Nilu, what on earth do you want to say?

Nilu’s perspective.

When the young lady barged in while I was bandaging Mr. Euclid’s wounds, I wasn’t even surprised anymore.

Surely, the young lady must have rushed through her duties and then sprinted all the way here.

Because the young lady definitely has those kinds of feelings for Mr. Euclid.

That’s why I practically fled the scene—to give the young lady and Mr. Euclid a chance to be alone.

Even though my chest felt unbearably tight, I could only bury these thoughts deep inside.

After all, everything I went through today proved one thing: Mr. Euclid is not someone I could ever be worthy of.

He and the young lady together are a match made in heaven.

“Sigh…”

At that thought, Nilu let out a long, heavy sigh as she cooked dinner.

In her distraction, an egg slipped from her hand, fell onto the grass, and rolled away.

“Ah, the egg…”

The food they brought along wasn’t nearly plentiful enough to waste.

Seeing that the egg hadn’t cracked, Nilu quickly pushed aside the grass to retrieve it.

But the moment she parted the grass, what appeared was not the egg that had rolled away—

It was a strange, glowing red “egg” that looked deeply unsettling.

Could it be from some strange bird?

Recalling Mr. Euclid’s warning—“Don’t touch anything strange, it could be dangerous”—Nilu decided to pretend she hadn’t seen it.

But just as she turned to leave…

“My master! My master! Don’t leave!”

“Eek!?”

Something just spoke nearby!

“Look down! Right in front of you!”

“You’re… an egg?”

If nothing strange had happened around her, Nilu would have already bolted.

Looking down, she saw that the glowing red “giant egg” was cracked slightly, though not enough for whatever was inside to hatch.

The voice could only have come from it.

But… could there really be a bird that speaks before it’s even born?

And… did it just call her “master”?

“That’s right! My master! Please, strike the shell with your fist and shatter it! I want to break free, but I can’t quite manage it myself!”

“S-sorry! I can’t do that! Goodbye!”

This wasn’t just Mr. Euclid’s warning anymore—even Nilu herself felt terrified and in danger.

She wanted to hurry back and tell Mr. Euclid about this…

But strangely, in the very next moment, a thought welled up inside her—keeping her rooted to the spot.

Even though she had already said farewell, her feet refused to move.

The egg spoke again.

“Please don’t be afraid! I’ve been waiting for you! I’m a fairy, sealed by the goddess within these ruins. Honestly, I’ve forgotten much because the seal was too strong, but I still remember—I am meant to serve my master once again. The moment you approached, I knew—it’s you! You are my master!”

“I was sealed away inside a chamber, but earlier today, your young lady seemed to have taken and absorbed the ice magic stone that countered and sealed me. Thanks to that, I was finally able to escape.

But the seal of this eggshell—I can’t break it from the inside. Please, master, break it for me.”

Words like master and seal filled Nilu with fear.

And yet… there was also a faint sense of familiarity.

“I… I’m not your master.”

“It can’t be wrong! Though I’ve lost most of my memories, I could never mistake the presence of my master!

I swear I mean you no harm—I only wish to return to your side and aid you! Please, break the shell…”

Nilu didn’t answer.

Her heart was in complete chaos.

Just as she finally summoned the courage to turn and leave, the voice rang out again.

“Master, do you really intend to live like this forever?”

Nilu froze in place.

“You like that man, don’t you?

If you don’t reclaim our power, he will never look at you differently.

He will always remain at that white-haired woman’s side.”

“…”

“You are not just some ordinary maid. Even though much of my memory has been sealed, I can feel it clearly—you are someone far, far above all others.

To win a man’s affection would be nothing but effortless for you.”

“Please, break me open, reclaim the power that belongs to you, and then… let’s seek out your other servants together.

I want you to remember your supreme identity.

All I wish is to serve you again.

Even if it is only to help you gain that man’s affection, I will gladly obey.”

Nilu gave no reply.

Only after a long silence did her trembling hands slowly clench into fists.

Then, she turned toward the cracked shell and struck it with all her might.

Crack!

The crimson shell burst apart in a blaze of flames!

From within the fire, a fairy girl with flaming wings emerged, her face alight with joy when she saw Nilu.

“Your right eye… just as I thought. You are my master!

I am the Flame Fairy of Command and Obedience—Gias.

I once again pledge my service to you!”

At once, the fairy transformed into a surge of red fire and darted straight into Nilu’s right eye—hidden beneath her eyepatch!

In that instant, under the dim night sky, the ruins shook with the cries of fleeing beasts, shrieks and howls, and a sinister wind scattering the burning fragments of eggshell.

Not far behind, Kefir’s worried voice rang out, full of tension.

Could it be that something had just happened between the young lady and Mr. Euclid?

“Nilu! Nilu!? Thank goodness, you’re here! Just now, there was a sudden gust of wind—I sensed strong magic. A monster may have appeared. Stay with us, it’ll be safer. Uh… Nilu, what’s wrong?”

“…I’m fine, my lady.”

Nilu turned and smiled.

“Then what are you doing out here—hm? Never mind, as long as you’re fine.”

Kefir gave a puzzled look, then nodded.