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Beyond the hidden door was a ladder, built to allow descent. Koai had the old man go first and descended the ladder in the same manner. Then, she began to walk along a path that had been dug out and prepared underground.

Occasionally, she could hear what sounded like a woman's scream, rarely mixed with that of a man. As she followed the old man's lead, the sounds grew distinct enough to be clearly identified as screams.

Proceeding further, she saw a person who looked like a guard standing by a door. The old man spoke to the person in a familiar tone.

"Is Lord James... enjoying himself?"
"Ah, no, he just took a woman and headed for the castle tower. Said he wanted to enjoy the view of the great moon."
"Hmm... Ggh!"

"You deceived me, didn't you?"
Koai's gaze, cold and sharp, pierced the old man, and her mind commanded the blood shackles entwined around him to tighten.

"Guh, gwah... I didn't know either, my apologies."
The old man met Koai's gaze, his eyes holding something different from fear. But Koai did not immediately loosen the shackles. Because she recognized that humans were cunning.

"Gah... ah, ghh..."
"L-Lord Dial!?"
"The castle tower... ah, I'll guide you... without me, you can't... get in."

"...It seems you're not lying."
Koai loosened the chokehold on the old man.

However, another desire was budding in Koai's chest.