The Returnee Wants Peace

"The Belice Mansion is currently occupied by zombies, no, moving corpses. There are too many to recapture, so I'm thinking of sneaking in and just retrieving the necessary item... What do you all think?"

"We'll go in quickly and come out quickly. Isn't that fine? That woman knows the interior of the mansion, so there shouldn't be a problem."

It was quite an ambitious plan.

Rosha, who had explained the general outline of the operation along with Koko, glanced at the people.

"..."

"..."

Normally, people would think it's absurd, but everyone gathered here wasn't particularly surprised.

Cassis, who had been listening with his arms crossed, quietly asked a question.

"So why are we doing this? This item you need, is it really necessary?"

"Yes. Absolutely necessary."

The invisibility cloak that Lysithea had asserted was in the Belice Mansion.

It was said to be a premium item among sacred relics, deeply imbued with divine power, that erases all traces if one stands still in one place without moving.

'They say it doesn't work if you move even a little, but that's still something.'

In paradise, there were frequent occasions when she had to hide from the gods' eyes.

Since they didn't know what situation they might encounter when and where, the more means to conceal their existence, the better.

"...Alright, I understand. I'll cooperate for now."

Cassis, meeting Rosha's eyes, nodded readily.

It seemed less about needing to find the invisibility cloak and more about intending to monitor what his sister was up to from the side.

Well, who cares. He's coming along.

"Thanks. This is a secret from Cedric."

"Do you think I'm stupid? There must be a reason you called only us like this, so tell me."

"If you're going, I want to go too."

Not to be outdone by Cassis, Nox, who had been staring at Rosha, quickly raised his hand and spoke.

She was already used to his blind attitude, like a duckling following its mother, with a face that looked just like the former Emperor.

Thanks to this, the meaning of 'only us like this' that Cassis had just mentioned was revealed.

"..."

Lysithea and Joel, who were related to the Belice Marquisate, looked as if they were wondering if this was okay, but at the same time, they seemed inwardly grateful.

It seemed they were thinking of retrieving the bodies of family members or acquaintances if they had the chance.

'Well, it doesn't matter as long as it's not dangerous.'

Rosha, having obtained the consent of the majority, finally looked at Froy.

As she gazed at him with even more earnest eyes, as he was no different from an essential element of this plan, she saw him twitch his eyes, looking quite displeased.

"...I suppose it can't be helped."

The man, who had been looking at people with a crooked posture, slowly nodded as he met her eyes.

Rosha, Froy, Cassis, Nox, Lysithea and Joel. And Koko too.

With this, the participants in this plan totaled six people and one bird.

'We could bring more... but this seems to be the limit if we don't want the news to reach Cedric's ears.'

She felt very guilty about promising to stay quietly in the capital for a while as he had said.

'But it should be fine if we go and come back within a day?' was Rosha's point of rationalization.

But there was one more problem.

As they were dispersing with a promise to all gather tomorrow at noon and go quickly, Froy approached her and asked like this:

"There's one thing I'm curious about. How do you plan to get to the Belice Mansion?"

"...Oh, I was thinking of going with Froy's ability. Is it difficult?"

"If it were just you and me, it might be possible, but it's difficult to move six people over such a long distance."

Oh no, she hadn't thought that far.

Because he had always shown superior operation, she hadn't specifically checked, but it was her mistake for not properly knowing the limits of Froy's ability.

At that moment, Froy added in a subtle tone:

"Of course, it's not that there's no way. We can use my mansion."

"But that's..."

The totality of Froy's ability.

Rosha knew better than anyone that he didn't casually let people into the great mansion that traversed the gaps in space.

So she was in a situation where it was awkward for her to bring up the existence of the mansion first.

But...

"I've always anticipated that such a moment would come. It doesn't make sense to spare my ability in the midst of urgency, so I thought I'd have to reveal the existence of the mansion someday."

"Froy..."

"But that's in the midst of urgency, and it's not now, is it? I'll put this down as a debt for you."

The heart that was about to warm with emotion abruptly stopped midway.

At least he didn't say he wouldn't do it, so that was fortunate.

...But a debt?

When she sent a look asking for a detailed explanation, he shrugged and answered:

"I have something planned soon, so at that time, just naturally coordinate without complaining."

"Oh, that's..."

"You won't do it? You don't want to?"

It wasn't that. Rosha nodded for now.

She had expected a more grandiose price, but just coordinating with his plan?

She was about to say that she could do that much anytime, but.

'...Oh my?'

She couldn't help but pause at his sly smile that she glimpsed for a moment.

Did I perhaps make a mistake?

Whether knowing Rosha's thoughts or not, Froy, who soon returned with a clean face, naturally continued speaking while brushing her hair back:

"And there's one more condition. It's nothing much, but..."

* * *

"Ah, what's this."

A day later, at high noon with the sun at its zenith.

It was a day when the clear sky without a single cloud stood out, but unfortunately, Rosha's group couldn't enjoy the clear weather.

Because they were all inside Froy's mansion.

And with their eyes covered.

"When do we arrive?"

Cassis, whose eyes were covered with a light-blocking cloth, asked while rubbing the cloth on the back of his hand.

One hand was placed on his sword handle, showing that he was quite uneasy about not being able to see.

Rosha, the only one here who didn't have her eyes covered, glanced at Froy and asked:

"How much longer?"

"About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

"That's what he says."

"...What kind of ability is this that just waiting here automatically takes us to our destination?"

Cassis, who had been muttering that there was a reason his whereabouts had been vague all this time, soon lay back flat. The sound of the thick carpet sinking could be heard.

He seemed to think this was a small room, but in fact, this wasn't even a room but the middle of a corridor.

'He said to wait by the door because he'd let us out as soon as we arrive.'

One might think it's too much, but since the condition was to cover our eyes from the start, it actually seemed okay. After all, our movement would be minimized.

"Lady Roshanak, where are you? Magical power doesn't move at all here."

Nox, who had been particularly groping around from earlier, asked anxiously.

Come to think of it, magical power couldn't be used in this mansion. Even Koko was in a state where it could only fly around but couldn't even turn a doorknob on his own.

"Here, right next to Sir Nox."

Hearing her voice, Nox reached out his hand.

The clear sunlight and sunset glow penetrating from a nearby window crossed on his angelic face.

Just as the thought naturally arose that this must be what beauty is.

"Rosha."

Froy, who was checking documents even inside the mansion, suddenly pulled her to the side.

The distance from Nox, which seemed like it would be reached if he extended his hand a little more, immediately widened.

"W-why?"

"Although I acquiesced because you said you could handle it, he is clearly a dangerous person. It's better to be careful."

"What about yourself?"

Cassis, who had seemed to be sleeping, sneered while supporting the back of his head with his hand.

Nox also pouted, but Froy carefully let her go as if he hadn't heard anything.

By the way...

'I think I just saw the word engagement ceremony in the documents... Did I see wrong?'

She tried to sneak closer to peek at the letters, but Froy, as if feeling guilty about something, completely covered the documents.

What on earth?

Regardless of her bewilderment, he glanced out the window and spoke softly:

"We seem to be arriving soon."

Indeed, looking down at the window he had checked, the destination was starting to come into view.

Under the bright sky.

The once splendid and magnificent mansion and numerous figures staggering around it could be seen.

A huge marble fountain that couldn't be found anywhere else, and the garden that was still beautiful even though parts of it had been dug up. The family crest proudly engraved above the gold-plated main gate was also visible.

It was the crest of Marquis Belice family with a white deer as its symbol.

'...It's fortunate that Lysithea can't see this sight.'

Rosha thought as she looked at the tragic view of the mansion that could be seen at a glance.