Making a Fuss Over a Minor Issue

Whoosh, whoosh—

Not far away, a nimble figure raced through the woods, pushing aside low branches. Seemingly oblivious to the ravaged battlefield nearby, she hurried toward Elk Manor, where the lights had dimmed and the servants were already asleep.

As she ran, her face came into view, dotted with beads of sweat. It was Hazel Maht, dressed in clothes that allowed easy movement, her dark green hair casually tied behind her head.

In less than two minutes, the anxious Hazel reached her family's manor. She deftly climbed over the low brick wall into the garden, then tiptoed around to the kitchen and wine cellar by the back entrance. Her gaze swept over the torn-up turf, the rat corpses littering the ground, and the overturned tables and chairs. Her face went deathly pale.

Where's Teacher? Has someone already... found him?

Did he escape after the battle, or... has he become one of those corpses?

As ominous thoughts flashed through her mind, Hazel instinctively grasped the necklace at her chest, preparing to pour spirituality into it and analyze the possibilities through the surrounding clues. Only then did she remember that she had already used its Decryption ability earlier to uncover the truth behind the illusion in her room.

What should I do? Ask the maids and the steward? But I sneaked out. That would definitely let Father and Mother find out... Maybe I could use the necklace's Deception ability to make them forget everything afterward... But I don't want to do that to ordinary people. It's wrong...

Hesitating, Hazel tightened her grip on the necklace set with seven emerald-green stones surrounded by diamonds, its sharp edges almost piercing her palm.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of soles brushing against grass behind her. Dressed in a black waistcoat and black trousers, Amon approached