The Sorceress explained:
"This Ritual Matrix was drawn to amplify Miss Sylvia's large-scale spatial teleportation. If Miss Sylvia needs to pull many people back to Wilde Opera House all at once, this matrix will be needed as an anchor for sensing. But drawing the matrix is not easy either. Next, we need to take out one of the core markers, the 'Aberrant Anchor Stone.' This thing easily attracts some strange creatures. They are not particularly powerful monsters, but it would still be bad if they made a mess of this place. After all, this is not our territory."
"Then let's help."
Luvia said to Shade. Shade nodded.
"No problem. I'll activate the Space Stabilization Aura."
The Aberrant Anchor Stone was stored in a lead box and was not very large. As long as it was placed within the Ritual Matrix, the power formed by the ritual itself could shield the stone's attraction to monsters.
"Get ready. Three, two, one!"
Shade raised his right foot and stomped on the ground. The invisible shockwave released by the Thaumaturgy even made the curtains at the back of the stage sway. Miss Decter nervously opened the lead box and, with the help of the others, swiftly placed it at the southeastern point of the pentagram on the floor.
During this process, the lights on the stage abruptly dimmed. As the floor turned pitch-black, a group of black cats emerged from the gaps between the stage's wooden planks.
Or rather, they were merely cat-like creatures. They were entirely black, with three tails, and their faces had no organs other than ears and a single vertical eye.
"Meow?"
Little Mia was awakened by the sounds around her. But before the cat could even wriggle awake and inspect her surroundings, the "black cats" that had just leaped