This Eroge Won't Make Me Fall!

"Hey, do you know the princess or something?" the receptionist asked me in a whisper as the princess and the prince talked with the Mythril ranked two in the distance.

"Actually, I used to be a frog—"

"You'll be executed."

I was still talking when the princess suddenly moved away from the group. She slowly started making her way over to us.

I immediately got on my knee and greeted the princess.

"Raise your heads," the princess said and I stood up with the receptionist.

"Are you not, Young Lord Eugene Hall? It is a pleasure to see you here. Thank you for heeding our call."

At that, the receptionist whipped her face toward me.

"He was really a frog...?" She was lucky her whisper was quiet enough for the princess to not hear.

"I am honored to know this humble adventurer's name has reached your grace."

"Haha," the princess scoffed. "How would I not know the name of such a famous adventurer?"

"She looks like she'll murder you," Titania said from the side. I didn't need to hear it though, her neck was clenched and her fingers were hardened in rage, it was clear she didn't feel good toward me.

Not many things fell in line either. For one, I was nowhere popular enough for royalty to know of me, and even if they did, they would know me as dusk and not Eugene.

"Sir Eugene, for someone of your skills and fame, coupled with your lineage, I have just the perfect task. I hope you won't feel bothered by it."

"I will not let your grace down."

"Then," she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I would like for you to be the one guarding the Lady of Acacia duchy."

I flinched. The lady's grip grew tighter.

I... I was told it would be a vacation. But I now had to guard the brat of a dukedom?

"Is that no good?"

"It is my greatest honor to be entrusted with this role by your grace. Please rest assured."

"I got it," the princess said brightly. "Then, I'll wish you a long and happy stay, Sir Eugene."

We bowed and the lady walked away.

After she was gone, I turned to the receptionist and poured.

"You said I'll get a vacation—"

"What the heck, you were seriously a noble?"

Her priorities were different.

I waved my hand as if to dismiss the topic. "So what, I am as good as disowned."

"Heh..." The receptionist was slightly awed by my words but didn't push the matter further.

The gathering soon came to an end as the hosts prepared to go greet the mercenaries. They asked us to begin to right away before leaving.

I asked around a bit and was told that no one from the duchy I was to go to was here yet and that I was free to move on my own.

With most of the adventurers out for work, I returned to the external building in the fourth district with the receptionist.

"So, what will you do now? I hear that the lady will be here after two days yet."

I stretched my hand above my head while talking to the receptionist.

"I guess I'll go look around the place some more. I already peeked into the first three districts yesterday, so maybe the last ones."

"Hey, asshole, I heard something unacceptable in there."

"Must be your imagination." I looked away.

"Then, while you're out," the receptionist spoke. "Do you think you'll be able to get some information?"

"That was the plan in the first place."

The receptionist nodded.

Things had become even clearer now. The empire was planning something big.

We needed information to seal this case. Looking into their movements before would have been problematic, but since we were here, it was possible to commission some information agency to look into movements that won't be easily missed by the locals with low suspicion.

"I have to go and meet with the rest of the managers and vice guild master," the receptionist sighed.

"Leave this matter to me."

"Yeah, also, you better take me out for dinner soon. Tomorrow soon."

I chuckled and stood up. "Got it, I'll commission someone to find the best place in the city."

With that, I left the guild house again.

Working as a close guard or not, since it was a quest I had accepted, I was going to do it. No matter how suspicious it was of that princess.

For now, it was time to sniff up the empire's secrets.

***

Information agencies were burrowed deep into society. Though there were a ton of open, surface-level agencies, getting important information from them wasn't easy for strangers like me without knowing some special things about the agencies.

For now, I made it a bigger goal to hear the rumors and what people around the town had to say about the situation going on in the capital. It wasn't all that tough to get an ear on some rumors.

First, I went into some pubs and bars and sat around people who had a lot of free time to talk about conspiracies and politics. Gradually, I brought them some drinks and joined their conversation. And then, after getting them tipsy and trusting, I lit a spark in the kindle.

"Have you seen all these adventurers and mercenaries coming in?" I said. "I wonder what is going on."

"Oh, boy, now that you mention it! I have seen a lot of them too."

"Really? Why adventurers, we already have knights."

"Has something like this happened before?" Of course, it had, everyone knew that adventurers and mercenaries were recruited en masse for wars and expeditions, it was especially true in a blood-filled place like the empire. I didn't mention it outright, but it was enough to remind them of things.

"I know, come closer." In a whisper, the drunk continued. "Don't tell anyone else, but my nephew works in the supply units of the knight order. They recently brought in weapons from all over the Empire to the capital."

And jackpot.

It wasn't enough to confirm the rumors, though, since people not only had a tendency to lie but also to exaggerate. Like this, I went over to multiple bars and taverns to hear as much as I could while keeping an eye out for information agencies.

The sun started to go down with me in the sixth district. It was densely populated and much less managed than the higher districts, which made it a prime spot for such rumors.

I stepped out of another tavern and held my head, a few information agencies had stood out that I could probably approach without much suspicion. I also had to look into the princess, the lady of the duchy, and a restaurant.

"There's so much to do..."

"Oh?" A voice crawled up my back. "Care to share some of your troubles?"

"Ah ah!! Eugy!! I-it's too late."

A chill went down my spine as I turned around. A woman with purple hair, now the same height as me.

"Have you been well, dusk?"

"D-dawn..."