Chapter 77 - Episode 20: "It Burned Before I Could Burn It..."
I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I shall tell you exactly what is happening.
"The mansion burned before I could burn it."
You probably have no idea what I am talking about, but I have no idea either...
I feel like my head is going to go crazy...
...But surely, this is no trivial thing like a small fire or a careless handling of fire.
Something much larger must be in motion!
Since I intended to burn it anyway, I am not troubled by the fact that it burned, but somehow it feels unsatisfying and not quite refreshing...
Especially... what does Giovan think?
The house of the person who once treated him coldly and even burned down his own house is burning without him even having to burn it... I think he must have complex feelings.
"...Shall we go for a look?"
So, I proposed that.
"Nah... I'm fine from here."
When Giovan said that, he sat down heavily on the spot and gazed at the House Hornbone mansion burning in the distance.
"Well... it would've been fine if I burned it, and it probably would've been interesting if you burned it, Milady. But... it's not a mansion with that much value anyway."
"It's not a mansion with that much value." In those words, I saw a tiny bit of his defiance.
"I feel good. Yeah. I feel refreshed."
"...Is that so? Then, that is good, but..."
I cannot feel completely refreshed with just this... but if Giovan says so, I shall let this be for now. Yes.
The mansion burned before I could burn it. Well, I suppose things like this happen. Yes.
"Well then, since I missed the chance to burn it, I must think of something else to make up for it."
"Eh."
But! While I shall let the fact that "the mansion burned before I could burn it" be! I! Am! Not! Satisfied! With! This!
"...No, well, fine, I guess."
"Oh, is that so? That is good. Even if you had said no, I would have done it anyway."
As expected, I must carry out my original intention. Since I decided to burn it, I wanted to burn it. If I could not burn it, then I shall carry out my original intention in another form!
"In the first place, I wonder why that house burned."
...So, we shall start from there.
"It is almost impossible for the House Hornbone mansion to go up in flames due to a careless handling of fire."
That would be quite amusing, but it is likely impossible. There would always be multiple people awake, and there should be soldiers patrolling at night.
...Yes. In a situation where there should be soldiers and servants, it is mysterious that the mansion is burning like that.
"Even if it were arson, I wonder how they managed to burn it that much. Did they use Gunpowder? Onii-sama, what do you think?"
"Hmm. The intensity of the fire is great. It does not look like the way Gunpowder burns... it looks like arson using plenty of oil."
"Which means it is undoubtedly arson?"
"Indeed. It is a mansion of that size, yet it is burning like that. There is no possibility other than it being 'burned intentionally.'"
I see. As I thought.
...Then the question is who the culprit is.
Since it is House Hornbone, they must have earned grudges from all over... but even so, I think the number of people who could burn a mansion so grandly is limited.
"First, the ones that come to mind are those from the Royal Family."
If it is the Royal Family, they have money and people. They can do whatever they want.
"If the Royal Family set fire to the House Hornbone mansion, what would be their purpose? Even if they intended to cut ties, I think there are many better ways than arson."
That is true...
If the Royal Family is the culprit, I do not understand the motive for burning the House Hornbone mansion.
If they wanted to cut ties, a declaration would suffice, and if they wanted to kill them, they could just execute them. To have gone through the trouble of "arson," there must be a corresponding reason.
"If we consider others, perhaps another noble? House Clarino, for instance, if House Hornbone were crushed, they would finally become the greatest and only noble house in the Kingdom of Orchesta."
"It might also be a chance for a lower-ranking noble to rise. The possibility of it being some noble is quite high."
Burning a house means blowing away that house's fortune. Therefore, it is quite understandable for someone who wants to crush House Hornbone to commit arson.
"...Well, there is no use worrying about it here."
Still, just thinking about it here lacks a deciding factor.
"I shall go and be an onlooker!"
The mansion is still burning sufficiently! It should still be quite a sight to see!
Unexpectedly, there were many onlookers for the fire.
Even though it was night, on the streets of the noble district which were bright with fire, both nobles and commoners had come out and were watching House Hornbone burn.
...No. To say they were watching the house burn might be slightly wrong.
"W-Why is such a thing here...!"
"What on earth is that..."
From the buzzing and anxiety of the people, the irresponsible emotions characteristic of onlookers are far too absent.
Because, well, that is only natural.
"Why is a demon in a place like this!"
In front of the burning mansion was the figure of something clearly non-human.
A "demon" was there.
A demon is a creature that, while being a monster, possesses high intelligence.
Most can use magic, and it is not rare for them to handle human speech.
As creatures of myth, it is said that there are even heretics who worship demons.
...And to make matters worse, these things called demons make deals with humans and grant wishes in exchange for a corresponding price!
The price can be a soul, property, or various other things... but one thing is certain: demons make fun of humans a good portion of the time. Even so, they never break a contract. But they do try to find loopholes in the contract. And they possess immense power... and incidentally, in this country, contracting with a demon is illegal!
...The fact that a demon is in front of the burning mansion now means that either someone contracted with a demon to burn House Hornbone... or someone from House Hornbone summoned a demon and made some kind of contract with their property as the price.
Either way, isn't this quite an interesting development?
"Truly, the desires of humans take many forms."
The demon said that and snapped its fingers toward the House Hornbone mansion. Then a pillar of fire rose there, making the sky even brighter.
"Now then, as per the contract, let us burn the next mansion."
The demon said further and began to walk leisurely. Its destination was... another noble's mansion a short distance away!
Without even looking at the onlookers, the demon went to the front of that mansion and snapped its fingers again.
And suddenly, the noble's mansion burst into flames. The servants were mostly onlookers, but those who were elegantly sleeping through it will not be saved. In short, I think the noble themselves, who was likely sleeping leisurely, is bound to be roasted crisp.
"Next!"
The demon's pace does not stop. It seems it intends to head to various parts of the town and burn the mansions there.
"W-What do you intend to do to my mansion! Stop! I'll give you money!"
One noble snapped at it. It seems he is from the mansion that is about to be burned...
"Do not interfere with me, you puny human wretch."
When the demon snapped its fingers, it was fire magic again. A pillar of fire rose, and that noble was roasted crisp.
Seeing this, the onlookers scattered like baby spiders. Though, the demon did not seem to care.
...The demon has just burned the third house, but I cannot read this demon's purpose.
It looks like it is just burning noble mansions, and if so, it looks like House Hornbone was not the only target.
No, but from my perspective, knowing the actual situation of House Hornbone, I can believe without a doubt that House Hornbone is involved in some way.
But... I also think it might be fine to just leave this alone.
Because if I leave it like this, well, the entire noble district of the Royal Capital will burn, won't it?
That would be interesting in its own way.
...But well, just in case, let us at least confirm things.
Immediately, I took out a full-face suit of armor from the Spatial Bag and put it on.
And I! Approach the demon!
"Good day, Mr. Demon."
I spoke to it!
Then the demon looked a bit surprised, but it turned around as if it were nothing and stared at me intently...
"...What do you want?"
"No. I just wanted to talk to you a bit. I am not speaking to you to interfere with you."
It seems that if I speak to it normally, the demon will respond normally. That is good.
"Why are you burning the mansions around here?"
"...Why is there a need to speak of that?"
"Oh. Is there some reason you must not speak? Did the someone you contracted with say something like 'do not speak of the purpose even if someone asks'?"
When I said that, the demon... grinned.
"Interesting. Indeed, that human did not include such a thing in the contract."
I thought so. I do not think they would contract with the assumption that someone would talk to a demon. Yes.
"Then, will you tell me?"
"Very well. That seems more interesting."
And the demon, who loves to make fun of humans, said this.
"There was a foolish human who made a ridiculous contract, wanting to become a hero by having me attack the town and then having me let them take the credit for saving the town from my hands."
...That is wonderful, isn't it?