“Over here.”

Following the scent, Froy halted, revealing the sight of dead bodies before them.

Several imperial palace servants lay scattered on the ground, their forms unrecognizable.

Grrrr-

And in the corner of the garden where Rosha’s gaze fell, a massive beast-like monster was charging at the sole surviving woman.

“Oh no…”

It was already too late to cast magic.

She hurriedly raised her mana and attempted the fastest spell possible, but it still seemed unlikely to prevent the woman’s imminent death.

Would she have to witness another life snuffed out?

As she watched helplessly, her eyes caught Nardil reaching the demon first.

He had arrived almost simultaneously with Froy’s ability, an inhuman speed, but he was unarmed.

Sensing his presence, the demon swung its massive forelimbs. Its long, obsidian-like claws now targeted both Nardil and the woman.

However, Nardil didn’t retreat.

Instead, with reckless audacity, he caught and halted one of the demon’s claws.

Barehanded, no less!

‘…Just what is his body made of?’

Bewildering, but understandable if he possessed a physical enhancement ability.

The claw gripped in his hand crumbled like a sugar sculpture.

Immediately after, the long fire arrow Rosha had unleashed with magic mercilessly pierced the demon’s head.

Fwish!

As if unable to comprehend what happened, the huge demon blinked its enormous eyes before crashing to the ground.

Its difficulty level was similar to the lion-shaped demonic beast she and Cassis had faced before. Back then, her lack of mana had left her struggling, but now it was a one-hit affair.

“Are you alright?”

Nardil approached the woman who had nearly died, checking for any injuries.

Seemingly a palace servant, she thankfully only appeared shaken, seemingly smitten after being rescued.

Regardless.

“Why did a demonic beast suddenly appear? Did a rift open somewhere within the palace?”

“Who knows…”

Froy seemed to have an inkling, but before she could inquire further, a white parrot swiftly flew over.

“Huff, puff, so fast.”

Landing safely on Rosha’s shoulder, Koko grumbled while catching his breath.

Then, ignoring Froy’s inscrutable gaze, he demanded:

“Let’s hurry back to the ballroom. I rushed over in such a fluster that I’m starving.”

“Starving, what are you…”

Reflexively responding, Rosha abruptly paused, sensing something amiss.

Koko originally didn’t consume food.

And he only made such blatant lies for one reason.

“…There’s some danger here, isn’t there?”

“Eh? No there isn’t!”

“What do you mean no? Is there any other reason for you to lie?”

As soon as she confirmed Koko’s stiffened reaction, Rosha widely dispersed her mana in all directions.

As expected.

Even without careful scrutiny, she could instinctively sense it.

An incantation designed to subconsciously deter ordinary people’s approach was active in this vicinity.

Drawn by that pull, she moved towards the small wooded area beside the garden.

“Rosha?”

“Just a moment.”

The further into the woods, the more erratic the mana particle flow became.

What should have flowed naturally like a stream became tangled, twisted, and eventually fixed in place like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web.

Not a regular spell, but a trace of ‘power’ capable of exerting absolute influence over the environment.

“Stop! You mustn’t go any further.”

Finally conceding, Koko confessed obediently.

“It’s the domain of a magician who has reached the 7th stage. At your current level, you won’t be able to do anything and will only end up trapped. Come back after more training.”

However, Rosha didn’t halt her steps.

She too had previously been a 7th stage magician. She could gauge for herself how far she could proceed safely.

Before long, a massive rock formation came into view, its huge stone door bizarrely ajar.

The magician’s domain began in earnest beyond that entrance.

“It leads underground. More spacious than… I expected.”

Froy, who had briefly examined it with his ability, murmured in surprise.

For such a place to exist within the imperial palace was highly suspicious.

‘Come to think of it, not just this.’

The Emperor himself, spouting nonsense about this world being fated for annihilation, was equally suspicious.

She longed to immediately unravel these mysteries, but it wasn’t a place she could currently venture.

With a regretful look, unable to resist Koko’s insistence, Rosha returned to the garden area.

That’s when an unexpected figure appeared.

“My, what a tragic incident, but it seems to have been resolved properly.”

It was Marquis Lycaon, clad in long, flowing mage robes.

At first, she wondered if he was the owner of that domain, but his mana realm fluctuated between the 5th and 6th stages based on her brief observation.

After assessing the situation with a troubled air, the Marquis addressed them:

“For a demonic beast to appear within the imperial palace… it seems there was a minor oversight.”

“…A minor oversight?”

“In any case, pay it no heed. What’s the big deal if a few servants died?”

To so blatantly reveal one’s values and character in a single sentence – that was a certain talent as well.

Unable to simply brush off such an appalling remark, Rosha unconsciously retorted:

“So was it also an ‘oversight’ when your second son lost his life?”

“…What?”

The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in shock.

After meeting Rosha’s disdainful gaze, the incensed Marquis tried to respond, but upon noticing people gradually gathering, he abruptly cut the conversation short.

“Watch, watch your tongue! No matter how recently you’ve recovered, Lady Roshanak, that last statement crossed a line.”

“…”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Visibly stung, Marquis Lycaon hastily departed.

Watching his cowardly retreating figure, Rosha thought.

‘Heres is preferable to Marquis Lycaon and Geoffrey.’

Between one who looks down on commoners as a magician, and one who understands their pain despite not being a magician, the better choice was self-evident.

She had just resolved to bring Heres and topple the Lycaon household soon.

* * *

The next day.

The imperial palace made no official statement, only briefly conveying regret over a minor disturbance during the welcoming ceremony.

Naturally, the monster hunt proceeded as scheduled.

Swooosh!

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve loosened up.”

Cassis lightly rotated his shoulders as he turned around.

Behind him, a large demonic beast riddled with azure beam holes tilted and collapsed.

Groooaaan-

Watching from the rear, Rosha thought.

‘He’s steadily growing into a pillar of the vanguard unit.’

Perhaps thanks to the breathing technique for mana accumulation she had taught him, he had started emanating beam blades.

However, he seemed to be experimenting with alternatives to beam blades, his ability.

For instance, a mana barrier circling and shielding him.

“That shitty kid is really infuriating. Creativity is only supposed to blossom after properly establishing the fundamentals, but he’s just winging it with pure creativity despite knowing nothing.”

Observing Cassis, Koko muttered in exasperation.

“The weird part is that these makeshift techniques somehow work for him…”

“Don’t try to understand it. His instincts are practically monstrous.”

“Still, he should at least know the operating principles, no? His head is filled with pure improvisation.”

Overhearing Koko’s grumbling, Rosha stifled a laugh as she surveyed the area ahead.

She was in the suburbs a few hours’ ride from the capital, here to assist with the monster hunt separately requested by the delegation.

Ever since the first trial, rifts would occasionally open across the continent, spawning monsters.

While the imperial knight order regularly purged those near national roads, most other areas remained unaddressed.

This location was one such place where the monster hunt was taking place.

‘Hmm… it feels a bit strange to be killing monsters on such a nice day though.’

It was late afternoon, with the sun gradually descending from its zenith, its warm rays beautifully illuminating the fully ripened autumn foliage.

Leisurely appreciating the scenery, she had a thought.

Well, what major incident could possibly occur?