At the entrance to the conference room, a young girl with rabbit ears who had just burst in stood with one hand on her hip. Her two lively rabbit ears were perked up excitedly, and her childish little face was filled with smugness.
"If you Problem Children are willing to kneel and beg your Big Sister Black Rabbit, I might just give you a hint... Eeeeeek! Stop pulling my beautiful ears! Yo, and Asuka, is this how you bully the big sister who practically raised you after not seeing her for so long?"
Her imposing words were cut short, turning into a flustered and then sorrowful cry.
She hadn't expected to be manhandled by the two girls the moment she walked in. Little Black Rabbit struggled to no avail and could only glare at the two Problem Children with teary eyes, trying to appeal to their sense of mercy.
However, upon hearing her complaint, Kudou Asuka and Kasukabe Yō didn't let go. Instead, they pulled even harder.
"Stop! Stop pinching! My beautiful rabbit ears... Even Lord Su Mo wasn't this rough yesterday! What are you two Problem Children trying to do!"
Seeing that little Black Rabbit was about to get truly angry, the two girls finally let go, but they offered no apology.
Kudou Asuka crossed her arms, shooting the rabbit-eared girl a sidelong glance.
"Hmph! You have the nerve to say that? Calling yourself our big sister but disappearing for months. Spit it out, what have you been up to? Were you secretly hogging all the good stuff for yourself?" she demanded, dissatisfied.
"Hogging the good stuff?"
Beside them, Kudou Ayato seemed to realize something and also looked at Black Rabbit with a sharp gaze.
"Big Sister Black Rabbit, have you been with Lord Su Mo this whole time?"
She had wanted to thank Su Mo for the Sword of Promised Victory but had not been granted an audience, which had left her feeling dejected.
For some reason, ever since the Absolute Demon Lord and the others had been vanquished, neither Su Mo nor the teachers had met with them again.
The thought that this idiot rabbit had been enjoying the privilege she dreamed of—seeing Lord Su Mo around the clock—made her burn with jealousy.
"...Wha-? How can you ask something like that right now!"
Hearing the Kudou sisters' interrogation, little Black Rabbit's cheeks flushed, as if the phrase "hogging all the good stuff" made her think of something less than wholesome.
"I didn't show up before because Lord Su Mo forbade us from giving you any more hints! Besides, it's only been a few months, what's the big deal!"
As a long-lived species, little Black Rabbit's perception of time was naturally different from that of the children, who had not yet adapted to such a perspective.
Still, she explained why she hadn't appeared.
"Lord Su Mo forbade you from giving hints?"
Izayoi repeated her words with great interest, then exchanged a slightly surprised look with the others.
They weren't particularly shocked by what Black Rabbit said; it was the most likely reason for Su Mo's silence.
Besides, Su Mo had already provided an immense amount of help during the chaotic battle of the Demon Lords, and they didn't have the face to ask for more.
So, after sensing Su Mo's intentions, they hadn't continued to disturb the adults.
What surprised them now was something else.
"In that case, since you're here now, does that mean Lord Su Mo has a new hint for us?"
Realizing this possibility, everyone grew excited.
They had just been agonizing over the matter of escapism and how to face the Wind of Decadence. Black Rabbit showing up now was like receiving a pillow just as you were getting sleepy—perfect timing.
Although Kudou Asuka and the others still felt a little uneasy—
getting hints and help every time they hit a wall, wasn't that a bit of a cheat?—having tasted the benefits before, no one could refuse a hint from Su Mo.
However, this time, things did not go as they expected.
"A new hint?"
Little Black Rabbit shook her head in surprise.
"Nope! I came here this time mainly to say goodbye!"
At these words, the entire conference room fell silent for a moment before erupting into chaos.
"What? Goodbye?"
"What does that mean?"
"Don't tell me you have a terminal illness like Typhon's incarnation?"
"Impossible! With Lord Su Mo around, the chances of Black Rabbit being made into braised rabbit meat are higher than her getting a terminal illness. She probably means it literally, that she's just leaving this world."
"Leaving this world? Isn't that the same as braised rabbit meat... Wait, you mean... Little Garden?"
Hearing them all chattering and guessing at her meaning, Black Rabbit felt like her blood pressure was about to explode.
"What braised rabbit meat?! Lord Su Mo would never eat Black Rabbit that way! Can't you Problem Children think of something normal for once!"
"I mean, we're leaving this world... Bah! That's not what I mean! I mean we're going back to Little Garden! I'm perfectly healthy, I'm just going back home!"
Her words once again silenced the entire room.
They truly hadn't expected that Black Rabbit was actually leaving.
"Back to Little Garden... 'We'... Black Rabbit, who does 'we' include?"
Percher asked nervously, her palms clenched.
"Of course, it includes Lord Su Mo, Lady Shiroyasha, the Queen, Lady Athena, Lady Canary, and everyone else... Everyone except you Problem Children is going back," Black Rabbit said with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Ah..."
Hearing this, the usually expressionless Kasukabe Yō thought for a few seconds before asking.
"Is Lord Su Mo abandoning us?"
"?"
A large question mark appeared over little Black Rabbit's head. It was only when she saw similar confusion on the other children's faces that she realized she had to explain.
"Of course not! Didn't Lord Su Mo already tell you the reason?"
"Tell us what?"
They all looked at each other.
"Didn't Lord Su Mo say last time that he would face the End Emptiness at the same time as you all!"
Black Rabbit reminded them, then explained.
"The time for the final battle is approaching! Lord Su Mo is preparing to return to Little Garden to fight the main body of the End Emptiness, so of course he has to leave! After we defeat this final Demon Lord together, we'll all celebrate at a victory banquet in Little Garden! It's not like he's abandoning you!"