Shichen left the room, went downstairs, grabbed some food from the innkeeper, and didn't hurry back.
He stepped outside the inn, looked up at the sky that had fully sunk into night, and let his gaze rest on the round moon overhead.
Maybe because it was a game world, the moon was absurdly round—practically fake.
Well, it was fake.
He didn't care if it was real or not; the moon's silver just made him think of Frieren's skin.
Exactly the same shade.
He lifted his hand, rubbing thumb and forefinger together—no dampness left, no particular scent.
Still, Frieren had matured quite a bit.
She hadn't… "lost water," after all.
Seemed he'd been gradually "unlocking" her.
Just about time to—
"Hm?"
A shadow skimmed across the face of the moon.
It looked familiar; under that moonlight it was especially clear. This time it came head-on, and he could see the person's face.
He'd had a guess, but seeing it confirmed still surprised him.
What was she doing in this game world?
It was the same figure he'd seen that morning—and it was coming straight for him.
Fast—she was in front of him in moments.
Shichen took in her outfit, eyebrows ticking up. He couldn't help giving her an extra once-over.
Her getup was… spicy. Aside from a cloak and hat, she was wearing only underthings—and even those were a little "playful."
"Shichen-san?" The girl braked on her broom, hovering in front of him.
"Magical Girl Kyoko?" he answered.
"My my—so you do know me~ Shichen-san watches magical girl shows?" Kirisaki Kyoko smiled, delighted.
She was indeed very cute; even cuter when she smiled—flawlessly delicate features, healthy, fine skin.
And yes, not just on her face.
With only two pieces of underwear, there wasn't much skin not showing.
And she didn't seem to mind at all.
"I don't. My family does," Shichen said with a chuckle.
"That's a pity—I thought you'd be my fan."
"Maybe. Are you the real deal?" he pivoted.
"Yup~ I'm the real Magical Girl Kyoko—burning everything away with flame!" She opened her right hand; fire blossomed in her palm.
That was her ability, not in-game magic.
"How did… you end up here?" Shichen asked, curious.
He vaguely remembered this plot point, but the details escaped him.
"Someone asked me to~ It sounded fun, so I said yes." She didn't hide it.
"Because it sounded fun… and the outfit too, just for fun?"
"That… wasn't my idea." Kyoko turned a bit, embarrassed, showing him her profile.
The cloak was long enough that like this he couldn't see anything.
"Is that so? Mind telling me who invited you?" He asked, though he already knew the mastermind.
"I don't really know." She winked playfully.
"You don't?"
"Mhm. I only know there were two people—probably girls. They said they had a fan of mine, so I agreed."
"…Not worried about being set up, huh," he muttered. Big heart, this one.
"They were girls—what's there to be scared of?"
"Girls can be plenty scary—you ever meet girl classmates?"
"Uh… never thought of that… Mainly, I heard you'd be here too, so I said yes."
"You knew about me?"
"Of course. The guy who let aliens into his school? You're famous."
"What, you're an alien too?" Shichen smiled.
"Busted~" Kyoko admitted cheerfully.
"I'm a hybrid with alien blood—Flamian heritage, lets me control fire. It's not special effects—it's real, and it can burn anything to ash."
"You just… say it out loud like that…"
"Shichen-san's a good person. I trust you."
"You don't even know me. How do you know I'm a good person?"
"Princess Lala told me. Her word carries weight."
The first princess of Deviluke, daughter of a galactic overlord—fairly credible.
"Not necessarily~" Shichen said, reaching out to touch the fire in her palm.
"Wait—! You—eh?"
Before she could stop him, something startling happened: her fire hopped to his hand, as if it had a will of its own.
"Your flame doesn't work on me. Are you scared now?"
"Amazing… how'd you do that?" Kyoko stayed curious, not afraid.
"…Alright, trying to spook you was my mistake," he sighed.
"Heehee~ I figured you're just a bit lewd, not a bad guy."
"Who told you that?" Shichen's face darkened.
"I saw it." She smiled.
"Saw?"
"Mhm. You kept staring at Kotegawa-san's, um, lower half on the way over. We saw everything."
"…"
Great. He'd slipped.
In a game world, if someone wanted to "observe" a scene, it was easy—no way for him to sense it.
"Don't worry~ Men being a little lewd is normal. Some girls are lewd too~"
"…No need to comfort me." His mouth twitched.
Lechery was normal—but being caught red-handed was… awkward.
"Ahaha~ Shichen-san really is interesting," Kyoko laughed, bell-clear.
"So why'd you come find me? Team up to clear the game?"
"Nope~ I came to steal… Shichen-san." She leaned in; only a fist's distance away. Her breath brushed his face, faintly fragrant.
"Steal me?" He remained calm.
"As you've guessed—allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm the Demon King~"
"You're the Demon King?"
"Yup. Princess Lala is the princess you need to rescue. She's currently 'asleep' in my Demon King castle."
"The 'sleeping' part is fake, right? She's obviously playing along."
"As expected of the princess's fiancé—you do know her." Kyoko clapped lightly.
"So why steal me?"
"Simple. If you break up with Princess Lala and date me, I'll let you clear the game and set you free."
"Date you? Do you like me—or is this a test?"
"I am very interested." Her eyes sparkled. "You're handsome, friendly to aliens, and so strong—perfect boyfriend material~"
"Thanks for the flattery. Still, no. You're very cute, Kyoko, but a little behind Lala."
"Did you really just—" She pouted.
"That's secondary. Honestly, I'd rather clear the game with my own hands. It's fun—it'd be a waste not to play it properly."
"So Shichen-san likes games. Unfortunately, my HP is infinite—you can't kill me. Which means you can't clear the game." She sounded smug.
"You don't know until you try." He smiled.
"Very confident! Then I'll give you a little trial." She snapped her fingers.
Thud—!
The ground trembled. A shadow fell over the little town.
Shichen tilted his head. Behind the inn, a hulking beastman rose up, hefting a massive spiked club, already swinging down at him.
"Shichen-san, let me see your strength." Kyoko said, and soared away on her broom.
He watched her go, not bothering to chase.
"Shichen-nii, what happened? An earthquake?"
As soon as Kyoko left, Yui Kotegawa came out carrying a still-spent Frieren, alarmed by the noise.
She'd thoughtfully draped the mage robe back over Frieren.
"W-woah! What is that thing? It's huge!"
As soon as Yui looked up, she saw the giant beastman.
"It's the Demon King's trial," Shichen said, taking Frieren into his arms. "The Demon King showed up."
"The Demon King? Is it Lala?"
"Not Lala. Lala's the princess we're rescuing. This game isn't her doing either."
"Then who is it?"
"We don't know the mastermind yet. But the Demon King is Magical Girl Kyoko."
"Huh?"
~~~
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