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Ray’s death was sudden.

On the day when we shared a story that could be a key to this world, he was attacked and killed late at night. Now, the mansion is in a frenzy, desperately trying to uncover who the murderer is.

For those trained in martial arts like knights and soldiers, it’s one thing, but for powerless servants, a murderer looms as a massive threat, as they might strike again just as they had once.

The family’s response was appropriate, but another problem arose from it.

“Ugh…”

“Cheer up, Princess Shione. The retainers will definitely catch the culprit.”

“Yeah, I suppose… But the issue is that among those suspected as the murderer, there’s you and me.”

“Everyone in the Count’s House knows that you and I were sound asleep in our room late at night. Moreover, how could we avoid the perception of those patrolling?”

“I guess that’s true, but the only ones closely involved with him are us.”

Some of the retainers began expressing doubts about whether Shione and Herrel had ordered his death.

Particularly, here in this world, where she had achieved nothing yet, she was known for her cruel and violent disposition. Their suspicions quietly spread through the mansion, cloaked in an eerie trust.

As if determined to completely avoid stepping outside for the remaining three months, everyone had been whispering and clicking their tongues at her with a sense of entitlement and discomfort just this morning.

Thus, Shione could only whisper her coldly simmering anger.

“…They know nothing.”

As if she could have killed Ray.

Even in this false world, his death loomed as a significant wound.

How was she to overcome this situation?

In pondering this, an idea emerged.

‘Somehow, because he told me that information…’

Ray, who had spoken of the weakness of the demons lurking in this world.

Not only did she not kill him, but had he not kept silent about it, would he have really faced death?

That demon, too, must have been caught off guard when Ray revealed an important weakness. It must have killed him so he could no longer aid her.

‘I have to find that demon.’

With no longer any need to linger in this world.

Shione rose from her chair, casting a gloomy shadow against the blue wall.

She began putting on her coat, and Herrel cautiously spoke to her.

“Are you planning to go out?”

“I think I need to see people with my own eyes.”

“However, now is not the right time. It would be best to remain quiet until the mansion calms down a bit—”

“It’s not like I’ve committed a crime. Is there really a need to cower in my room?”

Facing the mirror, fully dressed, Shione spoke in a sharp voice.

“If you’re so scared, stay in your room.”

After fastening the final button, Shione threw open her door.

“This matter is something I can handle alone.”

*

For the past few days, Shione had been carefully observing everyone inside the mansion.

One by one, not just scratching the surface, but examining thoroughly, finally, their discomfort began to show. As the first and second days passed, she processed the information as if she were an artifact designed solely for calculations. Lifeless, merely fulfilling their roles like machines.

After realizing that most of the mansion’s inhabitants were such dolls, she sought to identify who among them genuinely possessed autonomy.

‘Four individuals appeared most suspicious.’

Thus, Shione singled out these four:

Her family head and mother, Ainel Shianella.

The eldest daughter, Siabel Shianella, who was striving to inherit the family head’s position without failure.

And still the troublesome younger brother, Sion Shianella.

Finally, the most suspicious one, Herrel.

‘Ray said the person who tormented him was likely the demon.’

Shione contemplated.

She had many shortcomings. Unlike her brilliant family, until she found her unique talent, she revered them proudly while feeling envy and jealousy, which created a substantial trauma filled with helplessness and self-deprecation.

Regarding the sword and charisma, she felt inferior to her sister and mother. In particular, she felt a significant sense of inferiority to Sion when it came to the special talents outside the Shianella lineage. Thus, she could not completely rule out the possibility that they, too, could be hiding as demons.

They needed to be cautious.

‘Especially since demons… they said they can’t stick to their original habits.’

So Shione vigilantly observed her family.

In the training grounds, she noted Siabel’s mannerisms with a sword. At the dining table, she watched Sion’s habitual behaviors during meals. And when she was summoned by Ainel after Ray’s death, she noted the habits she exhibited when focused.

‘I’ve confirmed the habits of my mother, sister, and Sion.’

In the end, she couldn’t find any discomfort among them.

‘It seems the demon—’

Based on the process of elimination, only one remained: Herrel, just her.

In her solitary room, Shione quietly placed the ceremonial dagger she had prepared inside her clothing pocket.

Now, all that remained was to wait for Herrel to return from some mundane task.

While quietly calming her mind, she waited, and soon enough, Herrel returned to the room.

“I’m back, Princess Shione.”

“You’ve come back at just the right time. I wanted to talk to you.”

“You wanted to talk?”

Shione nodded quietly.

“Ray told me before he died that it seemed you were being bullied by the servants.”

“Excuse me…? What on earth…?”

Clang…

Shione walked slowly to the door and locked it.

“Since I already heard about the humiliation you faced, you don’t need to hide it. It’s best to speak honestly today.”

“……”

Herrel, with her head down, couldn’t see the piercing gaze that scrutinized her every action.

“I heard that the more you cared for me, the more those around you tormented you.”

Herrel kept her head bowed.

Her tightly clasped hands were visible.

Herrel had never behaved like this when she wanted to hide something. Instead, she would have proudly lifted her head, listened to her words, gripping only the hem of her trousers.

“But you never rebelled, just quietly endured.”

Herrel had never acted like that.

She had never stumbled or stuttered in her life, after all.

Whenever faced with an uncomfortable or interrogative situation, she would always scratch near her eyebrows and wear a forced smile.

“I’m deeply sorry for not realizing it until now… I really want to ask.”

Thus, Shione slipped her hand into her pocket.

The chilly metal solidity wrapped around her grip.

“In all the past this world has shown, Herrel, what you’ve experienced… is it truly based on past truths?”

“……”

“And if everything you’ve experienced is indeed true, then why did the ancestors intend for you to become a demon, making me kill you with my own hands?”

“……”

Swish.

The ceremonial dagger revealed its blade. Although it was a short sword used ceremonially or for offerings, it was sharpened enough to inflict harm.

Shione pointed the tip of the dagger toward Herrel and asked,

“Herrel, can you answer me?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about—”

Crack!

The dagger aimed straight at Herrel’s throat was suddenly blocked.

“The ancestors said to transform the past. While not losing memory, if the future is completely altered, a small demon would appear. If you slay that demon, you’ll obtain your arrangement.”

The ancestors had spoken thus.

“Surely they said such… What on earth is this situation?”

However, in this trial, she found nothing that aligned with the ancestors’ will.

She showed change, but it lacked sufficient transformation. The loss of memory did not exist, and the only hindrance was a comfort that had settled in this relatively easy situation.

They had said if the future is warped, a small demon would appear, but the demon had already been living beside her, merely continuing her role as a nurse from the beginning.

Ray’s words had been critical to discovering the demon, never the ancestors’.

“Ray told me not to imbue emotions into replicas. Most enlightened beings enjoyed provoking trauma and testing mental strength, so this trial would be akin to torture.”

“That word was accurate. I never imagined I would see a nurse so unfazed in such circumstances.”

“I really cannot grasp why the ancestors left behind such trials.”

Shione could not comprehend the ancestors’ intentions.

The absurd, seemingly useless trial. What reason could this hold for her to gain provisions? It was even doubtful whether they intended to give her any provisions after this event.

Shione shook away the clouding thoughts and blurted out.

“…I’m exhausted.”

Thus, turning her focus back to the current situation.

Herrel merely blocked the advancing dagger with a bored, expressionless look. However, her strength was undoubtedly not that of someone who had not awakened mana.

Determined not to lose, Shione circulated her mana, pressing her harder.

“…Let’s end this here.”

Finally, Shione’s dagger reached Herrel.

As Herrel, weakened, fell to the ground, she began to speak peculiarly.

“…This trial should never have involved that man as a helper. He’s an unexpected presence. A transformative and pioneering figure, similar to my past ally. My will intertwined with his from the very beginning of the trial.”

“……?”

“A trial that became tangled from the outset must be conducted fairly again. You must meet the World Tree Eriantina once everything concludes in the Great Forest.”

“What on earth do you—”

“If so, you will be able to challenge the trial again. Until then, I shall lend you the provisions I left behind.”

The demon wearing Herrel’s shell began to shed it, revealing its true form.

Herrel’s head transformed into a goat’s visage, and soon she morphed into a radiant silver-haired woman, just like Shione. Cold, composed features, just as would be expected from a member of the Shianella family, graced her presence.

“All of this was a trial and arrangement set to slay the demon of illusion and deception. In the next trial, suspect everything, every visible thing.”

*

Slap! Slap!

Orna took every opportunity to gleefully smack Shione’s cheeks.

With care, filled with strength, as her cheeks swelled. Finally, Orna’s efforts bore fruit.

“…Huh?”

A silver-haired noble peacefully sleeping even amidst the chaos of war.

As Shione’s eyelids opened, her azure eyes began to see the world once again.

In exhilaration, Orna fiercely whipped up the surrounding winds, and to ensure Shione did not once again fall unconscious, she delivered one more solid slap.

“Meow!!!”

Smack!

 

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