As the sun set slowly, dim shadows began to creep into the room.

Stella, who had been watching over the still-asleep Deus, noticed the two little ones sneaking into the room through the darkness.

"Professor Erica was right. He's still sleeping."

"You’re pretty amazing for coming here despite being told not to."

"Well, you came along as well."

"I-I came because I was worried that you might do something weird to Deus."

It was Aria and Eleanor.

The two female students approached Deus' bed quietly and started chatting about this and that.

"But now that I'm actually here, I'm feeling a bit nervous."

"I want to at least sketch for a bit."

Eleanor pulled out a notebook that fit in one hand and quickly began sketching Deus' sleeping face with a pen.

"See, it's much better to draw while actually looking at him than imagining it."

“Is it because you've always been pampered by those around you? This kid doesn't recognize an opportunity when she sees one.”

After saying that, Aria lifted Deus' blanket and attempted to lie down next to him.

"Hey! Hey! What are you doing!"

"Do you think opportunities like this come often? Like watching Professor asleep from up close?"

Holding the blanket, Aria started making her case confidently.

"The Professor I know would never sleep so unguarded like this. This is a rare opportunity!"

"..."

"It’s only because Professor is exhausted from defeating four Demon Lords at once that this opportunity has presented itself!"

Though it was a bit of a stretch, Eleanor felt like she was being persuaded. No, she wanted to be persuaded.

Eleanor slowly put the notebook away while mana began to flow from her hand as she began casting magic.

She then applied the magic to both Aria and herself.

It was a stealth type magic that not only muted their breathing and the sound of their movement, but even the faintest movements.

"With this, Deus won’t be able to hear our voices."

"As expected of the princess. You’re so capable in many ways."

Excited, Aria lay down on the right side of Deus, while Eleanor, though still hesitant, quickly lay down on his left.

[Such bold kids.]

Stella showed an incredulous reaction as she observed them.

Both of them turned their body to face Deus, but unfortunately, they locked eyes with each other over the sleeping Deus.

"Ugh, this ruined my mood."

"Can’t you just look away?"

Even so, they both subtly drew closer to Deus, showing no signs of backing down.

In the end, they gave up and decided to just enjoy the moment.

"Professor is so warm."

"Yeah, he is."

The girls remained silent for a moment. Afraid that they might fall asleep if they stayed still like this, Aria gazed at Eleanor and asked.

"So, how did you start liking Professor?"

"I don’t want to tell you that.”

Unwilling to share her memories of Deus with someone else, Eleanor pouted, but Aria simply shrugged and replied.

"Professor took on the heaviest burden I was carrying."

"..."

Not expecting Aria to say something like that, Eleanor was dumbfounded as she stared at her blankly.

“When I wondered if my past experiences had become useless and unnecessary, he denied it.”

"..."

"He helped me part with my old friends, my first love, and move on to newer encounters."

Although flustered by the sudden revelation, Eleanor understood the emotions behind each word expressed by Aria.

Because they were the same as her own feelings for Deus.

"I can do anything for Professor."

It was a calm but resolute declaration.

Hearing that, Eleanor felt something warm and stuffy in her chest.

She, too, began to voice out her feelings.

"Deus saved me from a long nightmare."

"A nightmare?"

"Yes, but actually, he showed me that it wasn't a nightmare. He helped me find myself, understand myself. He never denied who I was."

"..."

"I still remember the day Deus found me vividly. Under the brilliantly cool moonlight, he made me feel like I was alive in reality, not in a dream."

"..."

"Honestly, I had everything. Even though I behave like this, I am still a princess of a country."

Eleanor had a difficult childhood, but aside from the nightmares, she undoubtedly lived a plentiful life.

"So, I want to have Deus as well. I want to make him mine."

Her sketching Deus could also be seen as a manner of channeling her unique sense of possessiveness.

"But more than my own desire, Deus is precious to me."

"..."

Her clenched fist grasped Deus' clothes, as if she would never let go.

"So, I also can do anything for Deus."

Their declarations were firm.

The girls, staring at each other with unwavering eyes, slowly reached out to each other.

The two petite but special girls hooked their pinkies together over the peacefully sleeping and softly breathing Deus.

"We won't let something like him losing his right arm happen again."

"We'll protect Deus."

Believing that they would remain rivals and comrades with each other, they simultaneously burst into laughter.

Whether it was due to exhaustion or the reassurance of being by Deus' side, they slowly closed their eyes.

Watching the two who had fallen asleep, Stella brushed Deus' hair aside with a wry smile.

[What a sinful man.]

Stella thought of waking the two before Deus woke up. However…

Bang.

"Master Bastard!"

One crazy person burst into the room and shattered the silence.

Thanks to Stella swiftly using mana to block out the noise, Deus did not wake up despite Findenai's loud shout.

"Ohhhh?!"

"Slurp!"

However, the two girls lying on either side of Deus didn’t remain asleep. Startled awake, they both bolted up and looked at Findenai.

Findenai crossed her arms and stood on one foot as she observed the two female students lying in Deus' bed.

"What the...? Are you crazy?"

"A-hem. Professor is sleeping, so be quiet."

"Yeah, Deus is tired."

"If Master Bastard learns of what the two of you were doing, he will surely be thrilled."

Unable to find the words to retort against Findenai’s sneer, the two decided to be bold.

"It will be fine as long as Professor doesn't find out!"

"Can't you see that Deus is sleeping much better thanks to us?"

"Do you really think Master Bastard won’t know what the two of you have done?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Findenai slowly glanced around the room.

"With the Dark Spiritualist and the former Saintess hanging around him, they’ll definitely inform him about everything you did sneakily while he was asleep."

"Ah..."

"Hiiik..."

Aria and Eleanor turned deadly pale as they looked around. The Dark Spiritualist was out, and only Stella was there, but of course, they couldn’t see her.

[Do not worry, I will keep your secret.]

Stella, who had no intention of blabbing about the girls' little promise, reassured them even though they couldn’t hear her.

"So, what are you going to do about it? They are just ghosts! They can’t do anything!"

"Stop interfering in the affairs of the living!"

[...]

After shouting at the empty air, the two dashed out of the room, as if running away.

Although she felt a bit annoyed by them, Stella still had no intention of spilling their secret.

Click.

With the two gone, Findenai took their place. She looked at the sleeping Deus and approached him with a big stride.

"Jeez, that’s because they are still kids. Even if the Dark Spiritualist or the Saintess are around, what can they possibly know?"

Unlike the two, who fled in embarrassment, Findenai leaned over Deus without hesitation.

Stella, who was watching her making this bold move…

Thwack!

Smacked Findenai on the back of her head.

"Ouch!"

That sudden smack almost made her plant her face in Deus’ chest as she was leaning forward. However, Findenai quickly straightened herself.

"Is it the Dark Spiritualist?"

[...]

"The dead shouldn’t meddle with the affairs of the living."

[...]

"Just watch me while I have my way with Master Bastard..."

Thwack!

Another smack to the back of the head made Findenai grit her teeth and clench her fists.

"Is that how you want to do it? Really? I'll seriously rape him if you keep doing that."

[...]

"If you remain quiet from now on, I'll just end this with a kiss. It's the duty entrusted to me by my comrades, you know?"

[Sigh.]

Stella didn’t intend to do this, but…

Crack. Crack.

A horn sprouted from Stella's forehead.

Still providing Deus a lap pillow, Velica spread her arms wide.

[Stella is jealous, and you guys really did everything, huh!]

A life-or-death battle over a trivial reason was about to begin. However…

"Mmm."

Seeing Deus stir and show signs of waking up, Findenai clicked her tongue and slipped out of the room.

Stella’s horn disappeared, and she settled down again.

When Deus opened his eyes steadily, Stella asked with a natural, bold, yet oddly proud smile.

[Are you awake?]

***Creak.

The door opened.

A woman with a weary face stepped into the shop cautiously.

Since when was this shop here?

She had lived in Loberne for years, yet she had never known that there was a door leading to a shop like this in the alley behind her residence.

But why?

The woman already knew what the shop sold and the price she had to pay the moment she stepped in.

The interior was so dark that it made her doubt whether the lights were on.

Empty display stands filled the room.

At the far end of the room, was a man wearing white gloves waiting behind an old table resembling a counter.

"Hello."

Having entered as a customer, the woman greeted the owner with a cautious bow, and the female owner lazily waved a hand in response.

Female owner?

Weren’t they a man just a moment ago?

"Please, have a seat."

Seemingly enthralled by the sound of the old man's voice resembling the scraping of metal from across the room, the woman sat in the chair positioned at the front of the table.

She accepted the abnormality as if it were natural.

"Is there something you desire?"

This time, it was a little girl's voice that asked her softly. Somehow, the other side of the table was now so dark that it looked like a blackout curtain was draped over it.

However, she didn’t want to know who or what was speaking from beyond the darkness.

She wasn't afraid.

On the contrary, she felt a cozy familiarity, so she wasn't that curious at all.

Since she entered this shop, she knew. She had seen countless surreal things unfold before her eyes.

While they felt surreal, she had no particular feelings about them.

She didn’t feel any emotional disturbance.

Thus, the woman clasped her hands and cautiously opened her mouth.

"I want to live with my true love."

Aha.

The playful voice of a girl echoed from beyond the darkness.

On the contrary, the slender hands of a woman, adorned with white gloves that could be described as delicate like jade, reached out from the darkness.

Each hand held a different object.

One was a doll shaped like an adult man.

The other was a small doll of a little girl.

"What will you pay with?"

The voice from the other side remained like that of a little girl.

The woman felt that voice was familiar, but she didn't find it strange.

After a moment's hesitation, she tapped the doll of the little girl.

"With the child."

"Aha."

Instantly, the face of a little girl emerged from the darkness.

It was a girl with a red headband, freckles, and short hair, looking a bit strong-willed, and with teary eyes. She asked the woman.

"Mom, are you selling me?"

Gulp.

Right, why hadn’t she recognized her daughter’s voice?

The woman wondered briefly, but she nodded without concern.

"Yes."

Swoosh!

The face of the girl withdrew back into the darkness.

Following that, the voice, which she assumed belonged to the man she first saw, spoke from the darkness again.

"The transaction is complete."

"…”

"Thank you for using Clair's General Store."

That was it.

Without having stood up from the chair or walking out, the woman suddenly found herself standing in the alley outside the shop.

The old door of the general store had vanished.