Published: July 4, 2025
While the arena was thrown into chaos, what were the four in Room 10 doing?
The four had arrived at the first layer of the guest seats of the western countries of the dark continent, only to find ten corpses of Templar knights and coffin-sized alchemy tools turned into rubble.
"It seems there are those who acted before us in the western countries of the dark continent," Ryo said, nodding. For some reason, he sounded rather haughty.
"Those alchemy tools are destroyed... Shouldn't we have destroyed the previous two as well?" Nils remarked, alternating his gaze between the coffin-sized alchemy tools and Ryo, stating the obvious.
The two previous ones had been halted because Ryo used some kind of water attribute magic to sever the 'lines' inside them.
It felt like it would have been quicker to just smash them, like this one.
"What are you saying, Nils! Even though those were bad alchemy tools made by bad people, they are still wonderful items. They might even be considered masterpieces! It is unacceptable for someone aspiring to the pinnacle of alchemy to destroy such a wonderful tool in this gruesome state!" Ryo asserted forcefully.
"O-okay..."
Nils couldn't continue his words in front of Ryo's strong declaration.
Of course, Eto and Amon were smirking...
But then, at that moment...
"Something is coming!" Ryo shouted, looking towards the entrance of the atrium.
The other three followed suit and looked as well.
There, golden smoke gathered and formed into a humanoid figure made entirely of smoke that stood about the height of a human.
"Smoke human!"
It was unnecessary to say whose words those were... There was only one water attribute mage with such sensitivity.
"Isn't there a more different expression for that?" Nils said, looking a bit exasperated.
"Then what would you say, Nils?"
"Uh... I mean... a mass of golden smoke..."
"Rejected!"
While Nils and Ryo were conversing, Eto was closely observing the smoke human.
Then, she nodded and said, "That is probably what is called 'spirit smoke.'"
"The smoke human was close..."
"Not close at all!" Ryo said, sounding disappointed, while Nils chimed in.
"According to the teachings of the Western Church, it is said to appear when angels exert their powers on the ground... apparently."
"Just as expected from Eto. But how did you know that?" Ryo asked, impressed.
"Well, Brother Carl taught me. Apparently, Graham is famous as a researcher of founder nyu-sama, and this 'spirit smoke' is mentioned in his research. He was talking about it very happily... So, it must be that. This time, the angel is that," Eto explained.
"Ah... a fallen angel..."
Eto continued to explain the reasoning, and Ryo nodded in understanding.
However, at Ryo's words, the smoke human, or rather, the 'spirit smoke,' opened its mouth.
"Did you say fallen angel?"
The four of them clearly heard the words.
The four were astonished.
"It can talk..."
"The fact it reacts to the fallen angel means it understands the concept of fallen grace?"
"It seems incredibly strong."
"I wonder how its vocal cords work."
Nils and Eto thought that was fine.
Usually, Amon was the most sensible in Room 10, but at times like this, his battle maniac tendencies came out.
And as for Ryo... he had nothing more to say.
However, it was Ryo who retorted.
"A fallen angel is an angel that has become distant from God and has severed its energy supply. As it is, it is a pitiful existence that can only fade away."
Usually, it was Eto who spoke about religious matters, but this time Ryo took the initiative.
He wanted to confirm how accurate his recognition was.
"...So you were the ones who disturbed Sakarias's magic circle?"
"It seems everything is out in the open for Nils," Ryo replied.
"What are you trying to imply by bringing me into this?" Nils asked.
"Indeed, it seems fallen angels really do exist," Eto said with a sigh.
While she could grasp the concept, she had never truly accepted the idea that beings could persist apart from God...
However, the being before them did not deny Ryo’s words.
A being that had become distant from God...