Chika went outside the mansion to conduct her investigation. She initially hid behind some nearby plants and moved forward cautiously, stopping when she reached the path leading to the paved road that extended from the front of the main house.

"Hmm, it’s just like during the day... no, there are even more guards than in the daytime."

In her line of sight, she could occasionally see private guards moving around the grounds in pairs. It was clear that if she showed herself openly, she would undoubtedly be noticed.

"Well, this is still very early in the quest, so I think I will just proceed carefully for now."

Chika decided to proceed with caution for the time being. While hiding in the shadows, she began to consider which route to take.

"For now, in order to reach the main house, where there seems to be the most information... hmm, it looks like it might be difficult to go there directly from here. In that case... I suppose I will start from here."

The distance between the mansion she had just left and the main residence was a little over a hundred meters. Along the edge of the paved road that she and Eva had walked, some trees had been planted that could provide cover, but it seemed dangerous to proceed along that side for too long, as private guards were constantly moving through the area. Therefore, Chika turned her gaze to the side of the building, toward an area where trees had been planted densely enough to form a grove.

"There are plenty of hiding places over there, so it seems possible to get closer to the main house. There appears to be security as well, but... let’s go."

Lights could be seen flickering even from within the forest, so there were certainly private guards present, and the risk of discovery was real. Nevertheless, the forest offered more places to hide than the paved road, making it the more practical choice. Chika nodded to herself, crouched down, and moved stealthily until she reached the edge of the woods.

"...All right, let’s go."

She waited for a while, hiding in the shadows. After confirming that the guards’ lights had moved into the distance, she stepped into the forest.

"...This way... that way..."

Mindful of tree branches and other obstacles, Chika proceeded cautiously, taking care not to step on branches or fallen leaves and make noise. Whenever a light seemed to be approaching, she moved away, hid behind the trees, and waited until it passed. In this manner, she advanced carefully through the forest.

At this rate, she should be able to get through without any problems—that was what she had begun to think. And then it happened.

"Huh?! Ahh...?!"

The moment Chika placed her foot in the center of a space about five meters in diameter where the trees had thinned out, a rope suddenly shot out from the fallen leaves on the ground, wrapped around her ankle, and pulled her up upside down.

"Ah, what...? A trap...?!"

"Th-that’s...! And, actually, that made quite a lot of noise...?!"

Chika was lifted upside down to a height of about one meter above the ground. She could not contain her surprise, but more than that, she worried about the loud noise that had just occurred. She thought about hurrying to grab the rope, but before she could, two private guards emerged from deeper within the woods.

"What’s going on...? What are you doing? Those clothes... aren’t those our maid’s clothes?"

"An intruder... no, it’s one of our maids. Why is she out here at this hour?"

"Ah... th-that is..." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The two men initially approached with suspicion and a fighting spirit, but when they realized that the person caught in the rope was Chika, dressed in a maid outfit, they raised their voices in confusion. As Chika began to ponder how to answer their question while still hanging upside down, the two men continued.

"You... I don’t recognize you. Are you the one who came in as a maid today? I think your name was Chika..."

"Ah, no doubt about it. This girl just arrived today..."

"Um, well... that..."

Just when she thought they had finished speaking, the two men moved a short distance apart, brought their faces close together, covered their mouths with their hands, and began talking in low voices so that Chika would not hear them. As she watched this scene unfold, Chika tried to think of an excuse.

"...Hehehe."

"Hmm... hehehe."

"Uh..."

"Th-these people...! ♡"

Even as they spoke in hushed tones, she noticed that the men’s glances toward her were becoming lewd and that they were harboring lustful desires. After all, Chika was currently suspended upside down with a rope wrapped around only one of her legs. As a result, her skirt had flipped up, and her other leg hung limply, revealing her panties encased in black tights, her large buttocks, and the full lines of her legs.

"Huh...!? ♡"

"Ah... my panties...! ♡"

Trying to hide from that lecherous gaze, Chika frantically attempted to hold down her skirt, but her position made it difficult. As she struggled, dangling precariously in the air, the two men finished their discussion.

"Okay. Then let’s do that."

"Ah, that settles it. Now, you. You are the woman who got hired today, right? It should be your time to rest by now. The fact that you are here means... have you been planning a robbery?"

"N-No...! Th-this is..."

After finishing their whispered conversation, the two men turned back to Chika, grinning lecherously, and accused her of being a thief. Although in a sense they were the ones plotting something, since she could not honestly say, "Yes, that’s right," Chika raised her voice in denial.

"Is that so? Then why are you here?"

"W-well... I mean... anyway, I was not trying to steal anything...! P-please... could you let me off the hook...?"

"Hmm... For now, I will simply plead my innocence."

However, given the fact that she had been sneaking through the woods at night, Chika had no way to clear the two men’s suspicions. She was troubled about what to do next, but for the time being, she began saying things that sounded plausible.

"Well, let’s see."

"What should we do?"

The two men, after hearing Chika’s plea, pretended to be deep in thought. Then they headed toward a nearby tree and began rummaging around in the bushes.

"What are you doing...? Ahh?!"

Just as Chika raised a question upon seeing that sight, her body was slowly lowered to the ground.

"Um... please let me off the hook...!"

The rope that had been wrapped around her ankles loosened and could be removed, so Chika was now completely free. She thought, Could this be...?

The two men reached for their trousers and exposed their penises at the same time.

"Okay, okay. I suppose since you got caught here, it was just an attempted crime, so we will keep quiet about you. But... we have a condition."

"If you satisfy us, we will keep quiet about what we found here. Use that sexy body of yours."

With their erect penises ready, the two men spoke these words to Chika.

"Uh... uh... yes... I understand..."

Ah... so this is what I have to do in exchange for their silence... I never thought I would have to do this on the very first day... ♡ It is frustrating to have to obey something like this ♡ But I have no choice... I have to do it, right ♡

To their words, Chika grew excited inside. Trembling, she nodded in return.