The Strange Manor

* * *

Its strange, isnt it, Extra-sama?

<It is strange, Emi.>

I, the wild child beautiful young girl Emi-chan aged 8, had been aimlessly wandering this vast snowy plain.

What suddenly appeared before me was a manor with an outward appearance that could only be described as strange.

First, the roof was bright red. Bright crimson red. Additionally, the window frames and other key areas were also painted red.

The walls were coated yellow, with red polka dot patterns drawn here and there.

With only pure white snow piled up around it, its outward appearance stood out bizarrely.

<Ah, while this outward appearance certainly stands out, thats not necessarily a bad thing. This is called the Sancolic style, an architectural style that explosively boomed across this continent around 300 years ago. Even now, you can occasionally see historic buildings in this style.>

Eeh!?

So this manor is a historic building?

Though it still looks relatively new?

<Its probably been well-maintained. But more than that, Emi, the reason I called it strange is this manors location condition.>

Location?

In the middle of this vast snowy plain with nothing around, the fact that only this manor is here is whats strange?

<Yes, thats right, Emi Could it be this manor is perhaps a villa owned by royalty no, maybe an extremely wealthy person?>

Hah? Why would it be that?

<For a manor to be located in such an inaccessible environment. Theres a possibility the owner possesses a teleportation magic circle.>

Teleportation magic circle?

<It allows instantly traveling between distant locations To put it simply, its like a warp device created through magic. Thats a teleportation magic circle.>

Heeh! What a convenient thing!

But why would having one mean the owner is royalty or incredibly wealthy?

<Because its an extremely rare item. Its said to be nearly impossible to create with current human technology. Any teleportation magic circles remaining in this world are either god-made magic circles bestowed to humans by gods, or relics from the era when the ancient magic civilization flourished. Either way, theyre exceptionally rare, not something ordinary commoners could readily possess or use.>

Whoa, the ancient magic civilization!?

Whats that!? Whats that!?

<Well, Ill tell you about that later. But since weve encountered this manor, why dont we pay it a visit? Im getting rather cold.>

Yeah, its cold.

I agree on that point.

While Ive become stronger and am bundled up in the fluffy wolf pelts I hunted in bulk before, its not an unbearable cold.

But still, Extra-sama

If I cheerfully barged into that manor going Excuse me~! what do you think would happen?

<The lights are on, so it doesnt seem abandoned or vacant There would likely be an uproar.>

Yeah.

Because of my black hair and black eyes.

Because Im an accursed child

<No, even before that, your current appearance is extreme. If you showed up looking like that, youd probably get called the Blood-Stained Furball Man and be treated as a monster.>

Ahaha, calling such a beautiful young girl that, what are you saying, Extra-sama?

Ill blow you away, you know.

Well, no I wont actually blow you away!

Anyway, putting aside the jokes.

I cant just enter the manor as I am now.

It would cause an unnecessary commotion.

<Then what will you do?>

I turn my face sideways.

Over there is a relatively small building with the same bright red roof and yellow walls as the manor.

Probably a storehouse.

Ill visit inside this storehouse for now to take a break.

<Eh-, lets just invade the manor? Itll definitely be warmer in there.>

Its fine, its fine.

Avoiding any unnecessary troubles is best.

<Whats wrong with causing an uproar? You could just kill anyone who makes a fuss!>

Your ideas are scary, Extra-sama!

Honestly, youre always trying to make me into the enemy of humanity~

<But wouldnt being warm be better~>

Yes yes, patience patience.

Lets quickly get inside the storehouse!

Squelching through the snow, I move in front of the storehouse door.

While slightly smaller than the manor, the storehouse is still a considerably large building.

The metal door is large and rather imposing too.

Anyway, Ill have to excuse myself inside~!

Eeh!

Zu, zu, zuzuzu Bakin!! Gigigigigi

With a bit of force from me, the metal door slowly creaked open with a low rumbling sound.

Fortunately, it didnt seem locked.

<That Bakin!! sound, wasnt that the lock breaking?>

Extra-sama, did you really think that?

Well, whats done is done!

Ill just secretly hunt a large monster or something later as an apology gift.

Now then, putting that aside.

Let me just excuse myself inside~!

Gigigigigi

I enter the storehouse and close the door behind me.

This stone-constructed storehouse has a stark interior of stone floors and stone walls, contrary to its gaudy outward appearance.

Light pouring in through the windows near the ceiling illuminates the storehouses empty interior.

<Theres nothing here. I thought it might have food or something stored in it.>

Thats true, Extra-sama.

Well, the door was rather imposing for an ordinary storehouse just used for storing provisions.

I wonder what purpose this storehouse serves?

Hn?

<Whats wrong, Emi?>

Yeah, I thought I saw something glint in the corner of the storehouse over there.

Crouching down near it, there was a small ore fragment about the size of a soybean lying there.

Picking it up for a closer look, the faintly reddish ore sparkled under the ceiling light.

<Ah, this is a magic ore. While I dont know the exact type>

Magic ore?

<Ore that has undergone mana transformation from exposure to ley line influences or the like, infusing it with magic power. It gets used as material for various magic tools and such.>

Heeeh.

So if there are fragments lying around, does that mean this was originally a storehouse meant to store these magic ores?

<Hmm, maybe, but>

It makes me wonder why a villa located in such a remote snowy mountain would need that kind of storehouse.

<The mystery deepens Does this mean my deductive powers will be put to the test going forward!?>

If so, struggling would be inevitable, huh.

<What did you say!?>

Ahaha, just kidding, Extra-sama!

Im counting on you!

But well, Im just borrowing this storehouse as a resting spot, so whether its for what purpose or what that manor is doesnt really matter, does it?

<Eh-, but Im curious.>

Well then yoishoo.

I sit down, leaning my back against the stone storehouse wall and closing my eyes.

Concentrating.

Focusing my awareness toward the manor.

Thanks to my long life in the wilds and undergoing mana transformation, Ive acquired super fantasy hearing senses.

If I concentrate like this

please

Understood, then

The cleaning again

See? I can even eavesdrop on the conversations inside the neighboring manor from within this storehouse!

As expected of a fantasy other world!!

<While its certainly a fantasy other world, only a select few can likely do that. As always, Im amazed by your superhuman abilities.>

In any case, Extra-sama.

Since Ill be resting here anyway, why dont we eavesdrop on whats happening inside the manor to satisfy our curiosity?

<I see. By secretly listening to their conversations, youre saying our questions might be resolved?>

Exactly.

Well, its just to kill time, so if we dont understand, we dont have to force it.

And so.

Extra-sama and I began secretly eavesdropping on the conversations inside the manor.

It was in the very next moment that a shrill, hysterical scream rang out from within the manor.