The site stained with blood was truly fitting to be described as a “slaughter.”
The Lady Virgin Saint hurried around checking on the wounded. Essentially, there were severed limbs or shattered cartilage, or they were on the brink of death from excessive blood loss, but it seemed there were no dead among them.
Except for those whose heads had exploded in the reception room.
They had no way to help themselves.
I wanted to save them too, but the Dark Cult’s contract magic seemed to be far more effective than imagined.
It was horrifying to think what could have happened if that contract had been made at Gilford Orphanage.
Senior Elsi was wiping my face and body with a wet towel, looking as if she was about to cry.
My body was soaked with the blood spilled by others.
“Master, you’re suffering for no reason… If you had called me, I would have shocked these trash with electricity!”
While saying this, Senior Elsi ground her teeth. Her blue eyes were filled with hatred as they lingered over the wounded, who were sprawled out and bleeding.
I seemed to be making her angry simply by having blood on my body, even though I had no injuries myself.
It was always my role to stop Senior Elsi when she was muttering and secretly casting spells.
“Stop it, Senior Elsi… What good would it do to electrocute those who are already dying?”
“B-but!”
The normally fierce Senior Elsi seemed dissatisfied, her eyes shooting blue flames as she attempted to rebel against me.
There was only one way to tame this ferocious beast.
My hand immediately landed gently on top of Senior Elsi’s head. Beyond her hooded hat, I felt the soft texture of her hair.
I began to pat Senior Elsi’s head.
“Still, thank you for worrying about me, Senior Elsi.”
“Hehe, heh… M-Master…”
Senior Elsi quickly melted and leaned her head against my hand, beginning to rub her face against it. It was a familiar sensation, so I decided to let it be.
The feeling of a lovely maiden burying her face in my embrace was, objectively speaking, not unpleasant.
However, the one who felt uncomfortable was someone else.
The Virgin Saint returned after scanning the injured and frowned immediately.
With her usual snarky expression, she twisted the hair at her temple with her fingers.
“Some are working, and some are just acting like pets…”
Of course, Senior Elsi wasn’t the type to take such provocation lightly.
She grimaced fiercely and slipped out of my embrace to glare at the Virgin Saint.
“What did you just say, you bitch?”
However, the Virgin Saint was a step ahead of Senior Elsi.
She smiled benignly, clasped her hands, and bowed her head.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Sister Elsi? If I’ve said anything that could be misinterpreted, I apologize… However, if you have any issues with your hearing, feel free to come for a consultation. Emmanuel.”
The eyes of our companions naturally shifted toward Senior Elsi, as if it was beginning anew.
Although it was the Virgin Saint who had provoked, the fleeting low voice she whispered went unheard by nearly everyone but me and Senior Elsi.
So naturally, the blame fell on the famously irritable Senior Elsi.
Of course, she couldn’t care less about those gazes.
With a look of incredulity, she burst into laughter. Soon enough, she exhibited her unique sharp tongue.
“No way, now they’re giving me a hard time about my breasts….”
“Perhaps Sister Elsi has too few manners to be worth giving a hard time to?”
“Well, isn’t it better than not having parents?”
The Virgin Saint whispered with a benevolent smile, and Senior Elsi, her lips tight with a cold smile, cursed under her breath.
No matter how much Senior Elsi wanted to, she couldn’t openly curse out the Virgin Saint in a public setting.
The Virgin Saint too had a social reputation built over time, so she couldn’t just engage in open squabbles.
Thus, we found ourselves in this amusing situation, whispering and exchanging harsh words.
I playfully gave Senior Elsi a light flick on the forehead, revealing her true nature after a long time.
“Ouch! M-Master!”
“No matter what, let’s keep our noses out of family matters.”
“B-but…!”
Senior Elsi looked terribly wronged.
It seemed that discussions about breasts were more sensitive for her than family matters.
I couldn’t comprehend why this was such a hot topic.
It was the Virgin Saint who was abnormal; Senior Elsi’s breasts were perfectly fine. There was no need for any inferiority complex.
But I had neither the time nor the inclination to elaborate, so I shook my head firmly.
That meant there was no room for further discussion.
Senior Elsi instantly sulked.
On the other hand, the Virgin Saint wore a victorious smile.
Feeling pleased, she snatched the wet towel that had been in Senior Elsi’s hands and began wiping my face gently.
“You’ve worked hard, Brother I-an… Unlike someone, you have a kind heart and didn’t take any lives.”
“…There was no need to kill anyone.”
As I sighed and said that, the Virgin Saint offered a subtle smile, as if to say she couldn’t help but feel that way.
It was a genuine smile, distinct from the previous moments.
Seeing the peculiar atmosphere enveloping us, Senior Elsi showed signs of becoming upset once more.
But now, I wasn’t the only one who could control Senior Elsi.
“Elsi!”
At that cold call, Senior Elsi’s body stiffened.
As she looked around nervously, her eyes found the voice’s source behind her.
There stood Mr. Raymond, walking out of the reception room alongside Reto.
“Is this the time for you to be giddy in front of others? And haven’t you yet acknowledged Brother I-an as your partner?”
“U-Uncle…”
To my astonishment, Senior Elsi instantly shrank back and fumbled for words.
This was the first time I had seen her so flustered, and both I and the Virgin Saint stared at her with wide eyes. The rest of our party did the same.
Mr. Raymond continued in a stern tone.
“At such times, you should be honing your observational skills at the scene. To become an Archmage, one must learn knowledge from various fields…”
“I’ll manage on my own…!”
As Senior Elsi made a meek protest, Mr. Raymond’s gaze deepened.
He remained expressionless, making it impossible to read his inner thoughts.
He sighed as if done with it and shook his head.
“…Do as you wish. Either way, as long as you don’t become an Archmage, you’ll have no way to escape the clan’s bonds.”
Those words somehow seemed to extinguish Senior Elsi’s spirit.
Her head drooped.
Seeing her in such a pitiful state made me want to comfort her without thinking.
However, before I could think to do that, Mr. Raymond approached me.
He briefly scanned the bloody scene I had created and informed me of his findings.
“Just as you said. Traces of magic that do not belong to the existing magical system have been discovered.”
“…Is there a connection to the Dark Cult?”
“Not yet a concrete piece of evidence.”
By now, Mr. Raymond was addressing me with the honorific of “Young Master,” granting me a degree of respect. But it was still only a subtle form of condescension.
Nevertheless, it was clear that my evaluation had improved.
With a sigh of relief, I was also plunged into deep thought.
Ultimately, I wasn’t in possession of evidence that could prove an association with the Dark Cult.
“Don’t be too disappointed. The range for investigation has narrowed down significantly… You just need to follow the trail of these missing persons.”
As he spoke, Mr. Raymond handed me a bundle of documents.
These were files detailing the missing debtors that had been on the table.
With a wry smile, I accepted them.
For now, I had no choice but to be satisfied with this much.
With Mr. Raymond’s magic troops and an administrative officer from the Empire present, the investigation would surely pick up the pace. It would be even better if Senior Neoris arrived as well.
Just as things were wrapping up warmly, an unexpected figure threw cold water on the situation.
It was none other than my little sister, Liya.
She was trembling like a newborn fawn, surveying the carnage I had created. Then she raised her voice.
“Y-You’re insane… Onii-chan?!”
The inquisitive gazes of the party immediately focused on Liya.
Yet, it seemed Liya could hardly believe that everyone besides herself was reacting this way.
She pointed at the people groaning on the ground.
When I tilted my head in confusion, Liya raised her voice as if frustrated.
“D-Dangerous… Do you know how notorious these guys are nearby?! Look! T-There are dozens of them… dozens! And they’re armed!”
I looked at the Virgin Saint with a puzzled expression.
She, too, seemed flustered.
Not only the Virgin Saint but everyone in our party wore similar expressions. Liya’s golden irises trembled with disbelief.
Liya pleaded with Mr. Raymond.
Her usual dignified demeanor had vanished without a trace.
It seemed the shock was significant.
“Mr. Raymond… Please say something to Onii-chan! It’s too dangerous for him to fight alone like this…”
“As the son-in-law of the Rainelle Clan, he ought to be able to handle it.”
His voice remained unemotional, but the content conveyed satisfaction.
Feeling increasingly despaired, Liya turned her words towards the Virgin Saint.
“L-Lady Virgin Saint… Is it really okay for him to throw himself into danger like this? What if our Onii-chan dies… I can’t live without him…”
“…I-an is not hurt, is he?”
Of course, even the Virgin Saint did not provide the answer she wanted.
Seeing the Virgin Saint genuinely appear puzzled, Liya held her forehead and stumbled back.
Now she was clinging to Celin, tears welling in her eyes.
Since childhood, Liya had particularly not gotten along with Celin. Yet, it seemed Celin was the only one she could trust at that moment.
“C-Celin Onee-chan… Please say something. These people are strange! How could it be safe for him to fight dozens of armed soldiers alone?!”
“Hahaha…”
Celin scratched her cheek awkwardly.
She exchanged glances with Reto, who stood beside Mr. Raymond, and let out a deep sigh.
“Liya.”
Celin rested a hand on Liya’s shoulder, offering a gentle smile.
“You’re worrying too much… There’s no way Onii would be hurt so easily.”
“…So easily?”
Liya questioned, as if seeking the opinions of Reto and Ceria with her glance.
“There are dozens of them. They’re all former mercenaries, entirely armed!”
However, the responses from both parties were similar.
Neither Reto nor Ceria spoke but merely nodded in agreement.
At last, Liya sank to the ground with a distressed expression.
The sight of the black-haired maiden sitting amidst the flowering blood was nothing short of a scenic view in itself.
But the real concern of the situation rested solely on Liya’s gloomy mutterings.
“This is weird? Onii-chan shouldn’t be this strong… We promised to live together just the two of us…”
When was that promise made?
It was a promise made several years ago.
I stepped forward and gently patted Liya’s shoulder a few times.
It was time to head back.
It was time to seriously pursue the Dark Cult.
And one night.
“…Brother I-an, there’s something I need to report.”
As a shadow descended, a pair of deep green eyes appeared in the void.
It was the arrival of Senior Neoris.
