Hinaichigo stood on the ground, pacing back and forth.
She stared at the cake inside the glass display case, anxiously nibbling on her finger.
Should it be strawberry pudding? Or would strawberry cake be better?
Alice stood beside her, holding Suiseiseki's little purse, waiting for her to make a choice.
By the time they bought the cake, Frey should have returned to the dorm.
Hinaichigo still refused to stay alone in the dorm; she preferred sticking close to the others.
Since Suiseiseki owed her a cake anyway, Alice simply decided to take her to buy one before heading back.
"Made up my mind, this one!"
"Alright."
Hinaichigo held up the strawberry pudding, happily spinning in a circle before carefully heading for the door.
Outside, Charlotte had already composed herself, hands on her hips as she gazed at the distant sky.
Sigmund clung desperately to her head, his little body teetering on the edge.
Seemingly annoyed by his claws tugging at her hair, Charlotte gritted her teeth and pinched the scruff of his neck.
She gave him a little shake as punishment before placing him on her shoulder.
Seeing Alice come out, she patted her cheeks and said seriously, "I'll be more careful from now on."
"I'll keep an eye out for you."
If someone really was planning to target people close to Alice, she wouldn't just stand by and watch.
Although many hadn't yet revealed their dolls' Magic Circuits, the traces left by a powerful circuit like 'Cursed Sword' were unlikely to have many imitators.
If there were, plenty would already be preparing countermeasures.
She walked ahead slowly, speaking to Charlotte behind her.
"Mainly, watch for anyone suddenly trying to get close to you, or Night Party participants who haven't revealed their doll's strength..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a certain name surfaced in both Alice and Charlotte's minds.
The image of a certain blond boy serving on the disciplinary committee grew clearer.
The sunny smile Felix had worn earlier began to feel unsettling.
"...Don't let Sigmund go out alone lately, and be careful yourself."
"...Yeah."
Connecting the current situation with Felix's unexplained approach, the two events seemed to link up rather well.
As a disciplinary committee member, he had plenty of opportunities. Plus, no one knew what Magic Circuits his automaton possessed.
He was rarely even seen with it.
And despite having no prior history of pursuing girls, he'd started chasing Charlotte after her enrollment.
As if struck by a thought, Charlotte shuddered violently.
She followed in silence for a few seconds before growling, "If he's approaching me for some disgusting reason like that, then I'll..."
"Kill him?"
Alice's flat tone delivered the chilling words, leaving Charlotte staring at her in stunned silence.
Her eyes were wide with shock, as if she couldn't quite believe it.
"Wha... How could I? Killing someone is..." Under Alice's steady gaze, her defiance wilted.
Alice glanced at her idly. For this day and age, killing shouldn't be that uncommon.
Had her previous family sheltered her too much?
"I hope, in the future, you can at least bring yourself to destroy your enemy's automaton."
"...I will."
Their conversation faded, leaving only the sound of footsteps on the path.
The setting sun cast a gentle warmth, bathing the campus avenue in its glow.
After dropping Hinaichigo off at Frey's dorm, Charlotte watched Alice's retreating back and said in a teasing tone, "Now that you know I'm not that Cannibal Candy, are you a little relieved, Alice?"
Alice hefted Suiseiseki's purse; there was still a decent amount left.
Since Suiseiseki handled most of the housework, Alice gave her a generous allowance.
It looked like the pranks would continue for a while yet. She hoped Hinaichigo would be okay.
Hearing Charlotte's question, she turned back, puzzled. "Why would I be?"
"Because your collaborator isn't the type to attack other people's automata, or the kind of person who'd stoop to that." Charlotte puffed out her chest proudly, the enhanced curve quite eye-catching.
"Hm... It makes no difference to me."
"...Eh?"
"Whether you're the Cannibal Candy or not, whether you'd do such things... it's all the same to me."
Alice's footsteps resumed, heading toward the school gate.
"Hm... If anything, I'd be disappointed if you were attacking other dolls but only at this level."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Charlotte hurried to catch up, looking sideways at the black-haired girl.
"Exactly what I said."
Alice pointed toward where the body had been found, her tone dismissive. "If it were you, 'Cursed Sword' should have obliterated the entire doll completely."
"If you were leaving clues on purpose, that would be a rather stupid move for someone like you."
"Even trying to frame someone else, a distinctive magical trace like 'Cursed Sword'—known to the whole school—would just put you at a disadvantage."
"If you were capable of such foolishness, I'd be very disappointed."
So that's what she meant.
Charlotte tilted her head. Alice's focus seemed different from her own.
Alice didn't seem opposed to the Cannibal Candy's actions itself.
"Alice... you don't dislike the idea of destroying others' dolls?"
"It's normal. It's perfectly reasonable for some to die even before the Night Party begins."
Assassinating threats to ensure one's rank rises is standard practice.
Besides, academic performance isn't the only way to qualify for the Night Party.
The Night Party has only one goal: to select the finest puppet master of the generation.
If some highly-ranked students were defeated by lower-ranked ones, or even by students without official participation rights, the school likely wouldn't say much.
Unless it caused too big a stir.
"...But what if it were Suigintou or the others who got destroyed?"
"Then the Cannibal Candy is dead."
Alice frowned, puzzled by why Charlotte would ask such a thing.
Her gaze flickered to Sigmund on Charlotte's shoulder, and understanding dawned.
Charlotte treated her automata like family, even spending all her scholarships to buy back the heart cores of previously dismantled family members.
In other words, Charlotte's moral standards were quite high. Even surrounded in battle, she wouldn't use 'Cursed Sword' indiscriminately, instead avoiding the fatal points of other dolls.
And her suddenly bringing up Suigintou and the others...
Alice narrowed her eyes dangerously, her dark pupils fixed intently on Charlotte beside her.
"You... didn't think I was the type to treat the dolls around me as expendable, did you?"
Charlotte averted her face, avoiding Alice's gaze.
Her fingers twisted together. "Well... because you said you didn't care if I destroyed dolls or not~"
"That's because it has nothing to do with me." Alice sighed helplessly. "If someone destroys what's mine, whatever it is, I'll be furious."
Creek.
The school gate swung open slightly. With no classes tomorrow, many students were streaming out.
"Accompany me back to the mansion."
Alice's voice sounded by Charlotte's ear.
She glanced around; the dolls were all standing nearby properly.
Alice wasn't planning to use the little bottle, which meant... later, it would be just her and Alice alone?
That had never happened before!
Charlotte frantically tried to steady her nerves, bringing her right fist to her mouth and giving a light cough.
"O... Okay." She feigned nonchalance, sneaking glances at Alice's reaction. "Wh... what are we going to do?"
"Move some things."
"...Oh."
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.