In Lagos, hunters were said to be equivalent to knights on the continent, yet their treatment seemed far less favorable.

“Can anyone go down to the underground levels?”

The maid responded.

“Yes, Madam. Most of our living quarters are there.”

“There are plenty of empty rooms above. Why did you move underground?”

“It’s warmer down there.”

It was a reasonable answer, so Cecilia nodded.

She walked to the staircase leading to the underground levels from the first floor of the central wing.

This was as far as she had gone with Helen before.

“If I go down these stairs, I’ll reach the underground training hall, right?”

The two maids exchanged glances.

“Yes, Madam, but I have never been there myself.”

“Nor have I.”

“Is it restricted?”

“Once you go down, the corridor splits—one leads to the hunters’ quarters, the other to our living quarters. I’ve heard that you have to pass through the hunters’ area to reach the training hall. I don’t know if entry is restricted.”

‘If they don’t let me in, I’ll just turn back.’

Cecilia stepped onto the stairs.

As the maids had said, once she descended a level, the corridor split into two directions.

The maids pointed to the right as the entrance to the servants’ quarters.

Cecilia took the left path, which was lined only with walls.

Turning a corner, she found a hallway with multiple doors on either side.

The passage was cluttered with various belongings, as if the room’s occupants had left their things outside.

Just then, a door opened.

A man strolled out and blinked at the sight of three women.

He froze for a moment before suddenly snapping to attention.

“Madam! What brings you here?”

Cecilia immediately thought that hunters were very different from knights.

They didn’t seem to have the same level of discipline.

“Can you guide me to the underground training hall?”

“The training hall? Ah… That’s beyond my authority, Madam. Please wait a moment.”

The hunter quickly turned and ran off.

Cecilia tilted her head in curiosity.

‘Authority, he said… so there are rules here.’

After a short wait, a man appeared from the direction the hunter had run.

As he approached, Cecilia couldn’t help but feel a sense of intimidation due to his sheer size.

He was the largest man she had ever seen, with a thick beard covering his face.

The word giant suited him.

“Greetings, Madam. I am Harrison, leader of the hunters.”

Cecilia recognized him.

He was the one who had grabbed Andy by the scruff of the neck and dragged him away when she had been inspecting the wolf pelts.

‘Leader, hm… In knightly ranks, that would make him the equivalent of a knight commander.’

“I heard you’re looking for a guide to the underground training hall. Are you on your way to see the Lord?”

Cecilia relaxed.

Harrison was polite.

His voice and speech carried the refinement of an educated man. If she had only heard him speak, she might have mistaken him for an administrator.

“Sir Harrison?”

“Just Harrison is fine, Madam.”

“Harrison. I came intending to see the Lord, but it’s not urgent. If access is restricted, I’ll leave.”

“There are no such restrictions, Madam. I can guide you to the training hall. However, it is quite deep underground—will that be alright?”

Cecilia hesitated.

If the stairs went down very far, she would have to climb all the way back up.

She was going to see him at dinner anyway.

“It’s fine.”

But Cecilia was curious about the underground training hall.

Her curiosity had only grown on the way here, and a bit of effort to climb some stairs was a small price to pay.

“This way, please.”

‘So access isn’t actually restricted. It must be an indoor training facility to avoid the cold outside.’

She vaguely imagined the outdoor training grounds at the grand duchy.

It was a simple open space with a flat, cleared surface, freely accessible to anyone.

It was also a place where noblewomen would secretly watch knights train.

There, knights mainly did endurance training.

She had never seen them actually spar with swords.

However, contrary to her assumption, the underground training hall was not open to just anyone.

If Cecilia had brought knights from the grand duchy as escorts, Harrison would have found some excuse to turn them away.

The only reason he was allowing her in now was that the maids accompanying her were Lagos natives.

Harrison judged that it would be fine.

‘Though Hoffman seems overly worried.’

Harrison had listened patiently while Hoffman rambled on about his concerns.

But Harrison did not share his worries.