....
The sound of crickets can be heard, and the night breeze feels colder ticked by slowly. Eleonor and Karrens, who had been resting, now sat watching King Erico's every movement intently, growing more curious by the moment, though neither dared to ask further. Eleonor, however, seemed to sense what he intended to do, and decided to step outside briefly—only to be stopped by Karrens's firm grip.
"Ugh… sitting still for so long is so boring…" Karrens grumbled inwardly.
Without a word, Eleonor stood up. "I'm stepping out for a moment. There's something I need to take care of."
She had barely moved when she seemed to vanish from her spot.
"Hah? Where do you think you're going?!" Karrens blurted out in surprise, his eyes blazing. He jumped to his feet and caught her by the shoulder before she could get far. "Hey! Wait a second! Where do you think you're rushing off to?"
"Good grief… why does someone always have to stand in my way?" Eleonor thought, exasperated.
She looked at him calmly. "Move aside."
"No," Karrens replied flatly.
"Move aside."
"No."
"Move aside."
"No."
"I swear, this man is deliberately trying to pick a fight," Eleonor thought, her patience thinning.
"Fine then… before you do anything else—"
Before Karrens could finish, Eleonor's hand shot forward.
THWACK!!
A solid punch landed squarely on Karrens's cheek, sending him stumbling back.
"Huh? Did she… just punch me?" Karrens stared in disbelief, touching his stinging cheek. Then a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Oh… so that's how it is. Alright then, I'll play along!"
They broke into a scuffle right there by the door, trading blows with quick, practiced movements, as if releasing all the tension that had been building up.
Meanwhile, completely undistracted by the commotion, King Erico stayed fully focused. He drew the intricate magic circle on the floor with painstaking care. The afternoon sun faded slowly, its golden light dimming, until the final line of the pattern was perfectly complete.
"Hmm… mmm…" he hummed quietly, checking every curve and angle. "Almost done. What else have I missed? Warding seals… energy flow… all seems to be in place. Press on then," he murmured, double‑checking to ensure not a single stroke was out of alignment.
Suddenly, a soft creak cut through the air.
CREAAAAK...
Followed by a long, slow sigh.
"Hah…"
Then slow, rhythmic clapping.
Clap… clap… clap…
"Eh?" Eleonor and Karrens froze mid‑blow, turning as one with puzzled faces.
"Hello there… my sweet children~ Heeheehee…"
The figure appeared beside them as if from nowhere, then patted both their heads gently.
"U‑um… hello… heh… heh…" they stammered, too stunned to move.
Without waiting for permission, the figure took them by the collars, steered them fully into the room, and seated them on the sofa in the corner. There they sat, eyes fixed on King Erico's back as he stood at the center of the circle.
Pat… pat… pat…
The figure tapped their shoulders lightly.
"Now then~ Watch closely what this young man is doing, understood?" it said with a sweet smile that held undeniable authority.
"Yes, Grandmaster!" they answered smartly, sitting bolt upright and staring without blinking.
Once certain the circle was flawless, King Erico approached the iron chest they had carried. He lifted the lid slowly, his hands trembling slightly. Inside lay two old frames: one bearing the portrait of his late wife, Queen Eivana, and the other of the kingdom's legendary ancestor, Queen Rose Thorn.
"Perhaps… this is all I can do for you both," he whispered softly. He closed the chest gently, then set the two photographs carefully at the very center of the magic circle.
Just as he opened his mouth to begin the incantation, a voice cut him off.
"Very well… the summoning rite is ready to begin—"
"Is it truly?"
King Erico jumped violently, turning pale as he spun toward the sound.
"E‑eh?!"
"AAAAHHHHHHHH… W‑why is Grandmaster Mogina here?!" he cried inwardly, utterly bewildered.
Grandmaster Mogina merely glanced sideways with an icy, piercing gaze, then walked calmly to the great window and threw it wide open. Cool night air and brilliant moonlight flooded the room.
Creak… screeech...
Then he turned back to face all three, his voice ringing out with a weight that seemed to freeze the very air.
"You three… COME HERE AT ONCE!!"
Thud…
Thud…
Thud…
Their hearts hammered against their ribs. The magical pressure radiating from him was so immense it grew hard to breathe. Without a second's hesitation, they stepped forward, moving with both respect and dread.
"Y‑yes, Grandmaster," they answered in unison.
....
King Erico, Eleonor Silvio, and Karrens Bluehost sat bolt upright, facing the towering figure before them—who sat watching them with a gaze as sharp as some ancient monster studying its prey.
"W‑why on earth has he come here?" Karrens wondered inwardly.
"Could it be… he has come to help us?" King Erico hoped.
"Ugh… this is so boring. I just want to go back to my room already," Eleonor thought flatly, her expression unchanged.
The three sat utterly still, their faces blank, showing no fear or hesitation whatsoever—an odd sight that only made the moment stranger. Before them, Grandmaster Mogina slowly stretched into a wide, chilling grin.
"Hmm… it looks like it'll be great fun playing with you three!" Mogina murmured.
"Y‑yes?" King Erico asked uncertainly.
Before he could say more, something shot forward like lightning—no warning, no sound, no time to react. King Erico and Karrens, acting on sharp instinct, moved as one, catching the tip of a massive iron arrow that stopped bare inches from Eleonor's eyes.
The gust from its passing ruffled her hair.
"D‑damn… my face was nearly ruined," Eleonor said quietly, her cheeks flushing red with shock and irritation.
"That was insane… it almost hit her," Karrens muttered, glancing at King Erico before releasing the arrow, which dissolved into fine dust.
Grandmaster Mogina chuckled softly, then stood slowly and clapped his hands.
"Well, well, well—excellent reflexes! Alright then~ let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point~"
"???" King Erico, Eleonor, and Karrens exchanged bewildered looks.
Mogina stepped closer to the magic circle, his grin widening until it seemed almost predatory.
"We… are going hunting," he said simply, then paused before adding sharply: "We will find out exactly who this Parasite is—the one that has been hiding and poisoning this palace from within."
Silence fell over the room.
"This man… is completely mad," the three thought in unison, though none dared speak it aloud. The air grew colder still, and they all knew: this night had only just begun, and the true danger was only now revealing itself.
Bonus!!!
"How? Cool, right? wa...ha....ha....ha...."Say Mogina
"Right....you are so cool" said the three of them.
"Who said that? He's half crazy, Eleonor said in her mind.
""I don't know if he's crazy or what he's really great" said Karrens in her mind
"Hu...hu....hu..... Come on~Praise me....praise me...."Mogina's murmur reached their ears.
"Wow... Grandmaster ,why is it always like this? Haaah...."King Erico's Complaint.