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)

"Let's go to my room. We can't guarantee it's safe here; there's a risk we might be bugged."

Takanashi Rikka waved for them to follow and led them to her room.

"Welcome to the dark side. Welcome to the chaos of chaos. This is my exclusive personal domain. If anyone else tries to pry into it, I'll notice immediately."

She pushed the door open and went inside.

The others followed close behind, and found that the room was piled with some rather unusual things: all kinds of dolls, antique collectibles made with modern craftsmanship, and a few model guns. It was an absolute mess, perfectly matching everyone's image of Rikka.

"May I touch anything I like, Master?"

Dekomori Sanae asked, her face full of longing.

"Of course."

Takanashi Rikka gave her permission.

Just then, Natsukawa Masuzu's attention landed on the Mauser hanging on the wall. She took it down and tried aiming it at everyone.

"Bang!"

She made the sound effect herself.

Someone immediately played along.

"Are you trying to kill me, Greedy Witch? So you were the spy sent by the Management Bureau all along? You even took this opportunity to use Master's Magic Tool! How despicable and shameless, death!"

Dekomori Sanae clutched her shoulder, as if she'd been wounded there.

"That was a fun reaction."

Natsukawa Masuzu found it amusing, so she pretended to make the same sound again.

"Bang, bang, bang...!"

To dodge the hail of bullets, Dekomori Sanae rolled across the floor, then hid behind a box.

"Damn, what overwhelming firepower!"

She even muttered the words aloud.

"Could you stop messing around? We're at Takanashi's house."

Nibuya Morika had had enough. Her voice grew sterner.

"Phew~"

Natsukawa Masuzu blew on the muzzle. "I was only joking with you, Dekomori. I didn't actually fire a shot. Your injury was just an illusion."

"Is that so? I see. Is that your power, Witch?"

Dekomori Sanae stood up and rolled her shoulder, finding that she was perfectly fine.

"More or less. But I'll have to keep the specifics of my stand a secret for now, or someone might prepare a counter~"

Natsukawa Masuzu gave a vague answer.

"You're hopelessly stupid, Dekomori."

Nibuya Morika was at a loss for words.

Next, they began their discussion in earnest.

"I haven't sensed anyone else nearby. Either no reinforcements have actually arrived, or the only one who came to attack us was the Holy Chef."

Hasegawa Izumi shared what he had learned.

"I trust the Sage's judgment."

Takanashi Rikka nodded.

"Maybe she'd get a higher score for taking down the Far East Magic Society alone. She doesn't want to share the credit with anyone else."

Natsukawa Masuzu was doing her best to fit in.

"She must be confident, then. But even if she's an expert in the Management Bureau, she can't face so many of us by herself, death. So what is she planning?"

Dekomori Sanae chimed in.

"The only thing I can think of is... poisoning us!"

Hasegawa Izumi suddenly grew serious.

From what he remembered, this tactic was highly effective. In one world, even renowned martial artists could fall to an unremarkable nobody because of poison.

"Poison?"

Everyone reacted differently when they heard that.

"Then just don't eat anything."

Dekomori Sanae spread her hands.

More than ten minutes later.

Dekomori Sanae gazed at the table laden with carefully prepared Italian dishes and licked the corner of her mouth.

The savory aroma seeped into her very soul, making her mouth water.

Clearly, Jukka was a highly skilled cook, being a chef at an upscale restaurant.

But Dekomori Sanae remembered that this might be a poisoned gift, so she could only swallow her saliva and hold back.

"Everything's ready. Why isn't anyone eating?"

Jukka found the atmosphere strangely unsettling and asked tentatively.

"Hmph. How could we possibly eat food you've made, Holy Chef? If you poisoned it, wouldn't the Far East Magic Society end up defeated in a gutter?"

Takanashi Rikka held back her appetite and spoke with the same grand air as before.

"Poison? How could I possibly do that? Stop fooling around!"

Jukka was so angry she nearly fainted.

How could these people be so troublesome?

Hasegawa Izumi noticed everyone's reactions and decided to break the deadlock.

"Fine. I'll try some first... I'll know as soon as I take a bite whether there's poison in it."

He picked up the chopsticks and tried a little of every dish, then poured himself a bowl of chicken soup.

It was neither too salty nor too bland. It tasted wonderful.

"It should be fine."

He gave his verdict.

Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae trusted his judgment, and finally relaxed.

"All right, that settles it. I'm starving."

Nibuya Morika gave in to her appetite and joined the others in sweeping the food off the table.

Everyone had a wonderful lunch that day.

The break was over.

While Jukka was washing the dishes in the kitchen, Natsukawa Masuzu suddenly stepped in front of the others.

"It's time to act, everyone."

"Let's crush the Holy Chef once and for all!!"

She resolved to kindle the flames of war.

Because that would be much more fun!

A brilliant clash in the world of the mind! Jukka reveals her supreme might

Now that all the schemes and plots had been brought to light, all that remained was a thrilling battle!

The first direct clash between the Far East Magic Society and the Bureau of Unseen Boundaries would begin today.

"As a first-class Holy Chef of the Management Bureau, she's no ordinary opponent. One night, I used a sacrificial technique to bind her with chains, but she suddenly appeared behind me... She can teleport, so this battle might not be easy."

A flicker of reminiscence crossed Takanashi Rikka's eyes.

You probably just weren't paying attention, idiot.

Natsukawa Masuzu grumbled inwardly.

"But this time, with the Sage and everyone from the Far East Magic Society supporting me, the outcome will be different!"

Takanashi Rikka's gaze swept across her companions' faces, brimming with confidence.

"I'll take the lead!"

She clenched her right hand into a fist.

This was her trial. If possible, she still intended to break through this barrier on her own.

"I'll wait for a chance to step in."

Hasegawa Izumi understood the situation and agreed.

Jukka had just finished washing the dishes and taken off her apron when she suddenly sensed something. She turned around.

"Holy Chef, today I'll make you reveal the secret of the Invisible Boundary! Prepare yourself!"

Takanashi Rikka held her folded umbrella and slowly raised it toward her opponent.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I can't just ignore such a provocative act. I'll make you realize your mistake."

Jukka narrowed her eyes, a chill deepening in them. With her right hand, she fished a large ladle out of the sink.

The two sides immediately squared off, ready to fight.

"Why don't you take it outside? It's too cramped in here, and you won't be able to fight at your best."

Nibuya Morika's voice suddenly rang out.

She was really just worried they might bump into things indoors and get seriously hurt, so she'd come up with an excuse.

"Shall we take this outside?"

Jukka understood, and quickly made the suggestion.

"Fine. It won't change the outcome anyway."

Takanashi Rikka wasn't stubborn about it.

The two sides moved the battlefield to a small park a few hundred meters from the apartment building.

The park was fairly quiet at that hour. A few elderly people were resting there, while some children played in the sand.

In a secluded corner, on a stretch of grass.

The battle between these supreme beings officially began.

"Appear, Black No. 6, Prototype MK-2!"

Takanashi Rikka waved her folded umbrella as she chanted.

"Burst forth, reality!"

"Shatter, spirit!"

"Banish... this world!"

She lifted her eyepatch, and the golden pupil of her right eye unleashed its full power.

Now, Domain Expansion!

In an instant, the world before them changed completely. They seemed to be standing in a wilderness, with green grass stretching all around them and all living things competing for freedom beneath the frosty sky!

"I obey the blood pact of the blood covenant and summon you... Darkness Queen!"

Takanashi Rikka reached out and summoned a bizarre weapon, its three prongs pointing straight at her opponent.

On the other side, the Spirit Chef supreme, Jukka, wasn't holding back either. She immediately brought forth the Imperial Weapon, Sky Scooper. Her face icy, she strode forward, and an invisible pressure spread in every direction.

"Dark Matter Incineration!"

"War God's Rupture!"