Kelebor Fortress
At the same time…
In a darkness so thick that one could not see an inch ahead, someone was moving.
The heavy stench of blood that clung to the air, the stains spread across the ground, and the scattered scraps of flesh that had yet to be cleared away all spoke, however faintly, of the horrors that had unfolded here.
"Haa…"
Gazing upon the utterly wretched scene, the man let out a low sigh.
His black cloak was, at a glance, an article of considerable luxury. A chain of black metal held it firmly in place so that it would not slip from his shoulders, and beneath it he wore garments of pure, unadorned black. Yet more striking than anything else was the mask that covered his face. Save for the violet eyes visible through the holes, the mask itself was a black so deep it seemed to drink in the abyss—darker still amid the surrounding gloom.
"Could it be… that we've been found out?"
Muttering thus, the man turned his head. Dense trees blocked every view, yet the direction he faced was the heart of the countship—precisely toward the mansion of the Valentine family.
"It seems I grew far too complacent."
With that quiet remark he bent toward the earth. A black-gloved hand slipped free of the cloak and slowly brushed across the ground. In the next instant a violet aura flickered from his palm and began to spread outward along the soil, weaving itself like a sinister net. At the same moment a chill wind rose through the forest where not a breath of air had stirred before.
…
Watching the spectacle in silence, the man turned and strode deeper into the woods. The instant his figure vanished into the darkness, the howls of monsters began to echo through the trees.
The following morning, at the Valentine family mansion.
"It appears an investigation team has been dispatched from the capital."
"What? Already?"
Milia’s eyes widened in surprise as Bernus set down his teacup. It was only natural; word had reached the capital just the night before. Less than ten hours had passed. Even for a matter of this gravity, the speed was nothing short of instantaneous.
"The kingdom must have judged the incident to be quite serious indeed."
The Valentine Countship stood as the kingdom’s foremost bulwark against the northern barbarians. The appearance of an unidentified monster in such a place was a matter that touched directly upon the realm’s security; the swift formation of an investigation team was hardly surprising.
"They set out at dawn, so they should arrive sometime this afternoon."
"Ugh… Things are going to be chaotic for a while."
An investigator was, after all, a direct proxy of the king. Even Bernus could not treat such a person lightly. Once the investigator arrived, the atmosphere of the household would inevitably grow unsettled—that much was undeniable.
"Haa… Just when I thought I might finally rest for a while, this is what I get…"
After days of relentless work she had hoped for a chance to recover, only for an unidentified monster to appear out of nowhere and shatter every plan she had carefully laid. Milia had every right to feel aggrieved.
"Don’t take it so hard, dear. Nothing is certain yet."
"I hope you’re right…"
Milia answered Melissa’s gentle words of comfort in a voice drained of strength.
"Come now. None of that—come here."
"Mother, really… Do you still think I’m a child?"
Perhaps pitying her daughter’s weary look, Melissa opened her arms. Milia averted her gaze in embarrassment. Strictly speaking she was still a child, yet no one present would have been so tactless as to say so aloud.
"In your mother’s eyes you will always be a little girl, no matter how old you grow. Now, don’t be shy—come."
"Ugh…"
Under Melissa’s persistent coaxing Milia let out a low groan, rose reluctantly from her seat, and stepped into her mother’s embrace. Melissa gazed down at her with fond satisfaction and slowly stroked her hair.
"Milia, it’s good to feel responsible, but leave matters like this to your father and me for now."
"…All right."
At only sixteen there was little she could truly do, and Milia knew it well. She nodded without complaint.
"There’s a good girl."
"Mother…"
Her voice already lighter, Milia slipped free of Melissa’s arms. At that same moment the door opened and the mansion’s maids wheeled in a cart laden with breakfast. And so the morning of the count’s household quietly continued on its way.
That same afternoon.
"So this is Kelebor Fortress…"
Gazing out the carriage window at the colossal fortress, Schwarz let out a voice full of awe. The massive citadel he had only ever seen in films and books filled him at once with grandeur and intimidation.
"What are you so fascinated by? It’s not as if this is your first time seeing it."
"I’ve never seen it this close before, My Lady."
Schwarz’s eyes sparkled as he answered the puzzled Milia. She was right that it was not his first glimpse of the fortress—yet until now he had only ever flown past it high above the countship with her. Any man, after all, was bound to be drawn to something so vast and imposing. Of course Milia, who could not possibly know that, simply stared at him in incomprehension.
Meanwhile the carriage passed through the gates. The guards on duty bowed their heads as it rolled by. Amid the bustle of countless soldiers the carriage crossed the training grounds and slowed as it reached the entrance of the keep. The moment it halted, Schwarz stepped down and offered Milia his hand.
"Welcome, My Lady."
A man who appeared to be the fortress commander bowed as she alighted. He stood a full half-head taller than an ordinary adult male, his skin darkened by the sun, his frame thick with corded muscle. Yet the most striking feature of all was the great vertical scar that cut across his eye. Had he not been wearing the uniform of the Valentine family, anyone would have taken him for a bandit without a second thought.
Karl Nemeris—current head of the Viscount Nemeris house that had served the Valentines for generations, and lord of Kelebor Fortress.
"It’s been a long time, Viscount Nemeris."
Even before such a towering figure Milia showed not the slightest intimidation; she smiled lightly, as though greeting an old friend.
"You’ve grown considerably since last we met."
"And you look exactly the same, Viscount."
To an outsider the scene might have looked as though Viscount Nemeris were threatening the young lady.
"Incidentally, this is a face I don’t recognize."
Turning his head, the viscount fixed his gaze on Schwarz.
"Forgive the late introduction. This is Schwarz—my personal attendant."
"A pleasure to meet you, Viscount Nemeris."
At Milia’s introduction Schwarz bowed politely. The viscount studied him carefully for a long moment.
"Um… is something the matter?"
"Ho… So you’re the servant everyone’s been talking about."
Feeling the weight of that stare, Schwarz asked cautiously; Viscount Nemeris narrowed his eyes as he replied.
"The rumors…?"
"The ones that say the young lady’s attendant won the Academy’s martial arts tournament."
"Ah…"
That the story had reached even this far… For Schwarz, who preferred to avoid attention, it was nothing short of awkward.
"But is the rumor true? Looking at you, you seem far too slender…"
"I hear that rather often."
Schwarz answered the skeptical viscount with a calm face.
"Don’t judge by appearances alone. He may well be stronger than you, Viscount."
"Oh-ho… Is that so?"
At Milia’s words Viscount Nemeris narrowed his eyes still further and regarded Schwarz. A strange unease prickled down the boy’s spine under that stare.
"In that case, how about a bout with me?"
"What?! W-wait a moment…!!"
How had the conversation suddenly taken this turn?! Schwarz cried out in alarm.
"Very well. But if you lose, you’ll have to apologize for underestimating Schwarz."
"Oh-ho? Is that so?"
Before Schwarz could protest further, Milia answered in his place, and the viscount’s eyes lit up with interest.
Ah. I’m done for.
"Excellent! Then let’s have a match right now!"
Seeing those eyes, Schwarz thought exactly that—and at the same moment Viscount Nemeris let out a hearty laugh and strode toward the training grounds. Schwarz shot Milia a look of pure reproach.
"Do your best."
"…"
At her quiet words of encouragement, Schwarz felt a sharp throb begin behind his temples.