So it showed up.
I leaned out halfway again to observe.
"..."
Its appearance could also be called bizarre.
Countless legs.
A massive number of thin, hair-like legs were wriggling and squirming.
The impression was close to the legs of a centipede.
And that swarm of legs was supporting that ridiculous giant body...
The body part could be described as a bullet standing vertically.
It was long vertically.
At a glance, it looked like some grotesque avant-garde art.
"That is... a humanoid type..."
Seras leaned out from under my chin to peer outside.
She seemed shocked by its freakish appearance.
Well, that was understandable.
The body part was covered with numerous giant faces.
Humanoid faces with both eyelids sewn shut.
Those faces kept opening and closing their mouths silently without pause.
Just like goldfish.
But there was one face that was different from the others.
The front center of the body.
Only that one did not have its eyes sewn shut.
Its facial features were also different from the rest.
A smiling face.
If I had to describe it,
It looked like "Ebisu-sama from the Seven Lucky Gods, but made much more realistic and intense."
Because of that, the expression alone did not give off any sense of ferocity.
On the contrary, that smile was eerie.
Something... was audible...
"Muuun... Muu~n... Uuuun... Mu! Mu! Mu! Muu~n..."
It was groaning.
It reminded me of the groaning voice of a fat middle-aged man.
It also sounded like muttering to itself...
"It's creepy..."
Eve's voice contained a hint of fear.
She was probably bewildered.
It was not attacking.
It was simply stationed far below the stairs.
Its gaze was not even directed this way.
For now, it was just looking down and groaning "Mumumun."
Its intention was unreadable.
But,
"That's just how humanoid types are."
I understood.
Even though it had not moved from its spot yet.
Even though it was not looking at us.
We were its prey.
Even without its gaze directed at us, the emotion was already emanating from the humanoid type.
An emotion far more vulgar than pure killing intent—
A muddy, overflowing sadistic desire.
Among us, I was the only one who had directly encountered a humanoid type before.
Before leaving this ruin, I alone had sensed the presence of the humanoid type first.
The reason...
It was probably because I felt a similar pitch-black quality to the soul eater.
"That hidden sadistic desire... At the very least, that thing is not on our side. It has no intention of letting us go. If we do not kill it here, we will be the ones killed. So—"
Because I had experienced it before, I understood.
"From now on, we will move with the intention of killing that thing."
It was unmistakably an enemy that must be eliminated.
"Is that fine with both of you?"
While still carrying some bewilderment, Seras and Eve nodded in agreement.
I gave instructions to Liz and Slei, who were further back, to wait in place.
Liz, who was deeper inside, gave a small nod.
"Now then."
I looked down again at the humanoid type stationed far below the stairs.
"How do we attack it?"
"Touka."
"Hm? Did you notice something, Eve?"
"Is the humanoid type aware of us?"
The humanoid type's gaze was not directed this way.
It was natural for Eve to feel that way.
But,
"Yeah, it is aware."
"However, there is no sign of it attacking at all. It is not even trying to climb up here. Is it possible that it is sleeping? In that case, we might be able to slip past without being noticed—"
"Hah, there is no way it has not noticed..."
I raised one corner of my mouth and glared at the humanoid type.
"Hey, you humanoid type scum?"
Zuzuu...
The humanoid type's face lifted.
"Muu~n! Muu~n, Mu! Mu! Mu! Muu~n...!"
The humanoid type's creepy smile seemed to cloud over slightly.
No...
It was still smiling while angry.
Perhaps I had hit the mark.
"..."
I traced with my eyes the path the humanoid type seemed to have taken.
Next, I checked the ground around the ruins.
The ground was gouged out.
Traces of where the humanoid type had passed.
"That humanoid type has been circling around the ruins several times..."
"Touka-dono? Is there something about those footprints that bothers you?"
"Yeah, a little..."
The humanoid type had been circling around the ruins.
In other words, it had not just arrived here a moment ago.
It had been waiting here for quite some time.
...Hm?
Could it be,
"That thing cannot move on anything but flat surfaces?"
"?"
"It might not be able to climb to high places."
That was why it was just waiting below.
It had probably been circling the ruins looking for other entrances.
Or maybe it was just killing time.
Eve placed a hand on her chin.
"I see. That would explain why it is not moving from there..."
"Well, there is still the possibility that it is a trap to make us let our guard down... but it does not seem like that."
I stated it clearly.
"That guy has a ridiculously hard time hiding its emotions. It might think it is hiding them, but I can tell... I have spent my life reading people's moods to avoid trouble... to blend in as a mob character..."
The humanoid type.
Even its poor attempt at pretending not to notice us earlier had been too clumsy.
If you are going to deceive people, do it more skillfully.
If you are going to lie, do it better.
But... that clumsiness comes with a massive amount of experience points.
"In that sense, you guys might have the qualities of good prey."
"Muu? Muu~n... Mu, Mu, Mu...!"
The humanoid type's mouth changed into a toothy grin.
Its gums were thrust forward prominently.
I did not know if it understood words.
But I had succeeded in offending it.
Good.
"Lose your composure even more."
The more composure it lost, the easier it would be to find openings.
Yes.
There was no need to clash head-on.
Trends and countermeasures.
Depending on how you fight, you can seize a chance to win in any situation.
It had been the same with Sibito.
So surely it would be the same against the shitty goddess too.
If I prepare "countermeasures" including the forbidden spell, there should be more than enough chance of victory.
"You are a terrifying man..."
Eve spoke.
"Hm?"
"To be able to stay so calm in front of a humanoid type... To be honest, just facing it at this distance made me intensely agitated. I became even more agitated after that attack. In truth, I still have not completely regained my composure."
Calm, huh.
"...It is a little different from being calm."
I said that and stood up.
"The humanoid type thinks of itself as the absolute side that plays with and kills. It only sees humans as toys that give interesting reactions."
The corner of my mouth twisted into a smile.
I could not suppress the corners of my mouth from rising naturally.
Then I am on the same side as the humanoid type.
Because—I feel pleasure in killing.
"That is why when I completely crush and deny that arrogant preconception—"
Kuku.
A short, wicked laugh leaked out.
"It is so much fun I cannot help it."