"Excuse me, Boss, is the Saintess here?" Early in the morning, people were already coming to Iri for healing.
"Are you looking for Miss Iri? Miss Iri has already left. She said she had an urgent matter and had to go on a long trip, so she might not be back for a few days."
The Boss of the inn was used to receiving these people. At first, the Boss was quite annoyed. After all, he opened for business, and having people of various identities who weren't staying at the inn constantly showing up was very frustrating.
He ran an inn and a tavern, not a vegetable market! But after Iri gratuitously cured the Boss's wife of a chronic illness she'd had for many years, his attitude towards Miss Iri and these people seeking medical help completely changed.
"The Saintess isn't here… Then… we'll come back another day."
"Ah, wait a moment. Miss Iri left instructions before she left. If anyone comes looking for her, they should leave an address, and she will visit them after she returns." The Boss said, pulling out a registration book.
"Ah, ah… The Saintess is truly kind-hearted!" The seeker, who had come by reputation, was instantly moved to tears.
...
"Achoo…" Iri sneezed again, a rather cute one. How many times had it been today? Who was constantly talking about her behind her back! Iri thought, feeling quite displeased.
At this moment, Iri was walking on the main street of the Bahaus Empire's Capital. She had previously come here through a teleportation gate with Ainz and Nabe.
However, they separated after arriving, as their divisions of labor were different. Ainz's primary objective in the Empire was certainly to win over Fulda, and then to investigate information on World Items and the Empire's Steel Rank Adventurers Squad.
And Iri's mission was to "follow Ainz's instructions" and find an opportunity to infiltrate the Black Worker team.
However, after separating to act alone, Iri had no clue whatsoever and had been wandering around here for two days.
Iri had already explored all the small taverns that looked like Black Worker gathering spots, but she still hadn't encountered the Four Strategists Squad. Had she arrived too early?
Or was it? This problem…
Iri helplessly looked down at her current attire… It was still made by Albedo. Although she had explained that she was on a mission given by Ainz and needed her clothes to be as simple as possible for ease of movement, Iri was speechless when she received the finished product.
There was no element of simplicity at all! It was still a white-toned outfit. Because combat might be involved, this time it wasn't a long skirt but a short skirt that could serve the public anytime, anywhere, paired with over-the-knee stockings embroidered with golden wing patterns.
Although Iri quite liked the design of this new outfit, she had to consider the occasion, right?
Where was the simplicity in this?
This didn't look like an Adventurer's attire at all!
Moreover, Iri didn't understand why Albedo was so fixated on the wing patterns drawn based on her own waist wings. Basically, all the clothes made for Iri had this pattern… as if to show off to someone that Iri was her daughter.
Probably also due to Iri's outfit and her own beautiful appearance, whenever Iri went into those small taverns alone, she would basically be harassed by those blind scoundrels, and then, given Iri's temper…
It usually ended with the thugs being beaten by Iri to the point of being unable to care for themselves, and by the time she came to her senses, everyone in the tavern had fled, so there was no progress in finding the Four Strategists Squad.
If she really couldn't find them, the worst-case scenario would be to find an opportunity to sneak in when Ainz, disguised as Fei Fei, reached the gates of Nazarick, but that would essentially mean the mission failed. After all that preparation, it would be too embarrassing if she couldn't get in. Iri sighed.
After going into who knows how many more taverns and still finding nothing, Iri was about to find a random place to eat something to fill her stomach and then just go home and cling to Ainz's leg, when inadvertently… she glanced at a tavern with an outdoor seating area!
Found… found them!!!
Those three people sitting at the outdoor table drinking, weren't they the warrior, the elven archer, and the priest from the Four Strategists? What were their names again?
Never mind! She'd get to know them soon enough!
Iri was instantly overjoyed, then quickly 'sneaked' over, pretending to be just a kind, harmless passerby. She went into the tavern, randomly ordered a few things, then sat at the table next to theirs, and pricked up her ears…
Oh, oh! So they were discussing what to do after Miss Arshe left the team. But speaking of discussions, that priest, saying lines like retiring to the countryside to farm after this job, aren't you just asking for death?
No wonder you were all annihilated! You set yourselves up for certain death.
Now is a good opportunity to infiltrate the enemy, Iri told herself, then abruptly stood up, turned around… and walked over.
"Hmm? Little sister? Is there something you need?" Before Iri could speak, the blonde warrior saw Iri approach and spoke to her first.
"Um… I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but I heard you might be recruiting a magic caster?" Iri replied.
The blonde warrior and the priest looked Iri up and down, making Iri feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Are you a magic caster, little sister?" The priest asked after glancing at the staff (or hammer-like) object wrapped in white cloth on Iri's back.
"Yes… I am a very powerful magic caster! I… I had a bit of a disagreement with my family, so I ran away… so… so…" Iri said, while feigning a troubled and pitiful expression.
"Oh, oh! A runaway girl, Hellank… *hic*… Don't… have any improper thoughts about her… *hic*…" The elven sister, who seemed quite drunk, said with a flushed face and hiccups.
"No, no… Imina, what kind of person do you take me for? No matter what, I wouldn't lay a hand on such a little… sister!" The blonde warrior's gaze fell on Iri's chest, he hesitated, then replied rather awkwardly.
"Little sister, we are not regular Adventurers, but Black Workers who will do anything. Is that okay?" The priest asked very seriously.
"It's fine. Anyway, the Adventurer's Guild's philosophy is completely at odds with mine. Having to get their permission just to save someone… it's so annoying." Iri replied.
Of course… Iri already knew the reason why this priest became a Black Worker, so she used the same excuse to win his favor.
Then the priest had nothing to say. It seemed like she had him… Iri secretly rejoiced.
"Then, little sister, what tier of magic can you use?" The blonde warrior asked.
"Six." Iri answered instantly.
At this moment, there was no need to hide her strength, as she needed to promote herself, and Miss Arshe was still in the team.
Which meant… as fellow magic casters, if she didn't show some strength to overwhelm Miss Arshe, it was very likely they would use an excuse like, "We'll look for you after our team's magic caster leaves."
And if a powerful magic caster joined them, persuading them to abandon this trip to Nazarick, they would probably be somewhat convinced, Iri thought.
"Six? Tier Six?" The priest was immediately startled.
"Little sister, it's not good to lie. To tell you the truth, my team's magic caster is an ability user who can see what tier of magic a magic caster can use." The blonde warrior laughed.
Of course, Iri knew this, and she also knew that if Miss Arshe really looked at her, she would definitely say that Iri was an unqualified magic caster.
After all… Iri was only level one, and her MP was not even enough to cast the most basic attack spells. And Miss Arshe, who was considered an excellent magic caster among the natives, could only use Tier Three. Tier Six magic… only Fulda, who was now kneeling and 'licking' Ainz's boots, could use it, right?
"Want to try?" Iri dropped her previously feigned pitiful expression and looked at the blonde warrior with a serious face.
-----------------------
To read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can follow and support me on Patreon.
I'll be posting early chapters there so you can always stay ahead and never miss any new content.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT