My mouth is dry. It was so dry that my throat hurt just to breathe.
　Running with all the strength he could muster, his breaths went up and down his shoulders without interruption.

　In a daze, Felinella's vision was shaking violently, reflecting a two-colored screen. Running blood entered her eyes, staining the vision in one eye. Perhaps that's why the perspective was also strange.

　With the sleeve of the hand holding the AWR, I forcefully wiped it away. Of course, that shouldn't stop the blood, much less open up the bright red vision. At most, it only stopped the flow of blood like a waterfall for a few seconds.

　Behind him, the ice wall created by Kalia had long since collapsed - and that was only a few dozen seconds ago.
　However, if that demon was in the mood, by the time it realized it was closing in, it would be too late.

　Felinella had no choice but to keep running, just as Kalia had told her to do. It was all she could do to move her legs as if it were so input.
　No matter what was coming from behind her there was no way to do anything about it anymore.

　But there was no actual pursuit from behind, except for the unreliable way of running by Felinella.

　When Karia finally looked back to check behind her, she couldn't see through because it wasn't a straight line to the place where they had just fought, but even so, that scorpion monster wasn't in the visible range.

　The relief that surrounds you slows down Karia's running speed.

　Illumina followed suit, turning around to look at Felinella and Kalia, and belatedly noticed something unusual.


Yeah, whatever it is, it's been a great help. Let's get a move on. Let's go upstairs and...

　Felinella, who was slightly behind, waddled past Kalia's eyes without a reaction.

　''Felinella-san!　Dude, are you okay? And myself, I tapped Felinella's shoulder with my hand as I endured the pain in my side.
　That's when Felinella finally realized she was being called, and she shook her head as if searching for the owner of the voice in her bright red vision.

　The gesture was unfocused and somehow contributed to her anxiety. The awareness directed towards Kalia seemed to be slightly off.

''Yes....somehow...''

　A weak voice. I can't faint yet. One word of such willpower barely gets me to my feet.
　I couldn't even think about where the wound was on my fevered head. I have one eye covered, so it would seem that there would be a wound on it, but even that is difficult to do in the midst of a consciousness sinking into the mud.

　However, as if on a mission, Felinella turned her thinly opened eyes to Kalia.
　The moment she had confronted the scorpion monster, Felinella had also performed a certain action.

　Even though it was her own, Felinella's hand was pointed to an unexpected place to look for it where it was. She ended up putting it in her skirt pocket, but she had to start over two or three times just to insert it there.

　And so it was the license that he took out.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.

　It's a good thing that you can't read the intentions of Ferinella, although she couldn't help but take it because she had a hand that seemed to drop it.
　Then--.

''I don't know if it's accurately perceived.......huh, huh, I don't know......but....''

　After being told that much, the two of them finally pinged, and Kalia didn't hesitate to operate the license as it was activated.
　Then she looked down at the small unfolded virtual LCD.
　It's hard to see because of the mithril light around it, but still--''

''--!　Rate [S]!

　That calculated rank that leaked out like a grunt makes my spine faint. The database that manages demons does not have any corresponding individual data, but a mark indicating 【New Species】 is displayed.

　In front of that astonishing fact, only Felinella was the only one among them who didn't show any reaction. She was too busy moving her legs to do so, though.
　I want you to pass that fact on to the commander of this mission instead of Felinella. Realizing her intentions, Karia nodded and tucked her license entrusted to her in her pocket.


　Later, this scorpion monster would be given the individual name of 【King's Keeper (Serketo)】.

　Finally, the troops of the fourth magical academy at the front, the two men who had shown a fighting stance until the end, entered the side hole.
　The man, who was probably the captain who reached the side hole, put his hand on the edge of the hole, looked back at me and suddenly changed his blood color and started shouting.

''Behind you!!!!!

　After a loud cry, Kalia quickly turns around.
　A creepy, frightening feeling hits her, to the point where she feels her sweat recede in an instant. The fear was already that close to imminent. I couldn't understand what was clearly imminent, but my body was reflexively trying to prepare for what looked like a taut attack.

　That was when he looked over his shoulder.

　A different kind of fear than when they confronted Serketo. It came crashing down as it passed through their bodies.

　The sensation of a wobbling brain meant that he was not grounded. All three of them had been blown up hard.

　It wasn't a clear attack. Still, it was certain that the bones in their bodies were screaming and screaming.
　Yes, the three of them had been blown away by something.

　Fortunately, I suppose it's a good thing. Kalia and Illumina, who had been blown forward, instantly got up.
　Right beside them, the man who had been calling out to them was reaching out his hand to Illumina, who was blown up closest to them.

　Following that, Karia also got up with a huff and jumped in as if to escape from the basement. For some reason, it seemed as if the passage leading to the upper floor was safe.
　Even if there was no such guarantee, right now I wanted to get out of this unusual basement as soon as possible.

　And so, without turning around to go upstairs, I proceeded to walk.
　But--.

''Fellies!

　It was Illumina's scream. It sounded mournful, and Illumina was struggling to brush the man's hand away, trying to get back to the basement.

　Catching on to that, Kalia turned around to see that Felinella was not here, either.

　Rough breathing was contagious to everyone in this place.
　Regardless of their experience with missions in the outside world or not, a clear answer existed in the scene in front of the girls.

　

'I can't help........'

　I can't find a way to do that.
　The large hole, reflecting the underground passageway, was like a frame of an image, a pure fact... an inexplicable sight.

　A pitch-black leg was placed on the head of Felinella, who had passed out limp and slumped over, as if stepping on her head. The legs had a glossy black bodysuit-like sheen to them, resembling a human with legs in length and shape. Although the leg lines were feminine, the bones and flesh were different from those of a human. In addition, their feet are shaped more like a bird's, with three front toes and one back. Between the fingers and toes was a black membrane that looked like a water-scratch.

　A thin mist of lace fabric, reminiscent of lace fabric like a waistcoat, was drifting in the air.

　That demon wasn't that big, and it could only be seen up to its waist in human terms. Of course, that alone would be as big as an adult man.

　From the position of looking down from the slope, the full extent of the demon could not be confirmed. Even so, just like the Scorpion monster I just confronted, I only realized that no matter what I did, it was useless.
　Above all, there was no way to go to help. Illumina had lost her AWR, and the captain of the Fourth Academy of Magic was frustrated by the will to fight and unable to fight. Kalia's own magic power was close to empty as well.
　There was no way to rescue Felinella in any way. It was a momentary decision, but even if he held his head up for a few days, he would certainly get the same answer.

　With my current strength, it's almost equivalent to fighting in the flesh. It's like dealing with a demon with mere bare hands without magic power.

　Kalia unconsciously gritted her teeth. Then, chastising herself, she stopped Illumina with the boys and helped them push her up from behind as she tried to shake them off.

　He couldn't let Illumina go unceremoniously. I can't just stand by and watch her stunned as she tries to kill herself.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. It's not a good idea, but the unstoppable decision exists against a demon.

''Feri!　Feri!　Fellies!

　Illumina's voice echoed in her ears.
　A scream mixed with her voice and tears were streaming down from her eyes.

　Kalia met Illumina's all-shooting-san gaze head-on. No matter what she was told, she couldn't weaken her strength.
　Holding her down as she raged, she dragged her upstairs. Illumina's resistance made Kalia suffer. The desire to help her was there. If it was in perfect condition, this leg would have been turned back even if it was a little overwhelming.......


　But now.........
　The screams are to avoid provoking the demons........ But that's not unreasonable.
　I choose the life that is saved while praying that it will not attack us.

　We accomplished the capture of the prey, Ferrinella, and the demon did not want more. Maybe it was just luck.
　The bird kept its bizarre feet pressed against Felinella's head as it fell to hold its prey down with its feet.
　It is pinned down like an eagle's grasp.

　In Illumina's vision, shaken by tears, the leg was lifted up with sickening care.

''Ahhhh!　Give it back!

　A withering cry.
　The demon grabbed Felinella's hair, wet with blood, as she bent down to grab it. Five fingers grasped Felinella's hair as if they were clutching a small ball.
　The fingers, which may have been claws, stretched irregularly like branches and leaves, grabbed at their best friend's hair roughly in front of Illumina's eyes, as if because it was easy to hold.

　The upper half of the demon's body, which was visible when she bent over, was gouged out. From the waist up, there was nothing but a thin frame that led to the arms. It was split in two halves like a tuning fork, with no head and no abdomen.
　It was a demon that looked like a human dress-up costume.

　The limp Felinella's face was forced to lift.
　She still hadn't woken up, and only red blood was dripping down her face.

　Once lifted, her face was dropped to the ground again.
　Then, the demon walked sluggishly with a grip on Felinella's hair. With each step forward, Felinella was dragged along, scraping her face against the ground.

　Two steps forward and she is out of sight from the passage.
　One step forward. Felinella is dragged coyly and her face is obscured.
　Two steps forward. He left his toes and almost disappeared from sight.
　At the third step, Felinella's figure disappeared completely.

　All that was left was a small pool of blood and a trail of scraped blood that looked like it had been dragged....


　A scream echoed through the passage leading to the upper floor. My best friend was taken away by a monster that only recognized humans as food. He was taken away between his eyes.
　Illumina's screams were squeezed out of the depths of her mind as she could only watch it.
　Then she pouted and lost consciousness.