With earnest hope, we found the hidden door to the basement.

“‘Finally found it… ‘”

In this house, there was a room filled only with Nadya’s pretty and precious collections.

The Otaku Collection, they called it.

I thought we’d find the door to the basement while searching through the room’s furniture and floor filled with porcelain dolls, paintings, and various colored gem accessories…

But the actual door was somewhere else.

Seeing my struggle, Zero informed me.

“Move the tombstone in the fog chamber, the door to the basement is there.”

“Thanks, Zero.”

Sure enough, the door to the basement was there.

“‘…It wasn’t this empty when survivors showed up in the search.'”

The Rutley Count’s residence was quiet. No servants, no Rutley Count and Countess.

It was somewhat relieving not to be charged with breaking and entering, but it didn’t feel good.

While scanning the fog chamber with a sulking mood, we found a huge tombstone with the names of past heads of the house.

“‘Is that it?'”

“Sir Mihael, could you please move that tombstone?”

“Of course.”

Mihael moved the tombstone aside, and after digging a little, we found a sturdy steel door to the basement.

Although covered with thick grass to avoid being detected by the Rutley Count’s people, Zero’s eyes were unavoidable.

Mihael, with his considerable strength, opened the door to the basement. Stairs appeared.

“Let’s go in.”

In the order of me, Rus, and Mihael, we entered the basement.

As we carefully descended the stairs while touching the walls in the pitch-dark space, a faint light began to appear, and soon a fairly spacious room came into view.

The room, filled with a bed, desk, and some simple household tools… was locked up like a prison with thick bars.

“…What, what is this?”

And in front of this giant cage-like room, a woman with blue hair stood. She seemed entranced as she peered into the room, but then hesitated upon noticing us.
The woman’s eyes and hair seemed to have captured the color of the blue hydrangeas that bloomed in Count Lutri’s garden.

Her cheeks, still carrying some baby fat despite having crossed the age of maturity, made her eyes appear fierce.

It was Nadia Lutri.

“What are you doing here! How did you get in!”

I ignored the screaming Nadia and examined the person behind the bars, bound like a cocoon in a straitjacket.

Lime-green hair reminiscent of fresh spring leaves and pointed ears symbolizing mixed fairy heritage.

Despite the restraints hiding most of his body, his slender and robust physique was evident. A handsome young man with a natural, breathtaking beauty.

Clearly, it was Benedict, the person I was searching for.

“…Without a doubt, it’s Benedict Fairman.”

Rus clicked his tongue.

Benedict, inside the cell-like room behind bars, seemed to have lost consciousness.

Cruelly, even his eyes were covered with a blindfold, as if refusing to allow him any light.

“Aren’t you answering me! What are you!”

Nadia, feeling ignored, angrily brandished a weapon at us.

It was merely a dagger swing where she stood, but it felt menacing enough to signal imminent danger.

“Getting hit will result in instant death or excessive bleeding.”

“I never wanted my life to be a thriller.”

Haha. I’m really pissed off.

Upon seeing my expression change, Nadia, who had been waving her weapon, hesitated.

“Wait, you are…?”

Figuring out who I am is just a matter of time, so I aimed my gun at Nadia.

“If you’re curious about us, I suppose it’s only fair to answer. We are the apostles of justice, assembled to rescue the unfortunate fairy hybrid, Benedict Fairman!”

I meant it as a joke, given the gravity of the situation, but both Michael and Rus looked for a hole to hide in.

“…Any holes around?”

“…Tell me too if you find one. I’ve never felt this humiliated in my life.”

“…This is super embarrassing.”

Even Zero expressed his embarrassment.

Sadly, I was more shocked by this godforsaken situation than embarrassed.

Nadia even let out a frustrated snort.

Standing with her arms crossed, Nadia spoke to me.

“Well, how fortunate, Elizabeth Keaton. I’ve wanted to kill you ever since our last encounter. What luck you’ve come here.”

“If you were so lucky, you wouldn’t have gotten caught poisoning the tea.”

And you wouldn’t have been caught by me after kidnapping Benedict Fairman, or stranded in a city filled with wandering zombies.

Rebutting each point, a wave of anger swept over Nadia’s pale face, resembling a bisque doll.

“Don’t act so superior! Your social status and mine are both finished. You’re just prey for the monsters outside!”

“And?”

“Ha… Trying to act composed till the end! After shifting your crimes onto me and getting me expelled from society!”

Blinded by anger, Nadia lost her reason and charged at me.

She still clutched a well-crafted dagger in her hand.

“Was she suicidal, thinking there was no hope left?”

I stared at the charging Nadia.

“Die, Elizabeth Keaton! Let’s fall into hell together!”

Facing the charge like a raging boar, I simply tilted my head.

“Why should I?”

Why should I die here with you? Especially when I’m not even the real Elizabeth.

Nadia’s vengeful blade never reached me.

“Any further approach is prohibited.”

“Aaah, it hurts! Let go!”

It was because Michael, with his stern expression, effortlessly subdued her.