Chapter 36 - Ruins Exploration (5)

The phenomenon of absorbing mana disappeared.

It was just as Mea analyzed.

I wasn’t sure what this phenomenon was, but it should have been more moderate in its greed.

I offer my mild condolences to whatever burst its stomach from greedily devouring the mana of two Archdevils.

Well, rather than a living creature, it was probably some kind of system.

Let's consider it a condolence to that, as it was also the product of someone's efforts.

"Really... there's just no end to you, Roman."

Teresia approached, clicking her tongue in admiration.

Perhaps because her mana had recovered slightly, much of her previous anxious appearance had disappeared.

Unlike Devil Sorcerers, who drew mana from external sources, Teresia was an orthodox mage who had to refine natural mana into her own innate mana, so the amount must be extremely small.

"I'm late in saying this, but don't tell anyone about this."

"I know. I have that much sense."

Ah, right.

Clearly, the Teresia I saw at the training center was someone who didn't have an ounce of tact, ignoring everything people around her said.

"Can I tell Fiona?"

"No."

"...Fiona's going to be really pushy about it."

"Still no, even if you look at me like that. Consider it the price of your life. This is the second time, right?"

At my words, Teresia erased the pitiful look in her eyes as if she had nothing to say.

There was still an unbelievable admiration in her gaze, but a firm line was also drawn, indicating she wouldn't pry any further.

"More importantly, what are we going to do now? In this state, it would be simple to just escape."

I asked, pointing up to where Mea and I had come down from.

Having seen such a terrible sight, one might want to return as quickly as possible.

However, Teresia was different.

The clearly felt friendliness and faint playfulness disappeared instantly from her expressionless, calm face.

She erased all emotions, bleaching her expression, and painted it anew with only one emotion.

Vengeance.

It was a cold anger toward her enemy that had driven her into a corner.

Teresia spoke with a chilling seriousness, "We have to catch that thing."

As expected, I knew she would say this.

They say birds of a feather flock together.

We were of the same kind.

More precisely, all of our classmates were the same.

Did only those who couldn't let go after being victimized survive?

Or did they merely change because of that experience?

Like the question of which came first, the chicken of the egg before it, it was impossible to know which answer was correct.

However, the result converged to one point.

On the last day at the training center, when we opened up to one another, we saw the resentment each of us harbored.

Even Philon, classmate number 6, who was usually good-natured and full of laughter, cursed that day.

Though she rarely expressed it, Teresia was the same.

If you receive, you return.

If something is taken, you take it back and then some.

If a life is taken, you make them realize that their own life can be taken as well.

How dare a mere insect touch the top of the food chain?

They need to be made to regret it, right?

"...Roman."

"Mea. Um... I'm sorry, but even though this is training..."

"No, I don't intend to stop you."

What's this?

Something about Mea's atmosphere seemed different.

It was hard to put into words, but there was clearly a change in her mindset.

"I'll go too. We're still in training, after all."

It had always been subtly apparent that Mea was interested in me, but now it had become completely blatant.

To the extent that even if I were to tell Mea not to come, it felt like she would follow secretly anyway.

I guess that isn’t an issue.

After all, I never had any intention of pushing Mea away.

"It's reassuring to have Mea with us. It seems like we might not even get a chance to act."

"Think of my involvement as insurance. I'll prioritize protecting that person."

"Ah... right. That person was there too."

Priscilla, was it?

Unlike Teresia, who had regained her confidence as her mana recovered, she was still curled up like a rolly polly, tensing her body.

"Then let's wait for a while until Teresia recovers her mana."

And we need to keep an eye on that person's condition.

However, the person who knew her own and Priscilla's condition best objected.

"No, now is the best time."

"Are you sure? Even though the mana absorption has ended, it will take time, unlike us. Though it would be faster than usual because you drank a potion."

"Yes. Even though my mana isn't even 10% yet... it's fine."

Saying that, Teresia raised her head to look at the hole in the ceiling.

The light that had been seeping in was growing dim.

"Because it will be night soon."

When Teresia uttered those words.

The sun must have finally set as the beam of light that had been shining suddenly cut off.

At the same time, Teresia's unique eye color, which had seemed like a mix of lavender and silver, began to change.

From light purple to deep purple.

As the light coming down from the ceiling faded, Teresia's eyes shone with an even clearer light.

A bright, bright red light.

"Did you forget? I'm a Dhampir."

Teresia smiled, revealing snow-white teeth.

Her fangs, gently pressing against her lower lip, stood out prominently.

§

The four of us walked carefully, lowering our footsteps.

Mea took the lead.

It would have been fine for Teresia, who could see in the dark, to take the lead, but it was a bit burdensome to entrust the vanguard to Teresia, who currently lacked mana.

Since we didn't know when or where something might jump out at us, extra caution was needed.

It was for that reason that I took charge of the rear.

"It was left here."

"Okay."

Teresia remembered the path she had come from without missing a beat.

Despite the pandemonium she must gone through, her memory was amazing.

"Is it because you're a Dhampir?"

"That's a racially discriminatory remark, Roman."

"...I meant it as a compliment."

"It's not because I'm a Dhampir. It's simply because I’m me that I remember."

Ah, yes.

I see.

I may not know for sure, but it's clear she's completely regained her confidence.

"...We're almost there."

"I don't sense anything."

Not being able to sense anything was within our expectations.

Even Priscilla, who was a Senior just like Mea, couldn't react.

Although mana absorption was active at that time, it couldn't be overlooked that it had escaped a Senior's detection.

Leraje, how is it?

[What I sense isn't much different from what you sense.]

I see, it's like that, after all.

I had hoped Leraje might be different, even if Seir also hadn’t sensed anything.

I hoped that might be the case since Devils corresponded to gods of other religions, with the exception of the Abrahamic lineage.

And the pagan god corresponding to Leraje was none other than Artemis.

There was also an argument that she corresponded to Cupid, but Artemis fits better in terms of being a hunter and dealing with poison.

But it seemed even Leraje couldn't do much when the detection range was limited to me.

[It's because you didn't choose that authority!]

[We think the pact-bearer should respect us more.]

Of course.

You know, I'm always worshipping you two Archdevils?

As I kept the pact seal open to use magic vision, I ended up chatting more and more.

In the end, our detection attempts weren't particularly meaningful.

Mainly because the culprit of the disaster Teresia had spoken of was openly revealing itself at the scene of the crime.

It wasn’t like the culprit returned to the scene of the crime or anything.

The thing that had turned the area into a bloodbath was there as if nothing had happened.

If I had to describe its form in one word, it would be bizarre.

It looked like mismatched animal parts were forcibly stitched together, like a child randomly drawing what they imagined.

While the outer surface of the body looked like that of a reptile, the overall skeletal structure and body shape resembled ungulates like cows or deer.

In fact, what was attached to its feet were not sharp claws but split hooves.

Although even those hooves were sharpened to points.

But could we really classify that as a reptile or an ungulate mammal?

That thing with six legs and an insect head with split jaws?

That thing with horns that was doused in the dried blood of the mages it had likely defeated earlier?

"No doubt about it."

Mea spoke the name of that thing, "It's a Chromatic Fiend."

That name was one that existed in my dictionary too.

We learned about it at the training center.

Chromatic Fiend.

A monster said to change its body color as if it were a chameleon.

This monster, reigning as the apex predator on the first floor of the Abyss, was said to be difficult to catch easily, even for Regular explorers, unless they formed a team.

A Chromatic Fiend in an area where mana is absorbed? It's completely understandable why even Priscilla couldn't help but be overwhelmed.

"That's..."

"Is it Teresia's first time seeing one too?"

"Yes, it's not something you can find just anywhere."

Not easy to find.

That was right.

Besides the Chromatic Fiend, there were several other top-tier monsters on the first floor, but this one was particularly difficult to encounter.

That was probably why Teresia couldn't recall the Chromatic Fiend even after being attacked by it.

Apex predators were rare to begin with.

But there was a definite reason why Chromatic Fiends had become even rarer.

And that would be its hide.

It changed color even after being skinned.

"...I'll skin it."

The moment Teresia revealed her killing intent.

The creature's head whipped around to face us.

Eyes like those of an ant, which looked like dark circular orbs, stared at us.

Immediately after.

The creature disappeared.