Today was the afternoon of the third day since Annie, Emilia, and the others had arrived in the Watergate City of Priestella.
The weather outside didn't look too good. Dark clouds hung low over the great lake and the "bathtub" city at its center, as if a storm were about to break. It rather matched the mood of the royal candidates, who were kneeling in a large room at the Water Veil Pavilion Inn, holding a meeting to discuss their plans.
"..."
?_?
Naturally, the mood of one troublesome little girl was much the same as the weather outside.
"..."
???(＿＿*)??
"..."
(っ?-?)
"..."
(′~`●)
"..."
??(??￣?￣)????
See?
Unlike the others around her, who sat bolt upright with stern, focused expressions, Annie was sprawled over her cushion, looking listless. She kept nodding off and occasionally rolling around.
It wasn't hard to guess how she felt from her impatient expression and frustrated movements. She was definitely in a bad mood.
After all, these boring people had just held a meeting at city hall yesterday. Now, after only one night, they were having another—and had simply moved it to this inn.
Annie had been caught completely off guard. She'd only just gotten up and hadn't even had time to think about what to do that day before Emilia and the others dragged her here to take part in this supposedly important meeting.
"Everyone!"
"This is the situation as it stands."
"Yesterday, shortly after noon, while we were discussing what to do at city hall, a member of the Witch Cult launched a terrorist attack here, at the Clock Tower Plaza in this district!"
Pointing to a map of Priestella, where four great waterways divided the city into four districts, Emilia began to explain. The attack had taken place in the southeastern district.