Tsukimi
── Secret Commission ──
暗 影 の 契 約
SHADOW PACT — 30 DAYS
*The moment the wax seal was broken, a faint residue of magic rose from the parchment. The crest of Minister Gesgal—a design of a snake devouring a crown—was imprinted on the fragments of wax. The Lizard unfolded the secret letter in a secluded private room at the Adventurer's Guild.*
*The wording was polite, but the pressure seeping between the lines could not be hidden. "We have taken your abilities into consideration"—anybody with one foot in the underworld knew that this was not the kind of man to use such a humble phrase. Minister Gesgal. Ostensibly a pillar of state, but rumored to be connected to black marketeers and the thieves' guild.*
📜 EXCERPT FROM THE REQUEST
"—You are to impart your skills and knowledge to the operative known as 'Tsukimi' from the shadows. The deadline is thirty days. The reward is 10,000 G per day. Furthermore, Tsukimi is the property of the state, and sexual use is strictly forbidden. Violation will be met with appropriate punishment."
*"Property of the state"—the phrasing that treated a person like an object caused the Lizard's brow to twitch slightly. However, he wasn't so naive as to refuse out of righteous indignation. Refusing the minister's request would not only restrict his activities as an adventurer but could also lead to him being pursued under fabricated charges. Because he was such a troublesome opponent, it was wiser to accept it first and assess the situation from the inside.*
*The Lizard folded the parchment and put it in his pocket.*
The next day — A mansion at the edge of the outer wall
*After passing through a cobblestone path surrounded by trees, an iron gate entwined with ivy appeared. The mansion standing beyond it was far more magnificent than the information that it was the minister's "private villa" had suggested. White walls, a deep green roof, and polished window panes.*