Chapter 3 Part 4
* * *
“You haven’t left yet.”
While I was organizing my thoughts, Hyle emerged from the bathroom, freshly cleaned.
Water droplets he hadn’t fully dried off slowly ran down his sturdy chest.
“There’s no better place to think than here. The mansion is always noisy.”
“I see. Are these my clothes?”
Hyle asked, glancing at the clothes on the bed while wearing only a thin shower robe.
“Yes. I prepared a larger size since I didn’t know your measurements… but you’ll be heading home soon anyway, so please bear with any discomfort for a bit.”
I had nowhere to look.
The shower robe Hyle was wearing was too small.
“Um, would you like to put on clothes first?”
I’m sure I prepared the largest size, but either I made a mistake, or Hyle’s physique was abnormally superior…
“Going home? …You’re planning to let me go?”
Whether or not he noticed me staring intently at the opposite wall, Hyle’s voice came again.
“Of course. Did you think I was going to keep you locked up here forever?”
I met his eyes with astonishment, surprised by his surprised tone.
Judging by his round green eyes filled with disbelief, he apparently hadn’t expected me to let him go so easily.
Just how much of a villain did you think I was?
Though given the circumstances, it would have been difficult to think well of me….
“You trust me because of the imprint.”
At Hyle’s words, which seemed to have reached his own conclusion, I shrugged and stood up.
“Though demons are symbols of distrust, they are truthful about contracts. It’s their way of life.”
Fortunately, the prepared clothes fit Hyle well.
Now that he was dressed, all that was left was for him to return.
But there was a problem.
While bringing Hyle into the mansion was easy thanks to the prepared magic circle and mana for teleportation, I hadn’t yet arranged a way out.
This was my miscalculation.
I hadn’t expected Hyle to accept my proposal so easily.
I thought it would take at least half a day, but for everything to end in just one hour…
“This is troublesome.”
“Is there a problem?”
“My magic is completely depleted, so escape is impossible right now.”
My earlier joke about using a lot of power to torment Hyle’s friends was half true.
Having put all those people to sleep with Raphla, of course I had no magic left…
I couldn’t draw on demon power either, as Fergio and Father would sense the flow of my depleted magic and find it suspicious.
If only I could swallow one of Caligo’s magic stones right now, some power would return…
But I decided to endure in this life, so I’ll try to hold back.
“Let me try.”
“No, you can’t get out with your power anyway. The Laté mansion is the center where demon power is strongest.”
Besides, Hyle was still a patient whose wounds hadn’t fully healed.
Even without injuries it would be difficult to leave, in this state it was even more impossible.
“Do we have to wait until your power returns?”
“Actually, there is one way… though I don’t think you’ll like it…”
As I trailed off while looking at Hyle, wariness clouded his green eyes.
“As long as it doesn’t involve using demons.”
“Sorry, I already called one.”
I summoned Caligo before Hyle could even answer.
There was no point in asking his opinion since he would obviously refuse, so I hadn’t planned to ask in the first place.
Soon, as the summoning circle for the great demon Caligo began forming in the center of the floor, a deep sigh could be heard from him.
“To think I have to just watch a demon being summoned right before my eyes.”
“…This is the best option right now.”
Only after seeing the ominous red light full of heat shining over the summoning circle did I become gripped by the same foreboding feeling as Hyle.
I had called thoughtlessly in my urgency, but…
Given Caligo’s twisted personality, there was no way he would quietly help with the escape of not just any Feros, but the future head of the house.
“What’s this annoying white one?”
Sure enough, Caligo immediately launched sharp words at Hyle upon appearing.
…I hope nothing goes wrong.
* * *
“Caligo, send Hyle to his knights in the Black Forest. And erase all their memories too.”
I made the request to Caligo in a gentle voice, trying to maintain a neutral expression.
It would be nice if this could pass peacefully… but looking at both their expressions, that seemed unlikely.
Caligo’s fierce golden eyes flickered ominously as they swept over Hyle and me.
Just as his sharp mouth was about to open again, I stepped closer to Caligo and met his yellow eyes full of discontent.
Whatever he was going to say, if I let Caligo speak, trouble would definitely break out.
I must stop him.
Seeing my desperate eyes, Caligo clicked his tongue with a “tsk” and casually waved his hand toward Hyle.
Soon, a red teleportation circle appeared beneath Hyle’s feet.
I spoke kindly to Hyle, who wore a displeased expression.
“When you return, your knights’ memories will all be erased. You were simply momentarily entranced by the fog in the Black Forest during your return – there was no monster attack.”
“Wait, Rosiel.”
“Ah, come to think of it, you requested priests from the Grand Temple, right? …Caligo.”
Ignoring Hyle’s attempt to speak, I turned to call Caligo, who frowned as if annoyed.
“Rosi, those guys have already arrived at the forest.”
Caligo stared at me as if to ask what should be done.
Impossible, those lazy ones already arrived?
What wind brought those who were famous for always being late and arriving only after everything was over?
Still, it seems the Grand Temple is still mindful of Hyle.
Either way, the priests won’t be of help.
“Then chase them out of the forest. And erase their memories while you’re at it.”
At my concise answer, the corners of Caligo’s mouth curved into an arc.
“Why does our lady have so many enemies? I like it.”
Caligo, laughing pleasantly, soon sent out his magic power somewhere.
With this, the memories of both the knights and priests were completely removed.
He always shows such obvious distaste yet readily grants my requests.
What a rare tsundere demon.
“Now the Grand Temple also has no record of receiving a request for troops from the Feros Marquis. Therefore, they never sent any priests.”
“…A demon dares to tamper with priests’ memories?”
Unlike his sharp words, no emotion, including anger, showed on Hyle’s face.
One thing was clear though – Hyle found this situation extremely unpleasant.
As a Feros, it was a natural reaction.
Having witnessed a demon casually tampering with priests’ memories right before his eyes… even considering the current situation, it would be hard to feel good about it.
“Don’t think too badly of it. We only took necessary measures, without touching anything else. And… wouldn’t it be quite troublesome for you if priests dispatched from the Grand Temple came to the Black Forest?”
