"Are you ready?"
"I'm already done."
Osian and Grace, dressed according to the dress code, stood at the entrance of the mansion where the ball was being held.
Since the ball hosted by followers of the Eternal Church was a place where people concealed their identities and mingled with each other, they wore pure white masks covering their eyes and noses in addition to their party attire.
However, even so, their innate nobility and beauty could not be hidden. The security guard at the entrance became considerably tense as soon as he saw the two approaching.
He knew that most of the people entering this mansion were high-ranking individuals, but these newcomers were in no way inferior compared to them.
Osian naturally presented his invitation. The security guard who received the invitation made of bright red paper opened the way for them.
'Are they nobles from somewhere?'
He thought this as he watched Osian and Grace enter side by side through the entrance.
"Surprising. To even obtain such an invitation. Wasn't it something that couldn't be easily acquired?""I have connections with rather high-ranking people. Through those connections, I was able to obtain it."
The place where the ball was held was in District 20, a location where wealthy people mainly gathered. A large banquet mansion located in the heart of the city. Who would have ever imagined that those who worship Outer Gods would gather in such a place?
As they entered the interior through the large main gate, they could see a well-maintained courtyard with blooming roses. Even there, people wearing masks were gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves.
From the clothes they wore to the accessories they carried, everything was expensive items without exception. The fact that everyone gathered at this place was wealthy was not merely a rumor.
"Hmm. This is my first time in such a place, so I'm nervous. Would you escort me, gentleman?"
"I'm a knight, though."
"A knight can still escort a lady, can't he?"
Grace extended her arm with a smiling face. Osian lent her his arm with a resigned expression.
The two naturally linked arms and slowly crossed the courtyard. Whenever the two passed by, people who had been conversing stopped their conversations and glanced at them.
"I'm not wearing anything strange, am I?"
Grace asked in a voice small enough for only Osian to hear.
"Not at all."
Osian could say this with confidence. Grace Seeker was wearing a party dress as red as blood. With its boldly backless design and her flowing black hair twisted up and secured with a hairpin, her snow-white skin was fully revealed.
Grace, who already possessed considerable beauty, had properly dressed up for the party, making her attractive enough to ignite the hearts of countless men.
The reason those people were looking at Grace now was not simply because she was suspicious, but because she was too beautiful. And the same was true for the passionate gazes of women directed at Osian.
Due to the nature of the venue, he couldn't bring his sword, nor did he wear his usual protective coat. Instead, he wore a perfectly fitted tuxedo, and Osian displayed tremendous charm with that alone.
Even though he wore a mask to conceal his identity, his distinctive beauty and atmosphere couldn't be completely hidden, so it was natural that women's attention was focused on him.
As the two handsome man and beautiful woman naturally walked arm in arm, they naturally received looks of longing from the opposite sex and envious looks from the same sex.
Of course, given the nature of the venue, these gazes were burdensome for the two, but they moved as naturally as possible without showing it outwardly.
"Still, it's fortunate that people like us who look young coming here doesn't raise suspicions."
"After all, it seems distinguished nobles from overseas also attend here several times. And those who desire an eternal life without aging don't necessarily have to be old."
Even when humans pass the age of 30, they realize they are getting old. The fear of aging that will come in the future is equal for everyone. It was enough to succumb to the temptation of red eternity.
As they crossed the courtyard and entered the mansion, the light of a splendid chandelier welcomed them.
Colorful and fantastical light filled the banquet hall, and below it, they could see various lavish banquet tables and people gathered diversely among them.
Those wearing masks were holding wine glasses, laughing and chatting about something that seemed so enjoyable.
The masks were all different too. Some covered only half the face, others covered the entire face. The designs and colors were all different. It seemed each person had custom-made their own mask.
Anyone could see it was the typical atmosphere of a high-class banquet hall. It was hard to imagine this was a place where corrupted individuals who worship Outer Gods gathered.
Even knowing this now, it was questionable enough that if they had come without knowing anything beforehand, they might have been completely deceived by how clever it was.
'What an ironic situation.'
Even now, somewhere in this city, there are plenty of people starving to death on the streets because they can't even pay rent. What they desire is just a piece of bread to satisfy their hunger.
Meanwhile, those who lack nothing and live abundantly abandon their humanity to worship Outer Gods. In fact, those who most desperately need divine help would be those living in District 40.
"First, it would be good to extract as much information as possible from this place."
"Same thought. And it seems the proper ball hasn't started yet."
The two decided to move according to their pre-planned strategy. The two who had unlinked their arms scattered in different directions.
Several people who had been watching the two enter the banquet hall approached like sharks seizing an opportunity.
"Oh my. Nice to meet you."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, beautiful lady."
"Ohoho. Thank you for saying that, handsome gentleman."
"Even with a mask, such beauty is hard to hide."
"Just like you?"
Osian skillfully responded to the women who approached him. Of course, his characteristically blunt tone couldn't be hidden, but even so, the women giggled as if they found something so amusing.
Some openly appealed to Osian.
"Hmm. Oh, I think I drank too much wine. I feel drunk, could you perhaps escort me to a guest room?"
Osian supported the woman. The woman was deliberately wearing a dress that revealed her cleavage and even pressed her body against Osian's arm as if leaning on him.
Osian wasn't unaware of that blatant appeal, but he deliberately pretended not to know and asked.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I'm just a little dizzy. Could you escort me?"
"Even so, that would be a bit troublesome. After all, the proper ball might start soon."
"Ah, that's right. But you don't need to worry. There's still quite a bit of time left before it properly starts."
Osian instinctively sensed that this woman knew more than expected and subtly asked.
"You seem to have attended many times."
"You, on the other hand, seem to be here for the first time? Well, if you were such a handsome gentleman, I would have noticed you from previous visits."
"Yes. Since I'm lacking in many ways, please bear with me."
"Then as a senior, I could give you some guidance."
As if being drunk was just an act, she quickly pushed the conversation forward, thinking she could spend time with Osian under a different pretext.
"You don't need to be so tense. Just follow your heart and enjoy this atmosphere."
"I see."
"This place is for fostering friendship. Of course, it's an unspoken rule that we cover our faces and don't ask about each other's identities."
While conversing, Osian glanced around to check if Grace was doing well. She was already surrounded by several men and was skillfully continuing conversations with them. Considering her skills, there didn't seem to be any need to worry.
"Are you lovers?"
The masked woman conversing with him asked, having noticed something like a ghost.
"That's not the case."
"Hohoho. I won't pry. Actually, it wouldn't matter even if you were lovers."
"It wouldn't matter?"
Isn't that too sexually open?
"This place doesn't get constrained by such things. You know, right? People like us who will live long shouldn't be bound by conventional common sense."
"That's right. That's why we gathered here."
Osian felt repulsion but suppressed it and responded naturally. Just then, the atmosphere of the ballroom changed. More precisely, the tempo of the music became faster and more cheerful.
The wide central hall naturally emptied, and people gathered there to begin ballroom dancing.
"Now, let's see your dancing skills, handsome gentleman."
The woman who naturally dragged Osian to the hall embraced him.
"Oh my. You have quite a sturdy body."
"It's one of my strengths."
"Indeed, let's see how well you dance."
Honestly speaking, Osian had no knowledge of ballroom dancing. But ultimately, dancing is an act of moving the body. Stepping and entrusting the body to the flow was similar to the footwork used in swordsmanship in some ways.
Since the roots were the same, Osian observed the movements of other people dancing around him and naturally implemented it.
The woman who had tried to lead Osian was rather surprised when she found herself being led instead.
"Aren't you dancing too well? It's somewhat hurting my pride. I was trying to lead you instead."
"Isn't it a natural accomplishment for a gentleman?"
Osian thought it was quite amazing that he could utter such words. It was possible because the chivalry inherent in a knight's body was ingrained in him.
As he moved with light steps and danced to the flow, before he knew it, the music was approaching its end.
"Congratulations. It's about to start soon."
His partner whispered in a sweet voice.
"It's regrettable that I couldn't have private time with such a handsome gentleman, but I'll have to be satisfied with just this dance and step back."
"What do you mean by 'it's about to start'...?"
"You know, don't you? The reason everyone gathered in this ballroom."
Right. That's why Osian had come.
Before long, the music ended and quiet silence fell over the audience. The woman who had danced with Osian also returned to the faction she had originally been close with.
Osian, who naturally rejoined Grace, asked.
"Did you find out anything?"
"I tried hard to extract information, but there wasn't anything particularly revealing. Most were just ogling my body disgustingly."
"I also wanted to extract various things, but it wasn't easy."
"For someone saying that, you were dancing quite enthusiastically."
"It was part of the mission."
The two exchanged as much information as they had gathered, but they definitely couldn't obtain anything conclusive. This was because there were no high-ranking members of the Eternal Church among those gathered here.
However, what was certain was that soon the most core event for which this ball was held would begin.
"This is probably the real thing."
"Right. I don't know what's going to happen though."
At that moment, the lights filling the ballroom went out. People weren't surprised but sharpened all their senses as they looked toward one place as if what was meant to come had finally arrived.
Naturally, Osian and Grace's attention also turned there. Two spotlights illuminated an internal balcony on the second floor that overlooked the hall at a glance. Receiving that light, one person revealed himself.
'Finally appeared.'
The person who hosted this ball and was presumed to be a priest of the Eternal Church. He looked young enough to be in his twenties, making it hard to believe he had organized such an event.
But that was just his outward appearance; his actual age was certainly over 50 at minimum. He, wearing a robe as red as blood, opened his mouth.
"Seeing the distinguished guests who came to this place today makes me feel moved. How are you all spending fulfilling days?"
He swept his gaze over the audience once and then put strength into his voice.
"That's right. Fulfilling days. We have lived each day fulfillingly. But at some point, the days we've lived became more than the days we'll live ahead. We could no longer live fulfillingly as our energy also waned."
However, he continued.
"Finally, an opportunity has been given to us. We were able to regain our former vitality and once again spend fulfilling days. Without needing to cower in fear, we could also have peace of mind. This is all thanks to the great one."
The priest raised the cup in his hand. Inside the cup, wine as red as blood swirled greatly.
'No. That's not wine.'
That was really blood. Osian's sharp senses could smell the thick scent of blood wafting from the cup.
Once he became aware of it, he could smell the ominous scent wafting from the entire banquet hall. Grace felt the same thing.
It was a moment when he wanted to just quietly observe for now.
"However, uninvited guests have come to this place. Those who came to disturb our fulfilling lives."
The priest's gaze was directed exactly at Osian and Grace. At the same time, the lights that had been off turned on, illuminating the interior of the banquet hall.
Unlike the splendid lighting before, it was an ominously bright red illumination.
At the same time, everyone around was looking at Osian and Grace. Those who had been laughing and chatting all along were now just staring at them without saying anything. Even the staff who had been carrying drinks and food stood still in place, staring at them with expressionless faces.
In the suffocating atmosphere as if the genre had changed, the priest spoke.
"We must once again protect our fulfilling lives. Isn't that right?"
There was no answer, but everyone was silently agreeing.
"So, let's begin the festival."
As soon as the priest finished speaking.
Kyaaaaaak!
The people gathered in the ballroom took off their masks, then their mouths grotesquely tore open lengthwise as they let out strange screams. Among them was the woman who had danced with Osian.
"To think we'd be discovered as soon as we arrived. Perhaps our tail was too long. We ended up sticking our heads right into the enemy's mouth."
"Whatever happened doesn't matter. We just need to catch that priest bastard."
Osian extended his hand to Grace. Grace naturally loosened the hairpin that had secured her hair. Her jet-black hair flowed down like silk, swaying in the air.
Grace put her hand inside her hair and pulled out a sword. It was the longsword that Osian used.
"This turned out well. Social activities and such didn't suit me anyway."
Taking the sword, Osian ignited the flames of stars that burned the bright red illumination.