"————"
Rozen's words cast a freezing chill over the atmosphere, making the air feel as if it encountered a sudden drop in temperature.
"W-What?"
"Huh? Really? Is someone really following us?"
Both Kojou and Nagisa reacted, suddenly startled. It was as if they had just remembered this fact. One took a defensive stance, while the other instinctively hid behind Rozen with a hint of timidity.
However, neither of them noticed any strange movements around.
That was quite normal.
Because the real anomaly wasn't about any movements but the magical energy permeating the air.
Rozen sensed it. The space around him and the others not only had an excessively dense magical energy but also experienced fluctuations in air density, with an eerie change in atmospheric flow.
This change wasn't concealed from Rozen, who possessed the ability called Mind's Eye.
Therefore, Rozen could see it.
"Turning oneself into mist, diluting to an invisible degree, spreading throughout the entire space to track—clever trick."
Rozen spoke with a smirk.
A slight magical energy, like flames, started burning on him.
Almost simultaneously...
"Woosh————!"
A gust of wind surged around them. No, it wasn't wind; it was mist.
Diluted in the air and now forming at a visible speed, the mist condensed and swiftly moved in another direction.
"Trying to escape? Too late!"
Rozen didn't hesitate. He snapped his fingers.
"Hum————!"
The surrounding space instantly became turbulent, like boiling water. It constantly bubbled on one side and rippled on the other.
At this moment, the space completely descended into chaos, causing the mist within it to be violently stirred, rolling intensely.
"Ah...!"
In the next moment, a wail echoed from the mist.
Under the chaotic spatial fluctuations, the opponent seemed unable to maintain the mist form and involuntarily gathered together, taking on a human shape.
It was a young girl wearing a tight leather black suit along with a trench coat, giving off an eerie vibe. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, with waist-length elegantly braided hair, brown in color, and a pair of deep crimson eyes.
Upon closer inspection, the girl wore a metallic bracelet on her wrist.
"Demon Registration Certificate...!?"
Kojou's expression tensed.
"D-Demon... a demon?"
Nagisa was equally surprised.
But the opponent wasn't an ordinary demon; she was a vampire.
"The only demons capable of mist form are likely vampires, right?"
Rozen stared at the opponent, calmly voicing his thoughts.
"Speak up. You've been following Nagisa. What's your goal?"
Rozen questioned.
However, the girl not only didn't answer but glared back at Rozen.
"Detestable demon killer's brother...!"
The girl spoke impatiently, mixed with a hint of fear.
This made Rozen narrow his eyes.
Rozen squinted his eyes.
"I'm surprised you recognized me? It seems you're quite knowledgeable about our situation here," Rozen smiled at the female vampire.
"How about joining us for a meal and a chat?" The deeper meaning behind his words needed no consideration.
At least, the vampire understood.
Rozen had no intention of letting her go, thanks to his spatial control magic, she couldn't escape as mist.
With the absolute control over space, Rozen believed no one could escape.
"Please!"
The vampire pleaded.
"Ganglot!"
With her call, magic surged through her body, mixed with blood. The blood turned into mist, gradually forming a monstrous creature – a three-headed hellhound with flaming jaws.
"Roar!"
The three heads roared, unleashing a magical force that heated the air around.
"Beast vassal...!?" Kojou was astonished.
"Releasing a beast vassal on the streets?"
Nagisa was equally alarmed. "Summoning a beast vassal in broad daylight?"
"Dung-dung-dung-dung!"
The magic registration on the vampire's wrist flashed a warning, triggering alarms.
Despite having the rights of ordinary citizens in the demon sanctuary, the registration had sensors and communication devices. Using magic in public, let alone summoning a beast vassal, would lead to arrest and interrogation.
Yet, the vampire, disregarding all this, summoned the beast vassal, indicating she considered Rozen a formidable enemy.
"Roar!"
The summoned three-headed hellhound growled at Rozen, spewing magma-like flames that scorched the ground.
This level of power is definitely beyond what an ordinary vampire can possess.
"An old generation or pureblood..." Rozen immediately made this judgment.
Though not on the level of Liana, the vampire undeniably had strength comparable to an ancient or pureblood vampire.
"Nichiyo!"
"Nichiyo-kun!"
Kojou and Nagisa simultaneously called out to Rozen. Facing a vampire's beast vassal, as ordinary citizens, fear was inevitable for them.
Rozen protected the brother and sister duo behind him.
"Interesting."
Gazing at the colossal three-headed hellhound, Rozen smiled.
"Come to think of it, I've never fought a vampire's beast vassal before."
Rozen murmured without any fear, considering the beast vassal, renowned as the greatest threat among various magical creatures.
"Let me see what threat a vampire's beast vassal can pose to me."
Upon hearing this, the vampire was suddenly provoked.
"Don't... underestimate me!"
Shouting, the vampire unleashed the power of her beast vassal. The three-headed hellhound spewed flames from its mouths, converging into a rolling red wave, covering the direction where Rozen stood.
"————!"
Behind Rozen, whether it was Kojou or Nagisa, an inaudible scream or shriek escaped. In this situation, an invisible barrier, adorned with intricate patterns and magical formations, suddenly appeared, blocking the flames. The flames split and rushed to both sides of the barrier, grazing Rozen and the others, surging towards the rear.
The flames scorched the ground, evaporated the air, and exploded on the doors of a restaurant. However, Rozen and the others remained completely unharmed under the protection of the invisible barrier.