Chapter 451
"Yada-sama? Shalia, were you a spirit all along?"
"Honestly, Liberta-kun. While it's true I'm as lovely and cute as a spirit, I don't know any weirdos like these♪"
If I recall correctly, Yada was the name of the dark spirit worshipped by the Feda tribe.
That entity itself never appeared in FBO; its image was only depicted in murals within Feda tribe ruins.
Because of that, players who could draw let their imaginations run wild and designed their own versions of the dark spirit Yada.
The designs varied widely—from little girls to mature women, from motherly types to elderly women, even gyaru—anything went, left entirely to imagination.
I searched my memory for any Shalia-like drawing among those, but unfortunately, I couldn't recall one.
"Then how do you explain these men shedding tears of emotion?"
"Who knows♪ Isn't that something you'd know better, Liberta-kun?"
"I don't, which is why I'm about to tear my hair out over it."
The dark spirit Yada was considered a fictional existence.
It never appears in spirit-related quests, and isn't even mentioned.
Even progressing through the Feda tribe's quests, the only information you get is from mural content and oral tradition.
"Dark-san, do you know a dark spirit named Yada?"
'Yada... Hmm, a dark spirit with a name, equal to myself... If such an existence existed, it wouldn't be strange for me to know about it.'
And if the spirits themselves, who should be kin, don't know, it seems more reasonable to assume it doesn't exist.
Dark-san tilts his head, searching his memory, but no information surfaces from it.
This makes the "non-existent" theory even more likely.
"Given we're having this conversation right in front of them, you'd think they'd be angry... but they're not?"
"They've become so captivated by Shalia-dono that they can no longer hear us."
"This is why I hate fanatics."
Even if I try to否定 that theory, given Shalia's physical existence, I'd probably be met with "it can't be that she doesn't exist," so I reluctantly turn to look at the Feda men. They remain staring intently at Shalia, tears streaming down their faces.
Frankly, it's horrifying.
"Maybe we should make Shalia a cult leader and absorb these guys?"
"Don't try to push something so absurd on me♪"
I considered that with such deep faith, there was a chance they could be used as a unit exclusively for Shalia, but with this kind of person, if there's a discrepancy between their beliefs and the actions of the object of worship, they'd be the first to throw a hysterical fit.
Shalia also threatened me with a smile saying "don't do that," so I can't go through with it.
"Seriously, I came here to deliver a message from Claudia-sama. I need to hear it and take a response back, you know?"
"Couldn't another Entertainer have done that? Or even one of the Garden Guards. Why did Shalia specifically come?"
I decided to leave the Feda, whose minds had stopped from emotion, for now.
It would be better to handle Shalia's business, which might be urgent.
With her hands on her hips and leaning forward, she looked like a girl angry with her childhood friend. Witnessing Shalia's increasingly cute mannerisms, I noticed the Garden Guards, the Entertainers, and even Dark-san were momentarily captivated. Ignoring that, I listened to her message.
"Claudia-sama said there was something she was curious about. One of the bandit leaders leaked some information, and when they investigated, they found this."
"This is... an accessory?"
The message was about the land route attack, as expected.
Though they'd probably suspended the investigation for the night, they must have taken some measures. Having Shalia come specifically meant this was an important item.
At first glance, it's a wooden, human-shaped pendant.
Given its ominous appearance, it's probably some kind of cursed object.
"Claudia-sama thought it looked important, so she wrapped it in a cloth soaked in holy water and had me bring it. She wanted to know if it could be evidence linking it to some organization. It seems she needs to explain it to the person in charge over there."
"I see."
I examined it closely, but nothing immediately came to mind.
Unless these kinds of accessories have a distinctive symbol, it's difficult to determine their connection to a specific organization.
On top of that, it's made of wood.
When common materials are used, it makes it even harder to narrow down leads.
Adding to that, this "human shape" is incredibly frustrating.
It's a common shape for cursed objects; frankly, it looks mass-produced.
Scratching my head and showing my troubled expression, Shalia also gave a wry smile, saying, "I know, right."
There's a lot I know, but there are also things I don't.
There's no way I'd have pinpoint information like where this mass-produced item was made or who had it.
"Hmm, that's a problem."
Feeling a sense of guilt for not being able to help in what should be my strong suit—情報 sources—I was troubled.
"Is Yada-sama troubled?"
A voice cut into our conversation.
It was Shalia speaking casually, but one of the Feda, whose faces had been frozen with tears until now, suddenly rebooted.
"Like I said, I'm not a spirit named Yada. Well, it's true we're troubled, though."
Since the gazes directed at her were less than favorable, Shalia's tone became somewhat stern. But, characteristically, she still mixed in her true feelings.
"...We know about that."
After exchanging glances, the Feda men—who hadn't answered any of our questions—spoke up voluntarily.
"Ngh!?"
Genjirou nearly reacted impulsively, but I covered his mouth, thinking him intervening here would cause trouble. Signaling him and the others to "be quiet" with my eyes, I confirmed their nods and prompted Shalia to continue the conversation.
"Eh, really?"
"R-really."
"I really don't like being lied to, you know? If you're just saying things to get my attention, I won't forgive you♪"
"It's not a lie! We saw the men distributing those three days ago. Merchants. No doubt about it!"
I left the extraction method to Shalia. She switched to a cold gaze that said "I don't trust you," and when she pressed them with an expression that would be irresistible to people with certain proclivities, the Feda men, terrified of being hated by someone who resembled the object of their faith, started desperately trying to convince her, as if the world would end.
Their demeanor and attitude didn't sound like they were lying.
"...Hmm."
"I-I'm good at drawing! I can draw the faces of the men with the carriage!"
"I'm good at remembering places! I know where they were!"
"I have good hearing! I know what they were talking about!"
Instead of immediately jumping on it, Shalia deliberately distanced herself, as if saying "is that all?"
Feeling they'd been deemed insufficient, the other Feda men also scrambled to offer information, eager to please her.
"Okay, I'll have paper and a map prepared, so draw it for me. If it's a lie... I'll hate you all♪"
"!!!!!"
She neither affirmed nor denied.
But for the Feda men, Shalia had completely become the spirit Yada.
The word "hate" from the object of their faith was equivalent to being told "die."
If their tribe ever found out about this, who knows what would happen? Their inner screams seemed palpable as they frantically shook their heads and nodded repeatedly.
"...Hey, Judeus."
"Yeah?"
"Does Shalia extract information like that every time?"
"Hmm, she does use that approach sometimes."
She's strangely skilled at manipulating people.
While firmly denying being Yada, she simultaneously stirs their hearts and bends them to her will—it somehow suited her.
I leaned in closer to Judeus and asked quietly, to which he replied, "She does it often."
"Other times, she plays super cute, gets people drunk and spills their secrets, or completely charms some obviously virgin nobleman and extracts information."
"Did I create some kind of monster?"
"Too late for that now, don't you think?"
Probing further, I learned she fully utilizes her appearance to collect information without restraint, as if asking if I had no conscience.
"...By the way, how do you and the other Entertainers collect information?"
Having neglected to confirm on-site information-gathering methods, I learned the truth too late.
Suppressing a sigh, I sent a sympathetic gaze toward the Feda men, who, despite being only bound by their hands, showed no sign of attempting escape and were frantically writing down information.
"We basically collect rumors at taverns, then drink with men who seem to have information."
"Get them drunk and make them spill secrets."
"Yeah. The ones with loose lips work well that way. Also, men tend to open up more to other men. Sometimes, if you dance naked, they think you're an interesting guy and approach you."
"...So that's actually useful in that way?"
I didn't know how useful information obtained by such means was, but it could serve as a starting point for investigation. While watching the Feda men with half-expectation, I asked Judeus about his methods, and unable to hold back, I sighed, thinking "What are you doing?"
"For tight-lipped ones?"
"That's where the one with the scary expression now does his thing. We mostly support him."
"But not all people with information are interested in women, right? And there are female targets too."
"That's where we switch approaches. For women, Shalia pretends to be a sympathetic listener; for faithful men, she bonds over family stories."
"...Anything goes."
"Yeah, it's a perfect example of how good looks are a real weapon."
I'd hoped for this, but it seems professionals in information gathering are steadily being developed. I knew they'd been practicing makeup, having wigs made by craftsmen, and coming to me to learn application techniques, but if this continues, they might become the kind of "national beauty" that historians write about.
"What's funny is that a certain number of men are willing to get naked to support that."
"You're one to talk?"
"Because we're the ones doing it, we can laugh about it."
My trusted intelligence unit is truly a colorful bunch.
I wonder if there's any talent capable of fitting into such a group.
At least, the Feda men, half-crying and desperately writing down information under Shalia's glare, wouldn't be up to the task. Even if they were welcomed in, a future of being used by Shalia awaits.
"Recruiting replacements is hard."
"Do your best, leader. Relieve our burden soon."
As someone who also had to decide the fate of those Feda men, my stomach began to ache, and I couldn't help but press my hand against it.