‘Still, it doesn’t feel as fierce as I expected….’

Considering how worried he had been.

But it wouldn’t always be like this. Today it behaved relatively tamely, but next time who knows how it might act. Now that the compass had reappeared, it might make attempts like today at any time….

Despite searching the storage room, he ultimately couldn’t find anything suitable to be a vessel.

‘I’ll need to look more, but….’

Somehow he had a feeling that finding the object would be more difficult than expected.

Given these circumstances, he was also concerned about the man downstairs who had agreed not to interfere in each other’s business.

‘Seeing how he just sent my lady to me, it seems he really can’t distinguish her condition.’

Thinking about how he still confidently babbled about knowing May well made Johan sneer. He stroked her softly curling hair and gazed down at the peacefully sleeping woman’s face for a long time.

Anyway, until the thought-form completely disappeared from May’s body, she would have to continue overlapping her body with someone, whether she wanted to or not. Otherwise, the stagnant energy would torment her.

‘As I told the lawyer, in the worst case, she might try to harm herself.’

In truth, Johan wasn’t very worried about the “vessel.” The dull and stupid thought-form might not know, but human contraception had developed in various ways over decades and centuries.

Simply having frequent *ntercourse wouldn’t suddenly result in a baby. Of course, if creatures who didn’t care about contraception circled around May, problems would arise. But that could be prevented in advance.

So actually, more than that….

‘I’m just annoyed at the idea of my lady sleeping with some other bastard.’

Seeing how the boundary between when she talked nonsense and when she didn’t had blurred, most of her memories probably remained even when the thought-form took control of her body, which made him dislike it even more. Though he knew it was a strange possessiveness, Johan didn’t bother to deny it.

‘I’ve done enough digging before.’

He intended to show his feelings without holding back.

Johan thought as he pressed his lips to her round forehead. Whether it was the childish young master who persistently pestered May, or the lawyer who burned with misplaced righteousness behind his cold face… he would make them all unnecessary to her.

Before May could reach out to them, he would stay one step ahead and protect her side.

* * *

And while Johan was making such a pledge, Dominic was sitting on the sofa on the first floor, staring intently at the table. More precisely, he was looking at the compass May had given him.

“……”

He asked her for the compass because his suspicion—or more precisely, his disbelief in the absurd story Johan had told him—remained firmly intact.

The compass moving by itself? Actually, such an observation was insufficient as definitive evidence. After all, he had been with that untrustworthy man who told him the story at that time.

Dominic considered the possibility that Johan might be a mage. If he could use magic, he judged that such visual trickery wouldn’t be difficult for him to perform.

‘So I need to examine this object when that man isn’t around.’

If the compass before him truly was a strange object with its own consciousness, and if he could confirm this point even when Johan wasn’t present, he could somewhat dismantle his wall of firm disbelief.

And if it turned out to be an ordinary object during this process, that would serve as evidence in its own right—evidence to expose the man’s fraudulent scheme.

Dominic recalled the woman who had been showing strange symptoms again and narrowed his eyes. Honestly, he wanted to control her eccentric behavior and keep her by his side until those symptoms improved. Just as he had done before Johan returned to the mansion.

But he had suppressed those feelings and let her go because….

“I guarantee you. Your suspicion and common sense will ultimately harm my lady in her current state.”

After hearing such an unsettling statement, he couldn’t simply enforce his rational judgment.

‘…I shouldn’t have agreed to not interfere with each other in the first place.’

After clicking his tongue briefly, Dominic began to observe the compass more attentively.

The old metal object remained quiet, as if it had never fidgeted in front of May.

‘So it was that man’s trick and visual deception after all?’ Such a thought reflexively crossed his mind, but…. Dominic ended the meaningless staring contest and opened his mouth with a sigh.

“…I intend to eliminate anything that could harm her before I leave.”

He had neither the habit of talking to himself in empty space nor the mental illness of conversing with inanimate objects. Therefore, while he found his own appearance quite ridiculous, he didn’t stop speaking.

“So I’m trying to believe even absurd stories. Therefore, if you… ha, I don’t even know what to call you.”

Dominic’s gaze momentarily touched the empty space.

However, his ash-gray eyes, clearly filled with irritation yet quite serious, once again directly stared at the compass. It was now such an intense gaze that it seemed almost like glaring.

“So, I’d like you to show me your movements as you did before. I need that much evidence to erase my doubts. If, as that man said, my persistent doubt harms her… then I need to eliminate that doubt as well.”

The compass remained still for a long time even after Dominic finished speaking. Naturally, it was a moment when his distrust toward Johan was rising. Of course, this strange thing before him might not be moving for other reasons, but….

‘I’ve done something foolish.’

Was he being played after all? Unavoidable irritation coated his hand as he swept back his hair. He felt the urge to go upstairs immediately and separate May from that man. However, just as Dominic was about to swallow a sigh and rise from his seat….

The chain that had been sprawled on the table slowly began to move. One of the man’s eyebrows twitched as he noticed this subtle movement. Stopping his attempt to stand up and quietly observing it, the compass’s movement became more distinct.

The round body that had been lying flat on the table stood upright and placed itself before him. Eventually, as if to show its presence more clearly, it began to bounce.

Thump. Thump thump.

Golden light flickered around it each time the compass moved. Although he had directly asked it to move, when he actually witnessed the strange phenomenon up close, it felt rather unreal.

But once it started moving, the compass acted as if it had nothing to hide anymore. The subsequent act of lightly touching his hand felt like a handshake during a first meeting.

“……”

Dominic looked down at his right hand where the cold sensation remained and let out a hollow laugh.

* * *

May woke up from sleep feeling the most refreshed she had in recent days. The problem was that she had woken up in Johan’s arms….

“I’m sorry for falling asleep while we were talking yesterday. S-somehow I suddenly felt so sleepy….”

Johan smiled as if it was fine when he saw her apologizing awkwardly.

“It’s okay. You were nice and warm, so I slept well too.”

“Still….”

“You seem to have slept longer than usual, does your head hurt?”

“Ah, no….”

Far from hurting, she felt clearer than ever before. If Johan hadn’t been there, she would have stretched thoroughly and savored the feeling. However, Johan was holding her tightly, so the opportunity didn’t come. Finally, May, who had been rolling her eyes awkwardly, opened her mouth timidly.

“But could you let me go now…?”

Johan pretended to ponder at her careful question, making a contemplative sound. Then, instead of releasing May, he raised his upper body while still holding her.

“…Ah!”

Not stopping there, he picked up the startled woman and lifted her off the bed. She had asked to be let go, but instead, he acted as though they were one body, causing her black eyes to widen in bewilderment.

“P-put me down….”

Hearing May’s voice, Johan bent down to put indoor slippers on her feet and then stood up. Still with her in his arms.

“I will.”

But just a little later. After adding that, the man opened the door wide.

It seemed no coincidence that Dominic was coming up the stairs to the first floor at that moment. Johan greeted him with a composed face, as if he had expected the man to be there.

“You’re up early. We woke up late.”

“……”

In response, Dominic silently examined May’s complexion. After that, he thoroughly looked over her being carried in Johan’s arms, but May froze before she could even feel embarrassment about it.

That was because she discovered the compass floating naturally next to Dominic. Her astonished gaze alternated between Dominic and the compass at this unimaginable situation.

‘…Why is it there?’

May, who had urgently struggled free from Johan’s arms, ran with all her might and quickly snatched the strange object next to Dominic.

“……!”

However, just as she was about to put it in her pocket, it suddenly escaped from her hand. It was such a swift movement that she didn’t even have time to react. Eventually, as the cold touch met her cheek as if kindly asking about her well-being as usual, May’s face turned pale.

‘No, now is not the time for morning greetings….’