Hoshino looked at the one revered as the High Priest of the Dense Forest... bird.
Its entire body was blue, and it spoke in an overblown manner. A pair of comical round spectacles perched on its beak, making it look exactly like a parrot.
"You know my boss, don't you?"
Croissant, who had been quietly watching, suddenly asked.
"Mr. Emperor."
The High Priest settled comfortably into a seat and replied, "He and I have known each other for a long time... We could call each other friends, for the time being."
Its words were steeped in pretense. The High Priest made every effort to come across as a scholar, and had no qualms about admitting that Emperor was an old acquaintance. Hoshino's thoughts stirred as she sensed something.
If there really was a secret hidden deep in the forest, it had to be the High Priest.
Hoshino watched it.
Emperor was strange, too. Both of them seemed to possess a certain immortality, yet they were distinctly different from those who truly lived forever. Just what were they...
She was curious, but now clearly wasn't the time.
Hoshino turned her gaze to the platform.
The Schicksal mecha gracefully stretched out its arms. Its tips formed sharp points ideal for thrusting, and its twin swords were long, narrow triangles. They looked designed for assassination, yet had been made into enormous two-meter-long blades.
"Praise the Mecha God!"
Though she didn't know why Big Ugly had disappeared, there was something even better now.
Zumama gently ran her hands over the Schicksal mecha's shell. Its enticingly hot metal and the exquisite feel of its aviation paint were irresistible to her.
Zumama's face flushed.
"Ah~ Why won't you let me take you apart and study you?"
[Denied. Insufficient permissions.]
"So if I had permission, I could