A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

“Indeed, it would be good to be scared to death.” Angelia nodded, seemingly agreeing with 112’s statement.

“By the way, you didn’t just show up out of nowhere just to talk to me about this, did you?” Angelia glanced at 112.

“Young Miss, someone is near our house,” 112 said respectfully.

"Is it Diman?" Angelia's expression was somewhat subtle.

She had previously told the artist to quit, hoping to dissuade him from having any ideas.

But later, for some reason, the artist named Diman still came every now and then.

When Diman arrived, Angelia didn't stop him, and sometimes 112 would even let him into the old house.

Angelia was honestly surprised by Diman's choice.

Many people have a kind of mental fastidiousness and think that people like them are "dirty".

But it seems that Diman doesn't think so.

Of course, the world is so big, it's not surprising that there are people like that. Angela has met a few herself.

However, Angela thought that Diman was a person with mental fastidiousness.

"No." 112 shook his head.

“No?” Angelia was taken aback by 112’s answer.

Besides that painter, who else would come to such a place? Especially when the fog is so thick.

“One man and two women, they’re probably lost,” 112 thought for a moment and said to his young mistress.

“Then please invite them in and have a seat. We’ll ask them to leave once the fog clears,” Angelia said after a moment, glancing at the cup.

"Understood." 112 nodded, turned and left.

"It's been a long time since I've seen someone who's lost," Angelia muttered to herself after 112 left.

Getting lost here is actually quite an achievement.

---

Bray didn't want to use his brain to find his way, because it was exhausting.

But after thinking about how he usually used cunning when fighting, and how his reasons weren't particularly high-sounding, Bray decided to use cunning after all.

It was already evening, and he didn't want to be unable to find Lux ​​and her group even after dark.

Just as Bray was about to close his right eye, a figure suddenly entered his field of vision.

"Brave, there's someone there," Naruko pointed ahead.

The appearance of a stranger in the fog suggests a dangerous situation.

Because those who make an appearance like this are usually very high-class characters.

"I'm not blind."

"You're practically blind in this fog."

“…” Brey said.

"My sudden appearance seems to have disturbed you all." A voice came from the fog, interrupting the duet between Bree and Naruko.

"Yeah, it's kind of scary. It walks without making a sound, like a cat," Bray nodded honestly.

“After all, I am a cat.” 112 approached, and its appearance gradually became clearer.

112 showed no displeasure at Bray's overly honest answer; his expression remained calm, revealing no emotion.

“The Kates?” Bray was a little surprised; it really was a cat.

Cat-people are rare, and cat-people in the Middle Continent are even rarer.

"You can call me 112. My young lady would like to invite you to her home for a visit."

“It’s getting late, and the fog won’t clear anytime soon. It’s not a good idea to keep going like this,” 112 said to Bray.

Bray frowned, thinking about it carefully, and realized that 112 wasn't wrong.

But why was the other party so enthusiastic? Thinking this, Bray looked up at the indistinct outline of the old house.

"Levy, are you hungry?" Bray turned around and looked at Levy wagging her tail, trying to ask.

"Hungry." Levy never said anything against her conscience, especially when it came to her stomach.

“Then please lead the way.” Bray withdrew his gaze from Levy’s tail and said to 112.

"This way, please." After making a gesture, 112 began to lead the way.

The axe behind him was quite eye-catching, just like the broadsword Bray carried.

112 found the way very easily in the fog; I'm afraid it could find the way even with its eyes closed.

112 knows the roads near the house so well that he knows them inside and out.

"Is your name 112?" Naruko asked curiously.

"..." 112 was silent for a while before continuing to speak.

“Yes, that’s my name.” 112 nodded, answering Naruko’s question, even though it was a bit presumptuous.

"It feels like a number," Naruko muttered to herself.

No matter how you look at it, 112 doesn't seem like a proper name.

What you said isn't entirely wrong.

"Huh?"

112's ears twitched, but he didn't say anything; he simply continued leading the way.

"Did I ask a very rude question?" Naruko thought 112 was angry, so she quickly moved closer to Bray and asked.

"What do you think?" Bray asked casually.

“emmmmmm” Naruko lowered her head, feeling a little regretful.

“I’m not angry,” 112 added abruptly.

"You can hear me?" Naruko asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“If you concentrate even a little, many people can hear you,” 112 said casually.

Anyone with a little bit of skill can hear all sorts of subtle sounds if they concentrate.

"Besides, I'm a cat person."

Bray, leading the hungry Levy, glanced at the pink-haired idiot beside him, and then at 112 who was leading the way.

Actually, compared to the others, it's quite surprising that someone still lives in that old house.

"Is your young lady always so hospitable?" Bray asked.

“Our young lady has always been very hospitable and kind.” 112 seemed quite happy to answer the question.

The originally somber atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Bray asked this question because this scene resembled certain plots—a lost group of people were invited to sit in the home of a seemingly hospitable nobleman, and that sitting there led to their deaths.

Reasons might include "experimental subject", "bad taste", or "eaten".

Then, while Bray was wondering if he would be poisoned, 112 led them to the front of the old house.

The rusty iron gate was a little unsettling.

Bray and his group finally saw the old house up close. It was better than they had imagined, but not by much.

Surprisingly, it was clean and tidy.

Old and clean are not contradictory, and this is well demonstrated in this house. A priest once said that to get rid of Bray, all you need to do is poison him.

Bray always remembered that sentence.

He kept thinking about what he would do if the young lady mentioned by 112 drugged him.

They might be tied up and subjected to all sorts of unspeakable experiments?

This thought only eased slightly after I saw the young lady.

"Good evening, three lost friends." Angelia greeted them with a smile from the top of the stairs.

Of course, this greeting is a bit odd; the phrase "lost friend" just doesn't sound right.

But it is a fact that cannot be refuted.

“My name is Angelia, and I’m the owner of this house,” the girl said naturally.

“My name is Blakelas, hers is Naruko, and hers is Levy.”

"Thank you for the invitation." Bray nodded and introduced the two women beside him in one go.

However, despite the greetings, there were other things that concerned Bray.

It was after he actually entered the house that he sensed something was amiss.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's definitely wrong.

After noticing this anomaly, Bray made a decision.

"Can we take a break for a bit?" Bray decided to ignore everything else.

Dig deep enough? Or investigate secretly? Of course not.

Why do these things without any basis?

This might just turn into trouble.

It's better to lie in bed and rest first, and then have a proper dinner.

This is the true lifestyle of a salted fish.

“Of course, 112, take them to the guest rooms.” Angelia smiled.

That smile was so captivating, enough to make any man fall head over heels for her.

She didn't try to be pretentious; a simple smile was enough.

"..." But Bray, who was often mistaken for a gay man, was completely unmoved at this moment, and even wanted to eat.

He felt he was perfectly normal; he just thought getting a good rest was more important than admiring beautiful women.

"Everyone, this way." The cat-man bowed politely and then led the group upstairs to their guest rooms.

Although 112 wasn't wearing a formal butler's uniform, he was essentially the butler of this old mansion.

However, since they also need to be able to provide protection, wearing light armor is also necessary.

“Let me walk with you,” Angelia said.

"As long as Miss doesn't find it tiring, that's fine," 112 replied.

“I don’t mind being tired. It’s rare to have guests, so it’s good for me to move around a bit.” Angelia’s every word and action exuded a strong aristocratic air.

Because Bray would be dealing with Princess Virginia, it felt very familiar.

Then 112 quietly led the way, while Angelia would occasionally say a few words, introducing some places inside the old house.

The interior of the old house was well-maintained and not much different from the houses of ordinary wealthy families.

Although the old house doesn't look dirty or messy from the outside, it's just been there for far too long.

The stark contrast between the inside and outside creates a very strong impact.

"Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Levy exclaimed in surprise because of this contrast.

"So many drawings!!!" This time it was Naruko who was shouting.

Upon hearing Naruko's words, Angelia was taken aback for a moment before she came to her senses.

112 glanced at Angelia, but said nothing.

This old house originally didn't have many works of art; ceramics, sculptures, and paintings were all rare.

But now there are many paintings hanging along the staircase, and the person who painted these paintings is Diman, who often comes here.

Ever since Diman painted Angelia's portrait, he has brought some paintings with him every time he comes.

I don't know why, but Angelia would always accept these paintings.