changed his method of attack. This was the enemy base. The reason why he did not seek help from behind the door was as reinforcements would arrive, or it would be bad if Sebas was delayed.

"If you're taking her to the temple, then allow me to do so. I will guarantee her safety."

The man gulped and his eyes quivered. Then he frantically tried to cobble an excuse together.

"..There's no guarantee you'll really take her there."

"Then you can come with me."

"I'm busy now, so I can't go. I'll take her later." The man seemed to have sensed something from Sebas' expression, and he hurriedly continued. "She belongs to us by law! If you step in, you'll be breaking the country's laws! And if you dare take her away, that'll be kidnapping!"

Sebas froze, and frowned for the first time.

The man had played on his greatest weakness.

While his master had said that he could take overt action when the situation called for it, that was only when he was playing the role of a butler caring for his mistress. He should not make a ruckus, and quietly gain information. That was his master's wish.

If he broke the law, his undercover investigations could possibly be blown.

Basically it was a question of whether this would lead to a large commotion.

That said, was it right to just abandon this woman?

The man gave off no impression that he had studied the law. However, his words were full of confidence. This meant that he had gained the knowledge from someone who did. Then this was not something he was making up, and the probability that he was prepared for this was high.

It would be easy for Sebas to push this through with his strength. However such acts would tighten a noose around his neck.

Of course, he could go tell the law to go eat shit. However, that was the last resort, and only if it infringed on his master's orders. He could not do it for the sake of an unknown woman.

The man laughed evilly, and poked fun at the hesistating Sebas.

"Is it okay to drag your master into something terrible in secret?"

Sebas raised his eyebrow for the first time. This was as the man felt that he had grasped Sebas' weakness.

"I don't know which noble you serve, but won't you cause trouble for your master if things get blown up?"

"..Do you really think my master could not resolve a matter of this magnitude? Rules exist to be broken by the strong, no?"

That seemed to have gotten through to the man, and fear flashed across his face for a moment. However, he recovered his confidence almost immediately.

"..Why don't you give it a try, then?"

"..Hmph."

The man made no sign of giving in the Sebas' bluff. So this man—And the shield protecting him had strong connections, or that he had confidence the judiciary would not move.

Judging that this approach was not effective, Sebas decided to change tack.

"...However, when she herself seeks for help, no matter their business, do you not believe that we should respect her wishes?"

"Er.. No.. this.."

The man muttered to himself as he racked his brains.

His mask had fallen.

Sebas felt relieved at the lack of the man's acting skills, and his slow head. Should the man make any attempts to make more lies about the law, Sebas, who had little knowledge of the law would feel lost. In the end, he had no actual knowledge of the law but tried to act smart, so he ended up like this. This was fortunate for Sebas.

Sebas looked away from the man and carried the woman's head.

"Do you want me to rescue you?"

Sebas asked her. He then brought his ears to the woman's cracked lips.

What he heard was a soft breathing sound. No, it was a sound that could have been the echos of the wind.

She did not reply. Sebas gently shook his head, and asked again.

"Do you want me to rescue you?"

Fortune does not visit twice.

Of course. Fortune was good luck. Something that happens occasionally. It would be weird for it to occur repeatedly. A broken woman without most of her will grabbed Sebas' pants. She would not get any more of such luck.

Sebas' question went unanswered.

The man believed so, and continued to smile evilly.

The environment the woman was in, and the hell-like situation. If one knew then this was natural. If it was not, she would not be rotting away and instead try to leave.

Yes, her grabbing Sebas' pants was nothing more than luck—

—In her case, her sole piece of good fortune was the fact that Sebas had stepped into this alley, and it was now over. Everything else all rested on how much she wanted to survive.

That was not luck.

—Faintly.

—Yes.

The woman's lips moved only slightly. But it's movements were not natural like breathing. It made one believe that there was intent behind it.

"————"

Sebas' only response to hearing those words was a big nod.

"...I have no intention of helping those who wish for help like a plant wishing for rain to fall from the sky. However...If you wish to flounder to live..." Sebas's hands slowly moved to cover the woman's eyes. "Forget your fear, and good night. You shall enter under my wings."

With such a warm sensation, the woman closed her dirty eyes.

The man could not believe it. That was why he tried to speak.

"It can't be—"

I didn't hear anything, the man wanted to say, but he was frozen in place.

"Are you calling me.. a liar?"

He did not know when Sebas had stood up, but now his razor-sharp gaze transfixed the man.

Those were fearsome eyes.

Those vicious eyes stopped the man's breathing, as though they possessed the ability to physically crush his heart within his chest.

"Are you saying I would tell a lie for the likes of you?"

"Ah, no, ah.."

The man's throat croaked, and then he gulped. His eyes moved, fixating on Sebas' arms. He must have remembered the consequences of getting carried away.

"Then, I'll be taking her with me."

"W, wait!"

Sebas faced the man who raised his voice.

"What is it now? Trying to buy more time?"

"N, no. I just need proof...To believe you."

"Believe me? Proof?"

"M, money. I...I can't believe that you will bring her to the temple. You might just abduct her."

"I cannot think of any reason to take and disappear with her though? Does she have such a worth?"

"N, not that. But why are you attached to that woman. You can choose any woman you want."

Sebas slightly narrowed his eyes. Where was the desire to save this woman born from. He could not understand it. If it was another person from Nazarick, they would avoid trouble and ignore it. They would clap their hands and continue walking.

Sebas himself could not explain the workings of his heart, but he decided that now was not the time, and replied to the man.

"...Well it does not matter. How about you follow me to the temple. Doing so would lay any worries to rest."

"I, I'm a bit busy now..."

Silence descended. Sebas had no intention of wasting any more time.

"So basically I should give you money as insurance? Understood. How much?"

"..100 gold coins."

Sebas understood. That this was the man's last hand.

If it was a large amount like 100 gold coins, most people would pull out. Sebas could not understand if it was to buy time or is it was something else. However, if he was asking for money, there was definitely a reason for it. 100 gold coins was a kilogram. And would be quite large. No one would walk around carrying that much.

So the man suggested so as he thought Sebas did not have it and was an impossible request.

So Sebas responded immediately.

"Understood."

Sebas took out a bag. The man grew suspicious. It was natural. There was no way 100 gold coins could fit inside such a small bag.

"I can believe it if they are gems..."

The gaze of the man then fell on the coins that scattered on the floor. The sparkle of something silver. It was platinum. Ten of something that had ten times the worth of a gold coin, fell on the floor.

"Yes yes, although I believe ten platinum coins are a bit too much for this situation. However about both of us forget about this now?"

"A, aah.."

"And should there be a next time, please ask for money for her treatment. Of course, this is when you come to pick her up...I intend for her to undergo a complete treatment, and I promise it will be expensive. And since it is a deposit, I expect it back when you pick her up."

Sebas just said that, raised the body of the woman to his chest, and started walking since there was nothing else to do.