Chapter 316: Penacony Arc 『 Part Eleven 』, The Last Farewell to the Scuffed Paradise
「 "Hey." A cold, feminine voice suddenly drifted in from the doorway.
The two of them turned toward the sound, only to find Acheron obstructing the entrance. Her violet eyes flickered back and forth between Stelle and Aventurine, eventually settling on the more imposing figure of the latter.
"What are you two doing in my room?" 」
「 .....」
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"???"
Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, stared at the scene, his mind filled with questions.
…So, whose room was it actually?
"Could it be that Mr. Aventurine actually deceived Stelle regarding the room as well? Just to secure a partnership with her?"
Shinobu Kocho offered a thin smile.
"Ara ara… such a posture and such proximity—it really does invite some unfortunate misunderstandings. I certainly hope Miss Acheron doesn't get the wrong idea."
"B-but…"
Mitsuri Kanroji had focused nearly all her attention on Aventurine—specifically, his eyes. She had never seen eyes so beautiful or unique; they were simply…
"Didn't you all notice anything special about Mr. Aventurine's eyes? It's almost as if they're glowing?!"
Her face flushed a sudden, vibrant red, and her pink-and-green braids swayed with her excited movements.
Giyu Tomioka appeared in the corridor at some unknown moment, commenting expressionlessly,
"They are indeed special… especially dangerous. His presence is more oppressive than that of a demon."
"My, my, even Tomioka-san has an opinion to share,"
Shinobu giggled, masking her mouth with her sleeve.
"But it's true. Mr. Aventurine's gaze is like that of a venomous snake that cannot wait to devour its prey. Oh, wait…"
Shinobu suddenly thought of something.
"Miss Acheron and Stelle have met in a dream before; they could be considered acquaintances. Do you think she saw Stelle being cornered by Aventurine and stepped in specifically to bail her out?"
"That makes sense, and it certainly fits the style of a Galaxy Ranger,"
Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, nodded.
"Though Aventurine acts quite forceful, at the end of the day, he's just a high-level manager from the IPC. He doesn't seem to possess much personal power. As for Acheron's prowess as a Galaxy Ranger… we've all witnessed it."
At the mention of having 'witnessed it,' the group fell into a collective silence. To be honest, none of them had actually seen how Acheron drew her blade.
That woman… surely she couldn't be even stronger than Jingliu?
—
「 "…Your room?" Aventurine seemed momentarily caught off guard.
Acheron said nothing, merely staring at him in silence.
The atmosphere in the room grew instantly subtle.
"…"
After a long beat of silence, Aventurine finally spoke, looking at Stelle with genuine admiration. "…Impressive, friend. You haven't been in Penacony long, and you've already learned how to scout for partners."
"Don't misunderstand. I just wanted to remind you—this place is a den of vipers, and there are far too many ill-intentioned characters about. Remember to stay sharp. For instance… remember to lock your door." With that, Aventurine departed the room.
Now, only Stelle and Acheron remained. After the two stared at one another in silence for a while, Acheron asked curiously, "…Why haven't you left yet?"
"…Eh?"
Seeing Stelle's reaction, Acheron grew puzzled herself. She lowered her head and began to ponder. "…Could it be that I walked into the wrong room? That shouldn't be right. Before I spoke up to interrupt you, I double-checked the room number…"
"Perhaps it was the wing… no, was the building number wrong? My apologies. This hotel is far too grand, and the corridors are all decorated so similarly. It's easy to lose one's way if one isn't paying attention…"
With that, Acheron prepared to return to her own room. But before she left, she had one more question—one that might have seemed rude or eccentric to Stelle.
"…Have we met somewhere before?"
"Maybe in a dream…" Stelle vaguely recalled the faint outlines of that dream.
Acheron looked up as if struck by a sudden realization. "…Right. A dream. I had a dream on my way here, and your silhouette seemed to be in it… it's as if a certain thought just flashed through my mind…" 」
「 .....」
〜Harry Potter World〜
Inside the Transfiguration classroom, the afternoon sun slanted through the high windows, making the dancing dust motes sparkle.
Professor McGonagall was tapping the blackboard with her wand, explaining the finer points of turning a hedgehog into a pincushion, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
Harry held his textbook up in front of his face, pretending to take diligent notes, while his eyes were actually fixed on the sky, on the canopy above.
Acheron and Stelle had met again, yet Acheron seemed to have no memory of it.
"Hermione,"
Harry whispered, leaning toward his side.
"Her memory… does it remind you of anyone?"
"Who?"
Hermione bit the end of her quill; her brow furrowed.
"I don't see a resemblance to anyone. Harry, do you mean… she's been hit with something like a Memory Charm?"
"Do you remember the Swarm Disaster?"
Harry said excitedly, his voice rising accidentally.
"That Self-Annihilator! The army leader! His memory only lasted three days. Maybe Acheron—"
"Mr. Potter!"
Professor McGonagall's voice struck like a bolt of lightning. Harry snapped upright, his textbook hitting the desk with a loud thwack. The entire class turned to look at him, and Ron gave him a sharp kick under the table.
"It seems you have already mastered the Hedgehog-to-Pincushion Transformation to perfection,"
McGonagall said, adjusting her spectacles. The eyes behind the lenses glinted dangerously.
"Perhaps you would like to come up and demonstrate for us?"
Harry's face turned bright red as he shuffled slowly toward the front. As he stood, Hermione whispered a frantic reminder:
"Focus on the spines, Harry! Don't rush it!"
McGonagall handed him a shivering hedgehog.
"Begin, Mr. Potter."
Harry raised his wand and took a deep breath.
"Er… Transfiguration Spell?"
With a flash of blue light, the hedgehog did indeed turn into a pincushion—except it was a pincushion covered in sharp, living quills, looking far more dangerous than it had before the transformation.
A few students in the back couldn't help but snicker. McGonagall silenced them with a stern glare.
"It seems some students have their minds drifting toward the heavens,"
She said coldly.
"Detention tonight, Mr. Potter, until you can produce a proper pincushion."
Harry returned to his seat, dejected, while Ron patted him sympathetically on the shoulder.
"Harry, I've been thinking, and I think you might be onto something,"
Hermione whispered immediately, leaning in. She pushed a piece of parchment toward him with her conclusions written down.
"It's possible Miss Acheron really is related to the Self-Annihilators. But the question is—can a Self-Annihilator even become a Galaxy Ranger?"
Just as Harry was about to answer, McGonagall's voice rang out again:
"Miss Granger! Would you like to demonstrate as well?"
Hermione's face turned red instantly, and she clapped her hand over her mouth.
—