——The day after the incident at Ro-Lente Castle.
Looking outside, large raindrops beat relentlessly against the window.
Far away, two bolts of lightning flashed, and moments later, a cracking thunderclap rolled across the sky.
(No way I'm going out in this weather…)
Staring blankly through the window, Momonga let out a sigh.
Today, the Kingdom of Re-Estize was facing a rare torrential downpour.
Even from her own experience since arriving in this world, this was the heaviest rainfall she had ever witnessed.
Annoyed by the clammy humidity filling the room, she turned another page of the book in her hands.
She could manipulate the weather through magic—
but she had no intention of using that just to keep the rain off.
Nature should remain natural, and she had enough composure to simply enjoy the storm's mood.
In fact, when she first arrived in this world, she had even found herself mesmerized by the harmless, picturesque rainfall.
"Lady Momon, I've prepared some tea and sweets."
"Thank you."
Tsuare arrived with a tray, the buttery aroma of fresh pastries drifting gently upward.
Her maid uniform now suited her reasonably well.
Thanks to Tsuare, who could handle all household tasks with ease, Momonga was growing genuinely fond of living in this manor.
Compared to the food at The Golden Pavillion, Tsuare's cooking was plain and homely, lacking flair—
but the homemade meals prepared by the cute maid she had hired had a charm of their own.
Owning such a large manor, and living with a young maid tending to her needs—
it was a lifestyle that stroked her ego quite nicely.
Such a life had been completely impossible back then—
back when she had been Suzuki Satoru, at the very bottom of the hierarchy.
"If you'd like, Tsuare, why don't you join me?"
"Eh… I–Is that really alright…?"
"Of course. Your master is the one saying so. Come, eat and chat with me."
Tsuare's expression lit up with joy.
It reminded Momonga of a small dog, warming her heart gently.
When she first arrived at the manor, Tsuare had been timid and nervous.
The scars on her heart, and the tension in her body, were obvious.
But gradually, over time, she had begun to show soft smiles like the one she wore now.
"U-um… I…"
Tsuare's cheeks flushed as she sat, looking embarrassed.
Momonga found herself watching that face for quite a while.
"Ah—sorry. It's just… your smile is really cute, you see."
"Eh—"
"Compared to the day you first came here… your expression has grown so much brighter."
"T-That's because… Lady Momon is always so kind to me…"
As she watched Tsuare nibble shyly at her pastry, Momonga felt warmth rising within her.
Her affection for Tsuare had indeed grown during this shared life—
not the bond she held with Ninya or Enri, but something more parental.
If possible, she wanted to support Tsuare until the girl could stand on her own again.
Not out of obligation—
but because she genuinely wished to.
"..."
A violent burst of rain slammed against the window as the storm intensified.
Watching it, Momonga narrowed her eyes.
(The day of the conflict between Eight Fingers and Blue Rose draws near… I'd like to leave the capital before then…)
As she picked at a pastry, yesterday's events at the royal castle resurfaced in her mind.
If possible, she wanted to move before the situation swallowed her in.
She had already seen what she wanted to see in the capital—
including the so-called Golden Princess up close.
For someone who wished to avoid becoming involved, there was no longer any benefit to staying.
And truthfully, Momonga was already feeling the itch to leave the Kingdom of Re-Estize.
She hadn't explored the entire realm, but she had at least seen the capital—
and she wanted to explore more of the world.
She was planning to head to the neighboring Baharuth Empire—
before Ainzach and the others cried and begged her to stay.
(Still…)
There was one problem with leaving the capital—
or rather, the kingdom.
"Lady Momon, is something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing…"
…Yes.
The problem was Tsuare.
Her existence currently served as a shackle on Momonga's ability to travel.
Not because she found Tsuare bothersome—
but because Tsuare undeniably made her movements heavy.
She still hadn't decided what to do with the girl.
(I intended to employ her here until her trauma eased… but Tsuare's road to social recovery is far steeper than I expected…)
In truth, Tsuare still could not step foot outside the manor.
Whenever she tried to leave the property, her legs froze.
Sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath—
an overwhelming stress response made social reintegration impossible.
And then, there was her extreme fear of men.
Her life had been filled with abuse from men—
and the one who saved her was Momon—
a woman whose beauty stood at the peak.
This had backfired completely.
Tsuare distrusted men to an extreme degree, and worshipped a goddess-like figure instead.
Had her savior been a gentle old gentleman instead, her trauma toward men might have eased somewhat.
(…Even taking her to Carne Village probably wouldn't work. She wouldn't fit in.)
She couldn't manage in any environment with men.
At this point, Tsuare trusted only the manor and Momon.
Thus, if Momon were to leave the capital soon,
she would be forced to make a cruel decision regarding Tsuare.
(…It may be somewhat irresponsible, but I really have no choice but to take that approach…)
Continuing to agonize over it would lead nowhere.
Momonga reluctantly reached a decision and slowly opened her mouth.
"…Tsuare. I'm planning to depart for the Empire soon."
It was a sudden announcement—
and Tsuare's face shifted rapidly through several expressions.
"Eh… a… I… I…?"
"Unfortunately, I do not intend to bring you with me. I will also be vacating this manor."
"Eh…"
"This is where we part, Tsuare."
"Eh…"
Her expression wavered from anxiety to despair—
so sudden she didn't even have time to shed tears.
She looked as though she were witnessing something impossible.
"You've worked very hard, Tsuare."
"Eh… ah…"
"Your cooking was delicious, and you cleaned the manor so well. Hiring you was truly the right choice."
"M-Momon… sa… ma…"
Momon continued speaking flatly, leaving Tsuare behind.
Those cold, administrative words felt to Tsuare like being ordered to climb the scaffold for execution.
And in this filthy world—
what meaning was there for her life without Momon?
Even thinking shallowly, only one image floated to her mind: death.
To lose her master—
the one she worshipped—
after losing everyone else in life—
How was she supposed to keep living?
"Don't worry, Tsuare. Your fears are understandable."
Momon's voice was unbearably gentle.
Painfully so.
She lowered her long lashes, her eyes softening.
"The wounds you carry in your heart… I will erase all of them, memories included."
It was a shocking declaration.
Erasing memories—
an impossibility for humans—
yet Tsuare believed her master could do it.
But she could not grasp the meaning behind those words.
"W-What… d-do you mean…?"
"Like this."
Momon stood quietly.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
A moment later, she dispelled the magic disguising her form.
"Ah…"
The figure in Tsuare's eyes transformed instantly.
"You must be surprised."
From Momon's back, enormous jet-black wings unfurled.
Horns sprouted atop her head.
Her pupils narrowed vertically, and the jade brilliance of her irises burned away, replaced with gold.
Her appearance was no longer human—
but that of a reptilian demon.
Every feature was proof of a non-human, demonic species.
"I am not human," her very form declared.
Tsuare, wide-eyed, was shocked—
yet at the same time, something inside her accepted it.
Such a beautiful woman couldn't possibly be human—
that answer she had long sensed was now confirmed.
Momon looked at her and spoke in a whisper.
"I am a terrifying demon capable of rewriting human memory.
I am a being forever incompatible with humans… you understand now, don't you?"
The goddess-like lady was a demon.
Momon herself said so, and Tsuare's eyes widened even further.
The wings were not illusions.
She deliberately shifted them, strengthening the impression of her demonic nature—
hoping it would lessen Tsuare's attachment to her and the manor.
"I will erase every memory—every trauma—from that brothel.
You will be reborn, and live somewhere far away in quiet happiness."
From the void, Momon produced a pouch stuffed full of gold coins.
She set it before Tsuare.
With the drawstring loose, its contents shimmered faintly—
enough platinum coins to support a lifetime of modest living.
"...N-No…"
Tsuare shook her head desperately.
It might have been her first act of defiance toward her master.
"Erase… erase my memories…? Then— then Lady Momon…?"
"…Of course. You will forget me. When you wake next, we will be strangers. That is best for us both.
For I… am a demon."
With quiet finality, she delivered the words—
and Tsuare felt her entire being fracture.
The ground swayed.
All color drained from her sight.
(To forget Lady Momon…?)
No.
Impossible.
Tsuare felt the urge to scream.
"Come here, Tsuare."
Momon extended her hand.
Her voice should have been joyous to hear—
but to Tsuare now, it was pure terror.
She shook her head violently.
"N-No… n-no… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
"…Tsuare—"
Tsuare fled.
She kicked over her chair and bolted from the room like a startled rabbit.
Momon watched her retreating back.
She hadn't expected the gentle Tsuare to react with such intensity.
She hurried after her.
In the hallway, she saw Tsuare retreat into her own room.
"Tsuare…"
Was I wrong?
Momon wondered.
Perhaps her method, or her explanation, had been incorrect—
regret began to seep in.
Had she simply erased the memories without warning,
things might have gone more smoothly.
But she hadn't—
because…
"Tsuare…"
Momon could only clench the hand dangling at her side.
After some time had passed—
about an hour—
Momon once again stood before Tsuare's private room.
She should have calmed down by now.
Momon knocked gently.
"..."
No response.
She knocked again—this time harder.
Still no response.
Was she rejecting her?
Or exhausted and asleep?
(Perhaps learning that the one she trusted was a demon… was simply too much.)
Her interpretation was wildly off the mark,
but Momon sighed softly.
Tsuare had neither felt anger nor disappointment at her.
Now what? she wondered, crossing her arms.
She could simply break down the door—but—
"…Hm?"
She noticed something.
Even from outside the room, she could tell—
Something was wrong inside.
"Tsuare…"
Before she knew it, she had kicked the door open.
——The room was a wreck.
And of course it was.
In this raging storm, the window had been thrown wide open.
Rain had poured in, drenching everything.
The violent wind had toppled furniture and decorations alike.
"Tsuare—"
No matter where she looked—
Tsuare was nowhere.
A chill raced up Momon's spine.
How long had she been gone?
Why hadn't she noticed sooner?
It was too late for regret.
She clenched her fists.
Her gaze fixed on the window—
the very window Tsuare must have leapt through.
It creaked under the violent wind and rain, as though screaming.