The sun rose and the moon set.
Considering the fatigue from the journey, the formalities of changing allegiance, and the need to settle into their rooms, as well as the construction of the forge and bathhouse, Bell decided to let everyone rest for the day.
Hestia seemed quite pleased with herself. While designing the familia crest, she directed the Goibniu Familia to begin work on the manor.
Bell didn't want to spoil the goddess's mood, so he stepped out of the mansion alone.
Since arriving in Orario, this was the first time he'd felt so relaxed.
Laurier and Airmid had been called away early that morning by Syr—who knew what they were plotting.
Artemis and the others were nowhere to be seen.
Thinking of Syr, that little devil, Bell knew she must be behind all of this.
He decided to visit the tavern to check things out.
"Bell Cranel, nya!"
Under the sunlight, a brown-haired, brown-eyed Cat Person girl blocked his path.
"You sure like calling the boy by his full name, nya..."
A second girl, black-haired and green-eyed, with a stunning appearance, muttered softly.
"Nya...? You interrupted my entrance line, nya!"
Anya's smile instantly turned into a pout.
"It's totally your fault, nya..."
Chloe's expression was one of mild exasperation.
"Huh, nya nya?! We're supposed to be partners, nya!"
Anya bared her fangs and scolded the other.
"....."
Bell had intended to greet them, but the two had already started arguing.
He silently sidestepped them and continued on toward the Hostess of Fertility.
"Wait, the boy's gone, nya," Chloe called out, noticing his absence.
"Huh-nya? The quest failed right at the start, nya!" Anya swished her brown tail and sprinted after him, ignoring their quarrel. "Why run away, nya?"
"....Because you two seemed busy?" Bell answered, glancing back at the two Cat girls.
Their outfits were quite unusual.
Anya wore a light brown coat and a detective-style deerstalker hat.
Chloe wore a cat-eared hat adorned with feline patterns. Her slender figure was wrapped in a sleek, tailored black coat, and her white gloves suggested she was imitating a storybook detective.
"Nya~ Did you just ask what we're doing, nya?" Anya cheerfully placed her hand on the brim of her hat and struck a pose. "Well, I'll tell you, nya—wait, wait, don't just turn and leave, nya!"
As soon as Bell turned around, Anya had already latched onto him.
He gave a helpless smile and asked,
"Chloe-san, what exactly are you two doing?"
"Even I think it's a bit silly. It's a detective game, nya," Chloe replied.
"It's not a game, nya! I'm a detective, nya!" Anya shot back loudly.
"Then you two carry on. I need to find Syr about something, so I won't disturb you."
Before Bell could finish speaking, the two of them stepped in front of him at the same time.
"Bell Cranel has to come with us too, nya!"
"After how I helped you before, You can't let me suffer alone, nya."
Anya spread her arms wide, while Chloe played the sympathy card.
"...What do you need me to do?" Bell asked.
"It's simple, nya. Come be our assistant, nya~"
Anya revealed their objective.
"That's how it is. I even prepared detective clothes for you, nya."
Chloe produced an outfit and a hat from who knows where.
"Chloe-san, you seem unusually enthusiastic," Bell remarked.
"That's just your imagination, nya. Come on, let me help you put it on, nya~"
Chloe laughed softly as she moved closer.
After a fierce struggle, Bell ended up wearing a black outfit that matched Chloe's.
"Huff, nya nya... why are you so resistant, nya..."
Chloe complained, slightly out of breath.
"Because Chloe-san looks like she's up to no good."
Bell honestly couldn't understand why Chloe always rushed over to start touching him whenever they met.
"Ooh! The assistant looks perfect, nya!" Anya circled Bell several times. "Why does it feel like he stands out even more than me, nya?"
Chloe smiled gently.
"Of course, nya. I sewed this myself, perfectly tailored to fit the young man's body, nya."
"..."
The clothes Bell was wearing were similar to Chloe's, but filled with delicate details and careful craftsmanship, making them look more like a matching couple's outfit.
The cat motif on the hat had been replaced with a white rabbit.
Bell moved around slightly. The outfit felt as if it had been made just for him, incredibly comfortable to wear.
Because of that, he wasn't sure whether he should thank her or complain.
"Alright, all the detectives are gathered, nya. Let's pick a name first, nya," Anya said, blinking excitedly.
"I think we should call it the Chloe Cranel Detective Agency, nya," Chloe suggested.
"Nya? Why isn't my name in it, nya?! Bell Cranel is just the assistant, nya!"
Anya put her hands on her hips, completely missing Chloe's deeper meaning.
"Then how about Love & Nest Detective Agency, nya?" Chloe said with a mischievous grin toward the boy.
"Uwah... that sounds awful. It doesn't sound like a detective agency at all, nya..." Anya drooped her tail in disdain.
"Well, in the end, we don't even have a workplace. It doesn't really count as a detective agency anyway..."
Bell muttered quietly.
"Huh, nya? If that's the case, the name doesn't matter. Let's go solve the case first, nya!"
Anya shoved her hands into her pockets and strode forward, putting on a serious act.
"Anya-san, what exactly is this 'case' you're talking about?"
Bell followed after her, curious.
Anya suddenly stopped, sniffing the air.
"I'm smelling the scent of the case, nya..."
"So that means you don't actually have anything to do?"
Bell bluntly exposed her.
"Huh, nya? Cases always show up around detectives, nya! Like murder scenes, nya!"
Anya walked ahead on her own, sniffing left and right. "The scent of the case... the scent... guh?! Who threw this trash here, nya?!"
"...."
Chloe looked at Anya pinching her nose and was left speechless.
After thinking for a moment, Bell spoke up.
"Usually, detectives get their cases by accepting requests, don't they?"
"...I see, nya. To think we'd discover such a blind spot. Nice work, nya!"
Anya stroked an imaginary mustache.
"We don't have a signboard or any reputation. No one would come to us with a request," Bell continued, guiding her reasoning. "So I'll be the one to give you your first request."
"Oh! Solving the assistant's request before officially joining the team. That's very detective-like, nya!"
Anya said excitedly.
"My request is to investigate what Syr is doing. Alright, let's get moving."
Bell turned and headed toward the tavern.
"Huh, nya? Huh nya nya?! Chloe, what do we do, nya?! Syr asked us to stall the young man... but that clashes with the request, nya?!"
Anya froze in place, her brain seemingly overheating.
"Of course we chase after him, nya. If the request fails, the detective business is over, nya."
Chloe let out a soft sigh. A clever boy like him had surely already figured out their intentions.
She pressed her lips together and smiled faintly.
"Looks like... we'll have to use "Seduction" after all, nya."