When he heard my answer, Mattelus laughed.
　It wasn't a mockery of me, but rather an admiration.
　In fact, the next words Mattelus utters prove it.

'That's as good as it gets, Lacelle Girell Starkus.

　It was right after that--.

　[Bakugoujin]

　Red light flashes.
　Instantly, an explosive hot wind hit me.

　Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The roar and blast blew away not only the room, but the mansion itself.
　Rubble and debris rained down.
　I'm unharmed. All of the falling debris was also popped by magic.

　I look around.
　There's no sign of Mattelus.
　The moment he fired his magic, he apparently ran away.
　No, it should be said that he escaped, rather than escaped.

　The magic now is not Mattelus.
　There were no traces of magic concocted.
　It was probably an outsider.

''Brother!　Brother!''

　I can hear Sheila's voice from my pocket.
　I took out the magical jewel that was filled with the magic of 【Transferable Voice】.

''Don't worry. I'm unharmed.

"Good.

　I could feel Sheila patting her chest down, even through the demonic gemstone.

'More importantly, he could have escaped. He could have gone that way.'

　I've placed Sheila and members of the homeowners' association around the mansion in advance.
　It was a precautionary measure in case Mattels escaped.
　But--.

''He's not here, brother.
"Not at my place, Lacelle.
And...
Sorry. I couldn't trace it either.

　Reports from Sheila, Cecil, Rowan and Sarasa come up one after another.

　Probably the enemy is [Searcher (Seeker)].
　Seeing that 【Vanishing Body】 and 【Question Blocking】 and Sheila hadn't noticed, it seems that they are also using 【Mute】.
　Multiple activations.........
　Apparently, another one was caught in the net as well.

　I activated 【Searcher】's magic.

　[Reverse Detection]

　Explore the reaction of magic power.
　In the city, I react to people's magic power.
　But unlike other 【Searchers】, I can understand the strength of magic power.
　If the other party was a demon, then naturally that amount of magic power was high.
　In fact, I had caught two reactions fleeing at high speed to the east.

''East. They are probably planning to leave the royal capital.

"Leaving King's Landing would be a bad idea, wouldn't it, brother?

　We're just students.
　Even this investigation is beyond the status of students.
　But it's a different story when we have to leave the capital.
　In order to get out, you need a departure permit.

　Sheila is probably worried about that.

"Don't worry about it, Sheila. "Don't worry, Sheila, it's under control. Don't worry about it, Sheila. We'll know they're coming.

Huh?

King Amst has already given his permission. You may frolic out there as much as you like.

"Hmm. We work under the direct orders of King Amst, don't we?

''Why is Cecil talking like he's so good at it? It's Lacelle who got that order and authority in the first place.

''Fufu........ That's very Cecil-chan.''

"What's up, Salasa? His Majesty values our strength and gives us permission to investigate.

Okay, you three, that's enough chatter. We'll catch up soon.

"Okay. Let's go.
Copy that.
"Lasell, I'm coming on ahead.

　The four of them ran off to the east.

　Hmm.........
　Sheila is the most solid, after all.
　Dependable.
　In a manner of speaking, she's a year younger than me, but the deputy leader of the party has come on board.

　Maybe it's time to leave the party to Sheila.

　That makes me happy.
　He kicked the ground with a tan and followed his friends.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


47, why are you here to help me?

　The two men were walking along the roof towards the east of the royal city.
　The city walls were still far away.
　But if you go over there, you can get out of the capital.
　No matter how much, they won't follow him to the outside of the royal capital.
　83 thought so.

　In the midst of all this, Mattelus, 83, shouted at 47 beside him, "You're right to save your friends.

''It's only natural that you should save your friends.

　47 replied plainly.
　83 puts his head in his hands.

'Thanks for the friendship-flavored answer. I'm so happy I'm about to cry. Is this what you want to hear?

What are you so angry about?

You're a really dumbass for being so strong.

What?

You were fished out of the water by a monster named Racel Gryll Stark.

What do you mean?

How could a guy who's all over me and plotting his own acts doesn't suspect you?

Huh?

　47's eyebrows twitched.
　He finally realized the situation.
　Right. So far, this is Lacelle's play.
　To expose the disturbing elements.

　47's lips tremble.
　He bit down on a squeak and forced his fears to be locked away.

'But if we get away with it...'

You don't get it. It's not like we're going to escape. They're probably thinking they're going to swim away and find a stronghold for the Numbered Kids.

83....

What's up, 47?

You're a surprisingly smart guy, aren't you?

You're too stupid to know better!

　Just the two of them come in front of the castle gate.
　With their amazing physical abilities, they lightly jumped over the castle gate.
　They landed as it was.

''Well, okay. If you know the belly of the enemy, it's easy. We'll just have to split up and make our move.''

Yeah. Fortunately, there aren't many chasers. That's probably for the best.

　83 turns around to the north.

'Wait!　83.........

Hey. I gotta go.

Don't panic.

　47 then placed his hand on his own chest.
　He activated the magic.

　[Double body]

　The shadow of 47 stretches wide.
　Then it took the form of 47.
　Although the surface remains a shadow, you can feel the presence and magic power.
　It's a so-called decoy magic.

　47 releases it towards the east.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

I'm not sure if that's useful for that monster (Lacelle).

It's better than nothing.

So, let's split up. Live on, 47.

You too, 83.

　We look back at each other.
　47 started running northward as it was.
　83 looks at his back.

"The year I spent with you... It wasn't so bad.

　83 also turned away and began to run south.


　◆◇◆◆◆


Did you get three more reactions?

　I wrinkled my brow and muttered.

　Magic.
　Or did he join his friends?
　From the reaction of the magic, it's probably the latter.

　But as expected of me, I don't know which one it is either.

''Brother, what do we do now?''

　Sheila asks me.
　I've already met up with my friends and have just jumped over the city walls.

It's not a very good idea, but...

It's all right, Racel. You know how strong we are.

Tell me what to do, Racel. We'll be fine.

"Lacelle.

My brother.

　Cecil, Rowan, Sarasa, and Sheila would appeal to me with words and eyes.

　I made up my mind.
　Not to the strength of my friends.
　I decided to put it on the will that my companions had been dying to get stronger for the past year.

"Okay,

　I nodded.
　I felt the place loosen up a bit.

'Sheila, keep going east. Cecil, Rowan and Sarasa, head south. This is a demon. Don't pursue them too far. If you think it's no good, retreat.


" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "


　Me and my friends scattered in each direction.
　While probing the situation of my companions every single time with [Detection], I headed north.
　Eventually, I entered the forest.

　Through the dense growth of trees, I didn't slow down and followed the magical reaction of the matter.
　Gradually, the distance between us closed in.
　Then, the opponent's movement stopped.
　The other side probably released a [Detection] and noticed it too.

　That they would catch up with me if I continued like this.
　And counting backwards from the speed, the opponent is me........

　I step out into the open.
　The ground was slightly muddy.
　It's a shallow swamp, but not so shallow that my feet are lost.

　I finally face it.
　It wasn't Mattelus.

　A berry-short blonde with downcast purple eyes.
　She is thin and supple, yet never out of her feminine charm.
　She emphasized her rather large, protruding breasts.

''After all, you're (sic) too (sic). .........Mucha.

'You're still Mr. Lacelle, after all. Are you sure, what about the other members?

Are you worried?

　Then Mucha twitched her eyebrows with a twitch.

'Yes, because he's the senior who's been with us for a year.

I didn't say that.

Don't worry, Mucha. If I do say so myself, those guys are stronger than ever.


　It's enough to kick the shit out of you demons.