“I’m busy right now so I can’t. I’m going to take her later.”

Sensing something in Sebas’ expression, the man quickly continued on.

“That’s legally ours. If you’re going to put your hands on other people’s property, then you’re breaking the law! If you take her with you then it’s kidnapping!”

Sebas froze abruptly and furrowed his brows for the first time.

The man attacked where it hurt the most.

Although his master had said that it was okay to stand out to a certain extent, that only applied when it was necessary for their disguises as a rich family’s daughter and her butler.

If he broke the law and invited the hand of the judiciaries, there was a possibility that their cover could be blown. In other words, it could lead to a huge uproar and become exactly the type of conspicuous incident that his master did not want.

Although it was hard to imagine that this rugged, crude looking man was educated, his tone was still confident. He must have heard it from someone who was knowledgeable about the law. Then there was a high possibility that his claim held true.

With no witnesses in sight, the answer was simple. He could simply end it through force. All that would leave behind was a corpse with a broken neck.

But that was only when it was absolutely necessary. It was a final, last-ditch method to be used only when it coincided with his master’s objective. It could not be used for the sake of this unknown girl whom he had just met.

Then was abandoning the girl the right choice?

Sebas felt his irritation rise at the man’s crude smile.

“Can a great, gentlemanly butler like you cause trouble for your master behind their back?”

The man was grinning now, seeing how Sebas’ frown became more obvious, he must have realized that he had a hold on the butler’s weakness.

“I don’t know which noble you serve, but won’t you be harming your master if you cause trouble? Ahn? And who knows, that noble might have a good relationship with us. Won’t you get scolded?”

“…Did you think that my master was someone who could not handle the law? Rules were made to be broken by the strong.”

As if he hit a nerve, the man looked momentarily frightened but immediately regained his confidence.

“...So how about you try it then?”

“……Hmm.”

The man showed no signs of falling for Sebas’ bluff. The one backing him must be quite an influential figure indeed. Concluding that attacking from this direction was ineffective, Sebas decided to approach from a different angle.

“… You may be right. A run-in with the law may indeed prove quite troublesome. However, there is also a law stating that a person may rescue another by force should they request it. I am merely following the law and providing her with assistance. First and foremost, since she appears to be unconscious, I believe she should be brought to the temple for treatment. Do you not agree?”

“Uh… no… that’s…”

The man seemed to be at a loss for words.

His mask was undone.

Sebas felt relieved that the man was a poor actor and a dim-witted fool. He had lied. Since the other party mentioned the law, Sebas simply opted to do the same.

Sebas, being unfamiliar with this country’s laws, would have had no way to respond if the man had rebuked him once more with another law; even if the man had been lying. The man ended up in this position because he only knew the law by ear and did not bother to study it.

Because his knowledge of the law was what he had heard off hand, it would come back to bite him should his opponent opt for a legal debate. And the man was most likely a low-ranking member of his organization. He was not used to a position where he had to make his own decisions.

Sebas turned his eyes away from the man and brought the girl’s head close.

“Do you want me to help you?”

Sebas asked her. He leaned his ear towards the girl’s cracked, rustling lips.

The sound of faint breathing flowed into his ears. No, could it even be called as such? It was like the sound of the final remaining air escaping from a balloon.

There was no response. Sebas slightly turned his head and asked once more.

“Do you want me to help you?”

The circumstances revolving around aiding this girl and the old woman from before were completely different. Although Sebas did desire to help others in need, there was a high possibility that helping this girl will lead to no small amount of trouble. Sebas felt as if a chilling wind was passing through his heart. He worried whether or not the Supreme Being would permit such actions, about how this may betray a higher objective.

As expected, there was no reply.

The man’s face slowly broke out into a crude smile.

For someone who was familiar with her hell-like environment, it was obvious that she would not even have the energy to speak. Otherwise, he would not have pulled her out to dispose of her in the first place.

A stroke of luck does not occur in succession. If it were so frequent, then it would not be called luck in the first place.

That’s right. If the hand that grasped the hem of Sebas’ pants was a stroke of good fortune, there would not be a second time.

—Her luck had run out the moment Sebas stepped foot in this place. Everything that would follow after was the result of her will to live.

That— would never be because of luck.

—Slightly.

—Ever so slightly, her mouth moved. Her voice did not flow naturally like how one would breathe. They contained a clear, distinct will.

“—.”

Hearing those words, Sebas gave a single nod.

“…I have no intention of saving those who only pray for others to extend a helping hand, like plants waiting for the rain. However… if they themselves fight to survive…”

Sebas covered the girl’s eyes with his hand.

“Do not be frightened, rest now. I will place you under my protection.”

Clinging onto some soft, warm sensation, the girl closed her murky eyes.

The man was in disbelief and tried to voice his obvious response.

“You’re ly…”

The rest could not be heard. The man’s body froze, his voice dying in his throat.