This is, whoa. The city we arrived at is bigger than I thought. Based on the village size, this city could easily swallow 5 of them. But that’s not the surprising part.

There are people with animal ears, actual functioning animal ears that twitch and perk themselves. They seem to be the real deal. I also see human shaped lizards and dwarfish men. Some people have angelic wings or long ears, and some have fish parts for upper bodies. I should ask just how diverse the races are here.

There doesn’t seem to be any discrimination or class differences, so maybe there won’t be racial divides. The city reflects the policies of the lord so maybe I can raise my expectations.

The guards accept the criminals after looking at them and seeing the leader, who apparently has a small bounty. The Sisters of Danirass seem to be infamous around these parts based on the surprised looks we got on the way here. Some lecherous looks also got mixed in.

I bid the brother that led me here goodbye and followed the guard. He led me to an empty room in what I assume is a mansion. It’s on the smaller side but definitely has elegance.

Interesting to note was the guard’s uniform of leather with certain areas reinforced by iron. I guess this world has not discovered guns and at most, arrows or monster claws are the most common injuries to watch out for.

I was told that the city’s lord would pay me a visit. That makes things convenient for me but I wonder what made it happen? Don’t tell me those sister criminals were really dangerous?

I sip the tea that was brought by a plain looking maid when the doors creak open and a small girl walks in radiating brilliantly. Is she walking about unsupervised? Maybe someone will come to fetch her once they find her.

「 Good evening. I am the Baroness Mirenda, lord of this Realight City. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. 」

Turns out this little girl isn’t lost at all, in fact she’s the lord of the city. Just from appearances she doesn’t seem older than 10 years and she curtsies like a proper nobel. My eyes must be playing tricks on me, but I notice her ears are sharp at the end and her hair is platinum blonde.

Assumption: she must be a kind of elf or long lived race where appearance doesn’t equal age. For all I know she could be an adult already. Not replying after some courtesy is rude so I stand and bow while keeping eye contact.

「 Same. I’m … Becca. Becca Thorn. 」

I change my name from Rebecca Thornson to Becca Thorn. I want to enjoy the feeling of being in a different world with a slightly different name. This is also easier to remember.

Becca「 So, miss Baroness, you wanted to speak with me? 」

Mirenda「 Yes. First, let me commend you for capturing the Sisters of Danirass. They have been a plague on Realight City and the local villages quite recently. The damages are small, but numerous, therefore we could not set a high bounty on them. You have my gratitude. 」

Mirenda speaks clearly and with grace. She almost seems sincere in a way, but there’s no way to be certain.

Mirenda「 Of course, the bounty will be paid as well as a bonus. You see, it is a personal policy of mine to reward active achievers. Please accept it. 」

Mirenda hands over a pouch of clinking coins which I gratefully take.

Becca「 Thank you miss lord. 」

Mirenda「 What an odd manner of speaking. 」

Becca「 ? 」

Come to think of it, we’re speaking the same language somehow. Is it possible that I hear everything in my native tongue and my words are translated appropriately? Must be one of the benefits of being summoned to another world. Maybe there’s a strange accent to my words or some etiquette I’m not familiar with.

Mirenda「 Nevermind. I heard from the guard that you came here from the village south of Realight? Do you live there? 」

Becca 「 Ah, no. I’m just passing through. You could say I’m on a small trip away from home, seeing the outside world. Though I’m a little lost if I say so, I don’t even remember the name of this country. 」

Mirenda 「 You mean the country of Yorland? I admit it does sound off to not even know something as simple as that. 」

Yorland, got it.

Mirenda 「 Now then, there is one more matter to discuss. It is also the reason I have called on you. The truth is, I suspect there is a specific reason the Sisters have been difficult to capture. I have no evidence to conclude foul play but I have a hunch. I would like to request your services in discreetly identifying and purging any threats to the city. 」

So she suspects that the reason the sisters have evaded the guards and become a nuisance is because of sabotage, and she believes she can trust me to investigate. I’m not one to say it, but they did seem unusually weak for having a bounty.

Becca「 Is there any reason to not ask one of your trusted subordinates and rely on a stranger instead? 」

Mirenda「 Intuition, I suppose? Just looking at you I can somehow sense that you’ll be of immeasurable assistance. Plus, you’ll stand out less than if I sent someone well known in this city. 」

Wonder if there’s something about me that draws trouble. Maybe it’s another side effect I’m unaware of, but it would make sense. If I’m supposed to go around helping people it helps that they feel compelled to trust me. Just hope I’m not a trouble magnet.

Becca 「 So you said you had a suspicion? Who is it? 」

Mirenda 「 It is my oldest daughter, Cheshyr. 」

Such a little girl, already a mother? Much wow.