Resistance messengers would come to this village tomorrow.

“I want to talk to those people as well. Is that alright?” asked Vandalieu upon hearing this news, wanting to be present at the meeting.

Though he wasn’t very perceptive, even he had managed to conclude that Orbia’s lover, a person who had come into the Scylla territory from the outside, was likely one of the negotiators for the Empire’s army or a member of the resistance.

Even if Orbia’s lover was not among the messengers who would come here tomorrow, there was a chance that the resistance would have some information regarding the Scylla serial-killing.

And the one who was coming to negotiate, the leader of the Reborn Sauron Army, was apparently a believer of Vida, so it seemed likely that he would listen to what Vandalieu had to say.

“We don’t mind, but the other party might not like it, so I can’t give you a definite promise,” said Periveil. “I don’t think there will be a problem, though.”

Seeing that Orbia seemed restless after hearing Periveil’s reply, Vandalieu’s heart grew even heavier now that it seemed even more likely that her lover was a member of the resistance.

“Well then, you should stay the night here,” said Privel. “It’s already the middle of the night so I was planning to suggest that from the beginning, though.”

“That’s right,” said Periveil. “Ah, but as per the custom, Privel will be sleeping in a different hut. Shrine maidens must keep their bodies pure until the festival, you see.”

“There aren’t any customs that force the husband Van to sleep alone, so he’ll be fine!” said Pauvina.

“Pauvina, what do you mean by ‘husband?’” Vandalieu asked.

“Well, he is ‘His Majesty,’ isn’t he? He’ll need two more,” said Periveil.

“Periveil-san, are you being a little too serious about the fact that His Majesty is His Majesty?” asked Princess Levia.

“It is troublesome if you take it seriously,” said Vandalieu.

It wasn’t as if they had revealed the entire truth yet.

Vandalieu and Pauvina were led to a hut used by visiting merchants. It was a little small for Pauvina, but the Scylla had apparently thought it best to give them a vacant hut that nobody was using right now.

“Mother said that you wouldn’t be able to rest properly if there were other people around,” said Privel. “Levia-san would cause a big fuss just by being seen, after all.”

As a result of this considerate treatment, Vandalieu and his companions had gained time to discuss things freely.

“Guh~.” Pauvina grunted.

Since it was a time of night where good children were asleep, Pauvina was sleeping soundly, clutching Vandalieu firmly against her large body. Vandalieu escaped with Out-of-body Experience and asked Hannah, one of the Ghosts that were accompanying him, to deliver a message to everyone waiting back at the camp.

“Yes! Leave it to me!” she said in a lively tone before vanishing silently.

She had become a Blaze Ghost recently; as her race title suggested, she would light up the dark night like a lamp, but as she was a Ghost, she was able to conceal her presence as she moved.

She wasn’t releasing killing intent into her surroundings or anything like that, so it would be impossible for anyone who wasn’t a Spiritualist to find her.

“I’ll ask the Ghosts to deliver messages rather than Undead insects from now on.”

Ghosts wouldn’t be spotted, nor would they accidentally get caught in spiderwebs.

Incidentally, the contents of the message were a report of the current plans and a request to get information out of the resistance members that were being protected at the camp.

“So, I have something to talk to you about,” Vandalieu said.

“What? A message for me?” Orbia turned around as Vandalieu spoke to her. She had been silent but looking restless up until now.

Vandalieu had already undone the Visualization spell on her, so her voice wouldn’t reach Pauvina.

“Before you received the ring from your lover, did you have any injury on your finger?” Vandalieu asked. “Like being pricked by a thorn, for instance.”

Having realized the meaning of this question, Princess Levia gasped. “Your Majesty, that is –”

“No, I don’t think I had any injuries on my fingers. When he put the ring on me, I kind of felt something pricking me. I suppose I wasn’t just imagining it. Was there something left on the finger of my body?” Orbia answered without hesitation, despite Princess Levia’s attempt to interrupt Vandalieu’s questioning.

Princess Levia blinked in surprise. Orbia looked at her, sighed and dropped her shoulders as she continued.

“I’m not very smart, but maybe because of Van-kun’s Mana, my head feels refreshed and I can think more clearly than I did back when I was alive. I don’t need anyone to tell me to know that person is suspicious. His body was nowhere to be found, the ring is gone and we haven’t heard anything from him despite the fact that his lover died days ago. No matter how you look at it, it’s suspicious, isn’t it?” Orbia gave a self-deprecating smile. “But it’s not like it’s certain that I was killed by that person, is it?”

“There is no definite evidence,” said Vandalieu.

Everything about the incident was suspicious, but there wasn’t any proof or eyewitness testimony. There was no denying that Orbia’s lover was a suspect, but there was also no denying that there wasn’t any evidence supporting these suspicions.

“Then I want to believe in that person. He’s someone that I really came to love… that’s why I still don’t want to tell you who he is. I’m sorry,” Orbia said, casting her eyes down apologetically.

Vandalieu nodded in understanding. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “So, about tomorrow –”

“W-wait, you’re alright with this?! You’re alright with me staying quiet?! Aren’t I being quite selfish about this?!”

“Hmm? Were you just pretending? Would it have been better if I’d read the mood and