Little Devil
Ring ring! Ring ring ring!
"Yawn..."
I opened my eyes to the noisy alarm clock, letting out a yawn as I sat up in bed.
"Hm?"
The weather had turned quite chilly lately, so as I shoved aside the covers and tried to get out of bed, I noticed someone lying beneath it and cocked my head.
"Mnya..."
When I peered down, there was Lulu, curled up asleep next to my bed in her pajamas.
"........."
Lately, she kept sneaking into my room to sleep. I'd tried stopping her, but she insisted that pets naturally slept beside their owners, leaving me without a good comeback.
"Lulu."
"Hup."
The room was filled with a cold aura, so I reached out to wake her—only for her to chomp down on my finger in her sleep.
"Ow."
Wincing a little, I let her suckle on it and sighed, sinking into thought.
'Today... is the day I meet Aishi, right?'
Yes. Today was the day I'd gotten a letter from Aishi asking to meet.
'And... it's also the day I train with Isolet...'
It had been a week since Isolet's threat-like proposal. If I met Aishi before heading to her house today, I'd have encountered every sub-heroine I needed to.
Of course, some still needed watching, and others demanded caution... but at least one major worry would be off my plate.
"Ebe..."
Gently extracting my now-slick finger from Lulu's mouth while mulling that over, I carefully slipped out of bed.
"I got you a brand-new bed, so why's this spot so irresistible?"
Cautious not to wake her, I draped my blanket over Lulu and tiptoed to the desk.
"Master...?"
But despite my efforts, she woke as I sat down, rubbing her eyes before slowly rising and shuffling over.
"Hehe..."
She sidled right up behind me and hugged on, nuzzling her cheek against mine.
'Here we go again...'
For the past few days, I'd been getting tackled like this more often. Ever since Isolet pounced on me, Lulu had turned aggressively affectionate, jumping me whenever I was lying down or sitting—like I was some giant dog.
Irina's red hound of a pet did the exact same, barreling into me every time it got playful. Lately, I felt utterly drained, my back starting to ache.
Creak...
Lost in those thoughts while opening envelopes on the desk, the door swung open and Irina strode in.
"Oh, breakfast... Frey."
Her dog ears perked up as she set an omelet rice topped with a heart on my desk. Peering at me sidelong in her maid outfit like always, I watched her for a moment before asking casually,
"Irina, got a question."
"Yeah, shoot. I'll answer anything..."
"When's Clana coming?"
".....!!!"
Irina, who'd been gazing at me with eager eyes, froze solid.
"W-Wh-Why do you ask, Frey?"
Sweat beading on her brow, she plopped down beside me in a panic.
"Just curious. You never gave the exact date for your Western Continent trip or when Clana takes over."
"Ah..."
Irina's face went blank for a second.
"Come to think of it... it's soon... What do I do? Shift's almost here... Ugh..."
"Irina?"
"Everything so far's not enough... Need impact... something impactful..."
She started muttering like she'd been possessed.
"You reach the Magic Tower Lord?"
Asking about the favor from days ago.
"Ah, uh... not yet. No idea why, but no pickup. Probably swamped?"
"Hmm..."
That was her answer.
"Wanted to ask about that experiment with the 'Youngest Holy Knight.' Shame. Hope we hear back ASAP..."
"Oh, wanna crash her place today? Bring the 'pet' and I bet we'd crush that hag..."
"Nah, gotta meet Aishi today. Isolet too."
"...Ah."
Calming her rising excitement, I eyed her quivering ears and ventured carefully,
"Uh, Irina. Favor... your dog."
"Yeah?"
"Seems in heat lately. Any training?"
She blanked out.
"Keeps tackling me. Once or twice, fine—but it's weird now. She's female too. Maybe neuter..."
"I-I'll hold it back!"
"What?"
"I mean, train it! Won't happen often anymore. Promise."
Face beet-red, Irina bolted from the room.
"........"
Silence blanketed the room.
"Master, next time that mutt jumps you, tell me."
Lulu, still clinging from behind, whispered low, shattering the quiet.
"You're my pet only. I'll set it straight."
She licked my cheek once, then scampered out.
"Hoo."
Alone at last, chill seeped into my bones.
"Happy, huh..."
Smiling at the desk items.
"Happy... but..."
The smile faded, my face clouding over.
"Lately... kinda anxious."
I'm truly happy now. Compared to handling everything solo back then, it's ideal.
That's what makes it scary sometimes. Not knowing when it'll end.
Alone, lonely but calm. Just protect myself.
But now: Kania, Irina, Clana, Serena, Perloché. Even Lulu crashing here lately.
So many fully on my side. No loneliness, no misery—but protecting them breeds anxiety.
Winter break's for healing my battered soul before second year, yet I keep piling on work.
Happy times fly by too fast. This past week and change? Blink of an eye.
Ironically, chasing tasks to stretch the peace. Laughable, even to me.
Lonely rot alone; now allies breed gnawing dread. Guess peace ain't my fate.
"Sigh..."
Demon King Ruby's ramping up aggression, word is.
So the 'Verification Ceremony' hits this break.
Winter break's climax—and my downfall's start: the 'Fake Hero Verification Ceremony.'
Then second year's heavies: 'Student Council Election,' 'Church War.'
Finale: 'Academy Siege,' fourth trial.
Can I clear them zero sacrifices? Save them, even at my life's cost?
"...Impossible, originally."
Muttering, I eased my tightening chest—weakness or psyche?—and rose.
"Meow."
A cat doll poked its head from my coat pocket.
"Pfft... snuck in when?"
Kania's gift: panicked call about kidnapping fears, then shy taste-probing. Now staring.
Half-moon, boomerang, and crescent moon doodles.
Hope definitely exists.
"Ah."
Seeing the note restored my smile a touch.
DLC Serena's birthday gift: that note with half-moon, boomerang, crescent sketches.
"Meow..."
"Yeah, I know."
Stroking the cat clutching my treasured pocket-kept note with a smile.
"Hope exists."
"Meow!"
Shoving cat and note back in my pocket, I headed out.
"Prep the carriage. Meeting Aishi."
"...Yes."
"Then Isolet's. Chores done by return."
Ordering blank-faced Aris sweeping the hall.
"Flowers and letter for Rosewin...?"
"Return to sender."
Answering Ariane's pop-up query, I descended to the first floor.
"...Irina, that test result, by the way. Solid?"
"Huh?"
Spotting Irina at the entrance, I asked.
"The curse scan I requested. Really?"
"Ah, that...? Yep. Checked every inch myself."
"Hm..."
Mulling it over.
'Why'd the Frozen Heart Curse shatter?'
Days before Aishi meetup, Irina ran a deep curse scan. Result: the 'Ice Bird' inside me, shattered.
Irina called it magic history's first. No wonder no chest pain or chills lately.
"Recurrence risk?"
"...Only sure thing: deactivated now. Rest needs study."
"Hmm..."
Humming, I quietly drew a letter from my breast pocket.
Reading the oft-reread letter once more.
"...Scared enough of sis's place—now this outta nowhere?"
Stepping outside, I muttered.
"Well, see for myself."
Meanwhile, at the rendezvous.
"Princess."
A Cloud Kingdom servant cautiously approached Aishi, seated and sipping tea.
"......."
"Frey's coming. Just left the mansion..."
"You. Come here."
"Pardon?"
Cold command to the servant.
"Y-Yes..."
Visibly spooked, he drew near.
"Eek!"
He slipped on sudden floor ice, sprawling spectacularly.
"........."
Aishi stared down impassively.
"...Pfft."
Covering her mouth, she whispered with a devilish grin.
"You're such a total klutz."
A frigid chill permeated the room.