Chapter 34

It is now 3 AM. Normally, I would be fast asleep, but I was sitting in front of my computer.

(Staring at the computer screen won’t solve anything, but I can’t sleep even if I go to bed.)

The screen displayed data from the beastman attack incidents. I had reviewed this data dozens of times.

Lately, I haven’t been getting proper sleep. I can’t rest until I know that there hasn’t been an attack by dawn. I’ve ordered the knights to increase patrols, but it hasn’t been very effective. The attackers target areas with weak security.

(The victims have no connection to each other. This means it’s a random attack... damn, what can I do?)

The only thing I know is the attacker’s actions. They target areas with weak security and attack beastmen walking alone at night... that’s all.

“Seems like we have a troublesome case... alright, I’ll get involved!!”

Usually, Miki’s telepathic ability is annoying, but now it’s a blessing. Every time I repeat it out loud, I feel more and more incompetent.

“I need your help. Honestly, I’m at a dead end and can’t come up with any solutions.”

I’ve been skipping school to deal with complaints and countermeasures. The castle receives daily petitions from the citizens, asking for the swift capture of the attacker. Many citizens are also expressing their anxiety due to the lack of arrests.

“Even the straight-faced man is ignoring my high-quality baka... let’s start with the information.”

Normally, I would pick up on every baka, from small to ridiculous, but I have no energy for that.

“There have been four incidents in total. The victims are of different races and ages. The only common factor is that the attack scenes have a message left by the 'Beastman Extermination Group.'”

The first victim was a bear girl, attacked on her way home from school after parting ways with her friend. The attacker had yellow hair and used a blunt weapon.

The second victim was a wolf boy, attacked on his way home from selling eggs. The attacker had white hair and used a hard, stick-like weapon.

The third victim was a middle-aged tanuki man, attacked on his way home from a business trip. The attacker had yellow hair and used a thick stick.

The fourth victim was a chestnut girl, attacked on her way home from an errand. The attacker had white hair and used an iron rod.

The only common factor is that the victims were weak and alone. The message was written on the ground, but no useful information was obtained from it.

“The Beastman Extermination Group... as usual, there are still ridiculous ideologies around. Is there any eyewitness information?”

“There is eyewitness information. In all four incidents, suspicious figures with different hair colors were seen. However, no one saw their faces.”

Fortunately, no one has died, and thanks to Rocko’s healing magic, there are no lasting injuries. However, it’s a situation where deaths could occur at any time. I don’t mind if my reputation falls, but a lord who can’t protect his citizens is a failure.

“I understand your feelings, but if you don’t get proper sleep, your mind won’t function. Think about it... why could the hair color be seen in the dark?”

Indeed, it’s unnatural to see only the hair color in the dark. White might be visible, but yellow and green should look like other colors.

“Were they intentionally showing their hair color...”

“That’s right. Normally, you would have noticed, but your mind isn’t working properly because you haven’t been sleeping.”

But it’s not that I don’t want to sleep; I can’t sleep.

“Even if you say that, I can’t sleep.”

Even the slightest noise makes me think it’s a report of an attack, and I wake up.

“Can’t be helped, I’ll put you to sleep... Purr, purr, go to sleep, go to sleep. Cats are good pets, purr, purr. Where did the cat’s charm go... Sleep!!”

“That’s not a lullaby, it’s a sleep... spell...”

Due to the sleep spell cast on me while I was sleep-deprived, I fell asleep instantly.

---

When I woke up, it was already morning. Fortunately, there were no attacks last night.

(I need to reorganize... showing the hair color was to confuse the investigation. How many people are actually complaining?)

I think the people who file these complaints are a certain group.

After checking the petitions, I found something interesting.

“Indeed, many of the handwriting samples are similar.”

After reviewing the petitions with Mr. Sander and Rocko, we found several with similar handwriting.

“Yes, the literacy rate in Bouble is not very high. I believe the petitions are being filed by a specific group. Mr. Volf, can you follow the people who file the petitions? And can you ask retired assassins to investigate if anyone is inciting fear?”

If people judge me by my appearance as a brat, I’ll make them eat their words.

The turnaround was quick. It seems I wasn’t the only one with pent-up frustration.

“Ultimately, it led to Bontta Oonizori.”

Half of the people who filed the petitions were from outside the territory, and the rest were paid to file them.

“When I talked to the Bouble residents who filed the petitions, they chose people who couldn’t read or write. When I explained the content of the documents, they turned pale and apologized.”

“The outsiders thought it was a good part-time job. The one paying them was Bontta’s subordinate.”

The one inciting fear among the citizens was a struggling bard. At first, he denied it, but after a pleasant discussion with the bear people, he confessed everything.

“Should we put pressure on the Oonizori family from the Hydoro Church?”

If the Hydoro Church puts pressure, the attacks might temporarily stop.

“That’s premature. Most importantly, we need to catch the attacker and punish them to resolve the citizens’ dissatisfaction.”

Moreover, the connection between Bontta and the attacks hasn’t been established. If we apply pressure now, we might be sued for defamation. Most importantly, we don’t know Bontta’s true intentions.

While we were discussing, there was a knock on the door of the office.

“Sir George, a letter from Sir Alan has arrived. Also, Miss Karina, your schoolmate, is here.”

The letter from Alan invited me to a dinner with the Marina family, asking me to dress up and attend. Apparently, it’s not good to not see your fiancée for years.

“I understand. I’ll go greet her, so please wait a moment.”

I’m mentally and physically exhausted, so I think talking with the energetic Karina will refresh me.

“Hey, I heard from Donga and the others. It seems like you’re having a tough time. Here, I made this. Eat it and cheer up.”

Karina handed me a large wisteria basket. If my mother’s basket is S size, Karina’s is L size.

“You came all the way to check on me. Thank you.”

While my fiancée doesn’t even send a letter, Karina came all the way to make a bento, which is genuinely touching.

“You’re a regular customer, and I wanted to see the famous Bouble... I thought you’d be living a luxurious life as a count, but it’s surprisingly modest.”

“I don’t have the luxury to spend money on my lifestyle. Besides, I’m not very interested in clothes or accessories.”

In my previous life, I wore suits from A○○ma and casual clothes from Work○n or Sh○mura.

“Will the attacker be caught soon? If it’s that, I can be a decoy. I think the next target will be a lion, rabbit, or orc. Don’t worry, I’ll take them down.”

Karina made a determined pose.

“Why do you know the next target will be a lion or rabbit?”

“Didn’t you notice? The victims are the same races as the beastmen around you.”

Donga the bear, Volf the wolf, Verde the tanuki, and Kain and Walnut the chestnuts. Indeed, they are the same races as the beastmen around me... no, the beastmen who have moved to Bouble.

“Thanks, but if something happens to you, I won’t be able to eat mashed potatoes. Besides, the attacker might be a noble ape. If you take them down, you might be punished. Most importantly, if you get a scar on your face, it’s a big problem.”

Yes, if it’s Karina the lion, she might be punished.

“A, you... you see me as a girl... Everyone, even the customers, treats me like a guy.”

Karina’s face turned red, and she fidgeted. The contrast with her usual tomboyish demeanor made me involuntarily flustered.

(Cute... no, I’m not a lolicon.)

“Karina is a cute girl. Would you like to visit a clothing store in Bouble? I’ll buy you any clothes you like as a thank you for the basket. Just show this note to the store.”

I wrote a note as if to cover something up.

“Thank you...”

Karina’s face turned even redder, and she looked down.

“Well, I’ll get back to work. Thanks for the basket... What are you doing?”

When I opened the door, there were my mother and the George Maid Team.

“George is a boy... The sweetness made even me swoon.”

My mother spoke in a high-pitched voice, and the George Maid Team gave a thumbs-up and a good job pose.

“Right, can you call Mr. Hammer and the barber?”

Let’s have a meal with the basket and plan a counterattack.