"My delivery?"
Mahiru Shiina was momentarily stunned by these words, but while she stood frozen, Echidna didn't hesitate for a second.
With a single step, the white fox coiled on the dining table suddenly began transforming and expanding, instantly pressing against the ceiling as it morphed into a white beast over two metres tall.
The beast's jaws stretched wider and wider, the fox-like maw expanding until it could easily swallow an adult whole.
Just as Mahiru turned her head towards the entryway, the enormous beast's maw lunged to devour her.
And in that instant—
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
Brilliant white sparks of electricity flared to life.
Golden rings abruptly appeared around Mahiru's body one after another.
The rings emitted a radiant white glow that enveloped Mahiru completely, simultaneously releasing holy light capable of dissolving all negative energy.
Bathed in this sacred radiance, the now-vengeful-spirit Echidna let out a pained groan.
Meanwhile, Mahiru—realising she'd nearly been 'eaten'—paled and stumbled several steps back.
Though she'd understood the fox calling itself Echidna was an evil yokai when she agreed to its terms earlier...
Though she'd reconsidered her suicidal thoughts after seeing through her parents' false affection and realising they were capable of love—just not for her...
Facing the prospect of being eaten by a monster filled Mahiru with terror regardless of her previous resignation.
As Mahiru retreated in fear, Echidna—having reverted from her transformation to human form—clutched her burned, pallid face while staring at Mahiru with shock and dread:
"A holy spell containing a concept?"
To be precise, she was staring at the silver bracelet on Mahiru's wrist.
"Echidna...san?"
Mahiru blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by Echidna's human appearance—the first time she'd seen it.
Just then, noticing Echidna's gaze, Mahiru instinctively looked down at her right wrist.
Seeing the silver bracelet there, she froze:
"This is the bracelet Miss Sharon gave me? But I'm sure I left it in the drawer..."
"Because when I gave you the bracelet, I specifically set up a protective technique that binds it to your soul."
The sudden female voice made Mahiru Shiina widen her eyes. Turning her head, she saw Sharon standing behind her, dressed in a blue nun's habit.
Just as Mahiru looked over, Sharon placed one hand on her hip and sighed with a helpless expression:
"Though I knew someone with your talents would easily attract strange beings, having a Demigod come after you right away is a bit too much."
"Sharon...san?" Mahiru was stunned by Sharon's appearance.
But compared to the stunned Mahiru Shiina, the injured Echidna reacted faster.
Frost-formed beast claws abruptly sprouted from the air, striking towards Sharon without hesitation.
The massive claws carried an overwhelming sense of power, only exploding with a deafening roar upon impact.
Instantly, black-red lightning erupted violently within the room.
Asahi Shiina and Sayo Shiina, who had been sitting on either side of the dining table, were unsurprisingly blasted away by the shockwave, crashing into the walls and doors before losing consciousness without even a chance to react—who knew how many ribs were broken.
Yet compared to the two, Echidna was naturally more concerned about Sharon before her.
Watching Sharon effortlessly block her attack with one hand, Echidna couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly:
"Not a Demigod? Yet wielding the conceptual power... A Top-Tier Class Holder?"
"To think that in a place as small as Tokyo, I'd encounter a Top-Tier Class Holder with no prior intelligence..."
At this point, Echidna revealed a somewhat amused smile:
"However, even if you are a Top-Tier Class Holder, as a mere Hero Rank, do you truly believe you can protect this girl?"
Even if the ritual wasn't fully completed, even in a weakened state, a Demigod was still a Demigod.
In her current condition, Echidna was confident she could swiftly defeat Sharon.
This was the confidence borne from the gap in their ranks.
Hearing Echidna's declaration of victory, Sharon casually flicked away the frost claws and turned to scrutinise Echidna before speaking indifferently:
"Well, if it were just me, I certainly couldn't stop you, let alone save anyone."
"But..."
A playful smile surfaced on Sharon's face:
"I don't recall ever saying, 'I'll be your opponent,' did I?"
Echidna froze at these words, but before she could process them, an overwhelming, suffocating pressure emanated from behind her.
In that instant, Echidna's pupils contracted to their limit.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the source of the Spiritual Power pressing down on her, slowly turning her head—only to see the glass balcony door, where a black-haired man leaned against the frame, casually twirling a brown scroll in his hand.
Noticing Echidna's gaze, Luo Shu smiled faintly, idly playing with the scroll in his right hand as he addressed Mahiru Shiina:
"Miss Mahiru Shiina, I presume?"
"It's me..." The girl, shielded behind Sharon, answered in bewilderment before biting her lip. "So... it was you, Mr Luo Shu, who called earlier about the delivery?"
"Indeed."
Luo Shu nodded slightly, then—ignoring the seemingly petrified Echidna—tossed the scroll towards Mahiru Shiina:
"Your delivery. Please sign it."
"Delivery?" Mahiru fumbled to catch the scroll, unrolling it to find an employment contract. Instantly, the girl froze.
At the same time, Echidna also stood rooted to the spot.
She glanced at Luo Shu, who was leaning against the balcony door.
Turning her head, she caught sight of Mukuro Hoshimiya seated on the sofa to her right.
Swivelling again, she spotted Nia Honjo leaning against the wall by the entryway behind her.
Finally, Echidna turned her head and glanced towards the kitchen on the left. There, she saw Tohka Yatogami with her back turned, staring at the pot where a considerable amount of curry remained.
Four directions, four Demigods. Faced with such a formation, cold sweat inevitably trickled down Echidna's face:
"I never imagined the illustrious Hidden Management Department would dispatch four Demigods just for a minor player like me."
"How truly flattering!!"
Luo Shu merely quirked his lips and teased her with a playful tone:
"Tell me... is there a possibility..."
Echidna looked over, staring at Luo Shu with curiosity.
At that moment, Luo Shu murmured:
"That the house you picked just happens to be right next to mine?"
Echidna's expression froze solid.
Right then, Mahiru Shiina, who was oblivious to the situation, blankly 'added insult to injury':
"Oh, now that you mention it, Mr Luo Shu, I still haven't returned the pot you lent me last time."
"I even knocked on your door this morning..."
Hearing this, Echidna fell silent.
Luo Shu actually lived right next to Mahiru Shiina's place?
In other words, she had chosen to possess someone in the very apartment building where members of the Hidden Management Department resided?
Even as a being without a physical body, Echidna could feel her scalp prickling with dread!