Confused, Arasila unconsciously tightened her grip on Demian’s tie.

“Ugh. My lady, just a moment—.”

Demian, his throat constricted, slightly frowned as he grabbed Arasila’s wrist.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Arasila hurriedly let go. Demian loosened his tie and coughed lightly. After calming his breath, he asked jokingly.

“You’re not planning to kill me with your own hands, are you?”

“Ah, no.”

Arasila replied with an embarrassed face and worriedly examined him.

“I’m sorry. Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

He was truly fine since it was just an accidental tug, not an intentional choking.

Arasila was relieved, having nearly sent him to his grave after saying she would protect him.

“That was really an accident just now. But since we don’t know when danger might strike, you should always stay by my side. Understood?”

Demian chuckled at Arasila’s earnest words.

“Well, shouldn’t I be most careful of you, my lady?”

“Demian, this isn’t a joke. Really stay close to me. That’s the only way I can protect you.”

Arasila said with a serious face. Demian felt a bit strange.

Perhaps because it was the first time someone had so actively volunteered to protect him, he felt embarrassed yet also a ticklish sensation.

He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.

“I’ll stay by your side, my lady.”

“Good.”

Arasila smiled contentedly.

Upon arriving at Poshan Village, a member of the advance investigation team was there to greet them.

He guided the subjugation team to the inn that the investigation team had rented out entirely.

While others were unpacking and settling in, Arasila and Demian went to meet Albie Carter, the leader of the investigation team.

Albie was a man with a good build and a generous appearance, which perhaps made his movements large and slow, giving a slightly frustrating impression.

“I can’t tell you how long we’ve been waiting for you all to arrive. We’ve been having headaches lately with monsters coming down to civilian areas.”

After brief greetings, Albie spoke as if complaining. Demian responded calmly.

“I’d like to hear a detailed explanation of the current situation.”

“Ah, Ken would be better at explaining that than me.”

The person Albie pointed to was the man who had come to greet the subjugation team.

Unlike Albie, Ken had a small build and sharp features, giving off a dry impression like a piece of firewood.

He was said to be a native of Poshan Village and a former member of the guard who had specially joined the investigation team to help.

“A total of six monsters have been discovered in the Tritos Mountains, all of them high-level monsters. Fortunately, no other monsters have been found besides these.”

While the number wasn’t particularly large, the fact that they were all high-level monsters was a problem.

To be honest, one high-level monster was more dangerous than ten low-level ones.

“They were first spotted in the center of the mountain range, but now they’ve come down to the mountains behind the village. The residents are so anxious that we’ve gathered them all in shelters for now.”

Thanks to this, there had been no damage to civilian homes yet, but it was uncertain what would happen if the high-level monsters came down completely from the mountains and overwhelmed the entire village.

“The first witness reported seeing one high-level monster, but over the past month, it suddenly increased to six. We thought hidden ones had come out, but that wasn’t the case.”

“Then?”

“They’ve been dividing themselves. If left alone, their numbers might increase uncontrollably.”

Arasila and Demian’s expressions immediately turned grim.

If this was true, it was a race against time. They had to hurry and deal with the monsters before they divided and increased their numbers.

Arasila directed a question at Ken,

“Do you know the exact current location of the monsters?”

“They’re on the middle slopes of the mountain adjacent to the village. I know the geography well, so I can guide you.”

Ken answered immediately. This time, Demian asked him,

“Are they all gathered in one place?”

“Yes, they have a habit of moving in groups, so all six monsters are clustered together.”

If so, it would be easier to formulate a strategy.

The two quickly agreed to strike the monsters’ stronghold and defeat them in one fell swoop.

Even if they were eliminated separately, if they divided and increased their numbers, it would become an endless battle, so they had to deal with all of them at once.

They agreed this far, but the problem came next.

“We’ll take the front line.”

“No, the Knight Order will take the front line.”

A disagreement arose between Arasila and Demian over who would take the front line.

Since the front was somewhat more dangerous, they both ignited with the desire to take that position.

“Demian, have you forgotten what I said? Don’t be stubborn and just take the rear quietly.”

Arasila strongly asserted, as the probability of Demian dying from a monster attack if he took the front was extremely high.

“I refuse. We will take the front.”

But Demian’s stubbornness was no less than hers. He couldn’t push her to the dangerous front line just to avoid his own possible death.

As the disagreement between the two showed no signs of narrowing, Albie stepped in.

“Both of you are so full of passion and enthusiasm. One is a Sword Master, and the other is a candidate for the next Tower Master. Whoever takes the front, we’ll feel secure. So how about deciding like this?”

As he clapped his hands once, Arasila and Demian’s gazes focused on him.

Albie opened his mouth solemnly.

“We’ll decide fairly with rock-paper-scissors.”

He quickly added.

“The winner takes the front line.”

Arasila and Demian slowly turned to face each other. Given their firm resolve to take the front line, it would be difficult to persuade each other.

In that case, perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to decide as Albie suggested with rock-paper-scissors.

“How about we do as Mr. Carter suggests?”

“Alright.”

The two prepared for rock-paper-scissors as seriously as if they were entering a duel.

Feeling a strange tension, Albie unconsciously gulped. Ken watched the scene with an impassive expression.

Arasila stretched out her fist and grinned.

“Demian, just so you know, I’m going to throw scissors.”

Demian’s eyes wavered momentarily at the sudden psychological warfare. But he quickly regained his composure and said.

“Then I’ll throw rock.”

“We’ll end it in one round.”

“Understood.”

The two raised their hands in unison with the count and moved their fingers as they brought them down.

Demian really threw rock. Then he checked Arasila’s hand across from him.

She who said she would throw scissors… had all her fingers stretched out.

“Wow, I won!”

Arasila waved her palm excitedly.

Demian gaped blankly. He felt dazed as if someone had hit the back of his head.

Demian slowly moved his lips towards the bouncing Arasila.

“…Didn’t you say you were going to throw scissors?”

“The world is all about being clever, you know.”

Arasila belatedly folded three fingers to make a V sign and smiled proudly.

Demian, unable to accept the result of the match, protested.

“It’s too inefficient for a mage to take the front and a knight to take the rear!”

“Sometimes the most inefficient choice produces the strongest effect.”

Arasila retorted with a snort. She flipped her hair back and said primly.

“And you clearly agreed to decide with rock-paper-scissors, right? It’s no use changing your words now, I won’t accept it.”

“…”

Demian’s lips twitched. He sighed heavily with a dumbfounded expression.

Seeing his face full of gloom, Arasila lightly hit his broad shoulder.

“Don’t be too discouraged. Think of it not as having your glory stolen, but as supporting me from behind.”

“…Do you think I’m doing this because of glory?”

Demian gently grasped Arasila’s wrist and removed it. He slowly met her gaze and opened his mouth.

“I’m worried about you. I’m afraid you might get hurt because of me.”

“…”

“It’s not just you who wants to protect me, I want to protect you too.”

Arasila was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling the sincerity in his words.

“Hahaha! It’s so heartwarming to see a couple getting along so well!”

Albie tactlessly interjected with a boisterous laugh. The thunderous voice jolted Arasila back to her senses.

“So, will you change the front line assignment to the Red Hawk Knight Order?”

“No! We mages will take charge of it.”

Arasila declared, pushing away Demian’s hand.

Demian was disappointed, having thought he might be able to persuade her.

In the end, unable to change Arasila’s mind, it was decided that they would attack the monsters two days later.

The mansion in the capital that the Duke and Duchess had prepared for Oscar was large and spacious, considering it was acquired in a hurry.

They had used their influence, reasoning that as the future heir of the Vandermir ducal family, he shouldn’t stay in a small and shabby place.

Oscar spread his arms wide as he entered the mansion. A bright smile spread across his face as he took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Yes, this is it! This is the air of freedom!”

He had been under various pressures and constraints while staying with his family in the duchy.

Although he had come with a purpose, he was extremely happy and excited to be staying alone in the capital.

‘Great! I’ll seduce Lady Hugo like this and use her as an excuse to keep staying in the capital.’

Since it was extremely rare for people to marry right after starting to date, he could extend his stay in the capital using romance as a pretext.

Oscar hummed a tune as he flopped down on the bed.

‘First, I’ll get rid of that nerd beside Lady Hugo, and if I pretend to be in love and treat her well enough, she’ll fall for me.’

He had already conducted a background investigation on Eric and Iris.

The two had recently started dating and weren’t in a deep relationship yet. It was enough for Oscar to wedge himself in.

Although Iris had rejected him once, Oscar firmly believed that it was because she didn’t know him well.

‘I’m better than that nerd in many ways.’

Oscar gritted his teeth, still unable to forget the shame he felt when overwhelmed by Eric’s grip strength.

He would show Eric by stealing Iris from him and gloating.

As he was firmly resolving this, a maid knocked on the door and entered.

“Young master, I’m here to help you undress.”

Oscar narrowed his eyes and looked the maid up and down. His lips twitched at the unfamiliar face he hadn’t seen in the duchy.

He was basically a man with the value that “women you see for the first time are the prettiest.”

“You’re quite cute.”

“…Pardon? Were you talking to me?”

The maid asked with a surprised face, her shoulders slightly twitching. Oscar nodded with a sleazy smile.

“Of course, who else here is cute besides you? I didn’t know there could be such a cute maid in the world.”

“Ah…”

Although his insides were black, Oscar’s appearance was quite decent, and when he said such things, the maid blushed.

Oscar naturally approached the maid, took her hand, and gently pulled her.

His goal was Iris, but he could enjoy this level of deviation.

Because, after all, he was to become the Duke of Vandermir in the future.