As soon as Yohan entered Veldana, he headed straight for Staviana Castle. An enormous citadel rose before him. If Miyatro Castle had an air of old-world elegance, the Count's castle was the very height of splendor. Even the soldiers guarding its gates wore gleaming armor.

They let Yohan's carriage through without inspection. Inside the castle, iron gate after iron gate opened and closed behind them.

Ilea lifted the curtain slightly and looked outside.

"It seems the Count already knows you're here."

Otherwise, they would never have skipped the inspections. The Count's castle was notorious for how difficult it was to gain entry.

Yohan nodded.

"He was probably informed of our arrival as soon as we crossed the drawbridge."

After a moment's thought, Ilea said, "I think it would be good to establish a similar system in the barony."

Security in the Miyatro domain was far too lax compared with the Count's domain. In truth, anyone could enter the lord's castle if they put their mind to it. The system would have to change.

Yohan said, "As it happens, I plan to overhaul the entire castle once this business is finished."

They needed more staff and repairs to the castle.

"That's a good idea. I'll help, too."

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. Focus on your own mission."

Ilea would become the Count's adopted daughter and take control of aristocratic society. She had no time to spare for anything else.

Her expression grew a little unenthusiastic.

"My mission. So it starts now. It sounds boring already."

The carriage stopped almost as soon as she finished speaking. A knock came at the door, followed by a calm voice.

"We have arrived. Please step out."

Yohan opened the door. An elderly gentleman in a neat tunic was bowing to him. Behind the man stretched a green garden and an ornate building.

Yohan addressed him.

"Good to meet you. Are you the Count's butler?"

"Indeed. Please feel free to call me Baden. It is an honor to meet the Watcher of the Abyss."

The man who introduced himself as Baden was remarkably dignified and composed. Though presumably a commoner, he had the bearing of a nobleman.

"Well then, Baden. Where is His Excellency? I'd like to see him right away."

Baden indicated the building behind him.

"Please come to the annex for now. The Count is attending to another guest."

The Count was an exceedingly busy man. Even high-ranking nobles had to wait several weeks for a private audience. Only a handful of people in the kingdom, Yohan among them, could turn up unannounced and expect to see him.

Yohan nodded.

"It can't be helped. I'll wait. Show me the way."

He headed straight for the building ahead.

* * *

In a guest room in the castle annex, Yohan sipped tea as he waited for the Count. A long while passed, but the Count did not appear. Instead, a familiar face entered the room.

"Sir Yohan, it has been some time."

Maira, the neat-looking middle-aged knight, smiled at him. Yohan returned the greeting with a gentle smile.

"We meet again, Sir Maira."

Maira was the knight who had visited the baronial house to deliver the Count's invitation to Yohan.

"I'm honored that the Watcher of the Abyss even remembers my name."

Yohan waved a hand dismissively.

"There's no need for flattery. I'd like to greet Sir Kembel as well."

Kembel had accompanied Maira on his visit to the baronial house. He was the knight whose face was half covered in scars.

A shadow passed over Maira's expression at the mention of Kembel. He gave an awkward laugh.

"Ha ha, Kembel isn't in Veldana at present. He's away on another assignment."

The corners of Yohan's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

'An assignment? He's a traitor.'

Swayed by Maphel’tan, Kembel had betrayed the Count. By now, he would have thrown in his lot with Third Prince Gawain. Maira was concealing that fact. Yohan knew the whole story, but feigned ignorance.

"A pity, but it can't be helped. Please give Sir Kembel my regards when you next see him."

Maira smiled affably.

"Of course. He'll be disappointed to have missed you, too."

It was merely a courtesy. Kembel bore Yohan no goodwill whatsoever, and Maira knew it perfectly well.

Yohan promptly changed the subject.

"His Excellency must be very busy."

He had been waiting quite some time, yet there was still no sign of the Count.

Maira's expression grew somewhat grave.

"An important guest is here, as it happens."

His dark expression piqued Yohan's curiosity.

"May I ask who it is?"

"The kingdom's margrave, Lord Wolfgang Eisenfeld, is currently in a private audience with His Excellency."

Yohan was taken aback.

'That ghost bound to the North has come down to the central region?'

Wolfgang had many epithets. One was the Ghost Bound to the North. He hardly ever left the region. Even when summoned by the king, he often sent a representative instead.

He had no interest whatsoever in politics. Only one thing interested him: slaughtering demonic beasts. Wolfgang Eisenfeld was an inveterate warmonger. He never spared the peaceful central region so much as a glance.

There was no reason at all for him to visit the Count's domain. Yohan found it deeply puzzling.

"The margrave is here in this castle?"

"Yes. It is most unusual."

It was winter, and winter in the North was a frantic season. As the weather grew colder, the demonic beasts beyond the wall began moving south. Unable to endure the bitter cold, they descended toward the warmer central region.

The warriors of the North had to hold them back. The moment the North fell, the continent would be brutally overrun.

Yet Wolfgang had left the North at a time like this. Try as he might, Yohan could not imagine why.

Yohan stifled a troubled hum.

"Forgive me, Sir Maira, but may I ask one thing? Why has the margrave come south?"

Maira looked somewhat uncomfortable.

"I cannot even venture a guess. I'm sorry I cannot be of help."

Yohan clicked his tongue softly. Just as he was sinking into thought, heavy tremors began shaking the ground. The building was heaving as though an earthquake had struck.

He muttered, "What on earth—"

He never finished. The guest room door burst open.

Yohan and Maira froze, struck by an overwhelming presence. An immense figure towered in the doorway, surveying the room. His eyes were those of a predator watching its prey.

An uneasy silence fell. Maira somehow collected himself and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Y-Your Excellency, Grand Marshal. I greet you."

The intruder was none other than Wolfgang. The kingdom's grand marshal and supreme commander of the North, Wolfgang Eisenfeld, stood before Yohan.

Yohan was utterly disconcerted. To encounter Wolfgang in the Count's domain was something he had not anticipated in the slightest. According to his original plan, their first meeting was still several years away. This encounter had come far too soon.

His mind began to seize up.

'Damn it.'

Wolfgang was an exceedingly temperamental man. The moment Yohan offended him, he would be in serious trouble. Somehow, he had to make a good impression.

Yohan racked his brain, drawing on the original novel to work out how to handle Wolfgang. But Wolfgang gave him no time to think.

He strode into the room. The floor heaved with every step his enormous frame took. His build, his expression, his gaze—all were intensely intimidating.

'Just as the novel described.'

Ordinary humans could not meet Wolfgang's eyes. Even demonic beasts that knew no fear trembled before him. Yohan, too, was a little nervous—no, very nervous. Of course, he let none of it show, keeping his expression as composed as possible.

Wolfgang stopped abruptly before Yohan. Slowly, he spoke.

"How long do you intend to remain seated?"

Yohan had yet to rise. It was, in effect, a breach of etiquette. In the presence of the kingdom's grand marshal, one was expected to stand and pay one's respects.

Yohan answered calmly.

"Until you identify yourself."

One of Wolfgang's eyebrows twitched. Maira was so flustered he did not know what to do.

"S-Sir Yohan, what on earth are you saying? Hurry and pay your respects to His Excellency!"

Yohan frowned.

"Are you telling me this ruffian is truly His Excellency the Grand Marshal?"

Maira went deathly pale. Count Staviana, who had entered after Wolfgang, quietly watched the two of them.

A vein bulged on Wolfgang's forehead. Staring straight at Yohan, he said,

"... A ruffian?"

Yohan did not avert his eyes.

"Surely you aren't offended? You have no right to be angry."

Wolfgang had shown Yohan no courtesy. He had barged into the guest room without permission and was treating him as an inferior. Strictly speaking, Wolfgang had been the first to give offense.

Wolfgang spoke in a low voice.

"My name is Wolfgang. Does that give me the right now?"

Yohan showed no sign of agitation. He merely gave a faint smirk.

"Can you prove it?"

Wolfgang let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Say that again, whelp."

Even in his hundred and fifty years of life, he had rarely encountered a situation like this.

Yohan spoke evenly.

"I find it very difficult to believe that you are His Excellency the Grand Marshal. Why would the bulwark of the North be planted here in the south in the dead of winter? Until you prove your identity, I can only regard you as an impostor."

Wolfgang studied Yohan for a moment, then turned his gaze to Count Staviana. Looking rather pleased, the Count said,

"So says the Watcher of the Abyss."

The corners of Wolfgang's mouth began to rise, forming a ferocious smile.

"Very well. But you, too, will have to prove yourself worthy of being the Watcher of the Abyss. If you fail to meet my expectations, I shall take your life myself."

As he spoke, Wolfgang clenched both fists. His shirt burst apart in an instant, revealing a bare torso covered in scars and muscle. This was no ordinary body. It belonged to a man who had spent his entire life enduring hell.

The air around them abruptly grew heavy. Gravity pressed down on the entire annex. Every servant collapsed to the floor.

Even Maira, a knight, could not withstand it. He gasped for breath, groaning under the immense pressure.

Yohan grimaced.

'... Just like with Beris.'

When he had summoned the Apostle Beris, the being's unfathomable stature had weighed down on the whole space. The same was happening now. The veteran commander, having ascended to become a transcendent being, was emanating a presence comparable to an Apostle's.

Enduring the pressure, Yohan forced himself to his feet. He met Wolfgang's gaze squarely.

"Yohan von Miyatro. I greet Your Excellency the Grand Marshal."

Blood streamed from Yohan's nose, but his expression remained calm.

Wolfgang grinned from ear to ear and burst into laughter.

"Ha ha! What an amusing fellow! Welcome to the North, Watcher of the Abyss!"