‘How—how is this possible? I didn’t make a sound, did I? Why could she detect me?’
“Ah, Alex, you idiot! Have you forgotten about her Lightning Emperor’s Domain? Since she’s already using the Lightning Emperor’s Blazing Array, there’s no way she wouldn’t activate her domain too!”
‘You’re right! I’m such an idiot, how could I forget something so crucial!’
After Clotilde’s reminder, Lisbeth finally recalled her companion’s ability.
The so-called Lightning Emperor’s Domain was a phenomenon where, whenever Natalie utilized lightning magic, countless bolts of electricity would automatically course through the air around her, unconsciously forming a small, localized lightning domain.
Within this domain, everything belonging to anyone who entered it would be sensed. Thus, even without making a single sound, Lisbeth was precisely detected by Natalie.
Now that she had been discovered, Lisbeth immediately turned to Clotilde. “So, what do we do now? Should I try to escape before she sees my face?”
“Idiot, have you forgotten her Lightning Flash Teleportation? It’s a magic that allows instantaneous movement over short distances. With your current debuffed stats, how could you possibly escape?”
‘Damn it! Why didn’t I ever find Natalie so troublesome before?’
To be honest, because Natalie used to be an ally, Lisbeth had always considered her skills merely convenient.
Yet, only now, when truly confronting Natalie, did Lisbeth realize what a formidable opponent she was.
Just as Lisbeth was still contemplating how to deal with the current predicament, Natalie’s voice rang out.
“You, hiding behind that tree, come out at once! If you don’t, I’ll cleave both you and that massive tree in front of you in half!”
‘Hey, hey! Does she really have to be so violent?’
Lisbeth knew that for Natalie, such a feat would be child’s play.
Nevertheless, Lisbeth didn’t immediately emerge from behind the tree; she remained deep in thought, pondering her next move.
‘What should I do? What can I do now?’
“Alex, what if you used invisibility magic now?”
As Lisbeth’s face contorted in a headache, Clotilde offered a suggestion. However, Lisbeth shook her head in response. “No, invisibility magic is useless within the Lightning Emperor’s Domain. Even if I could temporarily escape her domain, activating invisibility magic takes ten seconds. During that time, I’d definitely be caught by her Lightning Flash Teleportation.”
“Ah, you’re right. What about shrinking magic? Oh, that probably wouldn’t work either, would it? Even if your body became tiny, you’d still be instantly caught as long as you’re in her domain.”
It was undeniable that while Lisbeth’s repertoire of spells was remarkably practical, under Natalie’s Lightning Emperor’s Domain, they all became utterly useless.
As time elapsed, and Lisbeth remained silent behind the large tree, Natalie’s patience wore thin.
Natalie fiercely raised the longsword in her hand. “Is that so? If you won’t come out, then don’t blame me for being impolite!”
“W-wait! I’ll come out! I’ll come out right now!”
Seeing that Natalie was truly about to act, Lisbeth decided to cancel her class change. Trembling, she emerged from behind the tree, immediately crouching down and staring tearfully at Natalie. “M-Miss Human, I was just passing by, gathering herbs. Please, don’t kill me… w-woohoohoo…”
After realizing that none of her methods would allow her to escape Natalie, Lisbeth seemingly had only one option: feign helplessness and beg Natalie for mercy.
To enhance the effect, Lisbeth even conjured a few tears, now appearing indistinguishable from a pitiful beast-kin demon girl.
“Alex, I know you’re doing this to protect yourself, but as a grown man, looking so teary-eyed, frankly, it’s a bit…”
“Little Sword, shut up! Do you think I *want* to be like this? And it’s not over yet!”
“Huh?”
After Lisbeth finished speaking to Clotilde, she surprisingly pulled out the small pouch she had been carrying on her back. She then presented the empty herb-gathering bag to Natalie. “M-Miss Human, I haven’t brought anything with me, so I have no money to give you. But please, I beg you, spare me, I…”
“Say no more. I won’t hurt you.”
Before Lisbeth could finish her plea, Natalie immediately sheathed her longsword, stepped forward, and embraced Lisbeth tightly. “Child, even though you are of demonkind, you’re so young. To be out gathering herbs this early in the morning, your family must be struggling, aren’t they? But no matter how much your family needs money, you shouldn’t come to such a dangerous place. There are many magical beasts here, you know.”
Indeed, Lisbeth’s act of feigned helplessness proved effective. While being embraced, she shamelessly revealed a sly, triumphant grin to Clotilde on her arm. “Hmph hmph, Little Sword, see? Didn’t I succeed? Natalie is just as I thought. Even though I’m currently in a demon’s body, as long as it’s a young, cute girl, she’ll usually let them go. And now she even thinks I’m gathering herbs due to family circumstances, which earns me even more points!”
“I-I can’t believe that rumor is true. I’ve always heard Natalie supposedly likes girls, but I never imagined she actually had that kind of interest!”
Seeing that Natalie was truly willing to let go of a girl from an enemy faction based solely on Lisbeth’s words, Clotilde continued in an incredulous tone. “And you’re currently in a demon’s body! For her to just let you go like this is, in a way, an act of treason against her own kind!”
“No, no. While there are rumors she likes cute girls, there are no rumors of her actually ‘making a move’ on one. I think she simply likes children, perhaps? After all, she’s already twenty-five, but her psychological age feels closer to thirty. So, rather than saying she likes girls, it’s more like her maternal instincts are overflowing, wouldn’t you say?”
“Huh? Is that how it is?”
As if to confirm Lisbeth’s earlier statement, Natalie, who had just been hugging Lisbeth, immediately rubbed against her with a beaming smile. “You really are such a cute child! Are all demon girls as adorable as you? You’re so, so cute! Absolutely precious! I wish you could be my little sister!”
“Hey, hey, Lisbeth. I’m starting to feel like if this continues, you’re going to be ‘eaten up.’ I mean, in *that* way.”
“Oh, I told you, you’re overthinking it. Just watch.”
The next second, Natalie released Lisbeth, then quickly rummaged through the backpack on her back and offered Lisbeth a piece of candy. “Ah, child, I think I scared you just now, so have a candy to calm your nerves. But don’t misunderstand, though people often say I have a tendency to like girls, I simply like children. So you don’t need to be afraid of me!”
“Mm, I understand. Thank you, Big Sister.”
Gazing at the candy Natalie offered, Lisbeth immediately flashed a perfect smile, then softly continued, “But Big Sister, I wasn’t afraid of *you*; I was just startled by what you said at first. Now, thinking about how kind and strong you are, I actually feel a bit of admiration for you.”
“Hey, Alex, you’re playing with fire! You know she likes girls, and you’re still seducing her? Do you really want to be ‘eaten’ that badly!?”
‘Uh… it seems I am…’
“Ha… ha… So cute, truly adorable!”
Although Lisbeth firmly believed her companion wouldn’t have *that* kind of interest, seeing Natalie now breathing heavily in front of her, even Lisbeth was startled.
Fortunately, Natalie quickly composed herself. She pulled Lisbeth, who was still crouching, to her feet. “Well, child, it’s good that you’re no longer afraid. But more importantly, while I won’t harm you, in return, please don’t tell anyone about my presence here, alright?”
“Mm-hm, I understand, Big Sister. May I leave now? I’m still in a hurry to gather herbs.”
“Ah, of course, that’s fine. But I still don’t know your name. Perhaps we’ll meet again if fate allows.”
‘Damn it, if I had my way, I wouldn’t want to see you again anytime soon.’
Although Lisbeth was reluctant to tell Natalie her name, if Natalie refused to let her leave, it would be far from amusing. Thus, with no other choice, Lisbeth slowly stated, “Lisbeth. My name is Lisbeth.”
“Mm-hm, what a lovely name~ I’m Natalie. May we meet again someday~”
With those final words, Natalie departed from the forest where Lisbeth stood.
Watching her retreating figure, Lisbeth let out a sigh of relief. “Seriously, she’s finally gone. But more importantly, why was she in this forest?”
“Regarding that question, I’m quite curious myself.”
“Who!?”