"After we defeat the marquis, we can take our time to investigate what's hidden in the basement of the mansion."
When I had said that much.
Hmph, the marquis snorted as if in mockery.
"Defeat me? Your name was Erine, correct? You seem somewhat capable in battle, but aren't you being overly conceited?"
"No. I don't intend to be conceited."
"Let's not get too carried away just because you defeated a couple of insignificant soldiers. —Hey, Lukius."
Marquis Bilegins called out to the hooded figure standing behind him.
That hooded bodyguard was apparently named Lukius.
Marquis Bilegins ordered.
"It's work time. Kill all of these people."
"...Understood."
Lukius answered in a low voice.
"Eep..."
Lucy and Baneon gasped at the marquis's order for a massacre.
—Lukius took out two curved short daggers.
He held one in each hand.
He seemed to be a dual-wielder.
This guy... really has that assassin vibe.
Lukius started walking and came out in front of Marquis Bilegins.
His face couldn't be seen because of the mask.
However, I could feel waves of killing intent emanating from him.
"Aristy, please."
"Understood...!"
Aristy replied and stepped forward.
She faced Lukius at a fixed distance.
Bilegins laughed loudly.
"Hah, how foolish! Lukius is a skilled assassin. A mere maid has no chance of winning. Lukius, teach these people the reality of the situation!"
"Yes."
Lukius replied briefly.
(A skilled assassin, huh...)
I smiled.
Lukius was indeed skilled, I could tell.
His aura and dignity made that apparent.
However, judging by his dual swords, his specialty was probably close combat.
If so, Lukius had no chance of winning.
Because in close combat, no one surpasses Aristy.
"Shh!"
Lukius moved with a sliding gait.
He entered Aristy's range in an instant and thrust with his right dagger.
Aristy,
"Ha...!"
Neither avoided nor deflected it.
Instead, she thrust her palm directly toward the blade.
The palm thrust and the dagger's thrust collided.
Normally, the blade would pierce through the palm—but that didn't happen.
The moment it made contact with Aristy's formidable palm thrust.
The dagger's blade shattered miserably.
"...!"
From behind the mask, there was a sense that Lukius gasped in astonishment.