If I were to describe what was in front of my eyes in one word…
It could be expressed as something resembling a human shrouded in black fog.
Due to the black aura rising from its entire body, I couldn’t see its proper form, and the only thing clearly visible were a pair of red glowing eyes that I could only assume were eyes.
“I didn’t expect you to reveal yourself first. Isn’t that right, The One Who Steals Lives?”
“Be careful; you never know what it might do.”
“I’ll assist.”
The movements of the three, upon confirming its appearance, were swift.
Fernand and Leje drew their swords, while Rudell gathered his magic power.
That thing is the One Who Steals Lives…
As I gazed at the flickering red glow amid the black fog, I thought to myself.
An uneasy magic power emanated from it.
It was certainly similar to the magic power I had felt countless times while dealing with the Church.
[————–!!]
At that moment, a scream hard to describe erupted from the fog, followed by countless red thorns emerging from the swirling mist surrounding it.
“Shield!”
Seeing that, Rudell urgently unleashed his magic and began chanting a spell.
Simultaneously, the red thorns shot out like bullets, and the blue barrier that appeared with Rudell’s shout blocked the incoming red thorns, creating a sharp noise.
“Good job, Rudellheit!”
As the barrier vanished, Fernand sprang forward toward the flickering red glow as if he had been waiting for that moment.
Leje followed behind, and Rudell began preparing his next spell.
Leje and Fernand closed the distance quickly.
[——-!!]
As a bony finger escaped from the fog and pointed at the two of them, more red thorns rained down upon them.
“Not on my watch!”
Of course, the thorns never reached them.
The timely appearance of blue barriers blocked most of the thorns, and those that weren’t blocked were easily deflected by the two’s swords.
“Leje! Flank from the other side!”
“Yes! Professor!”
Responding to Fernand’s shout, Leje turned and jumped into the air, driving her sword from behind the black fog.
Fernand similarly struck with his sword from the front…
[——!!]
As two gleaming blades pierced the something within the black glow, a scream like a shriek erupted from the fog.
But…
“It’s still moving…!?”
“What the…!!”
The two couldn’t hide their surprise at the still-moving figure.
The presence with red glowing eyes slowly lifted its head, oozing a sticky black liquid from its wounds.
“Everyone, get down!!”
[———-!!]
Rudell shouted as he sensed an ominous hint of magic, just as a high-pitched scream erupted from the black fog.
-Clang!!!
“Ugh…!!”
“What, what is this…!!”
“Ugh…!!”
The sharp scream shattered the nearby windows, and the three grimaced in pain.
And then, the next moment.
[Boom-!!]
“What the…!?”
“What, what just happened?!”
“…!!”
With a sound like the air exploding, the black fog that had composed its body scattered in all directions.
The strong shockwave began to violently shake the signs and clotheslines in the alley.
But that was only for a moment…
“…?”
“Is it, is it over?”
As the alley fell into silence as if nothing had happened, Leje voiced her thoughts, and the alley sank into tranquility.
*
The next day, after school.
“The report is unusual.”
“Interesting indeed.”
As Kaylee narrowed her eyes while reading Fernand’s report.
The encounter with The One Who Steals Lives last night left behind unsatisfactory results.
The only thing learned was that it wasn’t human.
And, for now, it was a living creature.
“This is… the blood of the One Who Steals Lives?”
Shaking a transparent glass vial containing a sticky black fluid, Kaylee said.
It was the only clue Rudell could gather from the scene.
“Yes, it is currently the only clue.”
“Alright, I’ll request an analysis from my acquaintances at the northern tower.”
“Understood.”
As Rudell bowed his head, Kaylee shifted her gaze back to them from the glass vial.
“So? What do you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean your thoughts after facing The One Who Steals Lives.”
“Hmm…”
A low groan escaped Fernand’s lips, and Leje and Rudell looked at him.
And as Fernand continued to ponder for a moment, he cautiously opened his mouth.
“I don’t think the One Who Steals Lives is just one individual.”
“What!?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Oh…?”
At that statement, Rudell and Leje expressed surprise, while Kaylee narrowed her eyes intriguingly.
“What do you mean? Are you saying there’s more than just that one from yesterday?”
“First, if my guess is correct, there are two of them: the one we faced at dawn and another One Who Steals Lives.”
Upon hearing that, Leje looked puzzled, seeking clarification from Fernand, who nodded in agreement.
“Of course, you have a reason to think so, right, Professor Fernand?”
“First reason is the condition of the corpses.”
With a confident expression, Fernand continued.
“You two, have you closely examined the victims from the first incident to the most recent ones?”
“No.”
Of course, Rudell remembered each of their faces, but he saw no reason to reveal that.
“The wounds of the previous victims were all punctured from below upward. But can you recall how this One Who Steals Lives attacked during the recent ambush?”
“It shot out the thorns… ah!”
Simultaneously, Leje seemed to realize something and let out a low gasp.
“Exactly; it’s a form of injury that could never arise from its method.”
“But that alone doesn’t make it easy to infer multiple Ones Who Steal Lives, does it?”
“There’s one more piece of evidence.”
Fernand, with his hand in his pouch, pulled something out, and seeing it, Rudell gasped slightly.
“Do you know what this is?”
“A rosary? But… it looks kind of unusual. How should I say… a bit unsettling?”
With a narrowed gaze, Leje examined the object in Fernand’s hand.
It was a rosary shaped like a cross adorned with red eyes.
It was none other than the rosary used by the Church of the Eaters of Death.
“This is a symbol used by the Church of the Eaters of Death, representing the evil god Thanatos. The previous victims until recently all possessed this.”
“So that means…”
“That they are all affiliated with the Church.”
“Does that mean the recent victims are not?”
“…”
“Hmm…”
Fernand nodded silently, and Leje let out a low groan.
“That’s also why we want to make real contact with The One Who Steals Lives. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Regardless of their circumstances, if they are hostile to the Church, then they can be our ally.”
“So that’s how it is…”
Finally coming to an understanding, Leje trailed off her sentence.
Meanwhile…
“…”
Rudell, observing them, found it difficult to conceal his grim expression.
And rightfully so because, if I were to summarize their conversation into one conclusion, it would be this.
‘So… the true One Who Steals Lives they are looking for is… me?!’
An unidentified figure who had been selectively slaughtering Church affiliates since earlier this year in the back alleys and slums.
It could be safely assumed that the chance of there being two such people was 0%.
And the clear implication was unmistakable.
The One Who Steals Lives they were referring to was none other than Rudell himself.
Should I be happy about this or not…
As those thoughts crossed Rudell’s mind, he wore an awkward expression.
Just then.
“What does Count Weinstein think?”
“What!? What do you mean!?”
Startled by Kaylee’s sudden question, Rudell responded in surprise.
Could she have figured it out?
Feeling an unsettling chill run down his spine, Rudell looked at Kaylee.
“I’m asking about the One Who Steals Lives. Our enemy or ally. What do you think?”
“Hmm…”
Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be that.
Her golden eyes, which held a subtle smile, seemed unreadable.
It was only natural, as she had been a slippery character from the original story…
Rudell calmed his racing heart and slowly replied.
“As you said, Duchess, there’s a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If we can bring him in, he could certainly be an exceptional force.”
“That’s what you think too, right?”
With Rudell’s answer, Kaylee rose from her seat with a satisfied smile and addressed the three.
“Well then, everyone, let’s keep up the good work going forward. If you need anything, just let me know anytime.”
“Then let’s get going.”
“We’ll take our leave then.”
“I’ll come back later.”
With those words, Rudell, Leje, and Fernand headed out of the conference room.
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