[Suo Marin’s Perspective]

“Hawawawawa! Hawawawawa!”

“Calm down, Espio. You’re making a fuss.”

Marin enjoyed the aroma of her tea while sitting on a garden chair reminiscent of a European palace’s garden, watching a busy maid hastily preparing the tea set and pruning the garden flowers.

“How can you stay so calm, Marin-chan? Kon-sama is coming here!”

The maid, wearing a monocle over her left eye and a courtesy atop her head, moved at lightning speed, arguing with Marin without losing her breath.

It seemed, despite her maid outfit, that she wasn’t in a master-servant relationship with Marin, calling her by the nickname Marin-chan.

“I know, Espio. Honestly… it’s such a hassle with the sudden notice.”

Marin grumbled, glancing at the garden flowers with a slightly displeased expression.

Looking at the well-manicured garden, more polished than usual, Marin thought she couldn’t keep up with Espio’s enthusiasm.

“How can you say that, Marin-chan! This is an incredible honor. Kon-sama, a literal god in the world of spirits, is coming to my spirit field! It’s like a dream come true!”

Espio, having finished her garden work, swiftly changed from a thick apron to a formal maid outfit to welcome the guest, scolding Marin.

Her tall, slender figure and monocle gave the impression of a capable older sister maid.

“Yes, yes. The tea will get cold, so I’ll have some first.”

“Oh, Marin-chan, do you really understand?”

“It seems I arrived just in time. May I join you?”

As Marin reached for the teapot, a man suddenly appeared before her garden table.

He was dressed in a black cassock, a priestly robe embroidered with gold thread, and a long stole draped around his neck, indicating his high status.

“Welcome, Kon-sama.”

Without a change in her expression, Marin gracefully stood up and bowed to the uninvited guest who had appeared in their private garden.

“Hawawawawa! Kon-sama is in my field…”

“Espio-san. I apologize for the sudden visit. However, this is a lovely garden.”

Kon commented, looking around the garden.

That seemed to be Espio’s limit.

“Squee! Too much…”

“Ah, Espio! Please don’t faint right away. I’m sorry, Kon-sama.”

Despite appearing as a competent maid, Marin sighed at her spirit contractor, who had collapsed like an over-excited otaku.

“No need to worry. I came to talk with you, Marin-san.”

With a smile that felt like the barrel of a rifle aimed at her, Marin felt a chill but masked it as she invited Kon to sit at the garden table, brewing tea in place of the maid who lay on the grass with a blissful expression.

“So, this is your appearance, Kon-sama.”

Marin remarked on Kon’s dapper, short-haired, well-groomed, middle-aged priestly look.

“Yes. This appearance is based on Espio-san’s advice. This is my first time manifesting in human form.”

“Is this my child’s hobby…”

Remembering how Espio frequently bought such books using her online shopping account, Marin sighed, recalling the browser ads inundated with those book promotions.

“Spirits have no gender. This body is just a convenient avatar for communicating with humans. If you prefer, I can be a slender, androgynous idol or a voluptuous fox spirit. I have no preference.”

“This form is fine. So, what is your business today?”

Returning to the main topic, Marin asked Kon about the purpose of his visit.

“I want to know about Colonel Kobako.”

“The person Kamiya-senpai regards as an elder brother, right?”

Placing her teacup gently on the saucer, Marin chose her words carefully.

“You truly are the master of a highly skilled spy like Espio, knowing even about regular soldiers.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. But surely, Kon-sama, you would know about Colonel Kobako through Kamiya-senpai?”

“Well… there’s a gap in my memory regarding Colonel Kobako.”

“A gap in your memory?”

This unexpected revelation cracked Marin’s poker face.

“Technically, the Master has some vague memories of that time, but mine are entirely missing.”

“That time?”

“You understand, don’t you, Marin-nsan, when I nearly destroyed this world?”

“…”

Seeing Marin finally fall silent, Kon laughed pleasantly, sipping his tea leisurely.

“Why share such critical information with me?”

“Because you’re under our banner, right? I tend to reveal some internal matters to those I trust.”

When a superior says, “I trust you.”, it’s a warning not to betray them, binding them with chains of obligation.

“Was that your goal in taking us in?”

“Not at all. The Master is quite fond of you siblings. Let’s maintain a good relationship until the time comes.”

Marin stared silently at Kon’s smiling face for a while.

“…Understood. I will share what I know. However, my information is limited to what we’ve gleaned from military records.”

“That will suffice for now.”

As Kon nodded, Marin leaned forward and spoke in a low voice.

Even in this private field of Espio and Marin, her hushed tone indicated the gravity of the topic.

“I see. The situation at that time is clear. However, the details are still lacking.”

“The military was likely very confused, facing such a crisis.”

“Understandable, given the world was on the brink of destruction.”

Kon said, sipping his tea, then placed the cup on the saucer and stood up.

“Thank you for the tea. It was delicious.”

“Thank Espio for the tea. She might faint again just hearing your thanks.”

“I’ll take my leave now. If I learn more about him, may we have tea together again?”

“Of course.”

Marin stood and bowed respectfully, and when she looked up, Kon was already gone.

“Phew…”

Somewhat unladylike, Marin plopped down in her chair, exhausted.

It had taken more out of her than any mission to infiltrate and gather information from the world’s central institutions.

“Where’s Kon-sama?”

Awakened by Marin’s deep sigh, Espio sat on the grass, looking around the garden.

“Oh, you’re awake, Espio. Kon-sama just left.”

“What! Why didn’t you wake me! It’s not fair that you got to talk to Kon-sama alone!”

Espio clawed at the grass in frustration.

“You would’ve fainted again anyway. Besides, he said he’d come back.”

“Really? When will Kon-sama come again…”

Watching Espio gaze dreamily at the sky, Marin recalled Kon’s words with a sigh.

“If I learn more, may we have tea together again…”

Which meant he’d come back here, keeping it a secret from Kamiya-senpai.