When I get home, I see Maria playing with the two kids.

"Are you already done with cooking, Maria?"

"Ah! S-sorry, my lord, I... I..."

"As I recall, I gave you an order to prepare a meal for our soon-to-arrive guests, and what do I see here? You three fooling around! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I don't have an excuse, my lord."

"I thought as much. Now what to do about your punishment?"

I may be a bit irate from the patch log earlier, but I know it is not her fault. On the contrary, Maria getting along with them certainly eases one of my worries.

"I think I'll sentence you to babysit them for the near future. Seriously, do you have any idea how much trouble that causes me? That cuts the amount of damage I can do to the flood monsters clean in half."

"My lord, I'm sorry, I..."

"Okay, enough fooling around. I don't mind you playing with them but please make sure the food gets ready in time. Especially these two need something to eat. That we have to ration food so much that everyone only gets one meal is bad enough, but them having gone multiple days without food is unacceptable. So I hereby order you to make sure they get at least one decent meal a day. The world may see them just as slaves and I currently can't change that, but that doesn't mean we have to treat them as second-rate citizens. Have I made myself clear?"

"Understood. And thank you, my liege."

She takes the kids and goes into the kitchen.

I know Therese went out of her way to hand me some documents but because of that slavery business, I had no time to read through them. Might as well quickly skim through them, just like last-minute cramming before an exam.

I summon Elly as my assistant. I am acting as a lord now, I should have that little bit of dignity to not answer the door myself. I need to get real servants for that, summons cost too much MP that I need much more elsewhere.

Marca and Geoffrey are the first to arrive. Seems like they had a bit of a chat with Elly before coming to me in the conference room. From what I can see they seem to get along just fine, which is good if those two really want to join my party going forward.

Therese is the next to arrive. I expected that she would escort Chloe if they are as good friends as I thought they were.

"Is Chloe not with you, Therese?"

"No, the doctor refuses to let her leave on my authority, so Darius has to get her."

"Hmm... I guess that makes sense. Also, sorry in advance. I know you went out of your way to get me these documents as soon as you could, but something else came up so I didn't have much time to read through them."

"Of course, it would go like that... may I know what happened, Jared?"

"Sure, I wanted to bring it up in the meeting later anyway. I got a visit from a slaver who left me two kids as present. Or rather bribe."
"Okay, that makes sense."

"I expected more of a reaction, Therese."

"I'm not sure why I should be surprised or anything, you have to take care of your new property first."

That's... all?

"You make it sound like getting slaves is the most normal thing in the world."

"It isn't exactly normal, but nothing world-shattering either. Several nobles and a few richer commoners buy some, so I don't get what the deal is."

"So, just a difference in culture? Where I am from slavery is despised."

"Is it? That is... weird. I once learned that the concept of slavery was brought to us by a 'Lost One'."

"The more I learn the less I understand why you people are on good terms with us 'Lost Ones'. So far they seem to have failed to achieve anything of note and in exchange, they brought you vampires and the concept of slavery. I wonder what else they have fucked up..."

"Vampires originated from the 'Lost Ones' as well?"

"That's at least what I've heard in a story. And considering what I was allowed to get away with when negotiating the terms for coming here, it is at least in the realm of the possible."

A bit later, Darius finally arrives and brings Chloe. She looks still down, guess they really haven't told her anything.

"How are you holding up, Chloe?"

"Honestly, not well, Ja-, I mean, my lord."

"Just Jared is fine if it is you."

"Thank you... Jared. I... don't know what is going on or why I am here..."

"Give it a few minutes, then we'll tell you everything."

"I think that is everyone now?", Darius asks.

"Almost, but we can start without the missing three. They are in the kitchen preparing some food for you. We have a lot of things to discuss and from my experience thinking requires a lot of energy."

"I like the sound of that!"

"As if you do a lot of thinking", Therese teases him.

"So let's get the most important thing out of the way. Chloe, they haven't told you anything yet?"

"No, nothing."

"Good, so long story short... I am what you call a 'Lost One'."

"You are...? But...", Chloe looks less distraught than before, "why haven't you told us earlier?"

"I had my doubts. The people that told me it would be okay to reveal that had already proven to be less than trustworthy."

"...fine, I can understand that. Can you... show me the proof?"

"I could, but this brings me to point number two. It turns out I can only produce the symbol a limited number of times, in fact, I have only one use left and I need it for the public speech I plan to hold as soon as possible. So can you just trust me and wait for those few days?"

"You can, Chloe", Marca adds, "trust me, I've seen it. He is the real deal."

"You have? Who else has?"

"Everyone present except for you, Chloe", everyone nods in agreement, "plus Lucia."

Darius asks, "You've shown it to my ni-, I mean, to the holy maiden?", then slams the table, "Why is she not here then?"

"I thought about it, but her [Undead Bait] skill poses a risk I'm not willing to take."

"What do you mean? I'm not familiar with that skill."

"There are two parts to that skill. First, undead - which I also am - get drawn to her. I could literally feel how my hunger increased quickly while near her. The second part... can't be read. We don't know what the point of the skill is, but we agree it can't be good... She has supposedly received an oracle that she'd die soon-ish, and if we can't avoid it, I'd at least like it to not be my fault unless she explicitly asks me to."

"Alright, I understand."

And once again I have tempted fate...

"Anyway, back to topic. Is that good enough for you, Chloe?"

"Honestly, I'd like to see actual proof now, but if you can only show the sign once more... I'll choose to trust you."

"Good, now for the actual topics. I see Therese has prepared a writing pad."

"That I have. Is that a problem?"

"On the contrary, there is a lot to discuss and it would be bad if a result would be lost just because of the sheer amount. So I appreciate your help with that."

"My pleasure."

"Elly, can you please get Anna from the kitchen? This concerns her."

"Sure thing, boss!"

Elly leaves the room.

"So, by my understanding, there should only be one 'Lost One' at the same time. Does anyone know anything in that direction?"

Geoffrey answers, "That is the same I have learned."

"Same here", Therese adds.

"And does the same apply to people from other worlds in general?"

"I don't follow", Marca asks, "where's the difference?"

"Right, there shouldn't be. But yesterday I had a visitor. A slave owner donated two kids... and one of them seems to also be from a different world, just like me. At least she could accurately describe facilities that don't exist here and what the process between lives is like. At least it was similar enough to what I know."

Everyone is speechless.

Therese is the first to regain composure, "I'm honestly not sure what that changes, even if true. Does she have the titles?"

"No. And it may not change anything for you, but it may change several things for me. Before I was sent here, I was told that those sent to other worlds can't acquire the hero title, but she is already a hero candidate."

Darius says, "So what? There are usually at least a dozen candidates before the real hero is found. You said she was a slave? In that case, don't bother with it. Slaves can't qualify."

Maybe not as she is, but if we can remove that seal... I should just ask her if she even wants to be a hero, there's no point to force her considering the circumstances.

Elly finally brings the girl. What took you so long? The kitchen is just a few steps across the floor!!

440/1786 HP... sleep doesn't really recover much health, does it?

"Hiya, you called?"

"Yes, Anna. Answer truthfully and please don't disobey like yesterday, you haven't recovered yet."

"*gulp* yeah..."

"Have you lived in a different world before coming here?"

"...yes, I think so. At least there were no monsters there."

"Good. Next question. Do you know what electricity is?"

"Uh, that's the stuff that powers the TV, right?"

"Good enough for me."

Therese asks, "What is that 'electricity'?"

"Not important. Just think of it as mana for devices."

"Alright."

"Last question, Anna. Are you a hero?"

"Uh, just a candidate, I think."

"Good. Anyone else got a question for her?"

"None here", everyone else shakes their head.

"You heard it, Anna, you can go back to Maria."

"Sure, bu-bye!"

Elly guides Anna back to the kitchen.

"As you can guess, all of that makes no sense to me. There should only be one of us, but as you saw, there's at least two."

Geoffrey has an idea, "Maybe she was sent by a lesser god? One with enough power to send us help but not enough for a proper 'Lost One'?"

"...a different department? Could be. But then shouldn't my death angels in charge have known about this? Ok, that is just useless guessing at this point..."

"Maybe you should start by telling us what the main threat is?", Chloe suggests, "You seem to know something."

"Sure, let's start with that. But considering that some of the other things I've been told have been wrong so far, you should take it with a grain of salt."

"We'll keep that in mind. So please go ahead."

"Right. So, the 'gods' don't really know much either. There's supposedly a demon artifact somewhere in this world."

Marcia interrupts me, "They have no idea where it would be?"

"Not the slightest clue. The only thing they really know is that while this artifact exists, this world is basically cut off from the rest of the universe."

Geoffrey asks, "What exactly does that mean?"

"Nothing gets out, and for anything to get in the gods have to use a lot of limited resources. Supposedly."

"Wait, wait, nothing gets out?", asks Chloe.

"That is what I'm told. And this allegedly extends to souls as well. So they can't pass on to the afterlife."

While everyone is silent in shock, Elly returns.

"Though I have a suspicion that it gets worse."

Therese reacts, "W-worse? How can it get worse?"

"...when I first arrived here, I had an accident in a nearby village where I ended up drinking the blood of a few children. They were about to die anyway. The thing is... during my last dungeon visit, I encountered several monsters that acted strange, even for monsters. Due to some circumstances, I tried to drink their blood. Two of them tasted very similar to the children I had... killed before."

Therese shudders at the thought, "Could you... not remind me, please? I've lost my child to a vampire attack."

"Sorry."

Darius suggests, "Jared, could it just be a coincidence? There are only so many ways something can taste."

"Maybe, but I feel like they also had some traces of their original personality."

Darius is outraged, "Are you seriously suggesting that the souls of the dead that can't leave this world due to this artifact get turned into monsters?!"

Elly joins in, "Where'd you get that idea from, Jared?"

"I'm just saying it is a possibility we can't deny that easily. There are some hints to it at least."

"Now assuming that it is indeed the case", Therese adds, "what can we do to change that?"

"Currently? Nothing. It would only add more urgency to my mission to destroy that artifact so this world can return to its proper place in the universe."

Elly is her usual flippant self, "Way to bring the mood down, Jared."

"Lying about it wouldn't change anything, Elly. And they need to know. The resources at our disposal are limited, we can't afford to just fool around. If they are willing to help, they need to be in with 100%."

"No, he's right, uh, Elly?", Chloe is uncertain again, "It is just a much bigger problem than we knew of."

"I propose we take a break. Food should be ready soon. I think we continue after everyone has had some time to think about this. Objections?"

"None", Darius is looking forward to the meal.

Therese and Chloe agree as well, "Fine by me."

"I agree", Marca answers.

Geoffrey just nods, he isn't one for many words.

"Good, we'll meet in an hour again here."

I get up and want to leave but Chloe approaches me, "Jared, can we... talk? Just the two of us? There's something I need to know."

"Uh, sure. Next door is my office, we can talk there."

"Elly, can you handle things here until we resume the meeting? I... won't join the meal for obvious reasons."

"Sure, you can count on me, Jared."

I take Chloe and finally leave the meeting room for the office next door.

"Ok, now what did you want to talk about, Chloe?"

"...I want... I need to know about 'us'. What am I to you? Ever since this... familiar bond was formed my head has been all weird."

"I think I see where this is going... I consider you a friend, maybe something like a big sister even with the familiar bond, but nothing beyond that."

I'm not even sure if I am able to feel anything for real without Lucia's skill forcing me to...

"I, I see."

She thinks for a bit.

Then storms forward and hugs me.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

"Just hugging my cute little 'brother'."

"I don't know about cute... but fine, I'll allow it", I hug her back.

"Thank you~"

I'm not sure how much of her affection is because she's just starved for affection and how much is the influence of 'familiar'.

"Going forward, I want to form a party that is able to clear the dungeon. Geoffrey and Marca already agreed to join - would you help as well?"

"Of course! I will help with anything that I can! What is with Kay, Allen and Gabella? Did you ask them already?"

"They want nothing to do with a vampire. In case you were not told, they have also quit your group."

"I see...", she hugs me tighter.

I can feel her tears landing on my face. Seems like she didn't take that message too well...

I give her some time to get it out of her system.

A bit later she lets go of me, "Was that all you wanted to know, Chloe?"

"Yeah..."

She goes and joins the others for the meal I had Maria and the two kids prepare. I hope they enjoy it. I can't.

3QGN73

The two referenced monster tastes were in chapters 34 and 38, in case you want a refresher. If it wasn't obvious by now, the boss from 34 was the callback to Eila, Jared's first victim.

Originally I wanted to do the content of this and the next chapter in one, then I looked up just how many points would need addressing and then decided to break them up with the lunch break.