Clear and expansive sky.
Today's weather was very sunny.
"When the weather is nice~ my drawings come out well~"
Estia hummed a tune as she took in the natural scenery.
Recalling the memories from when she drank the holy water, she carved an artistic masterpiece into the Goddess Church's scripture.
The drawing resembled Picasso's work—an abstract painting.
"See, I told you! When I drink holy water, my drawings come out well! But when is Mister coming? I'm bored—"
Will he come if I draw a few more pictures?
I hope he comes before I finish the scripture!
Estia picked up her pen again and drew.
However, her concentration was instantly shattered by an external sound.
—CRASH!! CLANG!!
"Wh-what?! Is it Saten again?! Why is she catching cats so loudly!!"
—THUD! SMASH!!
That noise will end soon.
It's just a momentary accident.
"I'll just go back to drawing~"
But as if to prove Estia's judgment wrong,
the rough, loud sounds engulfed the mansion.
Estia had no choice but to break her pen.
"It's loud... It's loud...!! What the hell is Saten doing...!!"
I'll scold her when I see her!
Though she couldn't actually scold her, Estia set out to find Saten with that small wish in mind.
*'If I follow the loud noise, I'll definitely find her!'*
Am I not a genius?
Admiring her own deductive skills, Estia followed the sound toward the entrance.
*'Why is the wind blowing so hard? The weather was nice today?'*
Must be my imagination!
A strong wind was blowing from the entrance door, but Estia opened it without hesitation.
"Saten! I told you it's loud! You're going to get scolded by me... Huh?"
Estia stopped mid-sentence and quietly observed the scene.
Luna and Hare had returned, but
for some reason they were fighting with Saten, and
Mister was tied up with rope, unable to move.
How should she interpret this situation?
Estia used her small brain to reach a conclusion.
"A-a surprise party? When was my birthday again~? Ha, haha~ Girls, stop fighting~ I'm surprised enough! Don't fight~"
Ha, haha.
Estia tried to mediate the fight with a stiff smile.
*'But no matter how I look at it, they seem serious?'*
I can't fight like that!
However, since they were already engaged in hand-to-hand combat, there seemed to be no room for Estia to intervene.
Estia knew her strengths and weaknesses well.
"How dare you. To think you'd return after making Mister look like that. How foolish."
"That's not it! Just listen for a moment—"
"You must be punished... a very severe punishment. I cannot forgive such a conscienceless act."
"Ugh! I'm telling you that's not it, how many times—"
"Let's give up, Luna... It's easier that way... Let's just subdue them quickly and end this... I want to see Mister..."
Luna and Hare whispered to each other.
Saten was angry about something.
"Hmm, who's in the wrong..."
There's no way Oppa did anything wrong!
Based on what's happened so far, it's one of Hare or Saten...
"Thinking is annoying! I just won't do it!"
Thinking leads to more thinking, so I won't.
Estia cautiously approached Mister while reading the room.
Then, she carefully grabbed the rope so the three wouldn't notice.
"Hehe, Oppa, let's hide together!"
Estia carefully dragged Mister toward the house.
THUD—
Mister remained tied up without any reaction.
Estia's golden eyes shone brighter than usual as she smiled with her eyes.
"It's been a while, Oppa! Just the two of us... are left...?"
To compensate for the time apart, Estia grabbed the rope and dragged Mister toward her room.
"Mmm... the smell seems a bit different? Is it my imagination?"
"Y-you traitor... you should go to hell..."
"What! Why are we traitors! We're saviors if anything! This is ridiculous!"
No matter how hard Saten tried,
it was impossible to face Luna and Hare, who had even defeated the Demon King.
Bent at the waist, she glared at Luna and Hare with coldly burning black eyes.
"You... have no conscience or gratitude... How could you do that to Mister who raised us? You traitors."
"No! I'm telling you I'll explain! Why won't you listen to us and keep getting angry!"
"Saten always thinks her thoughts are right. But, those thoughts are usually correct..."
When she's wrong, she's severely wrong.
And it takes a long time to change her mind.
Hare, who had done "Mister Study" together with Saten,
was one of the people who knew Saten relatively well.
"You're despicable and vile. More disgusting than nobles— Mmph...!"
"Wait, it's loud so let's cover her mouth first! Hare! If persuasion doesn't work, what do we do with her?"
"Don't we have to show her directly?"
"Show what?"
"That the Demon King has entered Mister's body... If we show her, won't she believe us...?"
"Th-that's a good idea! But where's Mister?"
Looking around— Looking around—
Luna turned her head to find Mister.
"Huh?"
However, no matter where she looked, Mister was nowhere to be seen.
Luna felt her heart sink.
"M-Mister... has... disappeared...!!"
The possibility of Mister escaping alone while tied up was 0%.
The one person not here.
"Hare."
"...Yeah."
"I think Estia took the Demon King."
Hare pulled out a dagger from her pocket with a grave expression.
"...Should I kill her?"
"What are you saying! We can't kill her! Let's hurry and find them!"
You find Estia.
I'll hold off Saten.
Luna and Hare shared their opinions and nodded.
After the battle with the Demon King,
the two had become even closer.
*'As long as Hare doesn't find out about my feelings...! We can keep getting along like this!'*
Hare is merciless to rivals!
I have to avoid showing it as much as possible!
With that, Luna resolved to remain friends with Hare and approached Saten.
Blood was still flowing from her wrist—she seemed to need first aid.
"Anyway, that's how it is! Saten, you sit still and wait! Hare will bring Estia and Mister soon!"
"Ha, do you think I'll believe that? How strong are Mister's mental strength and body. The Demon King entered Mister's body? That's a funny story, though I can't laugh."
"Ugh... Why am I even talking to you! Just stay put!"
TAP—
Luna cleanly struck Saten's neck with her hand blade.
Saten's body collapsed to the floor like a puppet with cut strings.
"Sh-she's not dead, right?"
Luna brought her finger to Saten's nose.
Fortunately, Saten was breathing.
She had avoided becoming a murderer.
"At least it's quiet now! I understand why Mister always said it's loud!"
Because she always says nonsense!
That's why he said it's loud?
"...Then, does that mean I always said nonsense?"
No way...
Right...?
Luna shook her head like a windmill, denying reality.
"Th-this isn't the time! Saten, is where I hit you okay?!"
Saten collapsed on the floor.
Luna turned Saten's body this way and that, checking for problems.
The back of her neck was fine, but the blood flowing from her wrist didn't seem like it would stop.
*'I have to stop the bleeding. At this rate, Saten might die from excessive blood loss!'*
Luna grabbed Saten's wrist tightly to stop the bleeding.
Then, a large amount of red blood spurted toward the sky.
It was because she hadn't learned first aid.
"Th-this isn't it!? Wh-what should I do?!"
At this rate, Saten will turn into a cold corpse...
Luna emptied her worried mind and quickly chose a method to save her.
"I need to find Estia."
The only one who can heal this situation
is her.
Luna lifted Saten and carried her on her back.
Since Saten had a thin body with only bones left, she wasn't heavy at all.
"...Do I have to force-feed her? I should stop eating what Saten leaves behind!"
Luna entered the house carrying Saten on her back.
If she didn't find Estia quickly, Saten could lose her life, so she had to move swiftly.
Estia's room was close to that of an artist.
While Mister was gone, she drank holy water and drew pictures to pass the time.
Since she didn't study at all, the room was covered in paint and ink.
"Y-you won't scold me, right? Oppa? Th-this happened because you weren't here, so don't scold me!"
"..."
"But why are you so quiet, Oppa? You're tied up without saying anything—is there some kind of spell on you?"
Mister shook his head as if to say that wasn't it.
Estia didn't quite understand this situation, but decided to act anyway.
She wanted compensation since she had been lonely without Mister.
"I didn't study hard! But I waited well! So, Oppa has to praise me! Any objections!?"
"..."
Silent Mister.
However, as if Greed had a good idea,
he opened his mouth and answered Estia's words.
"...None. How... could I praise you?"
"Huh? That's obvious! Oppa, just do it like usual!"
"Like usual..."
Mister mulled over the word "usual."
Soon, he nodded as if he understood.
"I'll do as you wish. Then, untie this rope right now."
"Okay! I'll untie the rope! That must have been really uncomfortable! Who did wrong between Hare and Saten...!?"
"Hare was in the wrong."
"Really? I kind of thought so!"
Estia approached the rope without any suspicion.
She seemed desperate for compensation and appeared thoughtless.
However, the moment she approached the body, she realized.
"...What."
"What's wrong?"
SNIFF SNIFF—
Without answering, Estia began to smell the body.
She brought her body close and checked the scent all over like a dog.
Greed judged this situation as an opportunity and spoke.
"If you untie the rope, I can help you. What a shame."
"Help me?"
"Yes, if what you desire is a body, I'll give you as much as you want."
"Really?"
He tempts by saying he'll give what she desires.
Then, he actually takes what he wanted.
That was Greed's survival method.
When what people want is before their eyes, their reason becomes paralyzed and their judgment clouded.
Greed had lived well by exploiting such weaknesses.
However.
"As I thought, the smell is a bit different."
"...What?"
"You're not Oppa, are you?"
What Estia wanted wasn't just the body.
The sense of stability and comfort that made her heart feel at ease when with Mister—
the mental aspect was strongest, so she could judge the situation well.
Estia approached the desk and poured today's portion of holy water she had collected in a cup onto Mister.
"Keu, KYAAAAH—!!"
"Ugh, don't scream in Oppa's voice! You bad thing! It's creepy!"
DRIP— DRIP—
A scream in Mister's voice was heard.
Estia didn't stop and kept pouring the holy water.
An act similar to torture.
Unlike usual, Estia wore an expressionless face and declared in a low tone.
"Where's Oppa. You trash."
Give him back right now.
Estia exuded intimidation and threatened the Demon King.
"Fu-fuck..."
It was the moment Greed realized he wouldn't die peacefully.