The knights led by Stella asked for the lord's mansion at dawn.

　Considering that it was going to be a battle, nighttime was more convenient.
　However, even if they knew that the lords would not respond to the audit honestly, they couldn't just step in without question.
　They would have to follow the formal procedures.
　Hence, a nighttime ambush would not be established.

''What the hell, you guys?''

　The gatekeepers of the Lord's Hall noticed Stella and the others and made a gesture to block the gate with their spears.

''I am Stella Emplace, a member of the Horizon Knights Chapter. This is my subordinate and my collaborator.
The Order...?
'I will now conduct an audit of the House of Lords!　Just get out of the way.
Audit?　That's ridiculous, that kind of thing....
If you resist, I won't tolerate it. Now, get out of the way!
Oh, you're serious...?　You guys are acting like you're challenging my lord....
'Our lord is not a lord, but a king. We have determined that an act of disobedience to that king is taking place. Either accept the audit with open arms or turn us, the Knights, against it.......decide!

　Resolutely, Stella forces the gatekeeper to step back.
　As if pressed by the pressure, the gate soldier takes a step backwards.

''That, that sort of thing........''
Now what do we do?

　As if to make a no-no, Stella thrust her sword at the stray gate soldier.
　The gatekeeper took another step backwards.

　Would this be a done deal?
　Stella has such high hopes, but....

Huh.

　New, multiple footsteps were heard.
　I looked and saw armed men pouring out of the pavilion.
　There were so many of them that it was hard to count them.

''I knew it would come to this...''
Well, isn't that what you'd expect?
We're here for you.
I'm sorry, can I count on you?
I'm on it!

　Kanade and Tania held their swords at the ready.
　Following the two of them, Stella also held up her sword.......and the other knights drew their swords.



----------



　He went around to the back of the museum and broke inside.
　At the same time, the front of the building became noisy.
　Apparently, Stella and the others had started the raid.
　Kanade and Tania are here, so I don't think it's going to be an infrequent occurrence, but...
　Still, I worry about the things I worry about.
　Let's finish up our side of the business as soon as possible and join us.

Sola, Luna. Sola, Luna, can you help us find out where the hostages are?
I'm on it.
Hmmm, that's a piece of cake for me!
'Luna, please don't speak too loudly. Even though there's a concentration of people out front right now, that doesn't mean there aren't guards out there.
Mm, I don't like the idea of sneaking around.
Who told you before you went in that you'd be in charge...

　There is no tension somehow.
　But I'm able to think calmly.

I'll show you what I can do. I'll show you what I can do. Now, scrape off your feet!
So don't speak so loudly.
"Yikes!

　'Pashin,' said Sora, slapping Luna on the head.

'My sister is a violent ... horrible.
Come on, just do it.
I know. Hmmm ... well, I guess this is the best magic. Material Search!

　Luna chanted a magic, and a wave of light spread out around her.

''Was it ... a magic that detects the flow of magic, was it?''
Hm?　Do you know?
Tania has used it before.
I see. Well, it's a rather easy magic to handle. Not only our spirit race, but the dragon race will have no problem handling it.
How did you use that magic to locate the hostages?
'Everyone has magical powers, big or small. And perhaps, but those who are taken will be gathered in one place. It would be inefficient to keep them locked up in pieces. Then, by examining their magical reactions........
You mean you know where the people who were taken are.
Mmmm they're going to take my line.

　Luna sulks like a child.
　Maybe I shouldn't have interjected because I was explaining to her so vividly.

'I'm sorry. I'll be more careful this time.'
You sure about that?　You can't do anything to take my turn, you know.
So ... what was the result?
Um....

　Luna made a difficult face.
　Could it be that there was no response...?
　So the people who were taken are no longer in the mansion and have been transported elsewhere or are no longer...
　For a moment, I expect the worst to happen.

'There were numerous magical reactions in the basement. Probably someone who says they were taken away.
Jesus, you could have found it.
'Don't be so wasteful. You've had a strange thought.

　Apparently, Sora had the same thought as me.
　She seemed relieved and let out a breath.......and then protested to Luna.
　However, Luna looked somewhat unconvinced.

''Mmmm.''
What's going on?　What's on your mind?
No actually, there was another magical reaction.
'My lord ... doesn't it belong to your son?
No, the amount of magic is too great for that, or perhaps it's just that this isn't the amount of magic a human has. It's a tremendous amount, comparable to ours.
That means...

　Could it be that ... the most powerful species is here?

Where is it?
Considering the distance and direction, I'd say you're on the third floor of the building, to the east.
Lane, what do you want to do?
Yeah, I know.

　Think about it.

　The strongest species, or a magician of comparable strength, is in this hall.
　Are they hostile to us?
　Or are they victims of the Lords, just like the people who were taken away?
　We have no information at all, so there is no way to make a decision.

　Let's think about it from another direction.
　I don't know if they're friend or foe, but there's no doubt that there are people with powerful magical powers.
　Leaving it as it is would be a bad move.
　If it's an ally, I don't mind.
　However, if they are our enemies, we might be able to create a tremendous amount of damage.
　We'll need to be sure of that.

Okay. Can Sora and Luna ask you to rescue the people that were taken?
'Yes, that's not a problem. Sola and the others can also use transference magic, so we can get the people who were taken away to safety.
But what about Lane?
'I'm going to go check for another magical reaction. We can't just leave it alone.
'Oh no it's not safe!　It's as if you don't know what they are like, you know?　The amount of magical power that rivals Sora and the others..............................If it's an opponent, Rain is in danger.
'I disagree with you. No messenger is going to drive his master to a dangerous place and then sit back and relax in the safety of his own home. Leave it to us.
Thank you, man. For looking out for me.
Oh.
Whew.

　I stroked their heads.
　At the same time, their cheeks stained and meek.

'But I can't let someone who's been taken away get away safely. I'm relying on the magic of the two of you.
But.....
I promise I won't do anything rash. I'm just going to check out what's going on.
"...really?　Can you promise you won't really do anything rash?
I promise.
"...and...

　Sola and Luna stared at me and....
　It was somewhat, and I let out a resigned breath.


Goodness gracious. Our master is a stubborn man, and that's a problem. It's a matter of division of labor, but when it comes to keeping us out of harm's way, we can't complain.
But I guess that's typical of Lane...
"I think that's why we can trust you, Rain.
Again, I say. Don't ever do anything rash.
You break your word, you get 100 pats on the head!　Watch out!　Got it?!
'I know, I'm not going to betray you both.

　He chuckled softly to reassure them both....
　I went in the other direction and climbed the stairs.



----------



　We arrived at the third floor.
　We moved to the east, where there was a powerful magical reaction.

''This area ... is it being used as a warehouse?

　Checking the rooms one by one.
　There are many rooms where things are placed in disorder.
　This may be where the evidence of the lord's injustice that Stella and the others are seeking may be located.
　I memorized the location exactly to teach them later.

'The last one....'

　I'm going to look around the room and...
　I arrived at the room at the far end of the building, on the third floor.

　It had probably been a normal room, just like the others.
　However, there were signs of renovation.
　The door was framed with an iron grate to make it possible to see what was going on inside.
　The entrance is locked with a sturdy lock, and people are not allowed to enter or leave.
　It feels more like a prison than a room.

　Approaching it so as not to make any footsteps...
　Gently, I peek inside through the bars.

..........

　A girl lay slumped on the flimsy bedding, looking limp.

　Pin pointed ears, like a fox.
　Three fluffy tails.

　No doubt about it.
　The being known as the God of Beasts........
　One of the most powerful species, the gods.