In the later hours of the morning, Rio and Charlotte greeted a visitor at the mansion. It was Lilianna, the first princess of the Centostella Kingdom. Miharu, Aki, Masato, and Satsuki greeted her at the entrance of the mansion.
“I have an update on Sir Takahisa,” Lilianna said, immediately getting down to business.
The way her expression was slightly stiff suggested that it wouldn’t be good news. Aki and the others picked up on that hint, and their expressions hardened as well.
“Siblings and friends, please gather in the drawing room. If possible, you too, Lady Sara,” Charlotte said, requesting Sara’s presence.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
Thus, Rio moved to the drawing room with Miharu, Aki, Masato, Satsuki, Lilianna, Charlotte, and Sara. After everyone settled into their seats, Charlotte gave a brief summary of the situation.
“To get straight to the point, the search team has lost track of Sir Takahisa’s whereabouts.”
No one was particularly surprised, as they had been somewhat expecting that. But a heavy silence still fell over the room. Eventually, Aki broke the silence in a hoarse voice.
“Wh-Why? I thought you found the inn he was staying at?” she asked.
“He apparently never returned to the inn.”
“That can’t be right...”
“After interrogating the owner of the inn, it was discovered that Sir Takahisa had caused trouble with a certain organization in the red-light district,” Charlotte explained hesitantly. It was clear from her expression that she was unsure if she should tell them everything as it was.
“Allow me to explain,” Lilianna said, taking over from Charlotte. “Sir Takahisa murdered a man who operated a brothel—and eloped with one of the girls who worked there.”
An even heavier air filled the room. The expressions of Miharu and the others froze like ice. They had never expected him to kill someone.
“Why...?” Aki choked out. Her gaze was unfocused, as though she was unwilling to accept reality or unable to understand what was being said.
“No witnesses have been found yet, but the assumed motive is that he did it to protect the girl.”
Perhaps there was still hope for him, as he hadn’t done it out of despair or self-interest, but no one could open their mouths.
So that was the blood I smelled when we visited the brothel...
Sara recalled the fresh blood she had smelled in the alleyway beside the brothel when she’d joined the search team and frowned bitterly.
Meanwhile, Charlotte resumed her explanation of events. “The organization behind the brothel has been furiously searching for him to exact revenge. Sir Takahisa and the brothel girl were hiding in the aforementioned inn, but they had already been caught by the organization by the time the search team got there.”
“Caught...? So where is he now?” Masato moved his dry lips and asked.
“We believe he is alive.”
Everyone looked slightly relieved.
“However, we still don’t know his whereabouts.”
“You mean you don’t know where they’re keeping him?” Satsuki asked.
“We know where he was held captive: in the hidden facility beneath the brothel. It seems there was illicit business being conducted there.”
“And he’s not there anymore?”
“No. Apparently there was a large scuffle within the facility... The basement of the brothel is now completely burned down.”
“Burned down...” Satsuki’s face twitched intensely.
“That pillar of fire,” Masato mumbled quietly.
“Yes. Yesterday morning, a large pillar of fire rose just before the golems attacked the castle. It’s almost certain that it was caused by Sir Takahisa. Just before the pillar rose, someone fitting Sir Takahisa’s description was witnessed leaving the brothel with a girl,” Charlotte described.
“My brother burned down the brothel—the whole building?”
“Yes,” Lilianna answered without hesitation.
“Then...does that mean my brother...killed a lot of people?” Masato asked. His face was twisted bitterly, as though he was enduring the pain of a toothache.
“I’m told there were many casualties,” Lilianna confirmed solemnly.
“After everything he said about not killing people...”
Masato bit his bottom lip and clenched his fists. Aki, Miharu, and Satsuki were all silent in thought. Then, as though to relieve them of some of their torment...
“All the casualties were members of the organization conducting the illicit business. The girls working at the brothel were all released before the building was burned down,” Charlotte added.
“Still... Argh! Jeez!”
He had just been informed his brother was a murderer, so it was only natural for Masato to lose his composure. He ruffled his own hair roughly as all kinds of emotions ran through him. His face was clearly saying he didn’t get what was happening.
“And Takahisa went missing afterward?” Satsuki asked after taking a deep breath to calm herself, urging them to keep going.
“Yes. There were no witnesses after that, leaving the search team at a loss. So we were hoping to borrow Lady Sara’s strength once again.”
Charlotte nodded curtly and looked at Sara.
“I just have to go to the scene and follow his scent, right? Leave it to me,” Sara said, willingly cooperating with the search.
“Thank you very much. Please help us out,” Charlotte said, and the others all bowed their heads at Sara.
“It’s nothing to thank me for! I’m only doing what’s right,” Sara said, shaking her head with a troubled look.
“Furthermore, it seems Sir Haruto has a report to make regarding Sir Takahisa. I haven’t heard the details yet myself.”
“Most of it is the same, but I’ve also received information regarding Takahisa’s safety. My source of information is the Wise God Lina,” Rio added.
“Huh? Isn’t Lina the one inside Miharu?” Satsuki asked, looking at Miharu.
“Was it yesterday...?” Miharu recalled how Lina had used her body to visit Rio’s bedroom yesterday.
“Yes. I was given a short message to pass on. She has the power to know the future, so I believe she should be a reliable source.”
“What did the goddess say?”
“She wouldn’t tell me his location, but he’s apparently doing well. In her words, he’s having fun with the girl he eloped with.”
There was no mistaking the faint look of exasperation that crossed Satsuki’s face.
“I-If she knows the future, why won’t she tell us where he is?!” Aki yelled.
For Aki, the situation was as grave as a matter of life or death. If Lina knew the future, then she should know his current location, she rationalized.
“She can’t say anything that would change the future, apparently,” Rio said apologetically.
“That can’t be...”
Aki closed her mouth in frustration. In reality, it was only natural to want to ask for the location of a missing family member from the person who knew where he’d gone. It would be more unreasonable to ask her to suppress her emotions. The fact that she was able to hold her tongue was probably because she still had reservations about Rio—or the source of information, Lina.
“Lina said that we would reunite in time. She asked that you accept it for what it is for now...”
Rio added Lina’s words to comfort them.
“I’m fine with that,” Masato suddenly said.
Aki looked at him with wide eyes. “Masato?”
“He’s alive. We’ll see him again someday. That’s enough for me for now.”
It seemed Masato had found his own resolve. He let out a deep breath, crossed his arms, and sat deeper in his seat.
Aki looked like she wanted to say something to him but pursed her lips as though stuffing her emotions away.