A stir.
The moment Rei mentioned the previous night's incident, the presence radiating from the two men serving as gatekeepers intensified.
It hadn't quite reached the level of murderous intent, but there was a palpable resolve in the air—the silent promise that they would strike down anyone who stepped out of line. One of the gatekeepers spoke, his posture stiff with vigilance.
"By 'the incident last night,' I take it you are referring to the raid on the warehouse?"
Despite having a ferocious face that would terrify any child, his words were surprisingly polite.
However, that only served to heighten the sense of dissonance.
The gatekeeper responded with an intensity that carried a certain weight of dread. Rei, however, simply nodded as if none of it affected him.
"Yeah. I heard that on the very day we brought in the Anomaly Species corpse we defeated, the place was attacked. Naturally, I was concerned."
"……Understood. Please wait a moment."
Giving a short reply, one of the two men headed toward the estate.
"Things are certainly tense around here," Rei muttered, watching the retreating back of the gatekeeper.
The remaining man gave a small, grim nod. "As you are aware, everyone is on edge after yesterday's raid. My apologies."
"No, don't worry about it. Your comrades were killed. I understand why you’re all on high alert."
"Guruuu."
Rei murmured his understanding, and Seto let out a low rumble in his throat as if to signal his agreement.
The fact that the man showed no surprise at the presence of a Gryphon was likely a testament to how heavily the current situation weighed on his mind.
From then on, the man simply stood his post in silence. Rei and Elena remained still as well, waiting patiently within the heavy atmosphere pervading the area.
About five minutes passed.
"Thank you for waiting. Lord Bosk is expecting you, so please come inside. However, regarding the Gryphon……"
The returning gatekeeper announced this with a bow. Rei nodded, already ahead of him.
"Seto."
"Guruuu."
At Rei's call, Seto let out a rumble as if to say he understood without being told. He headed toward the yard with Iero still perched on his back.
Though the yard essentially functioned as a training ground, it still retained enough nature for the Gryphon to find a spot to kill time.
As members of House Silwa, the gatekeepers felt some reservations about letting a monster move through the estate grounds as it pleased, but since Bosk had personally ordered them to grant the duo freedom, they said nothing more and returned to their duties.
"Welcome. Thank you for coming."
The one who greeted Rei and Elena as they entered the mansion was a man in his late 20s or 30s. This was Sanctions, the Head Butler of House Silwa, whose sharp eyes and green hair were his most striking features.
Just as when Rei had first met him in the guild hallway, his expression remained perfectly calm.
Because of this, the contrast between him and the adventurers guarding the estate with such a heavy aura was striking.
(……No, even so, he looks less composed than before.)
Though it didn't show on his face, an air of profound exhaustion emanated from Sanctions. Rei and Elena both realized it was only natural.
As far as the two of them knew, House Silwa was a martial organization led by Bosk, a man of action. While Rei had seen him handle paperwork properly, Bosk’s essence was that of a warrior.
Furthermore, those who served House Silwa or owed them a debt mostly admired Bosk’s strength, and thus the household was filled with people of similar temperaments.
Among them, Sanctions was perhaps the only true intellectual. In a sense, he was the pillar who supported House Silwa even more than Bosk did.
Consequently, the burden currently placed on Sanctions had to be staggering.
"I imagine you know why we’re here without us having to say it," Rei began.
"Yes. Regarding the matter from last night. We wanted to contact you two as soon as possible as well, so your arrival is actually quite convenient."
"Contact us?"
When Rei reflexively questioned the unexpected statement, the Head Butler of House Silwa nodded.
"Yes. However, please hear the details from Lord Bosk himself. This way."
With that, he immediately began leading Rei and Elena down the hallway.
The two exchanged a brief glance but followed after Sanctions, deciding there was no point in lingering and that they had come to hear the facts anyway.
After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a room located deep within the mansion. Sanctions knocked on the door.
"Lord Bosk, Elena-sama and Rei-sama have arrived."
"Enter."
A short reply.
Even with just that one word, the fury contained within was palpable even through the heavy door.
(Well, it's only natural.)
The pride of House Silwa had been trampled, dragged through the mud, and mocked. Perhaps it was a miracle Bosk hadn't gone on a rampage yet.
At any rate, Rei and Elena entered the room opened by Sanctions. They were surprised to see Bosk sitting in a large chair custom-made for his massive physique.
He was certainly radiating fury, but for some reason, his expression was strangely calm.
However, they immediately realized that was an illusion.
While his expression appeared steady, a fierce, primal rage flickered deep within his eyes. He gave off the air of a predator holding its breath right before lunging at its prey.
Perhaps it was because Bosk was in this volatile state that Sanctions had chosen not to enter the room with them.
"Yo. You're here early. I figured you wouldn't want to poke your noses too deep into this mess."
His voice was mild, but it was the kind of mildness that would make most listeners shiver.
However, the two currently in the room gave small nods, showing no reaction to Bosk's state. It was an attitude born from the fact that the number of life-or-death situations they had survived surpassed even those of the Head of House Silwa.
"Well, when I hear the place was raided the very night we brought in the Anomaly Species, I can't exactly ignore it," Rei said.
In Rei's case, he had a vested interest in the Anomaly Species.
Why did a Magic Power Backflow occur with the Death Scythe, yet nothing happened when Seto absorbed the Queen Bee of the Sword Bees Magic Stone? Why were Anomaly Species appearing on various floors of the dungeon? Why did they possess power several levels higher than other monsters?
He had handed over the Spear Frog Anomaly Species at House Silwa's Warehouse in hopes of gaining even a shred of information regarding those mysteries, and this was the result.
"I see. Well, I suppose so. Rest easy. I know who the culprit is."
In response to Rei's words, Bosk replied with a ferocious smile playing on his lips.
Rei's eyes widened. Since members of House Silwa were still searching for the culprit all over the city, he hadn't thought they had gathered any solid leads yet.
Granted, Rei had come to the estate precisely because he had no other way to get information.
But if that was the case, one question remained.
"Then what's with the guys in the city?"
Exactly. The adventurers currently in the city trying to find even the slightest clue to the attackers. Rei asked why they would bother with such a public display if the culprits had already been identified.
Bosk’s smile widened, looking more like a snarl. "It's so they don't realize we've figured it out. After all, those bastards probably don't think for a second that we'd know it was their doing this quickly. We'll make them think we're desperate and blind, then strike while they're off guard and make them pay for this in blood."
"Will it really go that smoothly?"
"There shouldn't be any problem. They likely don't realize they made a mistake. Even the evidence we used to pin it on them was something we obtained almost by pure luck."
Rei decided it would be useless to say anything more to Bosk, who looked determined to exact his vengeance. Besides, Rei hadn't come to stop him. He had come to gain information on the party likely connected to the Anomaly Species, so trying to talk Bosk out of a fight would be counterproductive.
In the midst of this, Elena, who had been listening in silence, spoke up.
"Bosk, may I ask what that evidence is?"
"No, sorry, but I want to keep the number of people who know about this as small as possible. Very few people know that evidence even exists. I only told you two because I know for a fact you aren't involved in this. But I can't give you anything more than that."
"……Even if I am the one asking?"
The words of Elena, the Daughter of Duke Kerebel.
Knowing full well how much weight those words carried, Bosk nonetheless nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"That's right. Even if you're the one asking. A great number of my younger brothers were killed in this incident. It was a one-sided slaughter, a cowardly surprise attack. For the sake of the men who looked up to me, I absolutely cannot back down here."
The sound of teeth grinding echoed throughout the room.
Elena realized that further persuasion would be futile and let out a small sigh. Just as she was about to speak again, Bosk continued as if to preempt her.
"However, if adventurers as skilled as you two were to become my allies, it would be a dream come true for me. If you were allies I could trust without needing to worry about secrets, I wouldn't mind telling you about the evidence as well…… What will you do?"
In response to that question, after a few seconds of silence, Elena gave a small shake of her head.
"No. I have no intention of getting involved in Exil's power struggle. If my true identity were revealed, it would only lead to further political complications."
"True enough. Then, what about you, Rei? You don't have any of those troublesome noble connections, do you?"
Whether Elena's refusal was expected or not, Bosk immediately turned the question to Rei. He hadn't expected the Princess General to lend a hand, but he likely thought that Rei might be a different story.
Rei did have some connections with nobles, such as his relationship with Daskar, the Lord of Gilm. However, he himself was indeed just an ordinary—albeit extremely skilled—adventurer. Compared to Elena, his ties to the aristocracy were far thinner.
But after thinking for a few seconds, Rei shook his head.
"No, I'll pass. I have my reasons for being interested, but siding with House Silwa here would lead to exactly the kind of mess Elena mentioned."
"……I see. A shame, but it can't be helped. Then, I'm sorry, but please leave for today. Things are about to get busy, and I don't have time to entertain guests."
At Bosk's words, Rei and Elena exchanged glances and gave small nods.
"Understood. It's true that staying here would only get in your way. ……But listen well. Whether it's a power struggle or a retaliation, if any ordinary citizens in Exil are harmed……"
Stopping her sentence there, Elena glared at Bosk's massive frame.
It was an intense gaze—one that felt as if it possessed actual physical pressure. Bosk's body flinched for an instant, but eventually, he gave a small nod.
"Naturally. I am the Head of House Silwa that governs Exil. I will not engage in anything that mindlessly harms the people. I promise you that."
"I see. Then it's fine. ……Rei, let's go. There is nothing more we can do here."
"Yeah."
They turned on their heels and left the room, feeling Bosk's gaze on their backs until the door closed.
The moment Rei and Elena vanished, sweat broke out across Bosk's forehead and back. His body was cold, yet his skin felt hot—a chill that was entirely contradictory to the heat of his anger.
"The alias of the Princess General wasn't just for show…… huh. But I can't stop. Not until I've settled the score for the men who died."
Desperately forcing strength back into his failing body, he focused his mind on the coming war.
"……I see. So Lord Bosk truly will not stop."
As he escorted Rei and Elena out of the mansion, Sanctions let out a small, tired sigh.
Seeing that, the two reflexively showed puzzled expressions. For a loyal subordinate of Bosk, he sounded as if he believed the retaliation should be abandoned.
"Is something wrong?" Rei asked.
"There is indeed evidence of who the attackers were. However, to me, it feels as if that evidence was left behind intentionally…… no, considering it was in a place so difficult to find, it might just be my imagination. But I simply cannot help but feel as if we are dancing on the palm of someone's hand."
"Then shouldn't you try harder to stop him?"
At Rei's impulsive words, Sanctions shook his head.
"No. I have no proof of such a thing. It is merely a feeling. Besides, Lord Bosk has a deep affection for his subordinates. If they've been brutally slaughtered, then……"
Listening to Sanctions' regretful murmur, Rei and Elena could not help but wonder what their own next move should be.