In the royal capital’s mansion district, a street that was usually quiet and deserted was unusually lively today. A large crowd had gathered, murmuring among themselves.

“That certainly sets an example.”

“But is he allowed to do that?”

“It is pretty gruesome.”

“What on earth did they do to deserve that...?”

Every eye was fixed on one spot: the front gate of Baron Miyatro’s mansion, where six corpses hung on display for all to see. Every one of them dangled limply, headless. They had been beheaded during the night.

What crime could possibly have brought them to this? Everyone could readily guess.

“They must’ve been caught stealing.”

“Looks like those rumors about the mansion being empty at night were false.”

“Of course they were nonsense. Think about it. Would everyone really leave the castle with only the young head of the house inside?”

“True, it doesn’t make any sense.”

High-ranking nobles took escorts wherever they went. Even a brief step outside warranted a knight at their side. A noble on the Council would surely be under close protection at every moment. There was no chance of one being left alone at night.

“Trying to rob the place over a rumor like that. Idiots. Serves them right.”

“Still, isn’t this a bit much? I know it’s meant as a warning, but this is far too extreme. Who hangs corpses up like that these days? He certainly has a barbaric streak. Must be because he’s from the provinces.”

“That’s what I like about him. The Watcher of the Abyss ought to have at least that much spirit. I heard he was young, but he certainly doesn’t do things by halves.”

Countless other conversations passed through the crowd. The street grew steadily noisier. Though it was barely dawn, it was already packed with onlookers.

“E-excuse us! Coming through!”

“Please make way, sirs!”

A group of commoners struggled to squeeze through the crowd: women in maids’ uniforms, lightly armed soldiers, cooks, gardeners, and others. All were servants of Baron Miyatro’s mansion.

They broke through the crowd and stopped in front of the mansion, their faces filling with horror. Someone was so startled they fell flat on their backside.

“Aah!”

“W-what is this?!”

“Something happened last night!”

“Open the gate! Make sure the Baron is safe first!”

One soldier hurriedly opened the front gate. The rest immediately rushed inside the mansion. The watching crowd was utterly bewildered.

“The mansion really was empty?”

“Then who left those bodies...?”

“Th-they must have left at least one knight behind. Watcher of the Abyss or not, the Baron is still a child. He couldn’t have dealt with the thieves alone.”

“I heard somewhere that the Watcher of the Abyss hasn’t hired any knights yet.”

Had a little boy of about ten really slaughtered six grown men, then hung their corpses at the gate? It was almost impossible to believe.

Everyone stared at the mansion in puzzlement. As though refusing to satisfy their curiosity, the front gate immediately slammed shut. Even so, the crowd did not disperse. They lingered for a long time.

The royal capital would be buzzing with talk of the Watcher of the Abyss for some time.

* * *

Haman the butler cautiously peered out the window. A sea of onlookers had gathered, all because of his handiwork. Beheaded corpses hanging prominently in the capital’s most exclusive district—it was hardly surprising they drew attention.

He let out a deep sigh.

“Should I bring them back inside, even now?”

Something truly strange had happened to him last night. The thieves’ heads had suddenly burst before his eyes, and then a chilling voice had sounded in his ears.

[“Your first task. Hang all the corpses on the front gate.”]

As though entranced, Haman had obeyed. Somehow, he had felt compelled to comply. He had not even wondered who the voice belonged to.

Only now, after sunrise, was he overcome with bewilderment. What on earth had happened last night? Whose voice had he heard? Nothing was clear. He felt as though a ghost had possessed him.

He clutched his head.

“Seriously, what is all this?”

Amid his confusion, an unfamiliar voice came from behind him.

“You’ve done just as I asked.”

Haman turned at once. A black-haired boy with a cold expression was entering the guest room: Yohan Miyatro.

The moment Haman saw his face, he searched his memory. The boy looked very familiar. A portrait immediately came to mind—the portrait of his employer.

Startled, Haman bent into a ninety-degree bow.

“P-pleased to meet you. I am Haman, your butler.”

Yohan chuckled.

“But this isn’t our first meeting, is it?”

Haman raised his head slightly, guilt joining the confusion on his face.

“The truth is... it wasn’t me who was serving you until now, my lord.”

Berdan the Schemer had been impersonating him. Yohan shook his head.

“That isn’t what I mean. We spoke last night, didn’t we?”

Haman gulped.

“Last night? You don’t mean...”

“Yes. I gave you your first task.”

Haman’s voice rose before he could stop himself.

“Th-that really was your voice, my lord?!”

He immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.

Yohan shrugged.

“Well, you could say that.”

“I-I’m sorry. I was so surprised that I shouted without thinking.”

Haman bowed his head low, wanting to hide his embarrassment and confusion. Yohan watched him quietly.

‘He’s quite an amusing fellow.’

Haman had little control over his emotions. He was a very transparent young man. Yohan did not dislike people like that. In fact, he liked them.

“You’re easily surprised. Was the sight of blood that shocking?”

Haman glanced him over.

“N-no. You just seem so different from last night.”

Anyone could see that Yohan was a young boy. His voice had not even broken, and he was small. The figure in the darkness and the Yohan before him were clearly different beings.

Yohan spoke in a low voice.

“Did you see anything last night?”

Maphel’tan had been concealed within Night Immersion. He probably had not been seen, but if, by some chance, Haman had glimpsed his true nature... Yohan would have to find some way to keep him in check.

Something about Yohan’s expression and tone sent a chill through Haman. He hastily shook his head.

“I really didn’t see anything! I-I just found everything that happened last night so sudden...”

Yohan cut him off.

“Thieves have broken into the mansion several times lately, so I was a little on edge last night. Don’t dwell on it.”

How could a human give off such an air simply from being on edge? And what about that unfathomable strength? None of it made sense to Haman. The young boy before him, Baron Miyatro, was truly shrouded in mystery. From now on, Haman would have to serve him.

“... All of this happened because of my shortcomings. Please dismiss this incompetent fool.”

He did not mean it. Haman did not want to be cast aside again.

Yohan chuckled.

“Before that, let me ask you something. Why on earth did you intervene last night?”

Haman was weak. He had rushed at the thieves knowing he would die. Yohan wanted to know exactly why.

Haman answered in a barely audible voice.

“To protect one’s master’s property with one’s life. I was taught that this is the very least a butler should be prepared to do.”

He was naive, but upright. He might lack practical sense, but he had convictions. Yohan rather liked the man.

“I see. Make sure you never lose that attitude.”

Haman’s face gradually brightened.

“Y-you’ll let me work as your butler?”

Yohan nodded.

“Let’s get along, Haman Legash.”

He offered his hand.

Haman repeatedly wiped his palms on his trousers, then clasped Yohan’s hand in both of his.

“I will serve you with unwavering loyalty!”

Yohan patted his shoulder.

“Now, let’s eat. I’ll tell you what you need to know over breakfast.”

He needed to instruct Haman all over again. The two headed straight for the dining room. The servants preparing breakfast did not dare meet Yohan’s eyes. Overnight, he had become someone to fear a little.

* * *

Yohan spent the entire day shut away in his office. He had quite a few things to think about. His greatest headache was the marquisate of House Leonar.

‘... Why on earth would they do this?’

The marquisate of House Leonar never engaged in underhanded political maneuvering. Its creed was to confront every problem head-on. Yet it had planted a spy in House Miyatro.

Of course, viewed in terms of political affiliations, there was nothing strange about that. House Leonar belonged to the royalist faction and served the royal family, while House Miyatro belonged to the aristocratic faction through its ties to Count Staviana.

The problem was that the house behind the scheme was the marquisate of House Leonar. Having read the original novel, Yohan could not help questioning the situation.

He sank into thought. Since possessing this body, he had encountered countless unforeseen developments. At times, events had diverged completely from the original novel. There had always been just one reason: Yohan’s unpredictable actions. Whenever he set something in motion, unforeseen developments absent from the original novel sprang into existence.

This time would be no different. Some action of Yohan’s must have triggered the marquisate of House Leonar’s departure from its course in the original novel. What action could that have been?

After pondering it all day, he arrived at one conclusion: the attack on the royal capital. Not long ago, Maphel’tan had led an army of elves against the capital. During the attack, the holy barrier encircling the entire city had broken, however briefly. As a result, the capital was no longer a Demon-proof zone.

Several Demons unrelated to Maphel’tan’s plans had seized the opportunity to slip into the capital that day. Reports of Demon sightings were coming from all over the city.

Presumably, the marquisate of House Leonar’s strange behavior stemmed from some demonic phenomenon. That was Yohan’s theory, at least. There was certainly a chance that the Marquis had been possessed by a Demon.

‘Hmm. Am I taking this speculation too far?’

One thought had led to another until he had finally reached this conclusion. He could think of no other theories. He tilted his chair back with a low murmur, feeling deeply frustrated.

‘Should I meet the Marquis?’

As he pondered the question, a knock came at the door.

“It’s Haman. May I come in for a moment?”

“Come in.”

The door opened. Haman stepped inside and spoke.

“My lord, you have a visitor. They were, um, sent by the marquisate of House Leonar.”

The corners of Yohan’s mouth lifted. The timing could hardly have been better.

“Show them in at once.”

Haman took a notebook from inside his clothes. Scratching his head, he spoke with a sheepish look.

“B-but the sun will set soon.”

He had written down everything Yohan had told him, without missing a word. Among those notes was the instruction to vacate the mansion at night.

Yohan chuckled.