"!"
Kanami's judgment was swift. She stopped pursuing and turned, rushing towards Lisha.
A sense of unease that surpassed the abnormal situation compelled her. Normally, Lisha would deploy a Sanctuary to protect herself along with the surrounding area. However, the fact that the outside was shattered meant that it was not a source of reassurance.
Her judgment was not wrong. Even if it meant abandoning Amon, it was the duty of the guardian to protect Lisha.
But it was all too late. When a demon with a title attacked head-on, Kanami should have chosen to retreat.
"..!?"
Lisha's body floated.
Someone appeared from behind and grabbed her slender neck, lifting her up. The weight of a person floated effortlessly, as if made of cotton. Digging into her soft neck were steel fingertips.
The figure was obscured by Lisha, making it difficult to see clearly, but with a little force, Lisha's neck could easily be snapped. The distance between them was only a few steps.
Ideally, before the opponent had the chance, every effort should have been made to save Lisha. If she died, there would be no meaning in Kanami surviving.
However, Kanami stopped in her tracks. It was not a tactical decision like before.
"..."
Her soles clung to the ground, her muscles tensed. Only her gripping hand held any strength, while her fingertips lost their color.
Pure fear.
Stopping Kanami's movement and binding her in place was an instinctive feeling of fear.
"Shayka Eyes" was always active. Nevertheless, Kanami had completely failed to notice its presence. When and how did it appear?
Considering the situation, it was likely that this person was the one who destroyed the Sanctuary, but could such a thing be possible?
If they had destroyed the Sanctuary, they must have used magic power equal to that. Shayka Eyes would not have missed the manifestation of such magic power.
The only conceivable explanation was that they used magic with a level of skill that even deceived the power of those eyes.
(There's no way that's possible. Such a... such a magician)
The more she tried to deny it, the more shadows flickered in Kanami's mind.
She probably knew two magicians who could accomplish that.
During the Rantenas Fortress battle, those magicians who freely caused chaos in the war with just the two of them, using powers beyond reason.
"Kanami, san..."
Lisha, supported by her neck, groaned in pain. In just a few seconds, her light disappeared from her eyes, and her body lost its strength. Limbs hung down limply, swaying like a doll.
She had to help her. She knew that, but her body wouldn't move.
Whether they knew or not about Kanami's state, the arm supporting Lisha moved, and the person revealed themselves from the shadows.
In the shifting light of the night, the world fell silent. The one holding Lisha was a young man.
Covered from mouth to knees in a dark blue cloak, his arms and legs were also tightly covered by belt-like accessories.
The gauntlet attached to his left arm was the only thing that emitted exquisite beauty amidst the messy appearance.
The exposed face seemed like that of a young boy at first glance, with blue burning eyes staring at them from beneath black hair.
His appearance was not much different from a human. Compared to Tarim, the difference in otherness was like night and day.
But just by looking, she knew. It wasn't through thought, but through intuition.
——This person is a monster.
A different kind of creature wearing a human guise. With a single movement, they could trample the lives of the weak and swallow even the light of twilight. They existed outside the simple framework of demons and humans.
Ironically, it was because Kanami had seen the Hero and the "Galeo" demon, transcendent beings, that she understood this.
The man before her was a demon comparable to them.
"Young girl, I have something I want to ask you."
The man, holding Lisha up, spoke with a calm voice that contradicted his appearance, like that of an experienced soldier. It was a calmness that one wouldn't expect from someone holding a young girl up alone.
Kanami responded, putting strength into her chin as if she was about to make a sound.
"Is it not too rude to desire a discussion with that attitude? First, put down the Saint. If you want to talk, we can take as much time as you need afterwards."
It was clear that the conversation would not be through words.
The man responded calmly.
"Even if I explain, you won't be convinced. But I promise not to harm this key. I have no intention of fighting you. I have no interest in the current God-Demon War."
"..."
She turned her head with all her might, trying to read the intentions of the other person. No interest in the God-Demon War. Are there really demons who have no interest in it? If there are, then why did he participate in this battle?
If Lisha and herself are not the purpose, then why did he appear? Thinking up to that point, she came to a certain possibility. An extraordinary powerful individual, and the way they spoke now.
The image of a young man came to her mind. It was impossible, and she didn't want it to be true, but the more she thought about it, the more realistic it became.
As if to confirm her intuition, the man uttered decisive words.
"There should be a Silver Knight here, but where are they now?"
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