Luka-chan knocked me out and then headed alone toward the main school’s basement.

Right now, I’m following behind, engaging in a mysterious stalking mission.

Normally, stalking a beautiful girl would be totally out of line, but at this moment, I am a mysterious beautiful girl.

Watching another beautiful girl from the shadows? No problem at all.

“…So, she really is going there.”

Occasionally muttering something vague like this increases the mysterious aura—Good.

Being the intelligent and mysterious beautiful girl that I am, I can see it clearly—Luka-chan is heading toward Kanon-chan.

Considering what she said to me, she must be planning to stop Kanon-chan alone.

Do all the beautiful girls I know have such unwavering resolve?

Is it just my imagination?

Off the top of my head, they either inject themselves with ampules or wrap themselves in flames to push beyond their limits.

Toa-chan, you’re the only one who brings peace.

Stay in the cozy four-panel comic world forever. Or a food manga, maybe.

『Perhaps beautiful girls simply have that tendency? They find it easier to commit to things.』

Hmm, maybe. I don’t know.

Completely understanding beautiful girls is impossible.

『That much is true. But aren’t you considered a leading researcher in that field?』

Heh. No way, I’m still a novice.

I’m just your average admirer of beautiful girls, nothing more.

『Average…? Wait, you? Average…?』

Got a problem with that?

『Sister, are you talking to Narou Kei again? Sync with me as well. Being left out makes me sad. It feels like being the only one with voice chat off in a multiplayer game.』

『We’ll have our time to talk later, okay?』

『I demand a gaming headset. One that glows in 16,777,216 colors.』

So cute! ^_^

I’ll buy you a mic later using the sales from Sorciera ASMR ~ Be Healed by the Starreader’s Voice ~.

『Hey, don’t pamper my sister. And don’t just decide on the title! We need to discuss this properly.』

Ignoring the Starreader’s Staff, I gently caress my jade-colored scythe.

“Shieru, I’ll buy you something nice later, so think about what you want.”

『As expected of Narou Kei. Unlike my sister…!』

『Hey, real-world conversations are cheating!』

We chat away, having fun.

Despite the lighthearted mood, I’m still tailing Luka-chan, having snuck into the ceiling of a certain room.

A beautiful girl ninja! A Japanese kunoichi!

Yes!

What I see resembles the professor’s white-walled lab.

It’s a hidden research facility—Kanon-chan’s secret lab, concealed from everyone.

This place was the one thing I could never pinpoint.

Whether she only shared its location with people she completely trusted or the data simply didn’t exist, I had no clue.

It was thanks to Nana-chan finding a strange blank space in the records that we were able to narrow down the area. But even then, the exact location remained unknown.

I was struggling with that, but thanks to Luka-chan, I finally made it.

Beautiful girls truly guide me like the brightest star!

But Luka-chan is planning to face Kanon-chan alone.

…Can she win?

Can that dolphin really win?

More importantly, how does that thing even work?

I saw it often during intel gathering, but why do the people at Zilnius Academy use machines like that so casually?

In the original story, only Zilnius Academy consistently had that kind of tech. Was it standard equipment for students here?

Since only the student council appeared in the story, I assumed it was special gear just for them.

Hey, hey, I want one too.

『Hmm, it wouldn’t be bad for Sorciera to have a familiar. I’d suggest a wolf—what do you think?』

Nice! That’d be so cool!

Picture this—inside a Western-style mansion, Sorciera sits in a chair, reading an old book, while a silver-furred wolf curls up beside her.

Now that’s stylish.

Such a mysterious beautiful girl vibe!

『It would also enhance her air of solitude—though it probably wouldn’t be useful. Sorciera is already all-powerful, after all. Besides, we already have Gemini Form.』

That’s a separate category.

Haha! If I can outdo it with mysterious beautiful girl energy, this will be exciting!

『Then why not test it out on Kūna Kanon first? She’s a worthy opponent. Plus, it would help Luka.』

No, I need to save it for Nameless.

That guy could be watching from anywhere. I need to keep it a surprise.

Also, I’m not planning to defeat Kanon-chan.

『Huh? But she doesn’t fit your definition of a beautiful girl, does she? What are you saying?』

Sorry, Starreader’s Staff. Seems I misled you.

To be precise—I won’t personally take her down.

If she was once a beautiful girl, then I must show the utmost respect.

It should be another beautiful girl who lays her to rest.

『Wait, you actually think Luka can win?』

Hmm, maybe.

『You’re betting on that slim chance?』

Yeah.

If I immediately jump in and interfere, that would mean denying Luka-chan’s resolve.

Then Sorciera would end up solving everything.

But Sorciera isn’t some convenient god, and you know that.

She is a lone star shining in the night sky.

She shouldn’t bend her radiance to suit human whims.

She should wait until the last moment, holding out, enduring—only stepping in when all else fails.

That is Sorciera.

『But… you’re already on standby, right?』

Of course!

Hell yeah!

Luka-chan, you’ve got backup right behind you, so fight without worry!

『Haa… such a troublesome mindset. But that’s what makes Sorciera, I suppose.』

If I have to make an entrance, I’ll do it in style.

I want Nana-chan to electrify the air, making me crash down like a bolt of lightning!

I want it to scream Mode Change!

Starreader’s Staff, relay that to Nana-chan.

『Understood… Shieru, if we intervene in the upcoming battle, use your ability immediately. Ideally, have it surround Sorciera.』

『Are you referring to countering Divided Death Must Die? In that case, sniping the core would be quickest. No human could even react to it.』

…Scary.

Starreader’s Staff, please convince her otherwise.

If this keeps up, Sorciera won’t be a mysterious beautiful girl but a ruthless assassin.

A sudden change in character would really throw me off.

『Our mission is to end this chaos, not necessarily to kill Kūna Kanon. If there are people who would grieve over it, we should avoid that outcome. After all, our true purpose as Demonsgear is to bring salvation.』

『…That is true. Understood. I will make preparations. Give the signal when it’s time.』

She’s so reasonable…

Such a good kid! ^_^

I’ll buy her a game later!

『Stop spoiling her… Hey, are you even listening?』

Oh, looks like Luka-chan’s fight is about to begin.

Shall we take a peek?

『The sheer audacity of your ignoring me is astounding.』