"I have a feeling you've been hiding a lot from me, Bronie. So, back then, why on earth did you agree to let me be your guardian...?"
Raven chugged a bottle of vodka to warm her thawing body. For the moment, she ignored the Herrscher and the mysterious Valkyrie beside her, focusing her attention entirely on her adopted daughter, Bronie. She had a sinking feeling that this "motherly love, filial daughter" act was about to backfire spectacularly.
"About that... In Bronie's own world, Bronie's adoptive mother is also you, Cioara," Miss Bronie replied, giving Cioara an answer she never expected.
"So I was targeted...? You little brat, you've been fleecing me like a sheep this whole time...!"
Raven, finally catching on, realized something was terribly wrong.
"Rip off strangers by half, but go all-in on acquaintances, right?~" Bronie gave Cioara a thumbs-up, as if to say, It's all good, daijoubu.
"So you're ripping off your friends now, are you?!"
-
"So, the compensation money is enough for your retirement. Can you stop glaring at me like that, Miss Island-Bombing Raven?"
Kiana sat on the bar stool, her expression pained as she watched Miss Cioara glare at her as if she'd just blown up her island.
"What does getting compensation have to do with the immense mental trauma you've caused me?"
Cioara continued to glare furiously at Kiana, though at least it hadn't escalated to physical violence. Congratulations, congratulations.
"Huh? Sirin was the one who demolished buildings and blew up the island! What does that have to do with me, Kiana?!"
"Go tell that to the purple-haired, foul-mouthed monster who recently got a new body and hit menopause early!"
"Second Herrscher, you still dare to argue? Believe it or not, I can call in a truckload of World Serpent agents right now to deal with you!"
"Funny you should say that. All I have to do is show my face in public, and I'll attract the elite forces of both the Eastern and Western branches of Schicksal!"
"And you're proud of that?!"
Raven's expression screamed, For fuck's sake, how can you be so shameless?
"Anyone can call for backup," Kiana retorted. "As long as you can get them here, who cares how you do it?"
"Besides, I already told you—go find the Second Herrscher, Sirin!" Kiana roared back.
"You are Sirin!!!" Cioara yelled back even louder.
Caught in the middle of their childish squabble, Imhotep remained expressionless, continuing to sip the Long Island Iced Tea Bronie had mixed earlier, completely ignoring the two of them.
"Hmph, aluminum girl—Bronya, shall we try a Blue Hawaiian next?"
"Okay."
Bronie nodded, likewise ignoring the verbal sparring match.
-
"Bullshit! What does finding the Second Herrscher, Sirin, have to do with me?!"
"Then why don't you fucking tell me where the Second Herrscher, Sirin, is?!"
"Uh... Are you sure you really want to find her?!"
This time, it was Kiana's turn to be stunned. The Knight's face was etched with an expression that screamed, Are you an idiot or something?
"What's with that look? Tell me! Where is the Second Herrscher, Sirin? I'm going to fight her to the death!"
Having entered a berserk state, Raven wasn't about to let this chance for revenge slip away. She pressed Kiana relentlessly.
"Arc City West Refugee District, Underground Street 114, Building 5—oh, and one more thing: make sure you don't beat up the wrong person!" Kiana added, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Stop wasting time! Just come with me. Let's go! Time to fight!"
Raven shot to her feet and started dragging the Knight Miss toward the exit.
"You're the one avenging your island villa! Why are you dragging me into this?!"
Realizing something was wrong, Kiana desperately clung to the bar counter.
"What if you're lying and I get there only to find no one to fight? That'd be a total waste! If I bring you along, at least I can beat you up."
"Besides, weren't you worried I'd get the wrong person? Let's go!"
Raven pulled harder. Her physique and strength, enhanced by World Serpent's human augmentation, were in some ways no less formidable than the Kaslana bloodline. The bar counter, gripped tightly by the Knight Princess, now emitted a physically literal scream of protest.
"Like hell I'm going to fight with you! I bet you can't beat her alone and just want someone to cover your escape!"
"Ahem, ahem... Let's not state the obvious, shall we?"
"Sigh... Kiana, just go with her. Bronie and I will prepare some food here for when you get back."
Finally fed up with the chaotic bickering of the two black-and-white simpletons beside her, Imhotep acted without waiting for a reply. She lifted her leg and kicked both the White Blazing Cat and the Black Dodo squarely in the rear, sending them tumbling out of the bar.
"Thanks! And you, Valkyrie! ...If a hooded cyborg guy comes looking for me later, just tell him I've quit World Serpent and gone to fight the Second Herrscher to the death!"
"One more thing! Tell Bronie those kids are living in the old district of Nagazora City now. If I don't make it back, please ask her to take care of them."
Kicked out of the bar, Raven wasn't angry. Instead, she waved at Imhotep, who stood at the entrance watching her drag Kiana away. Having secured her compensation and with a direct confrontation against a Herrscher imminent, the Island-Blasting Raven had reached the pinnacle of her life.
"...Don't talk like you're marching off to a heroic sacrifice."
Imhotep merely glanced expressionlessly at the retreating black-and-white simpletons.
"I hope Kevin's blood pressure holds steady when he finally realizes what kind of demons his subordinates truly are... Hmm, do MANTIS even have things like blood pressure?"
"Whatever. At least Gray Serpent actually gets things done."
Of course, as Imhotep closed the door again, she had no idea what kind of Demon's Lair Kiana's temporary residence had become. Nor did the departing duo know what sort of hell they were about to step into...
-
Inside Kiana's temporary residence in the slums—
"...Bella, save me! The wall just stuck out a tongue and licked my face! AAAAAHHH!!!"
"My Queen, save me! The floor just swallowed my broom and mop whole!"
"Little Sirin, where are you?! Stop this, Little Sirin! It's all Lovecraft out here!"
The master and servant huddled behind the Kevin Doll. The white-haired doll was also breaking out in a cold sweat, staring at the chaotic, demon-infested room and the mini Shamash in its hand. Most importantly, the room echoed with Little Sirin's eerie, cheerful laughter, making the entire scene utterly terrifying.
Hmm, not quite hell, but definitely a Demon's Lair.