The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
Using the dolls overflowing from the stakes, we had them scout the surroundings.
In the meantime, Tina and I took turns removing the stakes.
By repeating this cycle, we managed to remove twenty stakes in just three hours.
It was a pretty fast pace.
At this rate, we should be able to remove all the stakes without any problem.
"…However."
There’s one thing that’s been bothering me.
I was the one who tested it, but…
why was I able to tame the dolls?
From what I sensed when I interacted with them, the dolls felt like monsters… or perhaps closer to demons.
Why was I able to tame such beings?
Is it because my power has increased?
Or… is there some other reason?
Come to think of it, during the battle with Lin…
I managed to stop her movements in the end, but at that time, she had completely transformed into a demon.
To have placed such an opponent under my control, even temporarily—
does that mean demons aren’t so different from other living beings?
"…Rain-sama?"
"Eh?"
Before I realized it, Tina was right in front of me.
And really close.
Startled, I stepped back.
"W-What’s up?"
"That’s my line. You looked kind of out of it—are you tired? Want me to handle the next stake removal?"
"No, I’m okay. It’s not that—I was just lost in thought."
"Is that so? Hm…"
Tina stared at me intently.
"Doesn’t seem like you’re lying."
"You suspected me…?"
"Well, Rain-sama, you always push yourself too hard. Watching you makes me nervous, you know?"
"That’s, well… I’m sorry."
When we went to the Northern Continent and I got burned by Elfin, Kanade and the others gave me a massive scolding once they found out.
I’d never seen them that angry before.
Which means… I’d made them really worry.
I reflected on it and promised I wouldn’t do anything reckless again.
"I’m okay. I really haven’t been overdoing it."
"Yeah, I can tell. You still look fine—so let’s keep it up!"
"Yeah!"
With a firm nod, I removed the twenty-second stake.
If we go by the minimum required number, eight more to go.
If it’s the maximum, eighteen.
About eight hours remain.
We’ll make it in time.
"Alright, onto the next…"
I turned to look at everyone… and then tilted my head.
There were two Ninas.
"Nina?"
"Fweh?"
Both Ninas tilted their heads at the same time.
Then they looked at each other—
and suddenly jolted, shivering all over.
"E-Eh…?"
Both Ninas looked confused and scared, realizing they had somehow multiplied.
And it wasn’t just Nina who was bewildered by the impossible sight—
we were too.
Why are there suddenly two Ninas?
Could it be because this is the world of the heart, so strange phenomena like this can happen…?
No, that’s ridiculous.
If anything goes here, then it’s basically like a dream world.
If that’s the case, then this other Nina is…
"An enemy!?"
She looks exactly the same, but our bond isn’t so weak that we wouldn’t notice a fake.
I aimed Narukami’s wire at the fake Nina… wait, it’s still under repair!?
“Material…!”
I hurriedly tried to generate rocks to trap the fake one, but she moved before I could.
“Ahahaha, too bad!”
“Hyaa!?”
The fake Nina grabbed the real Nina and leapt high into the air.
Landing on top of the rocks, she looked down at us with a wicked smile that was completely un-Nina-like.
“Nina!”
“Let go of Nina, you Nina! Ugh, this is way too confusing!”
“Since it’s so confusing, maybe I should show my true form?”
With a snap of her fingers, the fake Nina began to transform.
I’d only seen that face once—but I’d never forget it.
“Mona!”
“Yes, that’s right! Correct answer!”
The demon spy who once disguised herself as Chocolat—Mona—smiled sweetly.
But there wasn’t a trace of friendliness in her expression—only malice and hostility.
“Well well, long time no see? Have you all been well?”
“Thanks to you, yes. And you, Mona, look as lively as ever.”
“I could say ‘thanks to you’ too, I suppose? But whatever. I’m doing great—at least enough to come mess with you guys like this!”
Even as I glared sharply at her, Mona kept her carefree attitude.
She was used to hostility and killing intent.
Her body language clearly said: “You think that’s enough to shake me?”
“You called her Nokia, right? That divine curse being broken would be a bit of a problem for us. So I came to interfere—teehee.”
“Don’t mock us.”
“But how were you able to track our movements? We eliminated all spies.”
There was no guarantee Mona was the only spy.
After we completed the Comet Blade, we thoroughly investigated and purged all infiltrators.
It’s possible a new one was sent…
but even so, the speed at which information was leaked felt too fast.
“Hmm? That’s easy. I’m the one who cast the curse, after all.”
“What!?”
“Since it’s a curse I placed myself, of course I’d notice if someone started messing with it. That’s all.”
“Then this will be quick!”
Iris and I rushed forward.
Tina provided support from the rear.
“Nina!”
First, we had to rescue Nina.
I reached out my hand…
Nina reached back toward me…
“Nope! Hands off, sweetie~♪”
With a mocking voice, Mona and Nina vanished.
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