Apparently, low-quality knockoffs of Sorciera are spreading.

Ugh, unforgivable…!

『But wouldn’t it be fine to take just one? Tweak it to get closer to the real one… I mean, cleanse it… Well, I’ll make good use of it＾＾』

I’ll never hand one over.
Don’t treat her like some kind of Sorciera starter kit.
This is seriously a grave situation.

『Let’s create your very own Sorciera!』
『Just as My Lord says. It’s not my place to say, but if the angels are set up to mass-produce Sorciera, things will go badly. Even if they’re weak as individuals, entities with interference abilities are a huge problem. It’s a crisis for humanity. The world’s loli girls are in danger.』

Angel-kun…!

『But what if mass-produced Lolicieras became reality…?』
『…Huh?』

Hey, don’t give in.
Show some pride as an angel.

『You could create a Loliciera exactly as you wish. Isn’t that very tempting?』
『…But that would be my ego. I want her to grow up freely. That child… she shouldn’t be bound. I want her to become someone who can love even solitude. My Lord, grow up just the way you are.』

『An answer beyond expectations. I’m shocked…!』

Two perverts having a completely unproductive conversation…
What did fictional me even do to make him feel such intense emotion?

Anyway, I’ll wipe out all the fakes!
I can’t let someone who attacked Toa-chan roam free.

『Too dangerous. Time to recall them from all the toy stores nationwide.』

So the Sorciera starter kit is considered a hobby item…?

“The situation has changed. I never imagined it would escalate this far.”
“Since it’s fake Sorciera… Oh, Mizuhi-chan, let’s take a pic together. I’ll post it on social media.”

Now!? Seriously!?

“Yaaay.”
“Y-Yaaay…?”

Mizuhi-senpai, swept up by Ryuuko-chan’s momentum, makes a peace sign.
Then, tilting her head, snap.

Only Ryuuko-chan is acting like this is no big deal, muttering “This’ll go viral… and then the popularity poll…” while fiddling with her phone.
Hey, why are you even here?

“Ryuuko-chan! I’m sure there are still more evil Dark Sorciera troops out there! Don’t let your guard down!”
“Ahahaha, it’s fine. I already took one down in style, didn’t I? I’ve thought since our first meeting that I could totally beat Sorciera.”

“You’re getting cocky!?”

Hikari-chan’s shocked voice prompts Ryuuko-chan to scratch her head, blushing.
No one was complimenting you.

This beautiful girl has been acting like this since we regrouped.

Now that Kogare-sensei has gone off to report to the student council, we’re having friendly chat time to bond more with Ryuuko-chan.
But since she beat a fake Sorciera, she’s acting super smug—and to be blunt, she’s really annoying.

I know I shouldn’t think this about a pretty girl, but…
Don’t get cocky, Ryuuko.

“Besides, you three beat one too, right? I did it solo though☆”
“Actually, it was mostly Hikari solo. Especially breaking the barrier—she nailed that part.”
“Ehehe…”

Hikari-chan gives a bashful smile.
Seeing that, Ryuuko-chan’s mouth falls open in shock.

“No way… you broke the barrier…? Not like me, poisoning from stealth and killing slowly…?”
“Ryuuko, what’s wrong?”

Mizuhi-senpai tilts her head in confusion.
Looks like she didn’t catch the second half of what Ryuuko said.

Sure, defeating Sorciera head-on isn’t the most conventional idea.
Using tricks like Ryuuko did is safer and more reliable.

Though… the real one wouldn’t lose even then!

『Don’t you remember Kūna Kanon? You totally lost to underhanded tactics that time.』

I won in the end, didn’t I!?
That counts as a win for Mysterious-type characters too!

『Complacency is your greatest foe, My Lord. A tiny lapse becomes a major gap. Read the tides of battle well.』

Why are you suddenly saying reasonable things?

“The real Sorciera isn’t that weak. She’s been heavily nerfed. I realized it in battle—her magic output is different.”

“R-Really? W-Well, if you’ve got two S-Ranks, it’s easy, right?”

Your voice is shaking＾＾

“Mizuhi-chan is right! Listen, the real one is way stronger and more amazing! Right, Kei?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah…”

Mizuhi-senpai earnestly explains how dangerous Sorciera is, and for some reason, Hikari-chan’s trying even harder to hype her up.

Meanwhile, Ryuuko-chan is quietly shocked at being the only one who won via sneak attack.

It seems peaceful, but only because everyone here is an unintentional powerhouse. The situation’s actually kind of serious.

『Well, if they’re only that strong, we could probably defeat each one separately. They’re weaker than expected. Anyone who lacks the brilliance of a beautiful girl is useless.』

Now that you mention it, their magic output didn’t seem like much.
But that’s just the appearance.

The real issue is: how many fake Sorcieras are out there?
If we’re talking tens of thousands, just one attack on Central City could cause mass destruction.

Also, the reputational damage to me would be insane.

“B-But maybe… the ones we took down are all there were? We can just have a peaceful tea party and then disba—”
“Aah! Another one showed up!”
…Eh!?

Following Hikari-chan’s finger, I see another fake Sorciera.
There’s tons of them!

“…I see. Kei, Hikari, this is a capture opportunity.”
“Understood.”
“Eh?”
“Okay! We’re going to catch it alive!”
“E-Eh?”

Only Ryuuko-chan is totally out of sync with Fectom Academy’s vibe.
It’s not the first time for you either.

“Capture it alive? Why something so dangerous? It’s not a kitty, you know!???”

『She’s a cute kitty, though＾＾』

That’s a twisted interpretation!

『Cat-eared Loliciera…?』

Even more wrong! What are you talking about!?

“If we bring it back alive, we might learn something.”
“Let’s catch it this time!”
“That’s dangerous! Just kill it, okay!? Stealth attack would be way safer! They’re not human, so no crime!”

“…?”

Mizuhi-senpai tilts her head.

“Why use such roundabout methods against a winnable foe? Didn’t Ryuuko defeat one head-on too? You were the one who said it’d be easy with two S-Ranks. So capturing it alive should be possible.”

Poor Ryuuko-chan—completely crushed.

Alright, time to twist the knife a bit＾＾

“Hey, Ryuuko-chan…”

I approached her with a smile and said,

“You’re scared, huh?”
“W-What!? D-Don’t underestimate me! This is nothing! Compared to the real one, fakes are nothing but child’s play!”

“““Oooh.”””

Ryuuko-chan puffs up her chest.
While we clap, the fake Sorciera deploys a barrage array.

We prepare for interception, but Ryuuko-chan steps forward and holds out her hand to stop us.

“If you’re gonna talk big, show us. You want it captured, right? Dragon Rank Inheritance—Basilisk!”

Behind her, Baltius begins transforming into a massive serpent.

It’s a legendary beast with jade-green scales and crown-like horns.
A monster feared by mankind.

“Baltius, please!”

Responding to Ryuuko’s call, Baltius locks eyes with the fake Sorciera.
In the next moment, the barrage array shuts down, and the fake stops moving.

The fake Sorciera is frozen still—like it turned to stone.
Ryuuko-chan neutralized her without moving an inch.

『Immobile Sorciera… I just got a brilliant idea＾＾』

No, absolutely not.
Whatever you’re thinking—just don’t.

“Q-Quick! Tie her up with some super-strong rope! Or call Rokuhara-san or Tatari-chan! Me and Baltius can’t move like this!”

For a moment—just one moment—Ryuuko-chan looked cool.
But the next moment, she turns back to us in a pitiful voice, nearly crying.

“…By the way, how do we restrain her?”
“Oh, right. What do we do?”
“Should I go grab some rope?”
“Why are we so unprepared!? Is this normal at Fectom Academy!?”

Let me introduce our wacky team!

Mizuh-isenpai—somehow always missing something when Miroku-senpai’s not around!
Hikari-chan—acts without thinking when Clam-chan’s not here!
And me—usually a perfectly-prepared flawless beauty who could restrain anyone with silver chains, but right now, I’m Kei and I can’t move!

We’re the Impromptu Squad!
But things somehow work out! Everyone’s super talented!

『My Lord, isn’t that a bit too arrogant?』

“Could we bind it with flames?”
“Use Light Wings?”
“Then maybe my dagger’s paralysis effect is better…”
“Anything’s fine, just hurry!? Even if it’s a fake, restraining Sorciera is super scary—ah.”

Prompted by Ryuuko-chan’s words, we look—and there’s just a pile of sand where fake Sorciera was.

Capture failed.

“She turned into sand again!”
“I see. Sustained Basilisk magic pressure is enough to kill her. Their durability isn’t that strong.”
“Even without hitting the core, if we breach the barrier and strike the main body, we might be able to take them down…”

Mizuhi-senpai and Ryuuko-chan start having a serious discussion.

Meanwhile, Hikari-chan and I work together to scoop the sand into a bag.

Just then—

“E-Everyone, thank you for waiting!”

Having finished her report, Kogare-sensei comes running back.

Ryuuko-chan proudly tells her,

“You’re late, Kogare-sensei! I already took down another one!”

“Ehh!? Ryuuko-chan, voluntarily!?”

“What do you think of me!?”

Kogare-sensei quickly averts her gaze and doesn’t answer.
When Ryuuko-chan tries to press further, Kogare-sensei raises her voice:

“For now, the investigation is on hold! T-There will now be an emergency meeting called by President Daiya! All S-Ranks must attend!”

Even a layperson could tell—this was a crisis-level meeting.
At the very least, neither Hikari-chan nor I had any role to play in it.

Only those who bear the title of S-Rank can participate in this meeting.

“Ehh, a meeting…? I really hate that stuff…”
“I don’t mind. If I can be of help, I’ll gladly go.”

Even among S-Ranks, their reactions are night and day…