Can We Make Peace Now?

"Oh? You just got a new ability and already want to challenge me? You're pretty brave!"

Rover folded his arms across his chest, looking completely at ease. He simply didn't believe a little Fullbring could threaten a powerhouse like him, who possessed absolute power.

"Hmph, you knew I had a new trick, but you didn't even try to dodge? You really do like being passive, don't you? Well, you're in for a treat!"

The corners of Phrolova's mouth curled up, and a mischievous light shone in her eyes, like a cat that had just stolen a fish.

As soon as she finished speaking, a flash of white light enveloped Rover. It was utterly silent, with not the slightest hint of killing intent.

A moment later, the light faded. Rover slowly opened his eyes and, feeling nothing unusual about his body, couldn't help laughing.

"That wasn't so impre...ssive, was it?"

His voice cut off halfway through the sentence, and his eyes widened.

"Hey, Phrolova, how did you get so big?"

He was a little startled. Phrolova's foot was right in front of him, and it was half the size of his body.

Rover raised his head and slowly looked up from her feet.

Her calves, wrapped in black stockings, extended from beneath her skirt, their lines smooth and taut. Her ankles were slender, their proportions perfect, and the top of each foot formed a graceful curve.

The red hem of her skirt hung down and swayed as she turned, offering intermittent glimpses of her thighs, which had a soft texture in the dim light of the cell.

Looking farther up, he saw her round little face peering down from above. Her chin was pointed, and a mischievous smile curved her lips, as though she had caught some amusing prey.

It was an unflattering angle, yet she looked even cuter. Even the speck of dirt she had missed on the tip of her nose looked as though it had been placed there on purpose.

After a moment of stunned silence, Rover finally realized what had happened.

It wasn't that Phrolova had grown taller. He had shrunk.

He looked down and found that all four of his limbs had become furry. They looked oddly familiar.

"You turned me into a doll!"

"Wrong. I stuffed you inside a doll. You should understand what Fairy-Tale House means now, right?"

Phrolova crouched down, cupped her cheeks in her hands, and smiled at him.

"I see..." Understanding dawned on Rover. Phrolova could designate any object as a Fairy-Tale House and lock other things inside it.

That ability really was rather formidable.

"All right, I understand now. Hurry up and turn me back."

"Turn you back? Hee-hee, in your dreams! I told you I was going to get you back good!"

The girl held her face in her hands and looked down at him from above. At that moment, an unusual flush colored both her cheeks, and her lips curled upward, revealing a gleaming little fang.

She looked like a naughty child whose prank had succeeded. She was clearly trying to look fierce, but her eyes and brows were curved, and no matter how one looked at her, she seemed to be smiling.

She reached out a finger and poked the doll's round belly. Its softness made her unable to resist poking it twice more.

"Hey, stop poking me."

"I'll poke you if I want. Didn't you poke me with a sword before?" Phrolova said through gritted teeth.

"This is only the beginning!"

She slowly lifted one foot and brought it straight down on the doll.

Her dainty foot descended from above, her toes spreading slightly as though she were aiming.

She moved slowly, as if deliberately letting the person beneath her see every inch of its approach.

"Hey!! Don't go too far!"

"Hehehe... When you say no, you mean yes. Don't you like being passive? Then enjoy yourself."

There was playfulness in the girl's voice, along with a sense of satisfaction. But just as she was about to press her foot all the way down, something suddenly stopped her.

"Don't underestimate my power, woman!"

The doll thrust both arms toward the sky, resisting her attack. His short, furry arms stretched over his head and held up her little stockinged foot. The sight was comical, but the strength behind it was real.

"Ugh... You're pretty strong, but what can a little doll like you do?"

Phrolova smiled even more smugly and pressed down hard, deforming the doll's body.

Everything went dark above Rover. He was pressed forward at the waist, and in the end, he landed on his backside, with her foot resting on him, neither heavily nor lightly.

"Oh dear, the great savior has been trampled underfoot by a bad woman from the Fractsidus. How disappointing. Say something nice, and I'll let you go."

"This is too much! Take this, Hadō #33, Sōkatsui!"

A powerful reiatsu rippled out, giving Phrolova a fright.

"Wait... I was joking!"

"Boom!!!"

Fire flashed, but the explosion went off inside the doll.

The reiatsu was blocked by the Fairy-Tale House and gathered inside the doll with nowhere to escape. In the end, it burst from within in a spectacular display.

Rover was left covered in soot, coughing violently. It seemed this ability was even trickier than he had imagined.

The Fairy-Tale House could not only trap people but also isolate its interior from the outside. Even Kidō couldn't penetrate it. Fortunately, the force of the explosion freed him from her hold, restoring his freedom.

Phrolova leaned forward and knelt on both knees, bending down to examine the doll before her.

"You really seem to be powerless now. You're so weak and tiny—it's just too cute!" She reached out a finger and gently flicked the doll's forehead again.

"Is that so? Too bad I'm allergic to cute. I can't keep playing with you!"

The next moment, a blue light appeared and surrounded the doll. The familiar sensation made Phrolova's body tremble.

"Oh no, it's Separation Authority!"

She recognized it, and her heart suddenly began to race. She knew it seemed she had gone too far.

The doll abruptly flew away, and Rover's real body escaped. He stretched his stiff body, then advanced on Phrolova one step at a time.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

With every step he took, the pressure grew.

"Well, if it isn't the bad woman from the Fractsidus? Your Uncle Savior is going to give you some loving."

Rover's shadow fell over the trembling Phrolova, leaving her as helpless as a girl cornered by a thug.

"Um... can we make peace now?"

Phrolova tilted her head up and tried to put on a harmless smile. She took another half step back, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Bracing herself with one hand, she looked up at him and blinked her round eyes, trying to look sweet.

"At a time like this? You've got to be joking!"