Then I quickly caught up with Karen as she ran off.
　Because she was waiting with Jean before the exit.

'I'm sorry I'm so distraught ......'

　Noticing us, Karen bowed her head, her face still blue.
　Her red hair, held together by a string, swayed.

'It's okay. Don't worry about it.'
Hmm. I was hungry and wanted to get out of the castle as soon as possible. I'm rather grateful for that.
You ate a lot of bread earlier.

　I rub my reddened eyes and Karen giggles at our exchange.
　It's a painful smile that shows she's strong.

''It looks like Elfi-san is hungry, so let's have a quick lunch in the imperial capital and then we can go home.

　After nodding to Karen, who acted stoutly, and receiving our weapons and luggage, we left the imperial castle.

◆

　Two hours later.
　After having lunch and buying something that might be useful, we left the Imperial City.
　I can see the Great Gate going away.

"Elfi. Did you notice Olivia at ......?
Of course I am. I'm sure he's not as smart as you think he is.

　This guy would have noticed it.

'The sequence of events and what you've told me makes it all the more predictable. I could have gleaned some information from my conversations with that woman.
So it's just a matter of finding a tail.

　We could go directly into that guy's compound, but before we do that, we need to squash one concern.
　Once we've done that, we can do whatever we want.

............

　After his conversation with Elfi, he turns his gaze to Karen.
　It seems that she has calmed down somewhat due to the passage of time.

　From the looks of it, Karen must have just turned 20 years old.
　I'm sure it's still hard for her, but she's maintained her composure since then.
　I've just been summoned to the imperial capital on behalf of the head of the family and taken up the important role that had been given to me until then.

　Noticing her gaze, Karen opened her mouth with her head down.

''Even though you just asked for it, I've shown you all the unseemly places ......
Don't worry about it. This guy is always so unsightly.
You can't untie me, Iori.

　Karen smiled for a moment, and then Karen's expression was shadowed again.
　Then, with a look of self-mockery, she tried to continue her words.

'Don't take the words of Olivia Eliesteel or something like that to heart.
'What ......?'

　Surprise floats across Gash's face.

'Gash is ...... Gash-san wasn't some irresponsible person. He was a kind man who wasn't good at fighting, but couldn't leave anyone in need alone.
...... Iori.
'I don't deserve to have that woman talk to me in a bad way, and I don't have to worry about it.

　A woman who only cares about using and preying on people has no right to make fun of Gash.

''So Karen-san, don't worry about it, just think about the territory and wait. We'll take care of this matter as requested, we'll take care of it.

　Karen looks at me, her red eyes rolling back and forth.
　After a few seconds, she slaps both cheeks with the palm of her hand.

...... I understand. I'll do the best I can now.

　Karen, who had regained her blood color, nodded vigorously.
　Like Gash, he's strong.

　But ----.

'...... No.'

　I shook my head and tried not to think beyond that.


◆


　A few hours later.
　We returned to Rayford territory.
　The sun had completely set and we could hear insects buzzing from outside.

　After dinner, Karen went to her room to organize her papers.
　Me and Elfie are also in our room, sorting through our stuff and rubbing our opinions together, and then we are working on reading in Gash's library.
　It didn't have the information we were looking for, but there were a lot of books about "Heroic Amatsu".
　I wonder what Gash has been doing since I left.

Isn't it dark?

　When I was reading the book, a servant brought me a magic item that grants magic power to light up the room.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

There's a village of Ram around here, isn't there?　What's going on there now?

　It's one of the villages that I was a part of when I came to the Empire.
　I don't plan on going there, but I was curious to see what was going on.
　The servant's face clouded over and then--

It was destroyed by demons nearly 30 years ago.
...So, it's ......?
Everyone present was slaughtered, and your husband was grieving ......
Then go to ......

　He mentioned a few names of villages that were taken care of.
　Each time, the servant shook his head and said that they were destroyed by the demon race.

...... I see.

　The servants looked awkward and left the room.
　Once again it's just me and Elfi in the dusty study.

...... Are you okay, Iori?
'I don't mind. It's just that it was back in the days of drifting and sweet ideals.
Did you drift off to ......?
Yeah.

　We saw many villages, including the village of Raam.
　There were many people who had suffered and were suffering as a result of the war.
　I admired Lucifina, who sacrificed her own life to fight and not to abandon those people.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it. ...... It's time to go back to my room.

　I'm not in a pleasant mood, but it's not something I should be concerned about right now.
　And I can't afford to be distracted, because revenge is much more important right now.

　It's time to end the conversation and get up.

''-- Are you sure?''

　Elfi's gaze was pointed straight at me, and my body tensed up.

...... Yes, I am. The only reason I'm a hero and whatnot is because my friends influenced me.

　I've lived in the stream, I've been swept away, I've fought the stream, I've been swept away and I've held on to my ideals.
　I've been in the stream all my life.
　That's why I vowed not to be carried away, but to make my own decision.
　I will definitely get my revenge.

...... Okay.

　Elfie stood up as well, showing some kind of hooked reaction.
　With a pang, he patted his clothes and dusted them off.

'............'

　He turned off the light and we walked out of the room.

.



I'm sorry about .......

　At the front of the room, Jean was standing there.
　And as soon as we were face to face, he bowed his head.

'What's your apology ......?'
'For being rude to you ever since you were rescued from the demons in the forest.

　...... sudden.
　Turning to us in amazement, Jean spoke.

'Olivia Eliesteel is dangerous.

　Even before she occupied the labyrinth, she had been harassing Gash in some way.
　Spreading bad publicity, trying to bribe her servants, etc.

'She has appeared before me before and told me to follow her.

　Since that one incident, Jean had been wary of everyone who came near Karen.
　Because he thought that she might be working for Olivia.
　Ever since Gash went missing, Jean had been even more vigilant in protecting Karen.
　That's why he was very wary of us.
　We thought he was trying to ingratiate himself and take something away from the Rayfords.

Why did you tell us that?
'When I heard what you said to Master Cullen in the carriage ...... I thought, well, what can I say, I thought I could trust you guys.

　We bowed our heads and Jean pleaded with us.
　He said that both he and Karen are very kind people.
　He asked us to somehow save them both.

'Leave it to me,'

　I nodded and agreed with that.
　I don't need to be told.

'Thank you ......!'
'So, you're not here for anything?'

　As I pointed out, Jean cleared her throat as she remembered.

'Master Cullen would like to see you both. She wants to explain everything.
Explain?

　When Elfi nodded his head, Jean seemed to have made up his mind.


'--about the day your husband disappeared.



　　You're not going to be able to do that.



　I had been given a full briefing the day I was asked to do so.
　But the more information the better.

　Jean led me to the room where Karen was.
　It's the large room where we had dinner.

'I'm sorry to call you here,'

　When he finished leading the way, Jean walked out of the room.
　Then Karen urged him to take a seat.

'Details about the circumstances of Mr. Gash's disappearance, right?
Yes, sir.

　Karen spoke again about the situation at the time.

　Gash went to check on the wards and then disappeared.
　It seems that he took a few servants with him at that time, but no one noticed that Gash had disappeared.
　Some people suggested that he might have gone into the labyrinth, but he could not enter the labyrinth without undoing the wards.
　There was no indication that the wards of the labyrinth had been broken anywhere.

　Even the territorial residents would not go near the labyrinth where the wards were in place.
　It seems that none of the lordsfolk had seen Gash and the others.

''Gash-san is somewhere other than the labyrinth, I guess that means he's not in the labyrinth.
We have searched every inch of ...... territory, but we couldn't find it anywhere.

　Where is Gash?
　How did he disappear?
　Is this what the mystery is all about?

The servant who was there at the time is ----

　Buchin.
　The lights in the room suddenly went out.
　The room, which had been illuminated until then, was suddenly covered in darkness.

...... Is it out of magic power?

　Muttering that, at the same time as Karen stood up from her seat.

''--Elphic.''
''Ah!''

　Me and Elfie greeted that sign at the same time as we charged at Karen.
　I threw the knife I kept in my pocket and felt the response of the blade piercing my flesh.
　At the same time, Elfi shot his magic eye in the other direction.

''----''

　I heard the sound of something that had eaten the demon's eye fall to the ground with all its strength.
　This one also struck the knife in succession, blocking the opponent's movements.

''What's going on!''

　A pause of a few seconds then opened and Jean burst into the room.
　He has a light in his hand, which illuminates the room, which was covered in darkness.

'...... Hee.'

　Inside the room, there were two giant snakes lying around.
　They were demons that could easily swallow a single person, floating in a mottled pattern on their purple epidermis.

"...... 'Acid-shooting serpent' (acid snake)?"

　The acid-shooting serpent is a dangerous demon that spits out stomach juices that dissolve even iron into mush.
　It lives in the Empire, but it doesn't exist near here.

"Oh, that was a close one. ...... How in the world could such a demon ......

　Karen is blue in the face and sitting up.
　Jean has a similar expression on his face.

'...... It's settled, Iori.
Yeah.

　It was expected from the beginning, but now it's clear.

　--Olivia Elie Steele can control demons.

　And one more thing.
　There is someone in this mansion who has a connection to Olivia.