I teleported with Alice into a stark white void. Before us stood a group of mages clutching arcane devices. To the right, cultivation capsules lined the wall, containing… people?
The swap teleportation worked. Ravel should be safe with Miu now.
Some mages muttered in shock. "What the hell!? Why's the Phoenix girl now the Red Dragon Emperor!?"
"That woman… she's one of his retainers!"
They knew about Alice, too. My quick acquisition of retainers after promotion spread across the Underworld, thanks to Azazel-sensei's exaggerated newsletter—complete with our kiss scene, which had Alice blushing and fuming. She delivered a solid punch to him later.
Our strength was likely known from the beast incident. While I was away, Alice, Miu, and Tia took down a giant magical beast.
I addressed the rattled mages. "Tough luck. Ravel's under our protection. We know this location, so reinforcements are coming."
Miu's marks on us let her pinpoint this place. She'd inform Sona soon.
"Damn it! They swapped with the Phoenix girl!"
"No way!"
"Wait a sec…"
Their gazes scanned me, then—
"Why's the Red Dragon Emperor already beat up!?"
That's what shocks you!?
Not something else!?
"Look, that's your fault! Bad timing… or maybe good timing," I said.
I was battered—before any fighting started! Alice's embarrassed, furious punch was so strong it wrecked house walls.
But that timing let me see her in that sexy, cute pose. Totally worth it. Thank you!
"Hey! I told you to forget that!" Alice snapped, brandishing her spear, cheeks red.
"Sorry! Can't! It's burned into my brain!" I grinned. I'd love a repeat. Alice—Alice-chan—was too cute, too alluring. She used to throw punches without hesitation, but this gap was amazing!
"I'll erase that memory! I'll pound you till it's gone!"
Nooo! Her lightning-charged spear was closing in! I'd get scorched again!
As Alice cornered me, a mage shouted, "What are you here for!? Stop bickering like a married couple!"
"We're not married yet!" we snapped back in unison.
"Your comebacks are weirdly different!?" they retorted.
Sure, Alice and I vowed to stay together, but we're not married yet. I'll make her my wife, though—no one else gets her!
By the way, since our relationship deepened, my parents have been scheming, like with Miu. They've been showing Alice pamphlets, too… but that's for later.
"Issei-senpai…"
I turned to see Koneko, hands bound, and Gasper, also bound, slumped on the floor.
"Koneko-chan, you okay? I'll free you. Alice, handle Gasper."
"Got it. Gasper-kun, you alright?" Alice asked.
We unbound them. Koneko, teary, clung to me. "I'm sorry… If I were stronger, Gasper-kun wouldn't have… and Ravel…"
I hugged her, stroking her head. "What happened to Gasper?"
"He… tried to protect me and Ravel…"
Gasper's cheek was bruised, his expression weary. He'd shielded them, showing real courage.
"And Ravel?" I asked.
What did these stray mages want with her? What was this place?
"This is a 'factory' for fake Phoenix Tears… They showed Ravel those," Koneko pointed at the capsules.
Those were tied to Ravel? I frowned.
"Those are clones of Phoenix associates," she said.
Clones!? They were using them to make fake tears!?
How could they treat lives like that!?
As I reeled, Koneko trembled harder. "Ravel was crying… asking why… I couldn't do anything…"
"Enough. You don't have to say more," I said, hugging her tightly. Her tears soaked my uniform. She was furious at herself for being helpless as her friend suffered.
Ravel must've been heartbroken seeing those clones. And Gasper, too…
My clenched fists bled, but I felt no pain—only frustration at my carelessness. I let my guard down, thinking the school and the Three Factions' alliance were safe.
I couldn't forgive myself.
So…
"Alice…"
"I know, Issei," she replied.
We stood slowly. More mages had appeared—forty or fifty reinforcements.
Didn't matter.
Cracks spread from our feet, radiating outward.
"Anyone who wants to die, step forward," we said in unison.
Red aura and white lightning surged, shattering the surroundings.
"You crossed a line you shouldn't have," I said.
"Feel the weight of your sins," Alice added.
Our killing intent dominated the space. They'd violated something sacred. They'd pay.
A mage laughed. "Just two against all of us? Hilarious!"
He snapped his fingers, and every mage summoned attack circles—fire, water, ice, lightning, wind, light, darkness—unleashed in a torrent. A horde of summoned beasts charged, too.
An overwhelming number.
"Issei-senpai!" Koneko cried.
I flashed her a smile. No problem.
My red aura erupted, fierce as roaring flames, denser than before. It formed a majestic red dragon, modeled after an unsealed Ddraig, enveloping Alice, Koneko, and Gasper.
ROAR!
The dragon's bellow erased the incoming magic and blew the beasts away.
"What was that!? It wiped out everything!?" mages gasped through the smoke.
Ddraig scoffed. "That's their reaction? These strays didn't do their homework. Or maybe they knew and challenged you for fun? Either way, fools."
Too late for regrets.
"My turn," I said.
"Hold back?" Alice asked.
"Keep them alive for questioning. Just barely."
Alice nodded, stepping forward. Her single step radiated crushing pressure, felt even by us. The mages, directly targeted, froze.
They'd angered the White Lightning Princess.
Twirling her spear, Alice gripped it reverse-handed, cloaking it in white lightning. She crouched, channeling power into her step—
"White Spear Cannon: Aspros Vrimas!"
She hurled the spear, sonic boom tearing the floor like a missile.
BOOM!
The impact shook the space, knocking Koneko off balance. Lightning and shockwaves engulfed the mages.
As the smoke cleared, the spear was embedded deep in the cratered floor.
Alice went all out with that one—practically artillery.
"Cough… Monsters!"
"Call the boss!"
"Already did! Now what!?"
The mages' screams echoed.
The boss wasn't here?
"Koneko-chan, seen their leader?" I asked.
"Yes. He told Ravel their goal, then left," she said.
Wait for him, then? These were likely grunts, but I wanted the mastermind.
"For now, let's deal with these guys," Alice said, holding a lightning tether connected to her spear. She yanked it, retrieving the weapon.
"That's our opening move," she said.
"About right. Half down, maybe twenty left. I'll take the right," I said.
"Got it, my lord," Alice replied.
My lord, huh? Tickled, but I liked it.
"Let's go!"
"Alright!"
We kicked off the ground. Alice's strike had split their forces. I'd handle the right.
First, a mage summoning with a magic circle. I fired a ki blast, shattering it and sending him crashing into a wall.
"Surround him! Hit him all at once!" a leader-like mage barked.
They scattered, encircling me. Outnumbered, they relied on numbers, attacking from all angles—front, air, even my feet.
Smart move. Dead angles are tough to counter.
"They're above average," Ddraig noted.
Doesn't matter.
"I'll sweep it all away!"
I swung a ki-charged fist sideways, the shockwave obliterating rocks, ice spears, and fire rain.
"Think I'd go down to this? I'd be long dead if I did," I said.
The mages froze, stunned their barrage failed. My side was nearly done.
On Alice's end—
"What's with this woman!?"
"Too fast! Can't hit her!"
Mages fired a barrage of elemental magic like machine guns, but Alice's lightning-fast afterimages dodged everything.
"You challenged us with that? Thought numbers would win? Naive. No wonder the Association kicked you out," Alice taunted.
Ouch, her venom was sharp. She was merciless against enemies like these, and her taunts always hit hard.
"You bitch!" a mage roared, rage overtaking panic.
Alice was a master at provocation. Former princess, indeed.
"Her personality's not… bad, is it?" Ddraig asked.
"Nah, she's great. Just slacks on paperwork. Otherwise, sweet and cute," I said.
"Paperwork's my nemesis!" Alice shouted. "And don't call me sweet and cute now!"
"How're you reading my mind mid-fight!? And paperwork's your nemesis?"
"It's my enemy!"
"Overcome it! You're my 'Queen'! Learn from Juna!"
"Someday!"
Ugh, she's hopeless! Zero intent to improve!
My retainers need someone who can handle work! Alice is turning into a tragic beauty!
That can't happen!
A mage yelled, "How many times are you gonna bicker like a married couple!?"
That set us off.
"You guys…"
"How many times do we have to say…"
"We're not married yet!" we shouted, unleashing a red blast and white lightning that sent the mages flying.
"Why get mad there?" Ddraig muttered.
Dunno, just felt like it? We're more like lovers now, marriage is the goal. Lately, we've been so in sync—knowing what the other wants before asking. Same with Miu.
"That's… married. Veteran level," Ddraig said.
Guess we're married, then.
Our rampage crushed the mages, leaving them incapacitated.
Miu arrived with Sona and the others right after.
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