Hoshino wanted to open the box right then and there.
But she restrained the impulse in her heart and let Exusiai drive toward Yae Shrine, taking a huge detour.
"Please sign here."
Following the courier company's procedures, Hoshino obediently wrote down Yae Sakura's name.
Open it, open it.
Hoshino's intuition told her there was a person inside the box. Rather than using a blade, she tore open the outer packaging with her hands and found another separate hard case inside.
What did that mean?
She shot Exusiai a puzzled look.
Exusiai looked equally confused, though she was clearly excited as well, her breathing quickening.
"Hurry up and open it."
Exusiai urged:
"Maybe it's a cute girl! This is my first time delivering a cute girl by courier!"
"Calm down."
Croissant reminded her with a wry smile. Young Master Bison stood there dumbfounded; he had never seen anything like this before. As far as he knew, Fengchi Logistics had never transported anything so strange.
"I'm opening it."
Hoshino reached out and opened the lid. The heavy case was as weighty as a coffin lid, making her frown.
A greatsword.
Thighs clasping that greatsword.
Red eyes gleaming with light.
The box stood upright, its opened side facing away from the sunlight. Most of its interior was hidden in shadow. Hoshino blinked before she could make out the arrangement inside, then her vision blurred—and whatever had been inside vanished.
"I've come to pay the price."
Her voice was like a surging tide, carrying a faint weariness.
Skadi was not wearing her hunter outfit. Instead, she wore a swimsuit beneath strappy sandals, her thighs boldly exposed. Aside from the Tidal Greatsword, she also held a pink orca plushie in her arms.
"Whoa."
Exusiai could not help but marvel.
"Not a cute girl—a beautiful big