Night fell, and Shichen took Avrora and Kaguya out to the convenience store for ice cream.
Lately Avrora had become completely obsessed with cold treats; on Itogami Island's sweltering nights, few can resist that chill that cuts right through the heat.
Kaguya didn't care much either way about icy things—but Shichen wasn't about to play favorites.
"Shichen, let's buy a bunch of flavors, okay?" Avrora bounced along at his right, hugging his arm.
She was wearing only a single thin layer because of the heat, and the outline at her chest was… noticeable.
She'd just bathed and wasn't wearing a base layer, either.
"You just ate dinner—how much are you planning to have?" Shichen teased.
"I can handle all the flavors," Avrora said, tipping up her chin, full of confidence.
"Impressive."
"So are you buying them for me or not?"
"Of course I am."
It was only a few ice creams—no reason to be stingy, and Avrora wouldn't make herself sick.
Besides, he wanted to try some imported ice cream himself.
He also hadn't collected today's "protection fee" yet.
"That's more like it." Avrora nodded, satisfied.
"Kaguya, how many do you want?" he asked the woman on his other side.
Unlike Avrora—who no longer kept her distance—Kaguya still couldn't bring herself to be openly affectionate with him.
They hadn't held hands the whole way.
"Me? Anything's fine."
"No need to be polite with me."
"Then… I'll have two more, but strawberry only."
"You really do like strawberries," Avrora laughed.
"Mm. Strawberries are delicious," Kaguya said earnestly.
"Heh~ Let's stock up, then—keep some at home," Shichen said.
"Really?"
"No need to stand on ceremony." He reached up to ruffle her short hair—the feel wasn't great.
It was growing far too slowly.
"Got it."
"Shichen, Shichen, I want to stock up too!" Avrora shook his arm, playfully wheedling.
The, uh, bounce was definitely there—and springy.
"Nope," Shichen refused flatly.
"Eh? Why not?"
"No is no. Why so many questions?"
"Ugh! Why can she and not me? You're totally playing favorites!"
"Bite me."
"Aa-oom~" Avrora didn't hesitate: she lifted his hand to her lips and gave it a bite.
Her lips were very soft, and she didn't bite hard; he only felt a warm dampness and the light pressure of teeth.
"You dare bite me? Now I really won't buy it for you."
"Why?" Avrora puffed her cheeks, indignant.
"So you don't wolf it all down at once. You know you can't control yourself."
"No I—…"
"In short, if you want more, we'll come out and buy it. Stockpiling is off the table."
"Meanie…"
Truth be told, he wasn't only worried about her lack of restraint. His real goal was that taking her out gave him a chance to collect the "protection fee."
At home it wasn't as convenient; Minamiya Natsuki didn't have business every day, and lately she'd been around more.
Not only was a certain Banquet about to begin, she'd also been told to "monitor" him by the higher-ups—so her magus-enforcer workload had lightened.
If not for collecting Avrora's protection fee, Shichen would actually prefer Natsuki to be home more often.
They soon reached the convenience store. Avrora made a beeline for the freezers and started pulling out ice cream.
She didn't dislike any flavor; as long as it was different, she grabbed one.
Kaguya calmly took three strawberry bars.
Shichen paid, and the three of them headed out.
"Shichen, want one?" Kaguya tore open a wrapper and held it out.
"See? Kaguya's thoughtful." He smiled, took it, and popped it into his mouth.
The chill ran from his tongue straight to his chest, sweeping away the heat.
"Kaguya… you've got some moves," Avrora said, eyeing her seriously.
"?" Kaguya blinked, not getting it.
"Let's head back," Shichen said, about to lead them away—when a suspicious trio approached from the front.
At their head was a gaunt middle-aged man with a waxed, upswept mustache. His complexion was sallow, his eyes narrow—his whole look sly.
Flanking him were two men in black with grotesquely long limbs and exaggerated, hunched shoulder muscles—bestial, almost.
Each wore a mask shaped like an animal skull; through thick, exposed lips you could glimpse unnaturally large, terrifying fangs.
"Nosferata from Nelapsi? What are you doing here?" Shichen asked evenly, eyes on the man in the middle.
Nosferata were a demon race from the Warlord's Empire—a branch of vampires that couldn't summon familiars, a lower vampire kind.
Nelapsi was the name of their autonomous territory.
"Mm…" Avrora shrank behind Shichen, clearly afraid of the two Nosferata.
Kaguya, by contrast, didn't move—just kept licking her ice cream.
"As expected of the Witch of the Void's brother—well-informed," the mustached man said, applauding.
"Cut the nonsense. Why have you come to the Far East's Demon Sanctuary?" Shichen asked coldly.
"Heh. Curious, are we? Since you're the Witch of the Void's brother, I'm happy to oblige."
Wearing a smug smile, he said, "It's nothing much. I just heard a silly rumor—
that the daughter of a foolish noble, who got her father killed in an ugly battlefield end and not only lost her people's support but practically handed over their lands, is still stubbornly trying to awaken a new Night Lord of the Blazing Light to enter the Eternal Banquet… Oh my, how laughable."
He could only mean Veldiana.
"Don't know what you're talking about," Shichen replied blankly.
"No need to pretend, Witch of the Void's brother. The two by your side are proof enough, aren't they? She actually succeeded in an awakening—remarkable… I just didn't expect there to be two."
Like a collector spotting priceless treasure, the man looked Avrora and Kaguya over with delight.
"State your business," Shichen said, shielding the two behind him.
"Heh~ I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Balthazar Zaharias, Speaker of Nelapsi's Provisional Autonomous Region—though more importantly, I'm a merchant," Zaharias said with a courtly bow.
"A merchant? In weapons?" Shichen asked.
"As expected of the Witch of the Void's brother—nothing gets past you," Zaharias chuckled.
"Save the chatter."
"No problem. But first, allow me to introduce someone."
"Who?"
"Come."
At his word, a figure haloed in flame-light dropped from the sky and landed by his side, standing in silence.
A young woman—who looked exactly like Avrora.
She had wavy golden hair and pale skin, and wore a reinforced-fiber protective suit that fit perfectly, showing off her slender frame.
Avrora and Kaguya looked her over without surprise—more curious about the outfit than anything.
Smiling, Zaharias said, "Let me introduce No. 9 (Enatos). She was imprisoned in the Warlord's Empire under Count Caruana's authority—but we of Nelapsi have personally liberated her. She is the No. 9 Night Lord of the Blazing Light."
"No. 9, huh." Shichen studied her. She truly was identical to Avrora—only the expressions differed: one all innocent girliness; the other a youthful face with a cool edge.
"Witch of the Void's brother, you know the Night Lord of the Blazing Light program, don't you?"
"I have a name—Shichen."
"Very well, Mr. Shichen."
"Polite enough… Fine. You don't have to explain; I know the Kaleid Blood plan."
"Good. Since you know I'm an arms dealer—my trade is, well, trade, chiefly in weapons.
Some call me a merchant of death, but when it comes to handling armaments, I daresay none can surpass me."
"Mm. You make it sound so righteous."
"I'm just stating facts. So—Mr. Shichen—would you be willing to sell me the two Kaleid Blood you possess?" Zaharias asked pleasantly.
"Sell them to you? Can you afford it?"
"Rest assured—I can pay whatever price you name, so long as you'll sell."
"I see," Shichen said with a nod.
"Eeh—Shichen, you're not thinking of selling us, are you?" Avrora blurted.
"Do you want to be sold?"