When I sat up, I found Maha asleep next to me.
　I hadn't seen her face like this since we were living together, with a reassuringly loose look on her face.
　She is always so determined and determined that she rarely shows any gaps, which makes me smile.

''.........Tart, Dia and Maha would have died if they hadn't met me. Even though I knew it, there's something about being told directly.

It's easy to call it that kind of fate, but I'm no longer a doll that can be so divisible.
　The reason I was reincarnated in this world was to stop Epona from running amok.
　But when I look at Maha's sleeping face, I can't help but think that I was reincarnated in order to save the girls.

'Good morning, brother Roug,'

Maha wakes up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
　She must have been very tired.
　I let Maha have her way at first, but I took the lead in the second half.
　As I thought, studying alone was the limit, and Maha was frustrated about that.
　And it's funny that Maha is so competitive that she's trying so hard to learn these things.

'Good morning, Maha. Are you feeling okay?
It's not okay. ...your brother rogue's fault.

He gives me a jittery look.
　I was a little too rough for my first time.
　I was too loving, and my reasoning flew away.

'I'm sorry. I'll make you a cup of tea.
No, no, I'll do that. Making your brother's tea is the most important job in my life.
That's right.

When the three of them lived together, most of the housework was done by the tart, the resident servant, but it was Maha's job to make the tea.
　Maha got up, put on her loungewear and went straight to the kitchen.
　Another characteristic of a high-class inn is that it is equipped with a kitchen. Most inns don't provide such a thing in each room.
　The smell of tea is wafting through the air.
　I hear a knock at the door, and a basket is inserted from under the door.
　Breakfast service at the inn. Good timing.
　Maha collects the basket as she brings the tea to us.

'We'll have breakfast.
'Well, I'm hungry after working out yesterday.
'Brother Lug, you're usually so cool, but sometimes you say unclely things like that. s*xual harassment?

Smells like old man I'm a little hurt.

I'll be careful.
Yeah, do that. I need you to be better than anyone else.

Maha smiles, and I smile back.
　We take tea, as usual, Maha's tea is comforting, with care in every detail.
　And a sandwich.
　...I'm surprised, I didn't expect much, but it's delicious in its own way.

"This is made from Marouille bread.
'You're well aware of that. We buy their bread here, and the ingredients in it are of the highest quality. This inn is the purveyor of high society.

Marouille is one of the best bakeries in town and I used to go there when I lived in Murteu.
　Moreover, it seems that this bread was baked this morning and delivered to us. As expected of an inn chosen by Maha.
　I'll keep this inn in mind.

I have to tell you something, to tell you the truth.

With that, Maha hands me an envelope with a document in it.
　I quickly look through it.

''This is ... suspicious.
Yes, it's very suspicious. I'm ordering our agents on the ground to do additional research.

Maha's documents describe an anomaly that is happening in a city northwest of here, a reasonably large city called Birnor.
　Lately, earthquakes have been occurring frequently, and more than a dozen people have been reported missing in the past month.
　Not only that, the line I'm using for my communication network has been cut off.
　The one that couldn't be cut even when the tart wielded the knife I made and strengthened it with magic.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's also a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　In addition to the fact that some people are missing, something else is going on.

'It could be the demon race. And a reasonably smart one at that.
What kind of a scenario are you expecting?
''Didn't I kill the helmet bugs, lions and physical demons in succession?　That's why I read that the demon tribe would be wary and use entangling moves. The only thing I can think of in this case is to secretly prepare for a genocide, and when it's over, they'll kill all the people in the city in an instant. And after making the [Fruit of Life], we'll run away before the troublesome guy comes. That's the kind of move I've been trying to make. That's what I'm thinking.

Without more information, it's hard to speculate, but if you make the underground of the city almost hollow beforehand and let it collapse all at once, then earthquakes happen frequently, and when the time comes, you can kill all the people living in the city in an instant.

''That's right. As far as the case of the helmeted bugs demon tribe is concerned, there's a few days to finish killing them before they can produce the [Fruit of Life]. But if we can kill all the people in the city in an instant, we can finish the whole thing before we can detect the situation and rush in... or so you might think.

Yes, normally an incident would occur, investigate, contact the person who can respond, and then the person who responds would rush in, each process would take several days no matter how hard I tried.
　If the demon tribe had prepared for what I assumed, I would have been able to escape with the [Fruit of Life] without any way to do so. ........Yes, if it was anyone other than me.

I have to admit, I'm impressed with the intelligence.

But I'm the only one outside of that norm.
　If something happens in this country, I will immediately detect it with my information network and rush to it within the same day by flying.
　No matter how much of a demon race they are, they don't know that.
　That's why we can make it in time.

''Also, there's something that's really bothering me.
Tell me.
Why do demons only appear in the Kingdom of Arvan?　Normally, if you're going to avoid a fight, it's much safer to go after a country that doesn't have a brave man and a rogue brother, right?　Orcs, helmet bugs, and lions, three demons have attacked this country in succession. And if this abnormality is really caused by a demon race, there's a fourth one?　It's clearly an aberration, and I can't help but think it's deliberately aimed at this country.
''I had my doubts about that too. I thought that the purpose of the demon tribe was to lure the brave and kill them, that's why they dare to target only this country. In fact, that orc demon tribe clearly said that their purpose was to kill the brave men. But it's strange that they appear in this country even though they try to avoid encountering the brave and me like this one,

As far as the past literature is concerned, there was no way that only one country would continue to be attacked.
　That's why the neighboring countries are trying to get a promise to the Alvan Kingdom to lend their brave men in case of an emergency.

If only the Kingdom of Arvan would be attacked, they wouldn't do that.
　The emergence of demons and demon kings is a disaster that takes place every few hundred years, and each country has its own know-how. Each country has its own know-how, and since each of them is prepared for an attack on their own country, the demon tribe should be able to attack any country.
　But they are not trying to do so.
　In other words, there are irregularities that exist only this time, and for some reason, they can't target anything other than the Kingdom of Arvan.

''With the information we have, we don't have enough material. I'll deal with the problem at hand while gathering information first. ........Thank you. With these documents, we can move around a lot of things.

The fastest way to find out about the demon race is to ask the demon race.
　Fortunately, I have that in mind.

'I'm glad I could help. I'll go back to Orna after I take a shower. I have an important meeting at noon.
You're busy.
'Yes. But that's my role. It's very hard work, but I'm proud to be able to help you.

And then she was gone.
　...a good woman.
　Once again, I'm afraid so.
　Now, let me do my job.

◇

Since then, I've returned to Touahade.
　I've been trying to contact Meena, the snake demon tribe, while having my team investigate a town where something that looks like a demon tribe is working in the dark.

Besides that, I'm just finishing up the cleanup.

'Thank you for your hard work, Master Roug,'
You're back in the house, aren't you?
Looks like you two are done with your training for today.

Nodding, Tart and Dia nodded.
　The two of them are making final adjustments to the homework I had given them on their departure.

'What are the rogues doing?'
'Yeah, now it's a follow-up to Count Flantrude, who was instrumental in the trial.
That's the one. You've fallen in love with a rogue dressed as a woman. What do you want to do?
'I'm delivering a letter to you as Lou. I want to return safely to my estate and see you. I'm going to King's Landing in two months and I want you to wait for me.

The letter is written in feminine handwriting.
　These are the skills of an assassin.

That's just stalling, right?
'That's enough. Over the course of two months, we will exchange letters several times. ........In those exchanges, he subtly deviates Lou's words, actions, preferences, and habits from Count Flantrude's ideals, making the gap between her and the ideal woman Count Flantrude envisioned larger and larger. You can bet that by the time two months have passed, love has woken up. Now all we have to do is meet in person and produce a little opportunity and we'll be done with our love.

If Lou dumped him unilaterally, Count Frantrude might become desperate.
　So, first of all, he'd have to make time and gradually, little by little, distort his feelings for Lou.
　Then, in the end, he'll let her dump him.

'It's quite a messy thing to do.
'He's done a great job, you know. And to thank him for that, I'm going to end it in the most beautiful way possible. The kind of ending that leaves you relieved that the love of your life is over and there's nothing left.

The human heart is a transient thing.
　Even more so, the love born between Lou and the Count of Flantrude is a transient, dramatically staged love affair.
　They don't know each other well enough to know each other, and as they get to know the parts of each other that they didn't know, they realize that they are not the ideal partner, and as they understand, they lose interest in the other.

Tart is a worrier, isn't he? What I just said, I thought they might do to me.
Well, you see, I don't think Master Lugue would abandon me. It's just, you know, I was just a little scared.
'There's no need to be so upset. It's a natural feeling to be afraid of someone who plays with people's minds like this I'm being naive in my own way in telling you both these things. I can talk about it because I believe that you guys will accept me like that.

If he just wants to be liked, he won't show his back side.
　Still, the reason I show it is because I believe in the two of them and to tell them that it's okay to be concerned about Lou.

'Yes!　I'm fine.
'If I didn't like you for that, then I wouldn't have started to like you in the first place.
Okay.

I smiled and finished the letter.
　I tucked it into the pigeon's leg.
　This courier dove was not Touahade's, but was a gift from Count Flantrude to Lou.
　He would never have thought that a courier dove given to him to carry his love would bring him farewell.
　The white dove flaps its wings and soars into the sky.
　That's the end of the Count of Frantrude's case.
　He clears his throat with a goblet.

'Tart, Dear, tomorrow you will hand in your homework. Keep that in mind.

Next time, I'll make sure the girls get a good look at the new powers they've gained while I'm gone.
　When I sat up, I found Maha asleep next to me.
　I hadn't seen her face like this since we were living together, with a reassuringly loose look on her face.
　She is always so determined and determined that she rarely shows any gaps, which makes me smile.

''.........Tart, Dia and Maha would have died if they hadn't met me. Even though I knew it, there's something about being told directly.

It's easy to call it that kind of fate, but I'm no longer a doll that can be so divisible.
　The reason I was reincarnated in this world was to stop Epona from running amok.
　But when I look at Maha's sleeping face, I can't help but think that I was reincarnated in order to save the girls.

'Good morning, brother Roug,'

Maha wakes up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
　She must have been very tired.
　I let Maha have her way at first, but I took the lead in the second half.
　As I thought, studying alone was the limit, and Maha was frustrated about that.
　And it's funny that Maha is so competitive that she's trying so hard to learn these things.

'Good morning, Maha. Are you feeling okay?
It's not okay. ...your brother rogue's fault.

He gives me a jittery look.
　I was a little too rough for my first time.
　I was too loving, and my reasoning flew away.

'I'm sorry. I'll make you a cup of tea.
No, no, I'll do that. Making your brother's tea is the most important job in my life.
That's right.

When the three of them lived together, most of the housework was done by the tart, the resident servant, but it was Maha's job to make the tea.
　Maha got up, put on her loungewear and went straight to the kitchen.
　Another characteristic of a high-class inn is that it is equipped with a kitchen. Most inns don't provide such a thing in each room.
　The smell of tea is wafting through the air.
　I hear a knock at the door, and a basket is inserted from under the door.
　Breakfast service at the inn. Good timing.
　Maha collects the basket as she brings the tea to us.

'We'll have breakfast.
'Well, I'm hungry after working out yesterday.
'Brother Lug, you're usually so cool, but sometimes you say unclely things like that. s*xual harassment?

Smells like old man I'm a little hurt.

I'll be careful.
Yeah, do that. I need you to be better than anyone else.

Maha smiles, and I smile back.
　We take tea, as usual, Maha's tea is comforting, with care in every detail.
　And a sandwich.
　...I'm surprised, I didn't expect much, but it's delicious in its own way.

"This is made from Marouille bread.
'You're well aware of that. We buy their bread here, and the ingredients in it are of the highest quality. This inn is the purveyor of high society.

Marouille is one of the best bakeries in town and I used to go there when I lived in Murteu.
　Moreover, it seems that this bread was baked this morning and delivered to us. As expected of an inn chosen by Maha.
　I'll keep this inn in mind.

I have to tell you something, to tell you the truth.

With that, Maha hands me an envelope with a document in it.
　I quickly look through it.

''This is ... suspicious.
Yes, it's very suspicious. I'm ordering our agents on the ground to do additional research.

Maha's documents describe an anomaly that is happening in a city northwest of here, a reasonably large city called Birnor.
　Lately, earthquakes have been occurring frequently, and more than a dozen people have been reported missing in the past month.
　Not only that, the line I'm using for my communication network has been cut off.
　The one that couldn't be cut even when the tart wielded the knife I made and strengthened it with magic.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's also a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　In addition to the fact that some people are missing, something else is going on.

'It could be the demon race. And a reasonably smart one at that.
What kind of a scenario are you expecting?
''Didn't I kill the helmet bugs, lions and physical demons in succession?　That's why I read that the demon tribe would be wary and use entangling moves. The only thing I can think of in this case is to secretly prepare for a genocide, and when it's over, they'll kill all the people in the city in an instant. And after making the [Fruit of Life], we'll run away before the troublesome guy comes. That's the kind of move I've been trying to make. That's what I'm thinking.

Without more information, it's hard to speculate, but if you make the underground of the city almost hollow beforehand and let it collapse all at once, then earthquakes happen frequently, and when the time comes, you can kill all the people living in the city in an instant.

''That's right. As far as the case of the helmeted bugs demon tribe is concerned, there's a few days to finish killing them before they can produce the [Fruit of Life]. But if we can kill all the people in the city in an instant, we can finish the whole thing before we can detect the situation and rush in... or so you might think.

Yes, normally an incident would occur, investigate, contact the person who can respond, and then the person who responds would rush in, each process would take several days no matter how hard I tried.
　If the demon tribe had prepared for what I assumed, I would have been able to escape with the [Fruit of Life] without any way to do so. ........Yes, if it was anyone other than me.

I have to admit, I'm impressed with the intelligence.

But I'm the only one outside of that norm.
　If something happens in this country, I will immediately detect it with my information network and rush to it within the same day by flying.
　No matter how much of a demon race they are, they don't know that.
　That's why we can make it in time.

''Also, there's something that's really bothering me.
Tell me.
Why do demons only appear in the Kingdom of Arvan?　Normally, if you're going to avoid a fight, it's much safer to go after a country that doesn't have a brave man and a rogue brother, right?　Orcs, helmet bugs, and lions, three demons have attacked this country in succession. And if this abnormality is really caused by a demon race, there's a fourth one?　It's clearly an aberration, and I can't help but think it's deliberately aimed at this country.
''I had my doubts about that too. I thought that the purpose of the demon tribe was to lure the brave and kill them, that's why they dare to target only this country. In fact, that orc demon tribe clearly said that their purpose was to kill the brave men. But it's strange that they appear in this country even though they try to avoid encountering the brave and me like this one,

As far as the past literature is concerned, there was no way that only one country would continue to be attacked.
　That's why the neighboring countries are trying to get a promise to the Alvan Kingdom to lend their brave men in case of an emergency.

If only the Kingdom of Arvan would be attacked, they wouldn't do that.
　The emergence of demons and demon kings is a disaster that takes place every few hundred years, and each country has its own know-how. Each country has its own know-how, and since each of them is prepared for an attack on their own country, the demon tribe should be able to attack any country.
　But they are not trying to do so.
　In other words, there are irregularities that exist only this time, and for some reason, they can't target anything other than the Kingdom of Arvan.

''With the information we have, we don't have enough material. I'll deal with the problem at hand while gathering information first. ........Thank you. With these documents, we can move around a lot of things.

The fastest way to find out about the demon race is to ask the demon race.
　Fortunately, I have that in mind.

'I'm glad I could help. I'll go back to Orna after I take a shower. I have an important meeting at noon.
You're busy.
'Yes. But that's my role. It's very hard work, but I'm proud to be able to help you.

And then she was gone.
　...a good woman.
　Once again, I'm afraid so.
　Now, let me do my job.

◇

Since then, I've returned to Touahade.
　I've been trying to contact Meena, the snake demon tribe, while having my team investigate a town where something that looks like a demon tribe is working in the dark.

Besides that, I'm just finishing up the cleanup.

'Thank you for your hard work, Master Roug,'
You're back in the house, aren't you?
Looks like you two are done with your training for today.

Nodding, Tart and Dia nodded.
　The two of them are making final adjustments to the homework I had given them on their departure.

'What are the rogues doing?'
'Yeah, now it's a follow-up to Count Flantrude, who was instrumental in the trial.
That's the one. You've fallen in love with a rogue dressed as a woman. What do you want to do?
'I'm delivering a letter to you as Lou. I want to return safely to my estate and see you. I'm going to King's Landing in two months and I want you to wait for me.

The letter is written in feminine handwriting.
　These are the skills of an assassin.

That's just stalling, right?
'That's enough. Over the course of two months, we will exchange letters several times. ........In those exchanges, he subtly deviates Lou's words, actions, preferences, and habits from Count Flantrude's ideals, making the gap between her and the ideal woman Count Flantrude envisioned larger and larger. You can bet that by the time two months have passed, love has woken up. Now all we have to do is meet in person and produce a little opportunity and we'll be done with our love.

If Lou dumped him unilaterally, Count Frantrude might become desperate.
　So, first of all, he'd have to make time and gradually, little by little, distort his feelings for Lou.
　Then, in the end, he'll let her dump him.

'It's quite a messy thing to do.
'He's done a great job, you know. And to thank him for that, I'm going to end it in the most beautiful way possible. The kind of ending that leaves you relieved that the love of your life is over and there's nothing left.

The human heart is a transient thing.
　Even more so, the love born between Lou and the Count of Flantrude is a transient, dramatically staged love affair.
　They don't know each other well enough to know each other, and as they get to know the parts of each other that they didn't know, they realize that they are not the ideal partner, and as they understand, they lose interest in the other.

Tart is a worrier, isn't he? What I just said, I thought they might do to me.
Well, you see, I don't think Master Lugue would abandon me. It's just, you know, I was just a little scared.
'There's no need to be so upset. It's a natural feeling to be afraid of someone who plays with people's minds like this I'm being naive in my own way in telling you both these things. I can talk about it because I believe that you guys will accept me like that.

If he just wants to be liked, he won't show his back side.
　Still, the reason I show it is because I believe in the two of them and to tell them that it's okay to be concerned about Lou.

'Yes!　I'm fine.
'If I didn't like you for that, then I wouldn't have started to like you in the first place.
Okay.

I smiled and finished the letter.
　I tucked it into the pigeon's leg.
　This courier dove was not Touahade's, but was a gift from Count Flantrude to Lou.
　He would never have thought that a courier dove given to him to carry his love would bring him farewell.
　The white dove flaps its wings and soars into the sky.
　That's the end of the Count of Frantrude's case.
　He clears his throat with a goblet.

'Tart, Dear, tomorrow you will hand in your homework. Keep that in mind.

Next time, I'll make sure the girls get a good look at the new powers they've gained while I'm gone.