Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of high heels striking the ground drew the faint attention of passersby.
Accompanied by a lively, upbeat BGM,
a twin-tailed girl vanished from a dreamlike space.
Not long after, a starship split open a silver rail and descended toward the planet.
"Ah~?"
"So there's actually someone even old Sampo finds interesting?"
"Then how could Lady Sparkle possibly miss this~"
"Let me take a look…"
"Are you even more fun than expected?"
With that, the girl's figure disappeared from the frozen world.
Even the starship concealed itself completely in space.
After landing on the planet, the girl immediately pulled out a positioning device.
"That annoying Antimatter Legion…"
"Frozen solid, huh?"
"That's way too interesting."
A fox mask rested on Sparkle's forehead.
A very common accessory among Tavern members.
Of course, this wasn't something you obtained just by walking the Path of Elation.
Under the Aeon of Elation, there were two factions:
The Tavern — Sparkle's faction. Sampo had once belonged to it as well.
The Mourning Actors — the other branch.
The masks carried by Tavern pranksters were, in fact, borrowed—
or rather stolen—from the Mourning Actors.
"Mmm~"
"I'm here, Sampo~"
The twin-tailed girl's bell-like laughter echoed across the frozen plains.
On the snow-covered wasteland, only a red goldfish flickered briefly—
as if the girl had never been there at all.
Underworld — Robot Settlement
Svarog, Seele, Evan, and Clara sat together,
discussing everything that would happen after entering the Overworld.
They had no idea—
that a member of the Elation faction had just descended from beyond the stars
and warped directly to the vicinity of the Robot Settlement.
"Hi hi, Sampo~"
"I brought the mask you wanted."
Sampo had been intently watching the central core of the Robot Settlement,
observing the four of them as they discussed overthrowing the Supreme Guardian—
when Sparkle suddenly appeared right in front of him.
"Wait—"
"Is this your real body, or…?"
Sampo froze.
It had only been a few system-hours since his request.
Since when had Sparkle become this cooperative?
Anyone else might not know her—
but he certainly did.
Anything Sparkle did was always within the scope of Elation.
"Oh my, oh my~"
"Sampo~ if you say that, I'll be hurt, you know~"
"Lady Sparkle personally completed your commission."
"Shouldn't you at least buy me a drink?"
"Yeah, thanks so much."
Sampo took the mask from her hands, gently tracing the markings on its surface.
This mask had been stored in the Tavern.
Ever since he left, it hadn't been used again.
Touching it now stirred complicated emotions.
But what shocked him even more—
was that Sparkle had actually shown up in his play.
Even so, Sampo still suspected this wasn't her real body.
…Wait.
Where did she go?
Sampo blinked.
The mask in his hand hadn't even warmed yet—
and Sparkle, who had just been standing there, vanished.
In her place—
was a Sparkle-shaped fufu doll.
And on the fufu's chest—
a cherry-blossom-shaped red button.
"Anyway… that's the plan."
"Once we're up there—"
"If we run into Bronya of the Silvermane Guards…"
"She's your assignment, Seele."
"Huh?"
Seele froze at Evan's task distribution, taking a while to react.
"Why me?"
"She's the strongest combatant at Cocolia's side."
"Handing her to you means I trust you."
"And besides…"
The only one who can cut through Bronya—
is you.
The Seablue Faction never lies.
"I see…"
"The strongest, huh?"
Seele rubbed her hands together excitedly, grinning.
"Then leave her to me!"
"I guarantee I'll knock her flat!"
"Don't beat her."
"Just kite her."
"Relax—she won't hurt you. I can guarantee that."
Evan said calmly.
"Huh? Why?"
Before he could explain—
a new voice suddenly rang out beside them.
"Eh—eh?!"
"Something this fun, and I'm not included?"
"What task do I get?"
"Clara? You don't need to go up. Just stay here—"
—
Before the sentence could finish—
Evan's instincts exploded.
Heavenly Principles: Reconstruction.
A Throne of the Moonlight instantly formed, its barrel snapping toward Evan's own shoulder.
"Hey—don't be like that!"
"Calm down, calm down~"
"Hm?"
Evan—who had just sat down—sprang back to his feet.
The Moonlight Throne in his hand locked onto the figure behind him.
A moment later—
that figure dropped her disguise.
And a perfectly graceful form revealed itself behind him.
(PS: Kneeling for data! Please send flowers and review tickets!)
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