This is... blood..., right?"
"It is hard to discern since the blood assimilate with the color of dim wall... They are all over the wall."
"Oi, oi... this... this is quite the amount."
Nagayama advanced from within the paled party members, and he touched the liquid they thought as blood with his finger. Afterwards, he confirmed the details by looking and smelling the blood stuck on his finger.
"Amanogawa... we should follow Yaegashi's suggestion... This is demonic beast's blood. Furthermore, it still fresh."
"Well, if that is demonic beast's blood, it means the demonic beasts around her have all been killed. Not only that, it also means there's strong one who did it... But, won't we be unable to advance unless we defeat it?"
Nagayama shook his head towards Kouki's rebuttal. Even though Nagayama was the second biggest after Ryuutarou, he had a very prudent character unlike the other one. Nagayama watched the surrounding carefully while being prepared for battle, and told Kouki what he thought about the situation.
"Amanogawa... the demonic beast is likely not to go out of this room alone. We also haven't even encountered one in the passages and rooms up until now. In addition, it is the first time we discovered traces. In other words..."
"... Something must have hidden the traces of the attacked demonic beasts, right?"
Nagayama nodded at Shizuku's words. Even Kouki's expression showed he realized something because of those words. Then, just like Nagayama, he raised his vigilance to the maximum with a stern expression.
"There's also the possibility of demonic beasts becoming more intelligent... But, it was natural to think someone was here... In addition, for only traces in this room not to be hidden, either it means it didn't have the time to do it, or..."
"Here is the last stop."
What succeeded Kouki's words was a never heard before voice of a woman suddenly ringing out. It was a man-like husky voice. Kouki's party became pop-eyed, and they immediately entered battle state. They turned their gazes towards the source of the voice.
Sound of footsteps resounded, but what appeared from deep within the darkness of the spacious hall was a young woman with blazing red hair. The woman's ears were slightly pointed, and her skin was darkish.
Kouki's party opened their eyes wide in astonishment. The woman's features were something they know very well. Though they have never seen it before, it was a race's characteristics that always appeared inside the lecture from Ishtal and the others — the enemy of the Church of Saints' God, and also the arch-enemy of human race. It was...