Sabbath, verse 15

['Walking in the shadows' - does it mean that she was picking up the doll at night?]

[But what does 'not be human' mean?]

"Strange message...... Hmm, did the previous request for information from Aphro have helped?" Alice blinked, picking up a plate of snacks from the table next to her and placing it in front of the crow. As a reward for the little black messenger.

"Only, why use a crow? Isn't it easier to have someone sue me directly?" thought to herself, and put the mercury sword in her hand back into the belt. She straightened her clothes, and some questions arose in her mind.

The raven is not an auspicious messenger. The black handprint mark on the back of the note was even more ominous—she seemed to have heard someone mention it before. But when you think about it, this long-ago memory seems blurry.

It feels like the mark of some shady organization......

【Dark Brotherhood?】

"No, it can't be. ”

"Those sewer rats probably wish I was going to die, how could they come out of their way to help? ”

Her fingers were brought together, then slowly unfolded. In any case, since the information has been obtained, there is no reason to leave it alone. It wouldn't take much time to check with Aphro. But if the information of such a small doll needs to be confirmed again and again...... Does it make Aphro feel like she doesn't trust herself?

That's not a good thing.

[As long as you are careful, it must be a trap no problem.] 】

Alice's mind turned to this thought, and she did not hesitate any longer, and after packing up her things, she put on a cloak to hide her identity, and quickly left the back door of the hotel.

……………………………………

Fifteen minutes later, Alice quietly came to the vicinity of the ruins of the fire, stopping in the shade of a tree near the house of the Tony and Laileette families.

It's been a long time since the fire broke out.

The gloomy aura that lingers over the ruins has long since dissipated with Alice and Jamila's visit. By now, the residents of the neighborhood have no fear or concern about the wreckage of the buildings on the wasteland. They have become familiar with it, accustomed to it, and have made it a part of their lives – they don't get out of the way when they come and go, and they don't shout out when children want to play nearby.

Perhaps, a little longer. Wait until this ruin is naturally damaged, or is bulldozed by order of the lord. Even the residents of this neighborhood will no longer remember the neighbor they once had.

It doesn't matter, though. Alice didn't plan to stay here permanently, she only came here to fulfill Helge's wish.

Well, here's the situation now:

Helji wanted the humanoid doll.

The humanoid doll is now in Raylet's hands.

Mr. and Mrs. Tonil, Mr. and Mrs. Railette used to work in Helji's home.

Before the fire, Railette had fallen ill with a rare illness that prevented him from even going out during the day.

[Feeling...... It's a little weird. 】

[Although Raillette once took care of Helji as a maid, it is likely that she has some special feelings. Then it is not surprising that after Helji's death, he wanted to take something to express his grief......]

However, she didn't let anyone else know about it.

This is unreasonable.

Alice remembers well that she had also visited Tonyel's house while she was looking for dolls, but found nothing. And judging from the conversation at that time, Tony did not and did not need to lie to her.

That would mean that Toniel didn't know that Railette had taken the doll, if it was really in her possession.

So, what kind of obsession does it take for a woman who is too sick to go out during the day to force her physical discomfort and sneak into the ruins of a fire without anyone noticing, probably late at night, in order to take a dead little girl's ragdoll?

Alice couldn't understand it, and she didn't really want to.

For, if this is what really happened, then Raileette must have had quite a deep affection for Helge. It was even more difficult to get the doll from her.

And if that's not true...... Well, that means it's a trap. Around here, there will be something that can make her unlucky.

These two conditions ...... Whatever it was, she didn't like it very much.

[Let's sneak in and observe first.] Maybe things weren't as bad as I expected......]

Alice coughed lightly and shifted her position to a nearby remote corner. Then, he used the power of the void in the dragon's roar.

“Feim－Zii――Gron”

The girl's form quickly faded with the activation of the spitting eyes, and in the blink of an eye, she stepped into another dimension of space—a gray-white void without any obstacles or barriers.

As long as you restrain your will and breath, then you won't be discovered by anyone from here. So far, Alice has never encountered an enemy who can crack this move. Presumably, this time will be no exception.

She lifted her foot and walked through the wall in front of her. Without attracting the attention of anyone or creature, he easily walked into Tonyel's house.

Inside the house...... And no one.

Not only was the male host gone, but even the hostess who was supposed to be resting on the hospital bed was gone.

[People are not there...... Did you go out to see a doctor?]

Alice looked around suspiciously, from the antechamber to the backyard, from the guest room to the bedroom. But there was not even the slightest trace of the doll.

[The size of that doll should not be small...... It's impossible to hide in too narrow a place. 】

She fluttered like a ghost through the locked cabinets and windows. However, nothing was gained. Don't say it's a doll, it's not even a doll with a spherical joint!

However, she was also unaware of any ambushes or traps.

What's going on!?

Is it a joke?

Alice frowned in annoyance, and she subconsciously stomped the floor to vent her frustration, but the lackluster touch reminded her that she was now in a state where she couldn't touch anything.

She suddenly lowered her head and looked towards the thick wooden floor.

[This place...... Is there a basement?]

She relaxed her will and imagined that she was sinking. The moment her mind turned, the ground that gave her a foothold in the void world lost its supporting role. Let her fall slowly downward.

Two seconds later, she saw Lailette.

Not only did she see the woman, but she also saw the Helji doll, a strangely looking woman who was sleeping on her 'bed' with the slightly old doll in her arms.

When Alice walked up to Railette, she could even hear her whispering dreams.

"Helji, Helji, my dear darling. ”

"Even death can't separate you and me. It won't take long, it won't take long for the ritual to be completed perfectly, and then your soul will be completely mine. ”

Her face was stained with a drunken flush, and she wrapped her face around the doll like a snake, rubbing her face against the doll's head.

[Ah...... That's a ......]

What is going on is completely clear in this short conversation. There is no doubt that the name is Lailette's...... The creature has a certain obsession with little Helji that goes beyond etiquette and morality, and it is undoubtedly impossible to get the doll from her by peaceful means.

However, Alice is not paying attention to this.

What she paid attention to was Raylet's 'bed'.

No, that's not a bed, that's a coffin.

And in Mosar, there is only one thing that sleeps in a coffin, and can move, and can talk......

"Vampires. ”

Alice drew her sword and stepped out of the void. "Sue me, what kind of ritual is that?"

The vampire let out a half-scream - the other half was choked in its throat by the mercury sword. Its mouth opened wide, and its eyes were already a golden hue of fear.

"You, who are you!, why did you come to my room!" it cried out in alarm, subconsciously hiding Helji's doll behind it.

"I'm asking you questions, vampire. Alice looked at it with a blank expression. "What is that ritual you're talking about?" she tilted her head and glanced at the doll.

"I remember summoning magic using the relics of the undead as a medium to forcibly bind and enslave the souls of the dead. Is that the one?"

"No, it's not like that!" said Lailette, waving her hand in a panic, trying to defend herself. "I'm just, I just want to take Helji over...... She's so cute...... It took me a long time to get rid of her mother, who was in the way......"

"It turned out that you set the fire. Alice frowned deeply. "Is the desire for exclusivity so important to you, killing someone else's family, even the soul?"

"You, how can you say that!" the vampire shouted angrily, "My love for Helji is pure!"

Alice shook her head, "That's disgusting love. ”

The mercury sword in her hand was stained with light, and she never gave the vampire a chance to speak.