The heavy doors closed, sealing tension inside the chamber.
Maps and mana detectors lay spread across the thick wooden table, and three faces were stiff with unease.
(…A manor appearing out of nowhere in the forest.
A perception‑blocking barrier.
And that place is “Tarmane’s domain”?
Absurd… yet…)
Gustav, Margrave of Felsen, ran a hand through his glossy blond hair and let out a low groan.
“…So, Bartos. You truly heard that name?”
Knight Commander Bartos struck his armored chest with a fist and nodded solemnly.
“Yes, my lord. She declared it herself. ‘Tarmane.’”
At that name, Elven mage Elishua flinched.
“…Tarmane. Apostle of the God of Darkness.
A being even the Demon King’s army feared during the Great War a thousand years ago…
That name?”
Bartos nodded deeply.
“Yes. The woman in black who appeared before the manor…
No—she was no mere woman.
Her mana was… different.
Like an endless abyss given form.”
Gustav pressed a hand to his forehead.
(A legendary being guarding a manor that appeared overnight…?
Impossible… yet…)
“…As unbelievable as it sounds, the situation leaves little room for doubt. Continue.”
Elishua pointed to the mana detector on the table.
“My lord, please look here.
The mana density in the forest has shifted drastically since yesterday.
This cannot be explained by natural causes.
This is… a ‘domain.’
Proof that a powerful entity has claimed territory.”
Gustav’s face paled.
“…So she is real.”
Bartos clenched his fist.
“Lady Tarmane spoke thus:
‘Do not cause needless noise.
If you must visit, come with decorum, in groups of two or three.
And reveal nothing of my existence to the master of the manor.’”
Elishua frowned.
“The master of the manor…?
Then someone else lives there?”
Bartos nodded.
“Yes. Lady Tarmane appeared to be protecting him.
The master seemed… an ordinary human, but…”
(A legendary being protecting a human…?
Who could he be?)
Gustav narrowed his eyes.
“…Bartos. Did you see this ‘master’?”
Bartos looked away, as if embarrassed.
“…Yes. But… he appeared to be just a man.
From what little I saw through the gate… he seemed frightened inside the manor.”
Elishua’s eyes widened.
“…A man protected by Tarmane herself… an ordinary person?
Impossible…”
Gustav folded his arms.
“That man may be the key.
There must be a reason Tarmane protects him.”
Elishua nodded quietly.
“…We must investigate.
But with utmost caution, so as not to provoke her.”
Bartos spoke firmly.
“Lady Tarmane permitted visits of ‘two or three.’
In that case, it is safest for us to return.”
“Agreed. A large group would only provoke her.”
Gustav looked at the two of them and raised two fingers.
“First: determine who the master of the manor is.
Second: confirm whether he bears any hostility toward Felsen.”
Elishua bowed deeply.
“Understood.
I will keep mana probing to a minimum, so as not to alert Tarmane.”
Bartos struck his chest again.
“My lord, we will carry out this mission safely, without fail.”
(…Will it truly be safe?
Before a being like that…?)
Despite the weight in his chest, Gustav issued the order.
“Go.
The future of Felsen rests on your shoulders.”
Bartos and Elishua nodded silently and left the chamber.
(Tarmane… the legendary Apostle of Darkness.
If she has truly descended upon this land…
We may be standing at a turning point in history.)
Gustav exhaled deeply.
Meanwhile—
inside the manor, Kazuya was eating chikuwa while watching videos.
The margrave’s sigh reached no one.
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