"What on earth…"

  "What could have happened here…"

  They were at a loss for words.

  Though they had prepared themselves for something grim, the scene before them was   staggering.

  "G-Grandfather?"

  Celia's gaze fell upon Gaius, lifeless on the floor. His distinctive robe made his identity unmistakable.

  "No! Grandfather!"

  Celia's legs gave way, and she collapsed beside Gaius.

  Rolf rushed to assist, but Celia pushed him away, cradling Gaius's body.

  Seeing Gaius in her arms, Rolf's expression hardened. Despite his extensive battlefield experience, he rarely encountered a corpse subjected to such brutal violence.

  Gaius's head was crushed, his face pressed into the floor, indicating he had been struck from behind or while crouching. Additionally, his throat was slashed, suggesting the attacker had ensured his death by cutting off his airway before he fell.

  "Who could commit such an atrocity…"

  A mournful murmur escaped Rolf's lips. Although he had witnessed countless deaths, Gaius's demise was different. He had been a trusted comrade and friend, making it hard for Rolf to maintain his composure.

  "The culprit is clear the being summoned from another world!"

  Celia's voice, filled with rage, shattered the silence. Her eyes blazed with fury at her grandfather's murder.

  Rolf, witnessing the fire in her eyes, fought to steady his own emotions. As commanding officers, they couldn't afford to falter.

  (It's understandable… They were like family…)

  Celia had lost her parents during a war in her youth, and her grandfather Gaius had taken her in, raising her as both guardian and mentor. This profound bond intensified her grief.

  Despite her anger, Rolf had reservations about her accusation.

  "Lady Celia, while beings from other worlds can become formidable through training, they are typically powerless when first summoned. Their world lacks warfare, and weaponry is restricted."

  "But!"

  "Indeed, suspicion falls on the summoned being, but other scenarios cannot be ruled out."

  Rolf attempted to calm Celia's agitation. They needed her to stay composed to avoid missing crucial details due to her emotional state.

  "First, we need to understand what happened and piece together the circumstances."

  Celia's face tightened as she heeded Rolf's advice. As a young and exceptionally skilled Deputy Court Mage, she was capable of regaining her focus.

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  "I apologize. Lord Rolf judgment is sound."

  Preventing Celia from bowing her head, Rolf promptly issued commands to the soldiers.

  "Examine the condition of the fallen soldiers immediately! Confirm whether the man in unusual clothing is dead! Search this room thoroughly. Look for escape routes or hidden exits! Anything else, Lady Celia?"

  Celia shook her head, still grappling with her loss. Her sharp mind had not yet fully returned.

  "Lord Rolf! Lady Celia"

  A soldier who had been checking the bodies called out urgently.

  "What!? Is it true?"

  Rolf and Celia hurried over to the soldier lying in a pool of blood.

  "L...Lord Rolf"

  The soldier's faint voice confirmed he was still alive.

  "What happened? Explain!"

  "What's going on?"

  Both Rolf and Celia anxiously sought answers.

  "…Lord Rolf… a monster…"

  The soldier's words shifted their expressions drastically. He was the only survivor who could provide insight into the events in the room.

  "What?! A monster?"

  Rolf's face tightened at the mention of a "monster." Celia's mind raced, fearing that her grandfather might have inadvertently summoned a dangerous entity.

  "What do you mean? Stay calm."

  "G…Gaius…"

  Desperate for clarity, they struggled to piece together the soldier's fragmented account. Though they learned that a monster was involved, the full details remained elusive.

  "This is dire. Someone, get this soldier to medical attention immediately!"

  "Be clear! What happened to Grandfather? What is this monster?"

  Celia's desperate pleas were interrupted as Rolf ordered the soldier to be taken away for treatment.

  "Why?! Why did you stop me?"

  Celia confronted Rolf, her anger evident. Rolf's firm stance was necessary to prevent her from losing control. Despite her prodigious talent, Celia still faced challenges managing her emotions.

  Though she was beginning to regain her composure, the mention of a "monster" had unsettled her again. If Gaius had died due to a failed summoning, it was a distressing thought.

  "But pressing him further could have been fatal."

  Rolf remained pragmatic, emphasizing the soldier's survival over immediate answers. His reasoning was logical, but Celia's grief clouded her judgment.

  "That's true, but shouldn't we first understand what happened rather than focusing solely on his condition?"

  Celia resisted Rolf's perspective, though she knew he was right. Rolf's experience offered him a clearer view, and his words eventually helped Celia accept the situation.

  "…I understand. I accept Lord Rolf judgment. I apologize for my outburst."

  Taking a deep breath, Celia began to regain her composure. Her confrontation with Rolf helped ease her emotional burden. Experience and age had their advantages, even for a prodigy like Celia.

  "But what about the 'monster' the soldier mentioned…"

  "We can question him thoroughly once he's stabilized. For now, let's focus on what we can address."

  As Rolf calmly directed the soldiers to continue searching the summoning room, a dozen minutes later, He was interrupted once again.

  "Emergency! Lord Rolf—! The medical room! The medical room!"

  A soldier burst into the summoning room, his face etched with urgency.

  "Stay calm and explain what's happening!" Rolf demanded, his voice reverberating through the room.

  Breathing heavily, the soldier struggled to steady himself. "There's been a fire in the medical room. It spread rapidly, and now the pharmacy is ablaze as well."

  Rolf's shock was palpable. "What's the situation with the fire now? Are efforts underway to control it?"

  Rolf's concern was evident. The pharmacy's inventory of flammable materials made the situation even more critical, especially since an injured person had recently been moved to the medical room.

  "The court mages were alerted immediately. The fire is under control now," the soldier reported, offering a small measure of relief to Rolf.

  Rolf glanced at Celia, who was clearly troubled. "Celia, what are your thoughts?"

  "It seems suspicious," Celia replied cautiously.

  "Agreed," Rolf acknowledged. "It does seem too coincidental."

  "Yes, there are too many anomalies," Celia said. "It suggests something more than just an accident."

  Rolf's mind raced as he contemplated the only plausible explanation, though it was difficult to accept.

  "Do you think it's too far fetched?" Celia asked, noticing his hesitation.

  "I'm not sure," Rolf admitted. "I need more concrete evidence."