At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Minamiya residence felt heavy.
Nagisa Akatsuki and Kanase Kanon huddled close together, seemingly for warmth, their faces full of unease.
Even Himeragi Yukina wore a grave expression.
Astarte also lowered her eyes slightly, indicating that she too was far from at ease.
This, of course, was only natural.
Though they had never heard of the criminal organization Tartarus Lapse before, the fact that they possessed the power to destroy a Demon Sanctuary was enough to prove how terrifyingly capable they were—far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
And now, this very organization had potentially come to Itogami Island, hired by someone to destroy it. Naturally, as residents of the island, they couldn't possibly stay calm.
After all, this was a matter of life and death. Most of the girls present were ordinary individuals who disliked conflict. Suddenly learning that Itogami Island could be destroyed—how could they possibly remain composed?
However, all of them had faced life-threatening events multiple times before. Despite their anxiety, they did not fall into panic.
Perhaps that was precisely why Minamiya Natsuki was willing to reveal such internal information here.
Natsuki stated plainly:
"Either way, since we've identified a suspect involved in magical crimes, that simplifies things. I'll issue orders to the Management Cooperative to conduct a full-scale manhunt and arrest operation for Senga Taketo. The problem is, we don't know who the other members of Tartarus Lapse are or where they might be."
After all, Natsuki had cut off ties with Senga Taketo over ten years ago.
Disgusted by Senga's methods—and more importantly, to protect Rozen—Natsuki had severed their relationship without hesitation, ignoring any bond between master and disciple.
Now, more than a decade later, Natsuki had no idea who else was part of Tartarus Lapse aside from Senga Taketo.
Of course, she had no regrets about cutting ties with him.
She had no interest in becoming a terrorist or associating with a destructive group like Tartarus Lapse. For Rozen's sake, she had to stay far away from Senga Taketo.
Otherwise, given Senga's obsession with talented children, young Rozen would undoubtedly have caught his attention.
If Rozen had been brainwashed in childhood and led down a dark path, Natsuki would have no place to weep.
For this reason, Natsuki, who had always protected Rozen from countless forms of malice, resolutely ensured Senga Taketo could never meet Rozen, even cutting all ties with her former mentor. That alone demonstrated her tremendous resolve.
Unfortunately, what Natsuki didn't know was that Rozen was no ordinary child—brainwashing him wouldn't be so simple.
Thus, this might very well be an encounter delayed by over ten years.
In response...
"Natsuki-nee."
Rozen looked up at her.
"You need to be careful, Natsuki-nee," he said solemnly. "Tartarus Lapse may be more dangerous than we imagined. Leaving aside Senga Taketo's strength or the abilities of the other members, I'm certain there's someone on their side who might be even more troublesome than him."
And who might that be?
Rozen had already hinted at it.
"You mean the vampire capable of controlling a Beast Vassal on the level of a Primogenitor?"
Natsuki looked at him intently.
"Exactly." Rozen nodded, then glanced down at the anxious Avrora Florestina in his arms and sighed. "If I'm not wrong, that person might have a significant connection to both Avrora and me."
"A connection to both of you?"
Natsuki was momentarily stunned, then her expression shifted.
And not just hers—both Yukina and Nagisa's expressions also changed.
"Nichiyo-kun!" Nagisa gasped, both surprised and at a loss.
As one of the participants in that ritual back then, Nagisa had already guessed who Rozen was referring to.
"Don't tell me it's...!?" Yukina could no longer stay calm either.
As Rozen's observer, Yukina could also easily deduce who it was. To have a deep connection with both Rozen and Avrora—and to control a Primogenitor-class Beast Vassal—there could only be one possibility.
If it truly was that person...
"This is worse than I thought."
Natsuki glanced at the uneasy Avrora in Rozen's arms, her gaze flickering with complex emotion.
Then, with clenched teeth, she muttered coldly:
"To think you'd even dare to lay hands on a being like that... Are you really not afraid of dragging yourself into ruin, Senga Takehito...!"
She voiced her question through gritted teeth.
Unfortunately, the one who could answer wasn't present.
Now, Natsuki would need to thoroughly rethink her next course of action.
Yet she had no idea...
That she was already too late.
"Rumble..."
Suddenly, a strange tremor rippled through the hall, shaking it noticeably.
"Ah!"
Nagisa, Kanon, Avrora, and Yukina all let out startled cries.
"What is this...!?"
Even Natsuki stumbled slightly, her childlike face changing dramatically.
Rozen's eyes narrowed. Holding Avrora tightly, he darted to the window and flung it open.
"Whoosh!"
A gust of wind blew in immediately—
—but it carried with it an unnatural heat.
Rozen fixed his gaze in one direction.
Toward the eastern district of Itogami Island.
There, thick smoke and flames were rising into the sky.
"An explosion?"
Yukina, who had followed him to the window, widened her eyes at the sight.
Natsuki came over as well. When she saw where the explosion occurred, her face darkened.
Because she already knew what place had just been attacked.
It was—
"The warehouse district's grain depot...!"
Yes.
The grain depot in the warehouse district—said to store enough food to feed every citizen of Itogami Island for several months.
It had been blown up.
And at the same time...
"Sensei, a report from the Management Cooperative."
Astarte approached with a communicator in hand, and in her usual flat tone, delivered grim news.
"Two senior board members of the Management Cooperative have been assassinated by unknown snipers and are confirmed dead. All attack mages under the Management Cooperative have now entered Alert Type Beta."
As those words fell, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop noticeably.
Nagisa and Kanon were left completely bewildered.
Yukina bit her lip tightly.
Natsuki took a deep breath, her eyes glinting with a cold light.
And Avrora had gone completely pale—her face devoid of all color.
Everyone was silent.
Rozen simply continued to stare toward the eastern district, watching the thick smoke and flames rise into the sky.
"Tartarus Lapse..."
That name slipped from Rozen's mouth once more.
But this time, his voice carried no emotion at all.