The next morning, far in the east, in a small square room within a palace on a mountain…

The room is filled with masked guards wearing all-black clothing. There is a flattish conical hat on top of their heads, also black, and made of the same black cloth as their masks. In fact, it appears to be an integral part of them. Serious-faced officials of all ages, though none of them appear younger than in their 30s, trickle through the open sliding door while the guards watch the entrance like hawks through their horizontal slits in their masks.

When the last official dressed in silk robes arrives, the guards posted outside the room slide the door shut. Down the short flight of steps, in front of a large hanging divider that barely anything can be seen through, there is a table in the center of the room. The man joins Willow, Falcon, and the rest of the officials sitting around it, all facing the silhouette kneeling behind the divider.

With all but the guards seated, the centermost official slides himself away from the table to gain some space.

「Divine Embodiment, thank you for gracing us…」

Kneeling and facing the silhouette, he bows low to the woven mat. His forehead makes contact with the ground. Everyone else seated around the table joins him, all doing the same.

「No, raise your heads… It's a serious matter, isn't it?」

The small silhouette gently shakes its head as a young girl's voice asks from beyond the divider.

「Yes, Divine Embodiment. If true, it's a matter that not only concerns the palace and all of our blessed land, but the entirety of the world…」

The elderly official straightens out and slides back up to the table with a nod of his head.

「…Willow.」

He turns his gaze to Willow, and Falcon who's sitting leisurely unlike all the officials just beside him.

「Thank you, your eminence…」

Willow bows his head to the official, then turns fully to the silhouette sitting above them all.

「…Last night, somehow, a fiend got into the palace. Allow me to first apologize. I am deeply sorry for allowing this to take place.」

He bows again, placing his forehead on the mat as he apologizes.

「I'm sure you did your best. Raise your head and continue.」

Speaking softly, the silhouette raises her small hand.

「As you wish… A demon's presence in the palace aside, what was more worrying was the fact it spoke our language. It came to Falcon's room, seeking him out…」

Willow continues, briefly glancing at Falcon's impassive face.

「…Maybe it will be better for him to give a first-hand account? Falcon?」

The old mage calls out, causing Falcon to sigh. He turns to Divine Embodiment, kneeling down like everyone else.

「The demon came late at night. It made no effort to hide itself, in fact, it outright announced that the demon lord invites me…」

Falcon causes a stir at the table as he tells the story. The officials begin whispering amongst each other while staring at him.

「…It spoke some nonsense about the demon lord being eternal and such. I tried to question it as to how it got in, or where the demon lord might be, but it was guarded, and refused to answer.」

He adds, glancing at Willow right behind him.

「The demon lord invited you? But why?」

An official from across the table asks with shocked disbelief on his face. Falcon and the silhouette behind the divider turn their heads to look at the man.

「Yes… Apparently the demon lord is impressed by my competence, and wants to recruit me as a general.」「What!?」

The official gasps as Falcon replies with a self-satisfied, smug smirk on his face.

「What audacity!」「…In the palace no less!?」「Unforgivable!」

The rest of the officials around the low table let their outrage be known, exchanging glances of indignant disbelief. The eminent one quickly silences them with his raised palm.

「…And you refused?」

He asks, looking at Falcon with a wary gaze. The question makes Falcon raise his brow.

「…I do not like repeating myself. I thought its decapitated corpse was enough for my answer?」

Falcon asks, and lets out an amused huff from his nose.

Thud.

Willow forcefully taps him with his walking staff on his armored shoulder, shaking his head with a stern face of disapproval.

「I see…」

The man nods, shrinking from Falcon's vaguely threatening aura.

「I am not surprised someone would try to poach you, Falcon. You are very competent indeed.」

The young girl's voice suddenly chimes in from beyond the divider. Wide-eyed, Falcon's head snaps to the silhouette. Willow and the gathered officials share his surprise.

「…Your praise me far too much, Divine Embodiment.」

Recovering from his shock, Falcon bows down and presses his forehead down on the woven mat floor.

「No, I really think so. Raise your head…」

The silhouette tilts her head. Her hair hangs behind her head, but not much else can be seen from the table and its periphery. Falcon obliges, and straightens out.

「…Hmmm. This really is a problem though, isn't it?」

She hums as she rests her chin on her fingers.

「Indeed, Divine Embodiment… We all would humbly request, if only it were to please you, that you tell us what to do.」

The centermost official at the table bows, nearly hitting his head on the table while the silhouette is visibly locked into deep thought.

「…What can you do in the meantime?」

The youthful voice asks, tilting her head. The man is taken aback by the suddenness and the directness of her question.

「Ah- Uh…」

Slack-jawed from surprise, he stammers and looks around the room at his fellow officials for ideas, as well as Willow and Falcon for help.

「…For now, I think it would be wise to bolster security around the palace… Recall the guards from the city, and order continuous patrols day and night. Would it please you?」

Willow comes to the eminence's rescue, who quickly lets out a covert sigh of relief.

「Do you think that is appropriate?」

The young girl's voice asks from the top of the short stairs.

「…Yes. Yes, I do think so, Divine Embodiment.」

After a moment of thought, Willow nods, reaffirming his stance. The silhouette nods back.

「Good. Then do so.」

She replies, and places her hand back down in her lap, obscuring it with the rest of her body's silhouette.

「As you wish, Divine Embodiment…」

Willow bows to the floor once more.

「…Aaand, uhh… I will organize the search parties, Divine Embodiment. The demon lord cannot hide forever, we will comb through every forest if we have to!」

The eminence finally chimes back in, raising his finger after being given a moment to come up with his declared plan.

「Do you that is a good idea?」

The silhouette tilts her head.

「Er… Uh…」

The question throws the centermost official off his track.

「…Yes! Yes, definitely!」

He replies after a covert nod from Willow encourages him.

「Very well. I trust in your competence and experience. Do as you see fit.」

The silhouette nods in reply, visibly looking at the nervous man.

「You honor me far too much, Divine Embodiment!…」

Slam!

He attempts to bring his forehead down to the mat, but in his haste, forgot to slide away from the table. The noise startles the guards lightly. They exchange confused glances with the officials, and then each other before returning their attention back to where it was. The officials act like nothing of note happened, and pretending he intended to do that all along, the eminence continues pressing his forehead onto the table.

「…Now let us not take up more of her Divine Embodiment's time! We are unworthy of being this long in her presence!」

He declares with a reddened forehead as he straightens out and stands up. The rest of the visitors stand up as well.

「No, I'll always have time, no need to worry.」

The silhouette shakes her head as she speaks with a young, warm, and soft voice.

「Your time is far more important than ours, Divine Embodiment! We shall now get to work! Now if you'll excuse us!…」

Speaking far louder than necessary, the eminence bows low towards the divider with his hands straight at his sides. All but Willow, Falcon, and the guards join him.

「Of course. Leave if you wish.」

「…Excuse us!」

The silhouette nods, and the man moves to the door. He slides it open, and the crowd of officials pour out into the hallway.

Once only the black-clothed guards remain, they first bow towards Willow and Falcon, then towards the kneeling silhouette.

Falcon and Willow acknowledge the men with a light bow, and the guards leave as well, cautiously sliding the door shut with nary a sound.

「Willoooow! I don't like talking to so many people!」

The young girl's voice complains, and the silhouette shakes her fists up and own at her sides.

「My apologies… I first only intended for his eminence to come, but then things got out of hand, and, well… Apologies, Divine Embodiment.」

Willow bows lightly towards the divider while Falcon lets out a fatigued sigh, sits back down, and slouches onto the table with his elbow in an even lazier pose than before…

…

Around the same time, in the Redwing Kingdom palace, in Straf's bedroom…

Stripe stirs, moving slightly with her eyes closed, while Straf opens his.

「Good morning… I've got something for you.」

Stolen novel; please report.

Straf says as the two lie in bed together, covered by the blanket. Still groggy, Stripe blankly blinks at his face, processing his words.

Fffwap!

「It better not be something perverted!」

Stripe inadvertently pulls the blanket along with herself as she shoots up to her knees, bouncing slightly on the bed.

「Really? You thought it was morning wood?…」

Indignant, Straf's mouth slants heavily as he continues lying in his bed.

「…Hmm. Seems to be working fine.」

He reaches under his blanket and feels for something while pensively looking up and away.

「What seems to be working fine!?」

Stripe shouts with her golden eyes now wide open, watching Straf fondle something hidden.

「…Care to find out?-」「No!」

Straf asks with a huge smug grin. She screams back, clenching her fists.

「Hupff!… Anyway, I made you this last night…」

He grunts a little as he awkwardly brings himself up to sitting, and sticks his arm into [Portable Storage].

「…I'm really afraid to ask, but what?」

Stripe grabs her cloth hat off the top of chest of drawers in her reach, and pulls it on top of her head.

Tink-tinkkk!…

A small ball bell jingles softly as Straf pulls it out of the vortex, then turns his grinning face towards Stripe.

「…Is that a bell? Why would I want that?」

Tink-tink…

She furrows her brows and points at the little brass bell on a string.

「Yes it is.」

Straf nods with an amused grin as he closes in to tie it on her collar. Displeased, she leans away.

「Get away! I don't want it! Stop! I said stop!」

Tink tink! Tink!…

Stripe tries to wrestle with Straf, but with all her might, she can't even slow Straf down as his hands move to tie the bell on her magic collar…

…

Meanwhile, outside Straf's room…

A maid pulls her ear away from the door and covers her mouth with her hands. Utterly wordless, she turns her eyes to the maid standing a few steps away and blinks her startled eyes at her.

「What? What did you hear?」

The second maid tilts her head at the startled one.

「…I think their relationship might be… Forced.」

Lowering her hands from her mouth, she replies with a somber face. The other maid lets out a silent gasp, and her face likewise becomes stoically mournful.

「…Poor girl.」

She sighs out as they turn away from the door and walk down the hall.

「…At least it's an adult woman.」

The other maid shrugs her shoulders, though there is no joy or relief on her face…

…

Five minutes later, in Straf's room…

Tink-tinkkkk!…

After some wrestling and after taking it to the floor in the center of the room, Straf has managed to tie the bell onto Stripe's collar. Clenching her fists and teeth in fury, she watches Straf cackle as he stands back to his feet from their suggestive and compromising position. He grins, placing his fists on his hips.

Tinktink!…

「You bassstard!… Do you think I am a cat!?-」「Yup.」

The bell bounces and jingles as she sits up, glaring at Straf. He gives not even a split second of thought to his response before nodding.

「Kkhhhh!… Why did I even ask!?」

Tinktinkkk… Tink!…

She grumbles to herself while fiddling with the bell in an attempt to get it off.

「Ah-ah-ah! Do not untie that!」

Straf wags his finger and shakes his head, still chuckling like a madman.

Zzap!… Tinktink!

「Ow!… You!… Complete!…」

The collar zaps her as she tries to loophole around her command by doing the opposite faster than the collar can react. The collar, in fact, reacts nearly instantaneously.

「Now if you crawl into a cramped space and hide, I'll be able to find you!」

Straf spreads his hands, cackling as he looks at the bell on her neck.

「I'm going to put you into a cramped space!…」

Tinktink!…

Her bell jingles as she grows menacingly while pulling her curving dagger from behind her back. She points it at Straf, taking a combat-ready stance.

Tinktink!… Tink!…

「…Cats hiss at their owners too. You know that would be a lot more menacing if I didn't hear a little jingle every time you move?」

With his fists on his hips, Straf nonchalantly watches her glare at him with a raised weapon in hand.

「Grgrhhhh! I hate you!…」

With an anguished scowl on her face, Stripe throws her fists down and puts the dagger away behind her back again.

「…I'm going to work! Die! Trip down the stairs!」

Tinktinktinktink… SLAM!

Stripe declares as she storms towards the door. Her bell jiggles with each furious step. She throws the door open, walks out, then slams it shut behind herself.

「…Man, I hope either Lia or the bimbo hurry up already. She deserves some too.」

With a shrug of his shoulders, Straf lets out an amused sigh. Shaking his head, he heads for the door too…

…

An hour later, in the throne room…

Sitting in the throne, Cycelia watches Straf walk in with her brows gently furrowed.

「Straf. You're back…」

「Yup… I couldn't find watermelons, but I've got pumpkins. Probably good enough… Pumpkins and autumn go well together too, right?」

He shrugs his hands and shoulders as he walks up to the throne. Cycelia tilts her chestnut head.

「…I might have heard of something like that, but why do you need pumpkins for this demonstration?」

She asks, furrowing her brows further.

「Watermelons. Pumpkins are a substitute… And you'll see in just a moment…」

Standing with his fists on his hips, Straf quickly corrects her, then turn around to face the rest of the room.

「…Hey! Could I get you guys to line up here for just a moment!?」

He calls out towards the plumed guards standing by the pillars. They briefly exchange confused looks with each other, then jog up to Straf.

「…Yes, minister?」

One of them says as they line up in front of Straf and the throne's steps.

「Here, catch.」

Straf opens his [Portable Storage] and pulls a pumpkin out. He throws it to the plumed guard at the edge of the line, then pulls out another and throws it to the next one.

The guard barely manages to catch the pumpkin, almost dropping his halberd in the process. After throwing a pumpkin to the last guard, Straf climbs the stairs up to Cycelia.

「Now hold them above your head and stay still!」

Straf says in a loud and clear voice as he pulls out the new magic gun out of the purple whirl. It looks mostly the same, still white and sleek, but the lever beneath it is gone.

Klak!

Instead of a lever, Straf turns and pulls open the bolt on top of the magic gun.

「I made it a bolt-action instead. I thought it'd be more fitting with the Ministry of Security aesthetics and all…」

Clink… Clink… Clink…

Straf explains, grinning at Cycelia while pulling out magic gems out of his [Portable Storage] and inserting them into the open bolt, one after another.

Clink… Clink… Kla-klak!

He pushes the last gem down with his thumb, then slides the bolt shut and locks it.

「Uuhhh… Huh…」

Cycelia nods along with her brows furrowed while she watches the item in Straf's hands.

「Okay! Now stand still and don't panic! This is perfectly safe!…」

Straf shoulders the magic rifle and reassures the guards while they stand with pumpkins held above their heads. They exchange confused glances with each other once again.

「…As long as you don't move, I guess.」

He adds under his breath, taking aim.

Straf pulls the trigger.

Clink! Pfew!

A faint sound of shattering glass comes from the magic gun, and the next instant, a bright blue beam projects towards one of the guards' pumpkins.

Splat!

As the lightly sparkling beam hits it, the pumpkin explodes into many little orange chunks, splattering all over the floor around the guard.

Kla-klak! Clink! Pfew!

Straf expertly cycles the bolt in a split second, ejecting nothing at all before firing another beam.

Splat!

Kla-klak! Clink! Pfew-Splat!… Kla-klak! Clink! Pfew-Splat!…

Cycelia watches with a mildly concerned, yet undeniably amazed expression on her face.

「Wow!」

Clapclapclapclap!…

When the last pumpkin explodes, she quickly claps her hands together. Straf raises the barrel of the magic gun up, placing one of his fists proudly on his hip.

「Cool isn't it?…」

He asks, glancing down at her. She nods back with a lot of energy.

「…You can eat the bits if you want! That's all!」

Straf nods towards the guards, and throws the new magic gun back into his [Portable Storage]. Covered in pumpkin juices, the guards return to their posts.

One of them picks up a chunk of the pumpkin. Unbothered by the pumpkin juice on his uniform, he bites in while standing beneath the pillar.

Before he can take another bite, dirty looks from the other guards stop him. He reluctantly discards the pumpkin chunk aside…