“If it's okay with you, would you like to visit our company later? We'll send a car if you wish.”
However, it was strange that the other person was recommending it to this extent.
Above all, if Jeremy was really a devil.
‘If Hitchcock is the devils' hideout itself, I won't be able to trust the company anymore.’
Of course, it could be unrelated to the company. Jeremy might be the only devil.
Or maybe Jeremy wasn't a devil either, and he just appeared at a strange timing and killed the devil, or maybe Frondier was misunderstanding.
Either way, there was a possibility. Regardless of the probability, the possibility itself existed.
Therefore, Frondier asked.
“The most representative reason is because of Mr. Frondier's ‘three-dimensional map’. Since Mr. Frondier showed it at the strategy meeting, many companies have been struggling to make devices with similar performance. Our company is no different.”
Three-dimensional map.
The technology Frondier used to integrate the maps in the workshop and show them to people using Obsidian. At the time, Frondier said he applied the three-dimensional blueprint, but that was just because he needed a proper excuse.
It was probably not very related to the structure of the three-dimensional blueprint.
“So we're very curious about how Mr. Frondier creates the three-dimensional map, so I'm asking you this, despite the rudeness.”
Three-dimensional map. It was plausible as a reason to invite Frondier. He was the only one who could do that right now.
Then Jeremy said with a slightly subtle expression.
“……And actually, there's also a reason that's not very honorable. I can't tell you here, though.”
Frondier became curious at those words.
A devil was trying to tell Frondier something dishonorable? This was definitely intriguing.
Frondier thought for a moment.
‘The most suspicious thing right now is this man, Jeremy. If I can pinpoint one person, Lily might be able to figure something out too.’
If Hitchcock was the devils' hideout itself, as Frondier was worried about, it would rather reduce the effort of searching.
“……Alright. I'll see you soon.”
At Frondier's words, the man beamed and waved his hand.
Meanwhile, Elodie looked at Frondier with worried eyes.
With a natural concern, Elodie conveyed her meaning with her mouth.
Frondier also moved his mouth in the same way.
The fact that the devils had attacked the mansion became a hot topic as soon as the next day arrived.
There was no actual damage to the mansion, but the fact that such devils had attacked was definitely a major incident.
In the first place, even if just one devil appeared, it would be a big deal, but there were so many that they couldn't be counted.
The citizens of the empire were trembling with anxiety and worry about where these guys came from and whether more would appear in the future.
There were also many people who had witnessed the guys passing by in the sky like a black dust cloud before they came to the mansion.
Elodie and Frondier, who had stopped the devils, once again caught the attention of the citizens.
However, in Frondier's case, Lily suffered more than he did. This was because Frondier had dumped everything on her just because he was Lily's knight.
No matter who asked what, Frondier would say,
─It was Lady Ria Lis's order.
─It was thanks to Lady Ria Lis's excellent judgment.
─I just assisted, I think it was Lady Ria Lis who actually defeated the devils.
In this way, he pretended to defend Ria Lis and slipped away on his own.
It was a skillful evasive maneuver that could never be thought of as something he had only done once or twice.
Of course, Lily was dying, having to repair the broken mansion, think about how to deal with the devils, and take on all the troublesome things Frondier had passed on to her in the meantime.
And Frondier appeared, still at ease. Lily's half-open eyes glared at Frondier.
“……You look a little thinner?”
In the end, Lily's anger exploded.
“Do you think everything is okay just because you say what you want? I didn't have anything to do with defeating the devils! Because of you, I'm going to have to make up stories! No, I'm doing it right now! Come to think of it, it's your fault the mansion is broken too! It's your fault I'm doing this devil search that doesn't suit me! It's all your fault!!”
Lily pounded on the desk, stomped her feet, and screamed as much as she could.
Frondier blinked and watched her for a moment.
“I need to go to Hitchcock for a moment, may I have your permission?”
“This, crazy bastard!!”
Frondier walked directly to Hitchcock.
Jeremy had offered to take him by car, but he refused. He didn't like the idea of having him come to Lily's mansion, and there was no need to use a car anyway.
As soon as he arrived, Frondier gaped at the buildings in front of him.
The buildings weren't incredibly tall, but Hitchcock used an entire lot, so the scale was enormous.
“You're here, Mr. Frondier!”
Jeremy, who had been waiting, greeted him with hurried steps.
“Then please come this way.”
They walked together under Jeremy's guidance, and Frondier passed through the entrance of Hitchcock for the first time and entered inside.
‘Magic engineering is ultimately an artifact.’
Frondier was curious about Jeremy's intentions, but he was also interested in the Hitchcock company itself.
After all, considering the characteristics of Frondier's skill, which copied weapons to exert power, he couldn't help but be interested in high-performance magic engineering products.
The weapons he used were literally ‘heroes’. The traces and narratives of their use were recorded, making them that much more powerful.
And such weapons were overflowing with destructive power, but as they were literally weapons of the past, they didn't have various uses.
‘At first, I was just focused on defeating strong enemies, but as time goes by, the number of people I need to protect increases.’
At first, there was no need to protect anyone. He was busy taking care of himself.
But after becoming stronger, there were bound to be people weaker than him. And just because someone was weaker than Frondier didn't mean they were incompetent.
There were many people Frondier absolutely needed, and in the first place, Frondier didn't like it when people who weren't his enemies died.
‘In such situations, magic engineering products would be more useful than Excalibur.’
Sometimes, items that could be used organically in various situations were more necessary than weapons that he was worried about sweeping away both enemies and allies.
“Mr. Frondier, do you know much about magic engineering?”
Jeremy asked on the way.
Frondier answered honestly. He had never learned it at all. They didn't teach it at Constel either.
But at those words, Jeremy looked a little surprised.
“……You don't know magic engineering……. I see.”
As if it was unexpected that Frondier didn't know magic engineering, Jeremy put his hand to his chin.
“Is there something wrong with
“Ah, no, no. It's not a problem, it's just hard to believe.”
Jeremy said that and shifted his gaze.
Towards the armband Frondier was wearing.
“Actually, I told you that there was a reason I wasn't very honorable last time. That product you're wearing right now, Mr. Frondier...”
There, Frondier understood.
Why Jeremy wanted to take Frondier to the company.
And why it wasn't entirely for pleasant reasons.
“It's quite similar to our company's products.”
“Ah! Of course, I'm not suspecting Mr. Frondier. You just acquired it. However, our company is worried that the blueprint might have been leaked.”
While Jeremy was speaking, Frondier just listened calmly.
However, inwardly, he thought that what was bound to come had finally come.
“Just in case, Mr. Frondier.”
“Do you remember where you got that armband?”