This Eroge Won't Make Me Fall!

The clip-clops of the horses rang in the air before coming to a screeching stop. The horses neighed after having run at max speed. I jumped off Black and rushed to the road while Sir Buhini, Alec, and Lady Sophia followed behind.

Gouged-out tire marks on the road and splinters and logs as remains of the broken carriage were on the road, some spots dyed black with blood. A sense of incongruity seeped out of the black marks.

It felt as if I was seeing a fig tree grow underneath the ocean and was being convinced that it was the most natural place for a fig to be, a full-sized one at that.

Mana seeped out of my hands and formed an ethereal circle around the markings. One after the other, tiny magic circles glowing in shades of gold and purple covered the spot, their sigils and symbols filling the eye.

I wanted my base strength developed to the max, so I hadn't yet learned these analytical spells to a chantless level.

"You can use [Analysis] too?" Sir Alec asked. "That looks like a high-level version."

"It's at an advanced grade. We should be able to get some clues," Lady Sophia confirmed Alec's thoughts. Though they spoke lightly, even strangers would notice the tenseness in their bodies.

"Truly, you are more talented than anyone has given you credit for. I have been humbled greatly through these days." Sir Buhini spoke this time. Was using analysis that big of a deal? I knew that it required an affinity with the rather strange 'Truth' attribute of mana that only a tiny fraction could develop, but once you got a hang of it it wasn't that tough.

My expression hardened again as the magic circles spun to do their job.

"This... I can't find any mana...?"

"No mana?" Lady Sophia parroted. Then, her head reeled back. "It can't be. That bastard is already using demonic energy?"

"Demonic energy?" Alec asked, so I gave him a rundown of things. It wasn't a surprise to see him unaware, in fact, even I knew nothing more than the fact that it was a type of power borrowed directly from demons. Everything from its types to applications was a mystery.

While the other three seemed stumped, I clapped my hands and dismissed the spell.

"That settles it. The person who stole those bombs was none other than the demon agent."

Lady Sophia nodded, placing her hands on her chin.

"Did you say he would target dignities? His coming over to the Hall territory wasn't just a coincidence."

"Wait," Sir Buhini interjected, "Do you believe he has infiltrated the palace? That's impossible!"

"Sir Buhini," Alec countered. "Didn't you see this? If demonic energy is as mysterious as Lord Eugene says, it's more than possible."

Though hot-tempered, Buhini was a reasonable man, he clenched his fists and backed down.

"Right," Lady Sophia said. "Instead of worrying about that, we should keep our cool and look for countermeasures. Tomorrow, the day of the founding and Young Lady Vienna's birthday celebration are both tomorrow. We have to check the venue first and foremost, our VIPs are the ones at most threat here."

I had already gotten on my horse while Lady Sophia said all of that. Time was of the essence and finding countermeasures was most important.

The others saw me and rushed to their rides.

With a flick of my hands, Black set off to the castle.

***

Long hours of searching ensued.

We enlisted the help of the servants preparing the banquet hall as well as used a last-minute drill with the knights and guards as an excuse, but it was all to no avail.

If things continued as they were now, it could cause a disaster, and we would be the ones at the center.

Standing inside a now-empty banquet hall, the initial four of us looked around with hardened gazes. I didn't need to be able to see faces to tell what they were all thinking.

Sir Buhini was about to open his mouth, but Lady Sophia was faster than him.

"We can't continue like this. I think I should go and inform the Marquis."

Her strong sense of responsibility didn't take precedence over her pride, but she knew well enough to value which of the two at the right time.

Buhini relaxed his fists as he nodded.

"We must. Continuing this sneakily is not possible anymore. We have to enter a state of war with the demon's agent—"

"—and then what? Let him escape again?" I interjected, pushing myself off the wall. With my arms crossed, I walked over to the remaining three and spoke up. "That guy would win if we do so. Canceling the event would bring him just the right amount of clamor for him to escape easily. And even if it doesn't, he still was being shown bits of the future from his demon."

This problem couldn't be solved with brute force anymore.

"So what do you suggest?" Buhini spat back snarkily. "Should we let the guests all die then?"

"Let the event happen," I said. "That guy had long since clenched onto this worm, now we just run our hook through it."

Lady Sophia lowered her head.

"You mean to use the entire castle as bait...?"

"Tsk. Tsk," I shook my head.

A demon's agent was out to wreak havoc. A demon that loved to destroy dignities, to steal and run, and to watch cities burn. A demon's agent with explosives in his hands, one who had clearly shown his competence over and over.

"The castle is too small," I couldn't hold back a smile. "We'll use the entire the entire city as bait."