Mélusine wandered alone through the halls of the Fraxinus.
Yes, once again, Mélusine had snuck out of the infirmary. If Itsuka Kotori found out, she'd definitely give her trouble again.
But this time was different—Mélusine had a perfectly valid reason. She was escaping… from Honjō Nia.
Mélusine's body was perfectly fine, and yet Honjō Nia insisted on looking after her—and even showed up in a maid outfit, of all things.
"If you're going to take care of someone, obviously a maid outfit is the first thing that comes to mind. That's common sense!"
If only that really were common sense…
Besides, Honjō Nia couldn't take care of people to save her life. Expecting that old lady with zero self-management skills to look after someone? You'd have better luck teaching a monkey to write Hamlet.
Not that Nia cared—because, of course, her real reason for showing up wasn't to take care of Mélusine. Anyone else might be fooled, but with Tohka Book of Guidance in her hands, there was no way Nia hadn't already seen that Mélusine was in perfect health. She was clearly just there to cop a feel.
So, Mélusine had bolted from the infirmary.
The problem is… I have no idea where to go.
Ever since receiving Mélusine's Saint Graph, she'd become more disciplined, less inclined toward idle fun, always carrying a taut edge. She'd grown used to keeping her emotions in check, giving off an aloof, distant air.
She even had a slight case of mysophobia.
That sort of personality made her resemble a reliable knight—someone people instinctively wanted to lean on.
But when idle, like now, she found it… torturous.
That was partly why she'd been so active in helping others ever since arriving in this world.
Sure, being influenced by Himmel in the previous world was part of it—but even more, Mélusine's Saint Graph had left her somewhat addicted to the feeling of being needed and constantly busy.
Of course, not all of Mélusine's influence was positive… Mélusine herself had harbored a deep disdain for humanity, save for her Master.
That said, it wasn't hatred or contempt—Mélusine simply regarded humans as low-survivability organisms.
Despite having a humanoid form, Mélusine was still part of the dragon Albion—her biology and worldview aligned more closely with that of a pureblood dragon.
Strolling aimlessly through the corridor, Mélusine studied the structure of Fraxinus.
This ship probably needs a full overhaul… That slash from Tohka was no joke.
Then, half-joking, she added:
A massive airborne warship like this must be crazy expensive to fix. Hope Kotori doesn't try to bill Tohka for it.
As if Yatogami Tohka could afford repairs. The girl didn't even pay for her own meals—Ratatoskr covered everything, and her appetite was no small matter.
Speaking of which… Miku was taken away by Kotori, wasn't she?
Not long ago, Izayoi Miku had been sealed by Shidō Itsuka.
In truth, Miku had reached the necessary affection level to be sealed long ago—she'd even overused her powers and collapsed just to protect Shidō.
After he woke up, Mélusine didn't know what exactly passed between the two—but shortly after, Miku agreed to have her Spirit powers sealed.
As for why Kotori had taken Miku away… Mélusine could guess: probably to dig for information about the mysterious entity who had turned Miku into a Spirit in the first place.
Not that it would help much—Miku didn't know much herself. If they really wanted answers, they'd be better off interrogating Honjō Nia.
Kamikami Mio likely had methods for restricting Nia's abilities. After all, someone as cautious as Mio wouldn't have let Nia out otherwise. Even if Kotori did go to her, she'd learn nothing of Phantom's real identity.
Case in point: in the original work, even Tokisaki Kurumi was surprised when Phantom's true form was revealed—despite having had Nia investigate beforehand.
Nia's Tohka Book of Guidance probably had dug up some information… but it must've been the kind of thing Mio was fine with leaking. Though hailed as an "All-Knowing Angel," it was still a fragment of Mio's power—just like how in the Nasuverse, weaker mysteries crumble in the face of greater ones.
While Mélusine was deep in thought—
Something pressed down on her.
"I thought I heard someone say my name… Were you thinking about me, little Lan?"
Even without using any spiritual power, her voice carried a seductive charm—it whispered right into Mélusine's ear.
Startled, Mélusine looked up—and her gaze locked with a pair of glittering amethyst eyes.
"Izayoi Miku?"
Miku's face lit up with joy the moment Mélusine called her name. She threw her arms around her and began rubbing against her affectionately.
"Little Lan just said my name! So happy, so happy!"
…What is going on?
Mélusine was still dazed.
"I was just thinking about you, and then suddenly I heard your voice calling me—and then I appeared! This is what they call fated telepathy, right? So romantic!"
"Please let go of me."
Mélusine pressed a hand to Miku's overly familiar face to keep her at a distance, then took a moment to collect herself before asking:
"So… you've recovered your memories?"
Not long ago, Mélusine had sealed Miku's memories of their encounter—to avoid being tangled up with her, and to keep from interfering with Shidō's relationship progression.
She'd set the condition to lift the seal as: "when Miku's Spirit power is sealed by Shidō."
As expected, Miku nodded brightly.
"Yup! I remember everything now… Little Lan, you were so mean back then! Not only did you knock me out, you even made me forget about you!"
Still being held at arm's length, Miku began flailing in protest.
"So cruel, so unfair! I once met such an adorable and gallant girl—and you made me forget her!"
"Aren't you angry? Or afraid of me?"
Mélusine frowned deeply. Uncertainty clouded her golden eyes.
"I attacked you. I tampered with your memories. That kind of ability—something so vile and terrifying—you should be afraid of me. You should want to stay far away."
At her words, Miku suddenly fell quiet, her jewel-toned eyes fixed on Mélusine's face.
"…What?"
Mélusine found that gaze a little annoying.
"No… I was just thinking, Little Lan, you're actually really gentle, huh?"
Miku laughed softly, and Mélusine grew even more irritated.
"Gentle? Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all. I meant it. You're really gentle."
"You're right—an ability to seal memories is something no one could easily accept. After all, everyone has memories they'd rather die than forget. But… if the person with that power is you, I'm not scared at all."
She pointed to herself.
"You may have sealed my memories, but you gave them back to me, didn't you?"
"…But still—"
"Besides… compared to your power, mine is far worse."
As she spoke, Miku's expression softened, but her eyes dimmed slightly.
Her voice had the power to bend the will of the weak—anyone with insufficient resolve, anyone weaker than her, she could control at will. In the past, she'd used it recklessly: driving away boys like cockroaches, brainwashing the girls she liked and keeping them at her side as servants—never once caring about their consent.
"Boys are pests that should go extinct. Girls are dolls to be toyed with."
That infamously cruel statement had come from none other than her former self.
No restraint. Total abuse of power. Compared to that Miku, Mélusine was like a saint… At least she felt guilt, self-loathing, for sealing Miku's memories—even though Miku had once been her enemy, even though she'd undone the seal not long after.
That was why Miku felt at ease with her. Because she trusted that Mélusine, even with such dangerous power, would never misuse it.
Such a gentle person… Miku thought, heart pounding.
And knowing that the guilt etched on that porcelain-like face had appeared because of her—it made her heart race all the more.
"Thank you…"
"Of course, the most important reason is—" Miku wrapped her arms around Mélusine's head, inhaling her soft fragrance as her cheeks flushed red, "—a girl as cute as Little Lan should be forgiven for anything. That's a cute girl's privilege!"
"W-Waaaah… You're way too adorable, Little Lan! I just wanna cuddle you on my bed like a plushie… Can I? Can I? Please?"
"No. That would be extremely troubling for me."
Mélusine rejected her plea without hesitation.
"Pretty please, Little Lan? This is my one lifelong wish—"
Even though she'd fallen for Shidō and called him darling, Miku's love for cute girls remained as strong as ever.
As for calling him darling… that was probably Kaguya's influence.
"Hey, you cow! What do you think you're doing to my Lan-chan—?!"
A shrill voice rang out and grew louder by the second. Suddenly, Miku felt the warmth in her arms disappear. Looking up, she saw a gray-haired girl who looked like her favorite sardine had been stolen—and Mélusine, now held protectively in the girl's arms.
Said gray-haired girl… was wearing a maid outfit.
"Lan-chan! Are you okay?! That damn cow didn't do anything indecent to you, did she?!"
Honjō Nia hugged Mélusine tightly, her hands wandering a little too freely—only to receive a thwack to the forehead.
"You're just taking advantage of the situation, aren't you?"
"Of course not!"
Nia protested with mock indignation.
"I'm just trying to overwrite that foxy stink on your body with my own scent!"
"Excuse you?! What do you mean foxy stink?!"
Miku pouted.
"If anything, I'd prefer you call it 'a gentle, fresh sweetness like gardenias.'"
"Still, I'm surprised… I didn't know Little Lan already had a girlfriend?"
Her gaze bounced between Mélusine and Nia's intimate pose, twinkling with delight.
Nia, puffing up with pride, declared:
"That's right! I'm Lan-chan's girlfriend—"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I have nothing to do with this perverted woman."
Mélusine shot her down mercilessly.
"Even if I did have a girlfriend, it would only be my Master."
Nia looked thoroughly deflated.
"Master…?"
Judging from her expression, Miku was very interested in this so-called Master—but Mélusine had no intention of explaining.
Want to know about my Master? Go ask Shidō and the others. I already told them everything I'm allowed to say… oh wait, wrong line.
Anyway, go ask them. I've already told them everything I could.
"Lan-chan, let's go. The farther we get from that cow, the better."
Nia glared at Miku as if she were a class enemy, determined to take Mélusine far away.
But of course, Miku wouldn't let that happen.
"Ehh~? You're leaving already?"
She pouted.
"I finally got to see Little Lan again, and we haven't even talked that much yet…"
"Not my problem."
Miku might've been cute and her voice overflowing with charm, but right now Nia's heart was full of Mélusine alone.
"You've got Shidō, haven't you? Go find him and stop interfering with our bonding time."
"Darling is important, of course. We just confirmed our feelings for each other—we're in the honeymoon phase now, probably?"
Miku caressed her blushing cheeks.
"But! I'm selfish. Even after falling in love with Darling, I'm not giving up on the adorable girls who appear in front of me. In other words… I want them all!"
"So really, you don't need to worry at all."
Miku suddenly grabbed Nia's hand.
"I'm not here to steal Little Lan away from you. In fact, seeing how close you two are just makes me even happier!"
Take Mélusine from Honjō Nia? Oh no, that wasn't the plan.
Time to dream bigger.
She, Izayoi Miku, was going to collect both Honjō Nia and Mélusine into her harem.
At a glance, it might look like she was joining Shidō Itsuka's harem—but flip it around, and wasn't it just as accurate to say that she was turning Shidō and his harem into her harem?
Shy and soft-spoken Yoshino. Delusional chūni Kaguya. Playful trickster Yuzuru. Innocent and energetic Yatogami Tohka… Every one of them, top-tier beauties—and all now part of her harem.
And she wasn't stopping there. Now, standing before her were the cool, dashing, and gorgeous Mélusine—and the fresh new target, Honjō Nia.
She, Izayoi Miku, would become the Queen of the Harem!