Backlund, Queens District.
The carriage traveled along a flat, wide road.
The smooth road, high-class carriage, and soft cushions meant the passengers inside felt no bumps whatsoever.
"Cecilia, you've already advanced to Sequence 8?"
Fors said enviously. "That's really convenient."
"It's mainly thanks to my brother's help."
Across from her, the beautiful black-haired girl smiled in reply, supporting the handsome young man beside her.
His eyes harbored deep madness, his entire body wrapped in a straitjacket bound with black leather straps, even his mouth tightly covered.
"Right, brother?"
She asked gently, smoothing Silas's hair.
The latter only made muffled murmurs through the straps.
"...Uh, hehe."
Fors's expression turned awkward as she forced out a smile, turning to look at Xio beside her and exchanging glances.
This family is seriously wrong!
Xio returned the look.
Weren't you the one who brought them here!
Fors was on the verge of tears.
This was the first time she'd seen Silas in his mad state with her own eyes, and it was far worse than she'd imagined.
Meeting Miss Audrey in such a state, there was no way he'd pass without even thinking about it.
It had already been three days since they'd visited Silas.
Yesterday, they'd told Miss Audrey about the situation, and after consideration, she'd agreed to Silas's proposal. So today, they'd specifically come by carriage to pick up the two to meet their employer.
But who could have predicted that Silas would have an episode today of all days?
The carriage carried the group with their chaotic thoughts forward, the scenery outside the windows constantly changing.
A few minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of a villa.
This wasn't Earl Hall's manor, but the home of Audrey's friend, Viscount Glaint.
"Brother, we've arrived."
Fors saw the black-haired girl gently touch Silas's arm.
Then, as if receiving some kind of signal, Silas's originally mad eyes gradually became clear.
Finally, he slowly sat up straight and allowed her to undo the leather straps binding him, regaining his freedom.
Just like that... he's better?
Fors thought in amazement.
"Let's go."
Silas moved his body and spoke to the others in the carriage. The illusory tides in his mind continuously echoed, helping him suppress the mad parts of his psyche.
Since returning home that day, his mental state hadn't been good. He'd even fallen into chaotic hallucinations before being able to prepare the potion for his sister, leaving her to do it herself.
By the time he regained consciousness, his sister had already finished drinking the potion and successfully advanced.
The True Creator's ravings have been particularly intense these past two days.
I don't know if it's related to me calling out that name...
Silas thought as he stepped on the extended footrest outside the carriage, stepping onto the level ground.
The Queens District had a much better environment than the East District. The roads weren't muddy at all, spacious and comfortable.
Tall sycamore trees were planted in rows, pedestrians on the street wore bright clothing with well-proportioned figures, and police patrolled seriously at regular intervals.
Silas recalled the conditions in the East District, and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
However, falling into madness had unexpectedly caused the remnants of the "Listener" potion to waver slightly. Silas had more or less guessed why.
Perhaps it was because he'd understood the intent of the True Creator's ravings.
So-called "listening" was important not only for the process, but also for the result.
The ultimate purpose of listening was to fully understand the true meaning the other party wanted to express.
Silas speculated that perhaps when he fully understood the True Creator's emotions and thoughts, the last bit of the "Listener" potion could be digested.
The group came to the front of the villa.
After servants announced them, they entered through the gate, passed through the luxuriously decorated corridor and hall, and met their employer in a reception room.
"Miss Audrey, these two are the Anderson siblings..."
Fors took the initiative to step forward and introduce them.
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly noticed that Miss Audrey, who always maintained her elegance, showed a slight change in expression.
"Is that you?"
Audrey, wearing a white gauze dress, widened her beautiful emerald eyes and said incredulously.
"Oh, it's you."
Silas looked clearly at her face, recalled briefly, and remembered she was the noble lady he'd met at the mental hospital.
I still owe her several hundred pounds... If it's her, it makes sense that she knows about Lanevus.
He remembered now.
When he'd been examining that street girl's corpse, he'd muttered Lanevus's name to himself. Perhaps she'd started sending people to investigate because of that.
"Do you two know each other?"
The somewhat thin Viscount Glaint looked back and forth between the two and couldn't help but ask.
This question voiced what everyone present was thinking.
Not just him, but Xio and Fors also wanted to know. It was just that given their position, they couldn't ask.
"Yes, this gentleman once saved me."
The surprise on Audrey's face only lasted a brief moment before she quickly showed an impeccable elegant smile.
"It was during that incident that got me grounded... If it weren't for him, my situation might have been dangerous."
"I see. What a wonderful coincidence."
Viscount Glaint couldn't help but exclaim after hearing this.
In his understanding, Silas was perhaps just a somewhat strong Beyonder.
But Audrey knew more clearly that this person was very likely the one who created the Capim case, a powerful and dangerous figure who'd easily killed everyone in that entire villa.
Calm down, Audrey. He's not an enemy. You need to make him have a good impression of you...
She kept admonishing herself in her heart, then looked at Xio and Fors.
"Xio, Fors, you've done very well."
Audrey smiled and said, "I've personally witnessed this gentleman's strength before. If it's him, he should easily defeat the Beyonder guards at my home."
With that, she pushed an envelope containing the commission across the table to the two of them.
"Thank you very much, Miss Audrey."
Xio was quick to receive the envelope, opened it to check, and thanked her after confirming it was correct.
Audrey smiled and nodded to her, then shifted her gaze to Silas and the girl beside him. "So, the one who will nominally be my bodyguard is your sister?"
"Cecilia Anderson."
She saw the blue-eyed girl step forward and speak.
So beautiful...
Audrey thought.
With her experience in aristocratic circles, among the women she'd seen, those with such appearance were in the extreme minority.
But she seems to rely on her brother a lot... No, I can't analyze!
She almost instinctively wanted to use mind reading, but quickly remembered the lesson she'd learned from Silas last time and immediately dismissed the thought.
"Although you both already know my name, please allow me to introduce myself. Audrey Hall." She rose from the sofa and gracefully lifted her skirt hem.
"Welcome to becoming my bodyguards."
Why do I keep seeing ladies curtsy lately...
"You can say that after we pass the test."
Silas said.
"That's true."
Audrey's emerald eyes moved slightly as she nodded in agreement.
"Then let's depart immediately. I can't be away from home for too long right now."
Out of courtesy, she should have hosted the two visitors, but because she was still restricted, she could only return to the villa as quickly as possible.
However, Silas didn't care about these things, so the group left the viscount's home in a grand procession.
At Audrey's feet, a large golden retriever carefully moved close to her legs. After Silas glanced at it, it immediately tucked its tail between its legs.
۞۞۞۞
~ Support & Read 24+ Advanced Chapters on Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/lost_magus
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)