Regardless of such a phenomenon, the former Royal Magician could not detect even a trace of the youth that would make pacifying the third princess so much easier…
It was, well, disappointing and quite annoying to say the least.
"...R-Rotti…?"
"...?"
Suddenly, Demi-Leigh flinched and gasped while staring at the deofolized human, causing it to return the stare, convinced that the third princess might be losing it…
Only to realize that she wasn't looking at it, but rather at something directly beside it…!
*THWAP* *WHAAAM*
The next moment, before the former Royal Magician could properly react, something slapped it hard on the back of its head, sending it diving into the ground face-first with enough momentum for its upper body to create a ditch leading all the way to the incapacitated Syon, while its legs kicked up so much its feet almost touched the ground again…!
The one responsible for such an outrageous deed was…
Well, who else?
"Big Sister Demi, were you…? Were you really going to sacrifice most of humanity to save me?"
"..."
The eleven-feet-tall, white-haired youth with beastly yellow eyes shining brilliantly with joy asked, grinning so much that all of his fang-like teeth were presenting themselves to the third princess, frozen in shock.
"...y-yes…"
"Aww~ That's the nicest thing someone has ever tried to do for me~ Thank you~!"
After the moment of utter disbelief, Demi-Leigh tensed up and nodded, lowering her head as if expecting a scolding or worse, but she couldn't be more wrong about the response she got.
*crrrrrrrk* *WHOOSH*
The next moment, the body of the deofolized human became encased in ice and launched into the sky, seemingly without any interaction with anyone present…!
"...R-Rotti… wh-what just…? Mnmnn?"
"Shhh. Wait a second. I got to have a talk with the kid."
Demi-Leigh dared to look up and mumble, but Rotsard shushed her, placing his massive finger against her lips before approaching Syon.
"Hey, kiddo. I'll see what I can do, but, unfortunately, I can't promise you that I'll be able to do anything about your dad… You have to be brave."
Rotsard crouched by the fallen homunculus, and his mere presence froze over and destroyed the spell holding Syon down…!
"...? H-huh…? What do you mean…? Uwaah…?!"
"Once what's left of him comes down, you will have to face it. I got your back."
As he scrambled back up to his feet, Syon muttered, but got interrupted by an affectionate headpat and words of encouragement that were more confusing than anything.
"Polaris, sweetie, come over~"
"Nrao…? Nnnnraooo~!"
As Rotsard was turning away from Syon, he called over towards Saria's group and apparently freed only the golden bear cub that cried out first in surprise, then from happiness, and instantly teleported into the giant's arms.
"Let's help your master, shall we?"
"Nrao!"
Rotsard said while moving over to the unconscious Blanid, as Polaris encouraged him with a growl.
"...poor bastard, he really gave it his all, didn't he…?"
The giant sighed to himself while picking the disguised girl by the scruff of her shirt, still convinced that she was a male.
Balnid's arms were limply dangling around, bent in the unnatural direction, and her forearms and hands were turning purple.
"Heal would just connect everything in this messed-up way… Ah, right. I know just the spell~! Restore."
Rotsard muttered while tilting his head to the side before nodding and chanting the incantation.
*WHOOSH*
At his command, particles of bluish-white light swirled as they materialized around the disguised girl in his grasp, causing her disheveled clothes to flutter.
"Hmm…?"
As the spell worked, something unexpected happened, surprising Rotsard quite a bit.
In his eyes, Justin… shrank and sank in his clothes!
*rustle*
…so much that both his shoes and pants just… slipped off and dropped to the ground…!
"...what in the…?!"
Rotsard gasped, raising the no-longer-disguised girl up to his face as the sudden change worried him… not to mention that even the blond hair of the supposed future hero turned black…
"..."
With the unconscious Blanid right in front of his face, Rotsard's mind was still defending itself from accepting the truth about her.
Still in denial, Rotsard lowered and tilted his head, grabbing the bottom of the now skirt-like shirt that the no-longer-disguised girl was sinking in, and lifted it up juuuuuust a little bit.
"...oooohhhhh…!"
Upon witnessing a rather clear confirmation, Rotsard let out a baffled voice and quickly changed the way he was holding her, securely nesting her in one arm while assuring that the oversized shirt covers her properly…
"... …! Oho~! Ehem!"
…his third-rate villain's nature didn't let him leave it as is, and although he did seem to falter, he ended up pulling on Blanid's shirt's collar, peeking down, and letting out a pleasantly surprised voice before clearing his throat and attempting to act as if he didn't just do what he did.
"...huh… Polaris, sweetie, did you know that your master was a girl all along?"
But then his face actually turned serious with some realization, and he asked the golden cub that climbed on his shoulder.
"Nraoo…?"
"What? Oh, you see, a girl is…"
Polaris growled with confusion, prompting the giant to hesitate for a second before speaking up…
"...umm… let's leave that conversation for another time, okay?"
Only to glance to the side, be reminded of the time and place, and hurriedly shake his head before dropping the subject.