The Alway Ducal Family villa was engulfed in flames.
This was not the fault of the Royal Mage Corps, which had been taken over by the Orthodox Magician Army.
“Hmph—Is this all the prowess a magician tasked with national defense possesses?”
Rosa Roen, heir apparent to Waalthe, the continent’s foremost assassination organization, swayed her scorching hair and was clad in flames.
While her attire as a waitress from her part-time job seemed somewhat out of place compared to combat uniforms, the flames consuming the ducal family’s residence were her doing.
“…Abomination.”
Before her eyes, the final enemy crumbled into ash, a dying word of terror left behind.
“Say whatever you wish. The words of a loser are ultimately unheard by anyone anyway.”
Rosa spat back, devoid of emotion.
“Lady Rosa!”
However, as a boy’s voice echoed from behind, her eyes held a flicker of emotion. The warmth and shyness breathed human vitality into her, who had mechanically dispatched people like ice while sheathed in flames.
“Are you unharmed, Lady Rosa?”
“Of course. Master Conrad. There were numbers, but none possessed the strength to defeat me. More importantly, even though I am protecting you with flames, you can’t be sure what might happen, so please go inside the mansion.”
“But…”
Rosa realized her cheeks had involuntarily softened.
Conrad Alway. The youngest son of the ducal family, still bearing the traces of youth. He was also the younger brother of a friend she stayed with, and a peculiar individual who harbored feelings for someone like her.
It was the same now. To worry about Rosa, who had burned people to death without hesitation due to her overwhelming power—they truly said love is blind.
“Mother will worry. Come now.”
She forced a gentle tone and urged the boy back into the mansion.
Seeing the boy repeatedly look back like a puppy concerned for its master, she almost called out to him, but she had to refrain.
As Conrad vanished into the mansion, she finally let out a breath. Then, she glanced at the attackers lying fallen in the mansion’s courtyard.
“I wonder why the Royal Mage Corps moved at this timing. Something I’m unaware of is happening.”
Rosa’s presence at this villa was a coincidence.
As usual, while out for her part-time job, she received a letter from Conrad’s servant requesting a meeting and came to see him today. She had grown accustomed to being welcomed by his mother and was having a trivial conversation when—the mansion was surrounded by the Royal Mage Corps.
It was fortunate for the Alway Ducal Family, and unfortunate for the Royal Mage Corps.
A battle ensued with the mages who targeted Rosa for elimination. However, even with just her alone, the fundamental difference in combat power was evident, leading to the current outcome.
The flames enveloping the mansion were also a defensive measure, unleashed by breaking Waalthe’s seals to protect the residence.
“It’s likely that nobles other than the Alway Ducal Family are also being attacked—however, I’m more concerned about the safety of Olivier and the others.”
The surge of magic power during the battle, fueled by rage, must have been Jared’s.
This meant Olivier and the others were attacked in the same manner.
However, Rosa could not move from this spot. The Alway Ducal Family’s safety was entirely due to her.
“I’ve changed too. I never thought I’d come to care so much about others.”
It was a surprising change, but not an unwelcome one.
If Rosa herself liked the person she had become, then it was fine.
“Jared, I will not move from this spot. It will also be for Olivier’s sake.”
Anxiety lingered for her nephew, who was not present. While he was a prodigy whose raw combat power surpassed hers, his leniency was notable. It couldn’t be helped, perhaps, as he wasn’t an assassin, but it was understandable to think that this softness could be a hindrance in a pinch.
The longer her nephew’s leniency lagged behind, the more it would impede him. Rosa prayed that the attack on the mansion had not reached that point.
“Is that… Duke Alway?”
Upon spotting an approaching figure, she also advanced. It was at that moment.
“—!”
Thunder boomed.
Lightning, imbued with magic, struck the separate residence of the Alway Ducal Family, located a distance away.
The magic power felt was equal to her own—no, even greater.
“I see, so he has made his move. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Knowing that reinforcements had arrived, Rosa simply prayed for the safety of those who called her family.
