-954- Elementary school student...

As the world's oldest Demon Sanctuary, Gozo is a vibrant tourist destination with diverse natural landscapes. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its ancient ruins.

On this island, numerous ancient relics are scattered, continuing to attract scholars and professors from around the world, attempting to uncover the many secrets of ancient times.

Rozen, along with Kojou, Nagisa, and Liana, arrived at Gozo by sea. They then boarded another car, with Liana as the driver, traveling towards the other side of the island.

During this time, Rozen engaged in conversation with the energetic Nagisa, enduring her rapid-fire questions. Alongside occasional remarks from Kojou, the group was lively and far from boring.

Rozen also learned quite a bit during this journey. For instance, Kojou and Nagisa are siblings named Akatsuki Kojou and Akatsuki Nagisa. Kojou is Rozen's age, having just graduated from elementary school and about to enter junior high, while Nagisa is a year younger, currently in elementary school but planning to graduate next year.

Their parents have noteworthy backgrounds. Their father is an archaeologist who frequently travels the world for excavations, possessing extensive knowledge but often being away from home. Their mother is a certified clinical magical doctor, working as a researcher and head of the medical department in a renowned company, similarly rarely returning home.

In other words, Akatsuki Kojou and Akatsuki Nagisa, being dependent on each other from a young age, share a close bond beyond what one might expect.

This time, the siblings came to Gozo because their father was excavating an underground tomb recently discovered. Despite spending a considerable time here, progress seemed to have some issues. In desperation, their father called Nagisa to assist.

As for Kojou, he tagged along just to ensure the safety of his younger sister in this unfamiliar place.

Rozen found this somewhat surprising.

"For a relic that even a specialized archaeological team can't handle, can you be of any help?"

Rozen looked at Nagisa in surprise. Could this lively eleven-year-old girl have a broader knowledge base than the experts?

While Rozen was pondering this, Nagisa and Kojou remained mysteriously silent, not offering an explanation, keeping an air of suspense.

On the other hand, Liana, as a noble from the Warlord Dominion and a pure-blood vampire, was present due to the joint excavation conducted by the Japanese government and the Warlord Dominion. She served as the chief consultant and guardian for the investigation team.

"Is a pure-blooded vampire noble needed as a consultant and guardian for an excavation?" Rozen thought to himself but discreetly concealed any hint of skepticism.

"Since it's such an important job, is it okay for someone like me to casually join in?" Rozen expressed apparent concern and hesitation.

In response, Kojou and Nagisa didn't seem concerned.

"Anyway, it's just excavating underground relics. Shouldn't be a big deal."

"Gajou-kun really likes making friends. Although he has a strange personality, and he's quite messy, knows only weird people, doesn't care about daily routines, skips meals, and often smokes and drinks. But he's easy to talk to, and he won't intentionally exclude you, Nichiyo."

Kojou and Nagisa continued with these remarks, the latter rambling on with unnecessary details, making it unclear whether anyone wanted to know those things.

By the way, Gajou-kun refers to their father.

By the way again, Rozen, having been in the car for a short time, was already being called by his first name by the siblings, making Rozen follow suit and address them by their names.

Children (?) become friends easily. Traveling together has made Kojou and Nagisa quite happy, and they didn't reject Rozen.

Liana seemed to want to say something but chose to remain silent, continuing to drive towards the destination.

After a while, the group's car left the main road and entered a wilderness full of rocks.

"We're almost there!"

Liana shouted loudly, gripping the steering wheel tightly and maneuvering the vehicle.

Due to the rough terrain of the rocky ground, the car shook considerably, causing some embarrassing moments.

"Whoa!"

Kojou made a embarrassing sound, clutching the door tightly, almost hitting the roof.

"Uh..."

Nagisa made a gulping sound, her face turning completely red.

Because of the bumpy ride, Nagisa was thrown into Rozen's arms, ending up pushing against him.

"It's okay; I've got you."

Rozen caught Nagisa like a gentleman, smiling at her.

This made Nagisa's face even redder, and she was on the verge of screaming.

Actually, Rozen wasn't faring much better. If it weren't for using the techniques of "Rigid Body" to strengthen himself, he would probably be no different from Kojou right now, far from looking composed.

This was the advice Natsuki had given him all along: maintain your composure in public no matter what. This had become deeply ingrained in Rozen's behavior.

However...

"The other is still an elementary school student."

Rozen couldn't help but mock himself inwardly.

That said, the car finally reached the destination.

In front of them was a simple camp area assembled from tents and modular houses.

Several excavation machines were parked in the camp, and the figures of private military security and heavily armored vehicles from a private military company were scattered around, indicating a strict level of security.

Surprisingly, the figures of investigators and archaeology experts were scarce, making it appear rather mysterious.

Rather than an archaeological excavation site, it looked more like an armed outpost for a guerrilla squad.

"Stop the car!"

Several guards on the road immediately approached, stopping the vehicle.

In the hands of these guards were firearms, almost fully armed.

"It's me."

Liana rolled down the car window and stuck her head out.

Seeing this, the guards immediately saluted, making way for the vehicle to pass.

The car stopped in the camp, and everyone disembarked.

"Is this the place?"

Kojou looked around, muttering.

"Where's Gajou-kun? Where's Gajou-kun? He better not stand us up again! If he does, I'll be really angry, you know?"

Nagisa kept talking incessantly.

Rozen, on the other hand, immediately gazed in one direction after getting off the car.

There, at the foot of a hill, was an entrance to what seemed like a sacrificial temple in the form of a stone cave.

The reddish-brown limestone looked miserable due to erosion from wind and rain.

There seemed to have been an accident during the excavation project, with signs of destruction around.

An extraordinary aura pervaded the area.

At a glance, Rozen was certain.

"This is definitely not some ordinary ruin."

It seemed that he had unintentionally become involved in something troublesome.