As Duke Feriel had mentioned, numerous individuals had gathered near the Marquis Lycaon estate, presenting a standoff between mercenaries and the Marquisate’s knights in roughly equal numbers.

“Why won’t you let us in?”

“What, you intend to slay the monsters inside?”

“We’ve heard there’s a rift within. So why are you barring us, the ones who came to resolve it?”

The mercenaries’ vehement protests visibly flustered the Lycaon knights encircling the estate.

Of course, as the Marquis’s knights, allowing outsiders into the noble residence without permission was unacceptable.

But still…

“…Should we just let them in?”

“I suppose? Given the current circumstances and our lord’s absence.”

The knights were well aware of the political devastation the Lycaon Marquisate was facing, acknowledging many of the alleged offenses.

However, the family’s abrupt flight without proper resolution severely dented their sense of dignity and pride.

The mercenaries’ overwhelming fervor didn’t help matters either.

“Let us into the Marquisate! Let us in!”

“Will you take responsibility if our daughter dies for lack of an elixir?”

Indeed, the mercenaries had primarily flocked here due to the ‘elixirs’.

After MacLennan Aper, the head of the Count Aper family, awakened from his comatose state, the imperial nobles who learned of elixirs’ existence had offered immense rewards.

-They say, elixirs can be obtained from a secret shop within the rifts. Whoever retrieves an elixir will receive a bounty sufficient for three generations to live comfortably.

With the revelation of a massive rift beneath the Lycaon estate, the mercenaries were understandably unwilling to retreat.

“Hmm…”

After exchanging tense looks, the knights eventually sheathed their swords and permitted the mercenaries’ entry.

“Well… go ahead and try your luck inside.”

“Our captain is patrolling within, so don’t cause any trouble – just tend to the rift and nothing else.”

The group of mercenaries who had eagerly nodded their way in soon came fleeing back, screaming in terror.

“Have you lost your minds? Why is something like that inside a noble residence?”

“I can’t enter a rift like that!”

Their actions caused the subsequent mercenary groups, who had been preparing to follow, to flinch apprehensively.

Yet amidst their conflicted state, knights seemed to regain some composure.

Yes, with all the recent rumors surrounding the Lycaon Marquisate, perhaps this was an opportunity to reveal the sacrifices this magician family had silently endured.

“Well, anyone else want to head in? If so, we’ll let you through.”

“…”

“…”

The mercenaries who had previously clamored for entry now fell utterly silent, as if struck mute.

Amid this peculiar impasse, a black carriage had discreetly halted at an isolated spot beyond the crowds’ line of sight.

“Th-This is…”

Heres Lycaon, the haggard, red-haired man aboard that carriage, had been slack-jawed ever since witnessing his family’s plight from outside for the first time after a prolonged indoor confinement.

His expression betrayed utter shock.

Regardless, his seatmate Froy leisurely checked the time before remarking:

“Let’s wait here briefly until Rosha arrives.”

“…Rosha? You address her so informally despite knowing she was my former fiance?”

“It’s quite a pleasant day today.”

Froy continued, gazing through the window at the sky.

“Ideal weather for a hanging, I’d say.”

“…”

“Do you wish to die?”

To be precise, Rosha had never actually been Heres’s fiance, as their engagement had dissolved just prior to being finalized.

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

Ignoring Heres’s mumbled backpedaling, Froy contemplated his recent uncharacteristic behavior regarding Rosha during this unexpected lull.

He couldn’t fathom why he reacted so excessively when it came to her.

‘…No matter how I ponder it, it’s so unlike me.’

Then again, readily sharing his ability with her in the first place had been uncharacteristic as well.

His ability was a formidable weapon capable of instantly exploiting any vulnerability.

He was well aware that revealing its true nature would multiply the inherent risks manyfold.

Yet with Rosha…

‘She is… special.’

While an inadequate descriptor for the profound emotion he felt towards her, that was the closest he could articulate.

There seemed to be something transcending her ability, magic prowess, and experiences from other worlds – an intangible essence binding them together.

Otherwise, he couldn’t explain the fleeting, fog-like visions that occasionally surfaced while observing her.

It was at that moment.

“Ah, something is approaching over there.”

Indeed, a carriage bearing the Feriel Duchy’s crest was steadily nearing.

As it halted before the Lycaon estate’s main gate, occupants disembarked in sequence. Duke Feriel leaning on his cane, followed by Cassis Aper, and finally, a petite woman.

Attired in pants and a short jacket, she seemed prepared to directly enter the rift, with one of her favored ancient relics strapped to her thigh as usual.

“…”

Upon their arrival, the knights tensed noticeably, in stark contrast to their earlier demeanor.

Not only was Roshanak Aper’s presence unsettling, but Duke Feriel – one of the key perpetrators behind the Lycaon Marquisate’s downfall – stood there grinning brazenly.

After casting them a cursory glance, Rosha stated:

“By the authority of the Empire’s Guardian Knight, I intend to inspect the rift within.”

Hearing her familiar voice, Froy conducted one final broad survey of the area.

Fortunately, there were no suspicious signs.

“Let’s disembark.”

Yet at the very moment he and Heres exited the carriage, a disturbance rippled through an area that had previously been vacant – not far from the estate’s main gate, within a nearby thicket.

“…!”

Accompanied by an immense mana surge akin to a powerful spell’s preparation, a sharp killing intent filled the air, as if directed towards someone.

Simultaneously, Froy recalled the report he had received that very morning:

-We’ve located Geoffrey Lycaon. He’s in hiding with his associates, along with a sizeable collection of magic tomes and artifacts.

-However, Marquis Lycaon himself… being a high-ranking magician, his movements are quite elusive. Tracking him may require some time.

A series of facts rapidly coalesced within his mind.

Marquis Lycaon was an obsessive individual fixated on upholding his honor as both a magician and a nobleman.

With that honor shattered by recent events, his pent-up, escalating fury could only find an outlet at this juncture.

Fizzzz-

The immense mana gathered overhead manifested a pitch-black void amidst the clear sky.

From that void, lightning-infused obsidian arrows began raining down relentlessly towards Rosha. Reacting swiftly, Froy summoned his ability while Rosha undoubtedly did the same.

‘What is this now?’

She had at least managed to erect a protective barrier, but this was an unfamiliar magic to her.

Moreover, the mana density indicated a staggering 6th-stage level.

“Rosha!”

Summoning blue beams, Cassis shot down some of the arrows while Froy halted and deflected others, but only momentarily.

Rather than shattering upon impact, the obsidian arrows course-corrected like guided missiles, realigning their trajectories back towards them.

‘Damn it.’

These 6th-stage arrows, condensed from overwhelming mana, would persist unremittingly until utterly depleting their mana reserves.

Neutralizing them would require countering with equal-stage magic.

“Uwaah!”

“Take cover!”

Fortunately, the crowd, likely consisting primarily of mercenaries, reacted swiftly to the perilous situation, immediately fleeing without hesitation.

Witnessing their retreat, Rosha breathed a sigh of relief as she began gathering mana.

‘Looks like I’ll have to properly confront this head-on.’

It was at that precise moment.

Had she sensed the vast mana permeating this space?

“…Huh?”

From within her previously still pocket, a yellow feather suddenly sprouted upwards.