早朝のシュトラヘルツ邸。日が昇り始めて３０分と経っていないが、邸宅内では今、執務室を中心に重苦しく刺々しい雰囲気に包まれ、メイド達が慌ただしく「仕事」に追われていた。
　誰しもが、この張り詰めた空気に刺激を与えてはならないと、真面目な者から存在自体がジョークのような者まで、皆一様に余計な一言すら漏らす事無く、己に与えられた役割を果たさんと走り回る。屋敷からは、昨日までの和気あいあいとした笑顔に溢れていた暖かさが一切消え失せ、ともすれば「触れれば斬れる」の揶揄を体現しているかのような、冷たく鋭い緊迫感に支配されていた。
　その空気を生み出しているのは他ならぬ、執務室に陣取る彼女達の主、傍に寄るだけで言い知れぬ恐怖を抱かせる程の怒気を隠しきれないエルザと、本人すら自覚のない理不尽な殺気を漏れ出させているコルである。これまでメイド達が見てきたユルい姿は何処にもなく、そこに居るのは間違いなく、畏怖の対象となる魔法使いと歴戦の傭兵、そのものであった。エルザに至っては、襲撃の後に屋敷に戻ってからミフィとアイーナ、そして重傷を負ったピンクちゃんにつきっきりで苦手とする治癒魔法を使い続け、やっと落ち着いたのはつい１時間程前の事で、疲労が目に見えている状態にありながら周囲の空間を軋ませそうな気迫を発している。
　警備の不備と不始末の謝罪の為に日の出と共に訪れたＶＫは、そんな二人を前に冷や汗を滲ませていた。いくら古い友人として扱われているとて下手な事を言えば殺されかねない。自然の摂理からも常識というものからも逸脱した、さながら自然災害にも近しい暴君たる存在、本来ならばそれが魔法使いたる姿なのだ。その本来の魔法使い然としたデタラメが目の前に居る。彼は久しからず肝が冷える感覚を禁じ得なかった。
　エルザが手にした報告書の束を机の上に置く。ＶＫが持参したこの報告書には、支部のメンバーによる夜を通しての捜査の記録が記されていた。
「ふん、警備担当の者とすり替わり、手引きした者は変身系能力を持つ者、実働隊を手引きした方は宿泊客として潜り込んでいたか…見事にホテルという立地を逆手に取られたな」
「面目次第もございません。すり替わられた者は自宅で遺体が発見されました。司法解剖はまだですが、遺体の腐敗状況から、大雑把な見解では死後四日といった所でしょうか、この気候で多少のズレが生じる事を考慮しても、少なくとも殺されてから発見まで数日は経過しているのは間違いありません。つまりパーティー以前の段階ですり替わっていた事になります。この襲撃は前もって計画されていた…と考えるべきでしょう」
「チッ…！警備に当てられるからには、それなりに腕の立つ者であったろうに、それをいとも簡単にとはな」
「すり替わっていた方の正体は未だ掴めませんが、成り済ます対象を本人が消す必要もありませんので、危険度については何とも言えませんね。手引きで潜り込んだ方に至っては…」
「ベアが殺られているんです、相当の手練れか超火力の持ち主、危険度なんて…考えるだけバカバカしい」
　報告書を睨むコルが視線を動かさず淡々と言う。沈痛な面持ちでコルに目をやったＶＫだったが、咳払いをひとつ、報告を続けた。
「宿泊客を装っていた方に関しては、台帳の名前は当然偽名、住所もデタラメでしたが、記憶力の良いスタッフが顔を覚えていましたので特定は簡単でした。こちらは単純に金で雇われたゴロツキのようです」
「では、その線から襲撃の犯人を割り出せるな？口を割らぬようなら構わん、拷問だ、とにかく拷問せよ。洗い浚い吐かせるのだ」
「残念ながら先手を打たれましたよ…３組計６人、スラムの裏路地で全員分の死体が発見されました、笑った顔の惨殺死体が、ね」
　恐怖も度を越せば笑いが込み上げてくるという感情の不思議、欲に目が眩み辿った自業自得の末路とはいえ、笑みを張り付けた死者、いっそ哀れにも思えてくる。
「連中にとってもまさしく使い捨ての駒という訳か。こちらに捕まってさえいれば、生き地獄を見せるだけで済ませてやったものを、所詮掃き溜めのクズ共か！」
「…次に、唯一襲撃者と争った痕跡が顕著だった為、優先して司法解剖の行われた”グリズリー”の遺体ですが…まず目立った外傷が見当たりません。ただ一つ、胸に小さな打撲痕のようなものがあり、そこを中心に肋骨と臓器が粉砕・破裂しています。調査の結果、現場に残されていた弾丸と打撲痕が一致、死因は銃撃による間接的なものと断定されました」
「やはり、奴が…」
　頭から離れない光景、パーティー会場で起きた乱戦の中、コルの放った銃弾を弾いて見せた、ずんぐりむっくりとした野戦服の男が手にしていた超大型ハンドガン。ベアが凶弾に倒れたというのなら、凶器はおそらく逃走の際に見せた、床を破砕する威力を持つ、コル自身も見た事の無い、あの未知なる銃であろうと予測する。だが、そう考えはしても、どこか納得がいかなかった。
「エンチャントされた銃弾でも奴の体を傷付ける事は叶わぬ筈じゃ、よもや魔術弾が実用化されたとでも言うつもりではあるまいな」
「いえ、…実際に見て頂いた方がよろしいですね」
　懐からハンカチを取り出すと机の上で広げていく。そこに包まれていた物を見て、エルザはピクリと眉を動かした。
「現場で発見されたという薬莢と、弾丸か。…４４口径よりも大きいようだが？」
「実に６６口径。拳銃弾としては現存するどの拳銃でも扱う事のできないワイルドキャット、事実上世界最大口径弾薬です。先程も申し上げた通り遺体の打撲痕ともピタリ一致しました。ですが…」
「…これでベアに致命傷を与える事は不可能だわ」
　コルの分析にＶＫは大きく頷いた。
　映画等ではよく大口径マグナムで車両を破壊するシーンを目にするが、あれは多大に誇張された表現である。実際に同じ事を再現するには貫通力に優れる徹甲弾を使用する他なく、ハンドガンクラスでできる芸当ではない。そもそも口径が少し大きくなったところで、並みの銃弾を受け付けないベアの体に、体内に致命的な衝撃を通すまでの威力があるとは思えなかった。
「エンチャントやチャージの痕跡も見られぬ、か。よもや物理的な威力だけで…？」
「なにも籠められるものが魔力だけとは限りませんよ。剣術師や格闘師の能力者は練気（俗にいう「気」「チャクラ」）を剣気や気弾として放つだけでなく、武器や拳に上乗せして威力を高める事もできる、そしてそれは飛び道具も例外ではない事をお忘れなく。或いは魔剣・妖刀の類のように、この弾薬を使用したハンドガンに秘密があるのかもしれませんが…それらを考慮すれば、口径から想定される以上のストッピングパワーを発揮した事は想像に難くありません」
「そんな事、私にはできないわ…あの男は一体何者なのかしら、人間、それともモンスター？」
「ああ、それについては不確定要素が多大に含まれますが、世間に出回っていない口径の弾薬、これを使用する超大型ハンドガンを所持する男の風貌…そこから予想できる人物像をある程度までなら絞り込む事は可能です。もしかしたらコルさんも聞いた事くらいはあるかもしれません」
　言いながらＶＫはブリーフケースから資料を一束取り出してエルザの前へ差し出した。先に提出された報告書に比べればほんの数枚でしかなかったが、目を通し終わるまでに数分掛かるほど事細かに書き記されたそれを、二人は一文字たりとも見逃すまいと熱心に読み進めていく。
　ややあって視線を上げたエルザは、荒く鼻を鳴らした。
「成程な…該当する人物の資料だと思ったが、これは該当する”戦場の噂”か」
「よくある戦争ものの創作話ですよ、所謂”超人兵士”の類のね。グリズリー程ではありませんが、戦場に立つモンスターの間では、その存在を仄めかす逸話が僅かながら囁かれています。問題は、人伝で発生した噂に過ぎないので、同じ出所の話でも微妙に異なる派生が多い、という事でしょうか」
　ありふれた作り話など星の数ほどある。そこから生まれたモンスターも数多い。軍事関係では超人兵士を筆頭に、改造人間、機械兵、新薬実験の被験者、超常的なものになると謎のエネルギーを浴びたり、処理済みの実験動物に噛まれたり、地球外生物や異星人との接触したり等でスーパーパワーを手に入れた超人、荒唐無稽なものになると現代に目覚めた人型古代兵器なんて話まであり、バリエーションは枚挙に暇がない。そこからヒーローコミックに流用され、更にそれを元にヒーロー系モンスターが生まれたりと…妖怪ブームで爆発的に妖怪が増えつつある近代日本は、まさにこの歴史を踏襲しているといっても過言ではない。

「その中でも、これまでの証拠と目撃証言にほぼ符合しているのは”対戦車歩兵”。古くは冷戦の時代まで遡る噂ですね。当時の連邦は厚い壁に覆われ、外部に情報を公開していなかった事もあり、諸国では全く内情を窺い知る事のできない連邦国内について様々な憶測が飛び交い、様々なモンスターが誕生する現象（コールドウォー・ラッシュ）が発生、これもその一つです。曰く、生身で戦車に立ち向かい、これを破壊する歩兵部隊だそうですが」
「弾道を見切る動体視力とそれに反応できる反射神経、戦車の装甲を貫ける銃、か。訳の解らない超兵器を持ってたり空飛んだりしないだけマシなのかしら。可能なら、これ以上出て来ない事を願いたいところだけれど…そうもいかないのでしょうね、きっと」
　ランの居所を突き止め、救出に向かった事を知れば、彼等は必ず立ち塞がるだろう。最低でも野戦服の男を突破しなければ、ランに辿り着く事さえ叶わないのだ。
（お前の銃弾はわたしには届かない、やめておけ）
　あの男の言葉を思い出し、唇を噛む。絶対の自信を持っていた精密射撃を、まさか真正面から避けもせず弾くなど、生身で銃弾を弾き返していたベアに勝るとも劣らない非常識さだった。
（でも他に手が無い訳じゃない、防ぐ必要があるという事は、命中しさえすれば傷を付けられるという事。どうやって回避力を殺すか、見切る目を欺くか、それが勝敗を分けるカギになる）
　あとは自分がそれをできるかどうかだ。勝つ為にあらゆる策を講じ、戦略を練り上げる、うなじの辺りに感じるピリピリとした緊張感、懐かしい。
「しかしこれでは、襲撃犯が組織だって動いているのか、ただの雇われなのか、皆目見当が付かん。儂らが相手をしていたシャドウ・ストーカーの方も、そんな調子なのか？」
「そう思われるのも無理からぬ事ですが、そちらの正体は比較的簡単に割り出せました、更にその線から彼等の背後関係も洗い出せましたよ。通り名は『ブラッディ”バッド・ベッカー”』、通称ＢＢ。陰鬱な性格が多いシャドウ・ストーカーにしては陽気、というより人を食った言動をする粗暴で好戦的な性格、奇妙なアクセントで語尾を伸ばす口調が特徴で、これが特定の決め手となる程の『変り種』といえます。影に潜む能力『シェイド・ダイブ』で不意打ちを主とする同族とは違い、接近戦を好む風変わりなシャドウ・ストーカーであり、また相手が強ければ強いほど興奮を覚えるバトルジャンキーでもあります。更にＢＢは、シェイド・ダイブを接近戦時の体捌きにも織り交ぜる事で相手を翻弄する、非常にトリッキーな戦い方をするモンスターとして知られているようです」
「では、儂らが相手をしたあの影は…」
「シャドウ・ストーカーの影を操る能力、影から作り出した攻勢型デコイでしょう。素材がそこら中にある影ですから補充に事欠かず、無尽蔵に作り出せる。盾にも矛にもなる数の減らない人海戦術という訳です」
「道理で数が減らなかった訳だ…一斉に消えたのは、本体がキュイのアイビームを喰らった事で制御が途切れたからか。魔法が使えれば一掃してやったものを、いや、これは今更か。それで、背後関係というのは？」
「ＢＢはある組織の構成員です。今回の件には”死体回収屋”が絡んでいると見て、まず間違いないでしょう」
「！！」
　死体回収屋。聞いただけでもその不吉さを伺えるこの組織は、モンスターの死体を専門に、文字通り「回収」して回る犯罪組織である。モンスターの牙や角といった部位は、それ自体が強固な素材、或いは特殊な触媒となる事が多く、スイーパーズでは死後に死体が残るタイプのモンスター本人が生前に希望さえすれば、それらを武具法具に加工し役立てる事ができるという、ドナー登録に近い制度を設けている。逆にいえば手続きを経ず無許可で「素材を剥ぎ取る」のは違法という事になるのだが、制度を一切無視して死体を回収し、素材を裏ルートで売り捌く違法な商売を生業とするのが、死体回収屋だ。
　主に死傷者が出ても不審の目を向けられない紛争地帯で暗躍し、場合によっては自分達の手で死体を用意する彼等の「商品」は、闇市場において高値で取引され、テロ組織を筆頭とした犯罪者達の手に渡り、兵器開発や違法研究に使われる事になる。時には独自に加工・開発した新兵器を「ご提供」する事すらある死体回収屋は、闇市場への流出の要となる国際犯罪組織、テロ組織の活動や超常犯罪を助長する死の商人という両側面を持つ、非常に厄介な存在なのだ。テロ活動と超常犯罪の影に隠れ、表立っての活動を耳にする事が少ない為に知名度は低いが、戦場に立つモンスター達の間では「不敬者」と蔑称され、「モンスターなら新兵か未覚醒でなければ誰でも知っている」と言われるほど広く忌み嫌われている。
「嫌な奴らが入り込んできているわね…」
「全くです。…エルザ嬢、相手がテロリストの後ろ盾になるするような組織なのですし、ミス・カミシロに助力を仰げませんか。魔法使いが二人揃えば大抵の無茶もまかり通るでしょう？」
「雪恋か…確かに、協力させれば百人力…いや億人力の頼もしさなのだがな。あやつは、救出だのといった繊細な仕事を任せるには少々危険過ぎる、軒下の蜂の巣を駆除するのにダイナマイトを使うようなものじゃぞ」
「ですが」
「この地がものの数秒で焦土と化し、阿鼻叫喚の地獄絵図に変わる様を見たい、というのなら呼んでやらん事もない。止めるにも全滅覚悟、あやつが満足して眠りに就く頃には、一体どれだけの生物が生き残っているやら見当も付かんがな？」
　ＶＫは頭を抱えた。人間太陽砲、爆撃姫、歩く地球破壊爆弾、等々、破壊魔として悪名高い”月に至る愚者”も、師たるエルザの指示の下なら制御は可能であろうと考えたのだが、当のエルザに「自分であろうと御する事は不可能」と言外に忠告されては諦める他ない。「毒を以て毒を制する」には、使用する毒が制したい毒より遥かに危険極まりない、有害な劇物であり過ぎた。
「私達が用意できる手駒でできる事を考えましょう、ミスター。ただ、紛争地帯でもないこの地に連中が入り込んで生きている理由は何？まさかここで『新兵器』のデモンストレーションでもやるつもり？私達はその標的にされたという事かしら」
「いや、それなら昨夜の襲撃があの程度で済む筈がない。連中にとっての目の上のたんこぶともいえるスイーパーズの、それも広いネットワークを持つ支部を無力化した上で襲撃したんじゃぞ、デモンストレーションを行うというのなら、あの場で使用して徹底的に壊滅させた方が宣伝効果は高い」
　それはコルも妙に感じていた事だった。連中のこれまでのやり方とはうって変わった強引なやり口、奇襲を成功させておきながら消極的ともいえる退き際。末端の構成員が逮捕される事はあっても所詮トカゲの尻尾切りに過ぎず、決して組織の実態を掴ませない、姑息な知恵の回る組織による凶行がこの程度で済むとは、にわかに信じ難い。
「かといって商品の確保が目的だったとは思えませんわ。失礼な事を申し上げるようですが、パーティー会場には小お嬢様よりも遥かに価値のある素材を持つモンスターが居たのですから」
「そうだな…支部の機能を麻痺させ、多数の死傷者まで出しておきながら、このような結果で終わるなどあまりにもお粗末過ぎる、どうにも腑に落ちん。そも、奴等なら襲撃するよりも遥かに効果的な、周到な手段を選ぶ筈じゃ。ピンクの話ではランが目的だったような事を言っていたらしいが…いや、待てよ、まさか」
　ある「可能性」に辿り着いたエルザの表情が険しくなっていく。そしてＶＫもまた同じ結論に至っていた。
「…ゴースト集団消失事件ですね。彼女はゴーストだ、それも街の雑霊とは違い、確固たる自我を持ち人間社会に溶け込めるほどの存在力がある、そこら辺に漂っている浮遊霊など比較にならない程に霊格が桁違いです。あの事件が死体回収屋の仕業だとすれば、妹さんは喉から手が出るほど欲しい『商品』になり得るでしょう」
「それだけではない、ランは日本で高位の聖霊から力を継承したという。今はまだ幼く、未熟故に覚醒にまでは至ってはおらぬが、底上げされた潜在能力は他のゴーストの比ではなかろうよ。…三大妖天が妖怪学校の教員になった事で注目を浴びてしまったのが仇となったか、未遂に終わったらしいが学校が一度テロ組織の襲撃を受けたと聞いておるし、おそらくランが妖天を継いだ事も調べが付いておるのだろうな。ランを狙ってくる可能性を見落とすとは、儂としたことが日和っておったようじゃ…！」
　ランを危険な目に遭わせてしまった自分の不甲斐無さを嘆くように吐き捨てる。が、それも束の間の事、表情を引き締めたエルザは言葉を続けた。
「もう一つ繋がる事がある。ゴースト集団消失事件と多発している怪事件…ＶＫ、おぬしは以前、これを『この街で起きている”何か”に引き寄せられた者達が起こしている』と言っていたが、死体回収屋がランを誘拐したのは紛れもない事実であり、ゴースト集団消失に関係しているとした上で、これが連中の目的だとすれば、考えられる事は一つ」
「怪事件は囮として起こされたものだと？」
「派手に怪事件を起こすように小物を唆し、スイーパーズの目をそちらに向けさせておいて、裏でひっそりと幽体を掻き集める。かつて学校を襲った連中が繋がりのある者共ならば、ランが三大妖天と雪恋の影響下にある土地を離れた事を好機と見なし、強行手段に訴えたとも推測できるが」
　おそらくそれだけの理由ではあるまい、とコルは思う。コルにも気付けた事だ、きっとエルザも気付いているのだろう。ＶＫにはランの遺体を探している事を伝えてはいない、それ故にエルザは、肝心な部分を敢えて口にしていないだけなのだ。

　ランの遺体を殺人犯の家から運び出した集団、その正体が死体回収屋だったという可能性、そして何らかの理由でランという存在を必要としている事。でなければ、ラン一人の為にリスクを冒してまでスイーパーズ支部を強襲する事などありえないだろうし、あのパーティー会場で他の出席者には足止め程度しか戦力を割かず、大した収穫も無しにランだけを攫って退く事などありはしまい。初めからランを標的にしていたと考えなければ説明が付かない事ばかりだ。
　だが、考えれば考えるほど思考の袋小路に迷い込んでしまう。
　何故ランなのか。何故ランがまたも狙われているのか。何故他の出席者よりもランが優先されたのか。
　何故。何故。何故。
「コルよ、奴らの目的を今考えても無駄じゃ。ここで答えが判ったとてランが無事に戻ってくる訳ではない、儂らがやるべきは奴等の目的を明かす事ではなく、ランを助け出す事じゃ」
「そう…ですね。目的を知りたいのなら連中をぶちのめして口を割らせれば済む事ですものね。その為にはまず、奴等の潜伏先を特定しませんと」
「こちらの方でも襲撃犯の行方を追っていますが、ヘリで逃走された為に痕跡を追えず、足取りを掴むのが困難です。当然、フライトプランなど提出されていませんでしたし、飛行系の能力を持つ者はいても、あの襲撃の直後で追跡に出た者も居りませんので…」
　申し訳なさそうにＶＫがそう言った時、エルザの着物の袂からけたたましい電子音が鳴り響いた。アイーナの趣味と暇潰しの産物、軍事衛星をそれと判らぬようこっそり介する事で国内をカバーする通信距離を誇る、倫理を地平線の彼方に投げ飛ばした無線機だ。手渡された当時は流石に呆れ、使う事はあるまい等と思ったものだが、殊身内の危機が迫る現状では頼りになる代物となっていた。
　取り出すのももどかしく、スイッチを入れるとノイズ交じりの声が聞こえてくる。支部とは別に捜索隊を組んで街に出ていた、シュトラヘルツのメイドからの通信だった。
『”FLACK”より”W E R D N A”、小お嬢様の物と見られる遺留品を発見しました！』
「「「！！」」」
　瞬く間に三人の血相が変わっていく。
『小お嬢様が購入されたティアラです、間違いありません』
「よし、でかした！ＧＰＳ機能をオンにして、しばらくその場で待機しておれ、端末が手元に無いのでな」
　チーム毎に所持する無線機にはＧＰＳ機能も付加されていて、機能をオンにすればリアルタイムでアイーナの端末にそれぞれの位置情報を送ってくるようになっている。その親機となる端末は、今は医務室でミフィ、ピンクちゃんと並んで安静に眠るアイーナが常に肌身離さず持っている物だ。
「コード”FLACK”の現在位置をマーキング致しました。”FLACK”、次へ向かいなさい」
「アイーナ！」
　端末を操作する為に医務室に向かおうと腰を浮かしかけていたエルザは、端末を片手に部屋に入ってきたアイーナの姿に、驚きと安堵の声を上げた。
「私も居るぞ。お嬢の魔法で傷も癒えた、無理矢理寝かしつけられたお陰で、体調も頗る快調だ」
「あたしも居マスよ！小お嬢様を救うのは穏便に済みそうもないデスし、荒事でカタを付けるなら、あたしを連れて行かないって選択肢は無いデスよね？」
　その後ろから顔を覗かせるミフィとピンクちゃんに、コルの表情も和らいだ。が、それも一瞬の事で、つかつかとピンクに歩み寄ると、その場でぐるりと後ろを向かせ、襟を引っ張って背中を覗き込む。その背中には医療用ガーゼが所狭しと貼り付けられ、膏薬独特の目に染みる臭いが漂っていた。
「…やっぱり、こんな事だろうと思ったわ。お嬢様が治癒魔法を苦手にしているのと、あなたの光属性の治癒を受け付け難い魔性の相乗効果で、治療が巧くいかなかったんでしょう？この様子じゃ羽の方もまだズタズタのままみたいね…医療班謹製の傷薬を盛ったようだけど、こんな傷で何をしようというの」
「…あたしの責任なんデスよ、小お嬢様が攫われたのは。汚名は必ず返上してみせマス」
「ピンク…」
「えへへ、大丈夫デスよ～、適当に男と何発かヤれば、吸い取った精気で元通りになりマスから♪あ、女の子でも良いデスけど、できればお姉サマｷﾎﾞﾝﾇ」
　いつもの調子のピンクちゃんに、コルは溜息を吐いた。呆れたというよりは、若干、微笑んだ様子で。
「何時私達が出る事になるのかも判らないのだから、男は諦めなさい。それと、消耗した状態で動く事になるのを避けたいから私はパス、お嬢様と他の護衛メイドも駄目。それ以外のメイドなら、緊急事態という事もあるし、ちゃんと事情を説明した上で応じてくれる子だけを選ぶと約束するなら、何人かつまみ食いして良いわよ」
「ぅほおぉぉ、お姉サマの吐息が首筋にぃぃぃ、ってマジデスか！しマスしマス、お約束致しマっス！！うひひ、公認で乱交できるなんて、体張った甲斐があるなぁー！！」
『”MAELIFIC”より”W E R D N A”、こちらも小お嬢様の遺留品を発見！ネックレスですが、落下時に付いたと思われる傷以外に、留具やネックレスそのものが破損した様子が見られません、争った拍子に落ちたものではないと思います。これ、小お嬢様が残した道しるべなのでは…？』
　奇妙な踊りで喜びを表現していたピンクちゃんに、コルが無言で膝蹴りを打ち込もうと足を上げたのと同時、再び無線機に通信が入る。すぐに”MAELIFIC”の位置情報をマーキングしたアイーナの目配せを確認し、エルザが次の指示を飛ばす。
「ランのせめてもの抵抗という訳だな…”W E R D N A”了解、ランの遺留品は襲撃犯の行方を示す物と断定する」
「各チーム、”MAELIFIC”の周囲半径５㎞を捜索、広いとは言わせませんわよ、探査系能力を持っている方は能力をフルに使いなさい、次の遺留品を探すのです！”MAELIFIC”の現在位置は…」
「ティアラとネックレスが落ちていた場所を結ぶと、丁度ホテルから南方に一直線ですね。これは思いの外、早く見つけられるかもしれませんよ、エルザ嬢！」
　慌ただしく指示が飛び交うようになった執務室に、気圧されたように動きを止めていたピンクちゃんだったが、コルに肘でつつかれ我に返った。
「ピンク、ボケっとしている場合？」
「お、をを…これは火急的かつ速やかに済ませてこないと、置いてきぼりにされそうな勢いデスね…」
「それが嫌ならさっさと行って、精気を分けてもらって来なさい。のんびり快楽に耽っているようなら本当に置いていくわよ」
「了解デス！いざ肉欲のワンダーランドへ！」
（…ちゃんと戻って来れば良いのだけれど）
　とはいえ、喜び勇んで執務室から飛び出していくピンクちゃんの背中を見送ったコルには、彼女が今ばかりは快楽に溺れないだろうと確信していた。サキュバスの淫らな性質が現れた時や、発情した時にハートマークが浮かぶ特徴を持つ彼女の瞳には、ハートマークではなく魔性を示す瞳孔に変じていたからだ。普段通りの振る舞いの裏にはリベンジを誓う本心がありありと感じられる。この程度の気概すら無ければ、護衛メイド隊のサブリーダーなど務まりはしない。
「侍従長が一発ＯＫを出すとはね。ま、これでピンクは大丈夫かな、あとはお嬢と侍従長だ。ほら」
　振り返れば、ニヤリと笑ったミフィがその手に持った小瓶を差し出していた。促されて受け取った、ラベルも何もない小瓶の中には、どろりとした液体が入っているのが見える。
　ほんの少し、コルの頬がひくついた。

「寝る前に飲んでおけば、１時間程度の睡眠でもスッキリ疲れが取れる、医療班リーダー特製滋養強壮剤さ、護衛メイドにゃお馴染みの一品だろ。ピンクの体質の所為でもあるけど、お嬢は限界まで私達に治癒魔法をかけ続けて、相当に精神疲労してる筈だろう？侍従長だって、消耗した状態で動きたくないと言ったじゃないか。何より二人とも寝てないんだ、荒事に発展するなら少しでも休ませておけ、これは医療班からの指示だよ。これ飲んで少し休んでおけ」
　言いながらエルザの前にも小瓶を置くと、エルザも微妙に目を泳がせたりしている。
「ミフィさんの言う通りですよ、私はこちらに伺うまでにほんの少しとはいえ睡眠を取れましたが、あなた方はあれから不眠不休だそうじゃないですか。お気持ちは解りますが、情報が出揃うまでまだ猶予はある筈です、その間に少しでもお休みになられた方が良いでしょう。急いても情報が早く集まる訳でもなし、焦りが判断ミスを誘う原因にもなるのですから」
　ＶＫの援護射撃に、二人は渋々といった様子で小瓶の蓋に手を掛けるが、それきり動きが止まってしまう。
「…何故飲むのを躊躇っているんです？あの薬、副作用でもあるとか？」
「いや、そういう危険物だったり、劇物だったりって事はないんだが…まぁ一度でも口を付けた事があるなら、躊躇う…かなぁ」
　苦笑するミフィにＶＫが首を傾げていると、大柄なメイドが執務室に駆け込んできた。躊躇う事無く大股で一直線にエルザを目指し、鼻息荒く詰め寄ったそのメイドは、キュイであった。コル達の治療でエルザの魔力が尽きてしまい、一番の軽傷（擦り傷と切り傷だけ）だからと通常の手当てを施された事で、顔といわず腕といわず肌の覗く部分を絆創膏だらけにした姿は、少々痛々しいものがある。
　そのキュイが、身を乗り出してエルザに詰め寄った。
「お嬢様、お願いです。私も小お嬢様の救出に同行させて下さい！」
　キュイの唐突な申し出に、駄目だと即答しかけたエルザだったが、キュイの様子を目にして口を閉じた。いつもなら単眼を隠す前髪は整えられておらず、おそらくランの事が心配で一睡もできなかったのだろう、充血した大きな瞳を晒したキュイからは、強い意志のようなものが感じられたのだ。
　だからエルザは、拒否ではなく諦めさせる事を選んだ。
「よいかキュイ、おぬしは見習いじゃ。この意味が解るか？研修生という立場上メイドとして扱ってはいるが、おぬしは我がシュトラヘルツ家の為に責任を感じる必要はないし、我等にとっておぬしは養成学校から預かっている身、危険な真似などさせられんのだ。なによりおぬしは戦う術を身に付けてはおらぬ。ランを心配してくれておるのは嬉しいが…」
「か、狩りの経験ならあります、足手纏いにはなりません…！」
「この馬鹿者めが！相手は戦闘技術を有し知恵を持つプロなのだ、野生動物を狩るのとは訳が違うのだぞ！おぬしのような素人がむざむざ無駄死にしに行く愚を許可すると思うか！！」
「でも、私は小お嬢様付きのメイドです！見習いならなおの事、与えられた役目を全うもできないで、資格なんて頂ける訳ないじゃないですか！！」
「な…むむ…っ」
　エルザの一喝に怯む事無く、一歩も引かぬという姿勢を崩さず目を見据え声を荒げるキュイに、エルザは言葉に詰まってしまった。既にキュイの手に余る事態に発展している以上、最早キュイの言っている事は屁理屈でしかない。だというのに、何故か言い返せない迫力が、キュイにはあったのだ。
　無言で睨み合う両者に割って入ったのが小瓶を手にしたミフィだ。自分に任せろというのか、軽く胸を叩いてみせると、そっとキュイの手を取り小瓶を握らせた。
「どうしてもお嬢達に着いていきたいというのなら、お嬢も認めるような条件を出してやる。お前も寝てないようだからな、これを飲んで少し寝ろ。ただし、飲み切れなかったり吐いたりしたら、大人しくここでお嬢達の帰りを待つんだ。良いな？」
　間を置いて、ミフィの出した条件が意味するところが脳に沁み渡っていき、一同の顔に一斉に焦りが浮かんだ。ただ一人、意味が解らずキョトンした顔のＶＫは、ミフィにそっと耳打ちをした。
「…あの。さっきから何なんです、この強壮剤に何があるというのですか？」
「恐ろしくクソ不味いんだよこれ、蛇の生き血啜る方がマシってに思える程にな。これで諦めてくれると良いんだが…」
　ミフィの返答にＶＫも顔を引き攣らせる。
　正直なところ、この滋養強壮剤は効果抜群だが酷く不味い。まともな味付けがされていなかった頃の野戦食に慣れているコルはおろか、孤児の頃に野草を初め腐った食物まで無理矢理食べて飢えを凌いでいたピンクちゃんですら、初めて飲んだ時には口をつけた瞬間に胃がひっくり返りそうな吐き気を催し、実際にマーライオンと化した程なのだ。それをこの場で、初めて口にする者に飲ませようというのだから、経験者達にしてみれば堪ったものではない。
　見上げるミフィの目を真正面から受け、返答は行動で返すとばかりに蓋を開けたキュイは、止める間もなく中身を一気に煽った。咄嗟に口から溢れ出るであろう吐瀉物を避けようと後ろに下がる一同だったが、キュイは煽った体勢のまま微動だにしない。微かに喉の辺りが盛り上がり、時間差で来るかと更に距離を取る一同の前で、キュイは雄々しくゴクリと音を立ててそれを飲み込むと、勢いよく机に空のビンを叩きつけ、もう一度喉の奥からせり上がってきたものを飲み込む。あまりの不味さに顔は涙と鼻水でグチャグチャだったが、目に宿る決意の光は鈍ってはいない。
「のっ…ぷ、飲みまし…た！」
「え、嘘、マジで飲んじゃった…いや、じゃなくて…う、うーん…お、お嬢、こいつの覚悟は本物みたいだぞ。ここまでしたんだ、連れて行かなかったら後々恨まれる…主に私が」
「…む…う、うむ…」
　諦めさせる為に出したつもりの条件をあっさりクリアされ、今更引くに引けなくなったミフィの弱々しい進言に、予想されたインパクトが回避された事で毒気を抜かれたエルザは、ついコクリと頷いてしまった。何の訓練も受けていない素人のキュイを、戦場と化す恐れのある場所に連れて行くのは危険だと解っていても、ここまでの覚悟を目の前で示されてしまっては、認める他なかったのだ。
　あるいはキュイのアイビームが役立つ局面もあるかもしれない。そう考える事で気を取り直す事にした。
「決まりでよろしいですね？あなた方は休んで疲れを取って下さい、その間は私がここを預かりましょう」
　責任感からかＶＫが代役を買って出るが、アイーナがそれを制止した。
「ＶＫさん、あなたはホテルにお戻りになられた方が良いですわ。襲撃の第二波も考えられますし、備えるにしても指揮を執る方が居なければ始まりませんでしょう？ここは私とミフィさんが預かります、私達が寝ている間に聞き逃した情報も頭に入れておきたいですし、救出に向かう際には外部サポートが可能な私が司令塔になった方が都合が良い筈ですから。エルザさん、それでよろしくて？」
「…良いだろう。アイーナ、しばらくここを任せる。ＶＫ、おぬしの気持ちは有難いが、アイーナの言う通り第二波に備えよ」
「は、承知致しました」
　本当は今にも飛び出してランを探しに行きたい。その思いをぐっと堪え、宣言する。

「情報が揃い次第、ランの救出作戦を開始する！各自、作戦開始に備え、万全の態勢を整えておけ！」
　そしてまた、無線機に新たな通信が舞い込んだ。
『”RAVER LORD”より”W E R D N A”、見付けました、小お嬢様のブレスレットです！位置情報を…』
　この調子ならエルザ達が目覚める頃には、ランの行方は大方予想が付けられているだろう。
　確実にランを救い出す。
　その為に今はただ、焦れる気持ちを圧し留め、使い果たした魔力を回復する事が、エルザの成すべき事だ。

Early morning, Schtlehertz mansion. It hadn't been 30 minutes since sunrise, but inside the mansion, the study had a terribly harsh atmosphere, and the maids were rushing around in their "work".
It was impossible to bring levity to this tense atmosphere, and from the serious ones to the ones whose very existence were being a jokester, none of them said an unnecessary word, and only hurried around, trying to finish the tasks assigned to them. The warm and gentle smiles that were overwhelming the mansion until yesterday had vanished all at once, and like how a joke of "touch and I'll chop it off" might be turned to reality, a sharp, cold tension dominated the mansion.
The cause of this atmosphere was none other than their mistress, who was entrenched in the study. Elza's open anger, and Col's unreasonable killing intent, which she herself didn't notice, was leaking out so much that just by getting close to there, they would be gripped by an indescribable terror. There was no indication of their former kindness. The ones who were in there were definitely the fear-inspiring wizard and the veteran mercenary. Returning with Elza to the mansion after the attack was Mifi and Aiina, and also a heavily wounded Pink-chan, which she continued to heal using her poor healing magic. Finally, she was stabilized about 1 hour ago. Although she was clearly exhausted, her will seemed strong enough to tear her surroundings asunder.
VK has arrived with the rising of the sun to apologize for the the failures and insufficient defense, and standing before the two of them, he broke into a cold sweat. Even though they were treating him as an old friend, if he misspoke, he might very well be killed. This was her in her true form of a wizard, who defies both the laws of nature and common sense, a tyrant like a natural disaster. And this absurd wizard was right in front of him. His courage was quickly overrun by an unsuppressable cold feeling.
Elza placed the report she was holding on top of the desk. The report that VK had brought was a record of the investigation of the branch office members during that night.
"Hmph, so there was someone who had a transformation ability and impersonated the defense leader, and the actual defenders were distracted by people disguised as guests... They really used the fact that it was a hotel against us."
"I am truly sorry. The one who was being impersonated was found dead in his home. The autopsy is not finished yet, but based on the decomposition, he had been dead for about 4 days. Even taking into consideration the changes in the atmospheric conditions, at the minimum, it is certain that several days had passed between him being killed and the discovery of the body. In short, he was being impersonated several stages before the party. This attack was planned far in advance... That is what we believe."
"Tch...! He was in charge of defense, so he should have been pretty powerful, but for this to happen so easily..."
"We haven't been able to confirm the impersonator's true identity, but it may not necessarily be true that he was the one who took out the one being impersonated, so we can't say how dangerous he is. The same is true about the ones hidden as hotel guests..."
"Bear was killed, so that would require a pretty high skill or fire power, so in terms of danger... just thinking that is pretty absurd."
Said Col, as she stared at the report with an unwavering gaze. With a grave face, VK looked at Col, but clearing his throat, he continued.
"Regarding those disguised as guests, their registered names are, of course, fake, and their addresses are made up, but the staff with a good memory remember their faces, so they were simple to identify. They were simply thugs who were hired with money."
"So, from that, were you able to identify the culprits leading the attack? If they won't tell you, then I don't care, torture them. Torture them anyway. Make them tell everything."
"Unfortunately, someone beat us to it... 3 groups for a total of 6 people were found in the alleys of the slums, all of them dead. Slaughtered with a smile on their face."
They imagined them being filled with a strange feeling of laughter beyond fear, their just deserts for being blinded by greed, and so they died with a smile. It was somewhat pitiable.
"Those guys were almost certainly just pawns to be used then thrown away. If we had only been able to capture them, we could have resolved this just by showing them the living hell waiting for them, since they're just trash!"
"...Next, since there was only one obvious remains from a battle with the attackers, priority was given to the autopsy of the corpse of "Grizzly"... However, there were no noticable external wounds. The only thing was a small blow to the chest, and right in the middle of it, the ribs and organs were smashed and ruptured. From the investigation, at the scene, there was a bullet which matched the blow, and the indirect cause of death was determined to be due to the gunshot."
"Like I thought, that guy..."
The scene that she couldn't get out of her head. During the battle at the party site, the man in the fatigues holding the large caliber handgun, who shot the bullets that Col fired. If Bear had been shot by that, that gun had the power to destroy the floor as they were escaping, and although Col herself hadn't seen it, she thought it was probably that unknown gun. However, even if she thought that, something still wasn't right.
"Even if the bullets were enchanted, it should have left a mark on his body, unless you're saying that a magic bullet was used."
"No. ...Actually, you should take a look at this."
Taking a hankerchief from his pocket, he spread it on the desk. Looking at the thing wrapped it in, Elza's eyebrows twitched.
"This is the shell casing and bullet found? ...It looks bigger than a .44?"
"It's actually a .66. As a handgun bullet, it is a wild cat that no current hand gun can use, so this actually the world's largest caliber bullet. As I said earlier, this matches the mark on the corpse. However..."
"...It's impossible for this to have been fatal to Bear."
VK nodded at Col's analysis.
In movies, you often see scenes where vehicles are destroyed by large caliber magnums, but those are largely exaggerations. In reality, if the same thing is tried, armor piercing rounds are used due to their high penetrating power, and it's hard to pull that off with a hand gun. In the first place, even if the caliber is made a little larger, Bear, whose body wouldn't get hurt from normal bullets, wouldn't have the insides of his body fatally wounded from the power of the impact.
"You found no traces of enchantment or charging? It was only physical power...?"
"It wasn't just magical energy, there was nothing charged into it. It wasn't the concentrated spirit of a swordman or martial artist (what is normally called "qi" or "chakra") fired as sword spirit or a spirit blast, nor increasing the power of a weapon or fist with it, or even a flying tool. It's possible that the hand gun that used this bullet was like a magic sword or youkai blade, and has some sort of secret, but... If you consider that, in addition to the caliber, it's not hard to imagine it having that much stopping power."
"That's impossible, even for me... Just who is that man, is he a human, or maybe a monster?"
"Ah, concerning that, there are many things we don't know about him, but with a caliber that isn't available publicly, and a large caliber gun that can use those... We expect to be able to narrow down the number of people it can be from this. Maybe you've heard of something like this, Col-san."
As he said this, VK brought out a stack of papers from his briefcase and gave them to Elza. Compared to the earlier report, this was only a couple of pages, but it took her serveral minutes to scan over them, as they were written in great detail. The two of them zealously scrutinized every word so they wouldn't miss anything.
After a while, Elza looked up and gave a rough snort.
"I see... I thought it was a document related to this guy, but it concerns a "battlefield rumor", huh."
"There are many fictional war stories about these "super soldiers". Not like Grizzly, but among the monsters standing on the battlefield, there are whispered stories that hint about their existence. The problem is they're nothing more than stories from rumors, and there are many small discrepancies, even from stories from the same places."
There are as many of these garden variety stories as there are stars. So there are many monsters born from them. Among those related to wars, super soldiers top the list, like enhanced humans, machine soldiers, using experimental drugs, becoming supernatural after being bathed in a mysterious energy, being bitten by an animal subjected to experiments, having contact with a non-Earth being or alien and gaining super powers and becoming superhuman, or ancient weapons with a human form that awaken in the modern day. The variations are endless. And then, they are turned into hero comics, and are born as hero-type monsters... With the youkai fad, the number of youkai had increased explosively in Japan these days. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was history repeating itself.

"In it all, the proof and witness accounts that match up are for an "anti-tank infantry". It's a rumor that goes back to the Cold War. The Union at that time was hidden behind a thick wall, and outside of it, there was no public information about it, so in many countries, they had no idea what was going on inside the Union, so lots of different speculations were flying around, and lots of monsters were created in a phenomenon (Cold War Rush), so that's one reason. According to it, they're an infantry corp that can stand up to, and destroy, tanks."
"Having the vision to see bullets, and the reflexes to be able to react to it, and a gun able to pierce tank armor, huh. Even though he doesn't have some mysterious superweapon or can fly through the air, this might be better. In terms of ability, I'd like to hope that there's nothing else he can do, but... That's not the case, I'm sure of it."
If they knew they were finding Ran's location and going to rescue her, those guys would definitely get in their way. At the least, if they can't get past the fatigue wearing man, they would be unable to reach Ran.
(Your bullets won't reach me, so stop trying)
Remembering that man's words, Col bit her lip. With absolute self-confidence in his precise accuracy, he didn't even bother dodging with her in front of her, but instead deflected it. And he beat Bear, who could repel bullets with his body, so he's nothing less than absurd.
(But it's not there aren't other methods. He has to defend, so if I can hit him, he'll be wounded. Maybe I can somehow kill his evasion power, or fool his perception, that will be the key to victory.)
Though whether or not she could do it is a different story. In order to win, she would do anything and refine her tactics. She felt a nostalgic, nervous tingling sensation around her neck.
"However, with this, we know if the attackers are part of their organization, or just hired by them or what. That shadow stalker that we faced are probably the same?"
"It's only reasonable to think that, but his identity was relatively easy to figure out, and from that, we were able to flesh out his background. He's commonly known as "Bloody 'Bad Bekker'" aka BB. Rather than having a gloomy personality like most shadow stalkers, he enjoys fighting and devouring people, and he has an unusual accent where he lengthens the ends of words. These special traits make him an "anomaly". His ability to hide in the shadows, "shade dive", which is mainly used to ambush, is unlike other members of his species, and his love for hand-to-hand combat makes him a strange shadow stalker. Also, he's a battle junkie, where the more powerful his opponent is, the more excited he becomes. And BB will use his shade dive when fighting to toy with his opponent, and is known to be a monster with a very tricky way of fighting."
"So, those shadows that we were fighting were..."
"The shadow stalker's ability to control shadows, most likely attacking type decoys made from shadows. They were out of shadows, so he can constantly replace them, and can keep making them. Even as he uses them for offense and defense, their numbers don't dwindle, so they are used to overwhelm."
"So that's why their numbers never decreased... They all disappeared because the main body was hit by Cuey's eye beam and his control was interrupted. If I had used magic, I could have taken them all, no, I guess it's too late for that. So, what about the background info?"
"BB is a member of a certain organization. In this case, it is involved as a corpse collector, that is certain."
"!!"
Corpse collector. Just the name of that kind of organization sounds ominous. It's a criminal organization specializes in "collecting" the corpses of monsters, just as the name suggests. Monster parts, like fangs and horns, are often naturally strong and durable materials, or special catalysts, and for the Sweepers, for the types of monsters that leave a corpse after they die, if they wished to do so during their life, they would be turned into ritual tools and be useful, and a sort of donor system was created. To put it another way, an unauthorized "stripping of materials" is illegal, but there are those who completely ignore the system and make a living by collecting corpses, and selling the materials on the black market. Those are corpse collectors.
Although it's mostly casualties, they operate in secret in war torn lands, where there are no watchful eyes. And their "goods", which, depending on the situation, they themselves might prepare from corpses, fetch a high price on the black market. They pass into the hands of criminals, mostly from terrorist organizations, and are used as weapons or in illegal research. Sometimes, corpse collectors will "offer" uniquely created or processed new weapons, and international criminal syndicates or terrorist organizations, which extensively use the black market, will commit or promote supernatural crime with them. In this way, they are on both sides as agents of death, and are extremely annoying. Hidden in the shadows of terrorist actions and supernatural crime, their actions are very rarely made public, so they are not well known, but among the monsters on the battlefield, they are badmouthed as "honorless" and "any monster, except new recruits and those unawakened, know about them" and are widely hated.
"Such a hated guy is mixed in with them..."
"Quite so. ...Elza-jou, since they're a group that supports terrorists, shouldn't we ask Ms. Kamishiro for help? With two wizards, we'll be able to get away with almost anything, right?"
"Seren, huh... It's true, if she joins, it'll be the strength of a hundred... no, ten thousand people. But relying on her for a delicate operation like a rescue it too dangerous. It's like using dynamite to take out a wasp's nest attached to the roof of your house."
"Yes."
"She could turn this land into a wasteland in mere moments. If you want to see a vision of hell, then summon her. She'll stop them, but be prepared for complete annhilation. I'm sure you have a good idea of just what might be left alive once she's satisfied and ready to rest?
VK clutched his head. The human solar cannon, the bomb princess, the walking earth-destroying bomb, etc. The infamous "fool who reached the moon" and her destructive magic. As her master, he thought that Elza would be able to keep her under control, but Elza herself implied that "I'm not able to control her" with her advice, so he had no choice but to give up. When "fighting fire with fire", if the fire you're using is much much more dangerous than the fire you want to stop, then it's too harmful.
"Let's think about the people we can have ready, Mister. This isn't a warzone, so what reason would they have to come and live here? Could it be that they're planning on a "new weapon" demonstration here? Maybe we were the targets."
"No, if that was the case, they wouldn't have conducted last night's attack. For them, the Sweepers are just a pain in the ass, and the attack was more than to incapacitate a branch office of a wide network. If they were going to do a demonstration, it would have been much more effective in drawing attention if they completely destroyed the place."
Col also thought that was odd. For those guys to change their methods to be overwhelming, and while their surprise attack was effective, their withdrawl was reluctant. Even if the foot soldiers were arrested, they would just abandon them to save themselves, and they wouldn't get a good grasp on the true nature of the organization. And since the organization is able to make snap decisions, they're able to pull off their crimes, which is difficult to suddenly believe.
"Although, I don't think their goal was to secure their goods. This will sound rude, but there were monsters at the party who were far more valuable in terms of materials than the little mistress."
"Yes... While they crippled the branch office's functions, and cause multiple casualties, to have their effect stop there would be far insufficient, so it doesn't make any sense. To begin with, those guys would normally choose a far more precise method than an assault. From Pink's story, it seems like they were saying that Ran was the target, but... no, wait, it can't be..."
As Elza came to a certain "possibility", her expression became serious. VK also came to the same conclusion.
"...The mass ghost disappearing incident. She's a ghost, but unlike the random ghosts, she has a firm self-awareness and has adapted to human society, so she has a much stronger existence. So much so that she can't really be compared to the nearby wandering ghosts. If that incident was the work of the corpse collectors, as much as I'd hate to say it, they might be turning her into 'materials'."
"That's not all, Ran inherited some power from a high rank holy ghost in Japan. She's still young, and since she's inexperienced, she can't use it until it awakens, but her heightened potential can't be compared to other ghosts... The 3 Great Heavenly Youkai because teachers at a youkai school, so I guess they drew a lot of attention and made some enemies. It was foiled, but I heard that the school was once attacked by a terrorist organization, so they probably found out that Ran was a successor to the Heavenly Youkai in their investigation. The fact that I overlooked the possibility that Ran was being targeted means that I was being too passive...!"
Elza spit that out, as if to say it was her own cowardness that made Ran go through this dangerous situation. However, that was on for a moment, and Elza expression tightened as she continued speaking.
"There's one other thing as well. The supernatural incident of mass disappearance of ghosts... VK, you said before that 'the "something" that is causing these supernatural incidents is drawing them.' But since it's a fact that the corpse collectors kidnapped Ran, if they have a connection to the mass disappearance of ghosts, then I can only think of one reason why this is their goal."
"You mean the supernatural incident is being done as a red herring?"
"By doing something minor that causes a flashy incident, the Sweepers would have their eyes drawn to that, and they could secretly collect ghostly bodies. If some of them were part of the earlier attack on the school, they would not miss the chance of Ran being away from the area that is under the 3 Great Heavenly Youkai and Seren's influence, and would probably resort to forceful methods."
Though that's probably not the only reason, Col thought. And since even Col realized it, then Elza would have surely realized it as well. VK hadn't been told about the search for Ran's corpse, and so Elza was just leaving out the most important part.

It's possible that the guys that carried Ran's corpse out from her murderer's house were actually a corpse collectors, and for some reason, they need Ran. If this wasn't the case, then it's unthinkable that they would take such a huge risk as to assault the Sweeper's branch office for just Ran. They only had the power to keep the other the other guests at the party at bay, and escaped with only Ran, which was a very small gain. The only possible explanation is to think that Ran was the target from the very start.
However, the more she thought about it, the more confusing it became.
Why Ran? Why is Ran being targeted again? Why was Ran prioritized over all the other guests?
Why. Why. Why.
"Col, even as I think about their goal now, it makes no sense. But even if we come up with an answer, it won't bring Ran back. We shouldn't be thinking about their goal, but instead rescuing Ran."
"Yes... That's right. If we want to know their goals, then we should beat it out of them. In order to do so, we need to determine their hiding place."
"For this, we are following the attacker's route, but since they escaped by helicopter, they didn't leave any traces, and it's difficult to get a grasp on their route. Naturally, they didn't register a flight plan, and although we have some who can fly, there was no one who was able to chase immediately after them..."
As VK said that apologetically, the sound of static came from Elza's sleeve. It was the fruits of Aiina's hobby, a radio that secretly uses a military satellite (officially for domestic purposes) with a long range made by scrupleless people. They would be surprised to know that it had been hijacked, and never thought that it was being used. However, in this crisis, it was something good to rely on.
Annoyedly taking it out and flicking a switch, they heard a voice mixed in the static. It was a transmission from the Schtlehertz maids, who went out searching in the city, separate from the branch office.
"'WERDNA', this is 'FLACK'. We have found one of the little mistress' lost items!"
"""!!"""
In less than a second, the 3 of their expressions had changed.
"It's the tiara that the little mistress bought, I'm sure of it."
"Yes good job! Turn on your GPS and wait there for a little bit, the terminal isn't here right now."
Each team had a GPS installed in their radio, and once they switch it on, it will transmit information in real time to Aiina's terminal. That terminal was always with Aiina, who was currently in the medical room, sleeping peacefully next to Mifi and Pink-chan.
"I have marked the current location of code 'FLACK'. 'FLACK', proceed to the next location."
"Aiina!"
Elza, who was getting up to head to the medical room to use the computer, gave a yell of surprise, as she saw Aiina walk into the room with the terminal in one hand.
"I'm here too. The mistress' magic healed me, and since I was forced to sleep, I'm fine now."
"I'm here too! I can't rest easily while the little mistress is being saved, and if this is going to be settled by fighting, then the only choice is to bring me along, right?"
Behind her, Mifi and Pink-chan popped out, and Col's expression softened. However, that was only for a moment. Quickly walking over to Pink-chan, she spun her around, and pulled back the collar of her shirt and stared at her back. It was covered with medical gauze, and the particular smell of ointment permeated the area.
"...It's just as I thought. The mistress is bad at healing magic, and as a demon, light-elemental healing magic doesn't work well on you, so taking those together, the healing wasn't very effective? It seems like your wings are still shredded... It looks like the medic team applied some ointment, but what do you think you can do with those wounds?"
"...I'll do my duty. The little mistress was kidnapped. I will regain my honor."
"Pink..."
"Ehehe, I'm fine~, if I do it a couple of times with guys, I can take their life force and be back to normal. Ah, girls are fine too, but if possible, I'd like it to be Onee-sama."
Col sighed at Pink-chan's usual self. Rather than being surprised, she smiled a little.
"I don't know when we will leave, so give up on men. Also, we don't want anyone to fight while exhausted, so I'll pass, and the mistress and the other combat maids are off limits. For the other maids, since it's an emergency, if you promise me you'll explain the situation and only choose girls who are willing, then you can take from them."
"Oh, Onee-sama's sigh on my neeeeck, wait, really!? I'll do it, I promise!! Uhihi, an official license to do lewd things, risking my life was worth it!!"
"'WERDNA' this is 'MAELIFIC', we have found one of the little mistress' lost items here as well! It's a necklace, and aside from the damage that it looks like it took when it fell, there is no other damage to the clasp or necklace, so I don't think it fell during a struggle. This might be a trail that the little mistress left...?"
Pink-chan was doing a strange happy dance. As Col silently lifted up her leg to give her a kick to the knee, they received another transmission from the radio. After getting a wordless confirmation from Aiina that she had marked 'MAELIFIC's' location, Elza gave her next order.
"This was the only resistance Ran could give... This is 'WERDNA', copy that, Ran's lost items are indicating the direction of the attackers."
"All teams, search in a 5 km radius of 'MAELIFIC''s location. It's a wide area, so those with search abilities, use your powers to their fullest extent, and search for the next lost item! 'MAELIFIC''s current location is..."
"The locations of the fallen tiara and necklace are in a straight line south of the hotel. This is unexpected, we might be able to find her soon, Elza-sama!"
The study was now a flurry of activity. Amdist it, Pink-chan was standing still, as though stunned. Col nudged her with her elbow, bringing her back to reality.
"Pink, is this the time to be spacing out?"
"Oh... Everyone was so lively and rushing around that I felt like I was going to be left behind..."
"If you don't want that, then hurry up and go, and get some life force. If you get lost in the pleasure, then you really will get left behind."
"Understood! Then I'll head to my wonderland of lust!"
(...It's good if she's back to normal, but..."
And so, Pink-chan happily ran out of the study. As Col watched her go, she was certain that she wouldn't get drowned in pleasure, at least not now. When her succubus lustful side appears, or when she's excited, heart marks appear in her eyes. But now there weren't heart marks, just her eyes that indicated that she was a devil. Although she was acting like normal, underneath it, she clearly felt that she was serious about swearing revenge. Without that sort of willpower, she would have never become the subleader of the guard maids.
"Head chamberlain, you gave the okay. Well, I guess Pink will be fine now, and now for the mistress and head chamberlain. Here."
Turning around, Mifi was grinning and held out a small bottle towards her. At her request, she took it. There was no label or anything on the bottle, but there was a viscous looking fluid inside it.
Col's face twitched a little.

"If you drink this before you go to sleep, even if you only sleep for 1 hour, you will wake up completely refreshed. It's a special restoration potion that the leader of the medic team made, something that the guard maids should be familiar with. Due to Pink's constitution, the mistress used healing magic on us as much as she could, and as such, she's mentally exhausted, right? Head chamberlain, you said that don't want to fight while exhausted, right? More importantly, neither of you have slept, and if a fight is going to break out, then you should rest a little bit. Those are the instructions from the medic team. Drink this and rest a bit."
Saying this, she put a small bottle in front of Elza, and Elza looked at her with suspicion in her eyes.
"Please do as Mifi-san says, and go to sleep, even for a short time. I will be here until you come back. Both of you look like you haven't gotten any sleep. I understand how you feel, but we must wait until we have all of the information, and in the meanwhile, you should rest. We can't collect information quickly, and haste makes waste."
With VK supporting her, the two of them reluctantly took off the lid of the bottle, but stopped at that point.
"...Why are you hesitating in drinking it? Does that medicine have side effects?"
"No, it's not something dangerous or hazardous like that... I've had it once before, so... they're hesitant."
Mifi gave a bitter smile. VK tilted his head at her, when a giant maid came rushing into the study. Without hesitation, she made a beeline towards Elza, and boldly approached her. It was Cuey. Elza had run out of magical energy while healing Col and others, and as the one who had the lightest wounds (only scrapes and cuts), so she was only given normal treatment. Not just her head and arms, but her entire body was covered in band aids, and it looked painful.
That Cuey was bending over and closing in on Elza.
"Mistress, please. Please let me join in rescuing the little mistress!"
Elza was about to give an instant reply of no to Cuey's sudden request, but upon seeing Cuey's expression, she shut her mouth. Her bangs which usually hid her single eye wasn't well kept, and she was so worried about Ran that she probably didn't sleep a wink. Cuey's bloodshot eye was visible, and Elza felt a strong determination from her.
That's why Elza couldn't deny her, and chose to make her give up instead.
"Are you sure, Cuey? You are a trainee. Do you understand what that means? Your position is that of a trainee maid, so you do not need to feel any duty to the Schtlehertz family. In our eyes, you were entrusted to us by the training school, so I can't let you do anything dangerous. Most of all, you have no combat training. I'm glad that you are worried about Ran, but..."
"I, I have experience in hunting, and I won't be a burden...!"
"You fool! We're dealing with a pro with military training. This isn't hunting some wild animal! A novice like yourself would be easily killed. Do you think I would allow that!?!"
"But, I'm the little mistress' attendant! Even though I'm a trainee, I can't fulfill the task that was given to me, so I won't be able to complete my training!!"
"Wh... Mmm..."
She didn't falter from Elza's rebuke, nor take a step back or flinch from her position. Cuey responded, staring her straight in the eyes, and Elza couldn't respond. The situation was already out of Cuey's hands, so all she could do was try to find a loophole. But still, Cuey had such force behind her words that Elza couldn't respond.
The two of them silently glared at each other, as Mifi slipped between them, holding the small bottle. With a light tap on her chest, as if to say leave it to me, she quietly pressed the bottle into Cuey's hand.
"If you want to accompany the mistress no matter what, then you need to fulfill the conditions so she will approve of you. You haven't slept at all, have you, so drink this and sleep a bit. However, if you can't drink it all or spit it up, then you will have to quietly wait here for the mistress to return. Understand?"
Pausing for moment, as they took in the conditions Mifi laid out, everyone had a look of surprise. The only person who didn't understand what that meant, and had a look of puzzlement, was VK, and he whispered to Mifi.
"...Um. What were you talking about, what is that potion?"
"It tastes absolutely horrible. Fresh snake's blood tastes better. I had hoped she would give up, but..."
VK's face also twitched at Mifi's response.
To put it honestly, this revitalizing potion was extremely effective, but tastes horribly bad. Col, who was used to eating field rations without any flavorings, and Pink-chan, who ate grass and even rotten food while she was an orphan to avoid starving to death, when they drank it the first time, the moment they tasted it, they felt like throwing up, and turned into a real life merlion. So for someone tasting it for the first time, being made to drink it is unbearable in the eyes of anyone who has experienced it.
With Mifi looking up directly at her, Cuey let her actions be her response, and took of the lid and without hesitation, drank the contents in one gulp. Everyone ducked behind something to avoid the spray of vomit that was about to come out of her mouth, but Cuey held her drinking pose and didn't move a muscle. There was a slight bulge near her throat, and everyone wondered when it would come, and how far it would go, but Cuey made a brave gulping sound, and drank it down. Slamming the empty bottle down on the desk, she once again gulped down the stuff that was rising up through her throat. Her face was covered in tears and snot from the terrible taste, but the determination in her eyes did not dim.
"I... urg, I drank... it!"
"Eh, no way, you actually drank it... No, I mean... U, uh... M, Mistress, it looks like she's really determined. She did this much, so if we don't bring her along, we'll regret it later... Especially me."
"...Mm... H, hm..."
She fulfilled the conditions which were supposed to make her give up, so even though Mifi wanted to go back on it, she couldn't. So Mifi gave her weak recommendation, and Elza, who had the venom taken out of her sting by having the force of this avoided, nodded her head. She knew that it was dangerous to bring Cuey, who was a novice with no training, to a place of fear like the battlefield, but she had shown how mentally prepared she was, so she had no choice but to accept her.
Maybe Cuey's eyebeam could prove useful as a trump card. Thinking this, she came back to her senses.
"Are you fine with this arrangement? Please rest and be relieved of your weariness, and in the meantime, I shall take charge here."
Maybe it was his sense of responsibility, but VK offered to take command for her. However, Aiina rejected that.
"VK-san, you should return to the hotel. There might be a second attack wave, and even if people are there, if no one is there to take command, then nothing will happen, right? Mifi-san and I will take charge of here, and will catch up on the information we missed while we were sleeping. Once we are ready to rescue her, it will be better for me to be the external support and communications. Elza-san, is this fine with you?"
"...That's fine. Aiina, I'll leave here to you for a while. VK, I appreciate your concern, but do as Aiina says and prepare for a second wave."
"Yes, understood."
He actually wanted to go out and search for Ran. Holding back those thoughts, he said that.
"Once we have all the information, we will begin Ran's rescue operation! Each of you, prepare to begin the operation, and get in perfect condition!"
And then, a new transmission came from the radio.
"'WERDNA', this is 'RAVER LORD'. We have found the little mistress' bracelet! Our location is..."
In this way, when Elza and the others woke up, they would have a general idea of Ran's location.
They would rescue Ran for sure.
In order to do that, Elza should suppress her feelings of impatience for now, and recover her used up magical energy.