LESSON: III ~The Falling Apple~

As her bridesmaid, I want you to show the bride a good time and let her enjoy her last day as a bachelorette—

With that objective in mind, Melida had brought Freesia out into the city, but in truth, she had absolutely no idea how to actually please her.

After all, while they had met before, they had never actually held a proper conversation.

Furthermore, from what she had heard, Freesia was one year older than her—fifteen years old. She wasn't sure if that was the reason, but looking up at her made Melida shrink back in intimidation.

Glancing over, Freesia, dressed in her gown, was wearing rather high heels.

But the reason she gave off such a mature impression was likely due to the engagement ring adorning her left ring finger—

Melida was also clad in an elegant dress, ensuring she wouldn't embarrass herself as a bridesmaid.

"Umm..."

Unable to endure the silence, Melida spoke up, but the words caught in her throat.

Walking ahead, Freesia shot a sharp glare back at her.

Currently, the two were aimlessly making their way toward the market. Whether it was for shopping or dining, Melida needed to find some excuse to keep her as far away from the Imperial Hotel as possible.

Freesia's eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Do you truly have no intention of harming Lord Serge?"

Melida jolted, nodding awkwardly multiple times in response.

While that was indeed her true feeling, it was still half a lie. After all, Kufa was right in the middle of finalizing his plans to assassinate Serge, and Melida was currently assisting him. ...No matter what my own true feelings, and those of the one I love, might be.

"Since Mad Gold requested it, I have no objections to your attendance at the ceremony, but..."

Freesia openly displayed her wariness toward Melida.

"If you try anything funny with Lord Serge... I won't forgive you."

"F-Freesia-san, you really adore the Duke, don't you!"

Melida forced a smile onto her face.

"N-Now that I think about it, where did the two of you meet? And why does a human like you have a connection to the werewolf tribe to begin with...? M-May I ask?"

"...Why do you ask?"

The reason she asked was simply because she had remembered it. Last night, in the twin room provided to them at the Imperial Hotel, her beloved tutor had expressed that exact same question.

This time, Melida puffed out her chest and answered proudly.

"Because I'm your bridesmaid, Freesia-san. I heard that normally, a bridesmaid is a role fulfilled by the bride's most trusted friend."

......

Perhaps she was surprisingly weak to pushy behavior; Freesia cast her eyes downward without saying a word in return.

After a short pause, she held her hand out over her own shadow.

"Come out, everyone."

Then, surprisingly enough—from within her shadow, or rather, from the black-stained cobblestones, something slithered out. "Eek!?" Melida let out a yelp and stumbled backwards.

It was a wolf. A rather massive one at that. It was easily large enough to carry a young girl like Freesia on its back and run.

If she recalled correctly, her class as a knight was a Gunner, but did they possess an ability like this? The wolf was undeniably a living creature, glancing around and twitching its nose as it sniffed the air.

Melida timidly reached her hand out.

"W-Will it bite?"

"If I tell it to bite, it will."

"Hiek!"

Perhaps finding Melida's exaggerated flinch amusing, Freesia's lips loosened into a small smile.

"Please rest assured. He is normally a very good and docile boy."

"I-In that case... Wow, he's so fluffy."

True to its owner's words, the wolf was tame and accustomed to people. When Melida patted its nose and head, it narrowed its eyes in apparent delight. The way it purred even made it seem quite charming.

Freesia also formed a faint smile on her lips, and then she spoke.

"That child's name is Pashful... She was a girl, three years younger than me."

"Eh?"

"Say hello, everyone else too."

With an eerie smoothness, wolves began to pour out of Freesia's shadow one after another.

In total, there were about... seven of them surrounding her, including Pashful. And they were all massive. The brave snouts of the wolves easily reached the height of Melida's waist.

Despite being in the middle of the city, none of the wolves barked needlessly.

Instead, they simply stared, their intelligent gazes shifting back and forth between Freesia and Melida.

"Kurd, Dopy, Smoony, Niko. Gran and Lipis... They are all my childhood friends. Usually, they have no choice but to sleep in the Shadow World, but whenever I'm in need of help, they rush over immediately to lend me their strength."

"W-What do you mean? Childhood friends... You said this one used to be a girl."

It must have taken quite a bit of courage to confess. Freesia discreetly gulped down a nervous lump in her throat.

Perhaps it was fortunate that there were no passersby around at the moment—

"I was strictly ordered to keep this a secret, but..."

With that preamble, Freesia raised her fingertip.

A faint, mental light flickered to life upon it.

Against a normal opponent, one would assume it was mana.

However, the chilling cold radiating from that light sent a shiver of terror straight down Melida's spine.

"Is that... Anima!?"

"That is correct. The power I usually refer to and wield as 'mana' is actually the complete opposite of the power used by the warriors of the Guild. It is the cursed power of the night used by those hateful lycanthropes..."

The wolves rubbed their snouts against her in comfort. Freesia finally made up her mind and spoke.

"I am originally from the Night World."

Those words pierced straight through Melida's heart. She let out a gasp, her breath catching in her throat.

Freesia continued, her pace quickening slightly as she rattled on.

"Although there are certainly not many, there are indeed humans left behind outside of Flandore. Mad Gold set his sights on them... Claiming it was for the new future of Flandore that he desires, he gathered those stranded in the Night World and conducted human experiments on them."

Freesia, as well as the seven who were her childhood friends, were among his victims.

"Out of all the test subjects, I was the only one who adapted to the environment of the Night World, managing to acquire Anima while maintaining my human form. I was his 'successful case'..."

And the ones who had failed and transformed into lycanthropes were her childhood friends—

No, while those seven wolves certainly bore the forms of lycanthropes, they were not dominated by hatred and violence. Weren't they understanding Freesia's calls? They still retained at least a sliver of their consciousness from when they were human... Though she didn't know if that brought any comfort.

"Lord Serge promised me that he would break everyone's curse and turn them back into humans."

Strength swelled within Freesia's eyes and voice.

"That is why I will become his gun and shoot down every obstacle in his path."

"How did the two of you meet?"

"Well... as embarrassing as it is to say,"

Freesia faltered, an innocent blush dyeing her cheeks red.

It seemed she had a past that made her head boil over just from recalling it...

"Although the experiment on me was a success, the side effects caused severe damage to my mind... For a time, I couldn't even speak, and I was in a state no different from an unintelligent beast."

The phrase feral child crossed Melida's mind.

Freesia pressed her hands against both of her cheeks. She had turned bright red, something incredibly rare for her.

"S-Lord Serge found me during that time. He had likely come to inspect Mad Gold's research facility... Unable to bear seeing my circumstances, Lord Serge patiently reached out to me, taught me how to speak, and tried to help me regain my human heart... A-And yet, back then, I couldn't even understand the meaning of the hand he was offering me...——"

She clamped a hand over her mouth as if she could no longer bear it, and from that gesture alone, Melida realized.

—D-Did she bite him?

With a loud hiss, steam rose from Freesia's head.

"A-After many twists and turns, I regained my human heart, and I ended up... serving Lord Serge while also acting as a liaison..."

"D-Don't worry about it, Freesia-san!"

At this point, Melida couldn't help but try her absolute best to comfort her.

"I-I've also had the person I love see so many embarrassing sides of me, and a-a-all sorts of outrageous things have been done to me too...!! A-And yet he acts like it's no big deal! He doesn't pay it any mind at all!"

After letting out a sigh to calm her breathing, Melida intentionally puffed out her flat chest.

"Besides, I've seen his uncool sides, too. We're even."

"Even... you say?"

Freesia stroked her chin with a finger, and suddenly spoke up. "Come to think of it."

"Despite how he looks, Lord Serge absolutely cannot clean his room."

"Eh!? I wouldn't have expected that!"

"He claims it's because he's busy with work, but he's probably lying. After all, whenever the maids and I clean up for him, he gets mad and says, 'Now I don't know where anything is!' It seems even Lady Salacha is exasperated by that side of her brother... To the point where she threatens to just toss all his belongings out into the yard."

Pfft. Imagining her best friend's pouting face, Melida couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The seven wolves also purred in amusement.

Even with the smog hanging in the air, the atmosphere somehow felt sweet—Melida smiled naturally.

"When I heard it was a political marriage, I got really worried. But I'm so jealous that you get to marry the person you love, no matter the circumstances... Congratulations, Freesia-san."

Upon speaking those words, she caught her breath, startled by her own statement.

Freesia and Serge were not actually going to be wed.

Because tomorrow, right at the wedding ceremony where they were supposed to pledge their love, the blade of assassination would—

Seemingly failing to notice Melida's unnaturally sealed lips, Freesia averted her gaze. Showing a hint of sorrow on her profile for some reason, she leaned against a railing on the side of the road.

They were on a small bridge spanning a canal.

"Whether it is a good thing or not... I don't really know. I am merely following what Mad Gold and Lord Serge have decided to do."

"That's..."

"But,"

Freesia continued, as if to paint over her own words.

"I no longer have to return to that dark, freezing research facility in the Night World, right?"

"Freesia-san..."

"Starting tomorrow, I will be permitted to serve by Lord Serge's side... forever, right?"

Music reached their ears.

When they turned their heads, they saw the market. Food stalls lined the entire width of the street, and freshly baked pastries scattered savory scents through the air. The area was adorned with colorful decorations. The residents of the Holy King District, dressed in traditional attire, were dancing to the tunes of a musical band.

Even though it was daytime, there were groups of people singing while drinking wine.

The smiles of the people, a sight not seen in quite some time, were right there—

"Was today a festival day?"

Although Freesia murmured blankly, it was obvious to Melida at a single glance.

"Isn't it obvious? It's a celebration."

"A celebration?"

"For tomorrow's wedding! They're celebrating for you and the Duke."

Freesia turned her head back and looked at the sight in the market once again.

Indeed, the flags and decorations hung everywhere symbolized the nation's development, prayers for safe childbirth, and everlasting familial happiness... The songs carried on the wind were filled with a woman's love, and a man's innocent feelings responding to it.

As if having even forgotten to blink, Freesia gazed at the people's smiles.

In a voice so quiet it was barely audible, she whispered.

"Lord Serge's methods were violent. No one says it aloud, but they think he's made a great many enemies. They must be incredibly anxious about what will happen to Flandore's future."

And yet... Freesia let out a broken sigh.

"Even so... they're celebrating... our marriage."

Melida kicked off the cobblestones lightly and pulled Freesia by the hand.

"Freesia-san, let's dance too!"

Ignoring her surprised "Eh?", Melida dragged her straight toward the market. The wolves trailed after them with playful yips. Freesia could only let herself be dragged along, her eyes darting in confusion.

The festival, now bustling with a large crowd of people, was right in front of them.

"M-Melida Angel, do you understand your position right now!?"

"It's fine if I hide my face like this!"

Saying so, she took something out of her pocket and swiftly slipped it over her eyes—it was the mask she had worn during their so-called Liberation Front movement. She had carried it around just in case.

Plunging into the heart of the music in a dress and mask, she was completely one with the festival. Melida took Freesia's hands and began to dance. In the center of the cobblestones, their dresses flared out like the petals of two flowers.

The spectators whistled. The band exchanged glances and cranked up the passion in their performance.

Freesia was merely spun around, seeming to give it her all just to avoid stepping on anyone's feet.

"I-I've never danced before!"

"That won't do at all. I'll teach you—here we go!"

"Uwaah!?"

The mask helped ease Melida's tension. The festive atmosphere made her heart bounce. If Elise, Kufa, Rosetti—if the usual gang had been here together, it would have been even more fun. As if trying to distract herself from her sentimentality, Melida stepped to the beat. Her shoes clicked lightly against the ground.

If Freesia was clumsy with her footwork, her sense of rhythm left even more to be desired. That was likely partly due to forcing herself to wear high heels—she was trying to break them in for tomorrow. All so she could come even a little closer to being a woman befitting the older Serge.

An unexplainable needle-like pain pricked Melida's chest, mingling with the music.

No one paid any mind to the expression beneath Melida's mask or Freesia's clumsiness. Even as the wolves bounced around with playful yips, no one made a fuss. They likely thought it was some kind of circus performance or the like. Eventually, the music played for Melida and Freesia smoothly trailed off and came to an end.

Melida stood on the tips of her toes and gave an elegant bow. A moment later, Freesia also gave a quick, stiff bow. The spectators, who had formed a circle on the cobblestones before they knew it, erupted into applause and cheers.

"Great job, girls!"

"Care to dance for another song?"

"N-No, we've had enough!!"

Freesia shook her head vigorously, and this time, she was the one yanking Melida by the hand.

Through their intertwined fingers, she could feel that they had both worked up a light, pleasant sweat.

While walking briskly away from the dance floor, the bride complained.

"You're being completely unreasonable, Melida Angel!"

"But it was fun, wasn't it?"

That being said, perhaps they had stood out a bit too much.

Right when they had distanced themselves from the crowd, a figure casually walked up and spoke to them. It was a young woman wearing glasses and a high-quality skirt suit, looking every bit the capable professional.

"I've been looking for you. You are the bride, Freesia-sama, correct?"

She gave a bright, professional smile. Melida and Freesia came to a halt, still holding hands.

"Who might you be?"

"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Almer, a wedding planner. I was hired by the werewolf tribe to handle the planning and proceedings in order to liven up the wedding ceremony."

"...Huh?"

Melida tilted her head slightly.

Although she hesitated for a split second, it would have been stranger if she hadn't noticed.

"Aunt Almedia?"

In an instant, a hand shot out and clamped firmly down on both of Melida's cheeks.

Melida was then dragged away by the smiling Ms. Almer. Leaving a bewildered Freesia behind, she was pulled into a corner by the wall with an arm slung over her shoulders.

The one scolding her in a hushed voice was, of course, Duchess Almedia disguised as a wedding planner.

"Don't say my name, you fool! Do you not understand the position we are in!?"

"Hau, I'm sorry...! But Auntie, what on earth are you doing in a place like this?"

The arm wrapped around her shoulders pulled her neck in even tighter. Her muscles ached with a sharp pang.

"That is my line, you idiot! When none of you came back no matter how much time passed, I thought something had happened! I've been searching for you all without sleeping a wink...!!"

"Owowowow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorrryyyyy!!!"

"...Melida Angel? Is she an acquaintance of yours?"

The moment Freesia called out, Almedia abruptly released Melida.

By the time she turned around with her professional smile, she had already returned to her act as 'Almer'.

"—Oh, please pardon me. Her hospitality toward the bride was simply far too lacking, ohoho. By the way, what are the two of you doing out here all alone?"

"Well, as my bridesmaid, she is keeping me company for my final day before the wedding."

"A bridesmaid..."

How much of the situation had she managed to grasp? Melida could sense her sharp mind whirring into action.

After a short pause, Almedia—rather, the planner Almer—spoke with a smile.

"—If that is the case, then I have a wonderful idea."

When it comes to a bridal shower, a home party with only close female friends is an absolute must!

After being passionately persuaded, Melida and the others found themselves arriving at none other than the Shiksal family estate in the exclusive Wespton District. Even if it was called a home, Melida wasn't a resident of this city, nor could she approach the Angel family estate. Freesia was in the same position, but... they had been completely pushed along by Ms. Almer's reasoning that any servant of Serge's was practically family.

The magnificent estate, with its vast grounds, was deathly silent.

Being an exclusive area for royalty, the Wespton District had considerable distance between neighboring houses. There were no carriages running down the streets, nor was there a single person to be seen in the nature parks.

It was as if this entire area had been completely cut off from the rest of the world...

"Where are all the people from the Shiksal estate?"

When Melida asked, Freesia answered in a monotonous tone.

"I was informed they are currently stationed at the royal castle. ...It appears no one remains at the estate."

"That's quite convenient!"

The one whose voice bounced with excitement was Ms. Almer.

Her hands were completely full of shopping boxes, and she had even shoved a few into Melida's hands. She had bought a massive amount of things while they were passing through the downtown area. When asked what was inside them...

"Goodness me, what am I to do with this bridesmaid!"

For some reason, she got a scolding. Her act as a career woman was surprisingly convincing.

"At a bridal shower, it is customary to present the bride with many gifts. You simply must celebrate her properly!"

"O-Oh, right! Of course you are..."

"No, um, please do not go out of your way."

Ms. Almer pushed the deeply apologetic Freesia's back and passed through the gates.

However, the moment the three of them entered the grounds, she turned around and firmly raised her palm.

"You lot are not allowed inside, you hear?"

She was speaking, of course, to the seven wolves. Having naturally tried to follow after Freesia, they now paced in front of the gates in confusion. Maintaining a resolute attitude, Ms. Almer smiled sweetly.

"This is a girls' party, after all."

As usual, she wouldn't take no for an answer. Freesia called out to them through the gate.

"Everyone, you can go back to the hotel ahead of us."

Told that, the wolves had no choice but to head back, their tails drooping dejectedly. As the figures of the seven wolves melted into the smog, Ms. Almer smiled in satisfaction. "What good children!"

Melida was starting to faintly grasp her—no, Almedia's—true aim.

"Now then, please enjoy the party right away!"

Almedia opened the front doors triumphantly and stepped into the empty estate.

The interior was incredibly stylish. She designated a grand hall facing the courtyard as the party venue and efficiently carried the presents inside. Once the setup was complete, Almedia attempted to leave the hall, leaving Melida and Freesia completely alone.

"I shall go prepare dinner, so please take your time and enjoy the party just the two of you..."

Freesia nearly let out a voice of surprise, but quickly clamped her mouth shut and said nothing.

She probably thought it would be awkward to have an adult she barely knew join them.

Almedia gave Melida a fleeting glance before shutting the doors with a soft click.

At last, Melida fully understood her intentions. Namely, investigation and buying time. Almedia was going to use this perfect opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Shiksal estate and uncover Serge's weakness, or perhaps find some clues regarding the previous head, Genron, and Dilita.

In the meantime, Melida was supposed to keep Freesia occupied so she wouldn't get suspicious. Her tension rising inwardly, Melida took Freesia's hand.

"Freesia, why don't we open the presents right away?"

Just what in the world had Almedia bought? Having one's heart skip a beat at the sight of ribbon-wrapped gifts was simply in a young girl's nature. On the other hand, it seemed Freesia had no experience with the custom of receiving gifts. With clumsy, uncertain fingers, she untied the ribbon and opened the box.

Together with Melida, their eyes sparkling with anticipation, she peered inside—

And who could blame them for freezing completely stiff in shock?

"W-What is this...?"

Carefully wrapped within the paper lay a message card left by the mastermind, Almedia.

The text, seemingly written with a look of absolute triumph, read—

"When speaking of gifts for a bride, sexy lingerie is an absolute classic!"

And so, a few tens of minutes later, how on earth did it come to this...?

Unable to suddenly suggest they just stop opening the gifts, Melida and Freesia ended up opening every single present box, and were practically forced into taking turns trying on the lingerie that filled almost all of them. The courtyard was surrounded by high walls, and of course, there was no one around, but it goes without saying that the very first thing they did was close the curtains and light the candles in the room.

The dresses they had taken off were draped over the chairs.

Piled high on the sofa were undergarments with designs so bold one would question the sanity of the person who bought them.

"Ugh, why do I have to dress like this too...?"

Melida firmly tied on a pair of panties that were practically just strings, and slipped on a babydoll. However, the fabric of the babydoll was incredibly thin, practically failing in its duty to cover her skin. Only the area around her chest had any real thickness, barely preventing her perky, cherry-blossom pink peaks from showing through.

But what comfort did that really provide?

With a design like this, wasn't it basically screaming, "Underneath this fabric is incredibly naughty, please look!"?

"Aaaah, since these are your gifts, I expect you to take responsibility and accompany me!"

Freesia, too, had frantically changed into her panties as if in desperation. Much like Melida's, the surface area of the fabric was dangerously small. While the babydoll she selected wasn't see-through, it pushed the limits with the depth of its slits. It split sharply open front to back right from beneath her armpits, and when viewed from the side... if one didn't notice the string of her panties, she could easily be mistaken for being completely naked.

It was impossible not to let one's imagination run wild about what would happen if the fabric were flipped up.

Melida couldn't help but remember. Just the other day, she had gotten carried away and made a move on the person she loved, Kufa, wearing nothing but a "naked apron." Her brain had been boiling over at the time, leaving her no room to reflect on it... but the way she must have looked to Kufa was exactly like this. Steam seemed to rise off her blonde hair all over again.

As if in unison, the two girls approached the table and downed their glasses in one gulp.

Already, one bottle of juice had been emptied. It was one of the very few normal gifts Almedia had picked out. They simply couldn't handle this without cooling their heads first.

Melida finally understood the true meaning of a bridal shower being girls-only.

"S-So, Freesia, did you find any underwear you liked?"

"...A few."

Freesia was earnest to a fault, dutifully accepting them just because they were gifts.

She picked out a frilly garter ring and strapped it around her left thigh.

Then, she attached her own holster to it and slid her derringer inside.

"With this, I will feel reassured even when wearing a dress."

As the hem of her babydoll fluttered, the short barrel rested perfectly in a position that would be hidden by a dress skirt. Melida could only give a vague nod. "O-Oh, right..."

Prioritizing functionality to the very end... perhaps that was just typical Freesia.

After gulping down her umpteenth glass of juice, Freesia spoke.

"Receiving this much is more than enough. Let us change back into our regular clothes."

"Eh!?"

Melida let out an incredibly frantic shriek.

Because that wouldn't buy them any time at all! In order for Almedia to thoroughly investigate this massive estate, she would need all the time she could get. If Freesia left this hall now, the absolute worst-case scenario might occur: Almer could be exposed as a wanted criminal.

Melida alone had to prevent that from happening.

No matter how unreasonable it seemed, she had to stop Freesia here and now.

"W-W-Wait, Freesia! You still don't understand a thing!"

Freesia, who was already trying to change her underwear, tilted her head. "Yes?"

She needed—she desperately needed Freesia to stay interested in the lingerie for a while longer. Working her mind to its absolute limits, Melida opened her mouth. She could figure out what she was saying after she had already said it.

The one word that could possibly catch Freesia's attention was—!?

"H-Hiding weapons in your underwear? That's completely missing the mark... f-for a girl, her underwear is a weapon in itself!!"

"U-Underwear... is a weapon......!?"

Shocked as if she had just been struck by lightning, Freesia took the bait to a surprising degree.

Inwardly, Melida cheered at her own brilliant inspiration.

However, she quickly found herself backed into a corner. Freesia was pushing the topic relentlessly.

"Just how does one do that? I would like you to teach me the details!"

"U-Umm, well."

Melida cursed her own lack of foresight.

Now that it had come to this, no matter how embarrassing it was, she had no choice but to push forward...

Melida fiddled with the sheer babydoll she was wearing with her fingertips.

"T-This underwear is, in short, meant to be shown to your husband, right? That's why it's full of such bold designs... J-Just wearing it isn't enough, I think. You have to properly seduce—or r-rather, defeat the person you love, otherwise there's no point!"

"Defeat!"

"That's right, mesmerize them!!"

As if she had reached an epiphany, Melida broke right through her wall of embarrassment.

Growing desperate, she rapidly went on.

"Sensei has seen and touched my embarrassing parts so much... urgh, y-yet he acts completely composed. He's so stubborn! To defeat a husband like that, you use a, um, n-naughty outfit like this to set the mood. You mesmerize them so much that Sensei absolutely won't be able to hold himself back."

"What should be done specifically!?"

It would have been somewhat helpful if she had come to her senses around this point.

However, Freesia was surprisingly eager to learn. Melida, too, certainly understood the frustration of not being taken seriously by the man she admired. It would surely feel great to seize the initiative.

Just wearing it isn't enough... what exactly should I do?

Picturing Kufa in her mind and keeping his imagined gaze in mind, Melida headed for the sofa.

She sat shallowly on the edge and tried throwing her arms and legs out in an alluring manner.

"L-Like this?"

Without a mirror, she couldn't really tell what kind of pose she was making.

"H-How is it?"

"I see, a 'pose'!"

"T-Try lifting it a bit..."

Right as she bunched up the hem to reveal her white thighs and panties, Melida realized her mistake.

"No, that's wrong, since it has a see-through design..."

She had to use the excuse that it shouldn't be visible. Thus, she lazily laid back, dropping one leg down to the floor and raising her other knee.

Freesia abruptly covered her nose as if she couldn't take it anymore.

...Combined with the small surface area of the fabric, Melida's crotch was likely exuding an incredible sensuality right now. The teasing thinness of the babydoll surely added to the appeal. If she were actually showing this to Kufa, it might be fine to, u-um, let her chest slip open as well. If even a glimpse of her glossy cherries were to peek out, she would practically be flaunting her n-n-naked body!

"T-That's a violent pose, Melida Angel!"

"Y-You think so? Next is your turn, Freesia!"

Not wanting to be the only one dying of embarrassment, Melida pulled Freesia over.

What kind of pose would be best?

After looking at her outfit and giving it some thought, Melida didn't have her sit on the sofa. Instead, she made Freesia kneel on the carpet and lean her upper body forward, resting against the sofa.

This resulted in a posture where her hips were thrust out prominently.

Taking the design of her underwear into account, the appeal didn't stop there.

"U-U-Umm, Melida Angel... the front of the babydoll... i-is hanging down..."

"Yeah... wow, everything's completely visible."

Freesia gave a small, choked gasp.

The defining feature of her babydoll was its deep slits. When she got into a posture close to being on all fours, the front side hung down, obeying gravity. This resulted in her pure belly button all the way down to her panties becoming completely visible, and if she were to lean forward even a little bit... one could catch a glimpse of her maidenly mounds that promised exquisite softness, topped with perky, cherry-blossom pink peaks acting all innocent.

The contrast between the beautiful curves running from her back down to her hips, and that extravagant paradise of exposed skin—

Melida became terrified of her own talent. For some reason, her head was boiling completely red as she continued to recall the gaze of the person she loved, making her want to challenge herself with even bolder poses.

She wasn't her precocious best friend Mule, after all...

Freesia remained collapsed on the sofa, seemingly finding it too much of a bother to even sit up for some reason.

"M-Melida Angel, I feel somewhat... dizzy in the head..."

"M-Me too... huh...?"

Melida, too, somehow found herself losing the strength in her legs, slumping down to the floor.

They wrapped their arms around each other as if for support, and when a hot sigh spilled from Freesia's lips right beside her, Melida's head snapped up with a start.

"It smells like alcohol...!?"

Belatedly, she looked back at the table. It was fully loaded with empty present boxes.

Two bottles had already been emptied to help the two of them cool their heads...

With a click, the doors to the hall opened.

"I suppose it is about time."

"Aunt Almedia...!"

Having removed her glasses, the one who arrived in a suit was Almedia La Moir. As if showing there was no longer any need to act, she had returned to her usual tone and had her familiar greatsword strapped to her waist.

Of course, Freesia was in no state to question her true identity.

She was completely drunk. For a while now, Melida had felt that both of them were acting strangely; it turned out there was alcohol in the juice. The two of them had emptied bottle after bottle to distract themselves from the embarrassment, which in turn caused them to increasingly lose their better judgment—or so it seemed.

Holding up the already hazy Freesia, Melida couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Auntie... why would you do something so mean...?"

"In order to lure out the culprit behind the Ripper Incident."

Showing not a hint of remorse, Almedia pulled back the curtain with her fingertips and fixed her gaze on the courtyard.

Had the temperature dropped? A gust of cold winter wind swept through, shaking the trees.

"Do you not realize? This situation is the final, and greatest, opportunity for the Ripper. Even if they cannot reach Serge, eliminating the bride, Freesia, would ruin the wedding. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to derail the peace negotiations with the Werewolf Tribe."

"No..."

"However, the culprit would not show themselves just by wandering the city, no? In that case, we simply needed to expose an even greater opening. By removing the guards from the target, stripping them of their equipment, getting them drunk, and causing them to lose consciousness... it seems they have finally caught the scent."

"Are you saying you used Freesia as bait!?"

Almedia grabbed a bottle from the table, brought it straight to her lips, and took a hearty gulp.

"—Forgive me. I shall take care of the aftermath with my own hands."

A strong, piercing wind swirled in the courtyard.

The sky was dark with smog. The fog filling the entire area began to squirm rapidly. It was as if they had wandered into the center of a storm... The half-naked Melida clung to Freesia, seeking her body heat.

Freesia's head bobbed up and down; she looked like she could lose consciousness at any second.

"Auntie, this presence...!"

"Mm..."

Goosebumps erupted across Melida's upper arms. Almedia's expression turned grim as well.

It was clear that something terrifying was approaching under the cover of the smog. Almedia's calculations had hit the mark. However, this overwhelming pressure...?

To make even a veteran Diabolos break out in a cold sweat, this was far from ordinary.

"That Kshana, since when did she possess such a sinister amount of mana...!?"

Almedia stretched up and forcibly tore the curtain down. After tossing it to Melida, she swiftly drew her greatsword and glared at the courtyard.

Melida wrapped the curtain around herself and Freesia, covering their half-naked bodies.

Freesia, completely overcome by her drunkenness, simply let Melida embrace her. The moment she fell asleep and became completely defenseless, the Ripper aiming for her life would surely appear. Freesia's long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyelids slowly, slowly drooped—

She let out a soft, peaceful breath. For a few seconds, absolute silence fell, with no one moving a muscle.

Without making a sound, Almedia slid her palm onto the hilt of her sword.

She had been glaring at the courtyard without a single moment of vulnerability, when—

Suddenly, she whipped around.

"Look out!!"

By the time Melida opened her mouth to say, "Huh?", Almedia had fiercely dashed over and shoved both her and Freesia to the side. They tumbled in a tangled heap, getting wrapped up in the curtains.

In that very moment, the wall of the hall was smashed right through.

A figure charged in, blasting splinters of the wooden door through the air, and swept across the exact spot where Freesia and Melida had just been. Standing in their place, the Duchess was caught in the charge.

It was a shadow as massive as a beast. It tangled with Almedia, sending them both tumbling across the floor.

"I can't believe you had the courtesy to use the front door...!" Almedia said.

Gritting her teeth, Almedia drove her heel into the attacker's solar plexus. She kicked upwards mid-roll. Using the momentum of the charge against them, she sent her attacker flying straight into the window frame.

With a crisp, shattering sound, shards of glass scattered through the air—

Almedia instantly sprang to her feet, kicking through the rest of the window as she leapt out into the courtyard. Melida couldn't just stand by and watch. She tossed a dress over the slumbering Freesia on the floor, then rushed to the window, wrapping a curtain around herself.

Keeping a few meters of distance between them, Almedia and the attacker faced off in the courtyard.

How on earth could she describe the attacker's appearance? They were wrapped in shadow-like flames, their entire body reduced to black cinder. Their frame was twice the size of a normal human's. She had thought it was a beast, but it was undeniably a person. After all, their right hand was tightly gripping something shaped like a spear.

It was almost as if... the very shadow clothing them possessed physical mass.

Melida found herself confused on two different levels.

"Aunt Almedia! Is that...!" Melida cried.

"Hmm, is it not Kshana!?" Almedia said.

"It's a Loup-garou!! A failed Lycanthrope!" Melida yelled.

The attacker unleashed a beastly roar. The surrounding trees shuddered.

Of all places, why did she have to cross paths with one here in the Holy King District? A pitiful monster that had failed to become a complete Lycanthrope after being corrupted by the night's miasma, losing its human ego in the process—a Loup-garou. To be completely honest, it was a memory she'd rather forget... The sights Melida had witnessed in the experimental facilities of the underground city Shangarta, right after becoming a second-year student, inescapably resurfaced in her mind.

Loup-garou were failed Lycanthropes—

If that was the case, then who was the person they used to be?

She didn't have time to think. The attacker kicked off the ground with tremendous force, churning up an unbelievable amount of dirt. As the enemy charged at her with explosive speed, Almedia prepared to intercept them with do-or-die resolve.

The shadow shaped like a spear and the greatsword violently clashed.

The shockwave billowed out like a sudden gale. Melida held onto her curtain and shielded her face. Every single window surrounding the courtyard of the Shiksal estate violently rattled as if on the verge of shattering.

Had it been anyone other than Almedia, one of the strongest knights in existence, their arms and knees would have been shattered.

But she certainly didn't have room to spare. Gritting her teeth, a cold sweat broke out across the Duchess's skin as she pushed back with her greatsword.

From the clash of their weapons, a voice spoke out.

"...A... Aunt Almedia...!!"

"Kshana!?" Almedia gasped.

Indeed, the shadows peeled away from the attacker just slightly, revealing the deeply sculpted features of a beautiful woman.

Melida had met her once before, during the grand voyage last summer. It was Salacha and Serge's cousin—Kshana Shiksal. She was supposed to be imprisoned for the attempted assassination of the Paladin Duke, but just as Kufa had predicted, she must have escaped during the chaos of the revolution—becoming the Ripper and slaughtering the Werewolf Tribe night after night. All to sabotage the peace treaty.

Desperately pressing against the hilt to keep her greatsword steady, Almedia called out to her.

"Kshana, withdraw these vicious shadows!"

"Please, Lady Almedia, you must not interfere... I am out of time!" Kshana strained.

"If you wish to stop the revolution, you must align with our plan!" Almedia declared.

"...I-I can't control it anymore...!!"

The beastly shadow enveloping Kshana unleashed a roar on its own. It thrashed about, as if tearing at itself, inflicting pain even on Kshana. In other words, they were separate. Kshana herself wasn't a Loup-garou; rather, she was possessed by someone else who had been reduced to a Loup-garou.

"...Wait."

Almedia took two, then three steps back, trembling.

"I remember seeing this power before... At the Kings Meeting a month ago! It's the same shadow that Serge, that fool, was manipulating...!? Which means—"

"Aunt Almedia!" Melida called out.

Using her unengaged position to her advantage, Melida had taken the initiative. Having found a bottle of "juice" from the pile of presents, she hurled it right out the window.

It drew an arc through the air, practically drawn to the space right above the Loup-garou's head.

Almedia moved on reflex. With a light swing of her greatsword, she shattered the bottle. Its contents sprayed through the air, showering down over the Loup-garou's entire body.

The Duchess snapped the fingers of her free hand, shooting off a spark of Mana.

It ignited the alcohol mixed inside, and the flames spread across its body with blinding speed. The heatwave blasted away the smog overhead. The Loup-garou let out a scream that sounded like it echoed from the very depths of hell, and slowly, it began to be peeled away from Kshana.

"Guh, uugh...!!"

As if she were taking off clothing made of lead, Kshana's healthy, uninjured body tumbled out.

After spitting her out onto the ground with a heavy thud, the shadow beast leapt away with even greater agility. It kicked off a tree trunk, knocking it down, and used the roof of the Shiksal estate as a foothold to soar high into the sky, spreading ominous black wings from its legs.

Slowly halting midair, it drew back the shadow modeled after a spear in its right hand—

"I knew it...!"

The moment Almedia's eyes widened, a sharp crack split the air above. The Loup-garou had kicked off a wall of air. Almedia dove to the side, dodging its vertical, godspeed strike by a hairsbreadth.

Treating the miss as a mere margin of error, the spear violently exploded the ground where it struck.

Clumps of earth of all sizes scattered with a deafening roar, smashing into the walls of the Shiksal estate all around them. Melida cried out, ducking down beneath the window. Still on the ground, Kshana desperately shielded her head.

Having leapt sideways with all her might and skidding to a halt, Almedia did not, however, transition into a counterattack.

Beyond the scattering clods of dirt, she simply stared at the monster bearing its naked bloodlust.

"This power belongs to a Dragoon... That spear, that fighting style... it's hers..."

The Duchess's lips trembled.

"Dilita Shiksal!! Is that you!?"

『Grrr...!!』

"What a state you've been reduced to..."

Along with her voice, Melida saw the strength leave the fingers gripping her greatsword.

Melida peered out from the window frame, yet she struggled to swallow the Duchess's words. Speaking of Dilita of the Shiksal family meant she was Salacha and Serge's mother. Renowned alongside her husband Genron as a warrior brimming with a sense of justice—

She was supposed to be the one taking the initiative to put a stop to her son's foolish revolution.

Given that they hadn't shown themselves even now, Almedia had hypothesized they were probably imprisoned. Kufa, on the other hand, had mentioned the possibility that they were already dead. Melida herself had fretted over the safety of her best friend's parents...

And yet, to think...

Who on earth could have imagined that they would reunite in a form like this?

The monster lowered its center of gravity once more. Even as Almedia unconsciously leveled her greatsword at it, she shook her head.

"Stop, Dilita... Are you telling me to kill you...?"

Like a raw recruit, her fingertips trembled, causing the handguard of her sword to rattle.

Uncaring, the monster took flight.

Simultaneously, another figure leapt up from the roof of the Shiksal estate.

"...Haaah!"

With his tailcoat fluttering, the young man brought his heel crashing down right onto the Loup-garou's skull. The upward momentum combined with the sheer power of the kick caused the very space around them to crack. The Loup-garou was blasted back to the ground at dizzying speed, slamming headfirst into the crater it had dug up itself.

"Mirror Blade Art..."

At the crisp click of a sword being drawn from its scabbard, Melida looked up to see the man she longed for, poised in midair with his Black Sword ready.

Without a moment's delay, he drew his sword.

"Sudden Rain Fierce Cherry Blossom Wave!!"

Mana shaped like arrowheads rained down in a torrent. He had narrowed the area of effect to its absolute limit. With extreme density, they pierced every inch of the monster's body, pinning it to the ground with a barrage of azure thrusts like a pincushion.

The moment it tried to lift its head, the final strike pierced through its upper jaw, pinning it to the earth along with its scream.

The young man lightly alighted right in front of the nose of the monster, which could no longer even twitch.

Unable to hold herself back, Melida leaned out from the window frame.

"Kufa-sensei!"

"Just as expected, I suppose... Made it in the nick of time, didn't I?"

It seemed he had been sprinting at top speed searching for Melida and the others. His shoulders were heaving gently, and sweat trickled down his neck. The reason he had undone his Vampire transformation was likely because he had spotted the others just beforehand.

He glanced from Kshana, collapsed on the ground, to Almedia and her bitter expression.

"I heard a voice just faintly... Did you call this monster Lady Dilita?"

Almedia's shoulders jolted. Kufa's gaze turned cautious.

"...Shall I put her out of her misery?"

"Yes, please do... Those who become Loup-garou can never regain their human hearts... You couldn't control her even if she's your own kin, could you?"

Kshana lowered her head, avoiding a clear answer. Almedia slowly shook her head.

"Put an end to her suffering... White Knight."

"Very well then."

Readjusting his grip on his drawn Black Sword, Kufa stepped up to the Loup-garou's snout.

Even with its own flesh tearing, the monster struggled to break free from its restraints. Was there any human dignity left in that form? What would Salacha or Serge think if they saw this?

"Disease progression, Stage A—"

Repeating the words she had heard once before, Kufa raised his Black Sword in a reverse grip.

"Administering swift salvation."

He thrust it down.

He was left entirely speechless. However, as if thinking it only natural, a figure stepped out from the gathered pack of werewolves.

It was Mad Gold, carrying himself with a theatrical flair.

"What a terrible tragedy! To think the culprit behind the Ripper incidents was none other than the Paladin Duke's very own mother..."

With Serge and his mother's corpse at his back, he turned gracefully toward the pack.

"However, gentlemen! I ask that you remember my daughter!!"

He was holding Freesia in his arms, who was still deeply asleep. Even though they had dressed her beforehand, just what kind of nerve did he have to flaunt her sleeping face like this?

Peering out stealthily from a second-floor window of the Shiksal estate, Melida looked on with a deeply sour expression.

In the same darkened room, Almedia and Kshana were also concealing themselves. The profiles of those observing the scene outside all wore grave expressions. Kufa alone, after having fabricated the outcome of the incident and handing Freesia over—had just now returned to the room. He wrapped an arm around Melida's shoulder and stood beside her.

Looking down at the scene together, Mad Gold was delivering a speech to the assembled onlookers.

"The terrifying Ripper has been slain by this very Freesia! By the bride herself, with her own two hands!! I cannot fathom the depth of the Paladin Duke's sorrow... however, for that very reason, we must ensure his joy is measured in equal parts! Now, tomorrow is finally the wedding... It will surely be a day etched in history!!"

"Long live Mad Gold! Long live the Werewolf Tribe──────────!!"

The werewolves' cheers echoed loudly. Seeing the reporters raising their cameras, Kufa was the first to quickly pull the curtains shut. They had to be careful to conceal the wanted individuals hiding in the room.

"Haaah," Almedia let out a heavy sigh.

"...Well then, is it about time you started explaining?"

The question was directed, of course, at Kshana. With a bitter expression, she furrowed her brow, surely visualizing through the closed curtains the unseen corpse of her aunt and the sight of her cousin silently touching her skin.

"I shall explain everything."

Kshana stated in a beautiful, rich voice.

"The curse that has fallen upon the Shiksal family... why Lady Dilita became like that, why I resorted to assassinating my own cousin, and why that foolish king... why Serge joined hands with the werewolves to incite this revolution... Everything..."

Melida's vision swayed dizzily.

Had her fatigue surpassed its limit? Had the drunkenness finally caught up with her? Or perhaps it was because she felt truly at ease at the touch of her beloved's hand. Aware that the voices of the adults were gradually fading away, Melida staggered on her feet.

She leaned against the warmth beside her. Right on the verge of falling asleep, Melida felt, in a half-dreaming state, Kufa's arm gently catch her and hold her close—

ToC