I was called by Tokito.
There’s a somewhat tense atmosphere, and it’s not just Tokito and Okui; there are demons too.
Well, even so, there’s no need to panic. After all, my concealment is perfect.
In fact, I might end up focusing more on holding back laughter because Pilkaya is here.
Even though he’s looking at me, it’s clear he’s just observing, and he’s not trying to condemn me for stealing products.
In other words, I haven’t been caught. Well, of course not. Someone like this demon couldn’t possibly see through my powers.
“Uh, the reason I called you, Molly, is because some stock has been disappearing recently,”
“Eh? The stock disappeared? Do you mean it was lost?”
He didn’t mention whether he suspects me, so maybe he’s just testing how I react.
For Tokito, to do something like that… it’s quite audacious. I bet Okui gave him that idea.
But it’s useless. I’ll just pretend this is the first time I’ve heard of it and respond accordingly.
“Hmm… It’s been disappearing frequently, so it doesn’t seem like an accident. Hey, Molly, do you know anything about it?”
I know everything, but I won’t tell you.
Besides, it pisses me off that someone who betrayed humanity to side with demons now acts all high and mighty in front of me.
If anything, I wish he’d take responsibility and get killed by the demons.
“Well… I’ve been to the storage room a few times, but I always left quickly to transport out-of-stock items.”
“That’s right… The others were like that too.”
I thought so. At first, I was careful to go at times when no one was around, working quietly.
But one day, an employee who happened to be there was in a hurry, took the necessary items, and left quickly.
Of course, since I was using concealment, they didn’t notice me, but I wonder if they would’ve noticed even without the concealment?
After that day, I decided I could just pick any time to casually examine the items.
Since I’ve been doing that without it being noticed until now, it seems that, apart from Tokito and Okui, no one really remembers the stock numbers.
So, I just need to pretend I’m like one of those employees.
Anyway, Tokito, Okui, and Pilkaya, I can easily fool them—demons and beastmen are nothing.
“So, I’ve been to the storage room a few times too, but unfortunately, I didn’t pay much attention to the stock numbers…”
“I see… So you haven’t seen anything, huh?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.”
Alright, that’s done. As long as I have my concealment, I can steal and sell items as much as I want.
Even the internal secrets of the dungeon could be gathered if I really wanted to.
Right now, I’m only gathering map, monster, and trap info, but maybe I could also sell information on the Four Kings or the Demon Lord for a higher price.
…That might actually make more money, and they might recognize my abilities. Maybe I should try doing that seriously.
“It’s tough, isn’t it? A disturbance with even demons involved…”
Now that I’ve made up my mind, it’s time to take action.
I toss a bit of sarcasm toward the demons, and the conversation is starting to wrap up.
When I think about how they’re going to talk to all the unrelated beastmen afterward…
It’s bad. They’re so foolish, I’m starting to struggle to hold back my laughter.
“Molly-san.”
This time, it’s not Tokito, but Okui talking to me.
Ugh… It should be over already. How troublesome.
“What is it, Okui-san?”
But I can’t exactly say that, so I give a mature response instead.
You should be grateful.
“Do you know the names of the demons here?”
Okui suddenly asked me that.
…Ah, I see. So this is what it’s about.
They’re trying to figure out if I’m a game player based on whether I know their names or not.
Since I’m hiding the fact that I’m a reincarnator, if they expose that here, they’ll probably question why I hid it.
But, you know, if I’ve worked here for a while, even if I’m not a game player, I should at least know their names.
So I’ll just answer honestly and be done with it.
These idiots think they can outsmart me, but they’re so naive.
“Yeah. The one over there is Pilkaya-sama.”
I even added the “sama” as a courtesy, and yet, this guy doesn’t even say a word.
His attitude is rude and unnecessarily arrogant, which is irritating.
“And the one over there is Ripianem -sama.”
This guy too. Such a musclehead, yet so cocky.
Or maybe he’s too stupid to understand my words ?
“…”
I finish answering Okui’s question.
A silence lingers for a while, but what is this?
Are they trying to make a game show out of it, waiting to say whether I’m right or wrong?
Forget that silly stuff and just let me go already.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Pilkaya speaks to the void.
What’s going on? What is he doing?
As I wonder about the strange behavior of this crazy demon, suddenly, it bursts into a huge flame…
◇
“I’m just asking, but could you tell me why you didn’t say my name?”
There’s no response. Of course not.
Because this guy doesn’t even recognize my presence.
“Ah, um… Rey-san, what’s going on here?”
“My voice isn’t too small for Molly to hear, right?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Well, that settles it.
Tokito, Okui, Pilkaya, and Ripianem can all hear my voice and see me.
The only one who can’t recognize me is Molly.
It’s not that I’m being ignored. She probably recognizes me as a demon working near Fiona-sama.
But to ignore me so blatantly means that Molly can’t perceive my presence.
The Shadow Ring. The ring given to me by Fiona-sama that hides my presence in response to hostility.
It seems that now, it’s causing Molly to be unable to see or hear me.
“Does she have hostility only toward me? Does she resent me? No.”
She’s pretending to be obedient to the demons, but she still harbors hostility toward them.
That’s why the Shadow Ring activated, and now she can’t recognize my presence.
“She thinks I’m the enemy. Probably not just me, but also Pilkaya, Ripianem … and even Fiona-sama.”
“I see. That’s why she didn’t say your name, Rey-dono. Not only that, but she didn’t even show any sign of thinking about it.”
“That’s probably it. It’s like I didn’t even exist to her, but for Molly, I really wasn’t there.”
Now that I know Molly is the enemy, I still don’t know if she’s the one who stole the items from the shop.
It doesn’t matter, though. I have no intention of keeping an enemy within.
Some of the captured races strongly showed disdain, saying they would never work for the demons.
For such people, forcing them is useless.
Just by working, it would be a betrayal to the goddess, so they do nothing and stay locked in their cages.
But Molly’s case is very rare.
She still has hostility, but she’s helping with the demon’s work.
Even though she’s doing it to deceive us, the judgment by that goddess would have disqualified her just for that.
Is it okay that she’s cooperating with the beastmen from the inside? Would that goddess be so lenient?
She can’t go to the god’s realm after her soul is lost, but is she still trying to interfere with us demons?
That possibility definitely exists.
But I’ve thought of another possibility.
Molly. The ability to outsmart even Pilkaya. It’s probably information concealment.
That affects even her status.
So, when I check her status, it only shows information about the beastman Molly.
But I think her true identity as a reincarnator is hidden.
“She’s a reincarnator. Even if it’s said that she can’t go to the god’s realm after death, she probably isn’t afraid of that.”
I don’t quite get it either, and the difference in values comes from whether someone’s from this world or is a reincarnator.
Now, reincarnator Molly. We might not care about the afterlife, but for you, that concern is probably going to become necessary soon.
◇
“I’ve been underestimated, haven’t I?”
The voice is flat, totally different from the childish tone earlier.
“You thought you outsmarted me and probably felt really proud of yourself.”
In truth… I am excellent.
You should show me more respect. Honor me. Worship me.
“Because of you, my reputation is in the gutter.”
I can’t speak.
Even if I try, my throat feels like it’s burning, and it’s as if my voice is being scorched.
Hot. Hot, hot, hot, hot. Someone, why am I going through this?
“So, I’ve decided to burn you and clear my name.”
Someone. Someone, help me!
An excellent reincarnator like me should never be defeated by such a weak boss!
I am more important than anyone else. Why don’t these idiots understand that?!
I… I’m not the kind of person who should die in a place like this…
It’s hot. Water. Someone, water! It’s so hot, I can’t even breathe.
Give me water! Someone, now, bring me water!
“It’s over.”
“Yeah, good work.”
I don’t want to die… Water… Hot…
Where… where did I go wrong…
