'Because you guys are so insistent, I've decided to lend you some of my precious magic tools, but in other words, I trust you guys. Please don't do anything to betray my trust.
Ha, I'll keep that in mind!

　I can hear voices, but I can't see Arios, which is the key.

　Where I am is a small hidden passage behind a wall...
　The walls are so thin that I can only hear the slightest of voices.
　There are no holes in the wall, so I have no idea what's going on behind the wall.

''At times like this...''

　Close your eyes and concentrate.
　It's been a while since I've used that thing, but I don't know if it will work...

　With a click, I felt something snap into my head.
　When I opened my eyes, I saw that I had successfully assimilated the rat.

'Good.'

　The rat's body moved through a small hole where no one would notice it, and over the wall.

　On the other side of the wall was a conference room.
　A somewhat large room with long desks arranged at regular intervals across the sides.

　In one corner was the figure of Arios.
　He is handing the example magic tool to the two knights.

''Now then, I would like to begin our investigation.
Yeah, do what you want. I'm going to stay and watch.

　The knight began to examine the magical tools.
　Arios watched the work from a little distance.

　Oh no........
　Does that Arios guy plan to keep a close eye on us to see if we can finish the job safely?

　If possible, we don't want Arios to know what we're after.
　I want to get the magic tool from Arios without him noticing, but.......

　No, that's a difficult story too.
　Once the magic tool is gone, Arios will consider many possibilities.
　He'll also think about the possibility that I did it.

　To avoid that....

Okay, let's do it.

　After building a plan in my head, I have the rats pull up.
　Then, we'll unassimilate it.

...matter creation.

　I used the power I gained from my contract with Nina to create a copy of the magic tool.
　I spent more time than usual on the image, so it's quite good.
　It's not equipped with the functions of a magic tool, but if it just looks good, it should be fine.

'You guys, go gather your friends.
Choo-choo!

　I skip the instructions to the rat who is guiding us and ask him to gather his friends from all over the place.
　The Knights' headquarters is a large, old building.
　Naturally, there are a lot of rats living there, so....

Uh ... sorry. I don't need that much.
Chu.....

　The rats, which had gathered nearly 100 friends, squealed in disappointment.

　In the meantime, I asked five of them to help me select the ones with the best physical abilities.
　The reward is the cheese I bought before I came here.

　First of all, I'll ask the three animals to help me carry the copy of the magic tool.
　Ask them to move to a position where they can jump out at any time and stay there.

　Next, have one of them wait by the mage tool that emits light.
　Have the other three animals wait there as well.

　The last one will be assimilated again to become my eyes.

　The timing of this is critical.
　It's critical.
　You don't want to miss it.
　I will stare at Arios and the two knights, that is, without blinking, and stare intently.

　And then.....

　The time will come.

"...tch.

　He must have gotten bored with the knight who was silently investigating the magic tool.
　Arios clicked his tongue lightly and turned his gaze slightly away from the magic tools.

　''Now!

Choo-choo!

　As I skipped the instructions, one rat kicked off a lighted magic tool.

''What, what was that?''
It's ... the lights!

　Suddenly, the position of the light source changed, and the upsetting voices of Arios and the knights could be heard.
　The light emitting magic tool that had fallen to the floor was still on.
　Although it was emitting light, it didn't illuminate the entire room because it had fallen to the floor.

　A pathway named darkness is created in part of the room.
　Three rats, carrying imitations of magic tools, ran through it.
　Dashing and leaping repeatedly.

　He jumps on the desk and replaces the real one with the counterfeit one.
　

Hey, what's going on?
I'm sorry. I think the lights went out and...
'Funny ... was there a screw loose?'
The grimoire is ... well, it's nothing.

　I heard that voice from behind the wall.

　The operation is going just as I envisioned it.
　Neither Arios nor the knight has noticed me.
　And the magic tool is in my hand.

''Good.''

　I have no use for this place anymore.

　Copycats of that quality could fool you for a while but....
　Still, it can't be forever.
　I have to check the magic tools before Arios realizes that they've been swapped out.

'Thanks, that's a big help.
Choo-choo.

　I patted the mouse's head and put it, and the cheese of thanks, down.
　Then I broke the temporary contract.

　I leave the rats and the others and head back the way I came from.
　We left the Knights' headquarters and went to a back alley.

'Alright, well...'

　I was about to say I was gone, when I heard footsteps.
　Crunching, hard footsteps ... probably wearing armor.

　Is it a knight?
　What's the use of these back roads that are supposed to be unused?

　Did they find out about me?
　And then there's not much of a fuss about it, or....
　If Arios finds out that I switched out the magic tool, he's going to scream like a raging fire.

　Anyway, this is not the time to get lost.
　I'm hiding in the shadows.
　I'd really like to run away, but I make a reasonable footstep.
　I don't know if they've noticed me yet, so I don't like taking a gamble.

''.........''

　Kill the signs under your breath.
　Minimal breathing.
　Even the heart beats less.

　One of the Beast Tamer's techniques is to completely kill your own presence of mind in order to find a wild beast.
　I had mastered it properly.
　With this technique, as long as they didn't notice me, I could get by........

　A pitter-patter of footsteps stopped nearby.

'Hmph, are you playing hide and seek?'

　The voice was clearly aimed at me.

　Surprised........
　On the other hand, I tilt my head in the air, which is odd.
　You should recognize me, but you don't want to call someone.

　Isn't he related to the Order?
　Or do you not recognize me as a prowler in the first place?

　If you don't go into a tiger's hole, you don't get a tiger.

　I stepped out of the shadows to find out who my opponent was and what his intentions were.

"You are.....
Hello, Miss Lane.

　It was the woman who was with Arios - a knight named Monica - who made a graceful bow.