○
"Why do people always lie?"
The exploration of human's inner and outer selves.
To begin this, ten-year-old Arpina delved into all sorts of psychology, magic, and sorcery in the library.
Magic that deals with the human mind.
Among them were forbidden books as well, but such light taboos couldn't stop her curiosity.
"Young miss. Aren't such difficult books too early for you?"
"It's okay. I can understand them."
'At least much better than you.'
To the maid's worried voice, young Arpina outwardly showed an innocent smile, but inwardly sneered sharply.
In reality, she understood all of it perfectly.
And within that, she steadily built up her future and desires.
"Won't you show me your true feelings?"
After two years of self-study research like this.
In the year she turned twelve, Arpina first realized her research.
The subject was a girl who acted as the leader among the noble peers who usually bullied her.
Swoosh!
It was the moment when the magic engraved the light of magical power in the subject's pupils.
"I'm jealous of you. Everyone whispers that you have commoner blood, but you're free. I... every day is hell for me. I can't live up to my parents' expectations...!"
The face of the cute child who always pretended to be noble contorted, and from that mouth, the most intimate true feelings she had hidden burst out countless times.
"I wish you were dead! Like those beggars rotting in the back alleys!"
Weak and clumsy malice pouring out like mud and poison that had been dammed up.
The moment she witnessed that scene and felt those emotions.
"Ah...!"
Arpina felt a thrill rising from her toes to the top of her head.
'This is it!'
What she had been looking for.
It was peeking into others' painful true feelings and the inside of their souls.
How sweet this pleasure is!
○
There are two organizations currently dividing the information network of the continent.
-We are fundamentally a group of soldiers, so we're close to a well-disciplined army or volunteer army that follows orders well. In other words, we're a group that focuses more on honor and justice than practical benefits.
The Information Guild, the successors of the honorable 'messengers' who ran on foot to deliver all information when communication was not developed on the continent in the past.
-This side is the opposite. It's a group centered around 'Thousand Faces' who left saying 'our honor needs appropriate compensation' and those who follow his ideals.
The information merchant group 'Gray Eyes' led by 'Thousand Faces'.
If there are such destined rivals, there's bound to be 'talk, talk, talk' discussing 'who is stronger' among those who know.
People's opinions on this were as follows:
-Because of that, the level of information the guild has is higher, but the opinion is that the information merchants are better connected with power.
-I've heard the same evaluation many times too, Master.
"I see, so it is like that."
But I thought this evaluation might be somewhat biased.
Talhan is fake but was still an executive of the Information Guild, and Hailey is just an external collaborator of the information merchants.
'Should I consider the actual level of information held by the guild and merchants to be almost equal?'
If this was true, it was surprising.
While the Information Guild considers information gathering a 'duty' for the safety of the continent, the information merchants' purpose itself is 'information trading and pursuit of profit'.
"How is Michaela's situation?"
-Currently hidden in a safe house in 'Mamilè'. If you give the order, we can use her in any way.
Mamilè was a border fortress adjoining the Kiza Kingdom and one of the major cities leading from the central part of Heisen to the Marquisate.
There were several options for how to handle Michaela.
We could quietly make her 'disappear' as if she had gone to the convent.
We could use brainwashing or suggestion to make her help her sister Elena.
We could 'wash' her head and then difficultly hand her over to the information merchants.
Personally, I prefer the first option, but any would do.
'Anyway, just leaving her alive as she is really... makes me suffer inside.'
The things I saw in her mind came to mind.
These feelings of mine came after confirming the true nature of this world's 'moderately dissolute' nobles.
'Disgusting things.'
For example, the terrible meal using 'special pork' enjoyed once or twice a year as an ingredient.
For example, recruiting personal hunters to procure that meat.
For example, the cruel game of gathering family members and deciding who will become the 'pork'.
It seems they enjoyed that 'special meal' with over 10,000 calories just in the thighs, based on a moderately fleshy subject, along with a few people around them.
The fact that they didn't get sick after that must be due to the influence of magic.
This was one of the proofs of Sonia's proposition that 'nobles were raising people below commoners'.
'To think this is considered 'moderately dissolute'...'
The more unappetizing fact is that there could be any number of nobles with such hobbies.
Those who show behavior that makes Elena as Elias say they were relatively 'gentle' nobles compared to her.
-Master.
"Speak."
Perhaps reading my expression filled with murderous intent, Hailey carefully opened her mouth.
-A high noble's daughter is a difficult resource to secure. We need to avoid simple consumption.
"I know."
But the desire to kill her didn't easily subside.
It wasn't because I wanted to feel morally superior to her, or because I wanted to put on pointless hypocrisy.
'Sacrifice Enhancement' ultimately takes people as nutrients, isn't it connected to their 'special eating habits' in context?
Just...
'It's irritating.'
I just can't stand the fact that there are such things breathing the same air as me.
The fact that there are those who enjoy the act of eating their own kind as a banquet and enjoying their pain and screams like bar snacks, as a mere hobby or pleasure.
As if mocking my means of survival.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. That wasn't important right now.
"Where are the 'owls'' nests?"
-Yes. There are three places expected to be the headquarters of the 'Gray Eyes' Heisen branch.
Talhan marked points on the map in order.
Séyur, Oison, Marbois.
In three cities centered around the royal capital of Heisen.
-Séyur is a trading city on the border with the Hilsa Kingdom, sandwiched between Heisen and the Norn Empire.
-Oison is a port city close to the northwest of Hairashi, the capital of Heisen.
And finally, Marbois was a fortress city where the army of Count Copzerin's territory was stationed.
"The range is wide. Which one is most likely?"
-Oison is most likely.
"Because it's close to the center of the kingdom?"
-Yes, Master.
While listening to his words and looking at the map, I marked one more place.
"Let's add this place as a candidate."
-Master? This place is...
-This is...
The name of the city I newly pointed out was Orando.
It was an ordinary city located on a mountainside, far from the royal capital.
It was only recorded as having animal and monster hides as specialties, with nothing else noteworthy.
-Huh? ...Ah.
At my words, both of them looked puzzled at first, but Talhan's expression soon changed to one of realization.
Hailey continued her question to me as is.
-But Master. There's really nothing in this city.
-That 'nothing' is what's strange, Baroness.
Talhan said with shining eyes.
As expected, his ability is quite good. He probably would have found it eventually even if I hadn't pointed it out.
-Am I correct, Master?
"Yes. That's right."
-What? Ah...!
Hailey's eyes soon widened and she made a surprised sound.
It seems she finally caught on to the intention.
"This place has too many households."
-And it's also connected to the other three cities centered around the royal capital.
-There is another city with a similar location, Grolup, but it has value like Oison in being in a river basin.
"Yes. But Orando has nothing else besides that. Except that it's connected to Coerdiman by mountain paths."
Coerdiman was a city close to the Guiles County where Solemio is located. One of the cities belonging to the count ruling this area.
And mountain paths are a form of road that's difficult to maintain without constant effort.
"In other words, it means there were many people crossing the mountains."
-It could be hunters, or the route to send their results to the south, but...
I shook my head at Hailey's point.
"Don't hunters go where there are no paths? And there's no reason to sell hides elsewhere when you have the royal capital where you can pull carts."
-You're right, Master.
-I'll look into this again and report back.
"Alright. Hailey, help out too."
-Of course, Master.
After seeing off the two disappearing beyond the communication device, I stared at the map again.
My 'intuition', which had been further strengthened since coming to this world, was pointing to Orando. But strangely, I didn't feel a bad sense from the other three cities Talhan had pointed out.
'What could this mean...'
"Master."
"Xue?"
What woke me from my thoughts was Xue's voice.
She came up to me and looked at the map together, then while massaging my shoulders, she casually dropped a word.
In a meaningful voice.
"Owls are predators. They live alone unless they're family..."
A smile formed on my lips for a moment.
I could immediately understand what she meant.
"Even if they're family when young, they wouldn't live in the same forest when grown, huh."
"Mm..."
Xue nodded languidly, then sat down next to my chair and rested her chin on the armrest.
When I tickled that chin, a quiet growl flowed out.
If what she says is true, it means there could be 'owl nests' in all four of these cities.
Probably characters at least at the executive level of 'Gray Eyes' would have bases in each.
"We'll have to proceed with the hunt carefully."
"Yeah... those beasts will notice changes quickly."
I nodded at her words.
To hunt these sensitive birds of prey, we'll have to raid their nests almost simultaneously.
Before they realize there's a predator eating their friends from other forests.
If not that, it would be good to secretly mix in another bird among their chicks.
So they can nurture and raise it without knowing.
Whether it's an 'owl', or a 'bird of prey that has learned owl habits'.
As long as their habits and lives fall into my hands, that's all that matters.
"Yes. Thank you."
"Of course..."
I gestured to Xue, and she silently knelt down next to my chair.
For a while, I gave her various 'rewards'.