Noie opened her eyes with a snap, let out a deep sigh, and continued staring at the ceiling.
She couldn’t move a single finger, but she slowly moved her eyes to confirm the back of the person sleeping beside her.
He had his back turned to her and seemed to be sound asleep.
There was someone peering out from within Noie, watching this scene.
-0-
「Ahaha～. That’s unfair. I want to dance on the bed with hubby too!」
「Renila? If you keep saying things like that, Glodia will kill you.」
「Ah～. She’s been in a bad mood lately. Is it because of that day?」
「No, it’s not. We don’t have 『that day』 anymore.」
「I know. You’re so serious, Papacy.」
「I’m just not as carefree as you are.」
「Heh～. 『The Virgin-Killer Papacy』, huh～」
Just as she felt a hand reaching out touch her neck, her vision spun around.
「If you say that again, I’ll twist your neck off.」
「Ahaha. Breaking it with a crunch is harsh～」
Apparently, her neck bone had snapped, so she gently used both hands to return her dangling head to its original position.
「But Renila and Papacy alone can’t move this body, can we～?」
「That’s right. Doesn’t that mean you should behave yourself?」
「Eh～. I want to dance with hubby until morning. I want to, I want to, I want to.」
「Yes, yes. If you keep being so selfish, I’ll call Glodia.」
「Hehehe. I’m not scared even if you call her～. More importantly, that Iron Virgin…!」
Hit by an invisible blade flying from behind, her broken neck was cleanly severed.
「What are you playing at, Renila and Papacy?」
「Only Renila was playing. Are you okay, Renila? Your head is detached, though.」
「Ahaha. It might be impossible for a while～」
「Good grief. I told you so many times that virgin jokes on Glodia are forbidden!」
The invisible blade sliced through her torso this time.
「Ahaha. Papacy, you clumsy fool! How does it feel to be split in two?」
「Terrible. Since we can’t die, this is quite tough.」
「…It’s your fault for both of you playing around using me as material.」
「Ahaha～. Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll rest in the back for a while.」
「Wait, Renila. Help me carry my separated body.」
「Ahaha～」
Watching the two retreat into the depths as if fleeing, Glodia let out a deep sigh.
It was depressing. How easy would it be if she could act like such fools?
Then, she noticed and turned her gaze.
A rare figure had arrived from the intermediate zone, which was like a picture of chaos.
「This is unusual… Camilla.」
「Ah. It has been a while.」
「How many years has it been?」
「Who knows? It might have been since 『that day』.」
Glodia, facing the smiling figure within Noie, recalled the person’s epithet.
『Impaler Camilla』
She was the heroine who had slaughtered those who came to capture her, second only to Islerose.
Her attacks were extremely simple. She would impale her opponents and kill them… that was all.
「Why are you here?」
「Well… haven’t you all been going 『outside』 recently? I got a bit curious, so I met Fashi in the back. When I asked, do you know what that Fashi said? 『It’s fun to go outside. For now… it feels good, so I’m resting.』 Hearing such a story would naturally spark interest, wouldn’t it?」
「I suppose. But… it would be better if you didn’t go out.」
「Why?」
「What exists outside now is peace and tranquility. It is a boring place for someone like you who prefers battlefields and chaos.」
「Is that so? But it is not for you to decide. It is for me. So, step aside.」
「…Impossible. I am the one sitting here now. Camilla.」
「Heh～. Then shall we decide who is more suitable to go out?」
「Very well.」
「Die, you Iron Virgin!」
「Shut up. You, who lost your virginity to your own skewer!」
Both parties attempted to unleash their full power… and nothing happened.
No. Both had instantly become unable to fight.
「…You two are in the way. Stop playing around in front of the entrance.」
-0-
Changing her hair and eye color to red, Noie rose from the bed, rolled her shoulders lightly, and began to walk.
Her destination was the desk in the corner of the room.
「I feel like I’m almost there… Hehehe. After all, when using your head, you have to be like this.」
She took out an unengraved platinum plate from the drawer and stared at it.
In the moonlight peeking through the open curtains, a seven-colored rainbow floated on the surface of the plate.
「Just a little more… It’s wonderful. This sensation is irresistible. A formidable enemy awaits at the very end. Isn’t it the best?」
Smiling with a soft chuckle, Noie held up the plate in her hand and laughed.
「Now, let’s thoroughly ponder how to engrave this spell formula tonight.」
And she laughed again.
Islerose, residing within Noie, didn’t even glance at the nuisances rolling at her feet, directing all her consciousness outward and immersing herself in her work.
-0-
On a road in the northeastern region of the Kingdom of Univance
The carriage was guarded by knights clad in iron armor.
Even the horses were draped in something resembling chainmail, showing a thorough commitment to defense.
However… perhaps due to that heavy equipment, the procession’s progress was sluggish.
「Isn’t this too slow?」
A man, bored inside the carriage, looked outside and spoke.
His name was Usheltzen. He served as the Minister of Internal Affairs in the Republic of Selswin.
「Please do not get so agitated, Usheltzen-sama.」
The woman sitting opposite him said this, a smile appearing on her slightly stern face as she looked at her 『lord』.
「The other party is the Kingdom of Univance. We do not know what tricks they might use.」
「Hmph! Even those fools couldn’t possibly slip past these soldiers and assassinate me or 『that』.」
Stationed around the carriage was the Republic’s heavy cavalry, boasting impregnable defense.
But the woman continued speaking with a smile on her face.
「Univance has a Dragonslayer. If she deliberately throws a dragon she has obtained at us… even the cavalry surrounding us will not escape unscathed. Nor will you, Minister.」
「……」
The woman also turned her gaze out the window.
「Therefore, we must proceed surely and steadily… we must never act rashly.」
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