After all, if you’re not careful, the person who teleports later might land on top of the person who arrived first.

‘If that happened, at least one would definitely have a concussion.’

The knights and I arrived in a circle in the alley of the castle. The secret passage was still open. When I pointed to it, the knights quickly noticed it and rushed to it.

I also sprinted with all my might so as not to fall behind. In this way, I was just barely able to enter the dark passage before it closed.

“It’s very dark… Duchess, take my hand. You might stumble…”

I couldn’t see who it was because it was so dark, but one of the knights kindly reached out his hand.

I carefully took his hand. Just as I was about to thank him, the butterflies flying around me suddenly deactivated their transparency and emitted a brilliant light.

{We will light the way!}

{See, it’s not dark now, is it?}

…Right, these guys, they could serve as flashlights(?).

I let go of the knight’s hand with a wry smile. In the light, I could see that he was quite handsome.

“Thank you. But I think I’ll be fine without holding your hand.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The handsome blond knight seemed satisfied and flashed a fleeting smile, then looked at the butterflies. The butterflies flapped their nonthreatening wings against the knight’s cheek in a threat.

{What are you looking at? Handsome jerk.}

‘…….’

I looked at the butterflies incredulously and then started down the passage. The knights followed closely behind.

The passage was quite long. It seemed to be about three floors down to the basement.

“Duchess, can you see where His Grace is?”

“Just a moment….”

When I glimpsed through the butterflies’ view, Grayan’s figure was drawn in my head.

Grayan was at the restaurant with Olivier.

‘…First, feed them to lower their guard, is that it?’

If it was a child wandering around hungry, it would be easily lured. These pseudobastards were more systematic than I thought.

‘Well, in the world I lived in, the pseudopeople were specialized in deceitfully tricking others.’

Anyway, it seemed that Grayan was not in immediate danger. I told the knights what I saw.

“That’s it, the restaurant… So His Grace is safe for now.”

“For now.”

The problem was what these people were going to do after feeding him.

Of course, Grayan wouldn’t take it lying down.

Shortly after arriving in the basement, I turned to the knights and admonished them.

“Grayan can protect himself, so you don’t have to worry too much about him. The problem is the children who are captured here. We must rescue them first.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The knights nodded solemnly, and I explained the plan I had thought of earlier.

“Three of you will come with me, and the other two will go find Grayan. The butterflies will guide you. Once you have joined Grayan, follow the butterflies to me. I will be rescuing the children by then. If you get detected and a battle breaks out, be careful.”

“…Yes, Duchess, please be careful as well. You two, you must escort the Duchess properly!”

“Of course we will!”
“Leave it to us.”

The handsome blond knight entreated, and the other knights responded solidly.

I smiled faintly and soon opened the door wide. As expected, a strangely bright light poured out.

“Then let’s hurry.”

“Yes!”

Thus, the party was divided into two teams. I quickly headed to the place where the children were trapped with three knights.

During that, we quickly had to knock out a few followers of the ‘Salvation Association’ we ran into.

The butterflies surprisingly were suited for this role, as they sprinkled something like light powder into the followers’ eyes and put them to sleep.

Anyway, they were butterflies with more functions than I thought.

“We’ve arrived, it’s here.”

We reached the room where the children were trapped without being greatly detected. The problem was that I didn’t know how to open the door.

The door to the room was tightly closed, and locks were filled in the locking mechanism. It seemed that a key was needed, after all…

“Ah, please wait a moment.”

Then, one of the knights came to me and approached a fallen follower nearby. Then he rummaged through the follower’s pocket and pulled something out.

It was a bundle of keys.

“I thought so, he does have them. Here you are, Duchess.”

The knight handed me the bundle of keys with pride. I accepted it with a fleeting smile, not forgetting to add praise.

“Well done, Sir.”

“……! No, milady. I just did what I had to do…….”

The knight’s face turned red, and he stammered. He must be weak to praise, perhaps a dog person? I tried each key in the lock, asking,

“You’re a dog person, aren’t you, Sir?”

“Gah, hohow did you know?”

“…….”

Because it’s all too obvious… Because in every way, he looks like a dog….

“What’s your name?”

“It is an honor to be asked! My name is Kavil!”

“Is that so, Sir Kavil.”

“Yes……!”

It seemed like I could see a wagging dog tail behind Sir Kavil.

Anyway, I succeeded in opening the door with the fourth key. The knights and I carefully entered.

The children looked at us blankly as we entered. …A faint reaction even though strangers had come.

‘They’re clearly not in a normal state.’

The knights seemed to have the same thought, looking quite bewildered. I spoke to them softly.

“To rescue these children, we’ll have no choice but to use teleportation magic multiple times. Each of us should embrace three and teleport…….”

It was then.

Startled―.

The sound of the door, which we had closed when entering, being opened rang out.

The knights and I looked back in tension, sharply raising our guard against any unforeseen situation―.

“……?”

The person who opened the door and entered was none other than Grayan, who had somehow returned to his original appearance.

And two knights.

Somehow relieved, I let out a deep breath.

“My lady.”

Grayan, looking momentarily relieved upon seeing me, quickly approached and embraced me tightly.

I was startled by the sudden hug, freezing in place.

Ex, excuse me…? Your Grace?

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Oh, yes? Naturally? There’s no reason why I wouldn’t be safe?”

I have the butterflies of the World Tree, and I’m accompanied by highly skilled knights, right?

“It’s a place where we don’t know what danger might strike. But still…… you are very brave, my lady.”

“…….”

“Too… Too brave. More than I can handle.”

Grayan embraced me even more tightly. The unique body scent, reminiscent of a cold winter breeze or a deep forest, reached me.

Along with a very warm body temperature.