La Folia and Kirasaka Sayaka had been attacked and forced down onto this "uninhabited" island—and in truth, it wasn't uninhabited at all.
The plant Shichen saw earlier made it obvious someone had been operating here.
"Shichen…" La Folia looked at him in surprise; she hadn't expected him to avenge her. Did that mean he truly accepted her?
She really did feel something for him—even after such a short time. She wasn't sure if it was because of his status, or because he'd seen her completely. But regardless, as the crown princess she would soon be politically married off. Compared to some stranger, Shichen was far better—looks, identity, and, from their brief contact, temperament.
And if she became "Shichen's," no one would dare make a move on her again—and her country wouldn't be so easily targeted. No one could ignore the name of a Primogenitor.
La Folia wasn't sure if this was a calculated bargain or real feelings, but one thing was clear: she wanted to develop real feelings with Shichen. In that case, it wasn't "using" him. And it was her own choice. It wasn't that she was careless—Shichen had simply appeared at just the right time.
"Your Highness…" Sayaka eyed La Folia's pleased expression, looking conflicted. Was she… moved? All that just for avenging her? You're that easy to win over? I didn't get all mushy when Shichen dropped everything to help—just a little happy, that's all.
Still, she understood something now: La Folia was serious.
Were there more and more women gathering around Shichen? What would that mean for… no, for her Yukina?
Shichen had no idea what the two were thinking; he had already sensed people entering the island. If they'd dared attack the crown princess, they wouldn't just leave without confirming the body.
"Sayaka, hold on to me."
"Eh? What are you—what are you saying all of a sudden?" Sayaka snapped, flustered.
"What nonsense? I just found the ones who attacked you. I'm taking you to settle the score."
"Ah? So that's it…" Sayaka looked even more flustered.
"Hehe~ Sayaka, you sound disappointed," La Folia teased.
"N-no one's disappointed!" Sayaka denied at once, then forced herself to act calm and looped her arm through Shichen's.
"Tighter," Shichen reminded her.
"T-tight…" Sayaka bit her lip and hugged his arm firmly, pressing in. He'd already touched her at zero distance—just holding his arm wasn't a big deal. That was what she told herself, anyway, though her face was crimson.
"Let's go."
Shichen rose into the air with both of them and flew toward the target. Avenging them wasn't hard—he could end it with a flick of the wrist—but one of the enemies… he sensed something off.
"Shichen, that woman! She's the one who attacked us," La Folia said, pointing at a female figure.
It was someone Shichen had seen in Kanase Kensei's lab: a body traced in seductive lines of light—complex magic patterns etched into her skin, and a pair of asymmetrical, ugly mechanical wings splayed on her back.
A synthetic angel.
Another one that slipped the net.
Beside the synthetic angel stood another woman—tall, sharp-featured—and Shichen saw her identity at a glance: vampire.
"Your Highness, so you are alive," the vampire woman said, smiling slowly as if at prey.
Apparently she wasn't here to confirm a corpse after all.
"As expected—you were after my body, the blood of Aldegia's royal house?" La Folia said coolly.
Women born into Aldegia's royal family were almost without exception powerful mediums.
"As expected of a princess—sharp," the vampire woman said, applauding. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Beatrice Basler."
"Beatrice?" Shichen said, expression odd.
"Is there a problem?" she asked, glancing at him. She didn't know him, but she sensed danger.
"You dare use the name Beatrice?"
For some reason Shichen thought of a petite, artificial great spirit.
"What do you mean?" Beatrice demanded icily.
"Nothing you need to know," Shichen said, flipping his hand to summon holy flame.
He didn't need to hear her motive for attacking La Folia; he could guess—just like with Kanase Natsune, they wanted to turn La Folia into a synthetic angel. The synthetic angel at her side was all the proof needed.
"What is that?" Beatrice stared, shaken, at the gold fire in his hand. Even at a distance, it made her heart quail. That flame was dangerous.
"Take him down!" she snapped at the synthetic angel.
"Rraaah—!"
Though shaped like a girl, it let out a beast's bellow and hurled itself toward them at her command.
"Shichen…" La Folia clutched him instinctively.
"Relax."
Shichen flicked the holy flame toward the synthetic angel. As if it had its own will, the fire leapt from his palm, accelerated, and engulfed the angel in an instant.
The body locked rigid in midair and screamed, then fell like dead weight.
"What?" Beatrice stared, disbelieving. She knew exactly how strong her synthetic angel was.
"That flame… Who are you?"
"This is my turf, and you dare ask who I am?"
"Your turf… Wait—you can't be—" Realization dawned; her eyes widened with fear.
"Looks like you've got a brain. Your reward is death."
As if in answer, the holy flame left the synthetic angel and surged toward Beatrice.
"Wha—!"
She didn't have time to react. She had just drawn her familiar-formed whip when the holy fire swallowed her.
"Gaaah—! This flame—it hurts! What is this?! F—Fifth Primogenitor, I was wrong! Please—mercy!" she shrieked, begging.
Shichen watched impassively as she burned. Holy flame scorched all filth and curses; vampires—cursed beings by nature—were its natural prey.
La Folia and Sayaka, still holding on to him, watched in silence. Neither was a soft heart likely to argue for mercy. Their minds were on the flame: they were both curious and afraid. Sayaka had seen it before, but hadn't thought much of it then; only now did its peculiarity stand out.
The synthetic angel—restored to a normal girl, the traces of modification gone.
Power that both destroys and restores?
It wasn't long before Beatrice burned to ash—nothing left, not even cinders.
Shichen landed with the two beside the restored "angel"—now a naked young woman. He wasn't interested; he didn't know her at all.
"Don't look!" Sayaka didn't know that, and immediately slapped a hand over his eyes.
"What are you doing…" Shichen's mouth twitched.
"What am I— You were staring at her! Getting worked up again?"
"Do I look worked up?" he said, batting her hand away.
"That…" Only then did Sayaka register how calm his eyes were.
"You really don't have any ideas?"
"Do you think I'm interested in every woman?"
"Aren't you?"
"…When we get back, I'll give you a proper lesson," Shichen said, glaring at her.
"Mm…" Sayaka pressed her lips together—not really afraid. She had another thought. He'd just said he wasn't interested in every woman—but he clearly was interested in her… Was she special?
"Hehe~ Sayaka, you look awfully happy," La Folia said suddenly.
"Eh? D-do I?" Sayaka stiffened her face into seriousness.
"I'd like to know what 'lesson' Shichen meant—you look very happy about it."
"I am not happy about that! And you do not want to know—it would definitely regret it."
"Now I'm even more curious."
"…Shichen, want to give Her Highness a demonstration?" Sayaka said, a little too gleefully.
"No need. Not everyone's as disobedient as you. Why would I spank La Folia?"
"So it's spanking," La Folia said, enlightened.
"…"