I have 2 fears: public speaking and dying.

After we toasted, Anfang straightened his coat and lifted his glass toward me with a polished smile.

“Very well. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us, Theo.”

“A-Ah… yes, the pleasure is mine too…”

God, I’m trembling inside.

"Tell me, Theo,” Princis leaned slightly forward “where do you come from?”

Shit. I knew this question was coming.

Before I could answer, Anfag interjected, his calm voice cutting through “Hey Princis, don't you think you are being a little intrusive?”

Princis sighed, scratching the back of his head. “Well, I suppose so. But his clothes really are eye-catching.”

Ruma slapped the table lightly. “Right!? I said that earlier! He claims to be a foreigner, but he didn’t even know the name of the city he was in!”

Mochiko suddenly thrust her staff in my direction, her eyes boiling.“Those weird clothes… IT MUST BE SOME KIND OF BLACK MAGIC PROTECTION!!”

“Easy, easy,” Anfang said, raising both hands to calm them down. “Let the boy speak.”

Well, I expected this line of questioning, so I already had an answer prepared.

I hope it works...

“I-I came from a nearby city. I was just passing through, but… I don’t have much to lose, so I agreed to stay here.”

“And what would that city be?” From the corner, Gota muttered quietly, almost to herself.

Crap. I don’t know a single name!

What do I say now? Think, think—

Suddenly, a warm breath tickled my ear.

"Ohhh, did you come from out of town? From where? How many kilometers from here? If you were just passing through, what was your destination? Did you come on foot or on horseback? What's your blood type?"

Freya’s words came out like a machine gun, each question quicker than the last. She was so close that almost made me fall out of my chair.

“Goddammit!” Edward yanked her back by the arm. “We told you not to pester strangers like that!”

Freya covered her mouth with one hand, gasping. “Oh dear, was I intrusive again?”

Anfang sighed, folding his hands together, but his calm smirk remained.“Alright, let’s change the subject.”

THANK GOD!!

But his smile sharpened, and his tone changed to more excitement, like before.

“Well then, Theo… would you like to tell us something? Perhaps… give the famous speech.”

S-S-SPEECH!?!?!??!

Mochiko cackled, lifting her arms high... again “Muahaha! Yes, let’s hear a villain’s speech!!”

Out of nowhere, Gota pulled a notebook and pen from her coat. “I’ll write everything down.”

Edward whipped his head toward her, with his eyes bulging. “W-WHAT!? YOU’VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE!!”

Ruma leaned on the table, smirking directly at my soul. “Right, go on. Say a few words.”

T-THIS IS WORST THAN DEATH!!

OH GOD, WHAT SHOULD I DO!? A-A speech for everyone!?

I clutched my knees under the table, feeling the panic rising. 

A public speech!? Here!? No no no no, I’d rather die!!

O-Ok, calm down, this is just an illusion and you know what you have to talk about...

DAMMIT, BUT I’M STILL TERRIFIED OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, EVEN IN AN ILLUSION!

I can’t just refuse… right?

I swallowed hard, the silence pressing down like a countdown.

“W-Well…”

Every pair of eyes locked on me feels more like a gun pointed at my head

“I-I’d like to first thank our leader, Anfang, for saving my life…”

Anfang dipped his head slightly, still smiling. “You’re welcome.”

“A-And… if I could ask… who was the one that cured me?”

Freya raised a hand proudly. “That would be me! Healing magic specialist, Freya Rosenberg.”

“Ah… t-tthank you as well.”

She clasped her hands together, flattered. “I knew you would do the same for me.”

…Sure.

My mind was blank. Damn it, I need to improvise!

“A-And uh… I-I look forward to working with you all!!”

S-Shit! Why did I said like that!? It sounded like a job interview or something! Now they’ll—

Clap clap clap clap*

They actually... applauded.

Mochiko leaned toward Ruma, whispering: “What a boring speech…”

“Yeah,” Ruma whispered back. “Boring is the perfect word.”

Boring doesn’t necessarily mean bad, right!? I was polite! The kids wouldn’t understand that anyway!

When the clapping faded, Anfang raised a hand. “Beautifully said. Now, if I could have everyone’s attention.”

The table grew quiet, all eyes turning to him, with everyone's attention doubled.

“Regarding where you’ll be living, Theo… the rent for five people is already high, and I’ve been overusing the tavern. So after tomorrow, you won’t be able to stay here.”

Ruma frowned. “Wait a second…”

Funny they’ve already figured out I don’t have a home...

“But it’s no problem,” Anfang continued. “The house I won in a bet still has a spare room. So—”

Ruma shot to her feet, eyes wide. “Don’t tell me… you’re planning to let this guy live with me!?”

“That’s… basically it.”

…

Ruma stormed around the table, rushing right at Anfang.

“NO, NO, NO! DON’T YOU DARE LET THIS IDIOT LIVE IN MY HOUSE!!”

I-IDIOT? Me!? That arrogant busty brat!

Anfang didn’t glare or snap back. Instead, his voice was calm, heavy with logic.

“The house has a spare room. Economically, it makes far more sense for him to live there than here. And though you and Mochiko currently stay there, the deed is still in my name. I won it fairly, and the house is mine. Thus the ultimate choice is also mine”

Ruma collapsed to her knees at his lap, nearly whimpering. “A-Anfang… please, think twice…”

Mochiko suddenly leapt up, the staff visibly shaking in her grip.

“W-WHAT?! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FREAK TOO!?”

She jabbed the staff at me, so close I had to jerk my head aside to avoid it.

“Y-You… YOU BETTER NOT BE WHO I THINK YOU ARE!!”

Ughhh… that wooden staff terrifies me more than any sword... And I honestly don't know what she means.

So… I’ll be living with these two? A busty hothead and a loli wizard.

Heh, two girls? Maybe this is the start of a harem.

I wonder what Edward is thinking now, isn't he the envjous one-

...

WHY DOES HE SEEM TO FEEL SORRY FOR ME!?

Later that night, I returned to my room.

Well, to the place I’ll only be allowed to sleep one more night. I can’t even call it mine anymore. The dinner had passed in silence, I barely said a word. Ruma and Mochiko left in a foul mood, while Anfang asked me to stay here tonight since he’d already paid.

And that was exactly what I wanted.

Because someone here wants me dead. And I intend to find out who.

I came up with a very simple plan: I left the door unlocked, but instead of lying in bed, I pressed myself against the wall, at an angle that is hard to see me. And a knife lies in my hand.

You know, I kinda value my life.
But even if I die it's not a problem at all, I just need to know WHO is the killer.

If the killer doesn’t come, then odds are it’s Ruma or Mochiko, or maybe they’re just scared of me. Haha.

But it’s already past 3 a.m. and still nothing.

I can outlast the night, many hours in front of my PC helped me with this.

Still… it’s getting boring, just staring at that damned door.

I miss my phone... and my PC...

Will they really come?—

Just then, the door slightly opened.

Oh, here we go. The killer has arrived. Show yourself.

The figure froze upon seeing me upright. Slowly, they turned.

“Oh… I’ve been caught?”

My grip on the knife tightened.

“I didn’t expect it to be you, Goth.”

“…Gota, please.”