Chapter 294 — The Hidden Village Oni Sisters 3: A New Life and the Start of Revenge

──The Oni sisters’ life at the mansion first started with lots of learning.

[Frederica: Since we are becoming coworkers at the mansion, don’t expect me to treat you like I have been. From now on I’ll be guiding you without holding back, so please prepare yourself.]

That was the first kind instruction Frederica gave on the first morning of their maid life.

They had been guests up until the day before, but the girl acted in a way that showed they were coworkers from this morning on, and Rem felt nervous as she stood next to Ram. They were gathered at the mansion’s entry hall, and from here their new life would truly begin. However, she was worried about──

[Rem: Onee-chan, are you really fine? You can still rest……]

[Ram: I’m fine. Don’t make me act like a monster by letting Rem work alone. I want to be the one to suffer instead of Rem. If that’s not possible, then I want to suffer together.]

[Rem: Onee-chan……]

[Frederica: I didn’t say that you should have such tragic readiness! You’re making me look bad!]

Ram still wasn’t even fully recovered, and yet she insisted on working with Rem. While worrying about Ram’s stubborn attitude, Rem gazed at her sister’s appearance from top to bottom.

[Rem: Onee-chan looks cute……]

[Ram: Yep. I look good in anything, so that’s a given. But, Rem is cute, too. To be honest, you’re so cute that I’m just dying to stroke you.]

Ram, thin chest puffed up with pride, smiled pridefully──she was wearing a pinafore based around the colors white and black, and it was what people called maid clothes. Of course, Rem was also wearing the same uniform, but in comparison to Ram who was as gorgeous as her dress, she couldn’t help worrying about how poor she looked in it.

It was far too early for an eight year old girl to worry about something like that. Besides, the question was if there were maid clothes in this mansion that fit little girls.

Although, the answer to that question was standing at this place calmly with confidence.

[???: ──Yes, I feel the exact same way. It fits you two very well. It was well worth the trouble to make over the maid clothes the beautiful Oni sisters are wearing. A sight for sore eyes.]

The one who said that with a bow was a slender faced handsome young man wearing black butler clothes. His hair, more dark blue than Rem’s, was carefully fixed, and the impression of his sharp eyes was softened by a monocle. He looked around 20 years old, but there was something strange about his aura that wouldn’t let her sense his age.

This smiling young man was the one behind the tailored maid clothes that fit the sisters perfectly. Using flowery words, the young man complemented the sisters standing close to each other. However──

[Frederica: You mind not looking at them with filthy eyes?]

It was the disapproval of Frederica as she stepped in between the young man and the sisters with scorn in her jade eyes. And then the young man also sharpened his look at Frederica, who interfered.

[???: Stop being so sure that it’s the outrageous, Frederica. I was just genuinely loving those with a pure soul. The reason why you feel like that is filthy is simply because your eyes and heart are filthy as someone who is reading too much into it. You should reflect upon yourself. Reflect.]

[Frederica: Now don’t you have a way with words. How do you rephrase having a messed up lust for little girls like that? Simply calling it a mystery won’t cut it.]

[???: One-sided views and close minded, truly foolish. Besides, it’s wrong to think of it as having lust for young girls. I love pure souls. Therefore, boys are also included. Indiscriminate.]

[Frederica: I’m not concerned with how it’s inconsistent, I am saying that you ought to know better!]

Frederica, face red as she yelled at the young man that threw his chest out confidently, held onto her head in her hands.

[Frederica: Good grief……why is this our head butler? I support most of Master’s judgements, but this one is definitely wrong.]

[???: The master trusts my work, so I’m responsible for everything. That’s all. Natural.]

[Frederica: Your sound arguments seriously irritate me, Clind……!]

The young man kept a cool face in response to Frederica who shouted regretfully. Rem, using that pause in the conversation, pinches the edges of her skirt as she said,

[Rem: Umm, Clind-san……thank you. It fits…perfectly.]

[Frederica: So perfectly that it’s suspicious, that is. When did you take the measurements of their bodies?]

[Clind: It’s a divine protection power. When I look at a person’s body, I can see through all of it. Magical eyes.]

[Frederica: That’s a lie! Right?]

[Clind: Of course, I was joking. We have known each other for such a long time, why are you so surprised? Does not compute.]

Frederica had no words for the behavior of the young boy──Clind who told a lie shamelessly. Apparently Clind always had a slight edge on Frederica. That was how Rem grasped their relationship.

Frederica and Clind, these were the two people taking charge of guiding Rem and Ram’s maid life at the mansion. They may be quarrelling like this at the moment, but their conduct actually looked resolved even to the untrained eye, and Rem also unconsciously stood as stiff as a ramrod as someone who wasn’t taught anything yet.

[Ram: I understand our position now. On another note, may I ask something?]

[Clind: Ask away, Miss.]

[Ram: About the employees working at the mansion, there’s an awful lot of Demi-humans. ……Or well, that’s not quite it. I’m concerned about how there are only Demi-humans. Why is it like this?]

Rem tilts her head at her sister’s words prompting them to shift their attention towards contemplating the mansion.

[Rem: Is there something weird…about having a lot of Demi-humans?]

[Ram: Rem might not get it right away since there was only our race at the village. But, that’s strange for the outside world. Besides, Roswaal-sama is a human, right?]

[Clind: Indeed, Master is a human. An eagle eye.]

[Ram: And so, this is the Kingdom of Lugnica. Mind giving me a logical explanation for all this?]

When Clind agreed with her point, Ram sharpened her eyes. They weren’t sharp enough to call them dangerous, but Ram was being cautious of something. Rem also held onto her sister’s sleeve because of her anxiety.

[Frederica: Indeed, everyone in this mansion is a Demi-human. Among the gossip that goes around, there are also voices that call Master “Demi-human Lover”.]

[Ram: That’s quite the crude name.]

[Frederica: Frankly, I assert it to be groundless.]

When Frederica took a step forward in response to Ram’s scornful tone, she continued while looking down on the sisters.

[Frederica: Master invites Demi-humans with no place to go into the mansion, and he gives them work and education. That’s how he gives, and he doesn’t ask for anything in return. It’s all purely Master’s good will.]

[Ram: Right. However, that doesn’t seem to apply to Rem and I.]

Rem also nodded many times in her head to agree with Ram’s objection.

He doesn’t ask for anything in return for his charity. That’s what Frederica said about Roswaal, but it was the exact opposite Rem and Ram. Rem and Ram were asked for compensation to save their respective sister, and this current situation came about by offering themselves. It was a completely different story.

When Frederica quickly squinted her jade green eyes at their reaction, she said,

[Frederica: Perhaps he thought about how you two would rush out of the mansion if he didn’t create ties like that. Can you deny that?]

[Ram: ────]

[Frederica: Then that silence proves the accuracy of Master’s thoughts.]

Ram chose to be silent because that was most likely the bulls-eye.

The sisters were both put under Roswaal’s care. If they weren’t, they would’ve rushed out of the mansion, and at about this time they might’ve been on a reckless journey for the Oni clan’s revenge.

Even Rem, someone ignorant, could imagine that to be something absurd.

[Ram: ……Fine. Roswaal-sama is a benevolent person that helps Demi-humans who lack the ability to live uneducated. Let’s leave it at that. Besides, it’s not like we are in a position to complain, being under Roswaal-sama’s care.]

[Frederica: You have a sharp way of speaking, don’t you. I understand how Master feels, too. If he doesn’t make ties with reasons, you’ll leave……that’s what makes him anxious.]

Ram, with a discouraged look, snorts at Frederica’s speaking.

[Ram: Whatever the case is, we have a goal. Whether we stay in the mansion or not won’t change that fact. We have strong determination to accomplish it. And well……until we accomplish it, I swear to “Ban Steamed Potatoes”.]

[Rem: O─Onee-chan……no way, are you serious……!?]

[Frederica: There’s a very huge gap between Rem’s reaction and how I feel!]

Rem was extremely disturbed by Ram’s oath, but Frederica didn’t feel that shock.

[Frederica: ……Anyway, I’m going to start guiding you. But, I must first explain an important rule.]

[Rem: A rule……]

Frederica, arms folded, says those words, and it makes Rem’s ears twitch. A rule. Perhaps that was something like the laws at the Oni village. She didn’t have a very good impression of laws.

According to an Oni clan law, twins were cursed children, and if that was true, then the sisters Rem and Ram would’ve been killed. She couldn’t remember how many hundreds of times she was told, “It didn’t end like that thanks to Ram”.

It was painful whenever she was told that, but it was engraved so deeply in her mind that she’d never forget it.

That’s why Rem got ready for Frederica to tell her something harsh. But──

[Frederica: In this mansion, the leading servants are to be referred to as Nii-sama and Nee-sama, me included. As for myself, it would be Frederica Nee-sama.]

[Rem: ──Huh?]

[Frederica: As I said, ‘Nee-sama’. You would call me Frederica Nee-sama……why are you giving me that look?]

Frederica opens her eyes wide at Rem, who was baffled as she couldn’t understand what she was told. To her side, Ram had a completely unamused look, and Frederica compared the sisters’ faces as she says this in panic,

[Frederica: Might you wait a second? I am not the one who suggested this. It’s a tradition of this mansion……and it’s also a rule for those who become servants of the Mathers family……]

[Rem: But, Frederica-san…doesn’t even call Clind-san ‘Nii-san’……]

Based off of their appearances, Clind was definitely Frederica’s senior.

Frederica was unable to respond to Rem’s genuine question as she went “Agh”.

[Frederica: Y─You see, that’s because……]

[Clind: She may be like this now, but there was a time when even Frederica was pure and innocent. Back then she was charming in that she’d look up to me as ‘Clind Nii-sama’……but time is cruel. Heartless.]

[Frederica: Don’t just talk about that so calmly!! A─Anyways…]

Frederica shouts at Clind, who shook his head regretfully, and she cleared her throat.

[Frederica: The tradition should be protected. So, try it. Call me Frederica Nee-sama.]

[Rem: Um, but……]

[Frederica: It’s just a tradition, come on now. Moreover, I’ll be moving a lot closer to you, which is for the future, too.]

Rem looks at Ram, who was next to her, in response to Frederica’s firm insistence as she brought her face close at once. Ram had no words for Rem’s look, but the corners of her eyes and her cheeks were slightly stiff.

It was because she was feeling angry or irritated. Those type of emotions. To put it frankly, Ram was in a bad mood now.

As for the reason why she was──

[Ram: Rem’s sister…Rem has only one Nee-sama, and that’s me. Don’t be so selfish.]

[Frederica: ……That’s a surprisingly cute reason for your sulkiness.]

[Ram: Huh? You’re ridiculous. I stand by my reasoning. Can there be anything more important in this world?]

Ram, slender arms folded, stuck her chest out and confidently declared that. She still looked pitiful with a bandage wrapped under her head dress, but that attitude certainly was the almighty Ram Rem knew.

Thus, Rem also nodded in accordance with Ram’s intentions.

[Rem: Um, there…is only one Onee-chan for me and that’s Onee-chan, so……]

[Frederica: Hmph, even Rem-san, too. ……But, it’s a tradition, you know?]

[Rem: I’m sorry.]

Rem, bowing as she apologized, made Frederica’s shoulders tremble slightly. Clind said “Apologize” once he gently tapped her shoulder as he shook his head.

[Clind: When they’re this insistent, it’s time to give it up. Besides, even though they’re going to be maids at the mansion, they’re still young. Little girls.]

[Frederica: “They’re young”, that’s your reasoning?]

[Clind: ──? Yes, that’s it. What about it? Argument.]

[Frederica: I am sick and tired of your reasoning!!]

Frederica shakes off Clind’s hand, who had a curious look, and she let out a deep sigh. Then, she smoothed down her blond hair, and she looked down regretfully.

[Frederica: Understood. Shelving the tradition for now, let’s move on to the next topic. ……Ahh, I was hoping that they’d call me Nee-sama too…]

[Ram: Sounds like Frederica is just as sinful as Clind.]

[Frederica: I may have given up on being called Nee-sama, but at least say my name with a ‘-san’!]

Frederica, who was disappointed, raised her voice at Ram, and then she started to move at once. Clind also walks next to her, and Rem and Ram follow from behind as well.

And then, when Rem suddenly had a realization and looked back at Ram she said,

[Rem: ……Nee-sama]

[Ram: ────]

[Rem: Erm, I just wanted to try saying it.]

Rem, becoming embarrassed, looks away, and she walked faster as even her ears turned red. Seeing Rem walk ahead hastily like that, Ram’s mouth loosened slightly.

[Ram: Haha]

Then, she snorted her nose in a pleased way.

2

[Roswaal: Heeeeey, Rem. Good work. Are you used to the mansion noooooow?]

[Rem: Ah, Roswaal-sama……ah]

Rem gets called out to while she was cleaning the mansion’s parlor, and she turns around in surprise. Rem, bucket of water in her hands, staggers slightly, but

[Roswaal: Oh, careful careful.]

Roswaal, coming a step closer to her, holds up her shoulder, and she just barely avoided falling. When Rem let out a sigh of relief, she immediately panicked and bowed her head.

[Rem: Thank you very much. My sincere apologies for this.]

[Roswaal: What, it’s no big deeeeal. ……Oh another thing, I should’ve said this earlier, but you’ve got the style of speech down as well.]

[Rem: Frederica-sama…treats me with tender care, so……]

Rem, responding while sounding embarrassed, speaks of the results from Frederica’s guidance.

Rem and Ram have already been working at the Mathers mansion as maids for one month──during that time, Frederica and Clind helped them as their leaders.

They both were very kind to the young sisters, and although they quarreled with each other, they showed loving care. Apparently, in the mansion training plan, work wasn’t the only thing they had to learn. Speech was a given, then there was reading and writing of the alphabet, numerical calculations, as well as common knowledge──there were too many things to count.

[Roswaal: It seems like you’re enjoying your time here somewhaaaat.]

[Rem: I have fun learning new things. ……But…]

Rem smiled as she chatted with the master, but she suddenly looked down sadly and stopped talking. It had to be because of something about the contents of this conversation.

[Roswaal: Do you feel guilt in your chest? Or is it perhaps pangs of your conscience?]

[Rem: ────]

[Roswaal: The Oni village burned down, and your parents and kind were all killed. And yet, here you are starting a new life. ……Is that weighing on your conscience?]

She didn’t say anything, and yet Roswaal correctly guessed what Rem was feeling inside as if he’d seen it.

She felt satisfied. It may not have been perfect, but at the very least, Rem spent her days at the mansion until today without feeling anything that seemed like dissatisfaction.

Rem had a surprising aptitude for housework, manual labor, and service. It was something that was improving conspicuously during this one month under Frederica and the others’ guidance.

It was a fact Rem didn’t know at the Oni village, and it was something she was never able to feel as someone who always had an “I can’t do anything” inferiority complex at the village.

──She came here after the village was ruined, and yet she felt more fulfilled than before it fell into ruin.

If that was the case, then it was as if she was happy now because of the village being destroyed.

[Roswaal: You see, I believe that the environment is more important than living.]

[Rem: ……What?]

[Roswaal: No matter what talent you’re born with, suitable soil, sunlight, and water are needed for that seed to grow. That’s what an environment is, and that’s what the most important factor is for many things.]

Roswaal tells that to Rem, who hung her head, with a soft tone. He had very calm emotion in his eyes, Rem couldn’t move and it was as if she was entranced.

[Roswaal: If the environment changes you for the better, then that would be something you should be happy about. No matter what, do not curse the events. That would be a sin and a whole different matter.]

[Rem: ────]

[Roswaal: Someone said something similar to me before too. In actuality, I do believe it. If the environment is a part of life’s journey, then meetings are, too. I was blessed with an environment. I was blessed with meetings. I’ve never regretted that, nor have I ever cursed it.]

Rem, seeing Roswaal declare that frankly, trembles so much that she started to feel a mysterious emotion.

It was strength. It was the same thing as Rem’s longing to be strong like her sister.

[Rem: I see that even Roswaal-sama has someone in his life like that.]

[Roswaal: Woops, that was a slip of the tooooongue. It’s embarrassing, so keep it a secret from the others, alright?]

Rem, with a slight smile, nodded at Roswaal, who put his finger on his lips. The behavior of this funny and friendly master made Rem change her opinion on him quite a bit in this past month.

At the very start, she thought he was someone she wouldn’t like when she first met him, but her feelings changed when he was this considerate and kind to her. Her doubt became gratitude, and then her gratitude became loyalty.

Rem had no problems at all with working at the mansion now like this.

However──

[Rem: The witch cult]

[Roswaal: Hmm]

[Rem: They are the people who attacked the village.]

[Roswaal: I guess Frederica and maybe Clind told you. They do spoil you, after all. I could’ve sworn I told them specifically to not let you know about it.]

Roswaal’s reaction of looking up with a troubled expression convinced Rem.

The witch cult──that was a part of her maid education, and it was a name that came up many times when she was studying the outside world’s common knowledge and history. They were a group of heretics that were treated as those to be detest throughout the world. Their numbers, their principles behind activites, everything was veiled in mystery, but the one thing that was certain was the worshipping of their “Witch of Envy”.

The worst existence that engulfed half of the world with shadow, known as the disaster of all disasters──even Rem, someone who was secluded at a village, knew that much about the rare evil existence.

This group that believed in such a witch surely were the ones who attacked the Oni village.

[Rem: It was neither Frederica-sama nor Clind-sama. I just heard about the witch cult, and when I thought about the village again……]

[Roswaal: You thought that they did it. If that’s the case, then I was the one to make a slip of the tongue, not the two of them. You sure got me theeeere. Today I am just a hopeless blabbermouth.]

Roswaal sighed exaggeratedly as he went “I screwed up”. He turns around his body there, and with his closed eye he faced Rem as she stared at him.

[Roswaal: About my answer just now……I meant that I think it was probably them. For circumstantial evidence, them being the witch cult indicates it, but it does nothing more than that, and nothing less than that.]

[Rem: Is it because…the witch cult…….doesn’t leave behind anything?]

[Roswaal: Whether they are the assailants or the victims, that’s how it is. They won’t leave anything behind at the devastated scene. Soooo, it’s the same deal with your guys’ village.]

When the witch cult decides on their target, the place, people, and soil are extirpated. Even if the witch cult is repelled, the driven off witch believers wouldn’t leave behind anything and they’d hold their tongues.

Therefore, even though witch cult was detested everywhere, for hundreds of years they acted as they pleased.

[Rem: Witch cult……]

Once again, Rem grits her teeth at the truth Roswaal told her. Her small chest burned with endless regret, the flame of anger, and above all, a strong sense of duty.

It wasn’t just because her Oni blood wanted retribution; it was also for her oath with Ram.

Getting revenge on them was something Ram decided, and it was even a wish. That’s why, no matter what,──

[Roswaal: That’s why, Rem. If possible, I don’t want you guys to live only for revenge.]

[Rem: ──Huh?]

However, Roswaal suddenly poured cold water on Rem, who had her spirit burning.

When Rem opened her eyes wide in response to the master’s statement, with sorrow clouding his eyes, Roswaal said,

[Roswaal: It is true that you should detest someone who burned your brethren unreasonably. But you see, you and Ram are still young, and you have a future ahead of you. There’s no need to insist on getting revenge, doing something that would be like wearing away your body and soul. That’s what I believe.]

He denies her revenge in an unexpected way, and Rem wasn’t sure how to answer.

In the eyes of Roswaal, who looked down on Rem, there was only the color of pure concern for her. Those numerous factors were speaking to her saying that getting the Oni clan’s revenge wasn’t realistic.

Even Rem understood that. But, even then, this was something Ram wanted.

Just that was more than enough to──

[Rem: Roswaal-sama, thank you for your concern. I will think about it.]

[Roswaal: I see, for now, that’ll be fiiiiine. Anyhow……oh]

Roswaal approves of Rem’s answer, and he tried to end the conversation. But, that’s when he was stopped as he tried to exit the room, and a pleasant color was drawn in his eyes. The reason being──

[Ram: Don’t carelessly get so close to my cute sister. Roswaal…-sama.]

[Roswaal: An honorific that sounds forced, truly pleasaaaant, Ram.]

Roswaal shrugs his shoulders at Ram, who was standing at the entrance to the room as she glared at him in a displeased way. When that behavior made Ram even more irritated, Roswaal let out a forced sigh.

[Roswaal: I am being this affectionate, and yet you are always so cooooold. We even spend every evening and every night together alone intimately too.]

[Ram: I’m just reluctantly accepting treatment for the sake of maintaining my body. So disgusting.]

Ram, with a frown that really made her look offended, entered the room hurriedly, and she stood in front of Rem. Ram, who interfered the master and her little sister, touched Rem’s face gently at that spot.

[Ram: Are you okay? He didn’t do anything weird to you, did he?]

[Roswaal: You don’t trust me, do youuuuu. We’ve known each other for a month now, so I think it’s about time we built a relationship of truuuuuust.]

[Ram: A relationship of trust? In this one month, my suspicions have only been increasing during my time with Roswaal-sama.]

[Roswaal: What a strict evaluation. But I wonder, is the reason why I think that your sister and I have built a good relationship because I’m conceiteeeeed?]

Roswaal smiles strangely at Ram’s cold response, and he waves his hand at Rem. Seeing him do that, Ram looks at Rem in the eye, and she said,

[Ram: Is this true, Rem?]

[Rem: He’s lying. Onee-chan is right.]

[Roswaal: Betrayed within an instant, my heart has been shatteeered.]

Rem had no reason to worry about if she should choose to be on Ram’s side or Roswaal’s side.

Seeing that Roswaal was sighing with his hands raised, Ram smiled triumphantly. However, Rem touched her sister’s hand, and starting with “Onee-chan”, she said,

[Rem: So, are you finished cleaning upstairs?]

[Ram: ──. ────. ──Not yet.]

Ram answered Rem’s question with a little hesitation while looking away. When Rem nodded at the answer she expected, she grasped her sister’s hand that touched her as she said,

[Rem: Well then, since I’m finished with the place I’m responsible for, let’s go finish the rest of Onee-chan’s work.]

[Ram: ……Thanks as always, Rem.]

[Ram: It’s no big deal. It’s for Onee-chan, after all.]

Rem shook her head calmly in response to Ram’s slightly apologetic sounding words.

In this past month, Rem’s surprising aptitude for housework became clear, but at the same time, various truths also became clear for Ram. As for what they were──

[Roswaal: Still, it is surpriiiising. Frederica was awful at first too, but I didn’t expect you to have such outstanding talent to be even worse.]

[Ram: I produce outstanding results in everything. That’s my karma.]

[Rem: He isn’t lying. No lies.]

Roswaal sounded like he was teasing her, but Rem and Ram couldn’t refute it.

In this past month, there was one big problem that became clear to Ram upon living at the mansion. It was the harmful effect of losing her horn, which was the chronic mana deficiency that threatened her body.

Currently, Ram’s condition was kept stable because of Roswaal’s treatment every evening. However, originally this was supposed to only take care of the role that a horn should fulfill. It was also a treatment that was solely limited to preventing her rampages, and it was far off from being the ability she had when her horn wasn’t gone.

In conclusion, Ram’s body was always in a malnutrition-like condition, and she couldn’t even do activities by the book. She was only able to go on as a result of her tough mental strength, no doubt about it.

Of course, there was no way she could accomplish her duties as a maid satisfactorily. Still, Ram stubbornly engaged in roles, and she bestirred herself to try and do the same work as Rem.

[Rem: It’s all clean. Onee-chan.]

[Ram: Yes, understood.]

So, making up for her sister’s deficits has been Rem’s daily routine. She finished cleaning the parlor, and she headed to upstairs with Ram as she nodded. But before that, when Rem bowed to Roswaal, she said,

[Rem: Well then, Roswaal-sama, we’ll be leaving. See you later.]

[Roswaal: Okay okay, keep up the good work. Also, Ram. I think my business is going to take longer tonight. I’m probably going to be late for your treatment, but just wait for me without feeling loneeely.]

[Ram: It would be nice if you did it while I was sleeping.]

[Roswaal: But then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy your reaction……not, but you see, I wouldn’t be able to tell if the treatment went well or not.]

Ram, mood worsened, snorts at Roswaal who made exaggerations, and then Rem left the parlor along with her. Just after that, while they were both headed upstairs side by side, Ram took a side glance at her as she said,

[Ram: He really didn’t do anything, right?]

[Rem: No need to worry. Onee-chan, you doubt Roswaal-sama far too much.]

[Ram: ……You don’t have to speak formally1 with me too.]

[Rem: Ah, my apolog……sorry. It’s become a habit now to speak like that……]

Rem unconsciously started to speak formally, and she put her hand on her mouth in a panic.

She was completely blended in with the mansion life. That proved it was natural for her now. She got used to the maid dress that she was embarrassed of at first, and was even no longer reluctant with the manner of speaking and the work.

If there was still one thing that she wasn’t used to it would be──

[────]

There was the profile of Ram, who walked next to her. She steals a glance at her firm look and her gallant eyes. Her sister looked the same as before, but even then, she was definitely different now.

Even Ram, who she thought wouldn’t change no matter what happened, was no exception to the effects of losing a horn. There was no trace left of the power of her sister that was deemed the reincarnation of an Oni God.

If this was the Ram back at the village, she wouldn’t need help from Rem for anything. And that’s because Ram was far above Rem in everything.

Ram, who was supposed to be a truly outstanding being, was now standing close to Rem like this.

It didn’t seem like she would get used to it, no matter how much time passed. Or maybe, maybe one day she’d at least get used to this sense of discomfort. Maybe at least she’d get used to Ram not having a horn, just like how she did with her clothes and manner of speaking.

And if she really did, how would that be any different from losing her Oni pride?

[Ram: ──Rem?]

[Rem: ……Ah]

Ram, at the end of the corridor, calls out to Rem, who got lost in her thoughts too long and stopped walking.

[Rem: No, it is nothing. I am fine.]

[Ram: ──Oh.]

Rem watches Ram give a slight nod as she accepted that reply, and she quickly stood next to her sister.

She didn’t realize that the words she let out automatically were formal, and she didn’t notice that her older sister was sensitive to the change happening inside of her──.

3

Even when Rem was feeling conflicted and worried, time went on irreversibly.

During this time that passed while she engaged in the mansion work, Rem became uneasy because of her heart, which was diminishing her anger that was supposed to be in her chest.

Her race’s revenge, her attachment towards getting revenge she promised with Ram faded every day, weakening.

That wasn’t happening because she was always going after them everyday; it was related to the feeling of happiness she had living in the mansion and Ram’s condition that looked like it wasn’t going to get better at all.

Ram was necessary for revenge, for the retribution. Nevertheless, Ram’s body no longer had any of the power needed to do that as she lost her horn. It wasn’t that she wasn’t losing the mettle for revenge; the practical power needed to carry out revenge wasn’t in the sisters’ hands.

That became a stone weighing on Rem’s heart, and it cast a shadow on the flame of her desire for revenge.

At this rate, she’d forget about how she was an Oni, and she and her sister would continue living as maids along with Frederica and Clind. ──Was there an option like that?

Rem never talked about it, and it wasn’t like she clearly considered it to be one, either. However, it would be a lie to say that she didn’t have those feelings growing inside her.

While having those feelings, Rem continued to work hard everyday to distract herself from that.

Being afraid of change, sinking into stagnation.

However, change would always come by seeking slothful peace.

──That was something inevitable to Rem at this time.

[Rem: Onee-chan is going to go with Roswaal-sama on his trip?]

Rem ponders the beginning topic, and she widens her eyes in surprise.

The details were of course like a bolt from the blue, but that wasn’t the main reason why she was surprised. The thing Rem was surprised about the most was the schedule for the trip.

The schedule──basically, they were plans that would make the trip take several days, and during that time, Ram would be away from the mansion. The sisters were going to be separated for the first time in their lives.

[Roswaal: Normally, only a certain number of people are supposed to come near “Sanctuary”. However, I have a duty to protect you guys safely. The treatment I give to Ram is a part of that. I shouldn’t abandon that duty due to my own selfish reasons.]

[Ram: I’m telling you, skipping a day or two won’t do any harm……]

Ram was unhappy with Roswaal, who leaned on the sofa with his long legs crossed elegantly. But, sitting next to Roswaal, the older sister didn’t shake off his hand caressing her hair.

Rem, sitting face to face with them, did not hide her surprise from that change.

[Rem: Onee-chan, will you be okay with Roswaal-sama?]

[Ram: If by okay you mean my neck won’t break from being unable to take it, then yeah I’ll live.]

[Roswaal: It’s a chance to look forward to Ram’s perseverance that was bound to come up sooner or later. Consider this as a challenge, and I would like you to accept iiiiiiit.]

[Rem: A challenge? What kind of……]

[Roswaal: Of course, the older sister separation and the little sister separation……or maybe I should call it the sisters separation?]

Roswaal’s words make Rem and Ram’s cheeks stiffen. Roswaal smiles at that sister-like reaction, and he put his chin on his stacked hands.

[Roswaal: Since you guys left the village, you both were never separated, not even for a second. So, I can easily imagine that it was the same at the village as well. How about you try taking a little breather now?]

[Ram: If we do that, does it even mean anything to Rem and I?]

[Roswaal: It does! You have to believe that everything has meaaaning. I just wanted to try it, wanted to see it, wanted to know how it’d be……that’s why I’m doing this.]

[Ram: If that’s the case, then it’s obvious that we should end the conversation here. Rem, let’s go.]

[Roswaal: You have a short temper. Sheeeeesh, you sure are a sassy girl.]

He stops Ram from getting up and pulled her arm as he sat her on the sofa. Then, once Roswaal cleared his throat, he made a genuine, serious look.

[Roswaal: I really am worried. One day, you guys will have to choose your future. Whether you stay here or leave is up to you.]

[Rem: ──. But you said that Onee-chan and I belong to Roswaal-sama.]

[Roswaal: I meant that to solely be something like an expeeeedient. I can’t force you. If you guys really want to leave, then the door out the mansion is always there. And I won’t maliciously insist on ownership to try and bring you guys back as you leave on your own.]

The statement makes Rem widen her eyes, and even Ram had her eyes slightly widen, too. Seeing that reaction, Roswaal continued with a serious look.

[Roswaal: Even if it comes to that, you are free to do what you want. Buuuut, no matter what future you choose, there’s no way you’ll live without being separated forever. And then when that time comes, if you guys drown in suffering……well, if a time comes where I could lend a hand, I’ll personally save youuuu.]

[Ram: ……Stop beating around the bush. What exactly are you trying to say?]

[Roswaal: To put it frankly, I’m worried about you guys. So I want to help as much as possible while I can. ──Do you understand?]

Roswaal winks at Ram, who pouted, and Rem, whose eyes widened in surprise. That clown gesture and the kindness of his blue eyes make Rem dumbfounded.

However, she understood that this ridiculous looking master really was caring for Rem and Ram. Thus──

[Rem: Onee-chan……]

[Ram: Don’t make that look, Rem. ──I guess I understand what he’s trying to say.]

Upon being called out to, Rem looks down, but she still let out a reluctant sounding sigh. Just from that gesture, Rem understood she and her sister came to the same conclusion.

Being separated would make them lonely. Even if it was just a few days. But, Roswaal was saying the truth. Holding hands forever as sisters and living life without being separated for an instant was impossible. Even if they wanted it, unfairness would attack them occasionally with a perfect surprise attack.

Just like how the witch cult absurdly destroyed the Oni village.

[Roswaal: What, you’re only going to be separated for three days at most, you knoooow. It’s not like it’s going to be a final faaaarewell. Spend this time without your sister’s vision as well as possible.]

[Ram: It’s as if you’re saying that I’m a burden to Rem. I don’t like it.]

[Rem: I’m going to be lonely and anxious without Onee-chan. Please come back soon.]

[Ram: See, look how cute Rem is. ……I shouldn’t go after all.]

[Roswaal: It’s already been decided, so you can’t do that obvioooously.]

He ends the interaction with a smile, and Rem and Ram were going to be split up for the first time.

And then, after three days, the promised day where Ram and Roswaal would leave the mansion together came.

The two gigantic headed earth dragons pull the dragon carriage, and the two of them leave for their destination on it. But before that, Ram and Rem spent some time reluctantly saying their goodbyes, and they just wouldn’t stop embracing each other.

[Ram: Listen, Rem. Don’t cry at night, even though I won’t be there.]

[Rem: Okay, I won’t Onee-chan, you be careful too……]

[Roswaal: You make it sound like you’re going off to war. This isn’t a final farewell, is iiiiiiit?]

They spent so much time that Roswaal ended up teasing them. Once the sisters finally separated from each other, Frederica stepped up to Ram as if deciding to do so on purpose when that happened.

When she fixed Ram’s appearance just like always, she finally brought something out of her pocket.

[Ram: Is that…….a letter?]

[Frederica: Yes, it is. My brother is at “Sanctuary”. He’s intrusive and noisy, so you’ll definitely come across him. Can you give it to him?]

[Ram: If he’s intrusive and noisy, I might end up shutting him up by force. If you’re okay with that, then I’ll take it.]

[Frederica: That’s fine. It’ll teach him a good lesson.]

There were bitterness and regret on Frederica’s profile as she handed over the letter, perhaps because there were some sort of complicated circumstances. Ram appeared to have noticed it, but she accepted her letter without mentioning it.

And then, she stepped onto the dragon carriage that Roswaal boarded first as she said,

[Ram: Rem, I’ll write a letter when we get there.]

[Frederica: Don’t you know that you’ll be back before she gets the letter!?]

Frederica sees them off saying that, and the dragon carriage they were on departed. Rem watches the dragon carriage fade away on the other side of the cloud of dust caused by the earth dragons, and she puts her hand on her chest.

There wasn’t as much uneasiness in her chest as she thought. Although, she did have a feeling that she might’ve collapsed right there after her tears overflowed because of her separation from Ram.

[Rem: Thank goodness that didn’t happen.]

[Frederica: It would be worrying if that happened when it’s only going to be three days! Garfiel and I have……]

Then, Frederica unconsciously stopped herself from talking as if she blurted something out, and she looked down awkwardly. Based off that reaction, Rem guessed this person she spoke of, Garfiel, was the brother she was talking about earlier.

[Rem: Frederica-sama, have you always been separated from your little brother?]

[Frederica: ──The situation is complicated. I haven’t seen him for quite a long time.]

Frederica made a slightly distant look in response to Rem’s question.

[Frederica: If an opportunity ever comes up, Rem might end up going to “Sanctuary” with Master too. If that happens, please get along well with Garfiel. He’s about the same age as you guys.]

Just for a moment, Rem was charmed by Frederica, who was smiling slightly, perhaps because she had remembered her brother. Her profile as she put her hand on her mouth with her fangs hidden certainly was just like a painting──.

[Clind: ──Frederica, we have no time to smile. We’ll be thoroughly taking care of the mansion’s duties while Master is away from the mansion. It’d be nice if I got help from even a cat right now……yes, this has to be your time to shine as a cat half-beast. I really will be looking forward to it. Anticipation.]

[Frederica: So annoying! I’ll be right there!!]

Although, it also felt like Clind’s usual jokes being shattered instantly.

4

Despite the start, the time without Ram at the Mathers mansion had begun.

Not having her sister by her side certainly did cause loneliness and anxiety, but it didn’t bring about the hopeless sadness that she expected.

It wasn’t because she had succeeded in the sister separation, but rather due to Frederica’s care──there were many times when she threw her into one job after another, so often that she didn’t have the time to think about Ram’s absence.

In the end, Rem cried slightly about Ram’s absence only at night; the night where she finished her work, returned to her room, and spent the night on her bed without someone to cry to.

And then it happened the next day on the afternoon of the second day.

[Frederica: Well then, Rem. I’ll be accompanying those kids, so please take care of the mansion while I’m gone.]

[Rem: Yes, Frederica-sama. Have a safe trip.]

In front of the mansion, Rem sees off Frederica, who had her back against the dragon carriage, and she gave a deep bow.

Inside of the dragon carriage up front, there several little girls dressed like Rem and Frederica. The girls weren’t similar to the two of them just with their clothes, but their circumstances as well. ──In other words, they were Demi-humans.

Just like Rem and the others, they were found by Roswaal with no place to go, and they were trained to work as maids at the mansion. Their training ended, and these girls, who were deemed to have adequate skills as maids, were now being sent out to service at another mansion.

[Rem: ──]

In response to the women nodding at her from the passenger window, Rem also bowed her head politely and quickly.

Even though they were at the same mansion, Rem wasn’t involved with them very much as someone still in training. Nevertheless, Rem hoped the best for her coworkers traveling to a new workplace.

At first, when Frederica talked to her about Roswaal, she said that he had a benevolent and tolerant personality, but that really was the truth.

He educated Demi-humans, gave them work, and sent them off to different places. This wasn’t the first time Rem saw off travelling coworkers like this as someone who has been at the mansion for two months. She felt thankful that so many Demi-humans were saved by Roswaal.

[Frederica: Though Clind is unlucky, and I am worried about leaving you alone at the mansion.]

Putting Rem showing admiration aside, that was Frederica worrying, who was acting as the girls’ attendant. It was the first time Clind was going to be out while she was away from the mansion, and if things went as planned, Rem was going to be left alone at the mansion for half the day.

[Frederica: Having no one at the mansion is out of the question. But still, for you to be the one left alone……]

[Rem: It’ll be fine, Frederica-sama. I’ve gotten somewhat used to the mansion. I’ll be able to take care of it while you’re out.]

Rem nods back at Frederica, who worried about her, and she tried sticking out her chest, something she would rarely do.

There were already many times when Rem had to wait for her sister’s return alone while she was mixed with the adults’ meetings at the village, which Ram called duties. A situation like this was nothing to her.

[Rem: Besides, Clind-sama also left some work for me to do.]

[Frederica: There’s no doubt that……arranging the mansion’s basement warehouse will be a lot of work for one person. I’m really sorry, Rem. When I get back, I promise I’ll help out right away.]

Frederica, continuing to show care, says that and worried about Rem until the end, but she finally departed from the mansion, though she still had a conflicted look on her face.

And so, once Rem saw off Frederica and the others, she was now the only one left at the mansion.

[Rem: But I have no time to just stand around absentminded.]

Once Rem said that to herself, she quickly returned to the mansion and headed towards the wing with the basement warehouse. The old looking key in her pocket was something Clind gave her, who was out to do some errands.

It seemed that Clind was planning on doing a makeover of the mansion, cleaning it during these three days without Roswaal. The big job of rearranging the basement warehouse that started yesterday was also part of that.

[Rem: ──It’s here, right?]

The west wing, east wing, and then the third wing in the middle made up the Mathers mansion, and the basement warehouse Clind left her to take care of was at the middle wing. It was there at the deepest part of the first floor. People rarely came to the deepest part of the cold, stone passageway, and this was also the first time Rem came here.

That’s how it was, so she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to tell if the warehouse would need to be rearranged or not, but──

[Rem: Clind-sama said that you’d be able to tell once you see it, so…]

Clind was basically never wrong. Contrary to Frederica’s fears, he was always gentlemanly and kind, so he even patiently worked with someone unskilled like Rem. He really did bother her sometimes, but it actually was only when she’d get surprised by him looking at her from afar.

With the help of her trust in Clind, Rem reaches for the door to the basement warehouse without hesitation. When she inserted the old key into the keyhole, it unlocked easily making a rough sound, and the door opened with a creak.

[Rem: ──]

But, the next moment, Rem shrieked softly at the stink leaking through the door.

She closes the door reflexively and fell to her knees on the spot. The stink was that strong.

[Rem: W─what was that……? Huh, what? Wha─what in the world……?]

It was a shock way beyond comprehension, and so Rem became confused while she leaned against the door.

A stink──yes, it was something that could only be described as a stink, and a cruel, hideous odor.

It differed from a rotting smell and the smell of blood, and it didn’t even smell like feces or stimulants. She couldn’t compared it to anything. Rem had never came across this smell──actually, that’s not right.

[Rem: Where have I…come across this smell……]

She smelled it before. She came across this smell somewhere once.

She didn’t have a clear picture that appeared in her memory. But, she definitely did smell it. Sometimes sense of smell would be more accurately connected to memory than images and sounds. This was proof of that.

[Rem: ────]

While not knowing which memory it connected to, Rem slowly opened the door.

Once again, she grimaced at the suffocating, enveloping stink, and Rem shakes her head dizzily. Even if she stopped breathing from her nose, she couldn’t prevent the truly strong smell from breaking into her nasal cavity.

Despite the stink assaulting her sense of smell, Rem stepped forward and entered the basement warehouse.

──The basement warehouse was shut in darkness, and there wasn’t anything she could use.

[Rem: ──]

Rem, putting her hand on the cold wall while using it to move forward, goes down the stairs. Dry footsteps sound throughout the darkness, and Rem felt as if she was sinking endlessly. As sound came down, so did her body, into the abyss. That was the type of illusion she felt.

However, that nightmarish delusion ended quickly, and Rem reached the basement warehouse.

[Rem: ……The…lights]

The moment she thought “I have to find them”, Rem’s vision suddenly became white light in front of her. When that shocked Rem and made her jump, she saw her surroundings, the state of the basement illuminated by faint light.

Miscellaneous tool shelves, piles of old books, tools of unknown use covered in dust, many very old furnishings that decorated the warehouse, all those kind of countless, unnecessary things filled the basement warehouse.

She agreed with what Clind had said. “Once you see it, you’ll know if it’s necessary or not.” I get it, I’m positive that anything and everything in here are unneeded things. So he’s telling me to take out all of it.

The light that shined on the room was a magic light installed on the basement wall. It seemed to be a mechanism in which it would light up automatically whenever someone came to the basement, and once that became clear to her, she wasn’t surprised

She understood her goal, and her anxiety disappeared. Now she should engage in her work while feeling like this. That’s what Rem concluded, and she would quickly clean up the basement warehouse──

[Rem: It stinks……it’s far worse than it was before……]

If Rem’s spirit wasn’t so strong that she could divide it like that, she wouldn’t have been able to kill her senses.

Rem, holding onto her breath, turns her head around to find the source of the stink. Once she tried following that smell in the cramped underground basement, she found what she was looking for in merely 10 seconds.

Then it was right before her eyes, and this was truly when Rem’s throat froze up.

[Rem: ────]

In front of Rem, gazing dumbfoundedly, there was a door to another room that lead to the inner part of the basement warehouse.

The existence of it in itself wasn’t something to be surprised about, but she was concerned about what was inscribed on the door itself. ──Several tight chains were wound on the door, and a magic circle was drawn to seal it.

[Rem: This was Onee-chan’s……]

She came across it before. This door had the same exact seal spell that isolated Ram as she went out of control without her horn, applied to ensure outside safety.

[Rem: ────]

No doubt about it, the stink was coming from the other side of this door. Even if it was a strictly sealed door, it couldn’t prevent the escape of the intense smell.

The moment Rem understood that, the loudest alarm bell sounded in her brain. Rem feels something that was like a direct hit to her skull, and her instincts were telling her to leave this place immediately.

Rem’s senses that perceived the stink also surrendered in agreement with her instincts calls. You shouldn’t be here. You can’t be here. That’s what her senses and her instincts clearly answered together.

She remembered being irritated by the stink before. Rem forcibly holds down the cover of her closed memories that tried to open itself, and she came to the conclusion that she should leave this place for now.

And then, while being careful to not make a sound with her footsteps, she turns around quickly, and she sought to leave the basement──.

[???: ──Che che che che che]

She heard a noise. A sound that opened the cover of her memories.

The next moment, Rem broke the chains by sheer strength, and she kicks down the sealed down as she jumped into the room.

Inside the room, on the other side of the broken door, there was someone that opened his eyes wide because of her Oni impulse. He opened his eyes wide, and right after that, he laughed and laughed──

[???: Welcome, little girl. Can you give a nice cry for me?]

Immediately after, the raging flames completely cover Rem’s vision, and she was blown away by the blast.

5

[???: Does this mean I’m free now that the magic circle is broken?]

[Rem: ────]

[???: Oh, it’s the great little girl. I guess this is where I should say “I want to thank you”?]

[Rem: ────]

[???: Ah! Guess you got too close. I guess you wanna say “Ouch my ears, I can’t hear”?]

Someone, someone was…something, something…someone was saying something.

Rem, falling over on the hard floor, did everything she could to restore the blank space created in her head. I have to gather the thoughts blown away by the impact, find a voice I can speak with, and do my absolute best to break the stalemate and understand the situation──that’s what she thought, but the dark anger rising in her heart stood in her way.

Just previously, a sound Rem heard through the door released something that was shut inside her memory. The fire that died down day by day at the mansion flared up into a flame extreme enough to destroy the world.

[Rem: ──Ah…AAAH]

Rem, mouth open, glares at the dirty ceiling, and she raised a distorted voice that shook the atmosphere. In response to that low voice, a white horn──the proof of an Oni showed up on her forehead. Her horn spreads the black smoke clouding the room, and it usurps a very minimal amount of mana from the world, turning it into energy.

She touches the ground with her hands, lifts her body up, slowly stands, and she glares at the man standing still in front.

It was an extremely skinny, unhealthy looking man. He had depressing cheeks and eye sockets, and a countenance that was so vapid that it looked ill. He wore nothing over his upper half of his body, and he only had hemp trousers for his lower half, but there were many burns and lacerations on his exposed skin. It looked as if he had been tortured before.

[???: ……Wow, so I guess that horn means you’re an Oni survivor. If that’s the case, then did you come here for your family’s revenge?]

[Rem: ────]

[???: No response. But you do want it, don’t you?]

She wasn’t obligated to answer. Rem faces the man with a sadistic smile on his face, and she decides to attack.

She steps forward, kicks the miscellaneous waste around her, gets right in front of the man, and while relying on the strength produced by the horn, she punches his guts──

[???: Okay, boom!]

That moment, a blast was produced beside her face, and Rem’s consciousness and her upper body shook violently. She felt dizzy, and her brain bounces in her cranium because of the blow that came from her blind spot. She staggers, and a complete gap was created.

[???: That’s 6 now! If you can handle this, then this is where I should say impressive, right?]

Explosions occurred, following the man’s voice. Three shocks were shot into Rem’s chest, stomach, and abdomen one by one going into her small body from behind, and she was blown away.

[Rem: My…abdom──]

She tumbles doing a somersault, and a lot of blood came out of her throat coughing violently. The shock jumbles her intestines, and her broken ribs felt pain because of the vibration from her vomiting blood and coughing. She couldn’t tell if she was seeing red because of the pain, or if it was because her face was split in half.

[???: As expected, Onis are tough even when they’re brats. You were hit that much and you still aren’t damaged?]

Based off what the man looking down on her said, she was now sure that her body was the same as before. She was breathing heavily from the pain, but her shining horn wouldn’t let her lose her will to fight. Rem’s wounds blew red steam, the damage of her limbs were healed in an instant, her disconnected bones were reconnected with a sound, and she stood up fiercely.

[???: I saw it at that mountain many times, but man you guys are literally monsters. Will this be when I’m forced to torture you?]

[Rem: GaAAA──!!]

Rem roars, and once she jumped back to make time, she faced the man at front and attacked him as she brandished her Oni nails. But there’s no way she could rush forward like a madman after it already failed once. Hearing that little girl’s battle cry, the man raised his arms covered with scars and went,

[???: Che che che che che]

He clicks his tongue, and right after that, there was the stink that would brush against her nasal cavity. Rem twisted her body at once, and she avoided coming in contact with the space where the stink gathered. However, she couldn’t escape from the produced blast.

Even if she escaped from a direct hit, the explosion would create heat, impact, and destruction. Rem gets engulfed in those things immediately, and she was repelled again as she raised cries of pain. She rolls on the floor, and she hits the wall.

[???: No technique, no plan, no tricks. Are these the effects of somehow making it by, using only the strength of some power? You guys are all just like kids who swing their arms and legs around, so aren’t you the same as beasts?]

[Rem: Oo…Oooooo!]

[???: You even cry like beasts, how dull. If you’re going to cry, then do it in a cute way. Entertain me by barking. You’re a let-down, you know?]

Rem, crouching, roars in frustration, and she senses the stink again. She hits the floor, and jumps back at that spot. But, it was too late. Immediately, there was another explosion, and she was blown off, rolling.

She bleeds, and the clotted blood that became a splash stains all over the basement. The scattering unneeded things were crumpled up by the impact turning them into waste, and Rem was going to meet the same fate very soon.

She was going to die. She was going to get killed. At a place like this, in an incomprehensible state, to the enemy──

[???: You may do this much, but no one will come. Actually, you have no one. If that’s the case, then this is a golden opportunity. This is where I should kill the little Oni with a slash and get the hell out of here, right?]

When Rem heard the man’s statement that didn’t hide his intent to murder, she felt herself losing the will to fight back.

In proportion to her blood coming out the desire for revenge inside Rem──the Oni blood inside her also poured out. When she finally became empty inside, that would be the end of her life and the oath for retribution. If that happened──

[Rem: ────]

If that happened, Ram would surely start the retribution for Rem.

[Rem: No, no……]

She can’t. No, she can’t. She can’t she can’t she can’t she can’t no no no no no no no.

With Ram’s current state, even if she had the same will and intentions she had when her horn wasn’t gone, she didn’t have the body to make it happen. That’s what she understood in this past month in her days at the mansion. She understood it so well it hurt.

If revenge was put into Ram’s hands only, she would definitely die in vain. And even if she knew it was in vain, there’s no way her sister would give up. She couldn’t leave revenge up to Ram.

Her sister won’t die. She couldn’t die. Her sister couldn’t have revenge. She couldn’t accomplish it.

Why? The answer to that is simple. ──It was because of Rem.

[Rem: ────]

The village burned, her race died, and Ram’s horn broke. If Ram went to fight recklessly with how she was, then it would be Rem’s fault. Because Rem let her sister do everything.

She couldn’t let that happen. There’s not a chance she’d let this man kill her precious sister.

[???: It’s about time I put an end to this. Little Oni, don’t you know that you’re no fun when you don’t cry?]

The man turned his palm towards her, and he was trying to stab Rem with the finishing blow while she faced up on the floor.

She focuses her eyes, will, everything she could feel into her Oni horn, and gathers them. She works out a countermeasure, changing it into an idea that was “Determine what this man is doing, and ruin it”.

In this extreme situation, that’s what her violent Oni blood and her instincts as the Oni fighter race bursted open and shined on.

[???: Die──]

When the man said that cruel death sentence, his intentions became bursting heat, and there was an explosion with Rem in the center of it. That burst and scattered the little girl’s body, and it was enough to throw out her blood and flesh.

However, that was if it were a direct hit.

[Rem: Ha──ah]

Rem kicks the floor and clings to the ceiling, and she looked down on the basement enveloped in the blast. She wasn’t seeing with her bloodshot light blue eyes. She threw all of her senses into her sense of smell that has been sounding an alarm this whole time.

[???: Hold on hold on, let’s not get carried away just because you dodged it by pure luck, alright?]

She escapes the certainty of the deadly blow, and the man looks up at Rem, who was above his head, with his eyes that had irritation in them. Signs of an explosion rose when the man concentrated on his consciousness, and Rem immediately got away from there as if on impulse. The blast was produced shortly after, but this time it couldn’t capture Rem.

[???: What…….!! Gaguwa!?]

[Rem: AAAaah!]

Her roar blots out his surprise, and her swinging Oni nails stabbed the man’s shoulder. It was the first time in the basement blood and screaming came out of someone other than Rem, and she jumped as she escaped from the blast that came right after.

The man holds onto the wound on his shoulder, breaking into a cold sweat, and he followed Rem frantically with his eyes

[???: You, have you really……!]

Rem didn’t respond to the man’s trembling as he forced himself to speak.

She simply answered by dodging the countless produced blasts in the cramped basement.

[Rem: ────]

She cracked the code to the man’s explosive magic. The answer was shown to her on the door from the beginning.

He was a man who was sealed by chains and a magic circle. That situation was the same as Ram’s, who went out of control without her horn. In other words, they were measures to prevent the mana manipulated by the man from damaging the surroundings. They were the same measures taken for Ram, who caused a chaotic mana storm, and if that was the case, then the principle behind the man’s powers had to be the same too──

[???: Damn it, damn it, damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it!]

The man, causing chain explosions in the space, gets desperate to blow off Rem’s limbs. However, Rem scents out the stink by using her sense of smell, and they didn’t reach her as she predicted the “Explosion Spots”.

The man’s invisible explosions. That trick was plain and simple──the man sets up explosive techniques in a space beforehand and he was detonating them in accordance with his target’s approach.

Therefore, the technique wouldn’t detonate at unset spaces, and he was limited to using extremely minor firepower so that he wouldn’t blast himself away.

The most fatal thing to the man was the fact that he wasn’t the only one who could detonate.

[Rem: GaAAA!]

[???: How could someone…the one thing I’ve mastered……]

The man jumped back and dodged Rem, who kicked the wall and came at him as fast as a bullet. Without a pause, the man tried to detonate the technique while Rem was as close as she could be, but Rem threw something even faster than that.

[???: ──Ah?]

In front of the man’s eyes, a red, glowing crystal was thrown.

It was one of the magic stones inserted in the magic lights that lit up the basement, and it was something that Rem had been carrying after she removed it from the wall and took in the mid battle.

The magic stone gives a slight amount of mana, and a spark was produced right near the man’s face. ──The next instant, the technique arranged there reacts with the fire and it explodes with the man’s face getting caught in it.

[???: Boo, gyaaaa──!!]

The explosive heat produced around the man’s face blew off his ear and nose. Face burned, eyes wide open, the man holds his face up, and falls down while screaming.

[Rem: ────]

Rem wasn’t going to miss this chance. She rushes up to the man in agony and crushes his neck by stepping on it. ‘Kill when the opportunity is given’, not one bit of such mercy was given.

The hunting instincts as an Oni, stronger than hatred and anger. The man probably had a hunch that death was near. When he reached his hand towards the ceiling desperately to stop his screaming from the pain──

[???: Ch, Ch ch ch──]

It was painful sounding tongue clicking and his attempt to get himself out of a hopeless situation.

The detonations set up in the basement warehouse all go off in reflection with the man’s intention. Tremendous, explosive heat and impact engulf the basement, and Rem also was caught in them as she lost her escape from the stink.

From top to bottom, the impact goes through her whole body, enough so that she couldn’t even recognize her own hands and legs anymore──

[────]

Hearing the piles of scraps wood collapsing, the man covered in snute crawls out of the ground.

The blast shook the whole mansion, and it produced a power that could have buried the basement warehouse in a cave. Although the man didn’t want to make the choice that got himself caught in it, on the contrary it did bring him luck.

[???: He, hee, haa……ha…haha]

The man pushes the metal shelf off of his body, and he looks around the disastrous scene as he laughed convulsively. It was a blessing in disguise──no, to the man, this was good luck for sure.

The first explosion of the chain explosions that blew up the whole basement turned over this shelf, and it acted as a shield that protected the man’s body from the blasts. Thanks to that, the man miraculously cheated death.

[???: That kid……whatever, first I have to get out of here……]

The man thinks of the girl who brought him both good luck and bad luck─releasing him unexpectedly and fighting back unexpectedly─however, he quickly stopped caring about it, and he hurriedly headed towards the way out of the basement.

He lost his right ear, nose, and some of his front teeth because of the explosion, but it didn’t cost him his life. After he found even just a random cloth to stop his bleeding, he had to escape before getting seen by the people in the mansion.

[???: And then I guess I’ll hurry and meet up with them……?]

The man, who was thinking of what his plan would be after escaping, suddenly feels strange as he tilted his head. The basement warehouse no longer had its original form because of the explosion, but even now he still heard weird sounds in the spaces here and there where the crumbling continued.

It was metal clustering, or maybe the metals meshing with each other, a scraping sound, like they were locking──

[???: Wha──]

Without being able to finish saying ‘What’ even in this short moment, something glancing passes by the man’s body. That made an aberrant, destructive noise, and it fiercely broke down the wall right next to the man.

[???: Wh……]

He was speechless, having no idea what sort of destruction that was, and he watched it. It came out of the wall and cracked the floor making a heavy noise in front of the man gazing in wonderment

It was a piece of steel. It had a round shape. It had countless thorns on the sphere. It had chains tied to it. The chains were connected by a handle, and a girl was holding onto it.

Inside the collapsed basement warehouse, there was a girl that had an iron sphere with chains on it.

[???: It’s yo──u?]

The man turns around, discovering the girl ahead of the chains, and he threw his arm up at once as he tried to set off the detonations in the area. However, the arm he tried to raise wouldn’t lift itself.

Once he took a look, he saw the top of his upper right arm blowing off, being torn away.

[???: ────]

He looks at his feet. There were the remains of the man’s arm. The ruins of his torn off arm that was cut up by an iron sphere.

[???: Gi, eeaaaa──!?]

The moment he understood the reality he was seeing, the man screams from the swelling pain. It hurt even more than when his face was burst open, and a scream that literally sounded like he was coughing up blood echoed throughout the basement warehouse.

[???: ────]

Still, the scream that was painful to listen to didn’t stop the girl from walking forward. ──While the chains made a sound with each step, the girl pulled in the cruel chains and brandished them.

She throws, and misses. It gouges his left shoulder. She throws, and misses. Just his hipbone broke. She throws, and misses. Just his face’s skin was ripped off. She throws, and misses. Just his shin was blown off from his left foot. She throws, and misses. Right next to the senseless face, the ground collapses.

[??? Ee, ee, eee…….]

The man, pain and fear taking over his brain, couldn’t get his explosion techniques to work at all. In order to set up the techniques, he needed to calculate accurately and calmly use his magic. With the man’s current state, he couldn’t possibly hope to do any of that. As for the mana scattered aimlessly, that was just the result of the Oni horn sucking it in.

The man lost his right arm and his left foot, his bones were broken, but he was still alive. The footsteps nearby reach the man, and an Oni that looked like a little girl reflected in his eyes clouded with pain.

She had blue hair covered in blood, maid clothes with burn holes all over, a pure white horn protruding from her forehead, and her light blue eyes were shining, wet with desire and madness.

[Rem: You’re the one…who did that to…me and Onee-chan’s village]

[???: Wa─wait, wait, come on wait…… I was just……gugyaa!]

The man quickly tries to give an explanation in a low voice, and a scream came from his open mouth. The heel swinging downward breaks the man’s left shoulder by stepping on it, and now both of his hands were useless.

He looked down on it. He made fun of it. The Oni’s…theOni’s, the strongest Demi-human horn, the bone of the Onis, the flesh of the Onis──.

[Rem: Onee-chan said there were four people. So if you’re one of them……]

[???: Ah, ha……ye─yes, that’s right. That’s right! If you kill me, you wouldn’t know the names of the other three, right!? So, you can’t kill me, you can’t kill me!]

The man strains his voice, desperately clinging onto the hope of his life being possibly connected to others. Hearing that scream, the Oni girl’s face contorts in anger. The man instantly regretted rubbing the young girl the wrong way. However, immediately after that, she held her hand, opposite to the one holding the handle, over the man’s wound.

[Rem: Water mana, healing wave……]

[???: Ri─right……]

A blue, soft wave forms in the girl’s hand. That gently wraps the man’s wound, and the pain was slightly relieved as it covered the painful looking wound. The water mana healing power was a healing technique she was poor at and wasn’t skilled enough to do, but it was good enough just to relieve the pain.

The certainty that she wanted to communicate with him more than anything made the man recover his temper.

[???: Now we can……]

[Rem: ──Now we can talk.]

The girl, as ready to talk as to act, whispers to the man, repeating him as he used his craftiness to try and do a surprise attack as he enveloped her in fumes. Then, in front of the man with a dubious look, the girl raises the iron sphere over his arm

She strikes downward, and the hit crushes his arm along with his broken left shoulder, blowing it away.

[???: Goaaaa──!?]

That instant, the man screams belatedly in pain without knowing what just happened. While the fresh blood gushing out stained the floor, the girl puts her hand over the wound again, and she healed it.

Seeing that with a sidelong glance, a question mark flew on the man’s head. But, he knew the answer immediately.

The girl, the Oni girl looks down at the confused man, and with a lovely, evil countenance, she spoke.

[Rem: ──I will break it, and then heal it, break it, and then heal it, over and over until you tell me everything you’re hiding.]

[???: Wh─a……]

[Rem: I will have retribution. For the honor of the Oni clan. ──No, for Onee-chan.]

The girl tightened the chains in between the shocked man’s thin arms to show her determination. The light sound the metal made almost sounded like an ultimatum to the man──

[???: Wait, wait, wait! Wait, please waiiiit──!!]

The man’s sorrowful, high pitched begging resounded throughout the basement in vain.

Then, as for the whether or not she listened to his begging, the painful screaming that continued afterwards is your answer.

6

──Immediately after Rem woke up, she completely lost track of where she was.

[Rem: ────]

She was in a room without lights, she couldn’t move her hands and legs freely, her whole body was wrapped in a smooth feeling, and there was warm, soft weight on her chest.

She blinks many times in the silence, and when her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she figured out that she was in the mansion’s guest room she frequented everyday to clean, and she also identified what exactly was the weight on her chest.

[Rem: ……Onee-chan]

Rem faces up on the bed, and sees that it was Ram who was embracing her chest. She had her arms around Rem’s body, keeping close to her to not be separated, and she was fast asleep. Once Rem smiled slightly, feeling her sister’s sleeping breath with her ears and seeing her sleeping face, she unconsciously caressed her pink hair.

This wasn’t a servant room given to them as a private room. Rem, having doubts about sleeping in a room for guests, searches her memory to figure out what happened.

I’m sure that I was taking of the mansion alone while everyone was away──

[???: Although you made the basement warehouse collapse in your fight with the enemy, you destroyed him. You were found by Clind, covered in blood, and you were brought to the room to rest because Ram begged.]

[Rem: ──!?]

[Roswaal: That’s a rough outline of the situaaation. Did you get it?]

The person standing at the corner of the room, who appeared God knows when──Roswaal surprises Rem.

Seeing that reaction, Roswaal calmly walks up to the bed with a pleased look and says,

[Roswaal: Ram is taking a rest because she’s exhausted from taking care of you. She’s been doing it since we came from “Sanctuary”, despite being on a tight schedule. She wouldn’t leave your side ever since she got back……and she was always keeping an eye on your sleeping faaaace.]

[Rem: That’s because…Onee-chan is amazing……or, Onee-chan is important, but well……]

When they started talking about Ram, who fell asleep, Rem immediately began a different topic. Her memory came back to her when she heard Roswaal’s words. The basement, the man, and then──

[Rem: Roswaal-sama, my dearest apologies. I damaged the mansion’s basement so much.]

[Roswaal: ……I’m surprised. I certainly didn’t think that you’d apologize for destroying the warehouse right away.]

Rem lowers her head and apologies, and Roswaal smiles in response.

[Roswaal: You have nothing to apologize for. Your safety is what’s most important, after all. Whatever happened in that building doesn’t matter. Still, once your life and existence are gone, that can’t be undone.]

[Rem: It can’t be undone……]

[Roswaal: Nooope, it can’t. So be sure to take care of yourself.]

Seeing Roswaal nod dramatically, Rem lowers her eyes quietly.

Then, Rem speaks of the question stuck in her mind, the beginning of the incident at the basement. First of all, why was a man at that place?──

[Rem: Roswaal-sama, why was someone locked up in the mansion’s basement? Plus, that person……that man is]

[Roswaal: ──One of the people that attacked your guys’ village, yeeees.]

Roswaal unashamedly and sincerely affirmed Rem’s doubt.

The master dressed as a clown sighs pensively at the girl who held her breath upon hearing that reply.

[Roswaal: Indeed, it must’ve been very shocking to you. Locking him up was a secret that could’ve possibly created a crack in our trust that built up in these past 2 months.]

[Rem: No that’s…… well, but…that’s……true.]

He affirms it. Roswaal was hiding an enemy of the Oni clan from Rem and the others. If that wasn’t betrayal, then betrayal didn’t exist in this world.

Rem’s shaking fingers grab onto the sheets, but she doesn’t have a fit. That was because of the heavy influence from her sister’s sleeping face on her lap. She didn’t want to disturb her sleeping.

Seeing Rem suppressing her intense emotions like that, Roswaal continues with a sad look on his face.

[Roswaal: I captured that man the same day I brought you guys home to the mansion……so the day the village burned. I captured the man as he failed to escape, and I tied him to the basement. Of course, I didn’t treat him the same way I did with you guys. I didn’t show any kindness besides giving him the minimum amount of food to eat. Plus, it was obvious that he wasn’t worth it.]

[Rem: If so, then why……]

[Roswaal: ──Because I wanted to see what you guys would choose, that’s why.]

That answer bewilders Rem.

‘What would we choose’, what was that about? What choices?

[Roswaal: Do you remember, Rem? I said it to you and Ram. ──Whether you guys stay at this mansion or leave it is up to you.]

[Rem: I do remember. You said that the promise is only an expedient and……]

[Roswaal: Correct, an expedient. And I also said this. ──”Forget about revenge and live, maybe you should consider that.”]

[Rem: ──Ah]

That moment, the memory where Roswaal told Rem her choices came to her mind.

She told her. She definitely told her. Roswaal sure did tell Rem that there was a way to forget about revenge and live. Rem told him that she’d think about it with Ram and give an answer, but she didn’t have the chance to talk about it with her sister.

That was because, since the beginning, she disagreed with Ram’s opinion, and she thought that it’d be impossible to call off revenge.

[Roswaal: Allow me to put this clearly. I knew the man was one of your guys’ enemies. And if you really did wish for the Oni clan’s revenge, I was going to hand him over.]

[Rem: ────]

[Roswaal: But, if you didn’t want revenge anymore and you were going to your life at this mansion in peace……I was going to bury that man without telling you guys, and I would’ve hid everything.]

It was Roswaal’s arrangement, and a part of his consideration that wasn’t shown to the sisters.

──How would the sisters tackle revenge, the retribution for the Oni clan?

Should they really commit to it earnestly, do it so show them the possibility of a clue.

Should they throw away their desire for revenge, do it to eliminate the possibility of stopping them from moving on.

[Roswaal: But, you came in contact with that man in a way I didn’t want to happen, and you suffered serious injuries. I really feel like I should apologize for that. Plus, Ram did criticize me a lot for it.]

[Rem: That man……]

[Roswaal: ──Died. In the end, he didn’t even look the same, and it was a cruel death. Although, since it was a man who deserved it, I don’t have any sympathy for him at all.]

Roswaal put it as ‘died’, but Rem felt like he should’ve put it in an entirely different way.

He didn’t just die; Rem killed him. She crushed his limbs, healed his wounds, repeated it over and over, tortured him, while making him regret the crime he committed. And then──

[Roswaal: You have carried out the Oni clan retribution, though you had no choice in that situation. So now……]

[Rem: ……No, not yet.]

She killed one, but not all of them. There were still three left.

[Rem: Only one has been killed so far. There are three left that ought to be punished.]

[Roswaal: Well, what are you going to do? Find those three and carry out retribution? Are you saying you’ve realized how right it was to have revenge after killing the first one? Is that it?]

Hearing Rem’s unclear words, Roswaal questions her determination that still sounded like doubt.

What was left in Rem’s heart after smashing that man with an iron sphere?

It was the first time she took away someone’s life. It was revenge for her family, for her parents. Rem certainly took one step forward to obtain the vengeance that she swore on, but what did she feel?

Was it the aversion to killing? Or was it the sense of achievement from accomplishing revenge? Inside Rem’s heart, there was──

[Rem: ……There’s not really anything.]

[Roswaal: ────]

[Rem: I don’t feel anything in particular from killing that man. Is that odd?]

Rem, with emotionless eyes, tilts her head at Roswaal, who said nothing.

The shock of killing a person shocked her so much that her heart couldn’t accept reality. That’s probably what Rem looked like right now. However, Rem knew that wasn’t true.

There was nothing that shook Rem’s heart from the man’s death.

If she had to say there was something she felt from the way the man died, it would be──

[Rem: ──I will grant Onee-chan’s wish.]

[Roswaal: You will grant Ram’s wish?]

[Rem: Yes, I will.]

The Oni clan’s retribution, the four targets, to kill them was Ram’s wish and her pride.

However, without her horn, Ram didn’t have the power to get revenge on them. But still, Ram was more right than anything and anyone, so her wish had to be fulfilled.

So, what could she do? How could she grant Ram’s wish? ──That was simple.

[Rem: I will]

──I will just become the replacement for Ram’s lost horn.

To prove how right Ram was, to wipe away Ram’s shame, the one who was the hope of the Oni clan, Rem would be her hands and legs, her sister’s horn──she would fill Ram’s shoes.

[Rem: Roswaal-sama. ……Will you teach me the basics of magic?]

[Roswaal: ──Hm. You want me to teach you magic?]

[Rem: Yes. I heard from Frederica-sama and Clind-sama that Roswaal-sama is the kingdom’s best magic user. They said you use all magic, and that you’re an extraordinary magic user.]

[Roswaal: They aren’t wrong. In the kingdom……well, even if you consider the whole world, there’s no one out there as knowledgeable on magic as I aaaam. But why?]

Roswaal affirms an evaluation about himself without even being humble, and after that, he asks a question about Rem’s intentions. The reason why she was asking to study magic under him.

Hearing that question, Rem closes her eyes once, and then she opens her light blue eyes slowly as she said,

[Rem: ───For Onee-chan. To become Onee-chan’s horn.]

[Roswaal: You will become Ram’s horn?]

[Rem: Yes. Onee-chan swore on retribution, and it’s the Oni clan’s dearest wish. But, Onee-chan can’t accomplish that without her horn. So, I will fill Onee-chan’s shoes.]

[Roswaal: So that you sisters can carry out the Oni clan’s retribution?]

[Rem: No. ──So that Onee-chan can be herself.]

Ram was right. More right than anything. She was going to prove it. She would become the horn to do that.

Rem says her decision, and her mouth begins to open, creating a lovely smile. It was one that had more happiness than any of the many smiles she had in her days at the mansion.

When Roswaal closed his eyes upon seeing that smile, he opened his lips with lipstick and said,

[Roswaal: ──Okay. Sure thing. If retribution is what you and Ram want, then I shall respect that wish. I shall support that wish. Revenge shall be attained by all means possible.]

[Rem: ……You won’t…go against it?]

Rem wouldn’t let go even if he was against it, but she was still surprised with his answer.

It was because out of the two choices Roswaal presented, Rem thought that he wanted them to choose to “abandon revenge”.

However, Roswaal closed one of his eyes in front of Rem, who felt surprised. He looks at Rem with his yellow eye.

[Roswaal: Whether you choose to forget about it or not, I will respect your decision. But, I know which one is the difficult choice. And well, the reason why I want to help you guys who chose the difficult road is because I’m no stranger to not wanting to forget as well.]

[Rem: Roswaal-sama……there’s something you don’t want to forget too, huh.]

[Roswaal: Not even for a moment. No matter much time passes.]

Roswaal says that reply, making a distant look for a second, and it pierced her heart. The grief and envy heard in his voice were emotions Rem knew well.

This was the first time when Rem and Roswaal formed something that was close to genuine trust.

[Roswaal: Rem, did you get that man to tell you the names of the people whom you ought to get revenge on?]

[Rem: ──Sade. Sergey. Faust. The man who died is Fogg.]

[Roswaal: Those are the names of those that must be punished. Got it. I will definitely help with you with your wish.]

She tells him the names she got out of the man who screamed in the basement when his torture ended. Roswaal said that he’d help, so he should use all means possible and find the men.

And then, they’d find those three people, and they would atone just like the man she killed.

[Roswaal: Fill Ram shoes, be Ram’s hands and legs, be Ram’s horn──]

[────]

[Roswaal: ────So you’re saying that you want to be Ram’s substitute.]

[Rem: ……Aah]

Hearing Roswaal’s words, Rem a shiver ran down her spine. Her cheeks lose heat, and her heart flutters.

Ram’s “Substitute”──that was really, truly, so easy to understand for Rem.

[Rem: ──Yes, I am. I want to be Onee-chan’s substitute.]

The Oni girl being shined on by the moonlight coming from the window gives that answer, entranced.

7

Roswaal puts the Oni sisters to sleep on the same bed, and he leaves the bedroom.

Waving his cloak, he tramps through the empty corridor, and he headed to the office on the mansion’s top floor. He returns to his own private room, and he faces the desk as he closes the toor with the hand he had behind him. Then,

[Roswaal: For you to enter the room without the master being there, don’t you think that’s a quiiiite rude?]

[Clind: My apologies. I had an important trifle, and so I figured it’d be okay to use Master’s absence as a reason to come again. Explanation.]

[Roswaal: For you to call it a trifle even though you said it was important, what does that even mean? Well, I mustn’t get maaaad. Because……]

Roswaal, cutting off his words there, snaps his fingers. In response to that sound, the magic lights in the room turn on all at once, and the room that had been in dim light starts to light up.

The office design was extremely simple to concentrate on business. There was a desk for duties, a sofa and table for receptions, and then nothing but several bookshelves and some art to decorate it.

And then, inside the room, there was a tall butler standing calmly with his back against the window that let in moonlight. The butler entered the room without the master’s permission, but Roswaal didn’t blame him.

[Roswaal: She couldn’t just turn down the loyal subject who I made into the villaaaaain.]

[Clind: Yes, it is extremely regrettable. This is why, if Ram and Rem……if those young sisters hated me, I wouldn’t be able to put the loss into words. The readiness I would need for the influence that would heavily affect my daily work as a butler. Major loss.]

[Roswaal: It’s just like you to put that into words without hesitation. Still, I swear to be as careful as possible so that doesn’t happen. ──Though, I’m not sure how much you can trust me on that.]

Hearing Roswaal say that in a masochistic manner, the butler──Clind neither supports him nor corrects him. Seeing that behavior makes Roswaal more and more pleased, and his smile deepens.

[Roswaal: So, what is your oh so important triiiiiifle?]

[Clind: It’s about the thing that happened, of course. ──The result that happened because I gave the key to the basement warehouse to Rem and ordered her to rearrange it, just like Master told me to. That disastrous scene. Explanation.]

[Roswaal: Disastrous scene, eh. It sure was that terrible. Rem was hurt heavily and the basement had her blood all over……though it was the man that turned into meat who was being scattered.]

[Clind: I don’t have any thoughts on that man’s death because of the circumstances. But what I want to hear from Master is an explanation for why you made Rem do that. Rights and wrongs.]

[Roswaal: Explanation, an explanation, huh. Let’s seeeee.]

Roswaal, without changing his expression, ponders the question asked by the butler who kept his tone the same. He then waits for a moment, and when he raised his finger and faced Clind he said,

[Roswaal: Well, let’s leave that as a secret like always.]

[Clind: ──Understood. Comprehension.]

Clind bows in response to the playful answer without any opposition. Roswaal gives a wry smile unconsciously.

[Roswaal: Though this is just the usual, I feel uneasy rather than good because of your compliance. Are you really okay with not asking anythiiiing?]

[Clind: I’m sure Master has his own well thought out plans. It is reasonable for you to not reveal your true motive to someone like me……but I do have something on my mind. Worry.]

[Roswaal: Hm, you do?]

[Clind: Master doesn’t reveal his thoughts, his goals, not even what’s inside his heart, to anyone. I do think that’s because of Master’s excellent abilities and it’s a result of the strength of his heart……but sometimes, I feel pity for you. Presumptuous.]

[Roswaal: ……Continue.]

Roswaal closes one eye in interest, and he sat on the sofa. Once he crossed his long legs and urged him to continue, Clind, who closed his eyes, speaks on with his back straight.

[Clind: Glass is hard, but fragile. Sometimes your heart that tries to be strong and solid seems more like glass, not steal. Hardship.]

[Roswaal: So you’re saying that my heart is like glass, is that it?]

[Clind: If there are times it is steel, then there are times when it is glass. A person’s heart truly is a mysterious thing. However, if you’re alone when you’re glass, you’ll have no way to defend against a stone thrown at you. Defenseless.]

[Roswaal: ────]

[Clind: If, say, you have someone to come close to when your heart is a glass, then that’s a different story. It depends on if you’re interested in having such a thing, and that you wish for it. Report.]

Clind adds a bow with his last word because he said something too forward. A perfect, deep bow. Head kept down, perhaps not intending to bring it back up without Roswaal’s permission.

While seeing that with a sidelong glance, Roswaal puts his slender finger on his chin, and he let out a soft sigh.

[Roswaal: So basically you used this incident as an excuse to scold me and that I should go get married?]

[Clind: What a misunderstanding. If I could, I would meet a wife I could trust, have kids with her, and have those kids tell me what to do. Pure.]

[Roswaal: For you to let babies take care of you, that’s a pretty courageous decisioooon.]

Clind gives an explanation, speaking somewhat fast, and Roswaal made a faint, bitter smile. That interaction showed Roswaal’s answer to the previous question.

Then, his impulse to smile fades, and they both tighten their mouths.

[Roswaal: I shall take your advice. Though I think it’ll be hard to doooo.]

[Clind: There are probably a lot of women who won’t go any further because of the rumors about Master and his personality, but if you drop the makeup and dress properly, I don’t think there will be any problems. Advice.]

[Roswaal: Theeeen, I can’t. If I wash my face and change my clothes, then I can’t be who I am.]

Roswaal throws away the most realistic advice that’s been said thus far, and he puts his elbow on the table.

[Roswaal: Well, if you’re fine with it, then the previous matter is settled. Ram and Rem might hit you coldly for a bit, but please do your best to deceive theeem.]

[Clind: I have no problem with those little girls hitting me. Pleasure.]

[Roswaal: Sinful. Ah, right right, so I do believe that there was an iron sphere with chains kept in the basement warehouse…….can you change it so that it’d be easy for Rem to use?]

[Clind: I wanted to remake cute clothing and stuff, but I accept. Reluctantly.]

Rem got her vengeance during her battle with the man tied to the basement using that special weapon. Out of all the weapons in the basement that were difficult to use, Rem dared to choose that one.

[Roswaal: I never used it before, but it surprisingly ended up being something worthwhile.]

[Clind: Considering everything and use everything, I think that’s the thing to learn here. Humble opinion.]

[Roswaal: Yeah, you certainly are right. Well, Clind, you may go back down now.]

Seeing Roswaal give a gesture that said the conversation was over, Clind bows and moves towards the door smoothly. Then, while he went over Roswaal said “Oh yeah” from behind and added,

[Roswaal: Though Ram and Rem are angry, I’m sure that you and Frederica are mad about the commotion that happened in the basement too. Actually, that girl’s angry look was the strongest. Make sure to dodge her well.]

[Clind: ……All right. Melancholy.]

Roswaal finally makes bitterness show on Clind’s profile, and he smiles like a bad boy seeing that his teasing was a success. Then, once the butler left the room, one person was left inside.

[Roswaal: ────]

In silence, Roswaal rests on the sofa, and he looks up at the moon out the window.

He gazes at the moon with its upper half waned, and while bathing in the silver moonlight, he closes one eye.

──It looked as if the bright moon was shaking inside of his yellow eye.

1. [ Rem speaks using keigo(敬語), meaning she now says things like desu and arimasu, etc…