Just as the people of Tartarus Lapse began to move, on the top floor of a luxury apartment complex in the high-end residential district of Itogami Island's western sector, Rozen, who had been chatting with the girls on the sofa, suddenly looked up.
A flicker of astonishment flashed across his eyes.
"The target is actually Kojou?"
By sharing the five senses of the shikigami he had dispersed across Itogami Island, Rozen clearly saw that Akatsuki Kojou and Tokoyogi Yuuma, who were hurrying toward this area from a street some distance away, had encountered a sniper attack.
There was no doubt—the next target of the assassination was Kojou.
"Why?"
This question flashed through Rozen's mind but was immediately suppressed.
Because now was not the time to think about such things.
Rozen stood up directly from the sofa, startling the girls present.
"Nichiyo-kun?"
"Senpai?"
"Nichiyo?"
Akatsuki Nagisa, Kanase Kanon, and Avrora Florestina all cried out at once, their voices filled with tension.
"Did you discover something, Senpai?"
Even Himeragi Yukina gasped and asked in a hurry.
"Yeah. Those people have appeared."
Rozen didn't explain much and only tossed out that line.
First, because there wasn't time, and second, if Nagisa knew that Kojou had been ambushed, she definitely wouldn't be able to stay out of it.
So...
"Himeragi, you come with me. Nagisa, Kanon, Avrora, you three stay here."
Rozen quickly issued orders and then immediately grabbed Yukina's hand, preparing to use Space Manipulation Magic to teleport.
However, just as Rozen began to act, another girl suddenly grabbed his clothes.
"I... I want to go too!"
Avrora Florestina actually gathered her courage and voiced her resolve loudly.
"You?"
Rozen was stunned.
And it wasn't just Rozen—everyone else was too.
"Avrora!"
Nagisa even grew anxious.
Obviously, everyone thought Avrora shouldn't go.
After all, if Avrora went, it would be like walking into a trap.
If that vampire from Tartarus Lapse had any interest in Avrora, then her actions would play right into their hands. Not to mention, Avrora herself had always been reluctant to fight and harbored a deep inner resistance. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shown such unease all this time. Now, she suddenly insisted on going—it was truly baffling.
But Avrora seemed to have made up her mind.
"I am the No. 12 of Kaleid Blood. Now that my last kin has appeared, I must go!"
Avrora declared this with a voice that trembled with fear but was filled with resolve.
Just like when the ritual of the Blazing Banquet arrived in the past, this girl, though afraid and terrified, still chose to face her mission and destiny bravely, never fleeing.
This wasn't mere bravado—this was courage that Avrora had to summon.
Otherwise, the nightmare called the Blazing Banquet would continue to haunt her, never letting her find peace.
And Avrora clearly didn't want that.
"I really like my life right now. I love how things are. I don't want it to change or be destroyed!" Avrora desperately declared. "If this is the final trial, then I must go!"
That's what Avrora believed.
Maybe that was why she had clung to Rozen so uneasily before—not seeking comfort, but courage from him, so she wouldn't have to run away.
Understanding this, Nagisa opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. Kanon also quietly watched, not interfering with the decision.
"Senpai."
Yukina didn't know what to do and looked toward Rozen.
Rozen stared steadily at Avrora, seeing the fear, the cowardice, and the determination in her eyes, and gave a heavy nod.
"Then let's go together, Avrora."
Rozen extended his hand to her.
"Mm!"
Avrora bit her lip and grasped his hand. Though her hand trembled, it held tightly.
This was Avrora Florestina, a girl who, despite being timid, was forced to become strong.
Rozen then held Yukina and Avrora's hands respectively and looked toward Nagisa and Kanon.
"You two behave and wait for us here."
Rozen gave this instruction.
Though Nagisa and Kanon were uneasy, they still obeyed Rozen's orders.
"Please be careful, Senpai."
Kanon sincerely wished him well.
"You must be careful, okay? Nothing bad can happen to you, or I'll cry, I swear!"
Nagisa looked like she was about to cry already.
Fortunately, Nagisa didn't know Kojou was already in danger, or she wouldn't be able to stay here.
Of course, it might not be entirely safe for Nagisa and Kanon to stay here either.
So, Rozen silently spoke in his heart.
"Mash, Serenity, you two stay here and watch over Nagisa and Kanon."
Rozen decided this.
In the next instant, the two Servant girls that resided in his blood responded immediately.
"Yes, Rozen-sama."
Serenity accepted the order without hesitation.
"I'll protect these two girls. Senpai, please be careful."
Mash's tone was serious and strong, as if she had returned to Chaldea.
The two Servants silently emerged from Rozen, not physically, but as spirit forms, staying nearby without being seen.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Yukina, Nagisa, and Kanon seemed to sense something, all letting out soft sounds of surprise.
Seeing this, Rozen could only marvel at how high their spiritual aptitude was. They even faintly sensed the presence of spirit-form Mash and Serenity. Their talents were likely truly top-tier.
"Let's go then."
With that, Rozen, along with Yukina and Avrora, vanished from sight, seemingly blending into space, under Nagisa and Kanon's gaze.
Nagisa and Kanon could only watch silently, praying in their hearts that everyone would return safely.
The two girls didn't know—Rozen and the others, who had merged into space, had encountered an unexpected situation.
"Buzz!"
In a gas station off the high-end residential area, space suddenly fluctuated for no apparent reason.
The spatial waves were intense and chaotic.
Rozen, with Yukina and Avrora in tow, emerged from it almost tumbling out, their movements unstable.
"Senpai!"
"Ahh!"
Yukina and Avrora cried out in surprise, nearly falling.
Rozen quickly caught them both, helping to stabilize them.
Then he looked around the area and instantly understood.
"My Space Manipulation Magic was interfered with?"
That was the only explanation.
Rozen's teleportation hadn't reached the target destination. Instead, it had been disrupted by an unknown technique, causing them to end up here.
If Rozen hadn't sensed the anomaly mid-transfer and quickly corrected the technique, they might've been thrown into the ocean.
And the one responsible for this?
"This is a technique I specially prepared for you—tailored precisely. Against someone who uses the Space Manipulation Magic of the Witch of the Void, it should be unexpectedly effective."
A voice rang out slowly.
"After all, Natsuki's space magic was also guided by me. I'm thoroughly familiar with her techniques."
As those words fell, two figures appeared silently in front of them.