Once again, I explained the incident to Axe and Cell from the ground up.

　That I am innocent.
　That I was rescued by Sarya-sama.
　That the magic tool that recorded the scene of the murder was suspicious.

　After explaining these things, I told them that I wanted to somehow obtain the magical tools that Arios owned.

　After hearing the story, Axe and Cell get a difficult look on their faces.


'I hear you're brushing off the Knights' request that they need it for research, saying it's valuable.

　No matter how valuable they are, they should be returned intact once the case is solved.
　The Knights wouldn't make the mistake of destroying a valuable piece of evidence either.......
　If Arios wants to frame me as a criminal, he will gladly lend me his magic tools.

　And yet, Arios does not want to let go of the magical tools.
　I'm not going to let them go.
　It looks as if he has something to be ashamed of if the tools are examined.

''Axe and Seru would be able to find out the date the Knights will get their hands on the grimoire, wouldn't they?
'Nothing we can't do, but it's going to take some time, okay?　If it's the day after tomorrow, I don't know if I can make it...
No, you don't have to worry about that.
What do you mean?
'I have a detailed date and time when the brave men will lend the knights their magical equipment.
"What?

　Me and Axe were both surprised.

　Don't tell me that they were working beforehand in anticipation of my coming...?
　I can't help but think about that, but...
　Cell chuckles, as if that's not going to happen.

'Let me tell you, it's just a coincidence, okay?　After that, I was working with the Order to investigate the incident. So did Axe. Are you sure it was Rain?　We've been working separately to figure that out, and we've been investigating each of them separately.
'Hey, I'm telling you, I'm not doing this for Rain!　There was something about that incident that I didn't agree with... so I was trying to convince myself of that!
Thank you.
Don't thank me, old man. It'll drive you crazy.
'Axe. It's just weird when a guy does a twaddle.
'Cell's only a tung........'

　I can't help but laugh at the interaction between the two of them for the first time in a long time.

''Well we're off topic. Well, that's why..........we have a lot of work to do with the Order right now.
'With Rain escaping, it's all very hectic and I'm being sent out to find the princess.
''I'll just go ahead and investigate the incident. It seems that there are people within the Order who have doubts about the incident, and a detailed investigation is underway. But a brave man is standing in the way. I'm sure that brave man wants to convict Rayne at all costs. He's been using his brave powers to push for justice to be brought to justice quickly. Silly man. That would make me suspicious.
Haha.....

　As usual, or rather, the cell is a hard thing to say.
　That made me feel nostalgic and indescribable.

''With Rain's escape, the brave man must have become impatient. It seems he wanted to proceed with the investigation, and I allowed him to lend his magic tools, which he had been reluctant to give up for so many times.''
When was that...?
Day after tomorrow. The place of delivery is the headquarters of the Order. You don't really want others to tamper with your magical equipment, do you? It seems that an inspection will be carried out in the presence of a brave man.

　The day after tomorrow....
　It's quite a delicate time.
　I'd like to have more time to prepare, but there's no point in asking for something that isn't there.

Thanks for the help. I think I can handle it, thanks to you.
'Are you sure that's all the information you have?　...I can help you out a bit, okay?
Thank you. But that's enough. Besides, it would put both of us in jeopardy if they found out you were helping me.
f*ck you it's not time to worry about us.

　Axe looks angry, but says nothing more.

'Just give me a shout if you need me. I'll be happy to help.'
We'll count on you then.

　Smiles of gratitude to Axe and Cell....
　I walked out.



----------



　Axe and Cell, who were left in the room, each make a subtle face.

''That guy, he's supposed to be pretty backed into a corner, but he doesn't need any more of our cooperation... is he going to be okay?
'It's not going to be okay. In a situation like this, you'd need one person to help you out.
Then....
You don't want us to get involved, do you?
....
''Now that things are still uncovered and it won't cause us any problems... so I'll just keep it a light step.
But, you know, it's not...
'I know. I know you're not convinced, and neither am I. So let's just do what we want. Rain has no right to stop us from doing what we want, right?
All right, that's my cell!　I knew you'd say that, man!
Who's yours?
Gulp.

　As promised, it was Axe who was beaten by Cell.



----------



　In a time that was never enough, we made preparations for the seizure of the magical tools.
　From time to time, he consulted with Lady Sarya and asked for her wisdom.

　Lady Sarya is in the position of a princess.
　As a person standing above her, she was well versed in the information of the Order.
　She had plans drawn up from scratch, and had a floor plan of the Knights' headquarters drawn up.
　Hidden passageways and pathways that are no longer in use were also described.
　He had made this up from scratch, so he had a ridiculous memory.

　Other than that, I made all the other preparations I could think of...
　And then the day arrived.



----------




Yes, I understand.

　I give a firm nod to Sarya-sama as she comes to see me off.
　Then, for some reason, she smiles at me.

''Totally........you're easy to understand, Rain-san. That was a lie, wasn't it?''
It's...
'For the sake of Kanade-san and the rest of your friends, a little recklessness is inevitable... that's the look on your face.
...Is it that obvious to you, me?
Yes, very much.

　Oh dear.
　I didn't want to cause you unnecessary worry but it seems that Sarya-sama had seen it all coming.

"I'll make sure you come back safely.
Is that an order for a princess?
No. Please.
Well okay. I'll do my best to keep it up as best I can.
'Yes, I'm counting on it. Mr. Rayne is an integral part of this country ... no. We consider her to be an indispensable person in this world. Please don't let me see such a person disappear in a place like this...don't let me see such a tragic end?

　I don't mean to be dramatic, but....
　But I could tell that Sarya-sama was worried about me.
　I nodded and showed her a firm nod and ran out into the city.

　Just like the day before yesterday, I made a tentative agreement with the wild birds and wild dogs to explore the surroundings.
　Unlike before, it's noon now, so I can't let my guard down for a moment.
　There are so many people, it's hard to just find the way to the Knights' headquarters.

　Even so, I managed to reach the back of the Knights' headquarters without being found by anyone.
　After petting the head of a wild bird and a wild dog respectively and canceling the temporary contract, I enter through the back door.

　This place is a storage room.
　All the unused items are crammed in here, and that's why it's not even locked.
　There's no way to get inside but if there isn't a way we can make one.

Show me the way.

　He made a tentative agreement with the rat and asked it to examine the room.
　The rat, with its keen senses, moved to the edge of the room and disappeared into a small hole at the back.
　The walls in here must be thin from years of age.

　Carefully peeling back the walls so as not to make a sound...
　A path appeared that led to the Knights' headquarters.

'Just stick with me a little longer,'

　Asking a mouse for guidance, we proceeded down a narrow passage.
　The passageway seemed to have been disused due to repeated renovations, so it was full of dust.
　I wrap a handkerchief around my mouth, as if I'm going to cough.
　Dust gets in my eyes and tears well up in my eyes, but thanks to that, there was no one to be seen.

　The rat led me to the back of the room and...
　Soon, I heard people's voices.

''You see, that's it, isn't it?　As you guys say, I'll lend you the magic tools. But since they are very important, I want you to be very careful in handling them.

　What I heard was Arios' voice.