Naomi

Detective Maid

Overview

Originally a lady from a noble family in Toret, she became an orphan after her parents' untimely deaths. She grew up to become the renowned "Detective Maid". She continuously investigates the incident that claimed her parents' lives as though it were a case to be solved.

Chapter One

(17246–17264, Era of Frost Veil) Naomi was born during the twilight of the Golden Age.
As a child, she was unusually quiet. Unlike other noble girls, she avoided social gatherings, preferring solitude. She was often found sitting alone, lost in deep thought, pursuing ideas with relentless determination, which made her seem stubborn to others.
Her scholarly parents, always preoccupied, left Naomi mostly to herself in a quiet home, where a few servants tended to her needs. This solitude suited Naomi's temperament. She spent much of her time in her parents' study, surrounded by books.
Reading was not just a pastime for Naomi—it was her greatest joy. Each book offered an escape into another world, full of adventure and imagination. "Today's cloudy, perfect to read The Princess in the Mist," Naomi mused, selecting her book from the shelf. She nestled into her favorite leather armchair in the study, smoothing her hair and clothes before settling in. To Naomi, reading was a ritual, where the choice of book depended on the weather, the temperature, or even the tea and treats she had.
The soft leather armchair welcomed her, and the gentle crackle of the fireplace filled the room with warmth. Surrounded by the familiar scent of leather and paper, Naomi often drifted off to sleep in that cozy nook.
One day, Naomi stumbled upon her first mystery novel, Detective Mois.
Mystery novels were immensely popular during the Golden Age, and Detective Mois was the most celebrated of them all, reputedly even read by Queen Toret herself.
The book's intricate crimes and chilling scenes quickly captivated Naomi.
"What would I do if I were the detective?" she would think.
"If I were the criminal, I'd be incredibly nervous right now."
She delighted in solving the mysteries, preferring the quiet tension of a puzzle to any real-life discord. The locked rooms, clever traps, and seemingly impossible crimes were challenges she couldn't resist.
Naomi often paced the study, book in hand, while stroking her chin thoughtfully, mimicking the detectives from her novels. It became a game for her—could she solve the mystery before the story did?
Seeing her fascination, her parents would smile and ask,
"Does Naomi want to be a detective?"
Without speaking, Naomi shyly glanced at the ground.
"Being a detective could be nice. Perhaps one day you'll solve all the mysteries in Toret!"
Naomi nodded simply.

Chapter Two

Naomi's family, being too weak, became casualties in the Golden Age's political skirmishes.
Orphaned and stripped of her privileges, Naomi was forced to face the harsh reality.
She stared blankly as a sheriff dismissively handed her an investigation report marked "Accident".
The sheriff asked her to sign it, but Naomi felt her hand was too heavy to lift. Naomi was rendered motionless as the sheriff rudely tossed the paper at her and left.
In the dark end of the Golden Age, noble assassinations were routine. But for Naomi, this brutal reality was incomprehensible and unacceptable. In detective novels, sheriffs and detectives were paragons of justice, tirelessly unearthing truths. Why, then, were those investigating her family's case dismissively superficial?
"If they don't care, I'll investigate on my own.
They were merely sheriffs, not detectives. The novels also feature many foolish sheriffs, didn't they? This must be it. In this narrative, I'm the protagonist, the detective destined to unearth the truth."
This notion consoled Naomi.
In those days, a young girl with glasses and pigtails was frequently spotted inspecting the area around a house—sometimes with a magnifying glass, sometimes penning down notes.
Naomi knew deep down these were mere consolations—detective stories were, after all, just fiction. She was well aware of Toret's tumultuous state, discussed often by her parents, and nothing could change it. What could a mere child uncover? It seemed futile.
Despite knowing her minimal chances of uncovering anything, Naomi persisted. If she did nothing, the grief and pain might tear her apart.
Preferring to keep her despair private, the young Naomi clung to her detective role as a means to keep moving forward, a beacon in her quest for truth.
Eventually, financial pressures forced Naomi to give up her investigation.
She found a job through a family friend, caring for an elderly woman living alone.
The elderly woman treated her well, and most importantly, the house had a study much like the one in her own home.
Naomi began with the basics, like mopping floors and washing clothes.
Gradually, she undertook more complex responsibilities, caring for delicate utensils and flowers, crafting exquisite dinners, and managing the household budget for the elderly woman.
These challenges brought her strengths and a sense of independence.
Celebrating her own cooked meals, earning her first paycheck, and buying her first set of new clothes—all these milestones helped her realize she could thrive, despite her loneliness.
As years unfolded, Naomi evolved into an excellent maid.
She finally saved enough to renovate her long-abandoned family home and moved back in. Yet, as she settled into the old leather armchair and tried to read a new detective novel, the words eluded her.
Life had moved on; she had slowly come to terms with her parents' losses.
But was this enough?
Deep down, she knew the culprits of her past tragedies were beyond reach.
She also knew that this was the harsh reality of their era.
But the scar remained in her heart.
As she mulled over her thoughts, the sharp edge of a page sliced her finger.
"Right... I once dreamed of being a detective..."
Perhaps it was fate. One day, while tidying the garden, Naomi stumbled upon an odd footprint. The pattern suggested that someone had been spying on the house.
She reported this sign to her employer and the sheriff, the latter dismissively trivialized the clue and refused the elderly woman's request for protection.
Naomi recognized the oversight as typical of the nobles' puppets.
But this footprint and all the other clues clearly indicated someone had been scouting the place—she had to do something.
Was she... truly qualified to unravel this mystery?
Naomi recalled the moment when the book cut her finger and the dream she had recalled.
"Yes, I once dreamed of being a detective."
If she hesitated further, the tragedy that befell her parents might happen to this old lady as well.
Armed with her magnifying glass, she scrutinized the footprint.
"Five foot eight, slender, with a slight pigeon-toe, predominantly uses the right foot, likely right-handed..." she recounted, echoing the profiling acumen of Mois, a legendary detective from her novels.
"Focus on the details, think like the criminal..." If Mois could do it, so could she.
Naomi murmured to herself.
"What's the ratio of foot length to height again? The shoe's tread pattern..."
A wave of heat surged through her chest, her breathing hastened.
She was no longer the naive child.
Pursuing the trail, Naomi tracked the suspect. Despite her unrefined methods, the suspect had not hidden their tracks well.
Ultimately, Naomi found the suspect's temporary hideout. To her relief, the suspect was merely a thief.
When the thief drew a dagger and charged, Naomi grabbed a nearby mop and disarmed the thief—she had learned combat skills under Mois' influence when she was young.
"Who are you?!"

"I... I'm..."Naomi was verwhelmed and unsure how to respond.
Somehow, she felt a profound shift within herself.
Word of her single-handed capture of the thief from just a footprint soon spread. Toret was abuzz. People there had their very own "detective" now.
Naomi embraced her new role beyond her duties as a maid. As her deductive skills improved, she earned the nickname "Detective Maid" in Toret.
"Perhaps one day you'll be solving all the mysteries in Toret!"
Remembering the encouragement once given by her parents, Naomi realized that this life seemed truly fitting.
If Toret lacked justice, Naomi decided she would become its embodiment—as a detective.

Chapter Three

She felt as if she had already died.
Since giving up her investigation, Naomi had secluded herself for a long time.
"Look at you. What a mess."
Naomi looked up to see Nanav, a leader of Toret's Folk Resistance Organization and a friend of her father, standing before her.
Nanav appeared to understand Naomi's plight: "Those sheriffs are just the nobility's useless puppets."
Naomi didn't respond; she simply watched quietly.
Nanav chuckled and helped Naomi to her feet. "I've seen many like you before. Don't worry. First things first—let's get something to eat."
Under Nanav's guidance, Naomi balanced her roles, caring for the elderly woman while using her detective skills to gather intelligence for Nanav.
Noticing Naomi's capacibilities, Nanav playfully suggested she formally join the resistance, though Naomi refused every time.
"This is just my way of repaying you. I'm not cut out for killing or arson."
Nanav clapped her on the shoulder, "Arson, huh? Well, maybe it's better this way for now."
"......"
That day, by coincidence, Naomi had left home to test a tactic from a detective novel and wasn't there when disaster struck. She returned to find her house engulfed in flames.
She called for firefighters and sheriffs, but it was too late.
Everyone was gone—her father, her mother, all reduced to ashes.
"Who's the next target?" Naomi asked with a blank expression.
"Archbishop Mas... Wait, you've just returned. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."
"It's okay." Naomi put on her coat, ready to leave.
It was a rare opportunity. The organization would assist her in accessing places normally out of reach.
She had to act fast, grasping at any chance to catch the tail end of the truth behind the assassination... before something she had suppressed with logic overwhelm her.
However, the more clues Naomi uncovered, the tighter the noose felt around her neck.
Her parents were not merely scholars but renowned designers of magical machinery.
Their assassination, triggered by the magical weapons they created, was orchestrated by the old noble elites.
The assassin set the fire to destroy evidence, shattering her childhood.
The pieces of evidence aligned more clearly.
Naomi understood that in this dark end of the Golden Age, such truths were forbidden to be unearthed.
When Naomi finally gathered the courage to knock on the doors of her parents' old friends, showing them the sparse evidence she had and pleading for their help to reach higher officials, she was met with continuous rejection.
But why? She was presenting undeniable truths.
The last door closed on her. The evidence she had gathered was snatched and burned. Naomi walked the streets, disheveled and despondent.
"See, I told you so." Naomi could almost hear Nanav's voice and see the expression she would wear upon seeing Naomi now.
In novels, when the truth is uncovered, isn't the criminal supposed to surrender and face justice? Isn't everyone supposed to aid the detective in capturing the criminal?
Naomi returned to her burnt-out home, to the charred bookshelf that still crammed her soot-blackened detective novels.
She shoved the shelf over, ripping the damaged books to shreds.
All lies, deceptive tales. Why did such lies exist? Why had she ever believed them?
Rip them apart! All of them!
Staggering, Naomi collapsed amid the torn books.
It was the first time she allowed herself to cry out loud.
This world harbored no justice. Novels were merely fiction, encapsulating only what didn't exist.
As she observed the cuts and scratches from wood and paper on her hands, a bitter smile crossed her face.
"That's right, I once dreamed of being a detective..."
How laughable.
From then on, Naomi formally joined Nanav's resistance group, growing increasingly reserved.
She didn't need "evidence" anymore, just "names".
Yes, just the names were sufficient to act upon them...
To obtain these "names", she would need to ascend higher, gain support from more influential figures. Coincidentally, the resistance was looking to place a spy near Lido, the heir of Toret.
Lido, though high-ranking, had always been manipulated by the old nobility and was desperate for allies.
Naomi saw her as the perfect target to use.
With Nanav's assistance, Naomi effortlessly infiltrated Lido's castle and reached her chambers.
Lido eyed Naomi curiously.
"I've heard about you—you're the Detective Maid!"
Naomi did not respond to Lido's words but instead coldly laid out her terms: she wanted Crito to appoint her as the head maid with extensive privileges. In exchange, Naomi would serve as the liaison between Lido and the Folk Resistance Organization, granting Lido her first taste of true power.
"You can choose to ignore me, or even kill me, but that would mean losing an opportunity to break free from the nobles' strings; or you can trust me, and gain a steadfast ally who can help you alter your future."
Naomi anticipated Lido would hesitate, but to her surprise, Lido agreed swiftly.
Protected by Lido, Naomi soon gathered all the information on her parents' murderer.
Feeling the moment was right, and with Nanav's urgency due to the resistance's impending pacification, they plotted a new maneuver to incite public sentiment.
Together, they orchestrated the Maple Leaf Villa Case. Under the name of Lido, they invited Naomi's enemies to the villa, then killed them and framed Lido, spreading rumors that the meeting was Lido's trap to eliminate dissent and secure tyranny.
When the first person was killed, Naomi felt a surge of panic.
By the second, she became accustomed to it.
With the third, a long-suppressed sensation erupted—a malevolent thrill that numbed her senses like venom.
However, as the last person died by her hand, Naomi's mind sobered slightly. She unearthed a feeling she had long buried.
It felt like she was on the wrong path, going further astray.
As she strangled her last enemy, a piercing pain throbbed in her chest.
The surroundings seemed to brighten, transporting her back to the bustling streets of Toret.
Passersby moved around her, oblivious to her actions, as if nothing significant had occurred.
And the person she was gripping turned into her younger self.
The young Naomi smiled gently at her.
"Enough, it's already enough," she said.
"..."
The last enemy's breathing halted.
At that moment, an unknown monster's roar echoed across the sky.
Naomi and Nanav, dragging an unconscious Lido, fled outdoors only to witness the monster now soaring in the sky, spewing fier around.
The searing heat, the crackling sound of collapsing buildings, it was all too similar to that fire in Naomi's memory.
Frozen by the sight, Naomi stared at the flames with a urge to step into them, as if returning home.
"Naomi! What are you doing? That monster..."
Nanav's shout brought Naomi back to reality. She glanced around, realizing there was no escape.
Her past was ablaze, with everything consumed by fire.
The excitement of reading her first detective novel, the thrill of imitating detectives, the pride from her parents' encouragement, the thrill of her first capture, and the recognition she received as the "Detective Maid"...
All seemed like jokes.
Naomi handed Lido to Nanav and said,
"Not everyone can escape. Someone has to hold it off."
"You... fine."
"But in return, I need you to spread everything about the Maple Leaf Villa Case, except for the truth."
"What? But Lido has to be the culprit."
"I know. That's why we omit the truth. Do you agree?"
Nanav paused.
"I don't get what you're up to... But okay. It's in your hands now."
Without a second glance, Nanav turned and dragged the still-unconscious Lido away.
Naomi stood resolute, spear in hand, shielding their retreat.
The giant monster was approaching. She raised her spear and thrust forward.
The spear barely scratched the creature's thick scales.
Seeming startled, the monster hesitated but quickly swung its claws.
Naomi blocked the first attack but was overwhelmed by the second and third.
Naomi was flung away.
She landed hard, tumbling on the ground, but managed to rise.
Blood was wiped from her lips.
This should buy enough time for Nanav and Lido to reach the other side of the mountain.
Surely the Maple Leaf Villa Case would stir up a storm.
Five locked rooms, only Nanav and Lido survived.
Lido was the prime suspect, but she would deny it.
Who then was the killer? This was Naomi's final challenge to the detectives of the world.
The claw strike failing, the monster opened its mouth wide, heating the air around Naomi to blistering temperatures.
She knew this was likely the end.
"Monsters don't catch criminals, detectives do."
Someday, a real detective, like those from her novels, would unravel the mystery of the Maple Leaf Villa, deducing the true culprit—her.
Then they would bring her to justice, and everything could truly end.
"Ah, it's not fair...
I still wanted... to be a detective..."
The flames engulfed Naomi.

Historical Notes

Steam Technology:
Toret initially received less critical steam technology from the Sugeth Dwarves instead of rune technology, but they greatly valued and advanced it. This led to the creation of a strong steam-powered industry, making Toret a northern powerhouse. Their developments also improved transportation and trade, increasing their reliance on the Sugeth Dwarves.

Magic Technology:
Toret engineers were inspired by Dwarven runes to develop magic machinery, but the lack of crucial rune techniques hindered significant progress.

Detective:
In the late Golden Age, a rise in crime and corrupt sheriffs eroded public trust in law enforcement. This gave rise to amateur detectives, who began assisting with evidence gathering and legal matters. The role eventually became formalized, and Naomi, the "Detective Maid," became especially notable.