What is happening to me?



　Suddenly unable to move, Zahra was confused, but quickly tried to understand the situation.



(Space immobilization ...... is a very advanced ward. I don't think I can get out now.)



　He exhaled and relaxed his shoulders.

　His gaze drifted to Shiva, the black warrior.

　He is frozen in a strange pose, twisting his body and pointing his finger at Zahra.



(This man ...... is not empty inside.)



　Just a puppet. It has no magic power that comes from within.

　Then, the real Shiva must be hiding and controlling it somewhere.

　Or...



　This time he does not turn his eyes, but only his mind drifts to the seat opposite him.



（Hurt Semphis. You don't think this is ......?)



　He seemed to be looking at us blankly, and did not seem to be casting a particularly powerful spell.



（I knew it. Well, it is too early to conclude.)



　In any case, we are sure that Shiva is nearby.

　We should stand around thinking that any bad move will be immediately followed by a second attack.



　Zahra turned her thoughts fast and chose the right course of action.



"What's a witch ............?"



　You're playing fast and loose.



"What?"



　The empty doll screamed in surprise. It froze in a strange pose, and then moved with a stride.

　Ahead of her is Tiareetta, who is also frozen and unable to move.



　The doll of Shiva talks to her.

　Tiarerietta, who seems to be dumbfounded, responds to what is going on, but I don't hear her voice.



　She turns around and gives a sharp finger to the Shiva doll.



"Don't be so smiling!



(This is going to be a long story, isn't it?)



　I'm so disappointed to think about it.



"I've already seen through that."



　On what basis?　I'd like to ask him, but I'm sure he'd dodge the question.



You smell just like Bal Agoth, or Mercumenes, or any other fake demon who can turn into a giant werewolf!



　But Shiva explained as if he were talking. It is not a proof, though.



(Anyway, <> or ....... (Anyway, if that's what you think, I guess there's room for negotiation.)



　She is possessed by a higher being of the demon <.

　It's hard to say that she is a demigod herself, but it would be very troublesome if she were known to be one.



"It seems you can't hide it. Yes, I can. Two months ago I was an apostle of the demon Luciphira.



"I knew it!　Ha-ha-ha-ha, I was just trying to trick you, but you confessed. You fool."



　I'm out of tune.

　The way he jumped with his strange steps and his multiple overlapping voices increased my discomfort.



（No, you are trying to confuse us with your strange behavior and take the lead.)



　Zahra, while being impressed by Shiva's discretion even after being restrained, reminded herself not to be carried away by the pace of the other party.



"Yes, Bal Agoth and Mercumenes are my brothers, but I am not as loyal to Luciphila as they are to me.



"Hmph, no use trying to catch me off guard. That's what all demons say.



No, they wouldn't say that, would they?



"Hmm?　Yeah, well, yeah. I didn't say that!"



　Is it still an attempt to confuse us that he changes his pose as he speaks?



"Anyway, that's why I'll give you the information if you want it. However, the information on demons is limited due to the restrictions.



　We have no choice but to provide a certain amount of information. If it cannot be verified, there is no problem with falsehoods.



"It's going to take time for people to trust you. I'm not asking you to release me from these restraints right now, but I'm also a nobleman's daughter..."



　There was a dull thud behind me.

　When I turned around, I saw that Hurt, who had been distracted by Shiva's doll, had collapsed. Blood was dripping from one of his noses.



"What?　Hey, I'm telling you, it wasn't me.　I didn't do anything--gah!



　My back is burning. And it feels uncomfortable, as if multiple hands are probing the insides of my body.



What are you doing?



　The Shiva doll was pointing one hand at me, as if to show off.



　Oh, no.




　It's very bad that I don't know what's going on or what they are doing to me.



（I have to run away. This vessel...)



　No.



　Zahra - the consciousness of Luciphira, the demon goddess who had melted into her, immediately decides to abandon the "vessel",



"A......ya, no, no, no. It wasn't me, it was just some weird guy who was inside of me. ......"



　Just Zahrah Yessel was left.



"Yeah, looks like it."



　A man in all black comes up to me.

　Zahra remembers the time when the demons were fused together, and of course, the exchange that took place here and now.

　All she could do was to grit her teeth in fear.



"I have a question for you, but I would also like to have a private conversation with you here. So, go back to sleep."



　A black hand covered Zahra's forehead,



"ah......"



　Immediately after receiving a jolt of electricity, she suddenly lost consciousness.





　　　　　★



　Oh, I'm so tired. My head is pounding.

　It's not easy to watch their "tubes", but I've been whispering with Professor Tia, while moving the black warriors of the Hariboteh, and watching their reactions.



　I'm exhausted.

　I turned off the black warriors and stood up.



"You're a great actor, aren't you? At least he didn't know you were controlling the puppets.



"Is that so?　Well, I don't really care either way."



　Zahra senior is asleep in a standing position. When I focus my attention on his back, I see that there are 22 tubes like pipes, some connected to the ground and some not.

　Yeah, this guy is back to his element.



"I see. It looks like you were right, something possessed her. Perhaps a demon god?"



　I thought they were demons like Bal Agos and the others, but Professor Tia seemed to have judged them to be < from the way Zahra-senpai talked to her.



"But are you sure you should have let him go?　It's unclear if we can get any useful information from her now, you know?"



"If they can escape at any time, they'll just lie about it. It seems that he still remembers the time when he was possessed, so this is better.



"Well, yes. But you're not doing this out of pity for her, are you?"



　Nothing like that.

　But I've done him a favor by getting rid of his possessions.

　I am sure that the collection of information will progress.



　In fact, we made progress.

　Zahra became quiet as a borrowed cat and talked to me about various things.



　Among them, the most fruitful one was--....



"Really, the queen has a demon god?"



　The interview was conducted by Professor Tia. The Haribo Black Warrior is with him. (I was hiding.)



　And what a surprise. Gieselotte is possessed by something like the main body of Luciphila, the demon god.



　Could this be the final showdown between mother and son?



　Anyway, I will examine the information and decide what to do, Maru.



　By the way.



　I wonder what that demon or demon-god is doing here?