At that moment of tense confrontation.
A flurry of hurried, slightly panicked footsteps came from the stairwell one floor below.
Then came Roxy, Philip, Hilda, and old Sauros, who was forcibly suppressing his towering rage.
They all arrived on the tower's top floor.
When they saw the scene before them-two dead North God Style swordsmen, Thomas with his severed arm, and the blood-soaked Alice held hostage in his grip.
"Thomas!"
Philip's voice shook violently with fury.
Yet he did his utmost to maintain his noble composure.
Philip stepped forward, attempting to resolve the crisis through negotiation:
"What... what do you want? Money? Status?"
"As long as you release Alice, I promise you, on the honor of the Boreas Greyrat family."
"I will meet all your demands. I can even... even overlook what you've done today and spare your life."
Yet these rational words, laden with compromise, only drew an even more frenzied roar from Thomas.
"Shut up! Philip Boreas Greyrat!"
Thomas screamed hysterically, a sick, crazed light gleaming in his eyes like a beast driven into a corner:
"Spare me those disgusting, hypocritical faces you high-and-mighty nobles put on!"
"You make me sick to my very core!"
Thomas's gaze swept over everyone present like a venomous snake.
Finally, he turned his vicious, venom-filled stare on Alice, whom he held firmly in his grip.
"Of everyone here, you're the one I hate most! Eris Boreas Greyrat!"
"You've been arrogant and willful since you were little, treating us servants like dogs... you beast!"
"Thomas... please... please let Alice go...!"
Lady Hilda was already sobbing uncontrollably. Abandoning all the restraint expected of a noblewoman, she edged forward a few steps.
She pleaded desperately with Thomas:
"She's only a child... she's only six... don't hurt her... she's my only child..."
"Mother..."
With the cold