Looking at the map that Ira-san gave me, it seems that the villa residences of the nobility are mainly concentrated in the southeast area of the royal capital.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''It has the feel of a high-class residential area.

　I was wandering around the southeast area with a map in hand.
　I've been running like a jogger up to this point, but I was hardly tired.
　.............
　As expected, it wouldn't be able to be just my imagination anymore.
　Clearly, my physical abilities have improved by leaps and bounds.
　Perhaps it's the effect of the forbidden spell, but considering the upcoming defeat of the magma giants (although I've named them as such), it's something to be happy about.

　I pause and look around.
　The area around the main street was crowded with buildings of various sizes, but I have the impression that there are many mansions in this area that are using the land spaciously.
　Many of them are surrounded by gates and fences, and their gardens are well maintained.

''Hmm, it should be around here.''

　The map at hand doesn't have the houses drawn in detail, house by house.
　However, looking at the circle markings on the map, the Arkwright house seems to be reasonably large, so I guess I'll be able to see it.
　If anyone is passing by, let's ask them.
　What a thought.

Excuse me. May I have a word with you?

　He called out to me.

'Yes?'
You were looking for something earlier, do you live in the area?

　It was a guard who approached me.
　The reason for the polite way of addressing them is probably because this is an area with many nobles.
　If the other party is the son of a famous aristocrat by any chance, you can't just show rudeness without a second thought.
　It is said that many noblemen's children also attend the school.

''No, I'm not from around here.
So what are you doing here?

　A quizzical look runs across the guard's face as he knows he's not from around here.

''I'm looking for the Arkwright family's mansion, but it's my first time here... could you tell me where the mansion is if you'd like?''
'First time here'?

　Instantly, the guard's face changes to a stern one.
　Huh?
　That's not good.

It's not right, my friend. I've been on guard duty in this part of town for a long time and I must say you don't look like a nobleman. I've been trying to remember, but it doesn't look familiar.
I'm a student at Renowthred Academy.
Is that a real uniform?

　The guard puts his hand on the sword at his waist.

'What do you want with the Arkwright family in the first place?
I'm Cecily - well, I know the Arkwrights' daughter. We're students in the same class. My name is Soraku Kurohiko. I'm here to see Cecily Arkwright.
"...and what about the Arkwrights?
'No, I don't think you know...'

　My forehead wrinkles and the guards stare at me.
　They're obviously suspicious........
　Could it be that this isn't an area where non-noble civilians are allowed to step in comfortably?

Hmm?　Blackbeard?

　And that's when I walked by at the right time.

"Zeke?
'Are you here to see Lady Cecily by any chance?

　It was Zeke.

"That man over there, you know Master Siegbert?
Yeah.

　Zeke nodded at the guard's question.
　At the same time, Zeke seemed to have figured out what was happening in front of him.

'He is also a schoolmate of Cecily-sama. He's probably worried about Cecily-sama who was attacked by a villain yesterday and came to check on her. Cecily-sama was absent from the school today.
Oh, I see.
I'll vouch for him.

　Zeke said, and the guard quickly changed his attitude, gave me a brief, ceremonial apology, and left.

'Thank you for your help, Zeke,'
What? You don't mind. You're going to have a shitty day.
Is security still tighter than in other areas because of the location?
''It's not impossible, but after what happened yesterday, I've made security especially tight around the Arkwright house. By the way, did you come to check on Lady Cecily?
'Yeah. It's just ... I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know the exact location of the mansion.
'The Arkwright family's mansion is just up the hill there. It's a little higher than the rest of the mansion, so it might be hard to recognize it for the first time.

　Zeke takes me to the Arkwright family compound.
　As we walked I asked Zeke.

'I know you had the day off today, but how's Cecily doing?'

　'Yeah,' said Zeke, nodding one weakly.

"I've been holed up in my room since yesterday you haven't even had a meal. I've heard from Hirgis that he has only had a glass of water since the incident yesterday until now.
Well....
I'm sorry I didn't tell you what to do.
Don't worry about it. Zeke must have had a rough time of it.

　Then Zeke explained to me, 'Myself and Hyrgis decided to voluntarily take a break because we were worried about Cecily-sama.
　Cecily-san you were still in shock.

''But even though you are ill, the only reason Cecily-sama is still safe and sound in the mansion is because of you, Kurohiko. I'm grateful.
'I don't know ... I don't know if I could have done the best thing either. If only I had stopped Cecily-san earlier, maybe this wouldn't have happened. I do feel responsible for that.
Hyrgis told me about yesterday. If it weren't for you and Currier, Lady Cecily would have been kidnapped by that man called Hibigami or something and taken to the apocalypse.

　Zeke pulled his mouth into a tight line.
　His expression showed a sense of remorse.

I'm not sure if it's because of my lack of strength that I put Lady Cecily in danger... I shudder to think that you guys weren't there. Most of all, I'm angry at my own cowardice.
'I didn't beat Hibigami either. "I didn't beat Hibigami either. I let him get away with it on a whim. I just happened to be lucky.
''Even so, the reason Cecily-sama didn't suffer the worst as a result is because of your and Currier's hard work. I'll be able to thank you for this someday.
''Then how about we make up for the fact that you saved me from the Holy Ruins before?

　Zeke rolls his eyes in surprise.

'Is that what you're going to do?'
I don't like lending out my friends, you know?

　Zeke's mouth breaks out in a smile.

'Huh, okay. Then we're even now, right?
Oh.

　While we were arguing about such things, we arrived at the Arkwright family's mansion.

　　　　　　　　　　*

Well, well, well, you are the same Sagara Kurohiko who saved Lady Cecily, aren't you?

　As soon as I entered the mansion, I was greeted by a maid.

　The exterior of the Arkwright family's house had a very 'old European mansion' feel to it.
　From the looks of it, it looks like a somewhat long, two-story mansion.
　Although there is no extravagant attire, it has a calm impression of refinement.
　Also, compared to the surrounding houses, the site seems to be one size larger.
　The garden was well-kept, and on the way, I came across Mr. Banton watering the flowers.
　After a quick hello to Mr. Banton, I followed Zeke into the house, where I saw a woman in an apron dress.
　So I was greeted there by a woman in an apron dress.

I'm sorry, sir. I am a servant in this house, my name is Hana.

　Hana introduces herself.
　I guess he's about the same age as Mr. Bunton.
　He has a mild-looking face.
　She is well-groomed, with a touch of gray in her hair.
　She has an air of security about her.

'I'm Sagara Kurohiko. I'm indebted to Cecily-san.''
Now, by all means, see the young lady. I'm sure Master Kurohiko would be happy to see Cecily.

　You seem to be expecting too much...........what do you think?
　I said, 'What do I do?' I asked Zeke with a look.
　Zeke, who seemed to have immediately sensed my question, leaned back loosely against the railing of the mansion's stairs and opened his mouth.

'I'll be waiting downstairs.
You're not coming with us?
'It's not just me and Hyrgis, but Cecily-sama now refuses to even see Hana... maybe she doesn't want to see someone who has spent so much time with her. I just wish he would at least take a meal.

　So it was decided that I would take the food with me.
　After receiving the explanation of the place, I took the silver tray with a plate of bread and soup on it and headed to Cecily-san's room at the back of the second floor of the mansion.
　............
　Somehow the current situation, there's a sense of nosiness similar to trying to get a reclusive person out of the room somehow........
　I guess the reason I think 'nosy' here is because I was the one who was originally the one being nosy (I don't even remember being nosy that much).
　Well, is it rude to think of Cecily-san's case as the same as mine?

'Ah, here it is.

　I stand in front of the double-opening door.
　So this is Cecily's room........
　I don't hear a noise.
　Is she asleep?
　...........
　Well, let's just call out to them for now, and if they don't respond, we'll go back downstairs for once.
　It's just yesterday, today.
　I might not be able to sort out my feelings yet.

　Do you want me to leave it alone?
　Do you rather want me to talk to you, even if it's a little forced?

　If it's the latter, but if it's the former, there's nothing I can do right now.

'Cecily-san, it's Kurohiko.

　I called out to him, but there was no answer.

'I just came to check on you for a moment but if you don't want to talk to anyone else, I'll just leave the bread and soup here and leave for today. If it looks like you can eat it, please eat it.

　No response.
　I guess this is a pattern I want to leave alone....
　Well, it can't be helped.
　Let's go home for the day.

''Then I'll leave the bread and soup on the table here.

　There was a wagon just off to the side of the room.
　It probably couldn't be touched, but it had probably had food on it before.
　I put the tray on the wagon.
　Then I looked at Cecily's room again, then turned on my heel and began to walk down the carpeted hallway.
　And there--

　I heard the door open.

　I turned around and saw that the door to Cecily's room was half open.
　Did the wind or something open it on its own?
　No, that's not going to happen at this time.........
　
　I walk back to the front of Cecily's room.

"Miss Cecily?

　I call out to him, but he doesn't answer.
　I look at the food on the wagon.
　I agree.
　At least this one.

'Food, you want me to take it into your room?

　I held the tray and gently slid my body into the room, pushing the door with my shoulder.
　.............
　The size of the room is about 15 tatami mats.
　There are many white furnishings.
　At the back of the room is a bed with a canopy.
　Next to it is a sofa and a night table?　is placed in the house.
　It wasn't glittering, but like the mansion, it was elegant and serene.
　The room was clean and uncluttered.
　However, I feel that the way it was done rather made the silent room seem more chilly.
　So, from the bulge in the bedclothes, I guess that's where Cecily-san is.
　I turn toward the door.

　
　Hmm.
　I interpreted that as a signal to come in earlier, but what did it really mean?
　Did he open it to get the food, or was he trying to get a look at me again?
　Or was it a signal that I could enter the room as interpreted?
　......................
　Well, I can't help but think about it.

''I'll leave it here.

　I set the tray down on the nightstand.
　I can see the back of Cecily's head peeking out of the comforter.
　Her hair, always tied in a single bow, is untied and sprawled out on the bed.
　Miss Cecily remains silent.
　I sat down on the couch, out of hand.

'Um, if you want me to leave, please tap the headboard - the board on the pillow twice.

　It's possible that he doesn't want to talk.
　Let's try to wait in silence first.

　There will be silence.
　Occasionally, I hear the sounds of life coming from outside the room.

　I continue to sit in silence.
　More time passes.
　Once Mr. Hirgis comes to check on me, but Zeke and Hana take me back without saying a word.

　It begins to darken outside the window.
　The interior of the room increases in darkness to match it.
　The crystal lights in the room are not lit, but my eyes have quickly adjusted to the darkness and I can catch Cecily's form well enough.
　And then.

What's going on here?

　The silence that seemed to last forever was broken by a faintly audible murmur from Cecily.

'I'm worried about Miss Cecily,'

　Silence again.
　Then, after about five minutes, Cecily blurted out again.

'I could imagine everything that Hibigami had said to me.
"...what did you imagine?
My future.
..........

"You may continue to hone your boring, unorthodox sword and see the limits of what it can do.
"You may indulge in licentiousness, and one day you will make an irreparable mistake and be destroyed.
"You can pursue your beauty and become the lapdog of the powerful...

　Maybe it's those words.

'They made me think it could be any of those things. Then I suddenly got scared.
'No, I don't. I don't have to worry about what that guy says.
..........

　After falling silent again for a bit, Cecily-san began to speak.

'Hmm ... but it's embarrassing, isn't it?　You've been hyping that you've finally found an opponent who can give you all you've got, but when you open your eyes, you're too weak to be taken seriously... Has the enemy finally appeared?　I'm stunned to hear it myself.
'No, it's not. Besides, Currier said. He said that Hibigami is on a different level of strength among the sixth house. So it's normal that he can't beat that guy. No one can beat that guy.
But you fought the good fight and even had them tell you that you were their future nemesis?
It's...

　Hibigami is a bad guy, but I don't think he's a guy who speaks poorly of flattery.
　So I guess he meant that one.
　But.

'It must be because of the forbidden spell. He said something about collecting forbidden spell documents, so I'm sure he wants to fight me with all the forbidden spells now that he can use them all. Besides, I'm an excellent sword master.
You think it was because of the currier that you were able to f*ck the hibigami?

　Only the words now were a little stronger in tone.

'Yeah, yeah.'

　Miss Cecily fell silent again.
　And after a few more minutes.

Kurohiko is a good man, isn't he?

　I said.

'Haha ... come to think of it, Ira-san told me today that I'm a 'good guy' again.
...and so on.
?
You try to get everyone to like you like you like that.
What?

　The sound in her voice was somewhat accusing.

'Cecily, Ms.?'
'I suppose you're willing to be nice to anyone who will be nice to you.
Hey, wait a minute!　I'm not going to...

　Miss Cecily raised herself up and turned to me.
　I gasped.
　Her clothes are the same as the ones she wore yesterday.
　I'm sure she must have crawled straight under the covers after arriving at the mansion.
　There were shades under his eyes.
　Yet her beauty is not diminished in the slightest.
　In fact, it even appears as if she has what should be called a decadent beauty on her side.
　It's just - that's not what took my breath away.
　Yes, the expression.

　With that expression she sometimes makes.
　Cecily-san looking at me somewhat cynically.

''To be honest--''

　She continued to pinch the edges of the quilt with her fingertips.
　With a mysterious, cold, horrifying smile.

'It's aggravating, looking at you.