コルは走っていた。
　曲がり角で壁を蹴って方向を変え、階段を段飛ばしで駆け下り、柵を飛び越え、吹き抜けから飛び降り、メイド達の間を華麗な体捌きですり抜けて、凄まじいスピードで駆け抜けていく。
　あと少し、目的の部屋に辿り着くよりも早く、その部屋の中から悲鳴が上がる。
（遅かった…！）
　乱暴にドアを開け中に飛び込むと、まず目に入ったのは、無理矢理詰め込めば人ひとりは入りそうな大きな壺。警戒しながら近付いてみると、壺の中から声が聞こえてくるではないか。それは悲鳴の主であるメイドの声であった。
　中にいるであろうメイドを助けようと銃で壺を割ろうとしたが、見ればこの壺はエルザが蒐集した美術品であった為、慌てて銃を引っ込めた。コルは急いで壺を横倒しにすると、キツめに閉められていた蓋（布が被せられビニール紐で堅結びされていた）を外した。
「で、出られた～！！助かったぁ～～～～…ありがとうございます侍従長～」
　中から体をうねらせて出てきたのはジャイアントオクトパスである。人間体のまま壺の中に閉じ込められたらしく、頭と言わず胴体と言わず体を異様に歪ませながら壺から脱出すると、伸び切った触手を広げて床に崩れ落ちた。所々人間らしいシルエットは残っているものの、ぐにゃりと軟体化した彼女は違う生物のようにも見える。
　被害に遭ったのはこれで８人目だ。何という有様か。コルは溜息を吐いた。
「あら？これは…」
　ジャイアントオクトパスが閉じ込められていた壺を眺めていたコルは、壺の底に針を外した疑似餌が仕掛けられている事に気付く。その疑似餌には釣糸が繋がれ、手繰り寄せたような痕跡が見られた。どうやら彼女は疑似餌を使い壺に誘い込まれ、中に納まったところで蓋をされたようだった。つまりこれは、壺に入らずにいられない蛸の習性を利用した、巧妙な（？）トラップだったのだ。
「やるわね、モンスターの弱点や習性を利用するなんて。侮っていたわ…いえ、甘く見ていたと言うべきかしらね」
　ドアの外から中を覗くメイド達にジャイアントオクトパスの介抱を命じようと振り返ると、そのドアの向こう、メイド達の背後に、奥の通路に走っていく小さな影を見た。
「ここは頼むわ！」
「はい、侍従長！」
　部屋から飛び出し、小さな影の背中を追う。速さはコルの方が圧倒的に上だ。
　小さな影はこちらを伺うと、曲がり角を曲がった。コルの足が加速する。
（その先は渡り廊下…観葉植物くらいしか隠れる場所は無いし、私の足からも逃げきれない。窓から出ようとしても、その時間は与えない。これで終わり、捕まえてみせる！）
　勝利を確信し渡り廊下に差し掛かるコルだったが、そこで急ブレーキをかけた。その表情にはありありと動揺が浮かんでいる。
「いない！？」
　向こうの棟までの渡り廊下の距離は５ｍ、自分と相手の速度を考えれば、自分が渡り廊下に足を踏み入れた時点で、相手は廊下の中腹辺りを走っているはずだった。だというのに、その姿を見失ってしまったのだ。
　観葉植物は背は高いが隠れるには向かないし、それに気付かない自分でもない。両壁にある窓から飛び降りたにしても、窓は閉まったままだだった。
　信じられない事だった。数多の戦場を渡り歩き、剣林弾雨を潜り抜け、様々な技術を身に付けてきた自分が、たかが「追いかけっこ」で一度と言わず何度も出し抜かれているのだ。
「どういう…事…」
　その時、またもメイドの悲鳴が上がった。それも下の階からである。
　即座に取って返し階段の踊り場に身を躍らせたコルは、思わず叫んでいた。

「もうホントマジ後生ですからっ！ご勘弁下さいませっ、小ッ、おッ嬢ッ、様ァーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー！！！！！！」

　何故こうなったのか。何故こうなってしまったのか。
　答えてくれる者のいない自問が頭の中でグルグルと渦を巻き、コルの全力疾走は止まらない。
　その様たるや珍しく泣きそうであったという。

さて、ここで今、シュトラヘルツの屋敷で一体何が起きているかを説明せねばなるまい。
　遡ること２時間前、ランが屁理屈をこねてコルを撃沈し、食事を喉に詰まらせたキュイの走馬灯が危うくスタッフロールに差し掛かり始めていた頃である。いよいよピクリともしなくなったキュイの背筋にチョップをブチ込み、寸での所で現実に帰還させたコルの一言が引き金となった。

「しかし、まさかこの私がしてやられるとは…伊達にお嬢様の妹君になられた訳ではありませんね」
（相当強引だったから、反論されてたらそれまでだったけどね）
　もしかしたらコルは敢えて反論しなかったのかもしれない。ぬるくなった紅茶を味わいながらそう思う。舌戦に持ち込まれたら勝算は無かったろうし、勝てる気もしない。
「そうだ。小お嬢様、屁理屈はあまり感心致しませんが、この調子でメイド達をやりこめてみては如何です？」
「やりこめるって、なんで？」
　そのコクンと小首を傾げるランの仕草が可愛らしくて、胸がキュンとなり息を呑むキュイだったが、その拍子に丁度口に含んでいた水が鼻に逆流して、ツンとくる痛みに大粒の涙を零す。そんな一部始終を視界の端に捉えていたコルは、
（この子はノンケだったはずだけど…今ので無自覚にオトされかけてるわね…）
　とか考えていた。かく言うコルだって、今の仕草でキュンとなり、不意に口を噤んでしまっているのだ。キュイが居なかったら猫撫で声で「可愛い～！」を連発しながら頬擦りくらいはしていたかもしれない。自制が効くだけまだマシだが、やはりコルもシュトラヘルツ家のメイドなのだった。
「あの、コルさん？」
「コホン、失礼…昨日、メイド達にやられっぱなしでしたでしょう？是非とも反撃すべきですわ。具体的には、小お嬢様にちょっかいを出してくるメイド達に小お嬢様ご自身の能力あるいは特技でもって反撃し、ひと泡吹かせるのです。主に無礼を働くメイドにはお仕置きが必要ですし、そうする事で小お嬢様の威厳を示し、お嬢様同様、小お嬢様もまた彼女達を従える主である事を印象付け、小お嬢様と自分達の立場の違いを思い知らせるのにもうってつけですわ。当家のメイドは数が多ございますから、時間は掛かるかと思いますが…いずれ小お嬢様に無礼を働く者もいなくなるのではないか、と不肖私めは愚考致す次第でございます」
　どうでしょう？と視線を送ると、どこか呆けたような顔をしたランの手がゆる～っと上がり、コルを指差した。
「…それだよ。コルさん、それ！良い！」
　コルは、徐々に言葉に力が篭り、遂にはカッと眼を見開き叫ぶランの頭の上に豆電球が浮かぶのが見え、ギョッとする。
　いや、豆電球にも驚いたが、何より…背筋を駆け上がる正体不明の怖気が警報を打ち鳴らしたのだ。そしてコルはこの感覚をよく知っている。これは、そう、エルザがロクでもない事を言い出した時の感覚そのものなのだ。
　ランの頭の中では、ピースが己の収まる場所を知っているかの如くひとりでに組み上がっていくパズルよろしく、ひとつの計画が加速度的に練り上がっていた。この屋敷に滞在する間、ずっとメイド達にちやほやされたのでは、悪い気はしないが浮気をしているみたいで気が休まらない。コルの言った事を踏まえた上でそれを実現する、火急的かつ速やかに実行できる方法はないものか。それも能力、特性共に多種多様なメイド達を相手に立ち回れるような、己の能力、特技を有効利用できる方法で！
　そして最後のピースが、光が弾けたような閃きに導かれ、パズルを完成させた。しかしそれはメイド達を恐怖のズンドコに叩き落とし、屋敷中を阿鼻叫喚の地獄絵図と化す、悪魔の閃きであった。

「ゲームしましょうゲーム。私を捕まえられたらコルさんの勝ちで、コルさんから逃げ切ったら私の勝ち、ね？」
「え？」
　メイド達にひと泡吹かせるのと、ランの言うゲームが繋がらない。そもそも何故に自分の参加が前提？
　唐突な提案に思考が追い付かないコルの疑問は、すぐにランの口から答えがもたらされた。
「私がコルさんに勝ったら、私はコルさんより凄いって事でしょ。みんなより偉いコルさんより凄いんだから、私の株急上昇。うん」
「は？」
「それと威厳も同時に示しちゃうよ。私の持てる能力をフルに使ってメイドさん達に悪戯しちゃう、標的は私を狙う人！全員に悪戯した時点で私が逃げ切った事になるからね」
「あ、あの…小お嬢様？」
「コルさんは、それまでに私を捕まえなきゃ駄目よ。負けたら罰ゲームなんだから！これは命令なので拒否権無しです」
「あ～…その、ええと」
　鼻息荒く捲し立てるランを前に、コルは何かを言おうとするも、何を言って良いのやら皆目見当がつかなかった。確かにランの言う事にも一理あるし、そもそもそれを持ち掛けた本人としては応援すべきだ、という思いと、それを行うにあたり自分が含まれている事と先程感じた感覚から、止めた方が良いのでは、という思いがせめぎ合い、そのどちらともつかないアンビバレンツに思考停止に近い状態に陥っているのだ。
　そうしてコルの脳内世論調査が両論共に競り合っていると、それを了解と取ったのか、ランはキュイの手を取り立ち上がらせ、その手を引いて屋敷の中へ向かって走り出した。
「キュイさんは私の味方ね？」
「ぇぅ…？よ、よろしいのですか？」
「私一人じゃすぐ捕まっちゃいそうだし、キュイさんは標的に入ってないから、サポートしてほしいの」
「あぅ…では、で、できるかぎり、頑張ります…！」
「うん、よろしくね！じゃあコルさん、スタートは…そうね、本当は１０分って言いたいけど、コルさんは強そうだし、ちょっと長めで…３０分後で。キュイさん、その間に私達は準備、準備！」
「はい！」
　仲良く駆けていく二人の背中を呆然と見送り…そうになって、コルは慌てて立ち上がり声を掛ける。事ここに至って、ようやく事態の重大さを実感したのだ。
「…って、今からなんですか、小お嬢様ー！？」
「そうよ、善は急げっていうしね！」
「いやあのそうですけどっ、ならせめて罰ゲームの内容を…！」
「あ、そうか…じゃあ準備時間の間に、メイドさん達にアンケート取ってみる！ゲーム開始時に発表するからー！」
　言い終わるが早いか、パタンというドアの閉まる音。ランとキュイのパタパタと走る足音と、まずランの部屋で作戦会議、という会話はコルの耳に届いているが、最早コルの声は二人に届くまい。そうでなくとも命令を持ち出された時点で、既にコルはこの「ゲーム」を止める手立てを失っているのだ。
　力なく椅子に腰を落としたコルは、虚ろな目で天を仰いだ。ラン対コルのゲーム、罰ゲームは、メイド達のアンケート次第…。
「ジーザス、なんてこと…」
　小お嬢様はそれに何の疑問も持たないのか。罰ゲームなんて名目であのメイド達に案を出させたら、まず間違いなく、絶対に、１００％欲望丸出しの内容になるに決まっている、性的な意味で。結果次第では自分がその欲望のに晒される事になるが…。
（…なら…）
　是が非でも小お嬢様を捕まえて勝利し、メイド達から自分がお守りすれば、万事解決…！
　決意と共に、瞳に闘志の炎が灯る。
　ざぁっ…
　コルを中心に、風が、吹いた。
　シュトラヘルツ家の屋敷の片隅に、数多の戦場を渡り歩いた歴戦の傭兵…”バレット・スコール”の異名を持つ女傭兵コル・ＴＲ・ＢＦが降臨した瞬間であった。

『コンコン、あーあー、てすてす。すぺいんのあめはおもにへいちにふる』
　広い屋敷であるが故に各所に設置された、館内連絡放送用のスピーカーから能天気な声が響くと、メイド達は一斉に手を止め聞き入った。
『業務連絡。業務連絡。只今より、ランお嬢様ＶＳコルお姉サマ…じゃなかった、侍従長によるゲームの開始時刻となりマシた！実況は護衛メイド隊サブリーダーであるこのあたし、サキュバスのピンクちゃんがお送りいたしマース！』
　わああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああああ！！
　館内放送に呼応して屋敷全体から大歓声が上がる。
『ルールは単純明快！昨日小お嬢様を猫可愛がりして困らせたメイドを対象に、小お嬢様とキュイちゃんが悪戯を仕掛けマス！心当たりはありマスねー？覚悟をお勧めよ～。んで、小お嬢様が全員に悪戯を仕掛け終えれば小お嬢様の勝利！その前に侍従長が小お嬢様を捕まえる事ができれば侍従長の勝利となりマス！あ、そうそうお姉サマ、キュイちゃんを捕まえるのはルール違反デスからねー？あくまで小お嬢様を捕まえるのが勝利条件デスのでー』
　どよどよどよ…
　今度はどよめき。どちらが勝つかを予想し合っている者もいれば、したたかにトトカルチョを始めている者もいる。オッズはコルが圧倒的に優勢だ。
『なお、標的にされる皆さんは、ゲーム中もちゃんとお仕事してなきゃ駄目デスよー？お嬢様に叱られちゃうからね～。そして皆さんお待ちかね！小お嬢様より委任された、罰ゲームの内容の発表デェース！アンケート形式だったのに、いつの間にか最初の方に書かれた案に投票する形になってたから、その集計結果の発表となりマスよ～！』
　途端に屋敷がしんと静まり返った。
『３位！ヌードで写真撮影会、８票！ん～、これ１位になってても小お嬢様の場合は犯罪になるから、そもそも却下ねー。残念デシた～』
　屋敷のそこかしこで納得する声が上がる。一部悲嘆に暮れる声もあったが…。
『続いて２位！ストリップ・ショー、１５票！惜っしい～、１位との差は実に２票デシた！これならギリギリセーフだったかもしれないのにね～』
　今度は屋敷のそこかしこから、ああ…と落胆する声が聞こえる。
『ではでは、待望の１位！』
　何処から音源を見つけたのか、スピーカーからドラムロールが流れ、メイド達は固唾を呑んで発表を待った。
『ジャーン！１位！今日一日全裸で過ごしてもらう、１７票！こんなんばっかりねあんた達！あたしはそんなみんなが大好きだああああああああああ！！！』
　おおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！
　再び大歓声が屋敷を震わせた。
『ああもう、ああもう！これでもしお姉サマが負けたら、妄想でも想像でも盗撮でもない、あられもない姿のお姉サマを拝む事ができるのねぇ！おお主よ、淫魔の身デスが貴方に感謝いたしマス！は、ハレ…ハレルヤ―！おおハレルヤ―！！』

わああああああああああああああああああああああ『ガチャ』ああああぁ…？
　興奮冷めやらぬメイド達であったが、スピーカーから微かに、しかしハッキリと聞こえたドアを開ける音に、何事かと騒ぐのをやめた。
『ハレルヤー！ハレル…あれ、お姉サマ何時の間にここにちょ待ぐっはあぁぁぁぁぁぁ！？』
　後ろに現れたのであろう、焦った様子でその人物に話しかけている最中に「バスン」という重く鈍い炸裂音と激しく倒れ込む音がスピーカーから流れ、メイド達の顔色が見る間に青ざめていく。
「こ、これ、この音…侍従長の、暴徒鎮圧用のゴム弾だ…」
　一人のメイドが呻き、周囲のメイド達は恐怖に凍り付いた。未だスピーカーから断続的に「ジャコンバスン、ジャコンバスン」と聞こえてくるのは、おそらく念入りに撃ち込んでいるからに違いあるまい。非殺を前提としているとはいえ、その威力は下手に直撃すれば骨を砕きかねず、かつコルが使用する銃、銃弾は共にエルザの手でエンチャントを施されており、今撃ち込んでいるゴム弾も例外でないとすれば、たとえモンスターと言えど、ただで済まない事は火を見るよりも明らかである。衝撃を緩和する軟体にも容赦なくダメージを与える打撃属性武器など、一体何処のチート武器であろうか。
　ややあって静寂が訪れ、沈黙したと思われたスピーカーから、地獄の底から響いてくるようなドスの効いた声が響いた。
『…あなた達…』
　その声、その迫力に、全てのメイド達が直立不動になる。中には既に失神している者までいた。
『今日は許しましょう…折角の小お嬢様が発案されたゲーム…そう、”ゲーム”ですものね…フフフ…』
　一体何を言われるかと戦々恐々とする中、柔らかくなった口調に微かな希望を抱いたのも束の間、
『でも明日になったら全員お仕置きよ。首ィ洗って待ってろ、ケツの拭き方も解らねェクソマミレのヒヨコ共…！』
　やはりドスの効いた声で、しかも傭兵時代の口調に戻って宣言された私刑宣告に、メイド達はただただ身を寄せ合ってガタガタと震える事しかできない。
『…時間ね。各自、仕事に戻りなさい。良いわネ…？』
　続いて聞こえた「ジャカコッ」という銃器をコッキングする音（おそらくショットガン）に、ぎこちない動作で持ち場に戻るメイド達。ロボットのような動きで御手洗いに直行する数名は、お互い顔を見合わせ、微妙な笑顔で頷き合っていた。非戦闘員なのにコルの脅しの煽りを受けて、ついやらかしちゃったらしい。

　第一のターゲットを待ち構え身を潜めていたランは、館内放送を聞いて恐怖で錯乱しかけているキュイを宥めながら、
（ちょ～っと、いや少～し、いやいやか～な～り、早まった事したかな～…）
　今更ながら密かに頭を抱えていたそうな。

　かくして、ラン・シュトラヘルツ…否、都市伝説に語られた元イタズラ妖怪ジャック・オ・ランたんとキュイ・Ｃ・ロプスのタッグによる、シュトラヘルツのメイド達を相手にした悪戯大作戦、後にシュトラヘルツ家の歴史に伝説として刻まれる事となる「季節外れのハロウィン戦争・夏の陣」の火蓋が切って落とされたのであった。

Col was running.
Kicking off the wall to change direction, leaping down a flight of stairs, jumping over a fence, jumping down from the atrium, slipping between the maids with wonderful control, she ran with incredible speed.
Just a little ahead of her, before she could reach the room that was her goal, there came a shriek from inside the room.
(I was too late...!)
Violently charging through the open doorway, the first thing she saw was someone stuffed into a giant vase. As she cautiously got closer, she thought she could hear a voice coming from inside the vase. It was the voice of the maid that was the source of the shrieking.
She was going to use her gun to break the vase and save the maid inside it, but looking closer, the vase was one from Elza's art collection, so she quickly put her gun away. Col quickly knocked the vase on its side and removed the tightly sealed lid (a cloth tightly tied with vinyl string).
"I, I'm free~!~ I'm saved~~~~.... Thank you, head chamberlain~"
Untangling its body as it came out, there was a giant octopus inside. She was stuffed inside the vase while still in human form, and as she freed her distorted head, torso, and entire body, her extended tentacles spilled out onto the floor. Parts of her still had a human silhouette, and as she transformed back with a limp and soft body, she looked like some sort of different animal.
This was the 8th person to have an accident. What was happening? Col sighed.
"Huh? This is..."
Looking at the vase in which the giant octopus had been trapped, Col removed a needle from the bottom of the vase and realized that there had been a fishing lure attached to it. She could see there were traces that the fishing lure had fishing line tied to it, and it had been reeled in. It seems like she had been lured to the vase using the fishing lure, and once she was in the target location, the lid was put on. Basically, it was a clever (?) trap that used the fact that an octopus can't get inside a vase.
"That good. Using a monster's weaknesses and traits. Being made fun of... No, maybe it's closer to say that we're being taken lightly."
As she turned back to order the maids peering in from outside the door to care for the giant octopus, beyond the door, and saw a small shadow running in the hallway behind them.
"I'm leaving this to you!"
"Yes, head chamberlain!"
Flying out of the room, she followed behind the small shadow. Col was overwhelmingly faster than it.
The small shadow stopped to gather its bearings and turned at the corner. Col quickened her pace.
(That hallway ahead... it only has a decorative plant, and no places to hide. You won't be able to run from me. Even if you try to escape through a window, there won't be enough time. This is it, I've got you now!)
Certain of victory, Col reached the hallway, but suddenly applied the brakes. A distinct tremor crossed her face.
"There's no one here!?"
The distance to the other end of the hallway was 5 meters. Considering her and her target's speeds, in the time it took for her to reach the hallway, her target should still have been running about halfway down the hall. However, it was nowhere to be seen.
The plant was tall, but not enough to hide behind, and she would realize if someone was there. It could have leaped out of the windows that were on either side of the hallway, but thosee windows were still closed.
It was unbelievable. She had been in numerous battlefields, been though the bloodiest of battles, and mastered a variety of skills, but in this game of "Tag", she had been outwitted not just once, but many times.
"What... the..."
At that moment, another maid shrieked. This also came from downstairs.
Col instantly returned to the stairs of the ballroom, and without thinking, shouted.

"Please, I'm begging you! Please forgive me - little - mistressss---------!!!!!!!"

How did this happen? How did this come to be?
With this unanswerable question swirling around her head, Col didn't stop her all-out sprint.
And like that, for a rare change, she was on the verge of tears.

Well, I guess I should explain what's going on right now.
It all started 2 hours ago, when Col was defeated by Ran's loophole, and Cuey, whose throat was stuffed with food, got dangerously close to the credits for her life flashing before her eyes. Finally, with a chop to Cuey's back, Col brought Cuey, who wasn't even twitching before, back to reality. A single word by Col acted as the trigger for this.

"However, to have that done to me... You became the mistress' little sister in more than just name."
(You're very forceful, so I couldn't refuse.)
Maybe Col didn't dare to refuse. Tasting the tepid black tea, she thought this. If this became a word fight, she probably had no chance at victory, and she didn't have any urge to win.
"I know. Little mistress, it's not good to find loopholes, but how about trying to trap the maids in an argument in the same way?"
"Trap in an argument? Why?"
With a nod and a tilt of her small neck, Ran's gesture was lovely, and Cuey felt her chest tighten and her breath taken away, but due to the perfect timing, the water she had in her mouth came out through her nose, and the pain caused a giant tear of water to leak out. Col, who saw everything from start to finish, thought
(That girl was supposed to be straight, but... now she's unconsciously falling for her...)
In that way, Col's chest tightened with that gesture, and suddenly fell silent. If Cuey hadn't been there, she might have repeatedly said "Cute~!" in a soft voice while pressing her hands on her cheeks. Her self-restraint was barely effective, but Col was also a maid of the Schtlehertz family.
"Umm, Col-san?"
"Ahem, I'm sorry... Yesterday, the maids were doing it to you, correct? So you should definitely counterattack. Specifically, you should counterattack the maids who messed with you, using your own abilities or techniques, and surprise them, little mistress. It's necessary to push the maids who are disrespectful to their master, and doing so would show your dignity. Having you subdue them would make them have the same impression of the little mistress as the mistress, and make them realize that your position and our position are different. There are many maids in this house, so I think it would take some time, but... Eventually there won't be anyone left who would act impolitely towards the little mistress. That is my humble opinion."
As Col gave a look that said "What do you think?", Ran, with a somehow confused expression, slowly lifted her hand and pointed at her.
"...That's it. Col-san, that's it! Great!"
Col, gradually made her words more and more powerful. Finally, Ran opened her eyes wide and yelled, and it seemed to Col like a light bulb suddenly came on over Ran's head.
Well, the light bulb was surprising, but more importantly... She felt a chill go up her spine and an alarm of some unknown scary thing went off inside her. And then Col realized what that feeling was. Yes, it was the same feeling as when Elza said something useless.
In Ran's head, just like a piece of a puzzle fitting into its proper place, a plan was quickly worked out. During her stay at the mansion, she was always spoiled by the maids, so though she wasn't being malicious, she was excited in the same way someone is excited when they're having an affair. Expanding on what Col said and making it a reality, by taking emergency speed, this would be a way to actually do it, right? And by having maids with a variety of abilities and special traits as the opponents, it's a way to make use of her own abilities and special traits!
And the final piece, like a flash of light showing the way, would complete the puzzle. However, the maids would be knocked down with a terrifying wham-bam-bam, and the mansion would become a scene from hell, a glimpse of evil.

"Let's play a game. If I'm caught, then Col-san wins, and if I get away, I win, ok?"
"Eh?"
What startled the maids had nothing to do with the game Ran was walking about. The question was, why was it assumed they'd be included?
Col wasn't following the sudden suggestion, and at her doubts, Ran immediately let out a laugh.
"If I beat Col-san, then that means I'm more amazing than Col-san. And since Col-san is higher-ranking than everyone, my goodwill will suddenly increase. Yep."
"Huh?"
"And at the same time, it will exemplify my majesty. Using all of my abilities to their fullest, I will play pranks on the maids, and my targets will be those who targeted me! Once I play a prank on everyone, I will escape."
"U, Umm... little mistress?"
"Col-san will have to catch me before then. There's a penalty game for whoever loses! This is an order, so you can't refuse."
"Ah~ ...Uh, umm..."
In front of the haughty and talkative Ran, Col had no idea of what she could, or should, say. It's true that what Ran was saying had a reason behind it, and as the person who originally suggested it, she should support it. But this was at odds with her wanting to stop it, due to the fact that she was now wrapped up in it, and also her feeling from before. It was like her mind was frozen from her ambivalence.
And so, as both sides fought for control over Col's mental poll, Ran took that as a consent. She held up Cuey's hand and led her around the mansion, running.
"Cuey-san will be my ally?"
"Eh...? I, Is that all right?"
"If I'm by myself, I think I'd get caught, and Cuey-san isn't a target, so I want you to support me."
"Uuu... Then, I, I'll try as best as I can...!"
"All right, I'm counting on you! Then, Col-san, the start will be in... ah, I actually wanted to say 10 minutes, but Col-san looks strong, so I'll extend it a bit... 30 minutes from now. Cuey-san, let's prepare during that time, prepare!"
"Yes!"
Col dazedly watched as the two of them ran off... But as they started, Col called out to them in a panic. She finally felt the weight of the situation she was in.
"...Wait, we're starting now, little mistress!?"
"Yes, there's no time like the present!"
"No, I mean, but, then what about the details of the penalty game...!"
"Ah, that... Then, during the preparation time, the maids can have a vote! It will be announced at the beginning of the game!"
The sound of the door slamming brought the conversation to an end. Col could hear the sound of Ran and Cuey's footsteps, and then their conversation about their strategy in Ran's room, but already Col's voice couldn't reach them. And even if it could, the moment Ran invoked the word "order", Col had lost any way to stop this "game".
Slumping back in her chair, Col stared up at the ceiling with empty eyes. The Ran vs Col game, the penalty game, and now the maids voting...
"Jesus, what is this..."
Didn't the little mistress have any doubts? Using the pretext of a penalty game, the idea that the maids would come up with would, definitely, without a doubt, be made of 100% pure unadulterated lust. In a sexual sense. And depending on the result, she might be the target of this lust...
(...In that case...)
If she catches the little mistress and wins, then protects her from the maids, then everything would be resolved...!
Along with her resolve, the will to fight burned in her eyes.
Whoosh...
Inside of Col, the wind blew.
In a corner of the Schtlehertz mansion, that was the instant the veteran mercenary who had walked through numerous battlefields...Col TR BF, the female mercenary known as "Bullet Squall", descended.

"Tap tap, ah, ah, test, test. The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."
The mansion was large, so there were internal communication speakers installed. From them, an insolent voice rang out, and the maids all stopped working and listened.
"Work announcement. Work announcement. The game of Mistress Ran vs Col-Onee-sama... I mean, the head chamberlain, has now begun! Yours truly, the succubus and sub-leader of the guard maid group, Pink-chan, will be giving live updates!"
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
In response to the mansion broadcast, a great cheer came from the entire mansion.
"The rules are simple! The maids who toyed with the little mistress yesterday are the targets, and the little mistress and Cuey-chan will play pranks on them! You know who you are, right? I recommend you prepare yourselves~ So, if the little mistress finishes playing pranks on all of them, the little mistress wins! And if the the head chamberlain can capture her before that, the head chamberlain wins! Ah, before I forget, Onee-sama, capturing Cuey is against the rules, ok? The victory condition is to capture the little mistress."
Murmur...
This time, there was some stirring. There were some who were predicting who would win, and some were starting a pool for it. The odds were heavily in favor of Col.
"Now, everyone who is being targeted must diligently work during the game, ok? Otherwise you'll get in trouble with the mistress~ And everyone who's waiting! We'll announce the results of the penalty game, which the mistress gave to us! Even though it was in survey form, at some point it turned into a poll, so let's announce the grand totals!"
The mansion instantly went silent.
"In 3rd place! A nude photo shoot, 8 votes! Mmm~, even if that was 1st place, doing that to the little mistress would be a crime, so it would be rejected. Too bad~"
Around the mansion, sounds of agreement were heard. Though there were some sounds of sadness too...
"And in 2nd place! A strip show, 15 votes! How sad~, only 2 votes off from 1st place! Maybe this one would have been barely safe~"
This time, around the mansion, sighs of disappointment were heard.
"And, the one you've been waiting for, 1st place!"
Maybe she had found a sound machine, but a drum roll sounded from the speakers, and the maids held their breath as they waited for the announcement.
"Tadah! 1st place! Spend the rest of today completely nude, 17 votes! All of you are so terrible! That's what I love about youuuuuu!!!"
Oooooooooooooooh!!
Another great cheer shook the mansion.
"Oh man, oh man! Now, if Onee-sama loses, we'll be able to see Onee-sama's indecent body, which we haven't even seen in our delusions or imagination or peeping photos! Oh, God, I might have the body of a lewd demon, but let me thank you! H-hallelujah! Oh, hallelujah!!"

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"click"aaaaah...?
Some of the maids were still excited, but a faint, yet distinct, sound of a door opening coming from the speakers caused their cheering to stop.
"Hallelujah! Halle... huh, Onee-sama, when did you get hey wai gyhaaaaaaa!?"
She probably appeared behind her with a displeased expression. And as she was talking to her, with a heavy and dull "bang", the sound of her collapsing was broadcast over the speakers, and the maids faces went pale.
"T, th, that sound... That's the head chamberlain's... anti-rebel rubber bullet..."
One of the maids groaned, and the maids around her became frozen with fear. Over the speakers, the sound of "click bang, click bang" could still be sometimes heard, and they were probably carefully fired shots. Although they were non-lethal, they had enough power to break bones if making a direct hit. The guns that Col used, along with the ammo, were enchanted by Elza, and the rubber bullets she was firing were no exception. Although she could be called a monster, it was clear as day that this was horrible. Even a soft body didn't reduce the impact or damage done by a blunt-force weapon. It was a kind of cheating weapon.
After a while, it became silent. Then, from the speakers that should have been silent came a low, terrifying voice that sounded like it came from the depths of hell.
"...All of you..."
At the intensity of that voice, all of the maids straightened up. There was even a maid who fainted.
"I'll forgive you for today... It's the long-awaited game that the little mistress suggested... Yes, a 'game'... Hehehe..."
As they trembled with fear, not understanding what was being said, for a moment, they embraced the sliver of hope from her softening intonation.
"But tomorrow, all of you will be punished. Just you wait for it, you ignorant unwashed heathens...!"
Of course, that low, terrifying voice and intonation from her time as a mercenary returned, and at the announcement of her verdict, the maids could do nothing but huddle together and tremble in terror.
"...It's time. Each of you, return to your duties. All right...?"
After that, the sound of "cha-chink" that was the cocking of a gun (probably a shotgun) was heard, and with clumsy movements, the maids returned to their posts. With robotic movements, several of them passed through the bathroom, and upon seeing each others' faces, they nodded at each other with strange smiles. Although they were civilians, under the influence of Col's threat, they got involved in it.

Hiding and waiting for her first target, Ran comforted Cuey, who was distraught with fear.
(She's being a lit~tle, no slight~ly, nono, very hasty~...)
Now it looked like she was secretly holding her head.

And so, Ran Schtlehertz... No, the source of an urban legend, the pranking youkai Jack-o-Ran-tan, and Cuey C Lops, as a team, and their strategy to play pranks on the Schtlehertz maids, would later become memorialized as a legend in the Schtlehertz family history, as the "out-of-season Halloween war - the summer battle" was now underway.