Ray and Vihela, who brought the bodies from the underground space, are thanked by guards and adventurers.
　Even though he was already dead, it was impossible for him not to thank his comrades for having recovered the bodies.
　...though Vichela, who really had the feeling that she might be able to fight the tentacles, looked a little disappointed that the battle had not taken place after all.
　But if there were tentacles, Ranga would have stopped him from fighting, in which case Ray would have stopped.

"Oh, yes. I understand you're grateful. So what are you going to do now? At the enemy's headquarters at the end of the underground space, the enemy boss, caught the mastermind and handed it to Langa. Then, isn't there any point in searching the house anymore?"

　Nevertheless, Ray's honest feelings were that he wanted to continue the investigation if possible, as evidence of a good crime had been found in the estate.
　I suppose, however, that the evidence of the gathering at this moment would be sufficient to arrest the master of the house.

(I don't think there's evidence of wrongdoing in all the other houses, by any chance?)

　When it comes to earning enough money to live in such a mansion, Ray can understand how hard it is.
　That's why I felt that I could be doing something wrong.
　If this were a mansion in the aristocratic quarter, it would be understandable that it was an inheritance.

"As far as underground spaces are concerned, I can't afford to overlook them as there is evidence of crime."
"I see,"

　Ray nods unobtrusively to the guards' words.
　Now that evidence has been found so far, I have decided that even if some additional evidence is found, it will have little to do with me.
　Vichela turned her eyes to find Vichela looking around the room, not particularly interested in the conversation.

"What's wrong with you? Was there a book you were curious about?"

　It was somewhat exaggerated to describe this room as a library... but there are still quite a few books that would normally be expensive.
　I asked if there was anything interesting in such a book, but Vihela shook her head at such words.

"No. That's not the case. ... Do you think I'll read books in the first place?"

　Adventurers and guards who have been casually listening to Vihela's words certainly look convinced.
　In fact, it doesn't sound like reading a book if you look at Vihela wearing a light coat like a dancer or prostitute.
　Nor would anyone who knows Vichela's characteristic of his love of battle expect him to read as much.
　But... in Ray's case, he knows that Vihela was a princess of the former Westian Empire.
　That being the case, I wouldn't be surprised if Vihela had read a book.
　However, in this case, Ray was the only one who knew it.

"Ah... yes. I'll leave it that way because it seems safe to say I won't read it for now. ... So what are we going to do now? Are we supposed to be a bodyguard?"

　So far no one has been found to carry out the attack but the girl Vihela captured.
　That didn't mean that there was really no one to attack anymore, so the escort was absolutely essential.

(So, since this group was gathered on the strength of me and Vihela, wasn't it actually quite dangerous while we were in the underground space?)

　Suddenly Ray thinks so.
　Fortunately, there was no particular problem while the Rays were away, but it was really a coincidence.
　However, since it was also true that the underground space was the most dangerous, Ray's actions were not mistaken.
　Or, if only Ray had gone into the underground space and left the Vihela on the ground, the story might still have been different.
　However, given Vihela's character, such a thing cannot be tolerated.
　I couldn't even say that Ninglei would stay here and head to the underground space by himself.
　If that had happened, Javis and his associates would certainly have lost if they had fought against that tentacle.
　the power of the king of Seto, which can be said to be the first to kill.
　It also comes with a bonus that the closer you get to the cracks in space, the more effective it becomes.
　Ray's presence prevented him from being fatally damaged.

"...yeah, after all, I'm glad I did it the way I did I?
"What's this all of a sudden.

　Vihela is suspicious of Ray's sudden muttering.
　But Ray shakes his head in Vichela's eyes, saying it's nothing.

"No, it's nothing. For now, if you're going to look into this mansion more, you'd better act at once. ... What are you going to do?"

　In response to Ray's question, the guards sort out the people here as they think fit.
　Considering the size of the estate, the number of suspicious places has increased from the beginning, as we have already done a lot of research.
　In the meantime, Ray and his colleagues continued to investigate... and ended up investigating various things at the estate until late in the evening.





"Hmmm... don't be too excited about Vihela, either."

　That night, as usual, we were eating in Marina's garden and talking about today's events, Marina says so when she heard what the Reys had done today.
　Others... Elena, Arra, Bune, etc. nod to Marina's words.
　In addition, Seto and Yero are playing around in the garden at night and haven't heard anything.

"I know, but is it true that the fight against the tentacles was quite interesting?"
"...what on earth would you have done without Ray hadn't come?"

　Elena tells Vichela, who shows no sign of remorse.

"Without Ray's coming... well, it could have been dangerous, but at the same time it could have been managed."

　Vihela's words have a color that makes you think they're just being strong.
　Also, knowing the sensitivity of Vihela's fighting, I can't say that he is strong.

"I hope you understand that even though Vihela thinks so, there are a lot of things to think about."

　After Elena, Marina says so, and Arla and Bune nod in agreement.
　Ray nodded in the same way.
　That's how dangerous Vihela seemed in this battle against tentacles.
　Everyone here... I nod quietly, considering that even if Seto and Yero were there, they would have looked at her anxiously.

"Well, I'm sorry. I've given you a little bit of trouble."

　It's far from ostentatious to apologize like that.
　Though not the case, the people here were still convinced that Vihela would behave in the same way if there was another similar battle.
　The desire to fight is not something Vihela can do by herself.
　However, the only salvation for those who see it is that it is not the case that they rush into the enemy without any chance of winning.
　Instead of thinking about it, you use a semi-instinctive movement to get the best results, because that's the person named Vihela.

"Well, that's enough for now... ...and you're asking me how I'm going to settle this case after all right.

　Marina changes the subject with Vihela's words.
　For the time being, that's the end of the matter.
　Ray and his colleagues also get involved in Marina's conversation, wondering if they had any objection to Marina's words.

"I don't know how to settle it. We've got Javis in the black screen, so we've actually solved it. ... But I don't know if he's really the black screen, and we need to do something about the tentacles in the underground space."

　Ray and Vihela know that Javis himself admitted to being the mastermind behind the case.
　But that's just Javis saying, and it's very likely that he's actually protecting someone.
　It was Ray's prediction that Langa's guards would reveal this in their upcoming investigation.

(If Javis were like a shadow warrior, it is highly likely that the real thing would not be in Gilm if it were discovered later.)While thinking so, somehow... really somehow, Ray feels that Javis is real.
　After a short talk, Vichela's defeat, Javis, did not seem to have the kind of personality to go out of his way to be someone's shadow.
　However, the more you resemble a shadow warrior, the more difficult it is to distinguish him.
　Moreover, as long as they don't know what Javis' face is, they don't know whether it was Javis himself... or whether the mastermind behind the scenes is actually Javis.
　Ray thinks the area will be clear by questioning those linked to Javis among those captured in this case.
　For the time being, we have captured those who call themselves masterminds, so please work hard on the security guard.

"And? How was it in other places than the Ray's? Wasn't it natural that he was connected to the Javis?"

　As Elena asks interestingly, Ray and Vihela meet... and then Ray opens his mouth.

"Well, I've heard that some of them, other than the mansion we've been to, have caught someone who's attacked or tried to escape, and we should be able to gather a lot of information from them... ...but ultimately they seem to settle down in the hands of the King."
"I guess so. I think that's the best choice."

　Marina says so, drinking a soup full of vegetables in Ray says so.

"Is that so?"
"Yes. Think about it. Neutralists are now building friendly relations with the aristocracy. Not an alliance... but at least not an adversarial relationship."
"I see, I understand Marina's point. As long as the neutrals and the aristocrats have such a relationship, it's definitely the best option. And... the current situation is certainly not interesting for the royalists."
"That's true. And there was actually someone who testified, like the King?"

　While talking to Elena, Marina turns to Ray.
　Ray nods at the remark.
　But the man who claimed to be a royal has already been killed by the pink tentacles.
　That being the case, I can't pretend to have that person testify about this incident.

(As a result, the dead are silent.)

　It must have been a lucky event for the royalists.
　Ray opens his mouth, thinking like that.

"Well, I was killed by the tentacles, so I'm the only one who knows it."
"There's nothing I can do about it. ... I don't think it's normal to have such tentacles."

　Vichela's tone is full of chagrin because she remembers today's battle.

"Anyway, for the neutral and aristocratic factions, the king's side is the mastermind, though I don't think it's the best option."
"Well, of the three factions, other than the largest, are on friendly terms, and it is only natural that the largest of them should be the target of the attack. ... But I don't think Dusker's character will force him to fabricate evidence and make it the work of the King."

　Marina's words, which she knew about Dusker from an early age, convinced everyone, including Ray.
　At least everyone here can agree with the words.
　It's natural for everyone to think so, given that there are so many opportunities to interact with Dusker.
　The aristocrats often differ in their outward and actual character, but everyone here knew that Dusker had a positive and impassive character.