The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

In games, the concept of "game logic" often has a significant impact on the story.

For example:

In the beginning of a cutscene, the character might be empty-handed, yet once the battle begins, they can magically pull a weapon out of thin air.

The problem is, there's no actual explanation for it. If they at least had a scabbard, it might be assumed they pulled the sword from there. But no, they just casually pull out a sword as if it’s always hanging by their side.

It’s not like they have some kind of "dimensional pocket" either. In that game, characters are simply expected to have weapons on hand at all times, regardless of their outfit—be it a school uniform, a dress, or even a swimsuit.

...Or a bunny girl outfit.

Yes, even Alice had managed to pull out her weapon effortlessly when it came time to fight.

However, after living in this world for nearly ten years, I knew that wasn't possible in reality.

To draw a weapon, you actually needed to carry it with you, and larger weapons couldn’t be concealed. Especially not Alice’s two-handed sword—it was impossible to hide it on her person.

My revolver was the same.

I had considered getting something smaller, like the derringer hidden under Mia Crowfield's bed, but even then, there was no place to conceal it in a bunny girl costume.

I hadn’t secured a bunny girl outfit yet, but just in case, I’d tried slipping a paper model of similar size into my undergarments to see if it would fit between my chest. Not only was it uncomfortable, but it was also still visible.

It was embarrassing to admit, but despite not exactly having a small chest, I still couldn’t manage to hide anything there. Alice’s figure was similar, so hiding anything between her chest would be just as difficult.

I’d even considered hiding a weapon in the tail of the bunny outfit, but the risk of it accidentally going off and injuring my hip was too high. Even if I could turn back time, I’d rather avoid such an incident.

...Besides, someone would inevitably try to frisk me in a bunny outfit, which would almost certainly reveal anything hidden in the tail. And just standing around would make it droop under the weight.

After a lot of deliberation, I came to a single conclusion.

Handle the situation before we even get to the bunny girl costume.

The mission would be a success if I could simply obtain reliable information on the undercover temple knight.

Moreover, I’d already identified the location of the knight.

...That green-haired woman who had been sitting in the diner earlier after finishing her shift with a client.

*

Bella was likely aware, too.

Though the Holy Kingdom is a formidable power in the game, the Emperor has always set his sights even higher.

He was a figure who combined his prophetic insight with firsthand intelligence gathering. Despite possessing the Book of Prophecies, he did not rely solely on it, which often left the Holy Kingdom helpless. I never had strong feelings about the Holy Kingdom’s role in the game since they weren’t portrayed favorably.

The Emperor probably knew not only that a temple knight had infiltrated this area, but exactly *who* had been sent. That’s why Bella was dispatched. It was the same in the original story.

Wandering near the casino alone as a woman late at night might sound risky, but it really wasn’t. This place was modeled after Las Vegas, and the security around here was actually better than in many other areas.

Bright lights illuminated the streets even late at night, and guards patrolled the area. There were even some plainclothes guards who were clearly part of the domain’s soldiers.

It wouldn’t do for a tourist hotspot to be plagued by theft. The domain would suffer if visitors’ money ended up in the hands of criminals or if bad rumors spread, keeping tourists from spending.

Though waitstaff weren’t particularly well-protected, anyone falling under the label of "tourist" was well-guarded here. The better the experience, the more likely they’d return.

Dressed casually, I looked like any other tourist, so there was little reason to worry about being targeted.

As I stepped out of the brightly lit hotel and made my way toward the casino, the bustling crowd of tourists continued to surge around me. Couples, groups of tipsy friends, and those reveling in the city’s nonstop atmosphere filled the streets.

People walked with bunny girls or waitresses by their side, and some middle-aged women even strolled arm-in-arm with handsome, tall young men.

It didn’t quite reach the level of Sodom and Gomorrah, but for a world inspired by the early 20th century, the atmosphere was indeed decadent and indulgent.

With a faint scent of alcohol lingering in the air, I approached the casino entrance.

The men in black suits and fedoras stationed at the entrance gave me a quick glance but didn’t block my way. I was a woman, after all, and likely a guest in their eyes. Many wealthy individuals frequented this place, so seeing a young woman alone wasn’t unusual.

I hadn’t brought a weapon with me, so even the most cautious of guards probably didn’t see me as a threat.

Without hesitation, I entered the casino.

Golden lights filled my vision.

...It was extravagant.

Far more dazzling than it had looked in the game. Of course, that made sense. With the limitations of game development, the graphics had never been this refined.

Even so, the general layout of the casino seemed to match the one I’d seen in the game.

If that was the case, then the temple knight would likely be in a similar spot as well.

I headed straight up the stairs. Inside the lavish building, there were no windows or clocks, and the crowd was thick. Could there really be so many people with money to spare? Then again, this casino wasn’t famous only within the empire—wealthy people from all over the world flocked here.

The role of a bunny girl here was simple. Walk among the guests, serving drinks and collecting tips.

Tips were usually tucked between the chest.

"..."

Thinking about it again made me a bit dizzy.

Quickening my pace, I climbed to the second floor.

And soon, I spotted the familiar green hair. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Her expression was entirely different from this morning. Now, her face was adorned with a bright smile, and with the glitter on her chest, her skin seemed to sparkle under the lights. Her bobbed green hair swung energetically, giving her a lively appearance.

“Oh my, thank you so much!”

I nearly lost my focus again as I watched her lean back and subtly push her chest forward, flirting with a customer.

So... I was really considering walking around in that outfit?

...Let’s get the information and end this quickly.

I walked straight toward her.

As the green-haired woman straightened up, accepting a tip from a dazed, intoxicated man, our eyes met.

For a brief moment, surprise flickered across her face. Then she flashed a mischievous smile.

I didn’t like that smile.

But there was no turning back. I hadn’t come all this way just to retreat.

"Sorry, but I’m a devout follower of the Goddess. I don’t deny same-gender relationships, but I don’t accept female clients."

The woman spoke in a chipper tone as I continued approaching her.

She probably already knew my identity. After all, she had been disrespectful to the papal envoy in Belbrou. And she’d dismantled their plans.

An alert would have been issued long ago.

"..."

Without a word, I pulled out a check from my pocket. It was folded in half, the amount displayed as thirty pounds, and I pushed it into the woman’s chest.

Careful not to let my fingers touch her chest.

...It probably wouldn’t matter if I did, but it still felt uncomfortable.

"..."

The green-haired woman blinked at the sudden check tucked into her chest. Then, she looked back at me with a wide smile, though her eyes, hidden behind her mask, weren’t smiling at all.

“Well, since you went this far, I can’t just let you leave without a word, now, can I? Shall we find somewhere more private?”

I nodded in silence, and with a pleased look, she turned to walk away.

Without a word, I followed her.