Was this person trying to act terrifying?
But...
Hoshino only found her a little silly.
She was like a child eager to show off. If she truly wanted to seem frightening, she should have said less.
Hoshino decided to demonstrate.
Her expression remained calm, as if everything had gone exactly as expected.
"Aren't you surprised?"
"You're excellent."
Hoshino responded indifferently, carefully observing the current [Saria], especially the style and size of that bowler hat. She nodded, her gaze carrying mockery and pity.
"For a clone, you're excellent."
"..."
[Saria]'s pupils shrank to pinpoints. She saw an identical bowler hat appear in Hoshino's hand. Hoshino lightly flicked the hat's shell, making a sound.
"But that's all."
Hoshino instantly found her role. From beginning to end, she said only two sentences, maintaining a faint air of mockery and pity throughout.
[Saria]'s smile froze.
"Hm?"
It was fine if she got scared away.
Seeing Saria suddenly return to normal, Hoshino hurriedly clapped her hands and dispersed the bowler hat. From Saria's perspective, the shrine maiden had suddenly appeared in front of her, which was incredibly strange.
"What are you doing?" Saria asked warily, as usual.
"I was a little worried."
Hoshino awkwardly explained, "So I came to take a look. It seems everything really is under your control. I came for nothing."
She left awkwardly without losing her manners.
Saria found it somewhat baffling, but she became more vigilant as well.
After returning to her room, Hoshino softly sighed. "Saria should be the most vigilant person in all of Rhodes Island. Even she was silently corrupted. This Herrscher of Sentience... is a little troublesome."
The main reason she was troublesome was that there was no way to completely eliminate her.
She was practically like a cockroach.
The uses of this Eighth Divine Key