033 Saint Bath Festival_1

Two figures, one after the other, quickly dashed into a dark alleyway. All one could hear was the sound of rapid footsteps echoing in the narrow space.

Casio dashed around a corner in hot pursuit of the man. Suddenly, a glint of cold light flashed across his sight, a blood-streaked blade leading the way.

"Thud!"

The large man was kicked and sent flying. The sounds of his clothing rustling against the rough ground rang loudly in the air.

His face twisted in pain as he rose, first glancing at the dagger in the distance, then wiping the blood from his mouth. He promptly vaulted over a wall, disappearing into the darkness of the block.

At the street corner against the wall, Casio chose not to continue the chase, instead looking at his right forearm. His sleeve had been slashed open, revealing a palm-sized line of blood on his skin.

The seeping blood gradually dyed the adjacent cloth red.

A skin wound, it hadn't penetrated deep into the flesh. But...