We slowly moved in that direction, keeping an eye on their presence.

Then, as we passed by that secluded alley.

Whoosh-

Thud-

“Ugh…”

“What are you doing?”

We pounced on them.

Sion easily subdued one person by twisting his arm behind his back. Simultaneously, Lionel tripped the other person, and Ante quickly brought a cloth to bind them.

The whole process flowed as smoothly as water. It was almost disappointingly simple.

No, it also seemed like they had no intention to attack.

We blocked the alley with the cart and positioned Aria, Irena, and Soho outside so they couldn’t see inside.

Looking them up and down carefully, they were dressed as ordinary commoners, perhaps for disguise. Their expressions were innocent. That made it even stranger.

I opened my mouth, looking down at them kneeling.

“Why have you been following us?”

In that moment, their eyes turned toward Ante. Almost simultaneously, Ante raised high the shovel he had purchased at the market.

Thwack-

The shovel struck the men mercilessly. They fainted without even a scream.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

“I’ve taken care of them! Let’s go back.”

What on earth just happened?

I was speechless at Ante’s triumphant declaration and his expression overflowing with satisfaction.

I briefly caught my escaping senses and calmly questioned him.

There might be a reasonable explanation, after all.

“…Why did you knock them out without asking anything?”

“Well, because they were dangerous.”

“Shouldn’t we have asked why they were following us, if they knew you, and if so, who they were?”

“Ah.”

“Ah?”

Did you just say ‘ah’?

A deep frustration welled up at Ante’s weak sigh.

My facial muscles started twitching uncontrollably. My fists clenched without me realizing it.

“Then why on earth would these people approach us first? Huh?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Haah.”

“Then how about reporting to the guard patrol?”

“What would we report? That two people in ordinary clothes were following our group of six, so we approached them first and knocked them unconscious with a shovel?”

“Ah…”

“Ah! That damn ‘ah’!”

“Lady Lora, I think we should tie them up and take them with us for now.”

Sion calmly suggested while trying to calm my outburst. But even his eyes were drained of energy from disbelief.

We couldn’t leave them here with this unsettling situation, nor could we report to the guard patrol, so we had no choice. Sion and Ante carried the men on their backs.

***

After returning to the mansion while avoiding people’s eyes, we tied up the men and laid them in the living room. Ante was crouching by the fireplace with a guilty expression. His pathetic appearance didn’t even make me angry anymore.

“Could you bring a potion? Fortunately, they seem to have just fainted, but we should give them something to drink just in case.”

“Yes.”

To respond so calmly in this situation.

I was proud of how much I’d grown.

Aria opened the potion and poured it into their lips. Soon after, they woke up.

“Mmm.”

“Ugh, my head…”

Although we had safely tied their wrists and ankles, we surrounded them, each holding weapons like that frying pan. It was a solemn preparation for the worst-case scenario.

In the silence, only tense anticipation enveloped us.

Once they had regained their senses somewhat, I began questioning.

“Now that you’re awake, you’d better answer. Why were you following us?”

“What?”

“Following? Who are you talking about?”

They answered with a start, surprised by our extraordinary weapons.

I felt a chill down my spine at their words.

“Who are you people?”

That bewildered expression and those innocent words.

This scene seems very familiar.

“Ugh, why does my head hurt so much? And what are these restraints?”

“And I…”

I quietly closed my eyes, trying to escape reality.

“Who am I?”

“I can’t remember my name.”

But I couldn’t block my ears.

“….”

“Wow.”

“Again?”

Excuse me, Asmodeia. This seems a bit different from what was promised.

You said I could live as a jobless person.

***

A dizzying moment of silence.

Looking wistfully at the river outside the window, glistening with sunlight, I made a decision.

This time, let’s bury them for good.

“Lady Lora?”

“Yes? What?”

“What’s wrong?”

Sion, detecting something ominous in my calm and gentle expression that contradicted the situation, called out to me. With a serene smile on my lips, I answered him.

“Let’s just bury them.”

“Pardon?”

“Bring the shovel.”

“…What?”

“Understood.”

As everyone’s eyes widened, Lionel smiled brightly as if he had been waiting for this and went outside.

The two tied-up men flinched and retreated with each step I took toward them, but they were as helpless as insects caught in a spider’s web.

“Master, Lady Lora. Here it is.”

Lionel handed me the shovel with a bright smile, firmly placing it in my hand.

Aria covered Soho’s eyes. Irena’s hands twitched with an expression that suggested she was unsure whether to stop this or not. Sion watched impassively, while Ante stared at me with a somewhat peculiar expression.

“Aaaah-“

“Why are you doing this!!!”

I approached them step by step with a cold smile.

And in a gentle voice, I spoke to the men who were struggling and backing away.

“Perhaps another hit might bring your memories back?”

“Hey!”

“What?!”

But the content was not gentle at all, and the men, understandably, turned pale.

At that moment, Sion approached me with concern.

“Are you really going to do this? Lady Lora, you don’t need to dirty your hands. I’ll do it.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.”

Sion, if you do it, they might actually die.

I silently swallowed the rest of my words. In reality, I had no intention of actually harming them. I was bothered by Ante’s sudden attack with the shovel on men who had taken no action, so I wanted to understand the connection.

Of course, there was also a bit of venting my frustration.

Just as I raised the shovel high, carefully observing Ante and the men’s expressions.

“Wait…!”

Plop-

Roll-

“What’s this?”

Something rolled to my feet as Ante shouted. It had fallen from the man on the left, who was struggling.

I bent down to pick up the object at my feet. When I identified what it was, I froze instantly.

“What’s wrong?”

As I stared at the object in my hand with a blank expression for a long time, Sion approached. The other household members also wore worried expressions.

But I couldn’t hear anything.

“Haha. Now I wish I could lose my memory.”

What had rolled to my feet was a golden pendant.

The problem with this was…

First, only nobles with titles could possess golden pendants with family crests, and second, this crest!

“A dragon and an ice spear…”

I gripped the shovel tightly.

“Kalschmitz, it’s Kalschmitz.”

After muttering ominously, I swiftly turned to Ante. He flinched and avoided my gaze.

Ante had acted so ordinary and awkward that I hadn’t made the connection at all.

Even now, it is hard to believe.

“Ante, you…”

Gulp-

He swallowed nervously at my call. Then Lionel asked with a puzzled expression.

“Master, Kalschmitz is?”

“This crest with a dragon wrapped around an ice spear. It’s the crest of the Grand Duke Kalschmitz.”

“…!”

“Oh my!”