"Ahh

Before Webb could suspect his ears, Rider sprang into action. His massive body scurried like a bird of prey, slashing at the darkness with his blade.

The sound of tearing flesh rang out at the same time as the screams.

Webber stared incredulously at the man in black who had fallen to the ground.

When exactly did the raider sneak up on Webb—and when did Rider notice it? Rider's initial stab knocks down the short knives that the enemy throws at Webb. Probably because of this short knife, Rider was able to find the exact location of the enemy. This tank had become a battlefield before Webb knew it.

What surprised Webb even more was that the enemies that Rider defeated wore white skull masks on their faces.

「Assassin…… How is this possible?"

It's weird. Webber had confirmed through the Demon Eye that the assassin had been killed.

"Now is not the time for you to be surprised, little ghost. 」

Rider cautioned while still holding the weapon in a fighting position. As if confronting Webb, two ghostly skull masks emerge from the darkness.

"For the sake and why...... Why are there four Assassins?!"

"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter now. 」

Even in the face of this unusual state of affairs, Rider's attitude was unspeakably calm. No matter how suspicious the whole thing was, all he cared about was fighting right now.

"One thing is for sure—the guys who thought they were dead were lied to. 」

Regardless of Webb, the Rider who protects him is unfazed at the moment. Seeing this, the two Assassins gritted their teeth in hatred.

In fact, things have come to this point, and it is an irrefutable defeat for them Assassin.

Originally, the people who were sent to monitor Caster and his master, Ryunosuke, were not only the two Assassins who had never returned, but also the three who were patrolling outside the workshop.

If possible, they would have wanted to sneak into the workshop, but they didn't know what was going on in the workshop, so they had to be careful. At this time, Rider suddenly appeared and actually carried out a surprise attack from the front, and the three of them thought that this was a wonderful opportunity, so they followed them all the way to this point, trying to find out the defense status of this workshop.

What they didn't expect, however, was that Rider could break into the interior so easily, which meant that the Assassins had invaded Caster's lair. One of them immediately felt good, and was overwhelmed by utilitarianism when faced with the unsuspecting Rider's Master.

Of course, this was not an order from their master. But even so, if Rider can be eliminated here, Qili will definitely not blame himself. This thought was a temptation for the Assassin.

As a result, the three of them combined and took action - and finally staged this failed scene.

The two surviving Assassins gave each other a look as they cautiously pondered Rider's next move. Will this two-on-one battle continue......

The two came up with only one answer, since the sneak attack failed, it meant that the chance to win was lost. There is a clear gap between his own strength and Rider, and he will never be able to win against Rider with the two of them alone. Although he is unwilling, instead of waiting for death here, it is better to retreat and confess to Qili.

The two immediately understood each other's thoughts, and quickly disappeared from Rider's face as spirits.

"Did they escape?"

Webb, who just wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, got a "no" answer.

"The one in front is dead, and the one in the back is coming—if that's the case. I don't know how many Assassins will come out. This is the best environment for them to operate, and we should retreat quickly. 」

Rider still hadn't put his sword back in its sheath, and he pointed to the chariot with his chin.

"Imp, go back to my chariot. Once they start, they don't have a chance to make a move. 」

"Here's ...... It doesn't matter?"

Webb asked gloomily as he pointed to the workshop where he still didn't dare to look at it.

"Although you might find something to investigate...... Give it up. Anyway, if you destroy this place first, you can still contain Caster somewhat. 」

Unlike when he had ravaged the monsters before, Rider was surprisingly cautious at the moment. He could kill so many monsters without changing his face, but after discovering the assassin who had sneaked in, he must have felt quite threatened.

"Are there any survivors—"

Rider looked around at the words, then replied with a serious expression.

"A few of them still have a breath...... But in that case, it would be better to kill them. 」

Webb no longer dared to ask him what he saw in the darkness.

The two returned to the bridge of the chariot. Rider held the reins, and the roar of an angry bull could be heard in the darkness.

"I'm sorry this place is too narrow, but I want to ask you to burn them to ashes!"

With the roar of the Rider, the sacred cow runs around the blood-soaked workshop. Everywhere its thunderbolt struck was, nothing left but fleshless destruction. The nightmarish artwork that Caster and Ryunosuke treasured was destroyed in an instant.

Webb is still gloomy witnessing the utter destruction. According to the trainee magician, this will not lead to much results.

Rider said as he touched Webb's head with his big hand.

"Destroy this place, and Caster will have no place to hide, only to be exposed in broad daylight, not far from the day when they will be dealt with. 」

"Alright—got it—stop! Hey!"

Webb felt humiliated, and his expression became more gloomy. Rider smiled boldly and manipulated the reins to run down the sewers.

It only took a few minutes to go from the narrow pipe to the surface of the river, and the cold air outside made Webb feel so intimate that his tense nerves finally eased.

"Ahh 」

「…… First of all, I won't drink with you. 」

Or rather, he doesn't drink. He watched Rider drink and felt that the smell of alcohol made him sick to his stomach.

"Hmph, I'm not uncommon for someone like you to drink with me. Ah, boring, isn't there a place for me to get drunk...... Oh, yes!"

Rider excitedly tapped his palm.

While Webb didn't know why Rider was so excited, he had a hunch that it wasn't a good thing.

—————— Dividing Line——————

Rin Tosaka was ready to come to her senses.

Since she is the heir of the Demon Dao family, she is destined to follow a different path from ordinary girls.

There was a great example of this, the greatest, handsome, gentleest adult she had ever known.

In her opinion, her father Shichen is close to a perfect character. Although there are many girls her age who have a longing for their father, Rin believes that no daughter can love her father as much as she does.

I want to be a singer when I grow up, and I want to be a beautiful bride when I grow up. Rin's peers may have such wishes, but Rin's wishes are different.

Career and the like are only secondary, and her greatest desire is to be as great as her father.

That is to say, to choose the path that the father has taken, to choose to accept the fate that the father has accepted. Or - to pass on the bloodline of the demon path of the Tosaka family.

But this is just a wish, not something that can be fulfilled if you want to achieve it. First of all, it is necessary to get the consent of the Master, which is the Father. Her father hadn't told Rin that he was going to entrust the family to her, and she was a little uneasy about that. Perhaps my father had not yet admitted that he had the qualifications to become a magician.

But even so, her wishes have not changed, so she is proud of the enlightenment she has made.

Of course, Rin knows a lot more about the events that are happening in Fuyuki City today than his classmates. Although she doesn't understand as deeply as her parents, she already knows more than most people on the street.

Seven magicians, including their father, are at war.

In the streets at night lurks a deadly and strange threat.

Because of knowing a certain truth, Rin added a sense of responsibility to his heart.

Yesterday and today, my friend Qinyin didn't come to school.

The head teacher said that she was at home on sick leave, but the rumors in the class did not spread like this.

Even if Rin calls her home, the other party's parents don't want to pay attention to Rin.

Nowadays, there are child abduction incidents in Fuyuki City, which cannot be solved by simple search activities. Even if the police are called, it is difficult for the child to come back. The teachers at school, Kotone's relatives and friends must not have realized this, only Rin knew.

Kotone has always trusted Rin. Whether it's when she is bullied by the boys in her class, or when the librarian pushes her with work, Rin will step in to help her. Being so trusted and respected by her classmates is a source of pride for Rin. "Always be elegant" - Helping her every time is a good opportunity for Rin to practice her family motto.

Right now. Kotone must have been waiting for Rin to save her.

In fact, she can turn to her father, who is a magician, but her father is one of the participants in the "war" and has not called since he went to the Fukayama Town Museum last month, and her mother has strictly ordered him not to disturb him.

It's like the tone of saying "never go out at night".

Rin had always followed her parents' words, but she couldn't sit idly by and let her friends in danger go.

And - the night when you can't sleep, only once.

In fact, at that time, Rin was only half-understood, and his thoughts were not yet mature.

I don't know whether it is a sense of obligation or a so-called rebuke of conscience, and before she knows it, she is taken into a field that must not be set foot in. And she herself didn't realize it at the time.

Compared to the Tosaka Mansion, where the enchantment is strong, it is too easy to slip out of the room in Zen City.

Climb out of the bedroom window, slide down the patio pillars into the courtyard, and peek out of the fence through the small door.

It took less than five minutes to get out, but when I came back, I couldn't use the same route. To slide down the terrace pillars, it's easy to climb up, but it's a hassle.

When he thought that he couldn't hide it when he went out tonight, and that his parents would definitely criticize him harshly afterwards, Rin said to himself that he didn't sneak out for something unseemly, but because he was a member of the Tosaka family, he had to do it. When you go back, be sure to bring the sound with you. At that time, no matter how much my parents scolded me, I must still be proud of myself.

There are three types of equipment.

The most trustworthy thing is the magic pointer given by his father on his birthday. In terms of shape and construction, this is just an ordinary compass, but it does not point north, but points in a direction that emits strong magical power. Rin had experimented that neither wind nor water could change the movement of some subtle magical powers. If there is anything out of the ordinary, this thing is undoubtedly the most useful.

All that's left are the two crystal tablets that Rin refined in the practice of gem magic. She picked two of the best finished products she had made. If the magic filled with it were unleashed - although she had never tried such a dangerous thing - there should be a small explosion. It can be used as a self-defense weapon in case of danger.

With the equipment and her own strength, Rin is confident that she will be able to find the sound of the piano and bring her back.

If someone asks, no problem, I'll nod my head.

If someone asks, is it really okay, then you may nod a little depressedly.

And if someone asks if there is really a guarantee that there will be no mistakes, I guess I didn't dare to answer at that time.

It didn't really mean much to Rin. If someone really wants to ask, then the first thing to ask should be that Kotone is okay, if Kotone can't come to school again, will Rin be able to hold on? If it's such a question, she will definitely be able to answer it immediately without hesitation.

Gathering courage and self-esteem, Rin tells herself that she is not one of those ordinary children who are timid. She swept away the cowardice in her heart and walked towards the nearest station. Fuyuki Xindu is just one stop away, and the change in his hand is enough to pay the fare.

……