Marisa Kiriyu is having a big problem.

It's a shame to say that as a part-time thief, she actually got lost in the target's home. This can only be described as funny.

But...... The Red Devil Pavilion is just too big. From the outside, the building is already quite large, and its interior space is ...... It's beyond imagination.

I guess it's been artificially enlarged in space. Otherwise, this abnormal space really can't match the building itself, but even if you know about this kind of thing now, it won't help the current predicament at all.

"Hmm...... Where is this?"

The young magician looked around, but what caught his eyes was not familiar.

She bypassed the gate and climbed through the barrier from somewhere else. I want to enter the library under the Red Devil Pavilion as always.

There was nothing wrong with the idea, and it was successful in the beginning. But now something has gone wrong.

It was true that he managed to make it underground, but he didn't make it to Pache Norregi's realm, a library full of rare books.

She came to a room that was too big to talk to.

「…… It's so unpleasant, here."

The Red Devil Pavilion is a Gothic building, but it is also mixed with Baroque style, full of luxury and majesty, and does not make Marisa feel particularly uncomfortable.

But here, it is clearly different from the rest of the Western-style museum.

Although gorgeous, it has a somber atmosphere that is reminiscent of death and darkness...... It probably wasn't an unbearable atmosphere for a vampire, but for a living person like Marisa, it was like a tomb.

Yes, what is the difference between the secret room buried deep in the ground of the Red Devil Pavilion and the tomb after all?

————But then again, what the hell is it for?

Looking at the candle flame on the wall, which didn't bring much light, but added a bit of eerie feeling, she couldn't help but think so.

This question was answered as she progressed deeper into the room.

Is that...... Toys for small children? They were thrown on the floor with a thick carpet, and it seemed that the owner had lost interest in them.

Is this a room for children? But wait, it's unreasonable to think why there are children in vampire territory.

———— just as Marisa was thinking, she suddenly shuddered uncontrollably.

Because of fear.

The horror of being stared at by the eyes of darkness when walking on the night path at night———— is the fear that causes chills to pour into Marisa's body.

「……」

Despite her youth, Marisa is not a child who does not know anything about the world. She immediately put away her casual attitude. Observe the surroundings with a rather vigilant attitude.

The reaction just now...... This is no accident.

He often walks alone in the forest with many demons at night, but even this has not scared Marisa. Instincts, which are hidden deep in human genes, can be overcome by will. But now, Marisa's will has not worked.

To say that this was an accident, she would never believe ———— judgment was undoubtedly wise.

Because of this, when she met the pair of eyes that seemed to be red with blood, the girl did not exclaim.

The red that seeps through the shadows is anything but pleasant. Creatures that peer into the darkness of humans are often malicious. It seems to be illustrated in many stories, and Marisa remembers it very well.

"Who?!"

She snapped. It's a pity that compared to the menacing voice, the tense expression completely exposed her heart. The so-called lust is really suitable for a girl at the moment.

Humans fear the dark.

For human eyes alone cannot see through the deep darkness. For them, everything in the dark is unknown. It is precisely because of this unknown that we are afraid. I can't get information with vision, so I just don't know when it's going to happen, and I just wait for the next moment...... This horror can even be devastating.

What the hell is lurking there? What's that?

As long as the human imagination does not fade, this horror will always exist. In other words, as long as what lurks in the darkness can be observed, then this fear can be alleviated to some extent.

And now, a guy who emerged from the darkness really relieved Marisa.

What appeared in front of me was not an indescribable monster, but a cute little girl.

A little girl with bright red clothes and thick blonde hair tied into a side ponytail, and a cute face that looks like an angel. He is only about ten years old, and he may even be younger in appearance.

Only, is it really as harmless as it looks?

Not necessarily, I'm afraid

Looking at the girl's blood-soaked pupils and the special wings of colorful crystals extending from her back, Marisa secretly came to this conclusion in her heart.

As Marisa looked at the girl, the girl looked at her as well.

…… It's an indescribable gaze, in a word, the gaze of a child who sees something new———— but mixed with something else.

Finally, the brief silence was broken by the girl.

"Before you ask someone for their name, you should ask for ...... yourself."

Her voice was as innocent and lovely as it looked, but her sharp words were not so gentle.

But maybe it's just because she likes to be straightforward, and from that point of view, she's just acting out of bluntness............ Or rather, fairy tales.

"My name is Marisa Kiriyu."

"Oh............"

Hearing Marisa's name, the girl jerked in front of her.

The movement was like a ghost, light and fast beyond imagination. Before Marisa could react, the girl was almost standing under her nose.

To be sure, that's not a human action.

"It's the first time I've seen a human other than Sakiya......

There was a certain kind of amazement in his tone, but the gaze of looking at some strange animal really made Marisa feel uncomfortable. But the things that can't be ignored in the girl's words make her care even more.

"Sakuya...... After talking for a long time, who are you?"

"I'm Fran, Flandrew."

It does answer the question, but it doesn't make much sense.

Because Marisa wants to know her identity more than her name.

"Uh......"

Just as Marisa hesitated to ask, the girl left in front of her.

This time it was a slow, gentle pace that matched her appearance.

「…… My sister has kept Fran here for 495 years."

Sister...... It would be too stupid to not understand the identity of the girl at this point.

This girl must be the sister of the vampire Remilia Scarlet.

I didn't expect that arrogant guy to have such a well-behaved sister. It really surprised Marisa. And he actually imprisoned his sister for 495 years, what is the situation?

Because Fran is now facing away from Marisa, her expression is not seen by the girl.

Otherwise, Marisa would have regretted that she had thought Fran was well-behaved.

———— fact, she soon regretted it.