After listening to the Nightfolk's pleas and cries, and learning from Annie about the "Lord of Night" project in the Eternal City of Nokron and the miserable state of affairs, Annie thought it over and finally decided not to destroy the impostor outright. Instead, she subdued it and left it intact for the time being.
Then...
As one would expect, the surviving Nightfolk joyfully welcomed their "Lord of Night" and Annie, their "divine emissary," and escorted them to their Night Sky Garden, crowding around them as they headed for one of their hidden temples and grand palaces.
Next came a welcoming banquet. It looked a little shabby, but was still fairly lavish and filled with rare delicacies, giving Annie a chance to sample all kinds of delicious specialties from the underground world.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm..."
Chomp!
"Gulp, gulp~!"
(???????)
No one knew how much time had passed amid the clinking of cups and flickering candlelight. By the time Annie had eaten and drunk her fill, the Nightfolk witches and priestesses had more or less finished explaining the state of the Eternal City of Nokron, along with the product of their "Lord of Night" project: the Mimic Tear.
"Uh!!"
′?｀*))) Ha!
Of course, just how much Annie had actually taken in while she was chugging down a bottle of something that looked like starlight was anyone's guess.
Still, one way or another, she'd probably heard at least a little of it.
(...)
(●￣?￣●)
"Divine Emissary!"
"What would you have us do next?"
"That's right!"
"Divine Emissary, what do you think...?"
Seeing that Annie had finally stopped eating and drinking and seemed quite pleased, the Nightfolk priestesses and witches—who had seen her defeat the Mimic Tear with ease and agree to leave their "Lord of Night" behind for the time being—hurried over with