"...The Honkai will never be slaves?"
Seemingly amused by the little doll's words, Imhotep flashed a playful smile.
"Well, do you know the other saying?"
"What saying?"
Doll Sirin eyed the malicious-looking Imhotep warily.
"The Honkai are all useless trash—!"
"You—!!"
"Excuse me, are you still open?"
Just as Imhotep was having fun teasing the little doll, a woman completely wrapped in a black robe gently pushed open the door and addressed the group inside the bar. The arrival of an outsider instantly wiped the playful expressions from their faces. Kiana and Imhotep exchanged a glance.
Kiana snatched a cocktail lemon from the bar and handed it to Imhotep. Without hesitation, Imhotep stuffed the lemon into Doll Sirin's mouth to gag her, then pulled open a drawer under the bar and shoved the little doll inside.
"Well, well," Imhotep said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "At this hour, after a city-wide disaster, we still have a carefree customer looking for a drink?"
Imhotep and Kiana were filling in for Bronie, who had yet to return. The newcomer, the target of Imhotep's sharp tongue, seemed momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered.
"My dear lady, isn't it a bit rude to call a customer 'carefree'?" she replied smoothly. "Besides, after something like this, isn't it perfectly normal to want a drink to calm one's nerves?"
"After all, alcohol is the perfect thing to numb the senses and escape reality—"
"Someone looking to get drunk wouldn't show up dressed head-to-toe in a thick, black robe, sneaking into a bar after a temporary city-wide curfew has been imposed," Imhotep retorted. "This is a legitimate establishment... We don't sell intel, post bounties, or take on shady jobs. Comrade, please respect the local laws, or we'll have to call the police."
Having mastered the art of reporting people to the authorities after her encounter with Ms. Island Bomber, Imhotep seemed to have found a new victim.
"Ahem... Captain, I told you this whole mysterious act wouldn't work," Bronie grumbled, popping out from behind the black-robed figure under Kiana and Imhotep's curious gazes. "And you're dressed so strangely, you look like a villain right out of a story."
"Oh? So she's an acquaintance of Bronie's?" Imhotep asked, intrigued.
"Um... more accurately, I'm a crew member on the Captain's ship?" Bronie said uncertainly, scratching her head.
"So... why is this 'Lord Captain' wrapped up in black like that? Planning to break into someone's house tonight? If so, I'd recommend Heliopolis Life Sciences in Arc City~"
Leaning on the bar with her chin in her hands, Imhotep watched the mysterious "Miss Captain" with keen interest.
"...Why does every single one of you want to rip this robe off me?" the woman grumbled in annoyance.
"Because the more you try to hide something, the more you pique people's curiosity, Miss," Imhotep replied smoothly. "It's like panties under a short skirt... Going completely bare versus offering tantalizing glimpses—the latter always sparks more imagination."
"...Cough, cough, cough!"
Nearly choked by the veteran lao si ji's bluntness, Her Excellency the Captain coughed violently.
"Fine! If you want a look, I'll give you an eyeful!"
Throwing caution to the wind, Miss Captain flung off her black cloak, revealing her true form
"AHHH! Otto! ATTACK!!!"
It wasn't Imhotep who reacted first, but Miss Kiana. The sight of the blonde, green-eyed woman—whose face bore an uncanny resemblance to him—triggered her PTSD on the spot. Snatching a stool from behind her, she vaulted over the bar, ready to give the newcomer a physically brutal "welcome."
THWACK! The bench slammed into a beautiful scythe adorned with purple roses.
"My, my... Young lady, attacking a customer inside the shop is quite rude, you know."
"Rita?"
A beautiful woman in a deep purple evening gown with ash-blonde hair had blocked the bench Kiana swung instinctively. The sight made Miss Captain break out in a cold sweat.
"You're... Irene?" Imhotep, who had remained behind the bar, seemed to recognize the newcomer.
"It's been a while... Little Snow. Oh, it seems you go by a different name now, don't you?"
"Imhotep is fine... What about those three little fools? After all this time... they must have caused you a lot of trouble..." Imhotep glanced at the woman, her thoughts drifting to the three iron-headed idiots who had fought the Witch's Night.
"Loki and the others? They've actually been quite helpful on my journey..."
"Wait! Irene, you know this girl?!"
Miss Captain's eyes widened as she glared at her companion, her expression screaming, Miss Witch, you've tricked me again!
"Ara... Sometimes I just want to see Lord Captain make a fool of herself~"
Miss Witch delivered a classic villainess-style remark.
"Wait, why is your Otto a woman???"
Having regained her senses, Kiana stared wide-eyed at the blonde, blue-eyed woman sitting on the high stool, who looked utterly pissed off...
"Ahem... Everyone, please take a seat... How long are you planning to stand in the doorway...?"
-
"So... you mistook me for a female version of Kevin...? Hmm, that's actually an interesting idea... It's given me quite a bit of inspiration."
"So... Miss Imhotep, that ruby on the small, cross-shaped scepter at your waist... is it a Soul Gem?"
"...A Soul Gem? What's that?"
Imhotep, not understanding, looked strangely at Miss Captain.
"You know, the kind of thing magical girls have..."
"Ah... This isn't a magical girl worldline, thank you very much."
"The Witch's Night you saw earlier, which was defeated by the Might of An-Utu, was just a look-alike..."
"Oh, I see..."
Miss Captain lowered her head, looking disappointed.
"Why do you seem so let down...?"
Imhotep's mouth twitched as she watched the Captain practically radiating disappointment.
"I thought a world with magical girls would be a beautiful place filled with love and peace..."
"Even if this were a magical girl worldline, it would be the Madoka Magica kind, written by Gen Urobuchi. Were you expecting a Nanoha worldline or something???"
"Captain, are you even thinking straight???"
Imhotep rolled her eyes at the woman before her.