Black Cat shouted back creating a volatile situation The interruption she referred to was
Machina but the girl simply watched
Schwarze’s previous silence seemed to have come from her less than welcoming attitude toward this fifth witch
Stop this I cannot enjoy my tea
Ah Yes I apologize
When Alice scolded her Lavriel quickly stepped down But
Hmph I can’t deny I rushed to action but that was a request from FeTUS’s investment division
The wild cat did not stop
And who was it that caused the investment division to rush into action Wasn’t it a certain someone’s family who leaked FeTUS information to ‘that group’ working with the demons Wasn’t it a certain someone who returned home to deal with family trouble and left Fujita during this crucial time Youyou dare mock my family
Maybe I do
The two of them kicked their chairs back to stand up and Lavriel reached for her glove
Stop this
They both fell silent at the shout from their 600-year-old elder
Miss Alice sighed and sipped at her tea
Lavriel It is true Miss C acted rashly but that also confirmed that the Fujita Mutsuki boy bears no hostility toward us I cannot praise her actions but they did ultimately benefit us
U-understood
Schwarze We cannot criticize Miss B for her family trouble Especially when she managed to make enough progress in that complicated situation to return in just four months
She kindly yet strictly scolded them like a parent
Miss Bthe second witch Lavriel
Just as Schwarze had said she had been away from FeTUS for so long even after the Adam boy appeared because of family trouble
More than the other Witches Lavriel had been trained to be Miss Alice’s knight She had been born to a family that directly served FeTUS so she had received specialized education in every field since she was young combat scholarship high-class mannersevery field But the year before her family’s oldest son and daughter had been abducted
They had been used as hostages to pressure the head of the family who was Lavriel’s uncle into selling information on FeTUS technology That was why Lavriel had quickly returned to her home country during March of this year She had been working to strip her uncle of his power and pass leadership of the family onto someone else It had lasted from March to August Not counting the time it took to enter and leave the country it had only taken about four months to untangle the mess which was a testament to her skill
And since those who had abducted the two siblings were based in Japan she had returned to FeTUS in order to search for the two of them
Pushed back by Miss A’s intimidating aura Schwarze clicked her tongue and turned around
When she reached toward a portion of the grassy plain the image cut off and a metal door appeared
A literal hole opened in the bright and sunny space and she left through it
What a troublesome girl
Alice shrugged
Lavriel remained obedient but seemed upset at having her family insulted The knight continued glaring after the departed wild cat
The atmosphere was terrible for a tea party so Miss D smiled bitterly
Hello
Machina suddenly spoke after remaining silent the entire time
The other three were shocked as the girl awkwardly attached a small earring A quiet voice came from the earring
It seemed to act as a phone
Yes I am prepared for tomorrow
Eh Yes
That is fine
After a few brief responses she ended the call
You don’t talk on the phone much Was that a friend from school
Makoto decided this was the perfect chance to change the mood and Machina calmly answered
with a nod
It was Fujita We are going camping He was making sure I am ready
Oh camping You did mention that didn’t you Have fun
Positive Also
She calmly reached for her tea
He says he wants to visit here right away
The other three widened their eyes in surprise
(This sure is an amazing place)
Mutsuki was visiting FeTUS headquarters after they readily gave him permission
He felt more nervous after being invited in than he had when he had been descending into the enemy’s lair
Machina had told him to head to the clock tower and the FeTUS personnel elevator installed there took him 2000 meters underground The change in Gs left him dizzy but he found himself in a space that did not quite seem underground The marble walls and ceiling seemed to glitter with their own light and the red carpet was entirely spotless
He felt like he had seen a palace room like this in a movie about Medieval Europe
The boy got nervous enough visiting a normal house for the first time so this was bad for his heart
Wait here
O-okay
But after leading him here and preparing some tea Machina left
Left all alone he fidgeted and looked around the room
He could not relax in such a thoroughly luxurious place He was worried the sweat on his back would get on the chair that contained real platinum decorations
He could see a rose garden out the window He was supposedly underground so why could he see the blue sky
He could even see a gardener tending to the flowers and bugs flying playfully among those flowers He felt like he was dreaming
He could not even reach for the rose hip tea he had been served
This is a surprise
The boy is quick to action I’ll give him that
The witches gathered outside the visually processed waiting room and observed their unexpected guest
Bringing Fujita Mutsuki to their headquarters would be seen as provoking the angels who were meant to protect him so FeTUS had been debating whether to do so or to remain cautious
They had certainly never expected him to show up on his own Especially without any angels with him
Makoto Machina and even 600-year-old Alice Arc had been unable to predict this They were all confused
Schwarze had already left so the four remaining witches peered in through the window that would only show a rose garden from the other side
Fujita Mutsuki hm
Lavriel narrowed her eyes happily
No not happily
Nostalgically
So why has he come here
Makoto seemed unable to relax She was far larger than the other three but she was the most panicked
He said he wished to apologize for what happened during the previous incident And he brought this as a gift
Machina calmly held up the paper bag Mutsuki had given her
And it contained
Bitter melon castella
He claims to have chosen the most nutritious-looking option at a nearby sweets shop
Unsure what to say to that Makoto gave a somber look
I see said Miss Alice with a somber look of her own
Fujita Mutsuki was FeTUS’s ultimate objective but also a dangerous element they could not contact without the utmost care
For one thing this could create further conflict with the angels
But more importantly he had the Serpent’s Eye which could make a slave of any woman
If he used that all of FeTUS could fall into his hands Miss C had contacted him just a few times and grown to adore him so they had to be careful
I can’t believe this I certainly never planned for this After some thought Alice spoke with a troubled look on her face He moved to a residence known to us and he faced the flames of
Metatron just before they exploded This boy really has a way of betraying our expectations
But she also gave the boy a pleasant look through the window
Rules may be broken if you are prepared to accept the consequences Miss B aka Lavriel gave the boy a similarly soft smile You haven’t changed Fujita Mutsuki
Makoto seemed unsure how to respond when Miss A and B of FeTUS’s central leadership both gave their enemy a fond look
To preserve FeTUS’s seclusion I should be the one to speak with him
Machina did not wait for a response and immediately took her first step
It was true she was a better choice than Miss B who he was entirely unaware of or Miss D who he was unaware was a teacher at his school He knew Machina best so she was the best choice