As soon as there was an attack by the demons, a ward was put up around the mansion by Karen.
　This would prevent the demons from easily entering the mansion, and with the warding in place, Karen would be able to notice the existence of the demons as soon as there was an attack.
　They didn't let down their guard and went back to their respective rooms for the day for the time being.

　When the people in the mansion have gone to bed and the house is filled with silence.
　I opened the front door, killing any sign of life, and saw a figure stepping out of the mansion.

　It was a man dressed in a clean, wrinkle-free butler's uniform.
　His yellow hair was trimmed so that it was undisturbed.
　The man is the squire of the Rayford family - Jean Belmondo.

　With the footsteps that he has learned while serving as a squire, Jean quietly walks away from the mansion, avoiding a glance.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you leave the mansion in the middle of the night.

　Nearly ten years ago, Jean was working as a squire in a village that was not here.
　The owner of the mansion was somewhat arrogant, but he paid well and had no trouble making ends meet.
　He got along well with his family, friends and lovers, and life was picture-perfect and peaceful.
　But one day, it all came crashing down.

　The village where Jean lived was devastated by an attack from the Demon King's army.
　Jean was the only one who escaped with his life, but he lost everything: his family, friends, lover, master, house and possessions.
　Jean had nowhere to go but to die in the wild, but Gash Rayford rescued her.
　Gash offered Jean, who had nowhere to live and no job, a live-in job at the mansion, using his experience as a squire.

　The only reason Jean is alive now is because Gash picked him up.
　From that moment on, Jean has made up his mind.
　I'll use my body for the Rayford family.

　Because of the warding frenzy that has been going on lately, the only person left in the house is Karen.
　Neither Gash, who picked him up, nor his wife, who treated him so kindly, is there.
　So Jean has to protect Karen.

　I don't know what he's doing and how, but there's no doubt that Olivia Eliesteel is involved in this mess.
　That woman must have been involved in today's demon attack as well.
　Although I'm not strong enough on my own, I will use any means to 'protect Karen-sama'.

　For that reason, Jean left the mansion and walked away.
　On the outskirts of the Rayford territory, there is a small forest that is rarely approached by people.
　At the back of it, there is a natural cave with a "transfer camp" strung inside.
　Using this, you can fly to Olivia's house in an instant.

(......?).　How do you know this?

　Suddenly, Jean wondered how he knew that.
　Normally, there is no way to know this information.

(No, not even close.)

　I shake my head and shake off the question, saying that it doesn't matter now.
　In order to "protect Lady Karen," we have to get to Olivia's mansion as soon as possible.

(To protect Karen-sama, I have to report to Olivia (・・・・・・) the situation at the mansion (・・・・・・) (・・・・・・・))

　That the demon attack failed.
　That Karen is still alive.
　That the two adventurers are skilled at what they do.

　I have to tell Olivia about it.
　To protect you, Miss Cullen.

　Trees rustled.
　Clouds covered the sky and the moon was hidden.
　But Jean's footsteps in the forest did not waver.
　This is because this is not the first time they are using the cave in this way.
　He had already made his way to Olivia several times with the transition team.

　And so it was when Jean reached the front of the cave deep in the forest.

'...... Sure enough, huh?'
......!

　Suddenly, a man's voice rang out from behind me.
　I hurriedly turned around, but I couldn't find the voice's owner.　
　The only thing spreading in all directions is darkness.

　It's not a good situation.
　''In order to protect Karen-sama,'' she said, ''we can't let anyone see us.

"...... Huh.

　With a sigh, a person appeared in my vision.
　Suddenly, as if it had been melting into darkness before.

''Are you ...... Iori-san?　Why are you here?
' ...... That's my line.

　The one who emerged from the darkness was Iori Amagatsuki, who was supposed to be sleeping in her mansion.
　She has black hair that could be mistaken for nighttime darkness and a jet black coat.
　He still has some childishness in his appearance, but the air he gives off is clearly not that of a child.
　His entire body trembles and retreats.

'Mr. Jean. Where do you think you're going?
Where ......?　You know what I'm going to do. ----, you know?　Where do I need to go?

　As I was about to say it, the thoughts I had just before disappeared.
　Strange.
　It's a haze of memory.

It's not important, but why are you here?　What would you do if something were to happen to Miss Karen?

　Letting out a sigh, Jean walks up to Iori.

'Let's go back to the mansion for a while, shall we?
Shouldn't you go into the cave?
----, a cave?　What are you talking about?

　Jean nods his head.
　He doesn't understand what Iori is saying.

'At any rate,'

　"For the protection of Lady Cullen.

You're going to die.

　Towards the jet-black boy, Jean slashed at him with the knife he kept closed in his pocket.
　Since the existence of the cave has been discovered, in order to 'protect Karen-sama,' the witness must be killed.
　In order to protect Karen-sama, the fact that he is connected to Olivia must not be exposed.
　You must tell Olivia about the mansion without anyone finding out, 'in order to protect Lady Karen'.

''Why are you doing this?''

　Iori asks such a question while lightly dodging the knife.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

''Isn't it obvious?''

　I'm going to defend you, Miss Cullen, by drawing a knife.
　He ducks, "to protect Master Cullen," he chases after it.

"'To protect Master Cullen,' he says.

　Yes, I've decided to use this body for the Rayford family, and I must kill the man in front of me 'to protect Master Cullen', 'to protect Master Cullen'.

(......?)　How does that translate into protecting Lady Karen?)

　Again the question comes to mind, but in order to 'protect Karen-sama,' I switch my thinking.
　You have to kill Iori with a knife now, 'to protect Karen-sama'.
　''To protect Karen-sama'', ''To protect Karen-sama'' to", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen", "To protect Master Karen".

"...... This is 'brainwashing'?"

　Quietly, but with a tone of voice that was filled with rage.
　Immediately after that, a dull thud hit the back of Jean's head.

''The ...... is!

　Sparks flew in my brain, and my thoughts fizzled out again.
　Like a magic power granting item (magic item) causing the magic power to run out, Jean's thoughts were cut off in a huff.


◆

　When I returned to the mansion with an unconscious Jean in my arms, Elfi and Karen were waiting for me.

'I guess I don't need to ask how it went .......
Jan......!
'Don't worry, he's just out of it.

　Karen patted her chest in relief as she let them know she was safe.
　For now, I'll take her into custody and put Jean under house arrest in the room.
　I don't know if that was enough to break the brainwashing, just in case.

'What Jean was heading to was like a cave deep in the forest. There was a transition camp inside, so it probably led to Olivia's mansion.

　This case was largely predictable, as long as we kept in mind that the woman could use brainwashing magic.

　First of all, the mud bear (a mad grizzly bear) is unnaturally coordinated.
　Then, the attack of the acid-shooting serpent (Acid Snake).
　The demon raiding frenzy that was going on in the territory.

　A raid that was inconvenient for Karen and convenient for Olivia.
　Based on these things, it seems that the woman can control demons.

　And when I met Olivia at the Imperial Castle.
　That woman looked at me and Elfi and said, 'Are you an adventurer?
　Even though we had borrowed clothes from Karen and dressed in formal attire to enter the imperial castle.
　It's obvious that Olivia decided we were adventurers at a glance.

　That woman has obtained information about us in some way.
　I thought that this method is using brainwashing magic to turn the people inside the mansion into insiders.
　If you think about it that way, it also leads to Gash's disappearance.
　It's not that he didn't notice her disappearance, but it's more likely that he's been made to "forget" about her.

　Because it was only a prediction, we were considering other possibilities, but looking at Jean's unusual behavior, this is the most likely scenario.
　Right now, just to be sure, the servants other than Jean are also warding off the room and being placed under house arrest.

　Elfi knew without me having to explain.
　I'm sure that's just the way it is.

　As for Karen, I told her not to give him too much of a shock.
　Even so, Karen still cried and at the same time, her body was shaking with anger.

''From now on, we're going to ride into Olivia's mansion. At that time, we will get the evidence about Gash-san's whereabouts and this case. Therefore, Karen-san, please wait at the mansion.
...... No.

　Karen shook her head and said.

'Take me with you.'
...... It is.
"I know this will be an inconvenience for you. But ......, as Acting Head of House Rayford, I want to see this case with my own eyes.

　My mother is dead and several of my father and the lords are missing.
　I have a responsibility to see what is happening to me, Karen said.

　Please, Cullen said, he bowed his head.
　After hearing this story - perhaps she was ready (...).
　Perhaps it's ready, and then it's gone.

　Perhaps.
　Gash is now.

"...... Okay, I understand. But I have a condition.

　The only condition is that you must follow me and Elfi's instructions.
　I can't imagine that woman being beaten without a fight.
　I don't want things to get out of hand, like Karen being held hostage.

　Besides, I'm going to kill Olivia.
　I'm not going to be the only one who's been in a position to do that.

...... So, let's go. Let's go to that woman.