The information the Board had on Sorciera was surprisingly limited.

Other than what Eina had told them about the original role of the Starreader, they possessed no additional knowledge.

At best, they knew she was a young girl and possessed an ability related to interference.

Further, it wasn’t even clear whether this power was Sorciera’s own or a function of the Starreader’s Staff—the Board had no way of confirming either.

This lack of clarity was due to two S-Ranks who knew Sorciera’s true identity choosing not to disclose the information for personal reasons.

As such, to Ryuuko, Sorciera was like some distant-world catastrophe.

She had no intention of getting involved, much less fighting.

Ryuuko was the type to thoroughly research her opponent, select a compatible dragon, and prepare meticulously before battle.

But how could she research someone whose identity was a complete unknown?

(Th-this is the worst… Everything’s snowballing into disaster… I should’ve contacted Yukihira-san from the start. This wasn’t the time to be complaining about her shady smile…! And I should’ve asked Toa-chan to bring Mizuhi-chan toooo!)

Ryuuko understood—

The situation was truly the worst.

A field where she couldn’t unleash Baltius, time was stopped so no one could come help.

And then, Sorciera had barged in with unknown intentions.

Each issue alone was massive, but now they had all come crashing down together.

“I’d prefer not to fight you. However—”

Unlike Ryuuko, who wore a fake strong-character smile, the Scholar had already moved into action.

Ice crawled across the ground toward Sorciera.

This was likely just a test shot.

“You’re an obstacle that must be eliminated! Bow before the authority of an S-Rank!”

“…Sigh, how clumsy.”

Sorceria didn’t even glance at the Scholar as she took a sip of tea.

Her elegant gestures didn’t betray the slightest sense of impending death.

In truth, Sorciera did nothing at all.

A barrier appeared in front of her and blocked the ice.

Without even stirring a breeze, Sorciera received the attack and continued enjoying her tea as if nothing had happened.

And then, the two noticed.

“…A starry sky?”

“Wait, when did it turn to night!?”

They had been too distracted by Sorciera to notice— the sky was no longer blue, nor covered in snow-filled clouds.

What ruled above now were countless stars.

And the queen who reigned over them was—

“Fufu, what’s got you so shocked?”

It was Sorciera, the Starreader.

“This is… interference? Did she really take control of Chroma’s core!? This little girl did all that!?”

(She took control of the dungeon core that builds Chroma’s academic zone!? There’s no way we can win against someone like this!)

Ryuuko understood just how absurd that was.

But knowing didn’t help her do anything about it.

“You’ve been loud this whole time. Could you not interrupt my teatime?”

“D-don’t mock me!!”

The Scholar snapped her fingers.

In that instant, a blizzard swirled around Sorciera, stabbing her with numerous icy swords.

Each blade held the power of absolute stoppage—an attack that could freeze phenomena themselves.

It was the Scholar’s signature move, one Rei also frequently used.

“Ah!”

“Hahahaha! You underestimated me, Sorciera! Your arrogance will be your downfall!”

Sorceria’s form vanished instantly.

Once caught like this, there should be no escape.

Or so it seemed.

“—Let me ask you one thing.”

A clear voice echoed from within the blizzard.

Sorceria spoke lightly, as if making casual conversation, showing no reaction to the Scholar’s attack.

“Are you an enemy? Or a good neighbor?”

The force of absolute stoppage that had enveloped Sorciera vanished without warning.

Standing there was Sorciera, completely unchanged from before.

The only difference, perhaps, was that one small slice of tart had disappeared.

(She didn’t even flinch after being attacked…!)

Ryuuko no longer had any will to fight.

She wasn’t a battle maniac who would still fight after seeing something like that.

“N-no way… There’s a gap in power. That kind of nonsense can’t be allowed!”

“Answer me.”

“~tsu”

A simple question.

Sorceria posed it with a teacup in hand.

“Are you an enemy, or a good neighbor?”

“How foolish, such questions! The answer is obvious—I’m your enemy!”

“I see.”

Only then did Sorciera look at the Scholar.

Within her blue eyes, geometric patterns floated.

(A Mystic Eye!? No one told me about that!)

“A Mystic Eye!? You spoiled little—!”

The Scholar took a stance to unleash another ability.

And then disappeared.

Silence fell over the area.

“…Huh? Wh-what?”

Ryuuko looked around in confusion.

Time remained stopped.

Under the star-filled sky, only the Scholar had vanished.

“W-why… Ah!”

What Ryuuko found was a teleportation magic circle etched into the ground.

That must have been how the Scholar was transported elsewhere.

“Now then, what about you?”

“…tsu” (Translator note: I think she’s just sipping tea)

Sorceria still didn’t bother to look in Ryuuko’s direction as she sat calmly in her chair.

(Could I hit her with a sneak attack now…? No no, impossible. Even using Baltius at full power, we’d probably only manage a draw.)

Even before the battle began, the pecking order had already been settled.

Baltius remained on guard, but still didn’t attack Sorciera.

By instinct, it understood that she was stronger.

“Answer. Enemy, or good neighbor?”

“I…”

Ryuuko opened her mouth—then hesitated.

In her vision were Rei and Toa, holding her in their arms.

“We’re your good neighbors. So, if possible… could you, um, let us go… a-ahaha.”

“…Let you go?”

“Ah! I don’t mean for free! I’m an S-Rank, I’ve got money! I’ve also got great tea! Comes in convenient packs, but still tastes amazing! And snacks too, of course!”

Ryuuko had fully entered the begging-for-mercy phase.

“Please! Everyone besides that old lady Scholar got dragged into this! Just let us go!”

She had no pride as an S-Rank.

That was precisely why she was trying to do what she could.

Seeing this, Sorciera smiled.

“…Fufu, lift your head.”

“Y-yes.”

Their eyes met.

Sorciera’s coldly beautiful smile drew a forced grin from Ryuuko.

(I-if she’s smiling, that’s a good sign, right…? She forgave me, right…?)

She reassured herself.

Then—a teleportation magic circle formed beneath her feet.

“E-eeeh!? Why!?”

“Fufu, it’s such a stage, isn’t it? The more spectators, the better.”

“Stage!? I don’t get it! At least let the others—”

Ryuuko vanished.

Once again, silence dominated the area.

“Now then.”

Finishing her tea, Sorciera created a new teleportation circle.

Not just one or two.

Circles formed beneath the feet of everyone wearing a bracelet.

It extended beyond the tourism zone—to all of Chroma.

“I suppose I should be going too.”

With that, Sorciera vanished, following the crowd.

In that instant—though unrecorded—over 500,000 people disappeared simultaneously from Chroma Music Academy.

Due to the frozen world, this was never known to the public.

The city, now devoid of people, fell into a silence like death.

Amidst that, a single shadow landed.

“That was close—nearly got teleported too.”

A girl in a black cloak spoke casually.

Approaching the chair and table Sorciera had used, she popped a tea snack into her mouth.

“…Alright, guess I’ll head over too.”

With that, she activated a similar teleportation circle and vanished.

■

What awaited Ryuuko after teleportation wasn’t death or horror.

Anyone from Chroma Music Academy would recognize it.

“…Huh, a theater?”

Perhaps the show was about to begin.

The surroundings were dark.

But it was immediately clear just how enormous the venue was.

The massive, bowl-shaped theater was unlike anything else at Chroma.

Every seat was filled, and all eyes were on the stage.

The audience sat like motionless dolls.

“W-where am I? Where’s Baltius?”

Seated in a plush chair, Ryuuko glanced around nervously.

“Silence.”

“Eek.”

Sorceria, seated beside her, made Ryuuko squeak in surprise.

Sorceria stared calmly at the lowered curtain, as if waiting for the show to start.

“Look beneath you. Baltius is there.”

“Eh? Oh, you’re right.”

There, slithering around, was Baltius—returned to its silver ooze form.

(…Wait, does that mean she can interfere with Baltius?)

Ryuuko cautiously glanced again at Sorciera.

That beautiful profile now filled her with nothing but fear.

“…It’s rude to stare so intently at someone’s face.”

“A-ah, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I forgive you. I’m in a good mood right now.”

A faint smile played at Sorciera’s lips.

Apparently, she truly was in high spirits.

“Look, it’s starting.”

The chime rang, and the curtain rose.

All the lights focused on a single person standing on stage.

“…Huh?”

Seeing who it was, Ryuuko’s voice trembled with confusion.

“—The Scholar?”

There stood the very villain she had been fighting to the death just moments ago.