Lynen’s eyebrow twitched slightly, but he skillfully ignored my words.

He sat down gracefully in the seat next to mine.

“Please sit. Nothing dangerous will happen.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

“Because I’m next to you.”

For a moment I was speechless, just blinking my eyes.

The waiting servant’s eyes also grew wide.

Belatedly realizing the potential misunderstanding, Lynen hurriedly added.

“Because I’m in the seat next to you! I meant because the seats are right next to each other!”

“Oh my.”

This was my chance. I covered my mouth with one hand and laughed at him to my heart’s content.

“You must like me.”

“…!”

Lynen’s face turned pale like he’d heard the most horrifying thing in the world.

Finding it amusing, I was about to tease him more when Lynen became completely serious.

“Lady Offensa. Do not cross the line.”

“The liiiine?”

Saying that you like me crosses the line!?

Now I see he’s someone who can’t even take a joke.

“Fine. When you get married, enjoy being tormented by your brother-in-law who’s young enough to be your son, hmph!”

“What childish… ha!”

He and I turned our heads sharply in opposite directions.

We really don’t get along at all.

‘Still, it seems the apology had some effect.’

Given our bad history, I thought he’d never associate with me again, but here he was approaching me first and talking to me.

Well, anyway, he wasn’t wrong. With Lynen Ortega nearby, there shouldn’t be any danger.

House Ortega was a knightly family that constantly dealt with magical beasts in the North, and I’d heard that Lynen himself was a knight of exceptional skill.

Seated in my place, I fiddled with the pouch tied between the folds of my dress.

‘Though accidents will still happen according to the original story. I’ll just have to heal with Noah’s gift.’

The pouch also contained the mysterious black stone. I felt uneasy leaving it in the annex since it seemed important.

‘The only servant I can trust is the sturdy maid.’

I fiddled with Noah’s rose-shaped embroidery that looked like a caterpillar no matter how I looked at it.

Hehe… so cute…

While covering my grinning lips with the hand propping up my chin haughtily.

The announcer began the formal introduction.

“The first battle will begin shortly! Before the match, guests may place bets on who will win!”

However, few people were willing to bet money on a sport that had been criticized as barbaric.

Then the announcer added, “The profits from these battles will go to charity.”

“20 on the fighter!”

“30 on the magical beast!”

Only then did voices start popping up here and there.

Dietrich must have instructed them to say that.

I anxiously watched the audience that was starting to get excited.

Though order was still somewhat maintained since they were nobles who valued dignity and face, it somehow seemed precarious.

‘This is why accidents are bound to happen.’

My safety and the whereabouts of the silver-haired man.

Focusing on these two things, I watched the magical beast battle that had finally begun from the front row.

* * *

Boom! 

The huge magical beast collapsed after being stabbed by the sword.

“Woooah!”

The mercenary who had faced the magical beast waved in response to the outpouring cheers.

As several matches proceeded without incident, even the nobles who had been worried about safety began to enjoy themselves actively.

The venue became even more chaotic.

Dietrich, seated in the same position as me, had also regained his composure and was smirking.

Meanwhile, I could only grow more tense as I felt the accident drawing closer.

“Now, please turn your attention to the next match. This is the highlight of today’s battles!”

With this announcement, the next magical beast appeared on stage.

Grrrr…

The fur-covered magical beast was much larger than the ones that had appeared before.

And extremely hungry, drool was dripping between its sharp teeth.

“Begin the match!”

With the sound of a bell, the magical beast charged at the mercenary.

The seemingly experienced mercenary skillfully dodged the beast’s claws.

However, as the match progressed, the tide gradually turned and he was pushed back to the edge of the stage.

Between me and the mercenary was only a small space and a translucent wall.

‘They said they installed artifacts for audience protection.’

But not knowing how sturdy it was, I couldn’t help flinching every time the magical beast crashed into the wall.

That’s when it happened.

The mercenary fighting the magical beast looked in my direction.

“…?”

As I frowned, sensing something ominous.

Clang!

The sword in the mercenary’s hand was sent flying far away by the magical beast’s front paw.

“You idiot, focus!”

“Waaah! Finish him off!”

Amidst the contrasting reactions of joy and despair from the audience, the mercenary frantically dodged the magical beast’s attacks.

Then, giving up, he started to run away.

Straight towards where I was!

“…!”

The mercenary came to the edge of the stage and barely changed direction at the last moment.

But the charging magical beast crashed straight into the translucent wall.

Boom!

The magical beast with its face pressed against the wall was right in front of my nose.

Making eye contact with it was inevitable.

Grrrrl…

Its eyes, having lost all reason and turned violent, rolled around and stared straight at me.

Then it started ramming the wall repeatedly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Ugh…”

As I moved back with a chill, Dietrich sneered beside me.

“Why are you so scared? Don’t worry. As if I’d let anything happen to my direct descendant lady? We’re not even married yet.”

Why is this b*stard so calm?

“You didn’t…”

Did you order the mercenary to do this?

Just as I glared at Dietrich.

Crack, crack crack… crash!

The cracks that had been spreading with each of the beast’s headbutts finally shattered in an instant.

“Ahhh! The barrier broke!”

“Kyaaah!”

The cheers filling the theater turned to screams as chaos erupted.

I wanted to run away too, but making direct eye contact with the magical beast larger than a bear made my body freeze up. I couldn’t move.

‘Crazy, crazy, crazy!’

Roaaar!

Just as I squeezed my eyes shut at the sight of the magical beast charging at me.

“Ha, stay put— ugh!”

Dietrich’s words were cut off as someone pulled me into their embrace.

Slash!

Simultaneously, I heard the chilling sound of flesh being cut and the magical beast’s scream.

‘Who saved me?’

Surely not that d*mn Dietrich?

‘No. These firm muscles steadily holding me—’

As I raised my hunched head, my eyes met Lynen’s as he looked down at me.

“Are you alright?”

With my heart shrunk to the size of a bean, I could only nod repeatedly instead of speaking.

Though he was an annoying man, at times like this he was more reliable than anyone.

That’s when Dietrich, who had belatedly intervened, shouted while panting.

“Just disappear quietly!”

At Dietrich’s sword swing, the magical beast stiffened like it had been electrocuted, then collapsed while convulsing.

At a glance it might look like it was defeated by the sword.

‘So this is the effect of the illegal magical tool.’

I caught a glimpse of the magical tool between the beast’s arm fur.

‘The accident that took the silver-haired man’s sight. It was indeed caused by magical beasts going berserk due to illegal magical tools.’

Dietrich must have equipped all the gathered magical beasts with illegal magical tools.

It seems some of those tools malfunctioned, causing accidents like this.

‘There were quite a few large magical beasts I hadn’t expected. If those go wild, unlucky people could get seriously hurt.’

That’s when the anomaly occurred.

Bzzt!

Ominous sparks were flying from the magical tool.

‘That reaction…!’

Knowledge suddenly popped into my head. Calliphe’s knowledge about magical tool operation and abnormal reactions.

Among them, the reaction before my eyes was the most dangerous case.

‘Earlier it was just a matter of unlucky people getting hurt.’

Now everyone in this banquet hall had become an unlucky person.

“Duke Ortega! What do you think you’re doing with another man’s woman—”

“Come here, you.”

I strode over and kicked Dietrich’s shin with all my might.

“Argh! Why are you acting crazy again, you mad woman!?”

“You equipped that magical beast with an illegal magical tool, didn’t you?”

“N-no? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Don’t tell me you used the same command for the other magical tools too? Are all the commands the same?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking… aaagh!”

Suddenly Dietrich’s body went flying sideways like a ball hit by a bat.

The collapsed magical beast had sprung up and struck Dietrich.

“Step back.”

Lynen, who instantly blocked my front, lightly swung his sword.

And before I could tell him anything, he struck the magical beast’s vital point, k*lling it, and even sliced off the magical tool on its arm.

The magical tool split in half was still sparking and vibrating.

I looked at Lynen in surprise.

“You’re quick to assess the situation.”

“Because I was watching.”

Does that mean he knew Dietrich would get attacked too?

“So. What’s going on?”

“Huh?”

“You seem to have something to tell me. About this situation.”

After being briefly surprised, I soon lifted the corners of my mouth.

“I like that you’re quick-witted too.”