“Phew… Scared the hell out of me… What kind of monsters are these? The Holy Empire is truly a place not to be trifled with. Every creature that shows up is more absurd than the last!”

Rushing back to the temporary safehouse it had set up in Bright Light City, a highly concealed underground chamber. Prakaka removed the night-black robe, now soaked with cold sweat, and sat on the bed, panting heavily.

It had truly escaped from the jaws of death.

That strange white fox was a monster among monsters.

The Bright Light Saintess, the succubus Chloe, even that old man who serves as the president of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, not to mention the pseudo-god-level demon lord that was summoned earlier…

All these individuals were undoubtedly powerful, but while Prakaka wasn’t confident he could defeat them in a head-on confrontation, he was certain he could escape. After all, this was his specialty as a ratfolk.

These experts, though formidable, had limits to their strength—strength that could be sensed as something best not provoked.

But that white fox with the mask was completely different. Before it fully unleashed its aura and power, summoning that terrifying black orb that nearly stopped Prakaka’s breathing, it didn’t even feel the slightest threat from this creature!

What was even more terrifying was that its proud talents of invisibility and reducing its presence were completely useless before this female fox. Despite Prakaka’s belief that it had concealed itself to the utmost after hearing a warning, it was still easily locked onto out of thin air!

Its survival instincts told it with absolute certainty that if it hadn’t promptly revealed itself and begged for mercy, that ghost-like black orb floating in the sky would have smashed its rat head into mush the moment the countdown finished—no escape, no resistance.

This absolute crushing force, which left no room for even the thought of resistance, was something Prakaka had only felt once before—from Lady Violet, who had granted it everything it had with her power of resurrection, and from the dragon under her command, both of whom defied any common sense or imagination.

How about… I just make up an excuse and slip back to the Human United Kingdom to report in?

“Oh, Little Queen, it’s not that I’m not working hard, but if this keeps up, it’ll be hard to keep my little life intact…”

Leaning weakly against the somewhat hard bed, Mr. Ratfolk couldn’t help but let out a particularly helpless sigh as he recalled his recent experiences.

And as if in response to his despairing thoughts, a light and beautiful girl’s voice suddenly echoed through the supposedly empty and absolutely secret underground chamber.

【It’s been a long time. Your timid and cautious nature hasn’t changed a bit, Prakaka~】

“Who’s there!?”

Almost by reflex, the ratfolk’s body stiffened, his sharp claws instantly extending. He crouched slightly at the edge of the bed, his eyes, able to see clearly in the dark, quickly scanning the small underground room, especially the hidden exit, as if ready to launch a full-force attack or… make a run for it at any moment.

Of course, that would have to wait until he confirmed the enemy’s location and purpose. Being an expert at running away, Prakaka understood the importance of not turning tail and fleeing at the first sign of trouble. Exposing his vulnerable back too soon would only make him die faster.

However, he found nothing. The sparsely decorated basement remained empty and silent, with no other living creature besides himself.

This realization shocked Prakaka.

Though he was afraid of death, it didn’t mean he was a coward. When faced with an enemy so overwhelmingly powerful that there was no chance of victory, he might have no choice but to beg for mercy in hopes of a slim chance at survival. But as long as there was an opportunity, Prakaka would rather rely on his own efforts to stay alive.

So, the most important thing now was to find the source of the voice that had just spoken. Everything else could wait.

As if having no intention of playing tricks, that clear and melodious voice, like music from the heavens, echoed once again.

【What’s this? After just a short time apart, you’ve already forgotten me?】

This time, the ratfolk suddenly realized something. No wonder he couldn’t find any trace of anyone in the basement. The voice had been speaking directly into his mind!

Wait, this kind of incomprehensible power, as if it transcends the mortal world, combined with that increasingly familiar tone in the voice…

Hesitating, Prakaka tentatively muttered to himself in the basement.

“Could it be… Lady Violet?”

【Oh my, I thought you’d really forgotten me~ So you do still remember my name?】

“It’s really you?!”

As if he had suddenly found a reliable and powerful protector, Mr. Ratfolk became briefly excited but quickly calmed down. He looked around the empty space and, after thinking for a moment, cautiously asked again.

“Um… May I be so bold as to ask, where and when did we first meet?”

The clear voice in his mind now carried a hint of amusement.

【Oh? Worried that I’m a fake, trying to deceive you? Let me think… It was probably a little over a year ago during the war between the Human United Kingdom and the Beastman Kingdom in the west. At that time, I was temporarily serving as a bodyguard for Princess Lilya. We met in a basin called Tepaya. I remember that you, the Seventh of the Eternal Throne, surrendered without even putting up a fight. And after that…】

“Alright, alright! I get it, I get it! Whoa, whoa, whoa! You really are Lady Violet—please, stop talking about it!!!”

Feeling embarrassed by the shameful memories of his past, Prakaka hurriedly interrupted the priestess’s narrating in his mind.

Then, sounding a bit puzzled, he asked, “But, Lady Violet, weren’t you doing something in the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains not long ago? How did you manage to show up so quickly in Bright Light City, the western capital of the Holy Empire? What’s going on now?”

【Well… it’s just a little trick to transmit my thoughts. My true body isn’t actually here. I noticed you in that ancient castle by chance, so I thought I’d drop by to say hello.】

Prakaka, being a particularly shrewd rat, immediately understood. Almost instinctively, he exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! So, that… ahem, that Miss White Fox let me go so easily because you intervened, right?!”

【Mm-hmm~ What else did you think? She’s… let’s say she’s a good friend of mine. She had some things to handle on her own, so I asked her to look after my companions temporarily. Fortunately, we have a way to stay in touch. Otherwise, you would’ve been done for tonight. 】

“I see! Thank you so much for saving my life, Lady Violet!”

Without hesitation, Mr. Ratfolk dramatically prostrated himself on the ground, bowing toward the empty space in front of him.

After all, it would be foolish not to cling to a powerful ally. If the priestess was willing to help, completing the Queen’s mission would be a piece of cake in Prakaka’s eyes.

【Why are you bowing… I’m not even there. Alright, tell me about your situation. How’s the task Lilya assigned you coming along?】

“Uh, yes… yes…”