man which if Yamato had to describe him, looked like a picture book detective. With a gray trench coat and hat, which was tilted so it mostly covered his eyes. However it seemed Count Lintone was the one in charge here.
"Thank you for coming here so quickly on short notice, I hope it was not too much trouble. But I thought you should know as soon as possible."
"Oh, no problem at all~ How can we help?"
Yuki said surprisingly convincing. If not for her earlier outburst, one could think she was happy to be here.
"I'm glad to hear that… However let's get straight to the point. This is Frederic Loop, he is here to document the unfortunate incident as an outsider, you might have heard of him."
"…Not really, no."
Yuki could not care less about the local celebrities. There was not a single profession which could provoke her interest. So she almost instinctively turned bored, which would have been rude considering said "celebrity" was present.
"Not a clue who I am? Well that's no surprise. I usually don't work in the spotlight, however I struggle to evade it recently… I deal with things that the public doesn't need to know about immediately. Not too long ago, there was this case at a school in a cigy south from here. Murder into suicide, followed by a large scale robbery. You can imagine how that would do in politics if it got out as an active problem. So I make sure it's no longer active and figure out the full picture."
"…Wow, how impressive."
"I've known him for two whole minutes I'm already getting too bored for anything… The only logical conclusion any being capable of rational thought should make from this is that the world would be better off if only two life forms existed on it. Master and I~"
"I currently have some problems with contacting the local church authorities, due to which the decision about what is going to happen to sir Jonathan will be delayed indefinitely. I ask that because of your involvement, and possibly later upcoming questions, you stay in town indefinitely. Also, it has come to my attention that… Yuki, was it? Has been seen during the competition you, Yamato, had with sir Jonathan yesterday, together with a member of the church. So I was wondering if you had any ties to the church."
"Yes, I have a friend named Carina in the church, who was present during the competition."
"Uh huh… It was quite a big event, so it makes sense for you to be there, I suppose… But I'm still a little confused about what the relationship between all of you is."
"…Okay."
"…That was a question."
"Ah. I am his fiancée~ And she is… A friend? Yes, a friend."
"Oh, really? Congratulations. When is the wedding? Do you have a specific place in mind?"
"Uhh… There's no clear date or place yet."
"I see. So, if not for the wedding, why did you move to this town exactly? You haven't been born here, after all, right?"
Seeing that the question where getting a little too specific, Yamato took over the talking.
"Mister Loop, I understand your curiosity and concerns, however I must remind you that we have been part of an extremely traumatic incident yesterday, and my… Fiancée… Is obviously still under shock, which is why I have to wonder why you fail to take that into account, with you being a professional and all."
"Oh, I believe those were but simple questions for clarification and documentation, nothing more. I did not even mention the incident."
"The events taken place before the incident, such as the competition, are part of the process that led to the incident, and as such are just as stress inducing. I am concerned for my darlings well being here, I'm sure you understand. Actually, I think she better rest now. So if you only have questions that serve "clarification and documentation", I'm sure they can wait."
"People tend to forget about important details after they recovered from incidents such as these."
"Well, I'm sure you will manage."
"I'm afraid if you refuse to cooperate, I will not be able to conclude your absolute innocence."
"Oh, so we are suspects? Is that why we were ordered here, count Lintone?"
Count Lintone had gotten increasingly nervous as the tension rose between Yamato and Frederic, which Yamato of course noticed. So he decided to force the Count into de-escalating the situation.
"O-oh, no, not at all! I assure you, I was unaware of such a development. I will discuss this with my friend Frederic in private now. You are of course free to leave and without suspicion. Please, go and rest. You won't be disturbed again today."
"Well, then we wish a nice day to the two of you."
Yamato said and left, followed by Yuki and Lucy. Even though Lucy had stayed silent throughout the conversation, she had been paying close attention to it.
"That Loop guy seems suspicious of us. What now, Yamato? If he disappears, it would only prove to the Count that he was right. Even if it looks like an accident, he still might feel like something is off."
"I know that… I'm not going to ask you to do anything to him, don't worry. But it is a problem… Change of plans. Yuki, you come with me. Lucy, you keep an eye on him and report anything he does back to me. And find out where exactly Jonathan is held captive."
"Understood."
"Just the two of us~?"
"…Yes, Yuki, just the two of us…"
Lucy made a turn behind a corner and got ready to spy on Mr. Loop, whereas Yuki and Yamato just left the castle as they were stopped by a man in white robes.
"Is it true? Here our paths meet again, oh so great Deity."
"Uhh… Do we know eachot—"
"—That name… And that smug, repulsive tone of voice that just begs for me to stab him repeatedly… The only one I could think of is…"
"I've never introduced myself, have I… I'm Priest Mateo, nice to meet you. Except we've already had the pleasure of meeting, did we not, False Prophet?"
"The Cult Leader! But… I stabbed you? Like, a lot. And then I burned whatever survived the stabbing. Which shouldn't have been anything to begin with."
"It seems my God has other plans for me, and he are far grater than whatever you serve. And who is your friend over here?"
"Get back, Master. That guy is dangerous."
"Something's off… Should I kill him now? But why is he not dead anyway…"
"Master? What a curious thing to call someone… But please, I am not here to fight. We are in the middle of the street, after all. I am just here to take care of some parricide. However after that, I'll have plenty of time to take a closer look at the two of you."