時間をやや遡り、エルザが痺れた足をワ○ワ○パニックされていた頃のシュトラヘルツ邸。

「ピンク！ピーンク！！応えろコラピンク！！！」
『な、何デスかお姉サマ！？』
　コルがキレていた。怒った時は大抵静かに黙って発砲してくるコルが怒りを露わにしているものだから、モニター室でそれを見ている実況役のピンクちゃんは、監視モニター越しにも関わらずすっかりビビりまくっている。ゲーム開始早々、至近距離からショットガンでエンチャントゴム弾を何発もブチ込まれたのが相当堪えているらしい。
（パンツ盗ったのがバレた訳でもないのに理不尽だぁ！）
　でも怖くて口にできない。お願い届いてこの想い！届いたら届いたで今穿いちゃってるから半殺しにされるだろうけれど。
「あなた、いやあなたじゃなくて他の誰かでも良いけど、小お嬢様に入れ知恵して、このゲームを出来レースに仕立て上げたわね！？」
『…はい？あのお姉サマ、何の話かサッパリなのデスが…』
「だから小お嬢様よ！幽体化して壁すり抜けて逃げてたのよ！？霊体のままでいられたら捕まえる手段なんて無いじゃない！」
　ゲーム開始から早２時間が経過し、時刻はまもなく正午になろうとしている。鮮やかな手腕で悪戯を仕掛けるランのスコアは現時点で９をマークしていて、信じ難い事にその全てにおいてコルは後手に回っていた。
　公正を期すという理由で、ランに狙われているメイド達のスケジュールを押さえる事は、ルール上で禁止されている。つまり数名の犠牲を前提にターゲットとなる者を絞っての待ち伏せは封じられているという事だ。また、理由を同じくして誰がターゲットとなっているかも公表されていない。これも、ターゲットが割れていた場合、最後の一人になった時点で必然的に待ち伏せが可能になってしまうからで、審判を兼任する実況役のピンクちゃんですら、ゲーム終了を知らせる役目を考慮してかターゲットの人数は伝えられているが、口を滑らせるのを防ぐ意味も含め誰を狙っているのかまでは伝えられていない、という徹底ぶりである。あの歓迎で”小お嬢様を困らせたメイド”はある程度なら目星はついているが、歓迎が行われている間にエルザとの談笑で目を離した事もあって、歓迎に加わっていた者全員を覚えている訳ではないし、ランがどの程度からを嫌がり、どの程度までを許しているのかが判らない為、あまり当てにできそうにもなかった。屋敷の構造を把握しているというアドバンテージも、ランの神出鬼没さの前には無きに等しい。
　そんな状況にあって、ちょっとした施設並みに広い邸宅内を駆け巡り、駆け上がっては飛び降りて、端から端まで東奔西走し、コルは何度かランの姿を視界に捉えてはいた。だが、すぐそこに迫っているのに何故か届かず、姿を捉えているのに何故か捕まえられない。どういう訳か自分の裏をかき続け、姿を見せたと思えば次の瞬間には全く別の場所に現れるのだ。曲がり角、階段の影、扉の向こう、吹き抜けの階下、階上。コルに発見されたランは必ず物陰に逃げ込み、消える。逃げ足はそれ程でもないのに、あと少しという距離まで詰めると絶妙のタイミングで一瞬だけコルの視界から消え、そして本当にその場から消え失せて、上や下の階、隣の部屋などに現れるというのがパターンと化していた。
　そしてたった今、運良く曲がり角にも障害物にも邪魔されず、一瞬たりとも姿を見失う事無く追い詰めたコルの眼前で、ランが「しまった」という表情で床下にすり抜けていった事から、そのトリックが”幽霊の物体透過能力”だったと判明したのである。優れた聴覚と鋭い感覚を持つコルですら目前を行くランを見失っていたのは、幽体になっている間は気配も消え、加えて足音ひとつしない為に、集中して気配を探る事も、足音を追う事もできなかったからだ。枕詞に”歴戦の”を付けて呼ばれる元傭兵にしてみれば、素人に振り回されている、それだけでも十分ショックだというのに、発覚したこの事実が更なる追い打ちをかけていた。
『…お言葉デスけどねお姉サマ、このゲームって能力使用可、デシたよね。小お嬢様はゴーストなんデスから、障害物すり抜けるのなんて当たり前じゃないデスか。もしかして小お嬢様がゴーストだって事、忘れてマシた？』
「あっ…だからその、それは…！」
　情けない話だがウッカリキッカリスッパリ忘れていた。ここまでコルがランを逃し続けたのは、まさか障害物をすり抜けて逃げているなどと思わなかったからである。確かにランは屋敷に到着した直後と今朝の二度、幽霊としての片鱗を見せているが、基本的には食事をしたりドアを開けたり等、幽霊と聞いておよそ連想されるものからかけ離れた、物理法則に則った普通の人間同様の立ち振る舞いだった為、その情報は忘却の彼方に追いやられてしまったのだった。エルザからランの消えた遺体の捜索を命じられ指揮までしておきながら、それが実際に会ったランとイメージが結びつかなかったのも、要因の一つとなっていた。
　ちなみに、悪戯の餌食となったメイド達の中にはコル直轄の護衛メイドまで含まれていたりするが、彼女達曰く「だって『トリック・オア・トリート』とか言われたら、仕事中でお菓子持ってないんだから、イタズラされるしかないでしょ」との事らしく、抵抗一つしなかったそうな。あっさりと人外メイドを相手に悪戯を成功させている秘密が解ったところで、コルにはどうしようもないのだが。
（そもそもハロウィンには早過ぎるでしょうに）
『あはん♪これってまだ２０１４年夏の話デスからねー、皆さん』
「何の話よ！？」
『あ、あれっ？あたし今何か言いマシた！？』
「…と、とにかく、どちらにせよ物理干渉を一切無視されたら、どうやったって捕まえられないじゃない。これはあまりにもアンフェアだわ」
『ンモー、らしくないデスねぇ。物体透過はゴーストの固有能力なんデスよ？能力使用が許されている以上、それを何とかして攻略するのもゲームの内だと思いマスけどー』
「勿論、攻略法自体は考えるわよ。私が言っているのは、霊に触れられない私じゃ、すり抜けてしまって捕まえられないって事。こればかりはどうにもならないでしょう？以前お嬢様がゴーストを対象に開発した道具はあるけど、【霊体キャッチャー・マルチプルサイコミュハンドＭｒｋⅢ】（※１）は未完成らしいし【霊木釘バット・アントニオ＝イワキ】（※２）だと霊体ボコるのにしか使えないし【霊波増幅マイク・ジャイアン２８号】（※３）じゃ強力過ぎて周りにも被害出るし…まさか魔力付与された弾で撃つ訳にもいかないじゃない」
『あー…そっかー…言われてみれば、それはルール以前の問題デスねぇ』
　コルの言ももっともだ、とピンクちゃんがマイクの前で頭を悩ませていると、屋敷の各所に設置された柱時計が一斉に正午の到来を告げた。
「やだ、もうお昼なの？…そういえば、ランチはどうするのかしら。休憩時間は取るの？」
『そうそう、それについて小お嬢様からメモを預かってマス。ええとデスね、１２時になったらランチタイムに１時間の休憩を取る事、再スタートは休憩時間前にいた所定の位置に戻った事を確認した後とする。それから、休憩時間中の工作を防止する為、両プレイヤーは食堂で揃って食事をする事、デスって。なお、これはルールとして扱うので、お姉サマに拒否権は無いそうデスよ。どうせならランチのついでに疑問点を小お嬢様に質問してみたらどうデス？』
「…え」
『メイドの皆さん、今の聞いてマシたね～？これから休憩時間に入りマスので、食堂に小お嬢様とお姉サマとキュイちゃんの昼食を用意しといてね～！』
　暢気なピンクちゃんの声は、妙にぐったりとして項垂れるコルの耳には入らなかった。
（る、ルール…そうきたかぁ～…今朝あれほど申し上げましたのに、今度はその私まで同席させようとするとかマジデスカ小お嬢様。だけど、従わなければルール違反で負けになってしまう…そ、そんな負け方は嫌！）
　ルールを持ち出されては従うほかなかった。戦わずしての負けは傭兵として恥ずべき事であり、それを見事に突かれる形となったコルは、観念したように食堂に向かって歩き始める。
（取り敢えず情報収集と割り切って従うだけ従っておいて、食事にメイドを同席させるのをやめて下さるように、小お嬢様にもう一度意見してみよう…聞き入れて頂けるビジョンが全く見えてこないのが激しく不安だけど…お嬢様と血縁がある訳でもないのにこういう所が似るって、家族という括りに何かそういう呪術的な効果でもあるのかしら…）
　さもあらん。
　とはいえ、家族を持たずして生まれた人ならざる者、自我持つ化け物器物という分類にあって、自分以外の同種はあくまでも同類でしかなく、その中でもまだまだ若輩（※４）と呼ばれる程度しか人生経験のないコルには、その答えを導き出せというのが難しい注文なのかもしれないが。

※１　使用者の脳波をトレースして動く、対霊体捕縛有線ＲＣハンド。残念ながらビームは撃てない。
　　　エルザ曰く「このままでも性能は十分に引き出せます。偉い人にはそれが解らんのですよ」との事。
※２　霊気の宿る木を削り、霊符を釘で打ち付けた木製バット。グワァラゴワガキーン！という音が爽快。
　　　長期間使用していると学帽が脱げなくなったり口から葉っぱが生えたりするが無害です。
※３　霊波を宿す音波を共振、増幅し拡散するマイク。ボエ～ッという耳障りで不快な怪音波が発生する。
　　　ガキ大将的な歌を歌うと何故か爆発的に出力が跳ね上がるが、原理は未解明。Ⅱコンとか言わない。
※４　コルさんじゅうきゅうさい。実はシュトラヘルツのメイドの中では年少組である。

「小お嬢様、お食事なのですが、せめて時間をずらすとか別室で頂く訳には…」
「ルール違反is敗北ネ！」
「…か…かしこまりました…」
　やっぱりダメでした。
　食堂に着いて早々、ルールを盾にしたランに一刀両断され、脱力するコルだった。人目も憚らず溜息を吐きたくなったが、用意されたフォッカッチャのサンドイッチと焼きたてのクロワッサン、ミルクを一滴垂らした彼女好みのモカ・マタリの香りがふわりと鼻腔をくすぐると、致仕方なしといった様子で席に着いた。朝食後にキュイを巻き込んでいた事から考えるに、ここで説き伏せたところで後々強引な手と妙に説得力のある屁理屈を用いて同席させられるのが、容易に想像できる。ならば一度で満足するのならランを立てておいた方が良いと判断したのだ。あとコーヒーの香りで空腹も刺激されたから。
（お嬢様も大概無茶を仰って強引に周りを巻き込むけど、小お嬢様は小お嬢様で頑固な上に相手を逃げられなくしてから引き込むのね…）
　目の前の可憐な少女が、確実にフリーダムな義姉の悪影響を受けている事に薄ら寒いものを感じたが、自分がおとなしく同席した事で機嫌を良くしたランを見て、今日くらいは良いか、と考えを改め、観念して食事に取り掛かる事にした。途中、手袋をしたまま食事をするコルをランが不思議がる一幕もあったが特に追及も無く、昼食は終始和やかな雰囲気で進んでいった。そしてランとキュイは紅茶、コルはコーヒーのお代りで食後のひと時を談笑しながらゆっくりと過ごしていた時、コルはついこの平和な空気に馴染んでしまっている自分に気付き、和んでいる場合ではないと肝心の話を切り出した。話の内容を聞いたランは、あっ、と小さく声を上げ、カップを持った手を止める。
「あの放送、そういう事だったんだ。うん、そうよね、確かに幽体化してたら、霊に干渉できる人じゃないと触れないよね…ごめんねコルさん、アドバイス通り自分の能力をフル活用する事ばかりに気を取られて、見落としてた」
　どうやらランも失念していたらしい。難しい顔をしてフムムと唸る。
「だけど実体で普通に逃げたんじゃ、すぐ捕まっちゃってゲームにならないわ。自慢にならないけど実体での運動能力は同年代の普通の子と同じくらいしかないもの。かといって幽体化するとコルさんが私に触れないから捕まえられなくて、やっぱりゲームにならない。実体化しても幽体化しても、どっちかのワンサイドゲームになっちゃうのね…」
「あぅ、あのう、お嬢様なら、幽霊を捕まえられる道具をお持ちではないでしょうか…？その、それをお借りできれば…」
「残念だけどねキュイ、それは私も考えたの。でも、どれもこれも平和的に使えそうもないのよ」
　コルが難しい顔をして嘆息するが、それを聞いたランがハッとした顔で手を打った。
「そうか道具…それなら多分、使えそうなのがある。ちょっと待ってて！」
「使えそうな物、ですか？それは…」
　コルの問いに答えず、ランがするりと椅子から滑り落ちる。何事かと慌ててテーブルの下を覗き込むと、ランの頭が床下に消えるところだった。自分に当てがわれた部屋まですり抜けて行くつもりらしい。
　待つことしばし、やはり床下からひょっこりと現れたランは、手に持ったものをコルに手渡した。
「これを使えば多分、幽体化してても触れるはず。試してみて」
　コルは手渡されたそれを観察してみる。丁寧に畳まれた非常に薄い布地の茶色い物体。触った感触から、肌触りの良い、伸縮性のあるきめ細やかな繊維質である事が解る。しかも馴染みのある感触だった。
「これは一体…」
　つまんで持ち上げてみると、丸まっていたそれがぱらりと広がり、その正体を明らかにする。途端、コルの顎がカクンと落ちた。
「…パンティストッキング…！？」
「あ、だ、大丈夫だから、それ、新品だから！」
　そういう問題ではない。
　そもそも、霊体に触れるようになる為の道具について話していたのに、打開策として出てきたのが何故にこれなのか。困惑に二の句が継げないコルは、ついまじまじとストッキングを眺めてしまう。
「これ、安定してない幽体部分の矯正にって、私用に作ってくれた特別製なの」
「被れと」
「着替えの分だからやめて！？…だ、だからね、実体化できない幽体を矯正するって事は、霊に物理干渉してるって事でしょう。これを使えば、幽体に触れるんじゃないかな、って」
「は、はぁ。しかし使うと申されましても、どうすれば…」
「手にくるくるーって巻けば良いんじゃないかな。こういう風に…はい、触ってみて！」
　手袋の上からコルの手にストッキングを巻き付けたランは、幽体化して手を出した。半信半疑でストッキングの巻かれた手をランの手に重ねてみると、ストッキングからはみ出た指はランの手にめり込んだが、巻かれた部分は布地越しにランの手に触れている確かな感触が感じられた。
「触れ…ますね。はい、確かに小お嬢様に触れています」
「わぁ、これで解決ですね！」
　はしゃぐキュイにピースサインで答えるラン。コルは巻かれたストッキングの感触を確かめながら、これでやっと対等な条件となった事に安堵する。
「ところで小お嬢様。ここまで小お嬢様ご自身もこれに気付かず、ゲームの展開が一方的でしたので、仕切り直しなどは…」
「しません。確かに私も見落としてたのは悪いと思ってるけど、これが私の能力なんだから、コルさんがそれに気付く事もゲームに含めてたって事で。あと同じ人に二度イタズラ仕掛けるのは流石に良心が咎めるので」
「あ…やっぱりダメですかそうですか」
「それに、私に有利だった条件で進めてまだ９人なんだよ、その条件が無くなるんだから、悪戯仕掛けるのに今まで以上に時間が掛かっちゃう。仕切り直しなんてしちゃったら、まだターゲットのメイドさん達は倍近く残ってるんだし、それじゃいつ終わるか判らないじゃない。時間かけ過ぎてゲーム中にあの人が帰ってきちゃったりしたら、絶対まともにゲームの進行なんてできなくなるよ」　
「まぁ、お嬢様なら悪巫山戯で必ず介入なさるでしょうしねぇ…って、残ったターゲットの人数なんて、私に教えてしまってもよろしいのですか？ターゲットとされたメイドの人数は伏せる筈では…」
「ハッキリと教えてる訳じゃないし。せめてものお詫び代わりのヒント、かな。だけど私は負けるつもりはないよ」
「ふふ、随分な自信ですのね。ですが私も、こうして小お嬢様を捕まえられる手段を手に入れ、逃走手段が解った以上、負けるつもりはございません」
　涼しげに宣言するランと、不敵な笑みを浮かべるコル、二人の視線の間で火花が散る。伝説のイタズラ妖怪と歴戦の傭兵の戦いは、まさにこれからといった様相である。

「あぅ…ところで、私も今気付いた事があるのですが、仮に小お嬢様が負けてしまわれた場合、そのぅ、私はどうなるんですか？」
　その視線のぶつかり合いに、不安げな声で横槍を入れたキュイは、まずコルを見た。コルはほんの少しキュイに目をやると、ついっとランに視線を移す。その視線を追ってキュイもランを見ると、キュイを見ていたランがあからさまに視線を逸らした。しかもお約束の調子外れな口笛のおまけつきで怪しさ満点である。
「あのぅ、小お嬢様…」
「私のパートナーだから…なんていうのかな、こう…一蓮托生？になる？のかな？」
「そう…なるんでしょうねぇ。とすれば、それが妥当ではないかと」
「…」
「…」
「………えぅっ？もしかして私、何も言わなければ、何もされずに済んでました？」
「正直に言うと、キュイさんの処遇について全然考えてなかった。だからそのままだったらスルーしてた可能性大」
「私も全く気にしておりませんでした。でも言われてみればパートナーがノーペナルティなんて不公平ですものね。という訳だから諦めなさい、キュイ」
「…」
「…」
「侍従長が相手だからって、ぜ、絶対負けません！必ず小お嬢様を勝たせてみせますからぁ！！」
　短い沈黙を破り、茹蛸のように全身を赤く染めてオロオロし始めたキュイが、遂に混乱極まったのか、コルに指を突き付けるという気弱な彼女にあるまじき行動に出た。そして多分ちょっと泣いてる。サポートを頼まれたものの、どこか他人事として参加していたこのゲームが、己のオールヌードまでをも賭けたものに変わってしまった。最早ランの為にだのと言っていられなくなり、全身をガクガクブルブルと震わせて指を突き付けてくるキュイを、コルはほんのちょっと同情の目で見ていた。
（意外と自爆体質ね、この子。それとも昨今のモンスター娘ブームの所為で”モエ”の影響でも出てるのかしら）
　立場上、ドジっ娘メイドが増えるのは勘弁してほしいなぁ、等と思いながら、キュイの肩を優しく叩くコルであった。
『ぴんぽんぱんぽ～ん！ピンクちゃんが午後１時をお知らせしマース！プレイヤーのお三方は、元居た場所にお戻り下さいね～』
「あっ、もうこんな時間…って、キュイさん！？」
　休憩時間の終了を知らせる館内放送が流れた瞬間、キュイが椅子を蹴立てて立ち上がる。驚きに目を見張るランとポカンとするコルの前で、両手を振り上げキュイが叫んだ。
「さぁ小お嬢様、行きましょう！ここからは私、本気の本気モードです！」
（（本気じゃない本気モードがあるのか？））
　異様なテンションで食堂を出ていくキュイの言動に、奇しくもランとコルは同時に心の中で同じ事を思いながら、その背を追った。やる気を体現しているのかハイになっているのか、はたまた自棄を起こしているだけなのか、キュイは廊下で無意味に腕を振り回し、待っていられないとばかりにランを手招きする。
「小お嬢様お早くっ、時間を無駄にしないよう、さっさと戻りましょう！」
　言うが早いか小走りで廊下を走るキュイを慌てて追いかけたランが、豹変したキュイに戸惑っているのか耳をしきりに弄りながら、コルを振り返り小さく手を振った。コルも小さく手を振って応え、さて自分も戻ろうと踵を返そうとした時、走り去っていく二人の姿に奇妙な違和感を感じ、思わず足を止めた。
（おっといけない、これでは小お嬢様の現在地が解ってしまう）
　すぐにそう思い直し、二人の気配と足音を意識しないように元居た場所に戻ろうとするが、違和感だけが頭の片隅から離れない。なんとなく、コルは自分がその違和感の正体を始めから掴んでいるような気がしていた。漠然と答えが解っているのに喉元まで出掛って出てこない、そんなもどかしさを抱えて、違和感の正体に頭を悩ませる。
（小お嬢様が普通に走っていたから？…違う、あれはキュイと一緒だったから壁をすり抜けなかっただけで、特におかしい素振りではなかった。そう確信が持てているのに、何かが噛み合わないとも感じている。それこそが重大な見落としなのだという気がしてならない…）
　傭兵の勘、とでもいうのだろうか。虫の知らせ、第六感…人間達が様々に呼ぶこの素直な勘は、偶然という言葉で片付けるにはあまりにも出来過ぎている。実際、戦地を転々としていた頃、命の危機に瀕する度に天啓が下るが如き勘に従い、幾度となく命拾いをしてきた。それは、戦う者として”心・技・体”を極めんとする者の中でも、ごく限られたほんの一握りの者だけがやがて至る事のできる、精神というものの一つの到達点なのではないか、とコルは思っている。無論、腕に覚えはあれど”その領域”に達していない自分が、それを過信するのがどれほど危険であるかは重々承知している。しかし、極限下であればあるほど冴え渡る勘を信じてきたからこそ、今こうしてコルという生命が存在しているのもまた事実なのだ。…なのだが…。
（確かに追い詰められている事に変わりはないけれど、別に死にかけている訳でもないし、そもそもこれ、命の危険のないゲームなのよね…いざという時には頼りになる勘も、これに関してはどこまで頼って良いのやら…どうしたものかしら）
『小お嬢様もお姉サマも、元の位置に戻ったようデスね！それではゲーム再開デース！』
　考えている内に、いつの間にか元の場所に戻っていたようだ。こちらが足を止めている間にも、小お嬢様は次のターゲットを狙って行動しているのだ、と大きく深呼吸をして意識を切り替える。相手の手口も判り、敵から贈られた塩とはいえ物理干渉が不可能な相手に干渉可能な手段を手に入れたのだ、折角の逆転の手を、時間の浪費などという下らない理由で無駄にしたくはない。
「ゲームが再開してしまった以上、足を止めて考え込んでいても仕方がない、か。こうなったら、小お嬢様を追う中で違和感の正体を掴む他ないようね。それにはまず動く事。キュイではないけれど、私も少々本気を出させて頂きますわ、小お嬢様」
　キュッと口を真一文字に結んだコルは、弾かれたように走り出した。

　その様子を監視カメラ越しに見ていたピンクちゃんは、マイクのスイッチが切れている事を確かめて、カップに口を付けた。ぐいと紅茶を飲み干した口元はにんまりと緩んでいる。
「あ～らら、お姉サマらしくもない。相手の戦略を見極めもせず、折角感じた違和感すら正体を突きとめずに真っ向勝負？”バレット・スコール”らしからぬ失態デスにゃ～。やっぱ殺意の一つも絡まないと感覚ニブるデス？」
　目を細めて人差し指をくるくると回し、ウフフと笑う。
「小お嬢様の作戦は物体透過で攪乱して逃げる事じゃないのにな♪お姉サマ、早く気付かないと本当に負けちゃいマスよ？この勝負、追いかけっこなんて単純な体力勝負なんかじゃなくて、始めから小お嬢様が仕掛けてる心理戦だってコ・ト♪」
　そう言ってクスリと笑うと、サキュバスらしい艶のある表情に変わる。その頭の中は既に、勝負に負けたコルをどんなアングルで眺めるか、どんなシチュエーションが興奮できるか、そんな事でいっぱいになっていた。

　それから更に２時間近くが経過し、ゲーム再開を境にコルは一気に攻勢に…となれば格好も付いたのだろうが、ところがどっこいピンクちゃんが予期した通り、変わらずランに翻弄され続けるという甚だ拍子抜けな展開になっていた。
「…まァ…よくよく考えてみれば、小お嬢様は幽体化さえすれば何にも邪魔されず自由に行き来できるのに対して、私はどうしても壁やら床やら物理的な障害物があるんだもの…そりゃ今一歩のところで逃げられるってものだわね」
　危うく突き指しかけた手をプラプラ揺らして独り言を零すコルの足元では、通算１５人目の犠牲者となるアラクネが自分で出した糸で雑に縛り上げられた状態で床に転がされ、にも関わらず妙に艶めかしい熱を帯びた桃色吐息で悶えていたりする。今まさにランがイタズラを仕掛け終わった瞬間の現場に駆け付けた、までは良かったが、捕まえようと伸ばされたコルの手よりも一瞬早く壁の中に逃げられてしまい、指先を壁にしたたかに打ち付けてしまったのである。　
　ランがどこに出現するのかが予測不可能である上、一向に行動パターンが読めず、ここまででランに襲われたメイド達の順番からも特に関連性は見られず、完全な思い付きと偶然で選出されているようなのが厄介で、何かしらの法則を読み取ったり次のターゲットを予測できない為に、先手を打つのが叶わない事に変わりはないが、逃走手段のトリックが割れた恩恵は大きく、状況が全く変わっていない訳ではなかった。ランは幽体化したまま移動していて、イタズラを仕掛ける時だけは実体化している事が判り、意識すれば途切れ途切れの発信器のシグナルよろしく感じられる気配を辿って全速力で駆け付け、イタズラの瞬間に現場に踏み込む事が可能となった等、午前中の展開と比べ圧倒的にランを追い詰めている、それは間違いないのだ。襲撃のペースは若干ではあるが確実に落ちていて、逃げるランの姿を見失う事も無くなり、追い詰める距離だって縮まっている。ただコルにとって、やはり壁や床という障害が、文字通り越えられない壁となって立ちはだかるのだ。戦場ならともかく、シュトラヘルツ邸の家屋を破壊して進む訳にもいかないので、泣く泣く回り道を余儀なくされる。何よりコルに歯痒い思いをさせているのが、追い詰めていく中で物体透過を計算に入れ、ランの逃げる先を予想して先回りを試みるも、その尽くを外されている事だった。
（小お嬢様は私の動きを読んでいる様子も、気配を感じている様子もなく、ましてこちらの行動を監視している様子もない。小お嬢様が、実は凄腕のスナイパーでした、とかではない限り、素人から向けられた意識に気付けない私ではないもの。にも関わらず、こちらの動きを読んだように動いている。その証拠に小お嬢様が逃げた後は一度も姿を見掛けてはいない。そう…逃げ道が廊下か上の階、あるいは下の階しかない、二択だった場合でも。確率としてはあり得る事だけれど、そんな都合よくいくものかしら…？逃げてからすぐ元の場所に戻るという手もあるけど、私だってその場に留まっていたりしたのに鉢合わせはしなかった…）
　逆にランの性格上、ルール違反となる屋外へ出ていないであろう事は、コルの手に巻かれたストッキングが証明している。第一、ルールを破ってまで屋外へ出るくらいならば、自分を捕まえる手段など与えず、問題を相手に丸投げした方が遥かに有利である筈なのだ。
（だけど、仮に小お嬢様がこちらの動きを何らかの方法で把握していたとしたら、悪戯の直後だろうと物体透過で壁や床の向こうにすり抜けて、現場に踏み込む私の目を逃れる事は簡単な筈なのに、私の手から逃れられるギリギリまで現場に留まっている理由が見当たらない。おそらく、物体透過以外にも何かトリックがある筈ね。それが違和感の正体かどうかは判らない。判らないけれど、どこか確信めいた予感がある。ヒントは走っていく小お嬢様の後ろ姿…休憩時間が終わって走っていく小お嬢様を見て違和感を感じた、という事はつまり、そこにゲーム中に私が見てきた小お嬢様の後ろ姿に足りないもの、もしかしたら余計なものがあったのかもしれない。それは…）
　何かが掴めた気がした。コルの心の中で散り散りだった”答え”が、薄ぼんやりと形を成していく。
「じ、侍従長…これ、私を慰めてくれてるんですよネ…？」
「へ？」
　息も絶え絶えなアラクネの言葉に思考の海から浮上したコルは、自分がアラクネの顔を跨いでいる事に気付いた。どうやら考え事をしながら歩き回っていたらしく、丁度メイド服のスカートの中にアラクネの頭をすっぽりと収めた形で立ち止まっていたようだ。なおアラクネの息が荒いのは自分のスカートの中に突っ込んだ、激しく蠢く自分の指が原因のようである。
「何この倒錯したシチュエーション！うっわレースで透けててちょっと見えてィグェフッ！！」
『ええー！今スケスケなの履いてるんデスかお姉サマ！？あたしも見たーい！』
「ピンクゥゥゥゥゥゥ！！！館内放送でバラすなッ、阿呆ゥがァァァァ！！！！！！」
　咄嗟にアラクネの顔面に踵を落とし、ピンクちゃんの抗議（？）に怒鳴り返した事で、あと少しで掴めそうだった違和感の正体が頭の中からすっぽ抜けてしまい、結局答えを出せないまま、その背中にこってりとしたドリフ臭を漂わせながらランの捜索を再開する羽目になったコルであった。

　その後もコルは、ランを逃しながらもなんとか違和感の正体を突きとめようと、度々思考の海に沈むのだが、　

「うああああん、もうどうなってるのか、グスっ、わかんない、ほどけないよぅ～！」
「こ、小お嬢様は砲兵結びなんて一体何処で…ああほら、ほどいてあげるから泣かないの！」
　器用に蛇の部分を輪っかに結ばれたラミアをほどくのに手間取ったり、
「ヘルプっスＳＯＳっスこれじゃエクソシストっス！ブリッジきちーし自分で自分が怖えーっス！」
「立って後ろ向きに歩けばいいじゃ…ってうわ速っ！気色悪っ！ぅわああ来んなぁぁ！！」
　頭を前後逆に付けられて何故かブリッジしたゾンビに追いかけ回されたり、
「………きゅ………きゅきゅ♪」
「意外と快適だから？しばらくこうしてる？あ、そう…とっとと出て仕事再開なさい！」
　詰め込まれた瓶の中が気に入ってしまったスライムを無理やり引きずり出したり、
「だ、大丈夫だ、問題ない」
「じゃあその格好で掃除続けてみなさいよ！テーブルの上すら届かないでしょうが！」
　手足を付け替えられたリビングドールの組み替えに四苦八苦したり、
「猫は狭い所が好きなのでここにいるだけですのニャ。だからやめるニャおデコ痛いニャ～！」
「見栄張ってないで助けを乞えたらやめてあげるわ」
　隙間に挟まって身動きの取れないワーキャットに延々とデコピンし続けたり、
「ぜー、ぜー…い、インクは…インクはダメ…呼吸できないから…ぜはー…」
「まーものの見事に全身とっぷり漬け込まれたこと…」
　魚拓を取られて全身インクまみれになったマーメイドを介抱したり、

　…等と所々で犠牲者のメイドを介抱し、助け出し、時には追われ、その度に思考は中断されてしまい、おぼろげに見えてくる答えが形を失う。周囲に他のメイドが居れば救出を彼女達に任せるのだが、なんだかんだでかしましいメイド達に邪魔されて、結果考え事に集中する事もままならなず、余計な時間までも食う始末。なんとかしなくてはと思っても、コルの焦る気持ちとは裏腹に、不利を覆せないままゲームは進んでいった。

Turning back the hands of time, the Schtlehertz mansion around the time when Elza was having her numb legs be Waku Waku Panic.

"Pink! Piiink!! Hey, answer me Pink!!!"
'Wh, what is it Onee-sama!?'
Col was mad. When she's mad, she usually silently fires off her gun to show her anger, so Pink-chan, who was currently watching her from the monitor room, was completely surprised despite the surveillance monitors. The game had only just begun, but it looked they had been shot multiple times by a shotgun with enchanted rubber bullets at point blank range.
(This is absurd, even though she didn't find out I took her panties!)
However, she was so scared that she didn't say that. Please, let these feelings reach! Though if they did, she would be half killed since she's wearing them right now.
"You, no, not just you, but anyone, who suggested and set up this rigged game to the little mistress!?"
'...Huh? Umm, Onee-sama, I don't know what you're talking about...'
"But the little mistress! She's turning her body ghostly and escaping through the walls!? With her ghostly body, even if I find her, I don't have any way to catch her!"
2 hours had passed since the beginning of the game, and it was already noon. With her evident ability in play pranks, Ran's score was current 9, and as difficult it was to believe, Col was far behind.
In order for it to be fair, it was forbidden to know the schedule of the maids that Ran was targeting. Basically, she couldn't sacrifice multiple victims in order to decrease the number of targets and wait to ambush her. Also, for the same reason, it wasn't announced who the targets were. Because if the targets were identified, once it got down to the last person, it would come down to ambushing her. As both the referee and announcer, Pink-chan had the role of announcing the end of the game, so she was told the number of targets, but so that she let something slip out, she wasn't told who was being targeted, so it was very well thought out. The targets were "the maids who troubled the little mistress" at the welcome party, but during the party, she was talking with Elza and wasn't watching, so she couldn't remember everyone who was there, and she didn't know which ones Ran didn't like and which ones Ran was fine with, so that wasn't really an option. She had an advantage of being familiar with the layout of the mansion, but that was nullified by Ran's ability to show up just about anywhere.
So the situation ended up being that she was running around this mansion that was as big as a base, running up, jumping down, going from side to side, and running around everywhere. Col caught a glimpse of Ran many times. However, even though she would immediately chase after her, for some reason she could never reach her, and even though she would see her, she could never catch her. How could she keep being one step ahead of her? Whenever she caught sight of her, the next moment, she would appear in a completely different place. Turning a corner, the shadows of a stairs, through a door, going up or down a stairs. When Ran was spotted by Col, she would always escape and vanish. And it wasn't that she was running away too fast. With just a little too much distance, and perfect timing, she would disappear from Col's sight for a second, and then she would actually disappear from that place. And then she would appear on the floor above or below, or in the next room. That was the pattern.
And now, luckily, there was no corner or obstacle to get in the way, and Col hadn't lost sight of her for even a moment. Now, trapped and right in front of her, Ran had an expression of "oh no" and slipped right through the floor. This trick was "the ability for a ghostly body to move though things", which was now confirmed. Col, who had excellent hearing and sharp senses, lost sight of her when she was right in front of her, and while she had a ghostly body, she left no trace, nor the sound of footsteps, so even concentrating and searching for a trace or following her footsteps was impossible. With her title of "veteran" as a former mercenary, just being played around like this by an amateur was enough of a shock, but now confirming the truth of the situation was the finishing touch.
'...It's just as you said Onee-sama, in this game, you're allowed to use your special abilities. The little mistress is a ghost, so it's only natural that she would be able to pass through physical things, right? Or did you forget that the little mistress was a ghost?'
"Ah... But, that, that's...!"
It's terrible to say this, but she plain, completely, totally, forgot. Ran had kept on escaping from Col all this time, and Col hadn't thought that she could be escaping by going through things. It's true that right after arriving at the mansion and this morning, she had seen her as a ghost, but since she eats and opens doors, she didn't really connect her to being a ghost, and thought that the laws of physical world applied to her just like a normal human. So she forgot about that bit of information about her. Even as she was being ordered by Elza to search for Ran's missing body, she didn't relate that image with real Ran, which was the main reason.
By the way, some the maids who were the target of Ran's pranks were the guard maids under Col's direct command, but according to them "When she said to us 'trick or treat', we were working so we didn't have any candy, so she had no choice but to play a prank.", so they didn't put any resistance. When she knew the secret to how she was able to easily succeed in pulling pranks against the non-human maids, Col said it couldn't be helped.
(In any case, it's far too early for Halloween.)
'Aha, this is still a story from the summer of 2014, everyone.'
"What are you talking about!?"
'H, huh? Did I say something just now!?'
"...A, anyway, either way, if she can completely ignore physical obstacles, then she would be uncatchable no matter what. This is too unfair."
'Mmm, no it isn't. Passing through physical objects is a fundamental ability of ghosts? Since using abilities is allowed, I think it's kind of like using a walkthrough in a game.'
"Of course, I'm thinking about how to capture her. What I said was, I can't touch a spirit, so she would pass through and I can't catch her. Because of this, there's nothing I can do, right? There is a tool that the mistress developed before to target ghosts, but the "spirit body catcher multiple psy-com hand mk III" (*1) isn't finished yet, the "spirit wooden nail bat antonio iwaki" (*2) is only used to hit spirits, and the "spirit wave amplifier microphone gian #28" (*3) is too powerful and everyone around will be hurt... And of course, I can't shoot enchanted bullets at her."
'Ah... I see... If I had to say, this is a more fundamental problem that the rules.'
Agreeing with Col, Pink-chan thought about it as she held the mic, as all the wall clocks around the mansion rang together to announce that it was noon.
"Oh, is it already noon? By the way, what should we do about lunch. Should we take a break?"
'That's right, I got a memo from the little mistress about this. Let's see, at noon, we will take a 1 hour lunch break, and restart once it's confirmed that we're back in the same place as we were before the break. Also, during the break, scheming is prohibited, so both players will eat in the dining room. In addition, this will be treated as a rule, so Onee-sama cannot refuse this. If you have any questions about lunch, why don't you ask the little mistress?'
"...Eh."
'All of you maids, are you listening~? Is it now break time, so prepare lunch for the little mistress and Onee-sama and Cuey-chan in the dining room~!'
Pink-chan's carefree voice was oddly exhausted, but Col, who had her head down, didn't hear.
(R, rule... I see~... Even though I said as much this morning, this time even I have to share a table with her. The little mistress is serious. However, if I don't follow this, I would be breaking the rules and lose... I, I don't want to lose this that!)
She had no choice but to follow the rules that were made. Losing without even fighting should be an embarrassment for a mercenary, and Col, who was being splendidly poked by this, started walking towards the hall with a sense of resignation.
(First, I have to put together my information and come to a solution, and follow the rules. I'll try giving my opinion again to the little mistress that she should stop making maids share the same table as her when eating... I can't see her listening to me, but it's very unsettling... While she's not a blood relative to the mistress, they're similar in this respect, and and maybe it's some sort of magical effect from when they became a family...)
Probably.
Although, as someone who had no family and was not born a human, but rather someone classified as a self-conscious monster item, only another of her kind could be the same as her. And even among those, she was still considered a youngster (*4), and only had a little life experience, so for Col, it was a tall order for her to come up with that answer.

*1: A radio-controlled hand that can catch spiritual bodies, and moves by reading the user's brain waves. Unfortunately, it can't shoot a beam. According to Elza, "As it is, it works perfectly fine. A great person wouldn't understand this."
*2: A wooden bat cut from a tree with spirit energy, and has a charm nailed to it. The 'guwaaragowagakiin!' sound it makes is refreshing. If you use it for a long time, you won't be able to take off your school hat and leaves will grow from your mouth, but it's harmless.
*3: A microphone that resonates, amplifies and spreads spirit waves. It creates a strange, painful sound that goes boee~. If you sing some head brat song, for some reason, the output increases tremendously, but the reason is unknown. Don't call it 2con.
*4: Col-san is 19 years old. Among the Schtlehertz maids, she's actually in the youth group.

"Little mistress, about eating, could we at least have staggered times or separate rooms..."
"Breaking the rules is defeat!"
"...I... I understand..."
Of course it was pointless.
Ran, who was using the rule as a shield, quickly arrived at the dining room, where Col, who was unenergetic and completely defeated, was. She wanted to sigh, not caring what others thought, but once she caught a whiff of the prepared focaccia sandwich and grilled croissant, and her favorite mocha mattari with a drop of milk, she sat down in her chair without any hint of resignation. Ever since the incident after breakfast that Cuey got tangled in, she had been thinking, that if she can't convince her now, then later, it's easy to imagine her as being heavy handed and oddly persuasive and arguing over technicalities. Therefore, she determined that if she can satisfy her once, then she should do so. Also, the smell of the coffee was making her hungry.
(The mistress also usually unreasonably says things and gets those around her involved, but the little mistress is stubborn and won't back down, so she prevails...)
The lovely girl in front of her had certainly been poorly influenced by her free-spirited adoptive sister, which was somewhat cold, but as she shared a table with Ran, who cheerful, she asked herself if something like this was really okay, and changed her thoughts, and resigned herself to the meal that was about to begin. Ran thought it was strange that Col was eating with her gloves skill on, but didn't pursue it, and the entire lunch went on with a peaceful atmosphere. And then, Ran and Cuey had black tea, and Col had coffee instead and they chatted after the meal. As they relaxed, Col realized that she had gotten used to this calm atmosphere, and this wasn't the time to be calm, and cut to the chase. Listening to her story, Ran let out a 'ah' in a quiet voice, and her hand holding the cup stopped.
"So that's what that broadcast was. Yeah, I see. It's true, if I turn ghostly, only someone who can affect spirits can touch me... Sorry, Col-san, I was just following your advice and using my abilities to its fullest, and I overlooked that."
It looked like Ran also forgot about it. With a difficult look on her face, she went mmmm.
"However, if I run normally with my physical body, I'll get caught immediately, and it won't be a game. It's not something I can be proud of, but my athleticism of my physical body is the same as a normal girl my age. But if turn my body ghostly, Col-san won't be able to touch me, so she can't catch me, so that won't be a game either. Whether I use a physical or ghostly body, either way it's a one sided game..."
"U, umm, the mistress has tools to catch ghosts, right...? So, if we borrow those..."
"Unfortunately, Cuey, I already thought of that. However, none of them can be used peacefully."
Col had a difficult look on her face and sighed, but hearing that, Ran gasped, and put her hands against her face.
"I see, tools... In that case, there's something that you can probably use. Wait a minute!"
"Something I can use? That's..."
Without answering Col's question, Ran quickly slid off her chair. Wondering what was happening, Col peered under the table, and saw Ran's head disappear into the floor. It looked like she was slipping off to her room to comply with her request.
She only had to wait a short time, and Ran suddenly appeared out from the floor. She gave the thing she was holding in her hand to Col.
"If you use this, You probably can touch when I'm ghostly. Try it."
Col looked at the thing she had been given. It was an elegantly folded, extremely thin brown cloth. It felt nice when she touched it, and it was flexible and smooth. It was a feeling she was used to.
"What is this..."
Holding it up, the balled up parts rolled open, and it became clear what it was. Col's jaw dropped.
"...Pantyhose...!?"
"Ah, d, don't worry, they're new ones!"
That wasn't the problem.
Even though they started off talking about tools to touch ghosts, why did she bring these out as a way to resolve the problem? Col, who was dumbfounded, stared at the pantyhose.
"These were specially made for me, to correct for the part of me which is ghostly and unstable."
"Do I put them over my head?"
"They're my spare pair, so don't!? ...I, I mean, they correct my ghostly part that can't materialize, so they can physically interact with ghosts. So I thought that if you use this, you can probably touch ghosts."
"H, hah. However, even if you tell me to use them, how would I..."
"Wrap them around your hands, I guess. Like that... All right, try to touch me!"
Ran wrapped the pantyhose around Col's hands, over her gloves, and turned ghostly and held out her hand. Half doubting it, she tried putting her hand wrapped with the pantyhose on Ran's hand. Her fingers which stuck out from the pantyhose passed through Ran's hands, but she could feel the touch of Ran's hand through the fabric.
"I... can touch it. I'm certain, I can touch the little mistress."
"Wah, then that settles that!"
As a response, Ran gave a peace sign to Cuey, who was excited. As Col checked the feeling of the wrapped pantyhose, she finally was relieved that it was a level playing field.
"By the way, little mistress. You might not have realized it yourself, but the game has been developing one-sidedly until now, so we should start over..."
"No. Although I do think I was at fault for overlooking it, this is my ability, so Col-san realizing it is part of the game. Also, it would be wrong to play 2 pranks on the same person."
"Ah... I suppose that would be wrong."
"Also, under those favorable circumstances, I've already progressed to 9 people. Playing more pranks would just take even more time than had already passed. If we start over, it would nearly double the remaining targeted maids, and then who knows when it would end. If we take too much time, and they come back while the game is in progress, we definitely won't be able to continue the game."
"Well, the mistress would certainly interfere with pranks... Wait, is it really all right to tell me the number of remaining targets? I would be able to ambush you with one of the remaining target maids..."
"I didn't tell you exactly. It's just a hint as an apology. However, I don't intend on losing."
"Hehe, you're quite confident. However, now that I have a way to capture you, little mistress, and I know how you escape, I don't intend on losing either."
Ran, who calmly said that, and Col, who had a fearless smile, looked like they had fireworks shooting between their gazes. The battle between the legendary pranking youkai and the veteran mercenary, had only just begun.

"Ah... By the way, I only just realized this now, but if the little mistress were to lose, umm, what would happen to me?"
Cuey's uneasy voice interrupted the staring contest, as she looked at Col. Col looked at Cuey, and then quickly switched her gaze towards Ran. Following her gaze, Cuey also looked at Ran. Ran looked away from Cuey. In addition, her whistling did not fit the situation at all.
"Umm, little mistress..."
"You're my partner so... I guess, well... We share the same fate? I suppose?"
"Yes... I think so. Doing that would be appropriate."
"..."
"..."
"......Eh? If I hadn't said anything, would nothing have happened to me?"
"Honestly, I hadn't thought what would happen to Cuey-san at all. So if you hadn't, there is a high possibility you would have been ignored."
"I wasn't worrying about it at all either. But if I had to say, having a partner have no penalty would be unjust. So prepare yourself, Cuey."
"..."
"..."
"The head chamberlain is my opponent, so I, I definitely won't lose! I'll definitely help the little mistress win!!"
Breaking the short silence, Cuey, whose entire body was turning red as an octopus and was starting to get flustered, and maybe finally succumbed to confusion, and pointed her finger at Col. It was something unexpected for a timid girl like her. And then cried a little. She was asked to support her, so she joined in this game that wasn't about her at all. But now she was better herself being all nude. Now she couldn't say that this was for Ran's sake, and her entire body, along with the finger she was pointing, was shaking. Col looked at her with very slightly sympathetic eyes.
(She's unexpectedly prone to self-meltdowns. Or maybe this recent monster girl fad of "moe" is having an effect on her.)
As she thought that she would permit an increase in dojikko maids, Col gently patted Cuey's shoulder.
'Ding dong ding do~ng! It's Pink-chan's 1 PM announcement! All 3 players, please return to your original locations~'
"Ah, it's already time... wai, Cuey-san!?"
The moment the announcement of the end of the break came out from the mansion broadcast system, Cuey jumped out of her chair. Cuey lifted both arms up and shouted out to Ran, who was wide-eyed in surprise, and Col, who was stunned.
"All right, litlte mistress, let's go! Now I'll be in serious serious mode!"
((There's a non-serious serious mode?))
At Cuey's oddly excited words and actions as she left the dining room, both Ran and Col thought the same thing deep in their hearts, and followed after her. Was she fired up or burning out or giving in to despair? Cuey was pointlessly waving her arms around, gesturing for Ran to follow without waiting for her.
"Little mistress, hurry, let's not waste any time and return to where we were right away!"
Cuey started jogging down the hall as she finished saying that, and Ran followed her, trying to keep up. Maybe it was because she was at a loss because of the complete change that came over Cuey, but as she messed around with her ear, she turned back towards Col and gave a little wave. Col also waved back in response, and as she turned back towards her original position, she had a feeling that something was out of place about the two of them running off, and unconsciously stopped.
(Uh oh, now I know the little mistress' current location.)
Immediately rethinking it, she should return to her original position without being conscious of their direction or footsteps, but she couldn't get rid of that sense of something wrong from the corner of her mind. She had been worrying and trying to grasp the cause of that sense of something wrong from the beginning. Even though she had a vague answer, it was on the tip of her tongue and couldn't get it out. As it irritated her, she thought hard about the cause of this sense of something wrong.
(Was it because the little mistress was running normally? ...No, that was because she was with Cuey and couldn't slip through walls, and there was nothing particularly strange about that. Even though I'm certain about that, something doesn't fit right. I have a feeling I'm over looking something very important...)
It was her mercenary instincts. Foreboding, a 6th sense... A real instinct that humans have many names for, a phrase for something that can resolve just about anything. In reality, when she was going from battle to battle, it's an instinct like a sudden flash of insight when her life was on the line, and it saved her countless times. As a soldier, it was the mastery of "mind, skill, body", and only a handful of people could reach that level. Col thought that it was just one mastery of the mind. Of course, in "those areas" that she wasn't an expert in, she knew quite well that relying on it is too dangerous. However, within those limits, she could rely on her frozen instincts, so as Col's life is now is one of those. ...But...
(It's true that this is no different than being cornered, but it's not like I'm facing death, and in any case, it's a game where my life isn't in danger... When it's important, I can rely on my instinct, but how much can I rely on it when it comes to this... What should I do?)
'The little mistress and Onee-sama have both returned to their original locations! And so, the game will recommence!'
As she was thinking about it, without realizing it, she had returned back to her original location. As long as isn't moving, the little mistress would be taking actions against her next target. Thinking this, she took a deep breath and switched her mentality. She knew her opponent's trick, and got a handout from her enemy in the form of a method for her to interfere with her opponent, who couldn't be stopped by physical interference. Finally, with a method to turn this situation around, she didn't want to waste any more time.
"Now that the game has restarted, even if I stop and think about it, it can't be helped, I guess. So I'll have to grasp the reason behind this feeling of something wrong as I chase the little mistress. And that starts with moving. I'm not Cuey, but I'll get a little serious too, little mistress."
Pursing her lips together, Col ran off like a bullet.

Watching this through the surveilance cameras, Pink-chan made sure that the microphone was switched off, and brought her cup to her mouth. Taking a big gulp of black tea, she smiled.
"O~hh, that's not like Onee-sama. In a 1 on 1 match, not confirming her opponent's strategy, and even though she finally felt that something was wrong, not identifying the cause? It's a disgrace to the name "Bullet Squall"~. I guess since there's no killing intent, her senses have become dull?"
Smiling widely, she made spun her index finger around and laughed, going ufufu.
"The little mistress' strategy isn't about escaping through confusion and passing through physical objects. Onee-sama, if you don't realize that soon, you really will lose? The match isn't simply a physical game of tag. From the very beginning it's full of the little mistress' psychological warfare."
Snickering as she said that, her expression turned to that of a succubus-like mesmerizing one. In her mind, Col had already lost, and her mind was filled with which angles she should look from, which situations would be the most exciting.

Nearly 2 hours had passed since then, and as soon as the game restarted, Col took the offensive... Or was at least was trying to, but just as Pink-chan had predicted, she continued to be toyed with by Ran, and it was a disappointing restart.
"...Well... Now that I really really think about it, as long as the little mistress can turn ghostly, nothing can get in her way and she can come and go as she pleases. Whereas I on the other hand, have physical obstacles... So she can still be one step ahead and escape."
Col was talking to herself and her hand with the jammed fingers were shaking. At her feet was the 15th victim, an arachnid who was messily tied up using her own thread, and was lying on the floor. But her distress was oddly exciting and sexy. Col had just arrived at the scene the moment Ran had finished playing her prank, which was good, but she escaped through a wall just a moment before Col's extended hand could catch her, and her fingers ran into the wall.
She was unable to predict where Ran would appear, and couldn't get any read on her action pattern. She couldn't see any connection to the order in which the maids were attacked by Ran, and whether it was a perfect plan or random how the target was selected, she couldn't read the method she chose her next target, so ambushing her was still impossible. However, it was a great help that she knew the trick of how she escaped, so the situation was different. She knew that Ran could move around while ghostly, but when she was playing a prank, she had to become physical, so if she was conscious of this, she could sense a on and off transmission signal, and once she gets a sign, she could rush there as fast as she could, and interrupt the instant the prank is being done. Compared to the morning's developments, she was definitely tracking down Ran much better. There were still attacks, but the rate had certainly dropped, and she stopped losing sight of the escaping Ran, and was narrowing the distance when chasing her. But for Col, the walls and floors were obstacles, and were a literal wall that she couldn't overcome. If this was a battlefield, she couldn't destroy the Schtlehertz mansion to advance, so she sadly had to take the long way around. More than anything else, Col felt annoyed by this, but as she chased her, she took passing through physical items into consideration, and tried to guess Ran's escape and get the jump on her, but that was always a failure.
(And it doesn't seem like the little mistress can read my actions or feel my presence, or see their actions. The little mistress is like a sniper who never misses. Or if she isn't, she's realized something that only a novice would know, and not someone like me. But still, she moved like she could read my movements. The fact that I never see her again after she escapes is proof of that. Yes... her escape route can only be a hallway or upstairs or downstairs. There's only 2 options. In terms of probability, it's possible, but that would be too convenient...? It's possible that she returns to the original location right after escaping, but if I just waited there, she would run into me again...)
It would be against Ran's personality to break the rules and go outside the mansion. Col checked the pantyhose wrapped around her hand. First, if was going to break the rules and go outside the mansion, she wouldn't have given her a way to catch her. It would be much easier to let Col find a way to solve that problem.
(However, if the little mistress did have some way to know my movements, right after she was done with her prank, she could pass through a wall or floor, and I would never catch sight of her. But in that case, I can't understand why she would just barely escape from me. She probably has some other trick than just going through physical objects. Maybe that's the cause of that feeling of something wrong. Maybe, but somehow I feel that's it. The hint is seeing the little mistress from behind as she was running... That feeling of something wrong as the little mistress was running at the end of the break, basically means, there's something missing from when I see the little mistress from behind during the game, or maybe something extra. It's...)
She felt like she was coming on to something. The "answer" that was scattered in Col's mind was faintly taking shape.
"H, head chamberlain... Are you consoling me...?"
"Huh?"
The faintly breathing arachnid's words rose to the surface of Col's sea of thoughts, and she realized that she was straddling the arachnid's face. It seems like she was pacing as she was thinking, and she stopped and stood there just as the arachnid's head was under her skirt. Now, the arachnid's wild breathing was deep inside her skirt, and her violent and wriggling fingers were the cause.
"What's with this perverted situation! Whoa, it's lace and see through, and I can kind of see igeeph!!"
'Ehh! You're wearing something transparent Onee-sama!? I want to see it too!'
"Piiiiiink!!! Don't reveal that to everyone by broadcasting it, you idiot!!!!!!"
In a flash, she stepped on the arachnid's face, and screamed back in anger at Pink-chan's objection(?), and completely lost her grip on the cause of her feeling of something wrong in her head. In the end, she couldn't get an answer, and with a slight drifting scent left behind her, Col began her search for Ran again.

Afterwards, as Col chased after Ran and tried to identify the cause of her feeling of something wrong, it gradually sank into her sea of thoughts.

"Uwaaaaah, I don't know, sob, what to do, I can't untie myself~!"
"Where did the little mistress learn to tie an artillery loop... Hey, I'm going to untie you so stop crying!"
As she took time to untie the lamia which had been skillfully tied in a loop,
"Help, SOS, exorcist! I'm scared that I'm doing a bridge!"
"You should stand up and turn around and wa... whoa, that was fast! That's gross! Whoa, don't come over here!!"
For some reason, she was being chased around by a zombie with her head on backwards
"...Kyu...Kyukyu"
"It's surprisingly pleasant? So you want to be left that like for a while? Ah, I see... Hurry up and come out and get back to work!"
She forcibly dragged out a slime who was crammed into a bottle and enjoying it.
"I, I'm fine, there's no problem."
"Then try to keep on cleaning like that! I bet you won't be able to reach the tops of tables!"
Worrying over a living doll with her arms and legs swapped.
"Cats like narrow spaces, so that's why I'm here nya. Sto stop it nya, that's hurting my forehead nya~!"
"Stop trying to act tough and ask for help."
She kept on flicking the forehead of a werecat that got stuck in a small space and couldn't move.
"Gasp, gasp... N, no... No ink... I can't breathe... Gasp..."
"Oh, your entire body was completely covered..."
Caring for a mermaid whose entire body was covered with ink and was used to make a fish ink rubbing.

...And so, she cared after the victim maids all around, helped them out, and was sometimes chased. Each time, her thoughts were interrupted, and she lost sight of the hazy answer. If there were other maids around, she could rely on them to help, but somehow, the noisy maids got in her way, and she couldn't focus on on the result, and it ate up any extra time. When she thought how it wasn't working, Col would get irritated at her impatience, and the game continued without her being able to overcome her disadvantage.