Lira’s gotten her handkerchief out first. Standing on tiptoe, she presses it to his forehead, smiling at him as if she’s proud of herself. This time, Walt really is left speechless. Somebody overhead finally shouts down an apology, but Walt finds himself unable to respond. Although his partner should be busy with his other job, scandalously, the man is lying face-down on a couch in the corner of their master’s office. Kyle, who came to the office to retrieve something Claude has forgotten, frowns at him. Is he slacking off? He walks deliberately over to the couch, making sure his footsteps are audible, then frowns for a different reason. “…What’s the matter?” Walt has flung his arms and legs out across the couch, and they lie there limp, as if he has no energy left in his body. “Kill me, please…” What’s more, his response makes no sense. At the very least, it’s clear that he isn’t just slacking, so Kyle folds his arms and rephrases his question. “What is it? What’s the matter? Did you mess up somehow?” “…Listen. You said you met a fairy, right?” Kyle blinks. Then he nods, flushing slightly. “Yes. It was in a garden on a moonlit night. Come to think of it, she may have been a fairy of sweets…” “Nobody cares. What I want to know is exactly when you thought that. At what point.” “Right from the start.” “I’m asking you what made you fall for her!” “Wha—? M-my feelings are nothing that impure!” The way Walt puts it is so commonplace that it leaves Kyle at a loss for words. However, as if in response to the heat in Kyle’s cheeks, Walt’s gaze gets colder and colder. “After you spouted all that moony nonsense? Don’t mess with me.” “Who’s messing with who?! I don’t see her that way; I just want her to have all the happiness in the world.” “Argh, you should get over those sorts of dreams and fantasies when you’re in your teens, idiot! Come on, there must have been something. The moment you mistook her for a fairy.” “I didn’t mistake her for—” “Shut up! I’m seriously irritated right—now!” Even though Walt was limp and listless just a moment ago, he gets behind Kyle in a weirdly agile motion, loops an arm around his neck, and starts to choke him. “Hey! Wha—? Are you serious…?!” “Forget that, just answer my question! What was it that clinched it for you?!” “What clinched it…for me? There was, nothing, like…” Right from the start, she was… Kyle thinks about it, but in between his increasingly rapid breaths, he suddenly remembers. “—I, got, hurt.” Walt’s arm eases up. Kyle keeps going, remembering as he speaks. “I cut my hand on some glass. It was just a scratch, so it healed up in no time, but… She saw it happen. And she wasn’t repulsed. Even so, she said it would be better to treat it…and she wrapped that handkerchief around it…” A soft warmth spreads throughout his chest, and Walt sinks back, collapsing onto the couch. “I see… Yeah, I get it… Ha-ha-ha. That makes sense… We’re weak to that sort of thing. Of course we are. Nobody ever treated us like people, after all. It’s so simple, I wish I was dead…!” They may not always get along or understand each other, but Kyle is understandably becoming concerned about Walt’s bizarre attitude. “What’s the matter with you? You’re acting strange.” “Leave me alone… Argh, I hate this… Being the same as you makes me want to die—but it’s still just a possibility in my case! She hasn’t reached fairy yet!” “Wh-what, what’s this now?” Walt’s intensity makes Kyle draw back. All of a sudden, a potential answer occurs to him. Walt is currently investigating Lira Revanche, a count’s daughter who’s suspected of selling demon snuff—the name that was embroidered on the handkerchief Kyle’s fairy gave him. “Did something happen with Miss Lira?” “Nothing, absolutely nothing, there’s no way in hell I’d let anything happen, so no, it’s nothing,” Walt says, without even taking a breath for air. He probably means, Don’t ask. Sighing, Kyle sits down on the edge of the couch. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Master Claude’s put a gag order on you anyway.” “……What did your fairy look like?” More questions? he thinks, but Walt’s voice is weak, and he can’t bring himself to refuse when he doesn’t really have to. “She had long, pale blond hair as soft and light as candy floss.” “Were her eyes green? Deep green?” “Yes, like jewels. —What about it?” “Aren’t you curious about whether your fairy is Miss Lira or not?” “If this has anything to do with the disrespect shown toward Master Claude, I heard about it, but can’t imagine she’d do anything of the sort. She was ethereal and seemed as if she might disappear. I think it must have been someone else.” “…At this point, I’d really like to think your eyes aren’t knotholes.” Walt lifts his head, then sits on the floor, kicking his legs out carelessly, and leans back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling. Kyle looks down at him. “Are you all right? …Do you want me to swap with you?” “Huhn? You know you couldn’t handle a job like this, Mister Dull-as-Ditchwater.” “You’re not suited to it, either. You get too emotionally invested.” Walt is very sensitive. It’s what enables him to intuit what other people want and act accordingly, even when it’s a job. When they want him to hold out his hand, he offers it. When they want to be consoled, he comforts them. Hearing someone scoff and say that was calculated and fake would make Kyle feel like hitting them. “Can you do that?” he’d ask. “Can you understand it?” Could they focus that much emotion on someone else when it meant stifling themselves? “I think you’ve got the wrong idea about me.” “No, I don’t. You’ve been like that since we were Nameless Priests.” So much so that seeing their companions die off one after another had pained him, and prompted him to suggest running away, trying to grant a wish Kyle didn’t even know he had. …I told him so. I said he’d forget someday. Was he doing this for work, or was he serious about it? Walt would lose sight of that boundary and cross it by accident. He’d go for wool and come home shorn. “About what you said earlier. I’m really not dreaming of anything with her.” “Are you sane? I heard you weren’t planning to look for her; are you seriously that out of touch with how you feel?” “No, I’m aware of it. It’s probably love or romance, that sort of thing.” “Watching you say that with a straight face is funny. Yes, go on, continue.” “Listen, seriously… I think this is true for you as well. Don’t you think just having had that experience is enough for us?” Walt’s gaze shifts from the ceiling to Kyle. “I’m not a big fan of that mindset. But I do get it.” Under normal circumstances, both of them would have died a long time ago, but here they are, blessed with companions, living like ordinary humans. Adding love to the mix would be almost too much of a luxury. Which is why the first thing that he and Walt both did when offered that luxury was hesitate. “Why don’t you look for her properly? That fairy of yours.” …And yet, seeing his partner—who’s so much like himself—hesitate makes Walt want to spur him on. “If I see her again, I’ll ask her name.” “Why are you so passive about it? You’d feel better if you got everything sorted out.” “As if you have any right to talk… I don’t know what’s troubling you right now, but both Master Claude and I are on your side, and you have a slew of other allies to boot. It isn’t like it used to be. If it gets to a point where lying hurts, then say so; that’s what I mean when I say things have changed.” Walt gives him a stunned look, then slowly breaks into a smile. “I don’t plan to sink that low. This is work.” “I’m not making light of your skills or your pride. It’s just, if logic can’t get you through this, I think that’s probably how it will have to go.” “I don’t waaaant to.” “We managed to be rational with Ailey.” Learning that Aileen was the demon king’s fiancée had shocked everyone, and although it had been more intense for some than for others, pain had run through all their hearts. Kyle thinks that had probably been the same type of emotion. However, everyone had been so uniformly rational about it that it was funny now. When they were told she would one day be the demon king’s wife, they’d resigned themselves to the fact she was out of their reach. They wanted her to stay the strong, proud woman who loved the demon king. They’d been able to support her, and even to give her their blessing. You couldn’t call that romantic love. It was adoration. “So if you can’t be rational about it the way you were with Ailey, you should prepare yourself for the worst.” Rising to his feet, Kyle takes the forgotten documents from the work desk, but he turns back when one of the sheets of paper reminds him of something important. Of course, he finds Walt face-down on the couch again. “What do you want to do about guard duty at the opera house? You asked Sir Keith to put that into the schedule, didn’t you?” “Oh… I was so rattled, I forgot to ask her to that… Hold off on that for a bit.” “Well, hurry up. The emperor and empress will be attending the opera, so if you won’t be there, we’ll have to change the security arrangements,” Kyle scolds him. He sets a hand on the office door—then adds one more remark. “If I meet the fairy again, I’ll report in as well.” He must have seen wrong. When he thought he’d seen her as something else, he’d just been seeing things. Right. There’s no way I’d be blind enough to mistake her for a fairy. Not me, no way. I’ll calm down and take a good, clear-eyed look at her. Okay, time for work! Smacking his cheeks to fire himself up, he looks at Count Revanche’s distant mansion. He’s making an unscheduled visit because he wants to catch her by surprise and hopefully learn something new from her reaction. It’s definitely not because he wants to see her look startled, or just to see her, period. He’s walked around checking the mansion’s perimeter because he thought he might find the men who are supposedly hanging around Lira and get information on demon snuff trafficking out of them, not because he’s worried she might be in danger. Granted, it’s true he can’t afford to have anything happen to her now, but that’s because she’s under investigation for selling demon snuff, not because— “Hey, human.” “Oh, shut up, it’s not like that!” His shout makes the white crow flinch and freeze in midair. Crud. Walt hastily covers for himself. “Sorry, Sugar. I was just thinking about something.” “……” “I wasn’t mad at you, okay? Uh, um, here, have a candy.” Long ago, this white crow demon had been held captive by humans and lost the ability to fly, so in sharp contrast to her usual insolent attitude, she’s actually quite sensitive. The crow trembles. —But then her strong legs kick out and send him flying. “What do you mean ‘shut up,’ you lackey?!” “Um, sor— I beg your pardon. Uh, candy! Look, I’ve even got a strawberry-flavored one.” Sugar keeps kicking Walt as he talks, and now her eyes widen ferociously. “That won’t be enough!” “I-I’ll buy you sugar cookies on my way home!” Snorting, Sugar lands on Walt’s shoulder and folds up her wings. “I’ll allow it.” “Thank you very much…” “Candy.” “Right.” When he obediently offers the candy, the white crow accepts it. Walt’s relieved that Sugar has cheered up. After all, this is the great second-in-command of the demon king’s air force: There’s no telling how much trouble he’d have on his hands if she were in a bad mood. Walt is a human who works for the demon king, and as a rule, his position is weaker than the demons’. He’s probably stronger than they are physically, but that’s how things stand. The demon king’s mage is also in the same position; however, his thoughts on the matter are a breezy “Huh? We’re just scum, aren’t we?” If we’re talking about strong humans on the demon king’s side… James is half demon… Oh. There’s also Sir Keith, huh? He’s a pure-blooded human, and probably weaker than any of the other humans who are allied with the demon king, but he’s stronger than any demon—no, stronger even than the demon king. “Hey. Strawberry candy.” “Oh yes, coming… No, wait, report in first. How did it go? Did you see anyone suspicious?” He’d almost given it the strawberry-flavored candy, but pulls it away to ask the question. “You,” Sugar tells him. “Wow, thanks for pointing that out. You nailed me right in the heart.” Cleverly snatching the candy from a dejected Walt’s hand, Sugar crunches it up, then adds, “The master went out. The servants were maintaining the garden. I didn’t see the girl.” “So Count Revanche isn’t here, and the servants are just tidying up the grounds. If you didn’t see Miss Lira, she’s probably inside. Oh, did you see any vendors coming or going?” Sugar thinks, rolling her round eyes. “Two men in black with big bags visited together.” “Was that after Count Revanche left?” Sugar nods. “They didn’t stay long.” “Do you know who let them in and saw them off?” “Servant.” Were they just ordinary vendors who visited the mansion regularly, then? Sugar went on while attempting to search inside Walt’s coat. “Those were evil minions. My subordinates are following them.” “Huh?! That’s incredible work!” “Who do you think I am?!” “Oh—the great blue-bow-tied Sugar, second-in-command of the demon king’s air force!” “As long as you know.” Sugar gives an exaggerated nod. Partly in thanks, Walt gets another candy out of his coat. Apparently, Sugar doesn’t intend to eat it there; she takes it with one of its feet, spreads her wings, and flaps. “Work hard.” “Thanks, I will.” “If you need anything, call me.” That’s a reassuring remark. After he sees Sugar off, Walt adjusts his collar, heads to the mansion’s front entrance, and rings the bell. I’m not troubled at all. I’ll just get this cleared up fast. It’s only been ten days since his marriage interview with Lira. If he were doing this as himself, then that would be one thing, but the fact that he’s using Isaac’s name means the longer this lasts, the more dangerous it will become. For now, the marriage interview and two coerced dates should have cemented the image he’s trying to create of “a suitor who’s fallen for Lira at first sight and is trying to woo her even if it means being a bit forward about it.” Coming to see her without sending advance notice shouldn’t seem unnatural at all. That means it’s fine—calm down, heart. It’s not natural for it to race like this… No, it is natural. Which is it? Just as his pulse and his confusion both begin to accelerate, the door opens. On instinct, he stands straighter. The person who answers the door is a servant, who he vaguely remembers from when he came for the marriage interview. Walt tells him he’d like to see Lira. It’s fine; I almost bit my tongue a little, but that’s just natural nerves. “Natural nerves”? What is that? “Miss Lira is unwell.” “Huh…?” He wasn’t expecting that. All of his internal confusion disperses, and he makes a foolish noise. “I’m told she was doused with water.” “Oh… Ohh…” That makes sense, he thinks, before recollecting himself. “I-is she feeling very ill?” “It’s nothing serious, just a slight cold. She’s only taking care to rest in case it gets worse… If you’ll wait a moment, I can go and inform her of your presence.” “N-no. I’m the one who barged in on her unannounced; I wouldn’t want her to overwork herself.” He knows this development is only to be expected, but Walt still feels a little discouraged and lowers his eyes. “If there’s something you’d like to tell her, I can take a message.” “Oh, in that case…” His eyes have gone to the opera tickets in his hand. He starts to hold them up, then thinks better of it and shakes his head. The servant, who’s picked up on the gesture and holds out a hand for the tickets, looks perplexed. “Actually, I’d like to give them to Miss Lira myself.” The opera is the day after tomorrow. Even if Lira still has her cold, if Count Revanche finds out about the opera, he may drag his niece to it, which wouldn’t be good. Not from a professional or a personal standpoint. “But…” “I’ll call on her again.” When he bows and turns on his heel, the servant looks troubled but closes the door. Argh… I guess I’ll have to pin my hopes on the men Sugar’s having tailed. He’ll get this job done, no matter what. After all, he isn’t in a place that makes him want to run away anymore. Walt had gotten himself all fired up because of that new lease on life, and yet he’s got nothing to show for it today. The energy drains from his legs, and his walk slows to a crawl when— “Wait!” The faint voice makes him blink. When he looks back, he sees a woman dash out the front door. It’s Lira. The sight alone makes his heart leap, and he turns to face her. Walt spies that cloud of pale golden hair and those mysterious jade-green eyes whose hue changes with the light. She’s dressed in nothing but a nightgown, with a shawl thrown around her shoulders. As she runs toward him, even before he can think about making himself look right for her, his pulse slows unexpectedly. Hmm? She seems…normal? I mean, that’s fine, but… She’s smiling at him happily. Her expression is exactly the same as what he saw in the midst of those water droplets, but she doesn’t seem to sparkle like she did back then… Whatever was intense enough to make him see her as someone else is gone. That alone is enough to make him feel suddenly very exhausted. I really must have been seeing things! What the heck?! All that worry for nothing! He wants to clap his hands to his forehead and crouch down on the spot, but he manages to control himself. He’s on the job, and his target is right there. Lira looks perplexed. “Wh-what’s wrong?” “No, it’s just… I didn’t think I’d get to see you, so I was wondering if this was a dream…” He actually had felt as if he’d been dreaming before. Now, though, Walt is calm. He’s taken another good look at her, straight on, and she isn’t shining anymore. Maybe his eyes had been playing tricks on him, or maybe it was the magic of that scattered water. Thinking of it that way seems to put all the words in the world at his command. “Your smile has been so dazzling lately.” He expected Lira to flush red and get angry, but instead she puffs out her cheeks and pouts. The gesture brings her soft lips to his attention. She must have gotten ready in a hurry. She’s only put on lip rouge. It’s the cute pink color she’d claimed wouldn’t suit her. The one she said made her look like a fairy. Oh, come on, it does suit— “You always say such glib things.” “—Who are you?” He asked the question reflexively, and after it’s out, he claps a hand over his mouth. Lira watches him, startled. “Oh no, I mean… I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to make that face, and it was so adorable, I hardly recognized…you…” As Walt makes excuses, the girl’s eyes stay fixed on him. Then she breaks into a smile. “What about you, hmm? Who are you?” Walt gulps. She goes on in a voice that’s so soft, only he can hear it. “I had no idea Master Isaac Lombard was such a ladies’ man.” “Y-you’re…” She puts a finger to Walt’s lips. Her fleeting, gentle smile washes away the words that were on the tip of his tongue. “Thank you very much. I’ll give her the ticket.” The voice remains the same, but her tone has changed. The opera ticket is still in the pocket of Walt’s jacket, and the girl with Lira’s face takes it from him. Walt doesn’t resist. The idea doesn’t even occur to him. “Will you save her?” Stiffly, almost as if he’s under a spell, Walt nods. The smile she gives him looks truly happy. It’s as ethereal as a fairy. “I’m glad. Please do.” “—Just one question!” The girl has turned on her heel, about to run off, but she looks back. Swallowing hard, Walt continues, “Have you ever been a fairy of sweets in a moonlit garden?” The girl’s eyes widen. Walt sees it happen clearly. However, quicker than a blink, both the agitation and the light in her eyes vanish. “I don’t remember,” she says in a singsong voice, smiling. Then she disappears into the mansion with light footsteps, and the door closes, separating the two of them. What… What is going on? Walt finally manages to exhale. He catches himself as he’s about to fall, then realizes that his coat pocket feels heavier than it should. It’s the pocket the ticket was in. When he gingerly slips his hand inside, his fingertips find a small bottle. Swallowing hard, Walt starts walking, hastily putting as much distance between himself and the mansion as possible. His heart is pounding, but not from romantic excitement. He has a very, very bad feeling about this. Ducking into a nearby alley, he draws a deep breath, then takes the object out of his pocket. He recognizes it the second he sees it, and his face contorts into a grimace. The small, special bottle has a tight seal to ensure its contents won’t evaporate. Inside, a familiar liquid ripples gently. “Demon snuff…” It’s undeniable proof that the girl is involved in the demon snuff trade. When he dashes into the records vault to make sure his memory’s accurate, Elefas is already there, looking something up. “Perfect timing! Help me out!” “Huh? I have a job, too, you know. A tiresome one: confirming the minutes of a meeting.” “Forget that! Mine’s an emergency, so give me a hand! I need the report from Count and Countess Revanche’s accident six years ago!” “Oh, that’s in here.” With one flick of Elefas’s finger, a wooden box deep in the stacks slowly rises into the air and floats over to them. Magic sure is handy. “What about the church’s files?” “Those are in there as well. I had them sent over on Master Claude’s orders. That said, it’s only a basic statement that says they were buried.” Figures. Tsking in irritation, he roughly upends the box, then scrabbles through its contents. Elefas winces, but he doesn’t have any attention to spare for Walt right now. Information on the daughter who died in the accident… There! Viola Revanche. That was the name of the girl who’d died with the previous count and countess. The state of the scene of the accident—stuff like that doesn’t matter. The important thing is the date of her birth, and he finds it in Viola’s brief history. He lines that birthdate up with Lira Revanche’s. “Twins…” He’d suspected that might be it, and now he’s sure. Walt heaves a long sigh, and Elefas, who’s seen it, too, speaks up. “Well, well. So the sisters were twins, were they?” “These are the papers the church sent about the burial, right?” “Yes. Count and Countess Revanche and Miss Viola were cremated, not interred, so they seem to have gone out of their way to record it.” In other words, Viola, the older sister, is believed to be dead. At the very least, she’s not among the living as far as society’s concerned. “So ‘fairy’ wasn’t entirely wrong, huh…?” “Hmm? Have you begun seeing fairies, too, Walt?” Elefas apparently knows about Kyle’s talk of fairies, and he backs away slightly. Walt grabs him by the shirtfront and pulls him closer again. “I need to see Isaac next. I don’t know where he is, and tracking him down will be a hassle, so teleport me to him.” “I told you, I’m working.” “Do it, or I’ll make it so you can’t go home on the weekend! You won’t get to see that gorgeous wife of yours… You’re okay with that?!” “What is wrong with you?!” Elefas shouts back at him, but he does teleport them. He must really want to get back to see his wife; the woman’s so voluptuous that the feelings she provokes spike past plain envy to vivid green jealousy. Walt also suspects the man is concerned about him. No matter what he may say, the demon king’s mage is sensitive to human subtleties and doesn’t slack on his intelligence gathering. He recognizes the place where they manifest. It’s the conference room in the Oberon Trading Firm’s demon branch office—in other words, the old castle. The members of the Oberon Trading Firm are seated around the oval table, and they all look up at once. “Wh-what’s this? The mage and half of the guards; that’s a combo you don’t see much,” Jasper muses. “Oh, Elefas and Walt. Hello!” Denis also calls out a greeting. “What is the meaning of this? Failing to knock is bad enough, but teleporting?” Luc demands. “Excuse us for interrupting your meeting. Walt says he has some urgent business.” “Isaac! You’re positive you’ve never met Count Revanche or his family?!” The moment Walt’s feet hit the floor, he closes in on Isaac. Isaac frowns. “Not that I remember. What happened?” “Miss Lira acted as if she knew what ‘Isaac Lombard’ looked like, so I came to make sure.” The members of the Oberon Trading Firm have been told that Walt is passing himself off as Isaac to investigate an incident involving demon snuff, and they all listen in silence without asking any unnecessary questions. “It might not have been Lira… The fairy?” “Fairies.” “Are fairies in style these days?” They’ve apparently heard about Kyle. Isaac’s expression is wooden, while Denis sounds intrigued. “No, this wasn’t the same one as Kyle’s. Argh, for the love of… Let’s see…” “For now, have a seat and calm down a little. You too, Elefas,” Luc prompts them. Taciturn, Quartz gets up and makes them tea, and Denis brings over some chairs. Sitting down gratefully, Walt drinks the tea Quartz gives him, then explains what’s happened so far. “In other words, Lira Revanche had a twin sister who ostensibly died in an accident, but you suspect she may be alive. That one is Kyle’s fairy, and she may be switching places with Lira, whom you are currently courting as Isaac Lombard. Is that correct?” Elefas summarizes. Walt nods, then holds out the little bottle. “And then the fairy gave me something that looks a whole lot like undiluted demon snuff—this. I’m almost positive that’s what it is.” “It does appear to be the case.” Luc takes the bottle, then passes it on to Quartz. “…I’ll look into it.” “Please do. So…Isaac.” “I don’t remember anything like that. Maybe I could’ve run into Count Revanche somewhere, but the girls switching places and the rest of it—I wouldn’t have even had the opportunity. I’m only at one or two soirees a year, and Count Revanche’s niece basically didn’t leave the mansion until her debut the other day.” “The Oberon Trading Firm and Count Revanche haven’t done any business to speak of, either. I checked up on that,” Jasper puts in, scratching his head. Luc folds his arms, thinking hard. “Exhuming the bodies would be the most efficient way to confirm this, but if they were cremated, that won’t be possible.” “…It’s pretty hard to prove that someone’s not dead, in the first place.” “Hey, it’s Sugar!” Denis leaps out of his chair and runs over to open the window. By the time Walt looks up, Sugar has already flown in. “Hey, lackey! How dare you make me look for you!” “Oh—right. Sorry, Sugar.” “We tracked the dealers!” Landing on the table, Sugar puffs out her chest. “They were selling small, suspicious-looking bottles!” “What’s this about?” Elefas asks, and Walt fills him in. “Sugar has been trailing two shady men who visited Count Revanche’s mansion. I’d heard from the count that suspicious men were hanging around his niece, so when they showed up in his absence…” “…You struck gold,” Elefas concludes. Walt has no response for that, and Sugar swaggers about looking up at him. “Sing my praises! I won’t let any who defy the demon king escape!” “……” “What’s wrong, lackey?” The crow demon cocks her head at him, eyes wide, and Walt comes to his senses with a jolt. “N-no, it’s nothing. Thanks, that’s a huge help…” “What are you unhappy about?” Sugar gazes at him steadily. He can’t answer the question. Jasper speaks up. “Uh, okay, let’s assume demon snuff is being sold here. Do you want to go over all of this again, starting with the report of the previous Count Revanche’s accident? I’ll dig deeper into when young Master Isaac and Miss Lira or the fairy could have connected, too.” “There’s no need to go that far. Don’t make this more complicated than it already is.” Bracing one arm on the back of his chair, Isaac looks straight at Walt. “It’s simple: Whether or not her twin is alive, Lira Revanche is involved in dealing demon snuff. We know that for a fact.” Isaac’s come to the same conclusion as he has, and Walt closes his eyes, pressing his fists to his forehead. Denis cocks his head. “But she might be switching places with her twin, right?” “Doesn’t matter. If the twin is actually alive and switching places with her, she’d need her sister’s cooperation to pull it off. After all, the ‘fairy’ Walt saw came out of Count Revanche’s mansion.” “Oh, so they’re living together! It’s not someone else doing it without their knowledge, then.” Denis drops a fist into his palm, as if it all makes sense to him now. Jasper puts a finger to his forehead, right between his eyebrows. “If they’re switching intentionally, they must both be keeping tabs on what the other’s doing. If they didn’t, the switching would get obvious pretty quickly… So why would they keep doing it, even if it means having to pretend one twin is dead?” “The most likely answer is that they’re doing it to sell demon snuff. When their parents died in that accident, the girls’ tender age meant they were exempt from suspicion, which they took advantage of. If they had connections from the time their parents died, it’s well within the realms of possibility,” Luc says, glancing at the bottle on the table. Denis crosses his arms, tilting his head to the other side this time. “But weren’t they ten at the time? Could they really have done something like that?” “Right. If it’s true they’re switching places, then the current Count Revanche must be involved,” Isaac says firmly, lowering his voice. There was no way a ten-year-old girl could hide her supposedly dead sister in the mansion and evade discovery. It might not even just be Count Revanche; all the mansion’s servants could be involved. Isaac hammers home his point, adding, “Lira Revanche is undeniably the mastermind, though. Whether she and her sister are switching places or not. Right?” He points his fountain pen straight at Walt, almost as if he’s accusing him: I know you know this. “On top of that, Sugar’s seen the pair that visited Count Revanche in the act of selling demon snuff.” Sugar has been swiveling her head this way and that, following the conversation. She nods hastily and follows this up with an uneasy look toward Walt. “That settles it, then. If we bring in Lira, she’ll lead us to the rest. Case closed.” Silence falls, and Walt exhales slowly. He’s right. That’s how it’ll go. Whether or not she’s switching out with someone, Lira is involved with demon snuff. And even if she isn’t changing places, the only one who’ll be cleared of suspicion is Count Revanche. Why? How? —Thinking about those sorts of things is foolish. No matter her reasons, she’s a criminal. “…What am I supposed to tell Kyle?” he murmurs, forcing a smile. “Well, I suppose that’s just how it is.” “Walt…,” Dennis murmurs. “Sorry to take up your time. It’s like Isaac says: Even if they’re switching places, it doesn’t change the outcome. Nor my job.” He gets to his feet. His body seems terribly heavy, but a deep breath is all it takes to get him through it. This is how he’s always worked. There’s no reason he can’t keep doing it. He brought the bottle of demon snuff along only because he wanted to be sure. That’s all. “So Isaac’s still a meanie, even now that he’s married,” Denis says suddenly. Luc, who’s sitting across from him, shrugs. “I’d imagine it’s payback for that public proposal.” “…The mage set that up.” “Huh? Don’t tell me you’re making this my fault.” “Now, now. It just means that’s firmly behind us, right?” Jasper cuts in, smiling. Isaac looks embarrassed. “What d’you mean ‘right’? Huh?” “Well, it’s weird, isn’t it? Why would she voluntarily give Walt demon snuff and confess?” “…Not only that, she knew he was an impostor who was just acting like her fiancé when she did it,” Quartz says, and Walt blinks. Isaac presses his point. “That doesn’t change the fact that she’s selling demon snuff.” “So your childishness hasn’t changed, either, even now that you’re married, Master Isaac.” “Then did getting married make you a grown-up, you shady mage?” “All right, all right, quit bickering. Let’s start by interviewing Count Revanche and the people who live near the mansion. I’ll do background checks on all the servants, too. You’d really be helping out your uncle Jasper if you gave him a day to do it.” “Huh? No, but, um…” Walt’s first reaction to Jasper’s request is bewilderment. Luc raises his hand without waiting for Walt to catch up. “We’ll analyze the contents of that bottle, then. Won’t we, Quartz?” “…Let’s boost production of the cure, too, just in case something happens.” “In that case, I’ll handle the regular work. Let me know if anything comes up. The rest of you, give it your all. Come on, Isaac, what about you?” Isaac, who’s been sullenly silent, lets out a heavy sigh. “…If nothing else, it’s possible that this is all a trap. It’s way too blatant.” “True. I think so, too,” Elefas agrees easily. Walt glances at him, startled. “At this point, it might be best to suspect her odd behavior at the ball as well. It’s as if she did it specifically to make us doubt her.” In which case… “Will you save her?” Could those words have meant… “It’s too early to draw conclusions, Walt. We’ll help you, so dig a little bit deeper!” Denis says to reassure him. “…That’s why you came here, isn’t it?” Quartz asks. “No, I wasn’t really—” “Do you want to save that girl?” Sugar asks bluntly, and Walt’s words desert him. That’s it. What are her reasons? Why is she doing this? He asks himself these questions, struggling for answers, because he doesn’t want to believe the alternative. Because he thinks there might be something more behind it. “It’ll be better for you to admit it. After all, the hard part is only just beginning.” Elefas thumps him on the back, and the breath he’s been holding escapes him as a laugh. “Yeah… You’re right. It does seem like a pretty complicated case.” “That as well, but we have a more formidable enemy. Have you forgotten about the gag order?” Walt tries to laugh again but ends up gasping instead. “I mean, I was concerned about you as well, so I thought Master Claude would probably overlook it if we helped you get your thoughts in order, but…” “W-wait, Elefas, hang on. You mean—” “You have my deepest sympathies, but we appear to be out of time. Our secret meeting has been noticed.” “Cut that out; you’re handing me a death sentence!” As if Walt’s shout is the signal, the meeting room doors burst open, pushed by magic. Walt’s master stands smiling on the other side, enveloped in an ominous wind. “How sad. You’re having this secret meeting without me?” “M-Master Claude. This is, uh…” As Walt tries to make excuses, those bloodred eyes smile at him bewitchingly. “Aren’t I the first person you should contact, give reports to, or discuss anything with, Walt?” “Best of luck,” Elefas whispers to him. Then he has the unmitigated gall to start moving over to stand by Claude’s side, so Walt grabs him by the neck and chokes him. This must be how a man feels when he learns his lawfully wedded wife has cheated on him. “And? You’re telling me to let Miss Lira go?” “If, um… If you could, that would make me really happy…” “Why should I go to such lengths for her?” Claude asks coldly, seated at his work desk. Walt has been instantaneously snatched from the meeting room and dumped in Claude’s office, and he has nowhere to run; Kyle’s standing at the door, while Keith makes tea beside Claude. Elefas is also there in one corner of the room, holding Sugar and sighing. “From what you’ve told me, the girl is guilty of selling demon snuff.” “That’s… Yes. But—” “Even if she’s switching places with someone, or doing anything else for that matter, she’s guilty. And you want me to let her go? Demon snuff is dangerous to demons. I trust you know that perfectly well.” “I do know that! Really, I do.” “Didn’t I put you under a gag order in the first place? You violated my orders, and now you’re asking this of me for no good reason? Know your place.” Truly, there’s nothing left to say. He’s right. This was way too basic of a mistake to make. It’s not as if I forgot Master Claude’s order, though… Considering what Walt had done, he couldn’t blame Claude for assuming he had. The demon king’s eyes grow even frostier. “What? You don’t even have an excuse to give me?” “I’m sorry…” “Fine, that’s enough. —Keith, Miss Lira is your responsibility from now on.” “Understood, milord.” Walt feels the blood drain from his face. No matter what his public position may be, Keith is the retainer in whom Claude places the most trust. If he felt like it, Keith could have Lira thrown in jail before the day was out. “Kyle. You’re free as well, aren’t you?” “Yes, sir.” “Kyle, you—!” After what Walt said to him, Kyle must have realized that his fairy actually exists. However, his partner is good at being practical about these things, and he’s prioritizing Claude’s orders. “That is all. Walt, you switch with Kyle. I’ll have you guard me.” “Please wait, Master Claude!” “What?” Claude asks coldly, and the words stick in his throat. Claude is soft on his subordinates, but not so soft that he’d pretend a basic mistake like this never happened. What are you doing, you idiot?! Think! You’re good at getting out of stuff like this! He’s not as quick-witted as Isaac, or as well prepared as Elefas. He doesn’t understand Claude as well as Keith does, and he can’t be as practical as Kyle. However, he’s pretty sure he’s the best at talking his way out of things. That’s how he’s survived this long. When would he use that skill, if not now? “Master Claude, I can’t let you do something that would disgrace you!” Walt insists, striking the desk for emphasis. Claude’s eyes turn his way. “Listen to me: Miss Lira is as guilty as sin! She’s so guilty, it’s actually suspicious. Don’t you think we’re being manipulated here? If you just play along without question, it will mean someone has deceived the demon king! Would that be acceptable? Of course not!” “Arresting Miss Lira will make everything clear, won’t it?” “You’ll only hear what she wants you to hear! Besides, if she really is switching places with her sister, then either way you’ll only get one side of the story.” “Will you save her?” He needs to take a good, thorough look into what she meant by that. “Listen, someone’s already messed this up once. When her parents died, the case was tidied away as if that accident had settled everything, and this new incident is the result. I can’t let you make the same mistake!” “All of this sounds very practical, but you just don’t want her arrested, do you? I suspect your personal feelings about this outweigh your loyalty to me.” “What sort of nonsense is that? If she really was your enemy, I’d—” At that point, for the first time, it hits him. He understands why Kyle hasn’t been resisting Claude’s orders. “No woman who intended you harm would interest me, Master Claude.” Let there be some sort of reason, he’d wished. However, if there isn’t any reason like that, he’ll simply be disillusioned with her, tell himself his eyes were knotholes after all, and laugh it off. Straightforward Kyle doesn’t even harbor that doubt. He doesn’t think the fairy is Claude’s enemy, and if she is, then she’s no fairy. They have that sort of cruelty in common. “I may be an ingrate, but I’m not so bad I’d forget who made me human. Betraying you is the one thing I could never do.” Claude watches Walt, his eyes narrowed. Walt doesn’t look away. “And based on that assertion, I’m telling you: She has some sort of reason for doing this. I have my suspicions… Wearing that dress to the ball, for example. Why would Miss Lira do a thing like that?” “You’re asking if it could’ve been the fairy? You weren’t at that ball, were you?” “I’m sure that was Lira. If it had been the fairy, she could have just scattered demon snuff there, the way she handed some to me… But Lira didn’t. It’s probably because she didn’t have any. That’s why she wore a dress in a color she knew was forbidden and hinted that demon snuff might exist; she isn’t in a position where she can get her hands on the stuff whenever she likes. I also suspect that she and the fairy have different objectives and ideas about how to get there.” The fairy who gave Walt demon snuff is trying to save Lira. So what had Lira been trying to accomplish by wearing that forbidden gown to the ball and behaving so bizarrely? “I think she wanted you to save the fairy, Master Claude.” She knew that the emperor would be at the ball and that he would be eager to crack down on demon snuff to protect the demons. And of course, she knew he dotes on his empress. Walt was sure her line of thinking went something like: If I wear a purple dress and act as if I’m picking a fight with the empress, he’s sure to pay attention. He’ll investigate the incident. “If she wanted me to save something, couldn’t she just have asked?” “I’m telling you there must be a reason she can’t! You’re just going to arrest her without knowing what that is and call it a day? Is that the sort of emperor you want to be? The last thing I want is for you to end up looking incompetent when someone’s come to you for help.” Walt thumps the desk again, then looks Claude straight in the eye. “So? What about my words or actions displeases you?” “……” Claude gives a long sigh. Then he recrosses his legs, leaning back in his chair. “You really are a smooth talker.” “Thank you for the compliment.” “You forgot my orders and got out of control just because you wanted to save Miss Lira. And yet, when you say all that, it makes me think you might have done it for me. That’s a problem. —What do you think, Keith?” “A mistake is a mistake. You cannot simply put the matter back in his hands.” Keith’s smiling, but he speaks firmly. He’s already served Claude his tea. Walt turns pale. “Sir Keith, I—” “However, as Walt has been courting Miss Lira, he is the one who knows her best. No doubt he’s established some level of rapport. Therefore, Walt should continue his role in this investigation but under my command. How does that sound?” “That would be no different from the situation we have now. I’m not saying you need to punish him, but what’s to prevent this from happening again?” “It’s fine. Walt isn’t reckless enough to ignore my orders… Are you?” Keith smiles at Walt. Walt instantly stands as tall as he can. “No, of course not! It’s absolutely going to be fine! I’ll do anything you say!” “Hang on. So he’ll forget my orders but not yours? That doesn’t seem right.” “Also dock his salary for six months, with no vacation time.” Walt chokes, but if that’s the worst he gets, he’s been incredibly lucky. They’ve ignored Claude’s question, and he frowns. “Why won’t anybody answer me? I’m asking how much my orders are worth.” “Now then, as far as I’m—no, as far as we’re concerned, we must avoid any outcome that would mar our master’s reputation. We must not let the culprit escape us, of course. We also can’t have them getting desperate and scattering demon snuff about. We’re not having a repeat of Misha Academy.” Auguste had felt awful that he’d essentially abandoned Serena. Nobody could have considered him responsible for that. Some facets of Serena’s circumstances should have provoked sympathy, but that was it—or at least that’s what Walt had thought at the time. Now he understands how Auguste felt. Auguste had simply wanted to help Serena anyway. Granted, Serena probably would have said it was too little too late. I’m a cautious type, though. Before I help her, I want to know. Had that moment been real, when he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him? “First, we’ll waste no time in nabbing the traders Sugar tailed for us. Elefas, I want you and Sugar to arrest them before the day is out. Kyle and Walt, you guard Master Claude and Lady Aileen, and stay vigilant. They may be targeted in some way.” “How do you mean?” Claude asks. Walt responds solemnly. “You mean at the opera two days from now, don’t you?” Walt has secured seats for the opera to see how Lira reacts to the emperor and empress. The imperial couple happen to be free on that day, so they’ve agreed to make an appearance. “Count Revanche may come in the girl’s place to apologize on her behalf, or the young lady may feign ignorance and come to find out what we know. There’s no telling which it will be. However, if it’s right after the traders have been arrested, and if they know the emperor and empress will be in attendance, someone’s bound to come, both to make excuses and to see where things stand. Walt, I want you to put on an act and sound them out.” “So it’ll be my job to let them know they’re under suspicion.” “Yes. Tell them you’ll help, and trick them to draw out information. I won’t let you tell me you can’t.” “Of course I can. It’s what I’m best at.” For Claude’s sake, he’ll deceive Lira. Reminding himself firmly of who he is and what he must do, Walt nods. “What do you think, Master Claude?” “I’ll leave it in your hands, but where’s my answer regarding why your orders carry more weight than mine?” “That’s obvious. They all count on you to go easy on them, Master Claude. However, I don’t tolerate that sort of behavior from anyone. Do I?” He turns his gaze on Walt, to find not just him but Kyle, Elefas, and even Sugar nodding repeatedly. This seems to both satisfy Claude and cheer him up; apparently no one is allowed to defy the demon king’s adviser. In this workplace, that unwritten law is absolute. The day after Elefas and the demons quietly arrest the traders, Walt sends advance notice of his visit to Count Revanche’s mansion, then arrives an hour earlier than he originally claimed. This is the second time he’s been inside. When Walt is admitted to the entry hall, he removes his hat and takes a careful look at his surroundings. Nothing’s changed since his first visit. That said, the amount of information he has is different. Both the butler who answered when he rang the visitors’ bell and the maid who’s leading Walt to the parlor are the same as before. The mansion doesn’t have many servants, so that isn’t unusual. It would have seemed less suspicious if he hadn’t heard that not a single servant has left or been replaced ever since the current count came into power. According to Jasper, there hasn’t been a single new hire in all that time. It’s plausible that the count wouldn’t hire someone new while he’s busy trying to get the fiefdom’s finances in order, and it’s also possible that the servants were too devoted to abandon the county. Still, not one in six years seems abnormal. The maid who’s taking him to the parlor is probably in her late twenties. The pay can’t be that good, so it’s unusual for her to be unmarried and still working at this age. As an experiment, he asks her a question as he follows behind her. “Miss Lira is just getting over her illness, isn’t she? If she’d prefer it, I could visit her room instead.” “The young mistress is quite well now, so she’ll meet you in the parlor.” “Oh, I’m glad to hear that. Have you worked here long?” “……About ten years, sir.” “That business with the previous count and countess must have been awful. What with the demon snuff suspicions and all the rest of it, I mean.” “That’s all in the past.” The maid doesn’t flinch, which actually seems stranger. “Wait here a moment, please.” “Right. Thanks for bringing me—here.” The maid has opened the door to the parlor and shown Walt in, but just as she turns to leave, he sets a hand on the door and closes it, shutting her in with him. She looks up at him, perplexed. “…What is it?” “You smell quite nice.” The maid’s face has so far been as blank as a mask, but for the first time, she looks unsettled. His right hand runs from the maid’s lower back to her leg, while his left catches her arm, which he moves behind her back. Is this…a handkerchief? She doesn’t seem to have much on her. If she had a key, he would’ve wanted it, but it turns out she doesn’t. He feels a little let down, and then— “Wh-what are you doing?!” Lira’s cry echoes from the door on the opposite side of the rectangular parlor. Immediately releasing the maid, Walt turns, smiling brightly. “Hello there, Lira. How’s your cold?” Lira’s face is bright red. This is the one Walt knows; he can tell at a glance. That alone threatens to make his gaze drift uncertainly, but he keeps his eyes on her, reminding himself that this is work. She’s shown up in a high-collared dress today. No nightgown this time. “Forget about my cold! What was that just now?!” “Her ribbon was coming undone; I fixed it for her, that’s all. Right?” The maid nods, looking frightened, and makes a hasty exit. As if taking her place, Lira closes in on him. “What’s going on here? Explain yourself!” “I just did. That’s all it was.” “That’s no explanation! You’re courting me, aren’t you?! That was cheating, you worm!” “Does this mean we’re engaged, then?” he jokes. Clenched fists trembling, Lira shouts at him, “Who’d want to marry a suspicious character like you?!” “A suspicious character, hmm? That’s pretty clever,” Walt retorts, and Lira compresses her lips into a thin line. It looks like the fairy’s told her I’m not Isaac Lombard. What must he look like to her now? Still, having those strong, unwavering eyes fixed on him is starting to entertain him. She’s a straightforward girl with a quick wit who’s bad at subtle maneuvering. But is that really all there is to her? “Where’s Count Revanche?” “…He should be home soon. He’s busy running all over the place.” “Ah. Maybe it’s about the traders who come and go in the mansion here getting arrested for selling demon snuff.” “So you do know about that.” “I am Isaac Lombard, Her Majesty the empress’s favorite, after all.” Walt’s implying that he’s going to keep playing the part, something he’s sure Lira must have picked up on. “I came because I thought I might be able to help somehow. You can talk to me about anything.” If she’d looked relieved, reeled off excuses and begged him to save her, or if she’d foolishly tried to sweep the matter under the rug, then in that moment, Walt probably would have thought, I suppose I really was wrong about what I saw, and lost interest in her. But she doesn’t do any of that. Looking as if she may burst into tears, Lira smiles with a beauty that makes her childish gestures seem like a lie, and a firmness that makes her look like someone else entirely. “I’ve told you all along that I won’t marry you. I came today to remind you of that.” “…You’re sure that’s what you want?” Even he thinks that’s a dimwitted response. It’s probably because he’s a bit flustered. “I won’t go to the opera, either. I wouldn’t be a suitable match for you. —And I’m returning this.” Her hand has been closed around something since she arrived, and now her fingers open to reveal a tube of lip rouge. Wordlessly, he takes it from her and opens it. It’s the orange one. It hasn’t been used. It’s as if this is the greatest gesture of sincerity she can manage. “I can’t return the chocolates; I ate them. They were delicious, thank you.” “……” “I’ll tell my uncle about my decision. So just go.” She pushes his chest with both hands. Walt doesn’t budge, but he understands that this is her answer. “Farewell… Thank you for this dream.” He can’t move. This isn’t like him. Scolding himself, Walt follows Lira’s receding back with his eyes. Don’t let yourself be distracted; this is work. Figure something out. He is the demon king’s bodyguard. Stop feeling hurt. There must be a clue there, somewhere— By the time he realizes what he’s doing, Walt’s already caught her arm. “Wh-what?” “Your leg. What’s wrong with it?” Something about her gait and the way her skirt moves seems odd to him. But the biggest clue of all is the way all the blood has drained from Lira’s face. “You’re clearly trying to avoid putting too much weight on it.” “I-it’s nothing. It’s just a little bit—” “There are marks of some sort on your neck, too.” Her complexion is growing paler and paler, and Walt doesn’t even want to delay long enough to hear her answer. He pushes Lira down onto the soft couch. “Wait—just a— Don’t, it’s nothi— I fell, I slipped, that’s all!” Lira flails around, trying to resist, but she’s an amateur, and her attempts don’t give him any trouble. As nimbly as if he’s restraining a criminal, Walt holds her arms together and pins them down with one hand. Then, without batting an eyelash, he undoes the buttons running down her back and lifts the hem of her skirt. “Stop! Don’t look, you deviant!” Red, raw, ropelike lines ring her ankles, and fresh bruises mark her calves. The raised welts on her back are a mixture of new and partially healed wounds, and there are bruises in the shape of fingers on her neck, like someone has choked her. There is no way she got hurt like that from a fall. Walt’s hand has gone slack, and Lira wriggles free and hides behind the sofa, her face a mask of abject fear. She’s almost acting like a criminal whose crimes have been discovered. …Yes, there really was no decent reason why she was hiding that much skin. Walt grits his teeth, then exhales. He walks up to Lira, who’s desperately trying to fasten the buttons on the back of her dress by herself. “I’m sorry.” Lira flinches. Carefully doing up the buttons, one at a time, Walt murmurs to her, “If you can’t talk about it, you don’t have to say anything.” “……” “I swear I’ll save you.” Before he leaves, he scoops Lira up into his arms and sets her down on the couch. Kneeling in front of her, Walt reaffirms his vow: “I will save you.” The words sound cheap. It’s probably okay for them to sound this forced, though. After all, he is deceiving her. I swear, this really is a troublesome job. It’s making him forget where the boundary is. That’s why he picks up the dropped lip rouge and puts it in his pocket. “All right. I’ll be back.” “…It’s fine.” Walt has gotten to his feet, but he pauses in the act of turning away. “I’m fine. Don’t save me.” “……” “Please, if you really are—” “Are you still here, Isaac?!” Count Revanche knocks roughly on the door twice, then walks in without waiting for an answer. Lira gasps, turning pale, and falls silent. However, that tells Walt plenty all by itself. “Good, good. That startled me; you arrived earlier than I expected you.” “I’m sorry. My schedule opened up in a rather unusual way.” “No, don’t worry about it. We’ve been rushing about here as well. I imagine you’ve already heard, Isaac: the demon snuff trading incident…” The man gives him a searching look. Putting on a frown, Walt nods. “Yes. They say the merchants who were arrested visited here regularly.” “It must weigh on your mind. In fact, my niece told me she would like to call off your marriage interview, to keep you from being dragged into this.” Count Revanche seats himself next to Lira. His expression is a careworn mixture of unease and concern for his niece. Lira stiffens and looks down, lips pressed together tightly. “Perhaps she’s already told you?” Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen these two together, Walt thinks. He nods. “We were just discussing that very thing. Personally, I’d tell you not to trouble yourselves about it, but…I wonder what Her Majesty will say…” His evasiveness seems to make Count Revanche anxious. “It’s a false accusation! My household has nothing to do with it.” “Of course, I believe you. However, I do have my position to think of. As the empress’s retainer, I must not consort with a young woman who is not worthy of Her Majesty’s trust.” For just a moment, he sees Lira squeeze her hands resting in her lap into fists, but she doesn’t argue. In stark contrast, Count Revanche lets out a grief-stricken cry. “No…! Do you intend to discard my niece over a mere suspicion?!” “This isn’t something I can just smooth over with the empress, you know. I plan to meet her at the opera tomorrow, and I really have no idea how I’m going to explain this.” “At the opera…? Yes, I had heard that there was a widely acclaimed performance scheduled for tomorrow, but… You say Her Majesty will be there?” “Yes, she and the emperor will be attending for a change of pace from their usual routine. It sounds as if the tickets are already sold out.” “In that case, do allow me to accompany you. I’ll get a ticket somehow; I have an idea of where to find one,” Count Revanche tells him without hesitating. He doesn’t know that his niece already has a ticket. Why? That’s obvious. Because Count Revanche isn’t someone she wants to give information to. Now that he’s thinking about it, it’s been true right from the beginning. “I pray you won’t be disappointed by the result,” Walt tells him, donning his hat to hide his self-mockery. “I take it you won’t be our ally, then,” Count Revanche says in a low voice. Walt responds with a silent nod, then turns on his heel. At this point, he should keep the man anxious. Which is why he doesn’t look to see Lira’s expression. —That may have been unwise. A pungent, cloying smell makes his eyes widen. Before Walt can turn around, someone shoves him. “——!” As the liquid that’s spreading over the nearby carpet evaporates, the smell tells him he’s narrowly escaped being doused with demon snuff. Lira is the one who pushed him, and she’s fallen to the floor. “Don’t breathe it in,” she shouts. “Hurry, run—” Something slams into the back of his head. Wha—? He’d gotten careless, but Walt’s still surprised to see that Count Revanche has managed to get behind him. As he looks back to make sure, another blow hits him in the side. Walt rolls away, and as he sucks in air, he gets a lungful of the demon snuff—a fatal mistake. In the blink of an eye, a numbness far more intense than what he’d anticipated sweeps through his entire body. What is this…? It isn’t just ordinary demon snuff; the fumes leave him completely unable to move, and several pairs of feet surround his prone form. In no time at all, the servants have entered the room. Lira struggles, but he sees the servants grab her and strike her. Argh, dammit. I blew it. So the whole mansion really is in on it. He’d picked up on that earlier, and yet… The demon snuff seeps into his body, the smell of it clouding his awareness and vision. Then someone kicks him in the stomach, and he blacks out. Walt hasn’t returned. “He’s perennially late anyway. This could just be the usual.” “At a time like this, when he’s under orders from Sir Keith? That’s not even funny.” Kyle looks around Walt’s room in the old castle. He’s dragged Elefas out of bed to accompany him, and the other man shrugs. “I’m with you there… Is it possible that he never came home last night? When did you last see him, Kyle?” “Yesterday evening, before he left for Count Revanche’s residence.” “After that, he was scheduled to keep watch of Count Revanche until Sugar took over for him in the morning. He was going to nap until noon, then go to the opera.” “Sugar came to tell me that Walt wasn’t in the spot where they’d planned to switch.” Elefas sighs, closing the door to the empty room. “So that means he’s been missing since yesterday evening? No one’s seen him? What about the demons?” “Walt was the one who’d suggested keeping watch, and he volunteered to do it. Sugar and the others were told to stay out of the immediate vicinity of the mansion.” Since the matter involved demon snuff, they couldn’t let the demons get too close. Walt had wanted an opportunity to redeem himself, so Claude had allowed it. “To begin with, let’s report this to Master Claude… No, to Sir Keith. Master Claude may not be awake yet. It might be best to check his office first and see whether there are any notes regarding the matter,” Elefas says. If Walt’s been discussing this with Claude or Keith without Kyle or Elefas’s knowledge, then something may still be there. Kyle nods, and they set off for the office. All he’s done is blunder lately. What is he playing at? It annoys him, but the bad feeling Kyle has about this was strong enough to make him postpone his breakfast. It’s probably the same for Elefas. When they find Claude already awake and in his office, that only cements their feelings of foreboding. Keith is serving him coffee. Luc and Quartz are standing in front of his desk. Something’s happened; Keith looks at Kyle and Elefas as if to indicate this. Picking up on the fact that their business will have to wait, Kyle and Elefas take up positions by the wall. Claude leans on the armrest of his chair, chin in his hand, looking a bit drained. “I apologize for the interruption. Go on. You were saying that the demon snuff the fairy gave us differs from the conventional variety.” At the word fairy, Kyle blinks. Luc turns to face Claude again. “Yes. Our analysis suggests that it’s far more potent than even the purest demon snuff we’ve collected from the church so far. It may work twice as rapidly and be twice as effective as the conventional type.” “…We’ll need to analyze it a bit more to understand the subtle differences, though,” Quartz adds, flipping through some documents. Luc nods. “At the very least, it’s clear this isn’t like the demon snuff we’ve handled before. We thought we should warn you to be careful when making arrests, which is why we’re here so early in the morning, it’s practically harassment,” he says quite openly. He knows Claude isn’t a morning person. Claude heaves a deep sigh. The listlessness in his gestures may be because he’s sleepy. A little apologetically, Quartz places a small bag on the desk. “…It’s an herb to help you wake up.” “I appreciate your consideration. So what did you need, Kyle?” “Walt hasn’t come back,” the guard says briefly. Claude takes a swallow of the coffee Keith’s made for him. “I heard. Sugar asked me to meet about that first thing this morning…” “And when he was barely half awake, Luc petitioned him for an audience ‘Before they let Lady Aileen know,’ so I rousted him out of bed.” “…And Aileen?” “She’s fine. Milord told her there was urgent business, and she was worried he might not be alert enough to work. Once his job’s finished, they’ll have breakfast together,” Keith says, neatly summarizing the situation for them. “It sounds as if the demons haven’t seen Walt, either… Good grief.” “Can’t you trace him, Master Claude?” Kyle asks. “No…,” Claude tells him, blinking dazedly. He seems to be struggling against his drowsiness. “It’s all because I didn’t cast a spell on you two that would let me know where you were and contact you at all times.” “I’m sorry, but please don’t do that. So where does that leave us?” “At the very least, he’s not dead. He’s under my protection, so if the magic cut off, I’d definitely notice.” Claude massages the spot between his eyes, trying to wake up. Keith refills his coffee. “Um.” Elefas speaks up. “I feel like I’m the one who’s always tasked with drawing the short straw, so I’m going to ask: Is there any chance that Walt has eloped with Count Revanche’s niece?” “That’s—” “No.” Before Kyle can argue, Claude flatly rejects the idea. “Walt would never betray me. If he were going to elope with somebody, it would be me.” Apparently, he’s still half asleep. Luc seems exasperated by the casual atmosphere. “I would imagine he’d be happier if he ran off with a sweet young noblewoman than a demon king like you.” “If he did that to me, I’d pursue him to the ends of the earth.” “Um, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked in the first place. Please don’t be scary, Master Claude. Well, in all likelihood, he simply isn’t able to come back. Are you positive Walt was leaving for Count Revanche’s mansion when you last saw him?” Kyle nods. Quartz murmurs the conclusion they’ve all come to. “…Then he’s probably still there.” “I wonder if he’s fallen victim to the new demon snuff.” “A Nameless Priest?” Kyle asks. A tolerance for demon snuff is what gives Nameless Priests superhuman abilities; they have quite a high resistance to it. If they didn’t, they’d never reach a level worth calling “human weapons.” Luc looks serious. “You and Walt are able to tolerate far more of it than ordinary people. However, if they used this substance on him, he might be temporarily incapacitated. Still, there’s no telling how long it would last.” “…Then mightn’t he have found himself in a situation where we need to go help him?” Elefas suggests rather seriously. Kyle steps forward. “I’ll go to Count Revanche. All we need to do is arrest Miss Lira for trading demon snuff.” “You mustn’t. If we don’t take precautions, you could end up in the same situation as Walt,” Keith responds immediately. Elefas agrees. “Indeed. In any case, that would ruin Walt’s plan. We don’t want to let the mastermind escape by pinning the blame on someone else. Besides, there’s no knowing what might happen to the fairy.” “If it’s come to this, then that changes things completely.” “Calm down, please. Walt doesn’t want something bad to happen to your fairy, either; that’s why he talked Master Claude around. Do you mean to let his concern come to nothing, all thanks to your impatience?” That thought didn’t even occur to Kyle. He blinks, and Luc shrugs his shoulders. “He’s more kindhearted than he looks.” “Do you have a plan then, Elefas?” Keith asks. The mage folds his arms. “Well… According to Master Claude, Walt isn’t dead yet. They must be holding him prisoner, but they haven’t issued any demands to us… I would imagine that means the enemy doesn’t yet know who Walt actually is. They may even still be under the impression that he’s Isaac Lombard.” “That sounds plausible.” “Which means that we can drag Isaac into this. No doubt he’ll work it out for us somehow; I think it was questionable of him to shove it onto us in the first place,” Elefas declares briskly. Quartz sighs, and Luc laughs. “Very nice. I’ll contact him and tell him to come here.” “If he puts up a fight, just tell him you think Walt is more important to Master Claude than he is, and that should do the trick.” It’s a clear threat. Before Kyle can ask if that’s really all right, Keith applauds lightly. “Just what I expected from you, Elefas. I think that’s a good plan as well. The demons may not be able to enter Count Revanche’s mansion, but they can keep an eye on it from a distance, so for now, let’s wait until the opera.” “But if Walt’s…” Kyle’s worried. What if his partner is at death’s door at this very moment? All of a sudden, Claude opens his eyes. “I won’t give Walt’s life to some other woman.” Kyle thinks he might still be talking in his sleep, but those eyes are dead serious. It’s extraordinarily cold. Walt tries to pull the blankets closer around him, then realizes his arms won’t move. They’re bound behind him. Oh, right. I was… The first thing his blurry eyes make out is a stone floor. Next are the legs of a table by a wall, a neat and tidy bookshelf, and a long, untidy desk that’s strewn with documents and writing implements. There’s a cupboard overflowing with bottles of liquids in suspicious colors, laboratory equipment, and flasks. Walt is lying on top of what seems to be a long chest. Above him, he sees an iron grate. It’s a dimly lit laboratory, surrounded by iron bars and stone walls. “There, that will do. Really, Lira, you’re so reckless. Defying them like that…” He hears voices from the other side of the grate. Carefully, he looks toward them, moving only his eyes. It isn’t a cell, but a room of sorts. It’s quite large, and Walt spots even more bookshelves, plus a wardrobe. There’s a round table with cabriole legs and matching chairs sitting on a carpet, and the lamplight casts two overlapping shadows onto it. When he sees that, he realizes the room has no windows. Are they underground? “You’ve been careful about what you say and do lately so you wouldn’t get hurt. You said if you were injured, you wouldn’t be able to wear fancy clothes when you met ‘him.’” “That’s not it! That wasn’t why— Ow…” “Come on, don’t just shout immediately. Your cheek is swollen. You’ve cut your lip, too.” Closing what appears to be a first aid kit, the women rise to their feet. Silhouetted against the lamplight, the outlines of the two figures are identical, and Walt bites his lip. “Listen… Do you think he’ll be all right? The antidote is working, isn’t it?” “According to my calculations, it should.” They turn their eyes toward him, and Walt realizes he’s the one they’re talking about. “We’ve never injected it into a human before, though, so we mustn’t get careless. I doubt he’ll regain consciousness for a while yet.” “I’ll watch him. You need to start getting ready, Sister.” “…True. It’s time. In your place…” Lira puts out her hand, and the girl who looks exactly like her holds out a brooch with a shining crystal embedded in the center. The light coming from it makes Walt narrow his eyes. That’s a demon stone. The moment Lira pins the brooch on, the floor shines briefly. There’s a metallic rattle, and Walt sees a chain fasten around her ankle. Conversely, the chain that was locked around the other girl’s ankle vanishes.
Chapter 126
63 min read