Chapter Text
“Four-Eyes~ What do you think?” Übel slides out of the washroom, her usual all-black gear replaced with a much less-revealing dress. She twirls around in front of him, blinking coquettishly when she faces him.
“It’s fine.”
“Huhhh? Come on, you can do better than that.”
“It’s fine,” he emphasized.
“You’re not even looking!”
He’s not. Well, not anymore, after the first time.
Land looks out the window, observing the street lights of Eiseberg light up. They were currently staying in an inn room set up by the Continental Magic Association, just before they would leave for a ceremonial gathering to retrieve the information hidden by Linear.
Land fidgets with the cuff of his sleeve. The dress and suit were also provided by the Association, stashed beneath the bed. They really did prepare for everything.
“Hey, prince charming, won’t you dance with me?” Übel holds her hand out expectantly after another twirl.
“Don’t waste time. Hurry up and do your hair.”
“Aww, don’t be such a downer. Or is it because you don’t—” A twirl too much, and she stumbles and falls.
In the blink of an eye, Land is up and across the room. One hand catches the girl by her waist, the other clasping the hand held up in the air.
Übel blinks up at him. “So you do know how to dance.”
Looking up at the ceiling of the inn room, he sighed. “Just do your hair already. The carriage will arrive soon.”
“Yeah, yeah. But first, can you let go?”
Land is tempted to simply let go and let her tumble onto the floor with a whump!, but he doesn’t. He brings her to a standing position, heading back to his seat by the window.
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Übel is an unbelievable girl, Land doesn’t think for the hundredth time ever since meeting her. They have yet to get out of the danger zone, and she’s idling around looking at unnecessary things.
“Übel, we should be running.”
“Chill, Four-Eyes. With this crowd, they won’t find us that easily.”
“Übel—”
Übel puts on a headband decorated with cat ears. “Meow~ Oh no, I’ve been turned into a cat. Won’t you give me a kiss to break the curse, prince charming?”
Did this girl ever take anything seriously beyond combat? But even during fights, she would always play around for a bit, whether it was with prey or predator. He takes it back, the girl doesn’t take anything seriously ever.
Fireworks burst into the sky. As the night filled with colorful, exploding lights, Übel places another pair of cat ears on his head.
“Too late, prince charming. You’ve been cursed too~”
I want to go home.
A surge of mana caught their attention. A beam of light shot through the air, towards something—someone—far out of their sight. To the average civilian, it could be easily dismissed as a trick of the eye. But to the trained mage…
“Fern went big, huh? This would be a good time for us to run.”
Dropping a few coins onto the table, she grabs Land’s hand. She pulls him into the crowd as their fingers intertwine.