Chapter 111: It's Time To Punish The Disobedient Ciaccona
"Tell me which one you showed Phoebe."
"W-will you let me go if I tell you, partner?"
"Leniency for confession, severity for resistance."
...
After resting and recuperating at Zani's house for half a day (really didn't do anything), the next morning, Aeron headed straight for his target.
"Wow, it's actually this one. Not bad taste you've got."
"Hehe~"
"I wasn't praising you, damn it."
Then, there was Ciaccona, who foolishly told him her address with the excuse "I want to see you"—a hook anyone could see through.
"So which one did you show Little Carte?"
"Huh? I didn't show the Blessed Maiden anything?"
"...Well, whatever. Since I'm here to settle the score anyway, I'll just lump it on you."
"That's so unfair!"
Ciaccona protested the false accusation, but it was clearly useless.
"Alright then, as the culprit behind me being exploited by two kids all night, do you have anything to say?"
"Well... in the end... it was kind of a good ending... wasn't it?"
"Do you want that to be your last words? That's fine too."
"No way!!!!!"
Aeron looked at the teary-eyed bard before him, hands clasped together, without a hint of wavering in his eyes.
In Ciaccona's small wooden cabin, she was backed against the wall by Aeron, her hands firmly gripped by his left hand, unable to use her Resonance Power under the effect of Imagine Breaker.
"?"
Moreover, Ciaccona wasn't exactly the combat type to begin with—at best, she just had better stamina—making her one of the few people Aeron could overpower.
"Please, partner, have mercy on me considering how miserable my life is!"
"Huh? Aren't you working under Carlotta? Don't tell me she's exploiting you too."
"N-not really... It's just that I haven't been able to submit my poetry drafts on time, so the Second Young Lady hasn't paid me..."
"Damn, you're a procrastinator too? That makes you even more deserving of death."
"Whaaaat?!"
Seeing Aeron about to lay hands on her, Ciaccona panicked even more.
Although Ciaccona didn't know what methods Aeron had prepared, based on her understanding of him, nine times out of ten it wouldn't be anything good!
"Wahh... For the sake of us fighting against Fractsidus together and exposing the Order's dark secrets... partner, have you forgotten the bond between our 'Gale' and 'Ace'?"
"I don't remember anything like that."
"Wahhhhhh..."
Seeing Aeron so unyielding, Ciaccona was truly out of ideas.
Emotional appeals didn't work, and she definitely couldn't win an argument against Aeron. Was this what it felt like to be completely out of options?
Ciaccona racked her brain, trying to think of something that could make this blockhead give up on ganking her.
Soon, she remembered what Carlotta had told her just last night.
Well—in that case, there was only one thing left to do: self-destruct!
Taking a deep breath, Ciaccona struggled to lift her flushed face and shouted at Aeron:
"I-I can let you be my producer!"
"...Huh?"
What is this girl talking about, and why is she jumping to another scene?
Seeing Aeron stop, Ciaccona immediately began to elaborate.
"The Second Young Lady said that my previous actions have built up popularity, and my identity and image are also suitable... so she plans to..."
"...package you as an idol?"
"Exactly!"
"Correct..."
You know what, I have to admit, this really does have that Shorty's style.
"So you're trying to poach a public official—is that appropriate, may I ask?"
"No, no, it's not like that!"
Ciaccona grew a bit flustered.
"The Second Young Lady said... the producer has to be someone I trust, who knows me well, can command the stage, is handsome, smart, and really capable..."
"I like hearing that, go on."
Seeing the seriousness on Aeron's face vanish completely, replaced by a smug, triumphant look, Ciaccona finally let out a slight sigh of relief.
So easy to please...
But, there's hope!
"Carlotta said that Ragunna needs a symbol to represent a new beginning, something more approachable, and then she thought of me."
Though her hands were still firmly held by Aeron, Ciaccona confidently puffed out her chest.
"But as for idols... I don't really get it... so I need someone who can oversee everything, handle the troublesome stuff, and pull me back when I accidentally go too far..."
The corners of Aeron's mouth were now practically reaching the sky.
Now, it was Ciaccona's moment to strike!
"So then... the first person I thought of was you, partner!"
Taking advantage of Aeron's momentary lapse in guard, Ciaccona immediately pulled her wrists free and went in for a big hug————–
Only to be blocked by Aeron.
"...Just let me hug you for a second."
"Are you kidding? Does any of what you just said have anything to do with what you showed Phoebe?"
"W-well, I guess not..."
Though Aeron was genuinely interested in the job Ciaccona mentioned, there were still things that needed to be done.
And Ciaccona, naturally, wanted to struggle to the last breath.
"Y-you have to say whether you agree or not first..."
"I agree, so as your producer, I need to manage your personal conduct even more strictly now!"
"No way!!!!"
...
After that, Ciaccona was pressed into a chair by Aeron and, under the threat of "You wouldn't want your future fans to know what kind of stuff your idol usually reads, would you?", reluctantly helped Aeron dig out her treasured collection.
Which then piled up into a mountain in front of the two of them.
"You have a fucking astonishing amount of these, seriously."
"W-well, as someone in a creative line of work, you always have to find ways to draw inspiration..."
"What the hell kind of inspiration can you get from Rurikawa and Tohsaka Family Affairs?"
"Th-that's... none of your business."
Anyway, putting aside Ciaccona's sweeping AOE logic, just the sheer number of books alone meant Aeron couldn't let her off the hook.
Damn, the thought of Carlotta wanting to make this girl an idol terrified Aeron. Who knows what kind of inspiration she's drawing from that stuff.
What if she accidentally gives Ragunna some negative publicity?
Thinking of this, Aeron's resolve grew even firmer, even letting out an indescribable laugh.
"P-partner... Could you not do that? It's really scary, you know?"
"Ah, just thinking about how I'm going to deal with you later makes me want to laugh, little poet."
"Eh...?!"
And Aeron's words made Ciaccona tremble three times.
After all, the method Aeron used to deal with her was simple.
"You like watching, don't you? Then let me personally help you put it into practice!"
"...?"
Then, Aeron casually grabbed one of Ciaccona's "inspirations" and activated his ability.
[Instant Mastery, activate]
In an instant, a massive amount of information that could not be described in words flooded into Aeron's mind.
"..."
After struggling to calm her emotions, Aeron suppressed the urge to curse and slowly approached Ciaccona.
"Hehe, now... it's time for punishment!"
"No, please!"