In the end, Nerlis and her three companions found nothing, but they also encountered no danger.

When they saw the magic array on the door of the large central room on the top floor—meant to detect entrants and exits—had been destroyed, the four already knew the outcome.

"Well, this was to be expected..."

Inside the room, the crystal ball—the Barrier Recorder—engraved with intricate magic runes now bore several cracks. Its usual soft glow of magical energy had vanished. Chloe tentatively probed it and discovered it had been shattered three days prior. By the way, the manor’s barrier records were checked every three days.

"Three days... that’s far beyond the range of Anhans’ tracking magic, Nerlis. What about your insects..."

"I’ll give it a try."

Nerlis extended her hand. Several tracking insects crawled out from her sleeve. They first flew toward the crystal ball, then drifted lazily to the floor, circling aimlessly.

She explained, "These insects have memorized each of our scents. If anyone among us entered or exited here three days ago, they should detect it..."

But the insects kept drifting in slow, chaotic circles, never landing on anything.

Nerlis shook her head slightly, wearing an apologetic expression. Seeing this, York and Chloe could only sigh.

"So... Ellen, with your experience, is there any obvious trace in this room?"

"Nothing at all. It’s spotless. Not even a ghost’s shadow."

"This is—"

——————————————————————

"Rest assured, Liliana. If the killer comes for you, I’ll give it my all to protect you!"

"...Oh."

Anhans deliberately struck an exaggerated pose, but Liliana merely glanced at him with a dim gaze. Anhans, who’d hoped to cheer up the despondent Liliana, shrugged in defeat and sat on a chair across the hall.

Ever since the four went to the top floor, the hall’s atmosphere had grown tense. Lux paced anxiously. Nia stayed glued to Liliana’s side. Molly curled up in a corner, sobbing quietly. Besides Lux, no one seemed useful—and Lux wasn’t a mage.

In the end, the only one people could rely on was himself. Anhans felt a surge of pride. Those left behind were useless, while the capable ones chased a slim possibility into a likely trap. To Anhans, it was sheer stupidity.

But it didn’t matter—he’d nearly cracked the killer’s identity. Though he couldn’t name them, he knew which location was tied to the murderer.

Earlier tracking magic had mapped footprints in the hall. That Nerlis girl had used insects to find the two missing Shadow Attendants. Yet progress was minimal.

Anhans noticed a detail others missed. While everyone focused on the corpses, he spotted half a footprint beneath the side door’s gap. Far from Clafa’s body, it went unnoticed—even Nerlis’ insects ignored it.

Anhans secretly released his smallest puppet familiar. After careful observation, he confirmed the footprint belonged to none present.

In other words—this was the real killer’s trace. The murderer had exited through this side door after the crime.

Thanks to childhood visits, Anhans knew the mansion’s layout. Behind this door lay a corridor circling the building, leading to servants’ quarters, storage rooms... and the basement.

Anhans smirked. If he were the killer, he’d lure people away from his target. The only clue source now was the top-floor Barrier Recorder—meaning the killer was drawing everyone upward.

Thinking inversely, the true target must be the place opposite the top floor.

(The basement... huh? Heh heh...)

Investigating there was essential. But autonomous puppets couldn’t serve as his eyes. Manually controlled ones had range limits; thick walls or distance would break his control. His skills weren’t deep enough yet.

Would he have to go himself?

The killer surely knew who was where. Any move would alert them. He had to make them think he remained in the hall.

In that case—

——————————————————————

The Barrier Recorder yielded nothing. The four returned to the hall.

But the moment they entered, the wrongness hit them.

"Finally... you’re finally back!!!"

Liliana sobbed as she threw herself into York’s arms. Molly huddled in the corner, weeping uncontrollably. Lux and Nia stood pale-faced beside a figure sprawled on the floor.

"I really... don’t know, wuwu... what to... do! Please..."

Liliana babbled incoherently. York hastily comforted her, then passed her to Ellen and Chloe. He rushed toward the fallen figure.

It was Anhans.

He lay on his back, limbs limp and outstretched—clearly not intentional.

"...What... what happened?" York’s voice trembled as he asked Lux and Nia. Nia’s lips quivered, unable to speak. Lux patted her shoulder.

"Let me explain. Nia’s too scared... Anyway, just a minute or two before you returned, Anhans suddenly collapsed."

"Collapsed? Poisoned? Or—"

"No, it’s far more complicated. Just look."

York reached suspiciously for Anhans’ neck—but snatched his hand back the instant he touched it.

"This is—"

Cold?

Dead?

No—not dead! But—

"This is simply..."

Nerlis had silently appeared beside "Anhans." She crouched, lifting his hand. Her slender fingers probed the joints while tiny insects crawled over the skin.

"...not human."

She gave York a questioning look. He hesitated, then nodded toward Ellen.

"Hey, Ellen, lend me your—"

"ANHANS!!!"

Having calmed Liliana, the two sisters finally saw the body. They wailed, sobbing as they lunged forward, knocking York, Lux, and Nia aside. Nerlis dodged nimbly.

"Big sister, second sister, calm down!" Lux shouted, but they ignored him. Frantically, they searched "Anhans" for a pulse or heartbeat—finding nothing.

"Why! Why would Anhans... this... impossible!!"

"Is it the killer!?"

Ellen surged to her feet like a furious lioness, eyes blazing as she scanned the hall.

"Just now... I, Chloe, York, and Nerlis were all absent. That means... the killer was someone who stayed here earlier!?"

Whoosh!!!

An invisible wave erupted from Ellen. Everyone’s hearts jolted as if under a swarm of beasts. The air thickened. This was Ellen’s true power as a high-level Mystic Warrior—her aura of intimidation and crushing pressure.

But York and Nerlis’ next words shattered her rage.

"Calm down, Ellen. This isn’t Anhans."

"It’s a puppet... an exact replica of him."