'Cecily's mansion-you mean the Arkwright family's mansion, right?
''Yes. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it. I don't go to the dormitory, but I go to the school from there by carriage. Together with Sieg and Hyrgis.

　I think back to that night when we first met.
　I see, they were probably on their way out of school at that time.
　........Come to think of it, I wonder what kind of relationship Zeke and Hyrgis-san have with Cecily-san?
　Not so much the brothers as the brothers.

So I wanted to invite you both to the house today. Um, have you had lunch yet?
No, not yet.
What if it is?　Come and join us for lunch.
I'm sorry, but I'll pass.

　Saying that, it was Currier-san who lifted himself up from his chair.

''No need to hold back, Currier?
No, I have some things I need to do.
Is there something important you wanted to see me about?
Well, sort of. And...

　Miss Currier put her hand on Cecily's shoulder.

'I'll give it away today,'
Currier...
Oh, and by the way, Cecily.
Yes?
You look great in that dress.
What?
Huh ... it's frustrating, but that's my honest opinion. Well, I can see why the men are screaming.

　Then Miss Currier looked at me.

See you later.

　I said, and left the room.
　And Cecily, on the other hand, said.

Uh--

　She was in a state of embarrassment.
　Her cheeks are stained with vermillion and she is squeezing the hem of her skirt part.



　Cecily gives me a look upward.

'Can I ask you one thing?'
Yes, sir.
Don't you think she's a little too open-minded to say what she really thinks?
I understand. So it's like I'm caught off guard.

　Sigh, Cecily shrugs her shoulders.

''It's not fair ... it's not fair, that one.

　Cecily-san raised her eyebrows while placing both her palms on her cherry-red cheeks as if to cool down the heat.

'It's as if she unconsciously leaps over the place where I'm taking the long way around with a single step... Honestly, I feel jealous of Currier's character like that.

　Hmmm.
　I guess it's like we envy each other what we don't have?
　I think the beauty that people have is different for everyone.

Well, that's beside the point.

　As if to regroup, Cecily said.

'Will Kurohiko be able to come?'
''Well then, since it's an invitation. It's going to be a while before we can capture the Holy Ruins anyway.

　And so.
　After getting permission from the old doctor who was sipping white water in the lobby of the auditorium, I came with Cecily to the main gate of the school.
　There was a carriage parked near the gate.

　Thin clouds were slowly drifting in the late afternoon sky.
　The breeze was warm, caressing my cheeks as I remembered from time to time.
　The sound of the leaves rubbing against each other as they swayed in the gentle breeze soothed my heart somehow.
　It was like a day wrapped in the sunshine of spring.

Oh?　You're the one from that night.

　The carriage's giver greeted me with a light lift of his hat.
　This man looked familiar.
　I believe he was called Banton.
　I bail.

'It's nice to meet you, my name is Soraku Kurohiko. Cecily-san has always been a great help to me.
Hmm. You're the boy from that night, aren't you?

　Mr. Banton scrutinizes my eyes and stares at me as if he were trying to guess what's going on.

'Yes, yes, sir, but,'
Well, come on in.
Come on, Blackie, get in.

　Mr. Banton urged me, and Cecily, who seemed to be in an even better mood, pushed me back.

'Well then, Mr. Banton, please,'
Very well, My Lady.

　The carriage door opens.

'Ah.'

　In the carriage were Mr. Hyrgis and Zeke.
　They were sitting next to each other on the seats.

''Hmm?　Didn't Currier Versteen come?

　Zeke asked Cecily.

'Yes, he has some business to attend to today.
'Well Kurohiko, are you feeling physically fit now?
Yeah, I'll be fine.
Okay.

　Zeke nodded with a relieved look on his face, mmmm.
　And as Cecily and I got in, the carriage started to move.

　Oh, those vibrations.
　I've never ridden in a carriage before, so it's quite impressive.

　Maintaining a moderate speed, the carriage continues down the hill toward the city.
　I look out of the glass windows and see the scenery.
　It's a brisk day, I thought.

'Oh, by the way, Zeke is in uniform... what do you need at school?

　The only person in this carriage right now who is not in uniform is Miss Cecily.
　Zeke and Hyrgis-san are wearing the school's uniform.
　The two members of the uniformed group looked at each other.

''Because, hey?''
I can't be bothered to pick out my clothes.

　Zeke looked at me and nodded.

'Well, that's what I mean.'

　..........
　It's the same in this world too.
　It's the so-called 'uniform or suit makes it easier' feeling.
　Well, when I went from high school to college, I felt it was a hassle to choose clothes.

　We waited for our arrival at the mansion while chatting in the carriage.
　At first, we touched on the Holy Ruins a little bit, but the rest of the conversation continued to be mundane.
　The only information that left an impression on me was.......that Hyrgis-san seems to have a sweet tooth.
　After a brief flurry of conversation, the topic of conversation shifted to the murder case in the royal capital.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on. So, you see.

　Zeke indicated with his chin the four swords in their scabbards.
　Those four swords are hanging on the wall of the carriage.

'We brought our own swords with us, just in case.

　Sieg's and Hyrgis-san's are one each.
　And the one with two swords is probably Cecily's, the twin-sword user.

"Um, Kurohiko.

　Cecily spoke up.

I didn't know whether to tell you or not, but it seems that the first man killed in the murder case was the big man who was involved with Kurohiko and his friends that night.
What?
There were countless cuts all over the body that were separate from the wounds that led to the death.
...Oh, I see.

　Oh, yeah.
　It was that big guy who was killed?
　I have mixed feelings.
　I can't say it was good, but I can't say it was bad.
　..........
　No, it's not good to lie.
　The trouble is--

　I don't feel anything.

　I can't feel any emotion.
　It was the same when I first killed a goblin.
　Am I crazy as a person?

　There is also something nostalgic about that feeling.
　For example, yes - like when I was in the previous world.
　Everything in the world seemed to have faded away.
　It's a bit like that feeling of not being interested in anything.

'I'm sorry, I'm talking about something weird - never mind what I just said.

　Cecily put her hand over mine in a caring manner.

'....Yes.'

　Or rather, it's more like, 'I don't care about what I don't care about'....

''Hmm, by the way, that's a different story.
Yes, what is it?
What kind of woman does Blackbeard like?

　And then.

　Crunch.

　And.

　An arm.

　An arm went through the carriage window.

"...what?

　What, but--.
　Maybe it was too sudden a situation, but everyone was temporarily unable to react.
　And.

　A man appeared from behind a broken window.

　Eerie, stagnant eyes.
　Stubble around his mouth.
　Long, wavy hair tied back.
　Thick arms.

　The man looked around the carriage.
　And then his eyes caught sight of

'I see, it is indeed beautiful out of the ordinary. It is you--Cecily Arkwright.

　It was Mr. Cecily.

　The man lifted both ends of his mouth and laughed miserably, cackling.

'Well--'

　It was a look of sheer delight.

Let's see if we can't work something out.