そして遂に決着の時が訪れる。

『あの～、お姉サマ？』
「…何？」
　全身をハチミツでべっとりと濡らしたピクシーをトングで掴み上げ、思いっ切り蛇口を捻った水道で水洗いしていたコルは、煩わしげにピンクちゃんの呼びかけに応える。なお両者とも、凄まじい水流に晒されているトングの先っぽでか細く上がっている悲鳴は一切無視である。
『残念なお知らせデス。その子へのイタズラが成功した時点で、小お嬢様のスコアはとうとう２４。次のターゲットになってる子で最後デス。小お嬢様がイタズラ仕掛ける前に急いで捕まえないと、お姉サマの負けになっちゃいマスよ～？』
「えっ、嘘！」
　慌てて時計を見ると、午後六時まであと１５分程となっていた。考え事をしたくてもメイド達に邪魔されるという状況が続き、あと少しで掴めそうな違和感の正体の事ばかりが気になっていた所為で、時間の感覚が相当曖昧になっていたらしい。昼食でのランの「ターゲットはあと倍近く残っている」という台詞とその時点でのスコア、ランの襲撃ペース、ゲーム再開から現在時刻まで経過した時間を考えれば、終わりが見えてくるのも当然の話である。
（さ、最後って…誰が残っているのかも、どこに居るのかも解っていないし、小お嬢様が私の追跡を振り切れる理由も解ってないのに？今この瞬間にも小お嬢様が襲撃を開始するかもしれない状況で、それを阻止できる保証もないまま、ここまでで一度も果たせなかった先手を打てと？）
　コルの顔面から血の気がザーッと引いていき、久しく感じていなかった無力感がコルを襲う。が、コルはトングを放り出して頬を手で打つと、走り出した。背後で「流される～！」とかなんとか叫び声がしたが、既に耳には入っていなかった。
（足を止めていては敗北を決定的なものにしてしまう！こうなってしまっては策を弄しても最早無駄、最後のターゲットが不明な以上、とにかく動いて”小お嬢様と鉢合わせる偶然”に賭けるしかない！）
　弾丸と化したコルが玄関ホールに辿り着いた時、ピンクちゃんの実況がスピーカーから流れ、異変が起きた。
『さぁさぁゲームもいよいよ最終局面を迎えマシた！余裕の貫録を見せつける小お嬢様が勝つか、はたまた意外にも劣勢に追い込まれたお姉サマが逆転するのか、あたしも目が離せまマセ…え、ちょっと何キュイちゃん、なんであたしを羽交い絞めにするの！？』
（キュイがモニター室に！？…まさか！）
　その時、コルの脳裏にある光景が蘇った。ゲーム中に自分から逃げていくランの後ろ姿と、休憩終了時に走り去っていったランの後ろ姿。その違いはランの隣にキュイが居たか居なかったかだ。そして休憩終了時の去り際、ランは耳をしきりに弄っていた。てっきり豹変したキュイに戸惑っての行動だと思っていたが、その二つの光景が繋がり、ある可能性に辿り着く。
（キュイはゲーム開始からモニター室に潜み、無線で小お嬢様に私の居場所をリークしていた！？だから小お嬢様は私から逃げる際、私が回り込もうとする方とは別の方へ確実に逃げる事ができたんだわ！審判を兼ねている実況のピンクは、公平を期す立場にある以上、それを私に教えるという事は私に味方する事になってしまうから、黙っているしかなかった…とすれば、休憩が終わって走り去っていく小お嬢様が耳を弄っていたのは、あれはレシーバーを取り付けていた…！）
　思い返せばゲーム中、ランのイタズラをサポートしている筈のキュイの姿を見掛けなかった事に、今更になって気付く。抜きん出て目立つ長身であるキュイを見落とす事など有り得ないのに、ランを追う事だけに集中していたコルは、捕まえる対象ではない彼女がどうしているかなど考えもしなかった。事実、ランの物体透過能力を思い出すまでは逃走手段について悩んでいたし、思い出した後もランの逃走経路を如何に押さえるかを模索していたのだから。
　では、何故コルはキュイの手引きを見破れなかったのか。ラン達の作戦は、キュイからコルの動きを伝えられたランが、コルが踏み込んでくるギリギリまで現場に囮として留まって眼前から逃げ、更にキュイの誘導でコルの行き先とは違う方へ逃げおおせる、というものだった。つまりコルの目を敢えてランに引き付ける事でキュイの存在を希薄にし、当のランは逆に安全な逃走ルートを確保していたのだ。仮にキュイによる電子の目に気付き、それを欺く事ができていれば、また違った展開にもなっただろう。
　こうしてキュイから意識を逸らしてしまっていた事が、コルの感じた違和感だったのである。その答えは隠されもせずコルの眼前にずっとあったというのに。
（そして…）
　コルが跳躍する。二階の階段上に着地したコルは、一目散にモニター室を目指した。
（最後のターゲットはピンク！ピンクの性格上、小お嬢様を前にすれば、つい悪戯したくなるに決まってる。つまりピンクもあの”歓迎”に参加していて、お嬢様のターゲットに数えられていた事になる。あの子が実況役に抜擢されたのはおそらく、最後の最後で居場所を簡単に割り出す事ができて、かつ、実況役である故にターゲットにしている事を隠蔽できるから…！）
　途中ですれ違うメイド達を見れば誰もがポカンとしており、一様に思いも寄らぬという顔をしている様を見るに、実況役がターゲットという事態は予想の斜め上４５度をぶっちぎっているのだろう。
　スピーカーの向こうではピンクちゃんが抵抗しているのか、微かに争う音が聞こえる。腐っても護衛メイド隊のサブリーダーを務めているのは伊達ではなく、その実力はナイフ・ファイトと徒手空拳だけなら限定的にコルを上回るという、外見からは想像もつかない戦闘能力を持つピンクちゃんだが、気弱とはいえ巨人であるキュイの腕力には敵わないようで、拘束を振りほどけずに足掻くばかりである。
『トリック・オア・トリート？』
『ヒーッ！持ってきてたお菓子全部食べちゃったデスぅ！』
（小お嬢様が到着してしまった！）
　館内放送で響くランの声。既にモニター室はコルの目前だ。ドアに体当たりする勢いでモニター室に転がり込むと、素早く小柄な人影に狙いを定め、優しく触れる。ランは実体化していて、ストッキングを介さずともコル自身の手で触れることができた。
「ま…間に合い…ました、か？」
　コルの問いに、膝立ちになっていたランと拘束を解いたキュイが左右に下がった。すると下着を盛大に晒して床に座り込んだピンクちゃんが、泣き笑いでこう言った。
「遅かったデスお姉サマ…あたしイタズラされちゃいマシた…」
　その額にデカデカと書かれた「肉」の文字。しかも油性マジック（極太）な辺り容赦が無い。
『小お嬢様の、勝ちです！』
　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！！
　嬉しそうなキュイの声が屋敷中に響き渡り、メイド達の喝采が上がったのだった。
　ランとキュイが互いに手を取り喜び合っているその後ろでは、敗北に気落ちするでもなく、ピンクちゃんに詰め寄るコルの姿があった。ゲームに負けた事よりも座り込んだピンクちゃんに気になるものがあったらしく、わざわざ屈み込んで目線をピンクちゃんに合わせていた。
「ところで、ピンク？」
「なんデスかお姉サマ…顔に悪戯書きされたあたしを慰めてくれるデス？」
「あなたが穿いてるその下着、随分セクシーね？…盗まれた私の下着とそっくりなのだけれど」
「ぶ！？えと、あの、これは、その…お姉サマの下着、良いなぁと思って、自分で探して買ってきたんデス…よ？」
「あらそう？私のは、お嬢様から頂いた誕生日プレゼントで、一枚しかない特注品なのだけれど」
「！？」
「ねぇピンク…？何処で売っていたのか、良ければ教えてくれないかしらねぇ…盗まれたままではお嬢様に申し訳ないから、売っている物なら買ってきたいのよ…」
「あわわ…あわわわわわデス…」
「それともその落書き、消してあげましょうか？穴は空くけど綺麗に消してあげる…」
　あと命もね、と小さな声で呟くコルが壮絶な笑みを浮かべ、どこからともなく瞬時に右手に現れたリボルバーのシリンダーを交換する。元々、コルが普段愛用する二挺の拳銃に装填されている弾丸は、主に不死系モンスターに対してツッコミやお仕置きに使用される３８スペシャル弾（非エンチャント）なのだが、この敢えてシリンダーを交換するという行為が、装填されている弾丸がモンスターといえどストレートに命に係わる威力を誇る３５７マグナム弾（勿論こちらはエンチャント済）に変わる事と、コルの”殺っちまう度”が一気に２ランク上昇（ピンクちゃん調べ）している事を意味すると知っているピンクちゃんは、驚きの速さで下着を脱いでコルに差し出し、マジ泣きで命乞いをした。
「もう自前で三つ穴空いてマスので許して下さい！ゴメンナサイデスぅ～！！」

「…何これ？」
「侍従長、自分のメンテナンスし忘れて、とうとう壊れたか？」
　ゲーム終了からほどなくして帰宅したエルザとミフィが、呆けた様子で尋ねた。珍しく羞恥に頬を染めて出迎えたコルの背後には数名のメイドが付き従い、しかしエルザではなくコルを見ていた。主に尻の辺りを。
「小お嬢様とゲームを開催いたしまして、敗者の私めが罰ゲームを受けております。小お嬢様のお情けで、エプロンとガーターベルトだけはお許し頂きました」
「多分、小お嬢はこっちの方がかえってエロくなる事に気付いてないな…にしても侍従長のこういう格好、新鮮だなー」
「…あれも罰ゲームなのか？」
「あれは…お仕置きといいますか、どちらかというと私刑でございます」
「…あ、そう」
　エルザの視線の先、玄関ホール突き当りの階段の上には、目隠しされた上にスカートを捲り上げられて下半身を丸出しにしたピンクちゃんが、くの字に折った体を手すりに引っ掻けられた格好で手と足をロープで縛られ、晒し者になっていた。付け加えておけば、コルの下着は回収されていて、替えは用意してもらえなかった。

「ふあああぁあ…見られないけど見られてる♪お姉サマみたいにあたしもみんなに見られてるのねぇぇぇ…あはん感じちゃう♪」
「…うむ！」
　エルザは取り敢えずピンクちゃんを眺めて力強く頷いた後、きょろきょろと辺りを見回した。
「で、ランは？」
「今日はほぼ一日中動き回られていたのでお疲れになったらしく、早い時間ではありますが、お休みになると」
「…あ、そう」
　ふらふらと歩き出したエルザは、もう一度ピンクちゃんを眺めた後、自分も疲れたから寝る、と言って階段を上がっていった。
「ああ、そうじゃ。コル」
「はい？」
「早ければ明日辺りから、スイーパーズの依頼を受ける事になる。場合によっては護衛メイド達にも手を貸してもらう事になるかもしれんから、そのつもりでな」
「はい…？それはまた何故でございましょう？」
　階段を上り切り、そこにあるピンクちゃんの尻を撫でながら、エルザが真顔になって言う。
「アイーナが当たりを引いてな、ランの遺体の手掛かりを得た。それがなんと近郊の街にありそうなのじゃ。依頼を受けておれば、建物に侵入しても事件解決の為に駆け回った結果だ何だと、何かと理由を付けられるからな。独自に調査するにあたり、不法侵入するよりは幾分マシな理由が得られ、スイーパーズにも迷惑をかけんで済むじゃろ。そうして怪しい場所を嗅ぎ回ろうという訳じゃ。コル、おぬしの出番もあるかもしれん、心しておけよ」
「承知致しました」
　妙にローアングルで距離を詰めてくるメイド達に蹴りを入れながら、不在の間にエルザが好みそうな催しを開催していた事について小言の一つも言われるだろうと思っていたコルは、予想外な話の内容に面食らうと同時に、どうやら胡散臭い連中を相手取りキナ臭い事になりそうだと直感した。

「…それにしても、あのお嬢様がピンク相手にお尻撫でるだけで済ますなんて、珍しい事もあったものね。いつもだったらその場で始めててもおかしくないのに。あとこの格好の私がスルーされたのが地味にショック」
「心配しなくても十分扇情的だよ侍従長。ただ、お嬢は本当に疲れているだけさ。なにしろ今日は私達の問題を解決する時にちょっとはしゃぎ過ぎたし、その後も小お嬢に関する情報が掴めたからって張り切って、データが壊れて暗号みたいになった十数年分の実験データと、ずっと睨めっこしてたんだ。横で見てただけの私ですら眠くなってるんだからな、流石のお嬢も数日分の徹夜なんか目じゃないくらい疲労が溜まってるんだろう。データの修復してたアイーナなんか最後ら辺、お嬢のを咥えたまま寝てたぞ」
「あなた達のわだかまりは無くなったのね、それはおめでとうだけど…その後がよく解らないわ、調査してたのかイチャついてたのか、どっちなのよ」
「メインは調査さ。いや、解読って方が正解かもな。ただ何度かお嬢がハングアップしそうだったから、クールダウンに何発か私とアイーナで抜いた」
　あの場で私にできた事はこれくらいだし、と欠伸を噛み殺しながら何かを舐めるジェスチャーをするミフィに、ああ、あれがかの有名な賢者モードってやつだったのか、とコルは得心顔で頷いたのだった。

And finally, the end approached.

'Umm~, Onee-sama?'
"...What?"
Col was holding a pixie who was completely covered in honey under running water with tongs, trying to clean her. She responded with annoyance to Pink-chan's call to her. Both of them were being exposed to the strong running water, and she was completely ignoring the sobs coming from the end of the pair of tongs.
'I have some unfortunate news. Now that the prank against this girl has been completed, the little mistress' score has reached 24. The next target is the final one. If you don't hurry up and catch the little mistress before she plays the prank, then you're going to lose, Onee-sama~?'
"Eh, no way!"
Flusteredly looking at the clock, it was already 15 minutes before 6. Even though she was trying to think, the maids kept on interrupting it, and the reason for her feeling of something wrong just stayed a little out of reach, and her sense of time also became a little hazy. During lunch, Ran had said "there would be nearly twice as many targets remaining" regarding her score at the time, so thinking about Ran's attack pace and the time that had elapsed since the game restarted, it's only natural the end was in sight.
(T, the final... But I don't know who is left or where she is, or how the little mistress is avoiding my chasing. Without any certainty that I can stop this, can I get the upper hand now, even though I haven't done so once before?)
Col's face went pale, as a feeling of being powerless that she hadn't felt in a long time came over her. Neglecting the tons in her hands, she put her hands to her face, and ran out. The voice calling out to her behind her saying "I'm getting washed away~!" didn't even reach her ears.
(To stop running only ensures my defeat! Since it's like this, it's too late for a plan, and the final target is unknown, so all I can do is act and hope I get lucky and 'run into the little mistress'!)
Like a bullet, Col reached the entry hall, and as Pink-chan's live broadcast came out of the speakers, an incident occurred.
'Well, well, the game has finally reached the final stage! Will the little mistress, who has shown such great poise, win, or will Onee-sama, who is far behind, miraculously make a comeback and catch her? I know I won't be able to take my eyes off... eh, wait, wha, Cuey-chan, why are you pinning my arms behind my back!?'
(Cuey is in the monitor room!? ...It can't be!)
At that moment, Col remembered that scene from deep in her mind. The image of Ran running away from her in the game, and the image of Ran running at the end of the break. The difference was whether Cuey was next to Ran or not. Also, when she was running at the end of the break, Ran kept messing with her ear. She thought it was because Cuey's sudden change was putting her at a loss, but looking at the two scenes, she reach a possibility.
(Cuey had been hidden in the monitor room from the start of the game, and had been radioing the little mistress my location!? So when the little mistress escaped from me, and I would go one way, she could make sure she escaped by going in another! Pink, who was also the referee, had to be fair, so she couldn't be my ally and tell me, so she had to stay silent about it... If so, then at the end of the break, as she was running away, the little mistress was messing with her ear and putting in a receiver...!)
Thinking back, she only now realized that during the game, she never saw Cuey, who was supposed to be supporting Ran's pranks. Cuey, who had such a huge body and stood out, would not have been overlooked, and Col, who was only focused on chasing Ran, had thought nothing more than 'I wonder what she is doing' about her, since she wasn't a target to catch. In reality, before she remembered Ran's ability to pass through physical object, she had been concerned with how she escaped, and afterwards, trying to figure out her escape route.
So, why didn't Col figure out Cuey's assistance? Ran's strategy was to be told of Col's movements by Cuey, and then when Col came in, lure her and barely escape from in front of her, and then with Cuey's guidance, to escape in a different direction from where Col was going. Basically, Col would see Ran, and be focused on her, so Cuey would be ignored, and Ran would be assured a completely safe escape route. If she had figured out that Cuey was electronically helping, and was able to trick them, then this might have turned out different.
Ignoring Cuey like that, was the source of Col's sense that something was wrong. Even though the answer had always been right in front of her.
(Then...)
Col jumped. Landing on the 2nd floor stairs, she headed for the monitor room as fast as she could go.
(The final target is Pink! With Pink's personality, if the little mistress was in front of her, she would definitely want to tease her. And Pink was also included in the "welcome", and would have been counted as on of the targets. She was chosen for the live broadcast, probably so she would be in a location that is easy to find at the very end, and as the broadcaster, it would be hidden from her that she was a target...!)
All of the various maids that she saw along the way were stunned, and they all were had a look of disbelief on their faces that the broadcaster was a target, which was a complete left turn from what they expected.
Judging from the speaker, Pink-chan was probably putting up some resistance, as she could hear some faint sounds. Even like this, she was the sub leader of the guard maids, which wasn't just for show. Her real strength lies in knife fights and bare-handed combat, and in those situations, she was better than Col, so even though you wouldn't imagine it from her appearance, she was a very capable fighter. But Cuey, a timid giant, had unrivaled arm strength, and without any restraints, it would be useless.
'Trick or treat?'
'Hya! I ate all of the candy I brought!'
(The little mistress had arrived!)
Ran's voice echoed as it was broadcast throughout the mansion. The monitor room was right ahead of Col. Slamming into the door, she tumbled into the monitor room, and quickly aimed at the small human figure, and gently touched her. Ran was still in physical form, and even without the pantyhose, Col could touch her with her own hand.
"W... Was I... in time?"
In response to Col's question, Ran, who was on her knees, and Cuey, who had no restraints, looked down to their left and right. There, sitting on the floor with her underwear completely exposed, was Pink-chan, who said with a crying smile.
"You're too late, Onee-sama... I was pranked..."
On her forehead, the character for "meat" was clearly written. Also, it was done in permanent magic marker (the big kind).
'The little mistress is the winner!'
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!
Happily, Cuey's voice echoed throughout the mansion, and the maids cheered.
As Ran and Cuey joyfully held hands, behind them, Col, not feeling down from losing, approached Pink-chan. It seems like she was more interested in Pink-chan sitting there than at losing the game, and deliberately leaned over to be in Pink-chan's line of sight.
"By the way, Pink?"
"What is it, Onee-sama... Are you going to console me since I have this graffiti on my face?"
"The underwear you have on, it's pretty sexy? ...It looks exactly like my underwear that was stolen from me."
"Bweh!? Uh, umm, these are... I thought that Onee-sama's underwear was nice, so I looked for a pair to buy myself...?"
"Oh, is that so? But mine were a birthday present I received from the mistress, so they were a singular, unique pair."
"!?"
"Hey, Pink...? Where do they sell them, won't you tell me... Since mine were stolen, it's inexcusable to the mistress, so if they are an item for sale, then I'd like to buy one..."
"Awawa...awawawawa..."
"Also, about that graffiti, shall I erase it for you? It will make a hole, but I'll cleanly erase it..."
Along with your life as well, Col whispered in a quiet voice, as she made a terrible smile , and she swapped the cylinder of the revolver that instantly appeared in her right hand. The bullets that were loaded in Col's usual beloved dual wielded handguns were 38 special bullets (non-enchanted) that were mainly used as tsukkomis or punishments against immortal monsters. But swapping out the cylinder meant the bullets loaded in them were 357 magnum bullets that could threaten a monster's life (of course, these were enchanted), and it increased Col's "killing rank" by 2 ranks (according to Pink-chan's study), and Pink-chan knew this, so taking off the underwear surprisingly quickly and offering them to Col, she cried and begged for her life.
"I already have three holes, so please forgive me! I'm sorry~!!"

"...What's this?"
"Head chamberlain, you forgot your own maintenance and finally broke?"
Elza and Mifi, returning home just shortly after the game ended, asked in confusion. Col, meeting them while strangely blushing in embarrassment, had numerous maids following behind her, but they weren't looking at Elza, but Col instead. Mostly around her ass.
"We played a game with the little mistress, and I lost, so I have to do a penalty game. The little mistress took pity on me, and allowed me to have an apron and garterbelt."
"The little mistress probably didn't realize that this is even more sexy... It's very fresh to have the head chamberlain in this outfit."
"...Is that also a penalty game?"
"That's... I suppose you could call it punishment, or taking the law into my own hands."
"...Ah, I see."
Elza was looking at the top of the stairs at the end of the hall, where Pink-chan was blindfolded and had her skirt flipped up, with her bottom half completely exposed. Her body was bent forward at a 90 degrees angle, with her hands and legs bound by rope around the handrails, on view for all to see. In addition, Col had taken back her underwear, and she was not given a new pair to wear.

"Fwaaaah... I can't see, but I'm being seen. Everyone's looking at me, just like Onee-samaaaa... Ahah, it feels so good."
"...Mmm!"
Elza stared at Pink-chan, and after nodding her head, looking around the room.
"Where's Ran?"
"She had been moving around almost the entire day today, so she was tired, and even though it's early, she went to sleep."
"...Ah, I see."
Staggering as she walked, Elza once again stared at Pink-chan, and went up the stairs, saying that she was also tired and was going to sleep.
"Ah, oh yeah. Col."
"Yes?"
"If they're fast about it, sometime tomorrow, you'll receive a request from the Sweepers. Depending on how it goes, the guard maids might also need to help out, so be prepared."
"Yes...? And what is this for?"
After climbing the stairs, Elza caressed Pink-chan's ass, and said with a serious look on her face.
"Aiina hit the jackpot and found a hint about Ran's corpse. It seems to be in a nearby town. If they accept my request, we may have to invade the location to settle this, so it will get busy, and we might need to have some excuse. Originally, our investigation was illegal, so the proof we got might be a burden to the Sweepers. So we should look around for any suspicious places. Col, you might also need to help, so be prepared."
"Understood."
Kicking the maids who were in close distance and had an oddly low angle view, Col thought she was going to get a reprimand from Elza for doing this whole production while she was away. But contrary to her expectations, she was confused by the contents of their conversion, and intuitively felt that the would have to fight this suspicious group.

"...But still, it's very unusual for the mistress to only caress Pink's ass. Though, normally, in that situation, it wouldn't be strange to begin with that. And it's just a shock for me to be ignored looking like this."
"Even without your concern, it's plenty amazing, head chamberlain. But the mistress is just really tired. Anyway, we got a little too excited as we were solving the problem today, and afterwards, when we grasped the information about the little mistress, she was excited, and when we broke the encryption and saw decades worth of experimental data, she kept on gazing at it. I only saw it from the side, but it made me sleepy, so for the mistress, it must be as exhausting as several sleepless nights. Aiina, who repaired the data, towards the end, fell asleep as she was with the mistress.
"I'd like to congratulate you for having completed it without any problems, but... I don't understand what happened after, where you investigating or were you flirting?"
"Mainly investigating. No, I guess decoding is more correct. Just that whenever the mistress would get hung up, she would use Aiina and myself to cool down."
In that situation, that's all I can do, said Mifi, as she tried to hold back a yawn and gave some kind of licking gesture. Ah, that must be the famed sage mode, Col said, as she nodded her head in agreement.