Once inside the building, we split into two groups.
Lavinia went with Natsume while Tobio came with me.
We did it this way to prevent Tobio and Natsume, the weakest in the group, from being exposed and unprotected. Leaving them alone would make them easy targets for the Utsusemis.
Apparently, Lavinia's magic was practically useless inside the building. It seemed that the enemy had created a Bounded Field space to intervene with Lavinia's magic. It also affected my senses a little, but I could more or less feel what was inside the building.
For example, I can feel numerous auras spread out over the first and second floors.
"Lavinia, can you use some kind of communication magic?"
The best we can do is keep in touch in case someone gets in trouble. Though I doubt very much.
Lavinia nodded at my question and drew a series of magic symbols with her staff. When she finished her spell, which did not last for five seconds, small balls the size of grains of rice entered the ears of all present.
(Can you hear me?)
Natsume asks.
She has covered her mouth and whispered as quietly as she could, but I would have heard her even without Lavinia's spell.
But I don't think it's a good idea to disappoint Natsume, so I just nod my head.
(Cool!)
It seems all the spells are connected, seeing the Tobio's shocked face.
Lavinia was proudly making a sign of peace to me as if what she'd done was impressive.
I gestured with my thumb up, because I would also feel bad if I disappointed Lavinia.
(We'll temporarily split up to search. We go one floor at a time. We'll each attempt to contact the others when we reach the second floor, and we'll decide from there. Should you find Kouki, contact the other group in due course afterwards).
.....
Accompanied by Tobio, we headed for the next floor. The black puppy was following us closely, alert to defend his master at any sign of a fight. A small lump was sticking out of his forehead, that's where his sword came from.
(Anything over there?)
Natsume's voice sounds directly into my ear. Tobio is the one who responds.
(Nothing in particular. What about on your end?)
(Still nothing. Although Griffon went ahead earlier, nothing has shown up.)
Where we were now, we were in front of an escalator that didn't work.
"Hey, Drako. Should we go upstairs or wait for the others?" Tobio whispers.
Instead of answering him, I look away. More specifically, I'm looking at a column.
Tobio's puppy has good instincts since he seems to have noticed it too. Tobio, who has seen that we are both looking at the same place, shines his flashlight on the column.
From behind the pillar, a single white cat appears. The cat had a pure white coat. Its long tail was swaying from side to side.
I smile at the sight of the cat. This is none other than Kouki Samejima's Sacred Gear.
Another figure appears from behind the pillar, and it's none other than the person we were looking for.
It was Kouki Samejima.
The young man, Kouki, looked down as he used his hand to protect his eyes from the light shining from the darkness.
Kouki's face changed when he saw me. He sighed.
"I thought I said I didn't want to get involved with you. I'm going to act on my own." Says Kouki, slightly irritated.
"Are you an idiot? You don't even know what you're up against. Sooner or later you're going to die, and you won't be able to rescue your friend."
At my words, Kouki bites his lips as he looks away.
"Did you come with Natsume and that witch girl? Is the idiot fallen angel here?"
"Only the first two. By the way, this is Tobio, another one of the survivors."
"Hello..."
Kouki only gives Tobio a glance and then looks back at me, he doesn't seem to provide the young Ikuse much thought.
"The one who grasped my movements..., would that be that witch girl, or was it that conceited silver-haired motherfucker who determined where..."
Kouki could not finish his words, as he found that my right hand was clutching his neck. With one hand, I lifted him from the ground and faced his eyes with mine.
"Say one more word about Valina, and it won't be the Utsusemi who kill you, do you understand me?"
I won't allow it. I won't allow anyone to say anything bad about my loved ones. This is just a warning because I understand that he is frustrated by what happened. But next time, I'm gonna rip his head off his neck with my bare hands.
You should never anger a dragon.
I release Kouki, letting him fall to the ground.
"Cough- I understand."
Kouki seems to be a hard man, as he rises from the ground as if nothing had happened.
Tobio was in his place, too scared by what had just happened. Well, he's still a weak, innocent kid.
"Looks like there's movement up there," I said weakly.
"Yes, Byakusa also seemed to have detected something before you came."
Byakusa... that seems to be the name Kouki had given to his Sacred Gear.
(Drako! Sorry! We've been attacked! Lavinia and I are supporting each other right now! And on your end!?)
Just as I thought, there's movement up there.
(We've found Kouki over here. We are going upwards to, just hold the situation and don't die.)
I turn to look at Tobio and Kouki and just say a word.
"Go."
Kouki, faster than Tobio, takes the white cat, puts it on his shoulder, and follows in my footsteps.
"Oy!"
Tobio ran to pick up with us.