The scene before him was somewhat unbelievable. Samael opened his mouth and asked tentatively.
"Tsuru Chitoshi?"
"That's me!"
The white-haired woman in a sailor uniform nodded and answered with an old-fashioned air. She then walked into the room and casually tossed the thing on her back onto the sofa.
Samael glanced at it. It was a guitar case identical to Erize's.
There seemed to be dark stains on its surface, like dried blood.
And judging by how deeply the sofa sank, the thing was clearly quite heavy.
Tsuru Chitoshi rolled her seemingly sore shoulders, frowned as she looked around, and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Where's Erize? Take me to her!"
"She's inside. Follow me."
Samael responded in a low voice as he turned and led Tsuru Chitoshi into the bedroom.
Since he had already prepared her, this elder knew that her granddaughter's life was hanging by a thread. Although her expression darkened upon seeing the unconscious Erize, she still kept herself composed.
Of course, that was only because Samael had already treated Erize's internal and external injuries.
Otherwise, the delay alone, not to mention the bumps along the way, would have been enough to kill the girl.
After a cursory examination, Tsuru Chitoshi clearly realized this as well. She turned to Samael and sincerely said,
"Thanks."
"No need. This kid helped me before too."
Samael shook his head, giving a half-truthful answer.
Tsuru Chitoshi looked Samael and Erize over, raised an eyebrow, but did not pry further into the matter. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves.
Samael stared at the vivid red, cross-shaped nail marks on both of the woman's wrists and froze.
Command Seals?
Then, sensing a faintly familiar rhythm emanating from them, the ancient serpent narrowed his eyes.
They seemed more like Saint Marks.