"
"I literally just told you. Why does that sound like a question?"
The hooded woman and the weird woman faced each other.
The men seemed unable to decide what to do about the sudden intruder, casting glances toward the hooded woman.
The hooded woman paid them no mind and remained silent.
Softly, my body rose into the air.
More precisely, someone lifted me from behind.
I was spun around, but my eyes didn't meet the person holding me.
Why—why is
Wait, why is she white? Why are her eyes closed? She wasn't dead, was she? Or did she reincarnate like me?
If so, why does she look the same as before?
Paying no attention to my flood of questions, Wakaba Himeiro continued holding me up with her eyes still closed.
Even though her eyes were shut, it felt as though she were staring straight at me.
And on top of that, an inexplicable sense of danger washed over me.
I don't know exactly what, but this woman is dangerous.
《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill 'Fear Resistance LV2' has become 'Fear Resistance LV3'》 My Skill level went up, but it was a little too late.
Wakaba Himeiro's gaze—even with her eyes closed—drifted toward my crotch.
Her expression didn't change, but she seemed to notice something.
She gently set me back down on the ground.
Melazophis dragged himself between Wakaba Himeiro and me, limping heavily.
He glared at Wakaba Himeiro with visible wariness.
Wakaba Himeiro casually approached the hostile Melazophis and cast a healing spell on him.
"What?"
Melazophis was startled.
I was startled too.
Melazophis had been standing on sheer willpower alone, his injuries severe.
And yet, in an instant, he was fully healed.
"Is she not an enemy?" Melazophis asked.
Wakaba Himeiro nodded silently.
Even so, Melazophis's guard didn't drop.
"Hmm. The fact that I can't use Appraisal with this body is a real problem. Can't tell if she's the real deal or a fake."
"I'm the real deal~. If anything, I'd rather not hear that from someone who's using another person's body."
"That stings a bit."
Movement between the hooded woman and the weird woman.
"So,
"Well. I wonder why that might be?"
The hooded woman deflected.
In that instant, the air changed.
"Spit it out. Now."
I couldn't comprehend what had happened.
A deafening roar and shockwave swept through the area, and I squeezed my eyes shut on instinct.
When I opened them again, the men were gone.
All that remained were bloodstains where they had presumably stood.
"She's the real deal."
"I've known from the start. Now—spit it out."
Gone was the airy, carefree atmosphere from before. The woman radiated an intense, overwhelming pressure.
Just looking at her made nausea rise—a vile, murderous aura.
"It seems the core hasn't changed after all. I don't know what kind of wind blew her into playing such a fool, but this is rather unfavorable."
"Since you understand, how about you tell me your objective without putting up a pointless fight? Or would you prefer I force it out of you?"
"I decline both."
What happened next exceeded my imagination.
The hooded woman used magic to blow her own head off.
Her headless body thudded to the alleyway floor.
"Tch! Just because it's someone else's body, she does whatever she damn well pleases."
The weird woman spat bitterly.
But when she turned back toward me, that overwhelming presence had completely dissipated.
"So—are you alright?"
The weird woman spoke to me casually.
But Melazophis still hadn't let his guard down.
"Yeah. No need to be on guard, really. Besides, it's pointless anyway."
A sweet scent drifted into my nostrils.
At the same time, drowsiness washed over me.
I quickly held my breath.
This scent—it was magic that induced sleep!
My status abnormality resistance let me hold out for a moment, but Melazophis collapsed to the road, unable to resist.
Even holding my breath, the drowsiness attacked in waves.
I fought it desperately, but strength drained from my body by the second.
《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill 'Status Abnormality Resistance LV3' has become 'Status Abnormality Resistance LV4'》 My Skill level rose, and I recovered slightly.
But all it did was extend my resistance by a few more moments, and my consciousness gradually sank into darkness.
When I next opened my eyes, I was in a forest.
There was a tent, and a campfire crackling.
"Oh, you're awake!"
The first thing I saw was that weird woman.
Beside her sat Wakaba Himeiro.
Looking for Melazophis, I found him sitting right next to me.
"Let me reintroduce myself properly. I'm Ariel, the current Demon King. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
The weird woman started saying weird things.
Ah—she's weird, that's why she's the weird woman.
Or is she the weird woman because she's weird? Or is she weird because she's the weird woman?
"Ahahaha! White-chan, look, look! Her eyes are spinning like crazy."
No, that guy's got his eyes shut.
He's nodding, but can he actually see?
"How about it, Melazophis? Are you starting to trust me a little?"
"I can't be convinced so easily."
"Well then, why don't we just ask the person herself?"
The weird woman looked at me.
*'Hello?'* A voice suddenly echoed inside my head.
It felt similar to a divine voice, but subtly different.
*'This is a Skill called Telepathy. I'm connecting everyone here through it, so whatever you think will reach the other person.'* A brain-telephone version, basically?
*'Now then, young lady—question for you. Are you a reincarnator? Answer with an O or an X.'* And the question directed at me was one I hadn't anticipated.