-- as a result of looking directly at the blackened figures through the Right Eye of Wisdom, I had to be speechless and confused.

'' (Around me, I can't see anything ...... outside interfering?)'

　That all-black figure doesn't seem to be being manipulated by anyone at all.

　If the shadow is a magical puppet, then as I mentioned in my conversation with Garnett earlier, it should be able to see that kind of interference.

　...... Strictly speaking, there was no solid evidence that it could be seen, but there was a sense that it was unnatural not to be able to see it.

　A thread knitted with magic power.
　A directional projection of magic power.
　Or the diffusion of magic waves over a wide area.

　I was confident that if it was a puppet, it should be able to see that kind of interference, but that all-black figure stood completely by itself or alone.

'(Then it's just a person who's dressed the same?　(No, if that's the case, it's not right to see like that: ......!)

　This right eye - 'The Right Eye of Wisdom' - shows you where to use the 【Restoration】 skill and in what form.

　The target of the effect is not only the normal 【Restoration】, but also includes the derivative function, 【Degradation】.

　And right now, the human shadow's entire body was painted with a faint light that implied that 'this place can be 【Degradation】.

'' (If that was a human, it shouldn't be able to [decompose] ......, so why ......)''

　There was no indication that it was being manipulated, but it was a contradiction in terms of how it reacted to things that did not seem like a living organism.

　There were some hypotheses that could eliminate it all in one fell swoop, but it was not something that could be easily determined.

'The white wolf!　What did I see!
...... I'm not being magically manipulated!　But that was ......!

　The moment I was about to tell Garnett about the scene I could see with the Right Eye of Wisdom, the all-black figure stepped in with a terrific speed and closed in on me.

　Two mithril daggers unleashed a series of blinding blows, and Garnett surpassed them with a single long sword.

''This!''

　The magic crests engraved on Mithril's long sword are excited, and as soon as it is swung out, a shockwave of magical power is struck, causing the figure to retreat backwards in a big way.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's probably that guy is trying to pull the enemy away from my vicinity.
　If you fight close enough, you might wind up in a white war.

　I grit my teeth at the helplessness that has suddenly arisen.

　If it was going to be like this, I should have asked Noir and Alexia to prepare equipment that could fight regardless of their skills - such a regret snatched at my mind, but now I can't help myself.

　I chase the pointless regret out of my mind and remind myself that I have to do what I can do.

'Garnett!　It's not human!　It can't be human!
What?

　A long sword flashes with a startled cry. The dagger held in the right hand of the figure's shadow flicked off.

　It was the next moment.
　From the side of the right forearm of the all-black figure's right forearm, the blade unfolded like a folding knife and slashed through the garnet.

''......!　Garnett!
Sweet!

　The long sword slashed up as if it were curling backwards, slashing vertically from below at the face of the unseen figure.

　The two sides then jumped backwards almost simultaneously and entered a glaring stance while maintaining a certain distance.

　Apparently, the attacks were shallow on each other.

　Garnett was slashed only in the chest area of his clothes, and not a single wound - aside from the old wound on his exposed bare skin - was carved on his chest.

　On the other hand, it seems that the only thing that had been cut off was the plain mask that hid his true face under the hood, and the remnants of the destroyed mask were lying on the ground.

The wreckage of the destroyed mask was lying on the ground. It's true that this is not a human being. If I hadn't seen the doll fight earlier, I would have been in trouble.
Thank God you're okay.
'Of course you do.　But what the hell is going on with you that you're not human and you're not controlled by magic?
'It would have been easy if only the limbs were made up: ...... My 'right eye' can only see the torso as being made up the same as the limbs. In other words: ......

　It was hard to believe, but if it was what was left after destroying every conceivable possibility, that should be the truth, no matter how unusual it was.

...... That guy is an autonomous puppet. A doll as strong as a human master, or even stronger.
'This is ridiculous!　I'd say ......, but that would explain the battle. But who the hell made this thing?　Another ton of Demon King Gandalf's technology?

　Garnett continued to hold his long sword without caution.

　However, for some reason, the black-robed figure that was facing Garnett unilaterally released his stance and wavered back to his natural body.

It's a good thing. I didn't expect you to detect that much just by looking at it.

　It was a voice I'd heard somewhere before.

Most people misidentify me as a puppet and expose useless gaps in their search for the main body. It's a mistake to hide your identity.

　A figure in all black removes its own hood.

　The exposed true face had the appearance of Azure of the Augusta troupe.

''Yes. Long time no see.

　Fluttering, Azure smiled and waved his hand as if it were a carefree greeting.

'...... Oh yeah, ...... that's what it was all about. ......!

　The moment I realized that the true identity of that blackout was someone who had replaced the real Azure - that is to say, the Azure we met, all the threads were connected in my head.

I'm not sure if it's the doll they brought to the capital that killed the real Azure and seized their position!　So that doll is you!

　Oddly enough, I had come close to that fact in my conversation with Carmine.

　--The fact that I went to the trouble of pretending to be the real culprit means that the person who couldn't move around otherwise was the real culprit.

　Although I said this, I couldn't even imagine what position he was in exactly at that time.

　I didn't understand the merit of pretending to be a traveling entertainer whose identity was uncertain and whose position was unstable, instead of living by his original title and committing crimes.

　But the solution is simple and straightforward.

　If the real culprit was not deprived of his position as a real person, he would not be able to go out in public.

You are right. You know what I'm talking about.

　Azure's mouth twisted into a grin, a smile so raw that it was hard to believe it was a doll.

　--The fear of the real Azure, who had been killed by A(-)le(-), can only be guessed.

　The doll that had been fitted with a face that resembled their own was going to kill them with such a creepy smile on its face.

　You can only hope that they died out without grasping the reality.

''For someone who was so carefully hiding it, you easily revealed your true face.

　In the face of Azure's behavior, which is neither careless nor spare, Garnett turns the cutting edge of his long sword.

　This is the interval in which a garnet with enhanced bodily functions can step in a single breath.

　That living doll continued to emit an eerie feeling to the point that the distance between just that much distance feels endless, with a smile on its face.

''Are you trying to lick us?''
I didn't think so. It's because I don't underestimate the importance of this. If they think it's a human being, they can kill it with a hidden weapon, and if they find out it's a doll, they'll be scrambling to find the main body, and they'll have no time to hide it.

　Azure shakes his body and takes what looks like a stance.

'I think humans would think the same thing, don't you?　Neither the mask nor the hood would get in the way of the sensory organs (sensors) and it wouldn't be a bother. So, you know?

　In the next moment, Azure closed the distance with tremendous speed.

　Blades clashed just like the first clash, and Mithril's long and short swords, as well as the hidden blade that emerged directly from his right arm, sent sparks flying.

　After a few seconds of breathless exchange, this time Azure leaps backwards himself to break the pause.

　The first offensive and defense ended with both sides unharmed.
　But this time--

Guh. ......!

　Garnett's two arms are ripped deep and fresh blood spurts out.

'...... I see. So you can see better than you did earlier.
'Yeah, yeah. So this is where it gets real. I'd appreciate it if you died quickly.
Go to hell!

　The magic contained in both legs was released at once, and the skirt fluttered violently as Garnett's body accelerated in a straight line like a crossbow's arrows (bolts).