Tokyo, Taito Ward, inside a Western-style villa.
C.C. held a slice of pizza, leaning back against the sofa, her slender, snow-white legs casually propped up on the small wooden table at the centre.
Just as cheese smeared her lips, the figure of Aya Tokoyogi—cool and profound—began to materialise slowly on the floor-to-ceiling window behind her, half-obscured by the curtains.
Only after Aya Tokoyogi stepped out of the mirror did C.C. turn her head and remark nonchalantly:
"Half an hour later than expected..."
"You really do hold onto old sentiments, Aya."
Aya Tokoyogi ignored her, walking unhurriedly to the sofa opposite C.C. and sitting down before stating indifferently:
"I need detailed intelligence on the Hidden Management Department."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a soft thud.
C.C. had tossed a pre-prepared document folder in front of her.
"I already had the cult prepare it."
"Honestly, every time that woman's involved, your mind turns into a mess."
C.C. took a bite of pizza while mocking:
"Are you trying to deliberately make her the Witch of the Notaria's weakness?"
Having observed Aya Tokoyogi's apparent concern for Natsuki Minamiya for so long, C.C. couldn't help but find it odd.
If she cared so much, why show it?
The people in Truth Astronomy were no saints—if they saw a weakness, they'd exploit it without hesitation.
To C.C.'s question, Aya Tokoyogi merely replied coolly:
"A useless weakness only has value when displayed openly."
"Heh, ever since coming to this world, Natsuki Minamiya's life has been far too comfortable. It's about time she had some fun."
Aya Tokoyogi fully acknowledged Natsuki Minamiya's strength as a witch. But now that she herself had become a Demigod, Natsuki remained stagnant, even relying on others to resolve her demon contract.
Such a state of affairs was unacceptable to her.
"How cruel of you~ Caring for someone while simultaneously making trouble for them..."
C.C. chuckled around a mouthful of pizza:
"It's almost like a child's idea of love~."
No sooner had C.C. spoken than her expression shifted slightly, her gaze sharpening towards the living room entrance.
At that very moment, a knock sounded at the door.
There stood a black-haired twin-tailed girl dressed in a sailor outfit resembling a modified nurse's uniform, holding a star-tipped staff, politely knocking on the door:
"Excuse me~ Is this the witch's lair?"
Serafall, noticing the two pairs of eyes watching her from the sofa, immediately flashed a bright smile:
"Sorry to interrupt, but this righteous Magical Girl is here to arrest you now~"
Hearing this, Aya Tokoyogi turned her head indifferently to glance at C.C.:
"How embarrassing... to be cornered here of all places."
C.C. frowned slightly, her expression puzzled as she said:
"With our interference in the divination, only Lati and Pero should have known about this place..."
Blocking the doorway, Serafall tapped her chin thoughtfully with a finger:
"You said Lati's a woman, right? The only woman I encountered was a blonde girl with purple lipstick wearing a black bodysuit."
"She's already my captive~"
"After all, she's rare material possessing the Witch Class..."
"As for the Pero you mentioned... sorry. Too many people resisted earlier. I don't recall which frozen person was called Pero..."
At this, C.C. raised an eyebrow, sounding genuinely surprised:
"How did you bypass the technique implanted in their minds to extract information?"
Members of Truth Astronomy all have protective techniques cast on their frontal lobes to prevent intelligence leaks.
Any attempt to invade their minds triggers a backlash of Demon Power that corrodes the intruder while destroying the member's brain.
By all logic, this technique shouldn't be so easily broken.
Hearing this, Serafall tilted her head with a smile:
"Oh, that interesting technique in their heads?"
"First time I've seen something so peculiar."
"Using demonic magic as a medium to corrupt invaders, complete with self-destruct functionality."
"Fascinating design. Though... you didn't consider what happens if the attacker is a demon, did you?"
The instant she finished speaking, Aya Tokoyogi materialised soundlessly behind Serafall.
Sensing the presence, Serafall glanced between the Aya and C.C. on the sofa and her own position, showing mild surprise:
"Oh? There's two of you now?"
CRACKLE!
Black lightning coiled around Aya's finger as it pierced through Serafall's back the next moment, tearing through pink fabric to stab into her body.
"Hmm?"
Upon contact, Aya felt only icy coldness and looked at Serafall with genuine astonishment:
"Ice?"
As she spoke, Serafall giggled:
"Ah. Forgot to introduce myself. I'm the Ice Magical Girl, Serafall-chan~"
Her entire body transformed into translucent blue-white ice as frost rapidly crawled up Aya's arm.
Unfazed, Aya simply flicked her wrist. Crimson-black lightning erupted, vaporising every trace of encroaching ice.
At this point, Aya Tokoyogi looked slightly surprised at the ice sculpture of Serafall before her and asked doubtfully:
"Is this... the Freezing Concept?"
Though very faint, Aya had detected fluctuations of conceptual power from that earlier technique.
The ability to manipulate concepts... was the privilege of Hero Ranks with Top Tier Classes and Demigod powerhouses.
Yet, strangely, the conceptual power had been extremely weak just now.
If the concept in Aya Tokoyogi's hands was 100, the opponent's was probably only at 5-10.
But since they could manipulate concepts, it wouldn't be wrong to regard them as a Top Tier Hero Rank.
Thinking this, Aya Tokoyogi remarked with mild surprise:
"It seems... this is no small fry after all..."
As the words fell, the corridor, ceiling, walls - everything in the villa began to be covered by blue-white ice and snow.
On the bright, mirror-like surfaces formed by frost, multiple images of Serafall appeared, like a kaleidoscope.
Tilting her head within those icy reflections, Serafall said with visible distress:
"As expected, you Demigods far surpass us in mastering your unique traits..."
"Even with our willpower, it would be difficult to withstand such power at close range..."
"However, under Twin Wings' tutelage, I've developed some ideas I'd like to test on you Demigods..."
Aya Tokoyogi remained silent, and C.C. on the nearby sofa showed no reaction either.
Both listened quietly, processing information while observing this mysterious assailant, searching for her true body's location.
At that moment, all the Serafalls in the ice mirrors raised their star-shaped staffs high:
"Now then, welcome to the world of the Ice Beauty Serafall~~"
With that declaration, Serafall struck a pose and gently swung her staff downward.
In the next instant -
The entire Taito Ward.
13 square kilometres of land transformed into frozen white tundra in a single moment!!!