The phenomenon of absorbing mana disappeared.

"Just as Mea analyzed."

I didn’t know what it was, but it should have been more restrained. My deepest condolences to whatever it was that greedily tried to consume the mana of two archdemons and ended up bursting. Well, it was probably more of a system than a living being. Still, let’s consider it as paying respects to someone's work.

“Seriously... Roman, you’re just endless.”

Theresia approached, shaking her head in awe. Some of her anxiety had lifted, perhaps because her mana had recovered, even if just a little. Unlike a warlock, who draws mana from external sources, Theresia is a traditional mage who has to refine natural mana into her own, so the amount she recovers is meager.

But even so, 1 is vastly different from 0.

While 0 brings a sense of powerlessness, 1, however slim the chance, holds the hope of possibility.

“It’s a bit late to say, but don’t go spreading this around.”

“I know. I’m not that clueless.”

Ah, right. Back in the training center, the Theresia I knew had zero sense and would ignore everything people said around her.

“Can I tell Fiona?”

“No.”

“...She’s going to hound me again.”

“Doesn’t matter how you look at me, the answer’s still no. Think of it as the price for saving your life. This is the second time now, right?”

At my words, Theresia’s gaze, which had been pitiful, vanished instantly. Though her eyes still held some disbelief, a firm boundary was drawn—she wouldn’t ask further.

“More importantly, what do you plan to do now? In this state, escaping should be simple.”

She gestured upwards, to the place Mea and I had descended from.

Given how rough things had been, she probably wanted to return as soon as possible.

But Theresia was different.

Though her face was expressionless, the familiar warmth and faint playfulness in her demeanor evaporated. She erased all emotions, bleaching her face of expression, and painted it anew with a single feeling.

Revenge.

Cold fury for the enemies who shared her space and those who had cornered her.

Theresia spoke with a chill in her voice.

“We need to catch that thing.”

I figured as much. This was always going to be her response.

People of the same kind tend to gather together.

We were the same breed.

More precisely, all of us from that cohort were the same.

How did only the ones who refused to take it lying down survive? Or maybe it was the experience that changed us.

I can’t say for certain. It’s like the chicken and egg dilemma.

But the result is clear. On the last day of training, we revealed our true feelings, and each of us harbored our own bitterness.

Even Philon, number six in our cohort, the kindest guy who was always laughing, swore that day.

Theresia was no different. Though she rarely expressed it.

If she was wronged, she’d return the favor. If something was taken, she’d take it back.

And if a life was stolen, she’d make sure the thief understood that their life could also be claimed.

Did some insignificant creature dare to disturb the peak of the food chain?

They’d regret it.

“...Roman.”

“Mea. Um...sorry, but—"

“No. I’m not going to stop you.”

What? Mea's demeanor had changed. It was subtle, but there was definitely a shift in her attitude.

“I’m coming too. I’m still part of this training, after all.”

Mea had shown interest in me before, but now it was completely obvious. I felt like even if I said no, she’d follow me secretly.

'Will it be a problem?'

I had no intention of pushing Mea away in the first place.

“With you, Mea, things will be secure. I doubt we’ll even need to step in.”

“Think of my involvement as insurance. My priority will be protecting that person.”

“Oh, right...that person.”

Priscilla, was it?

Unlike Theresia, who had regained her confidence after recovering some mana, Priscilla was still curled up like a pill bug.

“Well then, let’s wait a bit until Theresia fully recovers her mana.”

And keep an eye on her condition as well.

However, Theresia, the one most familiar with both her own state and Priscilla’s, objected.

“No, this is as good as it gets.”

“Are you sure? Even though the mana absorption has stopped, it’ll take some time for you to fully recover. A potion might speed things up, but…”

“I know. My mana isn’t even at 10%...but I’ll be fine.”

With that, Theresia looked up at the hole in the ceiling.

The light filtering in was dimming.

“Night is coming.”

As she spoke those words, the final beam of sunlight was cut off as the sun set.

Simultaneously, Theresia's unique lavender-silver eyes began to change. From a soft violet, they darkened to a deep, rich purple.

As the light faded from the ceiling, Theresia's eyes shone more vividly. A bright, blood-red glow.

“Did you forget? I’m a Dhampir.”

Theresia smiled, baring her pearly white fangs, her lower lip gently pressing against her prominent canines.

§

The four of us walked cautiously, our footsteps hushed.

Mea led the group.

Though Theresia’s night vision would have made her a good lead, it wasn’t ideal to have her at the front given her depleted mana. We had to be extra careful, since something could jump out at any moment.

For the same reason, I took the rear.

“It’s to the left from here.”

“Yeah.”

Theresia remembered the path perfectly, despite the chaos earlier. It was an impressive memory.

“Is it because you’re a Dhampir?”

“That’s a racist comment, Roman.”

“...It was a compliment.”

“It’s not because I’m a Dhampir. It’s because I’m me.”

Ah, right. Sure.

If nothing else, she’d definitely regained her confidence.

“We’re almost there.”

“I don’t sense anything.”

Not detecting anything wasn’t surprising. Even Priscilla, someone on Mea’s level, hadn’t been able to sense it. And while the mana absorption was in effect, it had evaded even senior-level mages' detection. That’s something we can’t ignore.

‘Lerazie, what do you think?’ [I’m sensing the same as you, nothing unusual.] As I suspected.

I had hoped that maybe Lerazie would perceive something different from me, but alas.

It made sense, though. Most demons correspond to gods of non-Abrahamic religions, and Lerazie corresponds to Artemis in pagan beliefs. Though some say Cupid fits better, Artemis, being a hunter and dealing with disease, seems more appropriate.

But even with such connections, it seems Lerazie is limited when it comes to detection.

[Maybe it's because you didn’t choose the perception ability!] [We believe that contractors should respect us more.] Of course. I always worship both of you, my great archdemons.

As I maintained the contract, using my demon sight, idle chatter filled my mind.

Ultimately, though, our attempts to detect anything were meaningless.

At the scene of the massacre Theresia had described, the entity in question brazenly revealed itself.

It was right there, acting as if nothing had happened.

To describe its form in one word—grotesque.

It looked like the scribbles of a child, a mishmash of things forced together without coherence.

Its torso was covered in what resembled reptilian scales, but its overall skeletal structure resembled that of an ungulate, like a cow or deer. Instead of claws, its feet bore cloven hooves, though they were sharpened to deadly points.

Could this thing really be categorized as a reptile or mammal? With its six legs, an insectoid head with a split jaw, and the horns still slick with the dried blood of the mages it had likely killed?

“No doubt about it.”

Mea named the creature.

“It’s a Chromatic Fiend.”

That name was familiar to me as well.

I’d learned about it in training.

The Chromatic Fiend.

A monster that changes its coloration like a chameleon.

As a top predator ruling the first layer of the Abyss, it was said that even a team of veteran hunters would struggle to take it down.

Considering the exceptional circumstances of mana absorption, it now made perfect sense why Priscilla had been defeated.

“That’s…”

“Even new for you, Theresia?”

“Yes. It’s not something you see often.”

Indeed, the Chromatic Fiend wasn’t easily encountered. There are a few top-tier monsters in the first layer, but this one was especially rare. That’s likely why Theresia hadn’t immediately recognized it.

Top predators are always few in number, and the Chromatic Fiend’s scarcity had a clear reason.

Its hide.

Even when skinned, the hide changes color.

“...I’ll flay it alive.”

The moment Theresia's killing intent flared, the creature’s head snapped toward us.

Its jet-black, insect-like eyes focused on us.

Then, in an instant, it disappeared.