"This is... very big again. Why is this place underground?"

　What Ray saw down the stairs was a vast cellar.
　Compared to the darkness of the stairs, the stones that make up the cellar are dimly lit and a little darker than the outside, but it's not inconvenient to look around the cellar.
　It is definitely larger than the mansion on top of it at least.
　On the contrary, it would be larger than the grounds of the mansion above it.
　As a matter of course, this cellar would have extended into the grounds of other residences, which would not normally be tolerated.

(Do the people next door know about this? No, if they do, they will naturally make a fuss... then don't they know about it?)

　Looking at the wide space, Ray wonders.
　By Ray's side, three guards look around, shaking their bodies.
　This cellar is clearly cold compared to the inside of the house.
　That's what it was like to be outside... or, in some cases, feel colder than outside.
　Ray was the only one wearing a dragon robe with a simple air conditioner, so he didn't seem to be particularly concerned about the cold weather.

"Well, what do you think of this? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I suppose so, but look."

　A guard nods to Ray's words, indicating a faraway basement wall.
　There was a stairway leading up there, just as the laymen had come out.
　And there is not only one visible staircase, but several others.

"Where do you think the stairs are connected to? I don't think the stairs are connected to the house where we entered."

　Three guards nod in agreement to Ray's words.

(I mean, the light that illuminates this cellar... the stone? It feels like it's shining, but it's kind of like a dungeon.)

　There are several dungeons where Ray has been diving, but it's not unusual that the dungeon itself is shining and doesn't need a light.
　But of course it was because it was a dungeon, and Ray didn't know there was such a building.
　Even if you bring stones, stones, or anything else from a dungeon, the light will eventually go out.
　Nevertheless, the basement that now stretches out in front of Ray looked as if the building materials were still shining.

"...for the time being, it's clear that this cellar is an extraordinary place in many ways, but what do you think we have this place ready for?"
"If you think about it normally, don't you think it has anything to do with the Cobolt incident?"

　One of the guards answers Ray's question.
　The remark was more convincing than ever.
　In the first place, Ray and his colleagues came here just to find clues to the mastermind who would have caused the Cobold affair.
　There was such a meaningful cellar in such a place, so it would be impossible not to ask for any connection there.

"So what was going on here? ... Ray, don't you know what?"

　I was told by a security guard, and I was wondering if there were any clues... I concentrated on my sense of smell, but there was no scent left of blood.
　Ray's five senses, though sharper than usual, are strictly comparable to ordinary people.
　As a matter of course, his five senses are not as sharp as his set.

"...nothing. At least there is no stench of blood, so there should be no such thing as death here."

　One of the guards opens his mouth to Ray's words, looking around him.

"Is there something going on here that calls for Cobold? It seems to me, if I think about it normally, that there's something suspicious about it..."
"But ceremonies don't necessarily require bloodshed, do they?"

　That kind of conversation was naturally audible to Ray, but as a supporter of the theory that he used magic items to attract covolts -- which he knew was a wishful prediction himself -- he could not imitate saying anything about it.

"Is that so? It's a ceremony to call in the covold, so I think it's not strange to use sacrifices."
"Sacrifice?"

　The word sacrifice reminds Ray of the sight he saw earlier... many dead bodies left alone in bones and skin.
　Ray had no idea why there were so many dead bodies.
　However, if, as the guards say, there was a ceremony in which some kind of sacrifice was used here, it is not impossible to understand why.

(And the body was just bones and skins, but there were no other wounds. If you had done some ritual here, and that bone and skins... if you had used a bunch of red cloths, could you understand that there was no smell of blood here?)

　One of the guards talks to Ray, who was gathering his thoughts while looking around him.

"Ray, you were reacting to the word sacrifice. Is there anything?"
"Oh... I see. Didn't you say that?"

　Saying so, Ray talks about the sight he saw... a pile of dead bodies left alone with bones and skin.
　When the guards hear the explanation, they look displeased at the more devastating information than expected.

"Also, this house seems to have been a very troublesome place. I wonder what the hell you were trying to do in this house."
"Well... that wouldn't be such a bad option, would it? It wouldn't normally be so easy to know that you're doing that here. ... Well, I think it was a big deal to talk to Red Cloth about this place, if you were talking about it."
"I suppose. In the first place, you wouldn't normally think of a place like this underground."

　As Ray muttered, he suddenly realized.

"Do you think this cellar was prepared for this occasion, or did you think it had been there for some time?"
『……』

　Ray's words silence the three guards together.
　Because I didn't know what to say when I looked at this underground space.
　Creating such a vast underground space, as you would normally assume, for the Cobold incident, requires considerable effort.
　There is no doubt that the Gillum extension attracted a lot of people, but it was only natural to create such an underground space.
　What's more, this is not far from the aristocracy.
　The extension work is also far from here, so if a large number of people gather here to dig a hole, it is inevitable that it will stand out.

(Then, I think... this underground space was created not recently, but a long time ago. It's not like a few months or so, depending on the circumstances...)

　Ray looks around him and predicts so, but that's what happened, and there are many more questions.
　The biggest question would still be that the underground facility extends beyond the grounds of the Ray's estate and into the grounds of other residences.
　I don't think the person in the house adjacent to this would be able to imitate extending this space to the basement of his own house.

"Is there any case where the owner of the surrounding residences is actually the same person?"
"No,"

　The guards immediately deny Ray's words.

"How can you say so?"
"I'm still a guard. It's a different jurisdiction around here, but it's still one of the most important places in Gilm. Of course, I remember that information from the beginning."
"... I see,"

　If you say so, Ray will have to agree.
　At the same time, I am convinced of the greatness of the guards.
　At least Ray doesn't bother learning the area.

"So what happens? Actually, don't the people in the neighborhood notice the underground space?"
"Well, I don't think it's impossible,"

　While answering Ray so, the guards are subtly dissatisfied with the words.
　It is conceivable that this underground space is quite deep, and that even if the surrounding residences were building basements, it would probably not reach this depth.However, as long as there is such a vast underground space, it is safe for the residents of the estate to notice any movement here.
　When Ray thinks so, he suddenly realizes.

"Well, the inhabitants of the houses around here... or the owners are all different, aren't they?"
"Oh, that's why I told you so before."
"Well, then. Can't you imagine someone above the inhabitants and owners?"

　Ray tells me so, but the guard shakes his head.

"Many of the owners of the residences around this residence are related to each other, whether they are aristocratic, royal, or neutral. Then..."
"I see. Is it impossible?"
"Oh, of course, there is no way to push it through."

　The possibility is that the inhabitants of the other estate will not know.
　When Ray is told so, he looks around again.
　I've created this large space, and I haven't noticed it at all... or perhaps I've kept it for a long time, which makes me feel quite uncomfortable.Given the current situation, it is true that we cannot help but conclude.

"Then, for the time being, what do you do? I'm sure this underground space has some meaning, but there's no one who attacked me earlier, and there's nothing else I can do to investigate it."
"... when you say so, yes,"

　The guard tries to say something to Ray... but the next moment he suddenly closes his mouth with his palm.
　The gagged guard and three of his fellow guards suddenly try to look at Ray, but regardless, Ray drags the guard to the wall.
　Judging from Ray's appearance, the guards may have thought there was some reason to do so now. Even those who were silenced would move quietly to the wall without any particular complaint.
　We move as quietly as possible... and then we get to the wall for a few seconds. Suddenly we hear something.
　I knew at once what it was.

"Is it humming?"

　One of the guards muttered in a voice only heard around him.
　Yes, it was definitely humming.
　The raids have been carried out on the estate where the Rays had just been located, and the surrounding area is surrounded by setos and guards, who have completed the siege to preventing anyone from fleeing.
　Despite the situation, Ray hums?, thinking it would be no problem to let go of his palm when he was lightly slapped on the arm by the person holding his mouth.
　The reason why I let go of it was because I thought it was necessary to capture the person I thought was the master of humming.
　Anyway, as Ray and the three guards hold their breath and remain silent... before long the humming master appears.
　The place where the man came out is far from where the laymen came down.
　It's probably the house next to the house where Ray and his men went to investigate...
　When Ray saw the man, he felt that a clue had come from him... and the guard held him in his arms.
　But when you see a humming person holding a rope and a number of men tied together at the end of the rope, you're at a loss what to do.
　What's more, the men tied up in a row have nothing to say and are pulled by the person holding the rope, yet they never complain.
　On the contrary, they walk as if they had no intention of their own.

"Ray,"

　Watching the man holding the rope and the men drawn by it, Ray is suddenly pulled by a guard and called out in a low voice.
　Ray turns to the guard, asking, "What's the matter?"
　At Ray's face, the guards tighten their faces... open their mouths.

"I remember some of the men tied to that rope."

　That made Ray understand the meaning of the word.
　In other words, it's...

"Red cloth?"

　The guard nodded silently to Ray's muttering.