(Many thanks to 'Bu Leng Mu Leng,' 'Hoping for the End of the World,' 'Pokémon,' 'Where Sing Is,' and 'Yakumo Maki' for their donations!)
At once, the atmosphere throughout the library turned somewhat dangerous under the influence of the tension between Claire and Linse.
Watching Claire and Linse glare at each other, Noah could not help but stare in astonishment.
"Is their relationship really that bad?"
"Nothing of the sort." Carol, who had somehow slipped over beside Noah, smiled unconcernedly.
"The young lady and Miss Claire are childhood friends with an excellent relationship. They have always been this close since they were little."
"Close?" Noah helplessly pointed at Claire and Linse, who were baring their teeth at each other ahead of them as though they wanted to swallow one another whole.
"You call this close?"
"Yes." Carol gave an innocent smile.
"They are very close, aren't they?"
"...All right..." Noah truly did not know what to say.
However, just as Noah intended to shut up, Claire and Linse began demonstrating their close relationship.
"You really did come looking for trouble!" Claire snapped furiously.
"In that case, I won't hold back either!"
As soon as she spoke, the Spirit Crest on the back of Claire's hand lit up with a red glow.
"----Guardian of crimson flames, sleepless keeper of the furnace, fulfill the blood contract here and obey my command----"
A surging blaze abruptly appeared before Claire as she chanted the contract spell, twisting into a vortex.
Within that fiery vortex, a Fire Cat Spirit covered in flames slowly emerged. It landed on the ground and let out a savage cry in Linse's direction.
"You're the one looking for trouble!" Linse shouted without yielding.
"Don't think you're the only one who can summon a spirit!"
After saying that, a faint blue