Concert venue, backstage.
In the dressing room, Sylvia, who had not yet had time to remove her makeup, was surrounded by a group of familiar girls.
"That's amazing, Sylvie!"
Index seemed to still be immersed in the atmosphere of the concert, her spirits exceptionally high.
"So this is what it feels like to hear Sylvie sing live! It was incredible! Sylvie's singing can practically rival the Lord's hymns! Everyone looked so happy!"
Though she was only an apprentice, as a nun of Christianity, Index had unhesitatingly equated Sylvia's songs with the voice of God. It was enough to show just how deeply Sylvia's singing had moved her.
"It really was amazing."
"Now I finally understand what world-class ability looks like."
Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko seemed to have been thoroughly convinced as well, and both of them made unusually frank remarks.
Even Shokuhou Misaki sighed, looking as though she had something difficult to say.
"I feel even more pressure now. I really did pick the most troublesome opponent..."
Beside her, Hanazei Junko seemed to agree with Shokuhou Misaki's muttering, but she hurriedly tried to encourage her.
"P-please don't worry, Queen! It's precisely because none of us can defeat her alone that we need to stand united! Let's work hard together!"
Those words should have sounded encouraging and inspiring, yet Shokuhou Misaki somehow felt that something was off.
"I feel like I'm being dragged further and further down a path where I'll have to lose a lot of important things...?"
That was what Shokuhou Misaki thought.
Besides those girls, Kazari Hiyuka was present as well.
However, perhaps because there were too many strangers around, Kazari Hiyuka could only shrink into a corner, trembling nervously. Even so, she did not leave.
In Kazari Hiyuka's eyes, Sylvia shone with unprecedented brilliance.
"So that's