Red Moon Rose/Chapter 3

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|-|English=Chapter 3 - Foreboding
The next morning, Alphonse found himself in his commanding officer's - Garrard's - office. He had come to request permission to independently investigate the Vampire Murders.
Garrard scratched his head before giving Alphonse a questioning look, his eyes filled with the kind of vitality one would expect from a much younger man.
'...You want to pursue that case all on your own?'
Alphonse cleared his throat nervously. He was well aware that what he was asking was completely unreasonable.
'Not on my own. A civilian has agreed to help me conduct my investigation. The two of us will be working together.'
It sounded pretty weak to him, but Rose had been adamant that they keep the truth of the matter to themselves.
'It wouldn't be to the benefit of society for the existence of vampires to become widely known,' she had insisted. 'As such, try and arrange for us to be able to investigate the murders by ourselves, without interruption.' Aside from a cool 'Farewell for now,' those had been her last words before disappearing into the night. 
And what she said made sense. There was simply no way that Garrard would believe that vampires existed, even if it was his surrogate son trying to persuade him. After all, despite seeing a ghoul with his very own eyes, part of Alphonse still wanted to believe that it had all been a dream.
To compound the problem further, for reasons that Alphonse wasn't privy to, Rose seemed opposed to anything other than investigating the matter covertly. As such, her joining the team formed to officially investigate the murders was off the table. Alphonse was therefore left with no choice but to propose that the two of them investigate together in secret. 
Alphonse was not surprised, then, to see Garrard's  less-than-willing expression.
'Listen, Al. As your guardian, I've got a responsibility to look after you. That's why I want to raise you to be a fine soldier, and why I don't want you putting your life in danger for no good reason.'
Alphonse flushed. He'd already been removed from the team investigating the murders, as well as taken off night patrol duty. Garrard was well aware of his fixation with the case. That was exactly why he was afraid that Alphonse might end up going too far in his attempts to solve it and get injured - or worse. 
'Garrard...sir, I understand exactly what you're trying to say, and I appreciate your concern, but...'
'Hmm...'
Seeing Alphonse's determination, Garrard hesitated. The boy standing before him was calm with clear eyes. Where previously there had been recklessness, now purpose and resolve seemed to rule. After a lengthy silence, he let out a sigh of resignation. 
'...You really do take after your father.'
He smiled fondly, but quickly switched to his official, commanding officer voice.   'I expect you to give your utmost to successfully  solving the mystery behind these murders. However,  I will approve of this mission only on the condition that you report daily on the results of your investigation.'
'Garr--'
Alphonse almost responded in his usual, casual tone, but caught himself just in time. He coughed, cleared his throat, and stood to attention. Garrard chuckled. 
'Just be sure not to put yourself needlessly in danger, understood? And if anything happens, inform me immediately.'
'Yes, sir!'
Alphonse gave a deep bow, grateful for his guardian's kindness. 
'I see that everything went well. That is good news.'
The two of them were in the corner of the shopping district where the first victim of the Vampire Murders had been found. It was the middle of the day, but the alleyway in which they stood was gloomy and draped in shadows by the looming buildings that surrounded it. The second he had stepped into the narrow passageway, Rose had appeared out of nowhere just like the previous day.
Because the place where Alphonse had been attacked by the ghoul the previous night was currently under investigation by the Garrard Team, they thought it best to steer clear of it for the rest of the day. As such, they had decided to examine the scene of an earlier murder instead. 
Unlike the previous night, Rose had neither her coat nor her sword with her. Instead, she wore a simple dress in the local style. Anyone seeing her for the first time wouldn't be able to tell that she was anything more than a perfectly ordinary girl.
According to Rose, neither vampires nor ghouls were able to operate in daylight and thus battle- ready wear was unnecessary. Everyday clothing also had the benefit of allaying suspicion by blending in, she said. It was fine logic in theory, but with Alphonse still garbed in his military uniform they made for an unusual pairing. As such, Alphonse couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when he realized how few people were in the surrounding area. 
The scene of the first murder still had a solemn air about it. Alphonse set about scouring the area, and as he mused over the case details involving the victim, a question came to mind.
'Thinking about it...I never heard about any of the earlier victims turning into ghouls. Is that because you've been defeating them?' 
Rose shook her head. 'No, in previous cases I was able to purify the bodies with Thaumaturgy before they turned into ghouls. I would rather not harm the bodies of the deceased if I can help it.'
Thaumaturgy, as Rose explained it, was the collective name for special techniques used by a small number of people belonging to the Septian Church. The power of Thaumaturgy was also apparently the reason why Rose's rapier and Alphonse's short sword were capable of defeating ghouls and vampires. Curious, Alphonse asked Rose if she was connected to the church, to which she responded, 'Feel free to think of it that way.' 
He itched to probe her more on the subject, but she began explaining the particulars about ghouls, so he let it drop. Since the murders had started, it seemed that the time it took for a corpse to turn into a ghoul was decreasing with every kill. Alphonse's encounter with the ghoul the previous night was the first occasion that she had been unable to purify the victim in time. As such, she had been left with no choice but to fight.
'Still, that possibility was well within my  expectations. It's not the first time it has happened, after all. That someone like yourself would appear and try to get involved certainly wasn't, however,' Rose said with a giggle, causing Alphonse's ears to turn pink at the tips. 
'A-Anyway...' he said, crouching down to inspect the ground level. 'Have you managed to gather anything about the culprit from your previous investigations?'   Rose nodded. 'Judging by the bite marks left on the victims, I believe that the vampire is likely male. Furthermore, despite victims being found all across the city, the bite marks look the same as one another. That suggests the work of a single vampire.  Beyond that, however...' 
Rose fell silent.
'Is something bothering you?' Alphonse asked without thinking.
'...Yes, actually. It may be possible that the vampire lurking in the city is...'
She stopped mid-sentence. Her gaze was focused on something behind Alphonse. Turning around, he saw a  young man in a military uniform much like himself. It was someone he knew.
'Elroy? What are you doing here...?' 
'I was about to ask you the same thing,' the other man grumbled.
Elroy was a fellow member of the Garrard Team who had joined around the same time as Alphonse did. That combined with the two being roughly the same age, one might expect them to get along well, but in reality they usually ended up arguing about everything. It had been like that for almost as long as Alphonse had known him.
'I'd heard you'd formed a separate team to check up on the murders, but I had no idea that it was just a pretext to be meeting a woman during working hours,' Elroy sneered. 
Alphonse stifled his annoyance. At least it seemed as if the other man hadn't overheard their earlier conversation.
Clearing his throat, Alphonse said evenly, 'She's a civilian who's assisting with my investigation, so knock it off. And you? What are you doing here?'
'Hmph. Nothing in particular, I just happened to be passing by. We've got to patrol a much wider area now thanks to all this 'vampire' nonsense.'
Alphonse stood and gave him a cold look.
'Watch what you're saying. People in this area have lost family and friends because of these murders.' 
Elroy snorted and cast an uncaring glance at the spot where the first victim had been found.
'Hah. I mean, seriously? 'Vampire Murders'? We're supposed to be the Imperial Army, not a bunch of country bracers. Are we seriously considering the possibility that fairy tale creatures like that exist? And besides, what kind of idiot goes out at night when there's a serial killer on the loose? They were asking for it, if you ask me. People need to stay in their damn homes and stop making more work for us.' 
'You son of a...!'
Enraged by the sheer callousness of Elroy's words, Alphonse started towards him...or tried to, rather. Strong, unyielding fingers held him by the arm.
Completely expressionless, and without so much as a glance to Elroy, Rose whispered, 'Arguing with him serves no purpose. That time would be better spent investigating.'
She spoke calmly, but her words were sharp and dismissive. What she said was right, though, and hearing it was enough for Alphonse to cool his temper. As she said, they had more important things to be doing. He had sworn that he would solve these murders and put the past behind him, and that needed to be his foremost priority. He took a deep breath to regain his composure. The reassuring weight of the silver sword hidden in his uniform  further reminded him of what he needed to do. 
Watching them, Elroy gave a bored, derisive laugh.
'Oh, and 'civilian helper' or whatever you are, don't you go wandering around at night, either. The last thing the army needs is more dead bodies to clear up.' And with a mocking wave, he left them. 
After their inspection of the first crime scene, Alphonse and Rose spent the remainder of the day scrutinizing the scenes of the second and third  murders, but in the end their search yielded no fruit. After reporting their progress to Garrard, he made his way to the Alegria where he had promised to meet Rose to discuss how they would proceed with their investigation.
The city around him was bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun when Alphonse finally stepped into the sparsely populated tavern. He found Rose sitting at a table near one of the windows. Once again she was wearing the navy coat from their first meeting. It seemed safe to assume that the rapier she used that night was inside it, too. 
'Evening,' she called out to him. 'I was expecting you to be here sooner.'
Alphonse didn't reply. He was too busy staring at the girl sitting opposite her.
'What's wrong, Lucca?'
Lucca turned at the sound of her name, eyes so wide and moist that tears threatened to fall at any moment. 
'A-Alphie! Just what is this woman to you?!'
'Wh-What?'
Perplexed, he looked over in Rose's direction as if seeking an explanation. Rose favored him with a bland expression.
'All I did was walk into this tavern and state, 'I would like an out of the way table to discuss the future with Al,' and she has been pressing me with endless questions ever since.'
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders as if she understood the situation no better than Alphonse did. 
Seeing this, he let out an even greater sigh.
Before Lucca could launch into another interrogation, Alphonse set about explaining Rose's role as a civilian helper aiding an army investigation, and after several reassurances, he was eventually able to clear up the misunderstanding. Lucca's relief seemed to fill her with renewed energy. Cheerfully, she bounded up from their table and made her way into the back of the tavern again. With her departure, so too left the gazes of the other curious and amused patrons. Rose and Alphonse bent to discussing their investigation. 
Vampires, Rose elaborated, were only able to use their powers at night. During the day, they were no different from ordinary humans. Unfortunately, this meant that even if they were to encounter one, neither of them would be able to tell. If they hoped to end the murders, they would first need to find some kind of clue as to the vampire's true identity.
At one point during the conversation, Alphonse went pale at the thought that they might have to exhume the corpses of previous victims in order to reinvestigate them, but Rose assured him that would not be necessary. To his great relief, she had already checked them thoroughly for clues. Even that gruesome task had yielded little more information than the similarities between the bite marks, though. 
Their vampire foe was a cunning one. The number of bodies and lack of clues all pointed towards a careful killer who more than likely was living right there among them as an ordinary human.
After working their way through the simple meal that Lucca brought them, Rose casually glanced over to the back of the tavern.
'You seemed rather close to that girl,' she murmured. 
It took a few moments for Alphonse to realize who Rose was referring to.
'Yeah...I suppose you could say that. I've known her for ten years now, after all.'
He had first met Lucca when he was brought to Heimdallr by Garrard. Initially, he had stayed in a house near the tavern, and being brought by it often, the two of them quickly became friends. As an orphan, Lucca's support over the years meant more to him than words could express.
Telling Rose all of this, Alphonse could feel his cheeks heating. He began fidgeting awkwardly. 
'...I'm a little envious,' Rose said.
As she spoke, Alphonse noticed a change in her expression and tone. Usually, she said things sharply or with an air of cool detachment. Her face also rarely betrayed her inner thoughts. Now, though, he thought he caught a hint of loneliness. Unable to let this pass unnoticed, Alphonse opened his mouth to comment.
Suddenly, Rose jumped up out of her seat. Her chair fell to the ground with a crash. Once again the two of them became the subject of a room full of gazes, but she paid that fact no mind and stared out of the window, her eyes open wide. 
'Wh-What is it? What's wrong?' Alphonse whispered loudly.
'It's nearby. I can sense it.'
'It? What do you mean?!'
'The vampire!' she hissed.
No sooner had she said it, she raced over to the tavern's owner, who was busy at the back of the building. Alphonse chased after her. He had never seen her in such a panicked state before.
'Where is the young lady who was here earlier?!' Rose asked the puzzled tavern owner, who didn't appear to have any idea who she was referring to. It was then that Alphonse realized that he didn't see Lucca anywhere - and hadn't seen her since she brought them their food a half hour before. After telling this to the owner, he finally seemed to realize what he was being asked. 
'Now that you mention it, I would have expected her to be back by now. I asked her to run an errand  over at the grocery store opposite here.'
Alphonse and Rose exchanged a glance and instantly understood what the other was thinking. Overcome with a sense of great foreboding, the two of them rushed out of the shop without saying a word.
|-|Japanese=第３回　嫌な予感
　翌朝、アルフォンスは部队の队长ガラードの执务室にいた。『吸血鬼事件』を个人的に调査するための许可をとりに来たのだ。
ガラード队长は头をボリボリと掻きながら、その歳の割りには精悍な颜で息子のような存在でもあるアルフォンスを怪讶に眺めている。
「……お前だけであの事件を追うと？」
「いえ、民间に协力者を得ました。その人物と２人で调査するつもりです」　
丁宁に答えたアルフォンスだが、内心、无理のある提案であることは分かっていた。
「吸血鬼の存在は、本来世俗に明かすべきものではありません。
　２人だけで捜査できるよう、何かしら言い訳しておいてください」
昨晩、ロゼはそんなことを言うだけ言って、「ではまた」と夜の暗へと消えていった。
　実际、彼女の言い分はもっともだ。吸血鬼のことをいくら说明しても、いくら父ほどに亲しいガラードと言えど、理解してはもらえないだろう。
ともすれば尸人《グール》なるものをその目で见た彼でさえ、あれは梦だったようにも思えていた。
加えて、ロゼの身分にも色々と事情があるらしく、公に活动することを嫌っているようだった。吸血鬼事件の调査队は正式に编成されてはいたが、ロゼをそこに加えるとなると色々と面倒なことになる。だからこそ、アルフォンスはロゼと２人での调査を进言せざるを得なかった。
　だが、やはりガラードの表情はあまり好意的とは言えなかった。
「……アル、俺にはな。お前の亲父代わりとしての责任があるんだ。　
　立派な军人に育ててやりたいし、无意味に危険すぎる仕事をさせたくはない」
アルフォンスはそもそも、正式に编成された吸血鬼事件の调査队や、警戒のための深夜巡回からは外されていた。彼が今回の事件に拘っていることを、ガラードももちろん知っていた。
だからこそ、深追いして危険に晒されることが悬念されていた。
「……队长の仰ることは十分に分かっているつもりです。
　それでも、俺は……この事件には纳得のいく形で望みたい」
「……ム……」
アルフォンスの决意を込めた表情を见て、ガラードは言叶に诘まってしまった。今の彼にあるのは危うさではない。确かな决意と覚悟が感じられていた。
　ガラードは长く考え込んだ末に、谛めたようにため息をついた。
「……やれやれ、お前は本当に亲父さんにそっくりだ」
　そう微笑をこぼすと、すぐに上官としての威厳を放って言い放つ。
「事件の解决に向けて最后まで尽力してこい。
　ただし、调査内容はその日のうちに报告すること」
「おじさ——」
思わずいつもの调子で呼びそうになり、慌てて気をとりなおすアルフォンス。ガラードはそれを见て少し笑い、「队长だ」と惯れた返事を返した。
「いいか、决して无理はするなよ。何かあったらすぐに言え」
「——ハッ！」彼の気遣いに感谢を込めて、アルフォンスは恭しく敬礼した。
「——どうやら首尾よくいったようですね、何よりです」
吸血鬼事件の最初の被害者が発见された帝都の商店街の一角。建物に囲まれた狭い路地は昼でも薄暗い。アルフォンスがそこへ足を踏み入れると、ロゼが昨晩のようにどこからともなく现れ、合流した。
昨晩、アルフォンスが尸人に袭われた场所は、新たな被害者の発见现场としてガラード队の调査が行われている。今日のうちは近づかないほうがいいとの判断で、まず最初の调査场所としてここを选んだのだった。
　彼女は昨晩のような外套や剣を身につけておらず、はたから见れば普通の街娘のように见える清楚なドレスを来ている。
　昼间は吸血鬼や尸人は活动しないため、戦うための装备は必要ないらしい。
怪しまれないための格好と言われつつも、军服姿のアルフォンスとの取り合わせはやはり异様であり、人通りの少なさに助けられたなと彼は叹息する。
　现场には、まだ物々しい雰囲気が漂っていた。被害者の事を考えながら调査をしていると、アルフォンスの头にある疑问が浮かぶ。
「そういえば……　今までの被害者は“尸人”などにはなっていなかった。
　もしかして、それらも君が倒していたのか？」
「いえ、昨夜までは尸人と化す前に〈法术〉で浄化を行っていたのです。
できれば私も、被害者の遗体を伤つけるのは避けたいですから」　
法术——それは七曜教会の一部の人间が使うことのできる特别な术なのだという。ロゼの持つレイピアや、アルフォンスが受け取った短剣に尸人や吸血鬼を屠る力を与えたのもその力によるものらしい。改めて教会の関系者なのか、という疑问を投げかけるが、ロゼは「まあそういう风に思っていただければ」と気になる返事をするのみだった。
　ともかく、遗体が尸人と化すのに要する时间は事件が発生する度に短くなっているらしい。昨晩はついに间に合わず、戦わざるを得なくなったのだそうだ。
「まあ、想定通りの结果です。今までもそうでしたから。
　あなたのような方が首を突っ込んでくるとは、流石に思いませんでしたが」
くすりと笑われながらそんな风に言われてしまい、肩を落とすアルフォンス。
「と、とにかく……今までの调べで分かったことはないのか？」
　しゃがみ込んで现场を见回しながらアルフォンスが寻ねると、ロゼはこくりとうなずいた。
「今までの被害者たちに残された咬み迹から见て、吸血鬼はおそらく男性です。
　事件は帝都の広范囲で発生していますが、咬み迹の形が共通していることから、一人の犯行の可能性が高いでしょう。それ以上のことは现时点では……」　
ロゼは淡々と并べ立てると、そのまま黙り込んでしまった。
「何か、気になることでもあるのか？」思わず寻ねるアルフォンス。
「……ええ。もしかすると今回、帝都に潜んでいるのは——」
そこまで话した所で、言叶を止めてしまうロゼ。视线は、アルフォンスの肩の向こう侧に注がれている。振り向くと、そこには——军服姿の青年がいた。それは、彼のよく知る人物でもあった。
「エルロイ？　なんでこんな所に……」
「それはこっちのセリフだ」
不机嫌そうに答えた青年——エルロイは、アルフォンスと同じく『ガラード队』に所属する军人である。同时期に军に入り、年齢もほとんど変わらないのだが、２人はことあるごとに冲突していた。それがいつからだったか、アルフォンスも覚えていない。
「わざわざ别働队を编成して调査していると闻いたが……逢引きのためだったとはな」
嘲笑混じりに嫌味ったらしい言叶を投げつけてきたエルロイ。どうやら、吸血鬼について话していたくだりは闻かれてなかったらしい。アルフォンスは咳払いをしていつもの调子で反论する。
「……彼女は民间の协力者だ、茶化すのはやめろ。　
　お前の方こそ、こんな所で何をしている？」　
「フン、たまたま通りかかっただけだ。
　あの胡散臭い事件のせいで、巡回范囲が広がってしまってな」
「……口を慎め。この近隣には被害者の遗族たちも住んでいるんだぞ」　
エルロイはアルフォンスの言叶にフンと鼻で笑って答えると、第一の被害者が横たわっていたあたりを冷たい目で一瞥する。
「ハ……何が『吸血鬼事件』だ。帝国军人ともあろうものが本気にしてどうする。　
　そもそも、そんな事件が起きているのにわざわざ夜道を出歩く方もどうかしている。　
　自业自得だ。まったく仕事を増やされていい迷惑だよ」
「お前な——！」
エルロイのあまりな言叶に急激に头に血が上り、食って挂かろうとするアルフォンス。しかしその腕を掴まれ、制止される。隣で话を闻いていたロゼだ。彼女は无表情のまま、エルロイを见もせずにささやく。
「（时间の无駄です。そんな暇があるのでしたら捜査を）」
　あくまで冷静に、辛らつながらも正论で切って舍てたロゼの言叶に、アルフォンスは头が急激に冷えていくのを感じた。确かにこんな、つまらない争いをしている场合ではなかった。何としても吸血鬼事件を解决し、自分の过去を清算すると誓ったのだ。ふうと息を整え、懐に入れた银の短剣の重みを确かめるアルフォンス。
　エルロイはそんなやり取りをみて、つまらなそうに再び鼻で笑うと、
「そこの女もせいぜい夜道に気をつけておけ。军の仕事を増やしてくれるなよ」
そう吐き舍てて、その场を去っていくのだった。
その后、アルフォンスとロゼは３番目までの被害者の现场を一日かけて捜査したが、新たな手がかりを得ることはなかった。アルフォンスはその结果をガラードに报告した后、宿酒场〈アレグリア〉に向かう。そこでロゼと今后のことを话し合う约束をしていた。
夕日が差す中、足を踏み入れると、店内にはちらほらと客が入っており、窓际のテーブル席の一つにロゼの姿を见つけることができた。日が落ち始めているからか、彼女はあの紫绀の外套を再び身にまとっている。おそらく腰にはあのレイピアを差しているのだろう。
「こんばんは。遅かったですね」
　アルフォンスに気づいたロゼが声をかけてくるが、彼は返事を返さなかった。何故か、ロゼの向かいに幼驯染が座っていたからだ。
「どうしたんだ、ルッカ」
　その声に振り向いたルッカの目には——今にもこぼれだしそうな涙が溜められている。
「ア、アルくん……！
　この人と、どういう関系なのぉっ……！？」
「な、何？」
　わけも分からず、ロゼに视线を向けて答えを求める。彼女はあくまで无表情だ。
「『アルと今后のことを话し合うので、目立たない席を贷してほしい』と申し上げたのですが……
　それからずっと、问い诘められてしまって」　
やれやれと首を振ってため息をついたロゼ。アルフォンスはそれを见て、さらに深いため息をついた。
それからアルフォンスは、ロゼが仕事の协力者であることを说明し、何とかルッカの误解を解くことができた。彼女はよほど安心したらしく、先ほどとは打って変わって元気よく店の奥へと舞い戻っていった。他の客たちから集まってしまっていた注目が离れ始めたところで、２人は事件の今后を话し合うことにした。
——吸血鬼が力を発挥する时间は夜だ。昼の间は完全に人间と変わらぬ容姿になってしまい、ロゼですら见分けることは不可能なのだという。见つけ出すには、正体に繋がる何らかの手がかりを掴む必要がある。もしかすると墓地に埋葬された被害者の遗体を调べなおす必要もあるのかと考えて、青い颜になってしまうアルフォンスだったが、遗体については今までにロゼがしっかりと调べたらしい。（そこからは『咬み迹』に関する手がかりしか掴むことはできなかったという）吸血鬼の周到さに、２人は普段人间として暮らしているからこその狡猾さをひしひしと感じていた。
　ルッカの持ってきてくれた简単な料理を食べ终え、明日の调査の段取りを决めたところで、ロゼがふと店の奥に目をやり、ぽそりと何かをつぶやいた。
「……先ほどの方と、大変仲がよろしいのですね」
最初、アルフォンスは彼女が何を言っているのか分からなかったが、先ほどの出来事を思い出してすぐにルッカのことだと気づく。
「ああ……まあな。１０年来の付き合いだ」
ガラードに引き取られて帝都に来て、最初に住んでいた家はこの店の近くにあった。子供の顷からよく连れてこられて、同年代のアルフォンスとルッカはすぐに仲良くなった。それは、孤独の身となったアルフォンスの心の强い支えとなった。
　アルフォンスはそこまで话して、なんだか照れくさくなって鼻を掻いてしまう。
「……少しだけうらやましいです」
　そう言ったロゼの表情は、今までに见たことのないものだった。无表情に、辛らつに、淡々と物を话す普段の彼女の姿からはかけ离れた、寂しさのようなものが感じられた。
见かねて言叶をかけようとするアルフォンス。
——その瞬间。
ロゼは、唐突にその场に立ち上がった。彼女の太ももに跳ね飞ばされた椅子が床を転がり、再び他の客の目がこちらに向けられる。ロゼはそれを気にも留めず、目を见开いて窓の外を见ている。
「ど、どうした？」
「この気配、间违いありません。近くにいます」
「いる……？　何がだ！？」
「——吸血鬼です！」
そう言うや否や、店の奥で忙しそうにしていたマスターに駆け寄るロゼ。彼女は、吸血鬼が出たことを感じ取ったらしい。それに気づいて慌てて追いかけるアルフォンス。今まで静けさを保っていたロゼとは违い、その様子はあきらかに寻常ではなかった。「それも」とはどういう意味だ？とにかく、何かまずい事态が起きていることは明らかだった。
「先ほどの方はどこへ行かれたのですか！？」
　ロゼに问い诘められたマスターは何やらさっぱりと言った様子だ。アルフォンスは気づく。そういえばルッカの姿が见当たらない。半刻ほど前に食事を持ってきた后、店の奥に再び消えてから。アルフォンスが补足し、マスターもそれに気づく。
「ああ……そういえば遅いね。
　さっき向こうの通りの食材屋に买出しを頼んだんだけど……」
アルフォンスとロゼは颜を见合わせた。途辙もなく嫌な予感がする——２人は言叶も発さないまま、店の外へと駆け出した。
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Category:Trails of Cold Steel Books
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