Melusine, Become my Noble Phantasm!

The boy let out a relieved breath and leaned closer to Aslan, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"We received some news, but... we're not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for."

"Not long ago, someone came into possession of a gem wrapped in strange metal debris. Everyone who sees the gem is captivated by it. The person who carries it—even if she's an ugly woman—suddenly commands praise and admiration."

"The metal fragments were meant to be melted down, but no one has been able to melt them. They're impervious to fire and forge."

Aslan frowned and closed his eyes, pondering. If it was just a gem, he wouldn't care much—gems with mysterious powers were hardly rare in this world. But this one was wrapped in strange metal wreckage. That changed everything.

His mind raced. Could this be the wreckage of Aphrodite?

The gem's power—to charm and please—mirrored Aphrodite's ability to alter consciousness via radio waves. It was plausible that the gem was a fragment of her Mecha-God form.

This was the most promising lead Aslan had received regarding the Mecha-Gods.

A rare smile curved his lips as he handed the boy one of two tokens hanging from his hand—a voucher for stored luggage, which conveniently contained a pile of gold coins.

The boy's face lit up with gratitude and renewed respect. This was a major client, and payment from such a source was never easy. The gold he received today would see him through many years.

"Thank you for your generosity," the boy said with a bow. "Here's another bit of gossip. The gem has been bought by a noble lady, who's invited all the distinguished ladies of the city to her manor to admire it. It might be a good chance to sneak in."

The boy added with a grin, "Honestly, if it were you, you wouldn't be recognized as a man if you wore a skirt."

Aslan twitched his lips. Was the boy praising him or mocking him?

If the rumor was true, attending that banquet was necessary. Seeing the metal wreckage in person was the only way to verify its composition. After all, the contract ring he wore was forged from fragments of a certain Mecha-God. The materials should share similarities.

"Thank you for the information."

Rising from the bathhouse, Aslan decided to end his leisure for now. His priority was investigating this lead. If the metal was indeed Mecha-God wreckage, he would trace it to its source—and uncover the whereabouts of others.

Though wary of angering all of Rome at once, Aslan longed to infiltrate the capital's library and search for clues about Ares.

To avoid unnecessary attention, Aslan used his magic to verify the boy's news himself.

Sure enough, a noble lady had acquired the magical gem and the metal debris. She'd invited relatives, friends, and other prominent families to view it.

Maybe she was flaunting her wealth—or simply confident in her manor's defenses.

She had even invited women he barely knew—only heard of—among the guests.

Does she trust her manor's protection that much?

With the report confirmed, Aslan clenched his fists in resolve.

He had intended to enter the manor posing as a follower of a young lady, but since the invitations were women-only, and the noble lady evidently considered women less threatening, his disguise would have to change.

Instead of offering comfort, Melusine grinned strangely, enthusiastically helping Aslan pick out the women's clothes he would wear. Without exception, they were all female garments.

It seemed Melusine was quite eager to see Aslan dressed as a woman.

At one point, she even crept behind him, whispering seductively as if to test how it might feel.

Since regaining her original form, Melusine had grown more assertive—especially around him.

Used to her usual jealous streak, Aslan now found this boldness somewhat challenging.

Melusine kept repeating, "There's a first time for everything," teasing Aslan about whether he feared wearing women's clothes. Half-joking, she claimed she wasn't afraid at all—and half-serious, she insisted the disguise was essential.

Aslan glanced over the list in his hand, settling on a noble family living a bit outside the city.

Ensuring this family had no connection to the noble lady hosting the gem's display, he planned to intercept their convoy halfway.

Coincidentally, the family had two daughters—perfect for Melusine and him to impersonate.

Using suggestive magic learned from Morgan, they could easily assume the daughters' identities.

Magic from Great Britain was rare on the continent, and this particular branch carried traces of the Age of Gods, making it hard to detect.

Even if their ruse was uncovered, they could rely on strength and magic to escape harm. For now, though, discretion was key.

Out in the city's outskirts, several horse-drawn carriages steadily approached.

Aslan had waited long for this moment.

Standing squarely in the road, he blocked the convoy's path.

The noble lady inside peeked out, puzzled.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Aslan said, locking eyes with her. "But I must borrow your identity—just for a moment. A small favor."

-End Chapter-

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