After the main topic was done with, we just chatted normally.
We talked over tea that Maika Holly, the maid, had brewed for us.
I was surprised by and had a good laugh about various things—recent events, stuff about Rel, and so on.
But when it came to Ennea, I had a hard time figuring out what to say.
She's been asleep this whole time, after all.
Then there were also questions about me going back and forth between Hydrangea and Hyzen.
I shut that one down with the witch explanation. The persuasive power of "because I'm a witch" was universal. Completely foolproof.
Still, Juicy was already traveling back and forth within Extranze.
Moving forward, more people would probably start doing the same.
That was more or less unavoidable.
But they weren't the type to go spreading it around.
I could say that with absolute certainty.
Even Hayan kept his mouth shut about Extranze.
That said, I probably didn't need to tell Dova and the others just yet.
It might come out eventually, but when it did, I'd just shut it down with the witch excuse again.
Man, though. This witch card is way too broken.
Play it and you get 100% persuasion, guaranteed success. It's basically a banned card.
We finished talking and left the reception room.
I'd meet up with Juicy and Narcissus, and then figure out what to do from there.
Should I tell the witch about Banish? That's the first thing.
I also need to ask about a detailed schedule for disposing of the phantom units.
While I was turning all this over in my head, Juicy and Narcissus appeared.
"Looks like your meeting is over."
"Yep."
"Go on, Wanko."
"Huh? Juicy?"
Narcissus pushed Juicy forward.
Juicy seemed oddly listless — hesitant, or maybe flustered.
That was unusual. What was going on?
"Um, um um, Lord Wof... um..."
"What's wrong?"
"Um, um, Lord Wof..."
She mumbled it softly, then looked down.
Seriously, what's up with Juicy?
"Wanko. I'll say it. Wof. Go get a training ground ready or show us the way right now!"
"Wait, not a training ground...?"
"That shouldn't be too hard."
"True... a training ground type of... ...oh."
Right. There is one.
There is one. There IS one, isn't there!
A place that's quiet, where nobody bothers you, nobody warns you, and you can go all out without any problems!
There IS one!
The trading city of Hyzen.
The dungeon of Hyzen. One floor below the deepest level.
An empty space. A space I just created moments ago.
"I see! We should have done this from the start!"
"Right."
If we'd just been here from the beginning... why didn't I think of it sooner?
Well, I never expected we'd end up destroying the training ground.
"So I've got everything set up, but what exactly happened?"
"Wanko. Here, we're free."
"Um, um, um, Wof..."
Juicy looked at me slowly.
Her eyes, usually so full of energy, were wavering with anxiety.
Her ears and tail weren't swaying—they hung limp and still.
This wasn't like Juicy at all.
"Yes. Juicy. It's okay. Take your time."
I gently told her there was no need to rush.
Juicy gave a small nod.
"Um, um, um, when Wof destroyed the training ground, I was granted a Relic…"
"A Relic?"
"Y-Yes. And that Relic is…"
"Wanko, just show him. Wof, you'll be surprised."
"I mean, I'd be surprised by any Relic, honestly."
The reasons and mechanics were unclear, but sometimes, triggered by something, a person would be granted a Relic.
The one common factor was that it only happened to those who already possessed at least one.
It was said to never occur in someone who held no Relics at all.
Juicy stepped a short distance away from us.
Then, as if steeling herself, she took a deep breath and looked up.
"Um, um, um, please look. Wof, this is [Banish]!"
"Huh?"
When she called it out, a translucent, faintly white claw appeared on the fingers of her right hand.
"So [Banish] manifests as claws. Because she's a dog girl."
"…Is that really it?"
"You can see it for yourself, can't you? That's [Banish]."
It was unmistakably… that was [Banish].
"Um, um, um, I'm sorry, Wof."
"Huh? Why are you sorry?"
And she looked like she was about to cry at any moment. Why?
"Wof. Wanko feels really bad about what she did to you."
"Wh-why?"
"I don't know exactly, but when you destroyed the training ground and got the Relic with the Banish skill, she was happy, but... I think she felt guilty about it."
I sort of understood. Probably. It must have been awkward for her.
She felt awkward toward me and had a guilty conscience.
"Juicy-san."
"Um, um, um, um... um... Wanko!"
"Why did you just bark?"
"What!?"
"Wof!?"
Oops, it slipped out.
We were both surprised enough to widen our eyes, but was it really that big of a deal?
*Ahem.*
I walked closer to Juicy-san.
Juicy-san looked like she was about to cry at any moment.
"Juicy-san. I'm happy."
"H-happy... you are?"
Juicy-san looked blankly at me.
I smiled.
"Yes. And you were really happy too, weren't you, Juicy-san?"
"Um, well, yes. I was very, very happy. A Relic that matches Wof's. There's no way I couldn't be. But..."
"The timing was a little unfortunate, wasn't it."
I gave a wry laugh.
Instantly, Juicy-san's expression darkened.
Oops.
I didn't mean it like that, but tears were already brimming in Juicy-san's eyes.
"Um, well... I... I really... I'm so sor—"
"Juicy-san. How about we spar with Banish?"
"Wah!? With... Wof?"
Startled, tears ran down her cheeks.
"Hey, that sounds great!"
"Um, um, Wof, is that really okay? I'd love to, but—"
"Alright. Let's do it. Starting with round balls!"
I created some distance from Juicy-san and manifested a standard Banish in my palm.
As I settled into my stance, she took hers as well.
She extended Banish's claws forward, shifted her left foot slightly ahead, and lowered her right.
Bending her hips slightly, she wrapped her tail around her body and pricked her wolf ears straight up.
That gaze was—wild and sharp.
"Um, Wof. Here I come!"
"Bring it on!"
Jushii-san stumbled sideways and charged.
Fast... She leaped, and the distance between us dropped to zero in an instant.
"Special Move: Viscera-Piercing Hell Claws!!!"
"Whoa!?"
The claw strike with its horrifying attack name tore through [Banish].
The claws didn't crack. Hm. A little disappointing, honestly.
I brought out the ring of [Banish].
A translucent, faintly white chakram.
"Special Move: Heart-Piercing, Spine-Shattering Claw!"
The ring of [Banish] and the claws of [Banish] collided head-on.
Jushii-san leaped back.
"Those are incredible attack names."
Scary, because Jushii-san could actually pull them off right now.
Jushii-san's wolf ears twitched up and down, and she wagged her tail like it was about to fly off.
Her eyes were shining more than usual. Good. She's perked up.
"Um, Wof-sama. Um um, um, woof. Woof. Woo-woof. Woof-woof-woof-woof!"
Hm?
"Jushii-san?"
"Wanko?"
Something like that.
"Woof. Woof woof. Woof. Woof. Woof woof! Woooooof!!"
Jushii-san's wolf ears, hair, and tail turned stark white, and her eyes were stained purple.
"Woof woof woof woof woof woof, WOOOOOOOOF!!!"
Jushii-san let out a great howl of delight.
She brandished her [Banish] claws, which had grown so long and thick they could be called blades.
Her eyes sparkled with a playful, mischievous gleam.
Wow.