"Oh my, Master. Did you know that a very, very intense aura is coming from just ahead☆?"
"Tamamo? Why?"
Tamamo spoke playfully to Ritsuka, who had her hand on the doorknob.
The thick, amorous aura of a man and a woman was flowing out from inside the room.
Above all, the intense smell. Tamamo's sensitive nose had already noticed it before they even entered the church.
It was just that the timing to mention it had only now presented itself.
"Just as Ms. Tamamo said, a powerful magical energy reaction can be felt from inside the room. It might be dangerous, Senpai."
"So I was almost in big trouble just now?"
"Yes~ Master. It was very dangerous!"
Tamamo knew the two were misunderstanding, but she didn't bother to correct them.
"Should I push through with my shield? Even if there's an explosion, I should be fine."
"As expected of a Shielder! But I'd be sad if you got hurt, Mash, so let's save it for another time."
"Yes, Senpai."
Because there was nothing more fun than this.
Tamamo focused her senses and eavesdropped on every little noise inside the room.
-What do we do?! They seem to be right outside!
-Let's get dressed first and then think.
-You ripped them all yesterday!
-Ah… sorry.
Tamamo's ears perked up.
This might be much more fun than I thought.
"Excuse me, Master? I think it's okay now. Would you like to open it?"
"Really? Is it okay now?"
"The magical energy reaction inside is still the same, but…."
"I recommend you trust the intuition of this excellent shrine maiden~. If you don't, Tamamo... might be a little sad?"
Ritsuka fell for Tamamo's tearful act.
"Alright. Then… I'm opening it!"
The door swung open.
Ritsuka, who had braced herself for the worst, was grateful that, surprisingly, nothing happened.
And then she was flustered.
She blushed, just like the woman standing in front of her.
The only difference was that Ritsuka's blush was faint, while the other woman's was as red as a ripe apple.
"......Ahaha. Sorry. So you were in the middle of... that! My bad! I'll close it!"
"Wait a minute! Ritsu—!"
Slam.
Ritsuka quickly shut the door.
But the scene she had witnessed in that fleeting moment was seared into her mind.
A body awkwardly covered by a blanket.
The violent contours of a figure that no cloth could possibly hide.
The bite marks and red blemishes on the exposed skin.
Someone with black hair, hiding in the corner of the bed.
The suggestive smell that wafted out the moment the door opened.
And Johanna, blushing with a dazed expression on her face.
Ritsuka was a high school student, and she wasn't so innocent as to not know what it all meant.
She knew exactly what was going on. Half of the embarrassment Johanna felt was now carried by Ritsuka.
"Tamamo! You trickster, you deceived me!"
"Oh my. Master. I didn't lie, you know? I didn't 'lie'... Fufut☆."
"You've betrayed my trust!"
Thump, thump. Ritsuka's weak punches flew at Tamamo.
Tamamo pretended to be dying and fled to the chapel first.
"Get back here! I'm going to pull out that one and only tail of yours!"
"It's Tamamo-chan's charm point. If you pull it out, even you will be in trouble, Master~."
Ritsuka made a pattering sound as she chased after Tamamo.
"Senpai? Ms. Tamamo…?"
Only the pure Mash, who understood nothing, remained in place, tilting her head in confusion.
The day Mash would learn what happened in that room was still far away.
"...A pleasure to meet you, everyone from Chaldea. My name is Lupus. I am the Executor in charge of this church."
"I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru. Nice to meet you."
She was an energetic girl.
She reminded me of Johanna when we first met.
But recalling the past gave me a headache.
I solidified my resolve not to think about it.
It was almost fruitless.
"I am Mash Kyrielight. This is my first time meeting an Executor. May I ask for a handshake?"
"Yes, well. I don't see why not."
The girl named Mash was well-mannered.
However, I had the feeling her composure was a reaction born from a lack of experience, rather than something innate.
Her true self was likely more strong-willed and curious.
...Even though Johanna was the only 'real' person I'd seen, I found myself naturally making these assessments.
Don't think about it.
Finally, one person was left.
She was a charming woman who exuded a gentle atmosphere.
"Ouch. Why'd you suddenly pinch me?"
"...Did I?"
Johanna suddenly seemed grumpy.
I didn't know why she was being pouty, but even that side of her was cute, so did it matter?
Anyway, the last remaining woman didn't introduce herself; she just kept staring at me.
Her expression, if I had to describe it... was strange.
It was the face one makes when seeing something bizarre, like, 'What is this thing?'
Unable to watch any longer, Miss Ritsuka called her name.
"Tamamo. It's your turn. Hello? Are you sleeping?"
"No. I am not, Master."
She shook her head a couple of times and then bowed deeply in greeting.
An Eastern-style greeting, perhaps. Strangely, it didn't feel unfamiliar.
"I am Tamamo-no-Mae."
That was it.
It couldn't have been more curt.
She was giving off a strong vibe that she didn't want to talk to me.
But if that were the case, why would she keep staring at me?
It was an attitude that could easily be called rude for a first meeting.
I didn't point it out. It seemed like a personal issue, not Chaldea's official stance.
"Well then... shall we hear your story? I heard the gist of it from Johanna, but hearing it from you directly is another matter."
"I will explain, Mr. Lupus."
Miss Mash's kind explanation followed.
With Ritsuka's additional comments here and there, a pleasant atmosphere filled the chapel.
The back-and-forth between Miss Mash and Miss Ritsuka was amusing, and with Johanna occasionally joining in, the conversation flowed harmoniously.
"Haha. That's a very funny story."
"Right? Ritsuka even threw up because of the smell of blue cheese!"
Johanna, smiling from ear to ear.
Seeing her made me happy, but being in the same room with Chaldea did not.
Despite the smile I showed on the outside, I was dead serious.
'They are the enemy.'
I agreed with my intuition.
These people were my enemies.
Outsiders who came to destroy my dream.
"It's almost lunchtime, shall we eat? Lupus is an excellent cook. You can look forward to it, Ritsuka."
"Johanna-chan's husband's cooking skills. I'll be sure to judge them properly!"
Ritsuka wore a mischievous smile. Johanna's face turned beet red.
"Um. About what you saw earlier... I mean…."
"It's okay. Priests are people too! I have an open mind, so don't worry about it!"
"I-I agree! I think you can love too, Miss Johanna! I just didn't know you were married."
"No... the ceremony hasn't happened yet... and besides, there's no ring... ugh...."
Johanna protested in a voice barely loud enough to fit into a mouse hole, but of course, the other two couldn't hear her.
"So? When did you start liking each other?"
"F-From the very beginning?"
The two girls' cheers, which were closer to screams, echoed through the chapel.
"We've just heard something incredible. What should we do, Senpai?"
"I don't know, Mash. But this is so much fun! What do I do?"
...It should be fine to leave them be for now.
I wanted to handle this matter with Johanna knowing as little as possible.
Chaldea's work was finished since the demon was gone,
so they returned to where they came from.
I had to make the story end just like that. I had to.
Seeing them chatter away excitedly, unaware that they were in the heart of enemy territory, it seemed dealing with them wouldn't be difficult.
How could I dispose of them naturally?
They seemed likely to stay for a few more days, so perhaps I could poison them without anyone noticing....
As I was pondering this alone in the kitchen, I heard footsteps.
It was Tamamo-no-Mae.
"Pardon me. It seemed you might be short on hands, so I've come to help."
"There's no need. I've hosted guests a few times."
Even though they were all fakes.
I swallowed those words.
And yet, instead of leaving, she came right into the kitchen.
"Lady Johanna has also given her approval."
Was it my imagination? It felt like she emphasized Johanna's name.
"I may not look it, but I have experience working in a royal court. I'm sure I won't be inadequate."
"...In that case. I'll accept a little help."
"Yes. With pleasure."
She was an inscrutable woman.
What is her real intention?
But, as if she really had come to help me, she quietly put on an apron and began to assist with preparing the ingredients.
"The potatoes are all peeled."
"Put them in this bowl, and could you please chop the carrots?"
"Yes."
Only the bare minimum of communication passed between us in the kitchen.
The silence was filled only by the sounds of preparing ingredients and cooking food.
No idle chatter passed between her and me.
"The seasoning is a bit bland. How about adding more salt?"
"That would be difficult. Bland is better."
"Didn't you used to prefer strongly seasoned food?"
How does she know that?
Or was it just a lucky guess? She did say she was a magus from the East, so she might have used some strange trick.
I feigned composure as best I could and answered.
"I don't know how you knew, but yes, I used to. I've changed now."
"What's the reason?"
"Johanna doesn't like salty food."
Her gaze sharpened.
Has she figured out that I'm going to kill them?
It's possible she's thinking nothing of the sort, and I'm just overreacting.
But no.
That woman's eyes. They are monitoring my every move.
Does she think I wouldn't notice when she's staring at me so openly?
Of course not.
This is a cue, meant for me to react.
By having me speak to her first, she achieves her true objective.
What is that objective?
As an indescribable psychological battle unfolded in the kitchen, Johanna poked her head in.
"Lupus? Are you not done yet?"
"Johanna? What is it?"
Instead of answering, Johanna trotted over to my side.
"Hm?"
Instead of speaking, she touched my face.
After gently caressing my cheek, she said it was nothing and went back.
"...What was that really about?"
After Johanna came and left,
Tamamo-no-Mae's gaze became even more intense.