Night Watch

“…?”

Teresa’s reaction caught my attention.

That shadowy look was like an illusion, vanishing in a flash.

“Anyway, let’s exchange information first.”

But just as I hesitated whether to press further, the young miss issued a new directive for our small group.

Everyone began reporting their findings, and I missed the best timing to ask.

…No help for it. I’d have to set this aside and ask when the chance came later.

****

In the end, I never found an opportunity to ask until we disbanded.

On the way, Teresa’s gloomy expression kept swirling in my mind.

“Eileen, what are you thinking? You look scary.”

“Huh? Do I?”

I quickly touched my face and felt a stiff sensation.

Maybe because I was too preoccupied, my expression had unconsciously turned serious.

“Actually… I’m worried about Miss Donix.”

“What?”

At those words, the young miss froze in place for some reason.

And I, still lost in thought, didn’t notice she had stopped. My nose bumped straight into her back.

“…Ugh!”

Holding my sore nose, I looked up.

There stood the young miss, her face full of dark lines.

She grabbed my shoulders firmly and stared at me with lifeless eyes.

“Eileen… even if she’s also blonde, you can’t be seduced by her!”

“…Huh?”

I was completely baffled.

“I admit that girl looks cute and has a mysterious air… but Eileen, you’re mine! Your eyes should only be on me!”

As she spoke, she shook my shoulders… making me dizzy.

“At this point… I have no choice but to forcibly lock Eileen by my side… no matter how many bugs I have to clean out…”

“The young miss just muttered something terrifying.”

“She must have misunderstood!”

“Wait… wait! Young Miss, what are you talking about?”

“Eileen, you said you were worried about that girl. You must be tired of me and have changed your heart!”

“So that’s what this is about…”

“Young Miss, you misunderstood! That’s not what I meant by ‘worried’ at all!”

“Then what?”

“It’s just that Miss Donix’s expression seemed off today, and it only appeared for a moment, so I found it strange. That’s all! Just that kind of worry!”

“I see… that’s how it is.”

Hearing my explanation, the young miss finally let go of me and returned to normal.

…Her face changed so fast it was a little creepy.

“I noticed that too.”

“Huh? You noticed as well?”

“It was when she mentioned the word ‘friend,’ right? Her expression was clearly off… so I deliberately spoke up to divert everyone’s attention.”

So the young miss did that on purpose?

Actually… I had sensed something wrong with her for a while. Even though she wore an eyepatch and couldn’t see clearly, she seemed to move normally…

And the young miss had noticed even more than I had.

I felt there was more to their past…

“I think it’s necessary to investigate their history.”

After a pause, she continued:

“But that’s after we solve the attack case.”

“True. We need to work hard.”

“Speaking of which… I have an idea to speed up the investigation.”

“…Oh? What is it?”

“That is…”

The young miss raised one finger.

“Catch the culprit while they’re committing the crime!”

****

The night was deep. The young miss and I lay on the roof of the teaching building, eating rice balls while observing everything below.

—I had originally planned to show off my cooking, but the young miss said we couldn’t miss the opportunity, so she dragged me up early to inspect the campus.

Helplessly, our dinner menu could only be leftover rice balls from last night.

“This is all a sacrifice to solve the attack case as quickly as possible.”

Though reluctant, the young miss endured the pain and chose the greater good.

Normally, she would prioritize enjoying my cooking…

But she personally gave up this chance—showing how much she cared about this commission.

Since the young miss was working so hard, I’d change the original reward into a celebration feast after the case was solved.

I thought to myself.

However…

“Will this really find the culprit?”

Despite fitting the young miss’s style…

This was a bit too much like waiting for the rabbit to come to the tree.

“I can’t be sure, but I think the probability is high. Today, there might be someone who could become the target… Look, over there.”

Following where she pointed, I leaned out and observed below…

On the silent campus, only a few students roamed about.

Of course, that target was one of them.

— Normally, there should be more students playing outside at night… but the recent attacks had made everyone uneasy, and the student council urged students not to go out at night, so the crowds had thinned.

And yet someone was bold enough to wander around… Quite carefree.

Especially someone who might become a target!

“By the way, since he’s going to be a target, what bad thing did he do?”

Hearing my question, the young miss wore a complicated expression for some reason.

“…He stole his little sister’s candy and made her cry.”

“…What?”

Did I hear that right?

Stole candy? That’s it?

And with his burly build, why would he steal his little sister’s candy?

There were so many points to mock that I couldn’t keep up…

But more importantly…

“Would such a minor sin really attract the culprit?”

“Hmm… I also think this person’s sin isn’t that deep, but there’s still a possibility he could become a target. We can’t overlook any chance!”

“…”

Since the young miss insisted, I naturally wouldn’t object.

At times like this, silently staying by her side was what a maid and lover should do.

What followed was a long wait…

Just as I was thinking that, a black shadow darted out from the bushes and rapidly approached the target student!

“…Eileen!”

The sharp-eyed young miss surely noticed too. She called my name and grabbed my hand.

Knowing what she had in mind, I jumped down with her!

Using my wind magic to slow our descent, this was the fastest way to reach the scene!

So just before the shadow’s outstretched hand touched the target, we descended from the sky and landed beside the two.

The moment we landed, the young miss knocked away the culprit’s hand with the hilt of her sword and declared:

“Surrender obediently, you perpetrator of the attack case!”