The longer Louis followed Kurona Yasuhisa through the suburban streets, the stranger this place seemed to him.
"Such a huge residential area, and not a single person?" Louis muttered. The houses were old, but it was broad daylight, and he still hadn't seen a single human.
"For various reasons, most people have moved away. Those who were slow to leave were almost all eaten by ghouls." Kurona Yasuhisa's tone remained unchanged as she answered calmly.
"Then ghouls really are utterly vile." Louis shrugged, deliberately making the remark as he watched the slender figure ahead.
But she showed no further emotion toward Louis, only replying flatly, "Perhaps."
Very few people knew that Ice Mask wasn't a ghoul. But considering that they had collected his blood and captured Banjō, who knew his identity, Louis had reason to suspect that Kurona Yasuhisa already knew he was human.
Louis's true goal was to win over Little Black and Little White, so his identity and the impression he made on them mattered a great deal.
After passing through one narrow street and dark alley after another, Louis finally saw a figure tightly bound to a chair.
Banjo Kazuichi's hands, feet, and even his mouth and teeth were restrained. He was trussed up securely, his eyes blindfolded, and he sat motionless. There was no telling whether he was alive or dead.
"Banjō?" Louis called tentatively.
His hoarse voice might have been difficult to recognize, but his familiar tone made Banjo Kazuichi react almost immediately. His body shook as he tried to say something through muffled grunts.
[Banjo Kazuichi's affection +1!]
"I came all this way back to save you. Moved beyond words?" This time, Louis switched back to his original voice.
[Banjo Kazuichi's affection +1!] [Banjo Kazuichi's affection +1!]
The system reported