At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

And all she ever talked about was the Management Bureau. Wasn't she embarrassed? She'd fit in way too fast!

64 Greedy Witch or Blue-Eyes White Dragon

Saturday arrived.

As planned, everyone from the Far East Magic Society except Rikka met up first at a small park.

Hasegawa Izumi was the first to arrive. He sat on a park bench and waited.

"Hasegawa, you're here early."

Nibuya Morika arrived second. She wore a white long-sleeved shirt layered under a yellow T-shirt, a blue jacket, a short skirt, and gray stockings. She looked fresh and lovely.

After all, she had once earned the title of Elf Mother.

"I only just got here."

He turned to reply.

"Oh, I see."

Nibuya Morika sat down beside him as if nothing were amiss.

After waiting for about two minutes, she watched the people passing by and suddenly felt that something was off.

Would other people think the two of them were on a date?

Honestly, setting aside the chuunibyou stuff, he was pretty charming.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have fooled her so thoroughly back then.

The girl lowered her head slightly, hiding her guilty, flushed face.

"Lord Sage, I'm here, death!"

A shout rang out.

They both looked over.

Dekomori Sanae's outfit was rather flashy: a pink short-sleeved shirt, a floral skirt with red-and-white knee-high socks, and a little hat perched on her head.

"Is this a magical outfit? You came well prepared, Dekomori. It won't do much for you right now, but I commend the thought."

Hasegawa Izumi looked Dekomori over, then praised her.

"To receive Lord Sage's approval is Dekomori's honor, death."

Dekomori Sanae bent her knees slightly, lifted the sides of her skirt with both hands, and bowed her head.

"You even make it look convincing."

Nibuya Morika scoffed.

"Oh, the fake Mori Summer. I didn't realize you were here."

Dekomori Sanae looked at her as if she'd only just noticed her.

"Don't play dumb!"

Nibuya Morika snapped back at once.

The two of them looked ready to start squabbling again.

Just then, Natsukawa Masuzu arrived. Her silver hair fell to her shoulders, and she wore a blue-and-white dress that revealed a hint of her delicate, pale collarbones, lending her an unintentional air of sensuality.

"Oh, am I the last one here? My apologies, everyone."

She held down her straw hat as if it might blow away, a faint smile on her face.

In terms of looks, this woman was truly flawless.

"All right, you made it in time, Natsukawa... Since everyone's here, we should get going."

Hasegawa Izumi stood up.

"Wait, Club President. Before coming, I thought of something. Everyone has a special title, and it would be rather antisocial if I didn't have one. So, could you bestow one upon me?"

Natsukawa Masuzu's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

"Aren't you the 'Stand User'?" Dekomori Sanae challenged her.

"That's just a job title, like 'Magical Girl' or something. It doesn't count, of course~!"

Natsukawa Masuzu replied in an affected, coy voice.

Hasegawa Izumi scrutinized her for a few seconds, then raised a hand and pointed at her, declaring in a firm voice:

"From this day forth, your title shall be... Greedy Witch!"

"Huh?"

The Silver-haired Beautiful Girl's smile instantly froze.

In a way, that title really does suit her... Hasegawa sees right through her. Could his chuunibyou actually be an act?

Beside them, Nibuya Morika stroked her chin, looking thoughtful.

"Not satisfied? Then how about... Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"

Hasegawa Izumi noticed the girl's expression and tried offering her a second option.

Natsukawa Masuzu nearly lost it again.

What the heck was a Blue-Eyes White Dragon?

Which part of me looks like a dragon?!

"Th-then I'll take Witch."

Her voice faltered, and her tone weakened as she gave in.

She was worried the next title he gave her might be even more incomprehensible.

People always preferred compromise and moderation. For instance, if you said the room was too dark and proposed adding a window, everyone would surely object. But if you proposed tearing off the roof, they would compromise and agree to a window instead.

It was nearing noon.

Following the address Rikka had given them, the group arrived at the foot of a high-rise building.

They sent a message, and before long—

A girl dressed in a magical outfit, this one with a dark, gothic look, appeared before them.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"During this time, I've been busy monitoring Holy Chef for any suspicious behavior, including going out to gather the offerings needed for the 'Demon Banquet.' But my Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King hasn't sensed any danger."

Takanashi Rikka pointed to the eyepatch over her right eye and spoke earnestly.

"She must have been very good at disguising herself, death. It's also possible she contacted them in advance through the Sea of Electrons."

Dekomori Sanae immediately offered her analysis.

"Whatever the case, let me meet this 'Holy Chef' first. I'll get to the bottom of her!"

As a mighty expert, Hasegawa Izumi feared nothing and was ready to take the initiative.

They arrived at the apartment on the third floor.

"Magic Power password, release!"

Takanashi Rikka entered a string of numbers into the "electronic lock" above the keyhole, then took a key from her pocket and turned it in the lock.

"It's finally open!"

She looked excited.

Natsukawa Masuzu glanced at it and couldn't help laughing softly.

Wasn't that a calculator?

Honestly, chuunibyou types were hopeless.

Normal people couldn't put up with this!

They entered the living room.

"I'm Takanashi Touka, Rikka's older sister... You're Hasegawa, right? The one who's been leading Rikka astray at Shuchiin."

Touka came out of a room, her gaze sweeping over the group before settling on the only boy.

When she heard that Rikka would be able to attend a high school like Shuchiin, she'd been surprised, but also very happy. She thought that an environment like that would change her little sister and get her to focus on studying. But things hadn't gone as she'd hoped.

So she was rather annoyed, and wondered if it would have been better to stop her sister from going in the first place.

"I'm Rikka's older sister, and yes, I'm Hasegawa Izumi. But I have to correct you: Rikka and I aren't leading each other astray. We're striving toward a great cause! For instance, bringing Shuchiin to its knees is merely the beginning of our glorious journey."

He took a step forward and spoke with a haughty expression.

"Hm?"

Nibuya Morika caught sight of the scene out of the corner of her eye.

"Pfft..."

At that moment, Natsukawa Masuzu pressed her rose-colored lips tightly together. The muscles in her face tensed, and the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward.

She looks like she's having a hard time holding back her laughter. But is it really that funny?

She silently assessed the situation.

Suddenly, her heart sank. It was as if she'd realized something, and her expression turned terribly grim.

So it had already gotten this bad...

65 My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror; everything I do is justice!

In the middle of the living room—

"Don't you feel embarrassed saying things like that?"

After staring down the boy before her for several seconds, Touka's usually expressionless face softened a little, and she looked somewhat exasperated.

This guy seemed to be just like her little sister!

Well, how else would they have gotten along?

"Why should I be embarrassed?"

Hasegawa Izumi shot back, then added, "My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror; everything I do is justice!"

He believed that once you set out on the path you intended to follow, you had to stay the course. Those who kept thinking about turning back never got the best of either choice.

Touka patted her forehead.

All right. Trying to talk him out of it plainly wasn't going to work. People like him lived entirely in their own worlds and usually didn't listen to a word anyone said. Her sister was the same way.

"I'm going to make lunch. You can entertain yourselves for now."

Touka glanced up at the clock on the wall, then headed into the kitchen.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Just then, Natsukawa Masuzu burst into enthusiastic applause.

Was this the right moment to clap?

Nibuya Morika was baffled.

"That was a fantastic line! Coming from you, it sounds even cooler than when the president said it, Lord Sage~!"

Natsukawa Masuzu praised him because the line was a famous quote from JoJo. As a devoted fan, she was naturally excited.

"That was indeed cool."

Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae didn't need to get the reference. They genuinely felt that way.

"What should we do next, Club President?"

Natsukawa Masuzu asked.

His gaze, meanwhile, rested on Rikka.