“…So in the end, you never did find Aradahl or Zana Lashka?”
Wearing an elaborate dress, Natsuki Minamiya sat in an antique chair complete with armrests that seemed terribly out of place, and she inquired with a haughty demeanor.
The location was Itogami Island Sorcery Lab Number Six—the laboratory of Kensei Kanase. Despite this, the space that should have by rights been occupied by magical devices and books had already been almost halfway transformed into Natsuki’s personal fiefdom. Examples included a triple cake stand and a tea set, or perhaps the teddy bears on the leather-covered sofa. Perhaps it was stress from Natsuki’s audaciousness, acting like she owned the place, that made Kensei Kanase’s expression, gloomy under normal circumstances, even darker.
Not that this was directly related to Kojou and company.
“Yes. I would not think someone could have used heavy magic at such a range without anyone noticing…not only myself, but Miss Yuuma and Princess La Folia were present as well.”
“Lydianne said her tank’s sensors didn’t pick up anything, either.”
After Yukina had explained in an overly serious tone, Kojou tossed in his own extra comment.
Inside the room were Natsuki; Kojou; Yukina; the owner of the room, Kensei Kanase; and one Shizuri Kasugaya Castiella, currently recuperating from her wounds. Yukina’s superior, Yukari Endou, had been the one to summon them, but she’d apparently been called away on urgent business, delaying her arrival.
Kojou and Yukina were killing time at that point so they reported the Ladli incident to Natsuki.
“I can’t really judge anything from your explanations at this point. There’s simply too little information.”
Listening to the pair’s explanation to the end, Natsuki voiced her exceedingly sensible take on it. The incident had left Kojou and Yukina confused, so of course Natsuki couldn’t get much from their report.
“Well, that figures. I thought Natsuki of all people might have some idea what happened but…”
“Don’t address your teacher by her first name.”
Natsuki languidly recrossed her legs, glaring at Kojou with a chilling look.
“The Tokoyogi girl stayed behind to examine the scene, right? You should leave it to her. Or are you that worried about the First Primogenitor’s bride?”
“Nah, and sayin’ it that way will give people the wrong idea…! Ain’t like I was thinkin’ about Miss Zana, ’cause she’s another man’s wife!”
Unable to pin down whether Natsuki’s question was joking or serious, Kojou hastened to refute her. Natsuki gave him a brief snort.
“I suppose not. You’ve managed to get brides of your own.”
“…Brides?”
Whaddaya mean? thought Kojou, tilting his head in earnest confusion when he abruptly turned his eyes toward Shizuri Kasugaya Castiella in a corner of the room. The ogre with white hair that gleamed like snow was covered in bandages as she rested on a bed.
“You’re not talking about Cas, are you?”
“Hah?! What is with that blatant dissatisfaction upon your face…?! More importantly, who is this Cas?!”
Shizuri fiercely objected, glaring at Kojou with a distinct grimace.
“Just so you know, this is a provisional pact for the purpose of halting the rampage of your Beast Vassals, nothing more. Do not think that even my heart is yours to do with as you…plea…ugh!”
Shizuri, thrusting her left hand with the ring on it as she wailed, was reminded of the pain of her wounds, flopping right back onto the bed and moaning in anguish. She’d clearly gotten too worked up.
“Er, the pact stuff’s no big deal, but more importantly, you all right…? You haven’t gotten worse since this morning?”
“No big deal?! Er, these bandages are simply because this quack made such a big fuss!”
Baring her teeth at Kojou’s insensitive words, Shizuri glared angrily at Kensei Kanase. Kensei shook his head a little as if he’d taken offense.
“That is because I am a sorcerous engineer, not a doctor. It is not so much that treating patients is not my specialty. I simply have no interest in it. I had hoped that because you were an ogre, a rare species, your skeletal structure might be a little more unique…alas.”
“Would you please stop treating me like a rare variety of deep-sea fish?!”
Kensei’s words betraying no emotions made Shizuri raise a high-pitched, incoherent growl. They’re both real pieces of work, Kojou thought wearily.
“Anyway, guess no need to worry ’bout Cas.”
“Yes. Compared to twenty-four hours ago, she has two more broken ribs and six more torn tendons or so, but that is of no great concern. She should be able to move by tonight.”
Kensei’s calm explanation made Kojou’s eyes bulge in surprise.
“Ain’t that way too fast for healing? Ogres are tough, but their healing ability’s standard human level, right?”
“It is the blessing of a paladin.”
“Provisional pact or not, she is a primogenitor-class vampiric Blood Servant nonetheless, a considerable boon. A true Blood Servant would gain regenerative ability on par with a vampire, so compared to that, the effect is somewhat lessened.”
Hmph, huffed Shizuri, puffing her chest out with pride. Kensei completely ignored her as he gave that serious reply.
As Kojou’s Blood Servant, Shizuri was currently able to receive replenishment from his inexhaustible supply of demonic energy. The demonic energy stimulated her cells, wringing more natural healing out of her flesh. That was Shizuri’s special privilege as a demon.
“I see… In that case, pretty glad I made that pact with you.”
A relieved smile came over Kojou as he spoke. Shizuri had more or less forced herself to become Kojou’s Blood Servant to stop the black Beast Vassals’ rampage, but if that ended up pulling her out of trouble, it was good news as far as Kojou was concerned. It also considerably eased his sense of guilt.
“Er, ahhh, well…it is not a bad thing.”
Maybe Kojou being so glad surprised her, for Shizuri’s cheeks reddened as if she was blushing. At the same time, Yukina, listening to Kojou and Shizuri’s conversation from beside him, adopted a terribly blank expression. Kojou didn’t know the reason why, but her mood seemed to have sharply worsened.
Feeling the need to escape from her glacial aura, Kojou took a sip of lukewarm tea and reached a hand toward the onigiri that was, for whatever reason, sitting on the cake stand. Supper was being prepared for employees working at the lab, but he’d been waiting for so long that he figured taking a single bite wouldn’t be a big deal.
“Huh…this onigiri, did Kanase make this?”
Kojou murmured in surprise just as he took his first nibble of the onigiri. It tasted just like the onigiri made by Kanon Kanase he’d had just recently.
Natsuki gazed at Kojou with deep interest.
“Oh, you can tell? I suppose it’s…you know…the food made by your own servant must taste special to you.”
Kensei’s eyebrows moved with a sullen twitch. Kanon Kanase, his adopted daughter, had become Kojou’s Blood Servant just as Shizuri had. He seemed to have remembered as much at that very moment.
“…Is that so, senpai?”
Yukina remained expressionless as she inquired in a flat voice. As if, thought Kojou as he shook his head.
“It ain’t that; they’re just the same as the ones Kanase had me eat after I helped her bake them… Er, come to think of it, where is Kanase anyway?”
“Kanase has gone to Saikai Academy with Nina Adelard.”
When Kojou desperately tried to dodge the topic, Yukina sighed and spoke, perhaps taking pity on him.
“…With Nina? To school?”
“That’s because the alchemist girl will be useful repairing the wrecked campus. A little prodding and she’ll probably do it on her own.”
Natsuki explained to the perplexed Kojou. So she’ll be working for free, thought Kojou, feeling rare sympathy for Nina.
A moment later, the door to the lab opened, and a tall, slender girl walked in.
It was Sayaka Kirasaka, whom he’d parted ways with last night at the container yard. She was hugging a golden-eyed black cat against her chest. This was the familiar of Yukari Endou, Yukina’s mentor.
“—I am sorry to make you wait, Yukina, and former Fourth Primogenitor lad. Our superiors are in a bit of a tizzy.”
The black cat addressed Kojou and company with a sarcastic tone.
Sayaka and the black cat were the only ones entering the room. There was no sign of Yuiri or Shio, who had previously worked with Sayaka, or Kiriha Kisaki, either.
“Were Miss Yuiri and Miss Shio not with you?”
Yukina shifted a questioning gaze toward Sayaka. For whatever reason, Sayaka’s shoulders trembled with a heavy twitch.
“Eh?! A…ahhh, Yuiri Haba and Shio Hikawa…right, the gate! They’re observing the gate to Nod! They’re definitely not missing or anything like that!”
“R-right…”
Yukina vaguely nodded as she watched Sayaka’s suspicious behavior. Sayaka could rarely be described as calm, but she was really off the rails that day.