'I apologize for the rush, Lady Shanatrice.

　Mia puts her cup of tea on the table.

It's all right, all right. Even so, I was surprised that Machina's man asked Mia to accompany him.

　Shana is sitting in an armchair in front across the table.
　Is this the place that corresponds to the mansion's guest room?
　The one sitting next to me is Currier-san.
　Shana with a grin on her face flies her vulgar gaze to Mia.

'Is Mia a thing?　Did you go along with Kurohiko as his evening companion?
"Hmm, Master Shanatrice. You're joking too much, as usual, aren't you?

　Mia smiles and passes it off as a smoothie.
　I can feel the familiarity of the through.
　I'm a little relieved.
　Although.

'Don't get carried away just because you're mild-mannered and kind, Shana. I'll keep a good eye out for you when I'm around.

　I've nailed it.

'Hm?　So the point is, I'm the one you want to spend the night with, right?
You didn't tell him, did you?
"Hah, he's such a bore!　Kurohiko is a boring village chief of a boring village!
''I mean, you.......it seems you've brought a lot of reputational damage to the people of Prince Geass's Kingsguard......?
Nooooooo!　You just wait, Blackie.　It was a figure of speech!　You are scared!　I feel a bit nostalgic, it's the usual exchange!
'Huh ... Shana, please keep it down with a few more joking pranks, please.
Kukaka!　Kurohiko can always get away with this level of attention in the end~!　Mmm!　What an open-minded man!　As a token of your gratitude, I'll take your seed!
...hmm.
Hmm?　What's going on?
''Yes, I was wondering if there was some way to punish Shana-san with the Seventh Forbidden Arm of the Forbidden Arm...''
The Seventh Conjunction?　What are you going to do to me with a curse of unknown numbers?

　Shana-san hugs her own body as if she were protecting it.

''Well........for now, as for this rumor spreading, let me substitute the right to have you do one of my requests unconditionally later on--''
It was a quick and easy process for Kurohiko, wasn't it!
The subject of curses just came up.

　As I said it, Shana's movements stopped with a snap.

''Mm?''

　Shana grinned.
　She opened her slender legs and put her cheekbones on.
　A staring up gaze and a scowl.

'Hmm, does that come from the topic?'
''As for me, I was curious about that story first. It's just.........well, can we start with that, Currier-san?

　I came to Ruvel Argan for three main purposes.
　To find a new spellbook.
　And to create an artificial eye.
　And to meet someone called Tasogale.
　And thirdly, Kurier-san's main objective.
　I feel bad about only putting my own business first.
　So I'll have to make some inquiries.

Hm?　I don't mind. And there's no reason for me to rush to see Tasogale.
'Excuse me. So, Shana, let's start with the forbidding.
Yes, I agree.

　Shana-san goes into serious mode.
　............
　She's really someone I'd really like to rely on when she's in this mode.

You know the name of the Prison Tower, don't you?
Yeah.

　To put it crudely, it's the Rubel Argan version of the Holy Ruins.
　That's how I perceive it.
　I've heard that there are many valuable minerals available in the Warfare Tower.
　This reminds me of something.

　When Beshugam used a surgical imprint called 《Svegruin》, which hardens body parts, he said this.

　It was said that only on rare occasions would a precious mineral called adimantium be produced from the Prison Tower.

　However, only the crystals produced in the Holy Ruins can't be obtained in the Jailhouse Tower.

I'm the second-in-command of the God's Punishment Squad, which is currently attacking the Jailhouse Tower. However, in that tower, due to its durability and the narrowness of some of the passages, Rose can't be used for long periods of time. In other words, as the attack progresses, you'll have to do without Rose. That's why the attack hasn't progressed very well recently.

Can't you ask for help?　For example, Prince Geas's Kingsguard.

It's not a good fit for both the King's and Prince's Divine Punishment Squad and the Kingsguard. And just like the Holy Ruins, the more people there are in the tower, the more obstacles there will be. So we can't simply increase the number of men.

　In terms of combat capability, the God Punishment Corps is the highest force in the royal capital.
　It's impossible to increase the number of attackers.
　So, if the divine Punishment Squad couldn't do it, it would stop there.

Even so, we proceeded to capture the city little by little. As a result, we arrived at a certain level. And that level was different from the previous ones, right?
What's different about it?
A ridiculously strong and mysterious demon sits here.
A mystery monster?
This is a new breed of demon, isn't it? We have no information on it in the past.
What kind of monster is this?
First of all, it's huge.
"Mmm-hmm.
So, he's got three heads and eight arms.
..........

　Hmm?

He has a face like a skull and a full belly, don't you think?　Don't be surprised to hear that, okay?　What a bunch of demons they spew out of their mouths... and a lot of them!
Well, I see.
'Furthermore, it regenerates immediately when you attack it - how about that!　You'll be astonished just to hear that!

　I flicked my gaze to Currier-san next to me.
　She nodded one, yes.
　Mmmm? Shana wrinkled her brow.

'What's the matter with you?　What's that?　That tepid reaction........well, well.......maybe it's somewhat less shocking than that ridiculously strong four-deadly disaster called Beshgam.... ...
Shana.
Mm-hmm.
I can't say for sure if it's a perfect match, yet.
Hm?　What the hell are you talking about?
''The supposedly identical demon has already been defeated by us in the Holy Ruins.
Heh?


　　　　　*


Shanatrice, do you have a moment?

　Miss Currier interrupted.

'Mm?　What is it?
I'm beginning to see the logic in this story. So the intention of bringing us here was also to have us help you defeat that demon?


　Shana looked a little troubled.
　Now it looks like she means it.
　She doesn't want us to misunderstand this place.
　I could feel that kind of intention.
　It's because of this kind of thing that I can't hate you.......
　Currier-san urges.

'I'm sorry for interrupting you with trivial things. Go on.''
Mm-hmm.

　Shana sat back down.

'Well?　There was a coat of arms on a door at the back of the room that looked just like this one.
"A sigil?

　No, no.

I think it went something like this.

　Shana took a folded piece of paper out of her pocket.
　She unfolded the paper on the tabletop and held it out to me.

'Does this look familiar?'

　I put my hand over my mouth.

'....there is.

　The subterranean altar of the Clock Tower.
　Deep beneath the holy ruins of the school.
　It was an altar there.

Machina told me about the altar in the Clock Tower of Christofia. She told me about the altar in the Clock Tower of Christofia and asked me to draw the shape of the coat of arms on it.

　As expected of Machina-san.
　She has no shrewdness in collecting spellbooks.

'I see. That's why you thought the forbidden spellbook might be in the back of the room with the three heads?
That's not what I meant.
But they don't have the strength to take out the three-headed man.
Hmm. It's not easy to move around in the War Prison Tower with all of Rose's maintenance gear.

　I told him about the three-headed strategy.

'Nah!　You said you could take it down without having it regenerate by destroying the head at three points simultaneously?
We beat them at least once.
Nuh-uh!　Why didn't I think of that?　Yeah, right!　

　Shana was dreading it.
　She was pulling and slightly teary-eyed.

''Huh, it's unconscious........''

　I chuckled.

'Shana, you're a pretty confident person, aren't you?
I've had my fair share of fairy tales.
Shall we move on?