Redstone City, inside the lord’s office.

Nova was buried in stacks of paperwork, working late into the night.

After rescuing the duke’s daughter, Duke Alamar had kept his promise—he had indeed handed them a city.

And not just any city, but one on a major trade route, prosperous with commerce.

Although technically only its management rights were granted—not a true noble fief—it was still a rich reward. Other than a small fixed tribute to the duke each month, all surplus revenue from city governance went straight into their own pockets.

Far faster money than adventuring.

As for whether it was easy?

Ask Night Owl or Ivan—they’d say it was.

Ask Nova… not so much.

Smack—

Another stack of papers landed on his desk, placed by Gal.

Nova, dark circles under his eyes, looked up. “And what’s this?”

“Uh… three visiting merchants’ complaints against Night Owl,” Gal answered, gaze sliding away.

“She’s running her sting schemes again?”

Gal nodded, quietly edging farther back.

Nova’s voice trembled—that seething kind of anger. Since becoming city lord, his temper had grown worse and worse…

Sure enough—

“What the hell is she doing!?”

He flipped through the complaints, then slammed them to the floor.

“Does she want trade caravans to detour just to spite her!?

Gal, fetch her. Where is she?”

“Patrolling, I think…”

“You mean she’s still at it!? Bring her here, now!”

Gal scurried out under the heat of Nova’s glare.

Twenty minutes later, Night Owl was dragged in—filthy, dressed as a beggar.

Nova’s eyes locked on her from the moment she entered. If looks could kill, she’d have died thrice over.

“Night Owl. Explain this outfit.”

“Mm… life experience?” she replied innocently, making Nova’s temple vein twitch.

He hurled the stack of complaints at her feet.

“Pretending to be a dim-witted stray elf, luring merchants to approach—then flashing your badge to extort them?

That’s not law enforcement, that’s a scam!”

Night Owl ducked behind Gal, sticking out her tongue. “Well, if they had no bad intentions, there wouldn’t be a problem! I’m eliminating risks.”

“Risks!?

Do you know merchants entering this city have dropped by twenty percent thanks to you!?

What do you think those cheated merchants say about Redstone afterward?

Can’t you behave for once?

Even rotting like Ivan in a haze of mana would help me more!”

“I’m not a mana junkie!

Besides, what’s the point of being a sheriff if I don’t crack down on them?”

“Then go crack down on thieves, not merchants!”

Night Owl pouted, swaying side to side, eyes avoiding him—a look that screamed ‘say what you want, I’ll do it again.’

The jobs had been split by agreement; Nova, even as captain, had no right to dismiss her.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t blow up.

Gal quietly retreated to the corner, sensing Nova at his limit.

“City lord! A directive from the High Council!”

“Haa—huu—” Nova calmed instantly before outsiders, striding to the communication crystal.

When he returned, Gal sat quietly. Night Owl, back in her black tights, hung upside down from the bookshelf, swaying.

“So, what’s the big deal, needing a comm crystal?” she asked.

Long-distance magic was costly—only critical orders warranted it.

“They want us to escort priests of the Church of Light to Oath City, the capital.

Also… a non-mandatory summons for us.”

“Tch, so vague,” Night Owl grumbled. “They already called off tons of diamond-ranked adventurers, and now us? Won’t even say why. Creepy—never a good sign.”

“It’s non-mandatory,” Nova reminded her.

“So we vote?”

He nodded. “Gal, fetch Ivan.”

Soon, Gal carried in a dazed Ivan under his arm.

Nova explained. Ivan nodded absently, but Gal doubted he was even awake.

“I agree to go. Another day here and you’ll all drive me insane,” Nova cast the first vote.

Truth be told, he meant it.

Ivan—lost to mana highs.

Night Owl—constantly stirring trouble.

Gal—loyal but dim, good only for errands.

All responsibility had fallen on Nova alone. No wonder his temper soured.

This summons? A perfect excuse to get away.

Danger? They were adventurers—who feared danger?

“Not going!” Night Owl declared. She wanted her brand of justice in the city, not royal nonsense.

“I don’t mind either way,” Gal abstained.

“Ivan?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Go, go,” Ivan muttered, collapsing back into his chair. Whether he understood was doubtful.

Still—

“Two to one. We escort the priests.

Gal, prepare a carriage and half a month’s rations.

Night Owl, stock potions—enough for our next dungeon dive.

I’ll arrange city handover.”

“Yes.”

“Yesss—”

Night Owl darted off, Gal lugging Ivan away.

——

The next day, beside two carriages—

“By the Light’s blessing, we entrust you with this journey.”

Three priests bowed. Nova hurried forward with courtesies.

All were gold-ranked, two women and one man.

Redstone did have one diamond-ranked cleric—but far too old. Nova feared the man would die en route if he dared bring him.

So the elder stayed, while these three sufficed.

As they departed, Night Owl perched on the roof, legs dangling.

“Captain, first priests, then adventurers. Last time, a bunch of magical supplies.

What are they scheming?

Starting a war with the demons? If so, I’m out.”

As an elf, she could bolt to the forest if things looked bad.

“How would I know?” Nova reclined in the carriage, savoring the rare freedom from paperwork. “But definitely not war. If it were, they’d mobilize armies and grain, not just supplies, adventurers, and priests.”

——

Two days later.

“Something ahead! Wake the old man, time for a scout!” Night Owl called.