Alicia looked upward, placed her index finger beside the corner of her mouth, thought for a moment, then revealed a brilliant smile and readily agreed.
"Sure."
"R-Really…? I mean, really really?" Takanashi Rikka clenched both fists and waved her arms up and down, leaning in even closer.
Alicia nodded, held out the World-Saving Magic Staff, and said with narrowed eyes and a smile, "Although it isn't the Hero's Sword, the power of the World-Saving Magic Staff should be no less than that."
"!!!"
The World-Saving Magic Staff hung before her eyes. Takanashi Rikka's eyes widened, her pupils slightly unfocused, her lips slightly parted, and one hand unconsciously rose.
"…World-Saving Magic Staff…"
"Ah, yes, go ahead and touch it!"
"Eh, o-okay." She placed a hand on it. Takanashi Rikka felt her hands trembling as she murmured, "The handle of the World-Saving Magic Staff is actually pink…"
"I painted it myself! It's cute! It used to be pitch-black like nighttime." Alicia's eyes and brows curved into gentle crescent moons, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as she added, "Back then Elga complained about it for ages, you know, because most of the equipment on her body are ancient magical tools, and the elf race greatly values ancient culture."
She imitated Sui's shut-in expression and tone, grumbling on and on: "The crafting method has been lost~~, such a huge Moonlight Jade Stone can't be found anywhere anymore~~, ancient magical tools~~, I hope you can understand the gravity of the situation, these are treasures of all intelligent beings~~, you can't indulge in fleeting pleasures and melt into the secular world ahh!! You have to hurry and rescue them…!"
Such… such powerful resentment…
And she remembers it so clearly too..
The last sentence felt like she was just short of snatching it away with her own hands..
Takanashi Rikka couldn't help but feel a bit startled.
"Q-Question death!" Dekomori Sanae, who had been unconscious for a short while, woke up under the stimulation of otherworldly information, raised her hand and loudly asked, "Hero-sama, may I ask if only you came? Or have all of Dio-sama's companions come as well death?!"
"Hmm? They all came."
Alicia tilted her head and answered one by one.
"Then, can I meet them?! Pardon the intrusion death! Mabel Reberu-sama! I'm here!"
Before her words had even finished, without waiting for Alicia's reply, Dekomori Sanae had already cheered and charged inside, looking every bit like a little fangirl.
She looked left and right the whole way as she searched, and finally arrived at Diego's bedroom, successfully seeing her "idol" as she had hoped.
"Hehe, such big pig trotters…"
"Don't chew on my foot…"
Frieren's sleeping posture had always been poor. Unconsciously she had shifted from the head of the bed to the foot, and her foot had precisely kicked Mabel in the face.
Mabel, however, did not wake up from the kick. That level of force was nothing to her; instead she hugged Frieren's foot and opened her mouth to gnaw on it.
Dekomori Sanae opened her mouth wide, unable to close it for a long while, and silently swallowed. "…Pardon the intrusion."
"This is nothing like the cool and handsome Mabel-sama in my impression…"
With that, she withdrew from the room. Some fantasy in her heart had been shattered. That was the first time she had seen, from her memories, the stunning sight of Mabel sitting on an ice bed.
On the other side, Takanashi Rikka took the opportunity to ask Alicia about topics Diego usually refused to discuss.
"Um… Hero miss, who is Serie? I saw her beat Dio half to death before—she's super strong! And she seems really familiar with Dio."
"One of the existing great mages, and Dio's senior. Serie-sama really likes him."
"Eek! Are you sure it's not hate? She even blew half his body apart…"
Alicia smiled. She was quite fond of telling others about Diego's affairs. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Then can I ask you about what happened after Dio crossed over?"
"Of course!" Takanashi Rikka patted her chest, looking fully prepared to answer anything. "Dio, he…"
"Ohh, Dio actually uses honorifics… I knew Dio has always been a good kid!"
Tap tap tap…
Just as the two were chatting happily, Sui walked out from the nearby bathroom. The once all-conquering King God Sword had turned into a cane, supporting her as she swayed unsteadily.
"So uncomfortable, worse than being hit by a demon clan's mental magic…" Sui still hadn't recovered from the discomfort.
Seeing this, Takanashi Rikka proactively offered to support her. Alicia didn't think much of it and nodded.
For Takanashi Rikka, this was a double win—she could get up close and personal with a swordsman while also getting the chance to experience an ancient magical tool!
Sui, still dazed, let Takanashi Rikka take the King God Sword and support her.
But this handover turned out to be a problem. The King God Sword was no ordinary ancient magical tool. What would happen if someone unable to suppress Wazuki no Aruji touched it?
Clack…
The King God Sword slipped from Takanashi Rikka's hands.
"Heh…"
Takanashi Rikka lowered her head and suddenly let out a cold laugh. The laughter grew stronger and stronger. "Hehehe…"
"Rikka-san…"
Alicia slowly widened her eyes, a bad premonition forming in her heart.
"Come back, King God Sword!"
As soon as the words fell, the King God Sword shot up from the ground and returned to Takanashi Rikka's hands once more.
"Divine Might Unsealed!"
When she raised her head again, her hairstyle had changed into fluffy twin braids, and her outfit had transformed into a black robe.
"Heh heh hahaha!! I, Wazuki no Aruji-sama, have returned once more!!!"
!!!
The group was shocked! This aura… how could this be possible?!
Wazuki had actually taken advantage of everyone's unpreparedness to suddenly betray them and possess someone?!
"Rishi, Shura Eagle Strike!!"
Whoosh!
Taking the opening, Alicia tore through the surrounding air with one foot, striking down toward Wazuki's head from above!
Wazuki's vertical pupils shifted. The King God Sword stood before her, and a large quantity of white bones grew beneath her feet, forming a claw-shaped shield centered on her that blocked the attack!
Bang!!!
The white bone shield shattered. Wazuki spun around sharply, and the King God Sword thrust toward Alicia through the gaps between the bone claws' fingertips!
Shing!
Alicia retreated. The World-Saving Magic Staff transformed into sword form, pointing straight at Wazuki no Aruji as she sternly shouted, "Wazuki, return the body!"
"Hah? I don't wanna!" Wazuki stuck out her tongue in provocation, then turned to look at Sui with a gloomy expression and unpleasant tone. "Elga elf little sister, you're not behaving, you know. You actually violated the contract. You clearly promised me that after seeing little brother Brando, you would lend me your body for revenge, yet until now you still have no intention of handing over your body…"
Sui shook her head, trying to sober herself up quickly, and forced a very strained smile. "The ability to usurp and bestow is far too dangerous. I can't just let you run amok in this peaceful world…"
"Shut up! Judging by the results alone, you all betrayed me once again! Even you, elf little sister——" As Wazuki spoke, her tone softened for a moment. "I clearly trusted you, which is why I chose to lend you the King God Sword."
A moment later, veins bulged on Wazuki's forehead, her expression twisted, and she furiously retorted, "But you teamed up with that man and betrayed me once again!!!"
"Wazuki…" Alicia reached out a hand, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to.
"Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up!!" Wazuki stomped her foot hard, firmly seizing control of the conversation. "Do you think you have any chance to negotiate terms with me? I already said it—I don't particularly care about you all, and I don't particularly care about this world either. Right now, I just want revenge on little brother Brando, who made me stay lonely and bored in the Elf Village for over half a century!"
Alicia said seriously, "I won't let you do that! I will protect…"
"Hah?" Wazuki snorted coldly, raised her middle finger to lightly poke her temple, waved her hand mockingly and said, "Use your brain, Alicia little sister. I indeed can't beat you, but you seem to have forgotten my other title——『King of Corpses』!"
"If you dare to come and stop me, I'll divide out enough power to control a number of skeleton soldiers beyond your imagination and slaughter everyone outside!"
"As for when little sister Rikka's body will be returned… you all guess—what kind of reaction would a vibrant young girl have when she wakes up one day only to find she's turned into a decrepit old woman?"
"Well? Still want to stop me?"
Wazuki grinned widely, revealing the sharp fangs inside.
"…"
Alicia's expression was grim.
At this moment, Sui grabbed Alicia's arm and gently shook her head. "That's enough, Alicia. Let Wazuki go."
"But! Dio he…!"
"Occasionally you should cut Dio some slack too. He's the captain, isn't he?" Sui's eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile.
Wazuki vaguely sensed a wave of displeasure, and her tone suddenly rose. "Hah? Elga elf little sister, do you think I'll lose to him?!"
"No…" Sui lowered her gaze, a trace of reminiscence flashing through her eyes, her words growing even more resolute. "It's because Dio said he won't lose!"
"…Heh."
Wazuki's breathing became short and rapid. She flew into a rage. "I'll go bash his head in right now and make soup out of it!"