Published: September 6, 2025
I anxiously waited for enough evidence to capture Viscountess Dardorf. When I heard the high priest say "All right," I dashed out of the head priest's office. Along with the guard knights, Hartmut—who insisted that "It is an important duty as high priest to recover the Sacred Scripture, which is crucial to Lady Rosemine, the head priest"—was with me.
"I must retrieve my book," I said.
"Yes. The Sacred Scripture is indispensable to a saint," Hartmut replied.
At times like this, Hartmut is a reliable ally. I enhanced my physical strength further with mana and sprinted outside at full speed. I was already out of breath by the time I stepped out, panting heavily, but I couldn't afford to falter here.
...If it’s to retrieve the Sacred Scripture, I’m prepared to hold a Bloody Carnival!
I mounted my Mount, gripped the handlebars firmly, and was just about to set off when I paused. Oh no—I had no idea where Viscount Dardorf’s mansion was.
"Um, high priest, where is Viscount Dardorf’s mansion?"
"What? Lady Rosemine, you ran out without knowing the location!?"
"The spirit to get the Sacred Scripture back is what matters, Judith," I said.
The guard knights around me slumped their shoulders in disappointment. The high priest, who was just keeping pace with my full-speed walk, rolled his eyes and started moving the Mount.
"Follow me. If you go ahead alone, it will get very troublesome."
It seemed knights were guarding the Viscount Dardorf mansion. As soon as we arrived, two knights came over to the high priest and whispered, "It appears only the Viscountess is here."
Dardorf, located just south of Ilkner, was not a region still blanketed in snow. The family apparently remained at the Summer Hall.
"Perhaps to avoid any involvement—even slight—or to act alone without interference..."
I glanced sideways as the high priest gave instructions to the knights. I stood before the front door and had Hartmut knock on the door knocker.
...If I knocked myself, the high priest would scold me, saying something like “A lady should not do such a thing,” so I left it to Hartmut. It's not that I resent my own inability to reach that high knocker. Not at all!
As I glared at the cow-like animal-shaped door knocker high above, the door opened. A serious-looking man, presumably the chief attendant, scanned the close aides before fixing his gaze on me, blinking several times.
"Lady Rosemine, isn’t it? Gibe has not yet returned here, nor have we heard any promises from the lady. What is your business?"
We weren’t here for an appointment—we were here to capture her. I smiled gently at the chief attendant.
"I wish to meet Viscountess Dardorf. Could you please show me to her room?"
"You know that we cannot admit visitors without an appointment, Lady Rosemine," he said politely but firmly.
Without hesitation, I bound the attendant with the light band of my stave. The high priest had told me it was acceptable to restrain those who resisted. Anyone interfering with my effort to retrieve the Sacred Scripture would be tied up and tossed aside.
"Lady Rosemine!?"
Suddenly restrained and unable to maintain balance, the chief attendant fell to the floor, looking utterly bewildered. I asked again.
"Hey, where is Viscountess Dardorf’s room?"
"I cannot answer," he said stubbornly despite being tied up.
What dedication to duty. No matter how much I asked, it was useless. I immediately gave up on extracting information from him, stepped past him, and entered the mansion.
"Too bad you won’t tell me. But the mansions of nobles are similar in layout; if I check the master’s residential quarters room by room, I’ll find it."
"Entering another’s mansion and restraining servants without the master present or an appointment—do you think such rudeness is permissible, even if you are the foster daughter of the lord?"
Even tied up and on the floor, the attendant looked up with eyes shining with strong light and voiced his objection. Looking down at him, I chuckled softly and filled my body with mana.