Chapter 63

On December 28th, the second volume of the manga will be released!

Please look forward to it!

Another henchman pressed the tip of a knife against the struggling bag.

"Look, if you don't come out quickly, this bag will be stained red."

"Stop it! Don't touch me here!"

"Don't you dare give orders, you demon's child!"

As Zwey tried to rush over, the boss kicked him in the stomach. At that moment, his small body floated up and hit the tree in front of him.

Zwey let out a small groan and staggered to his feet.

"Stop it, I brought the money!"

Zwey pulled out a wad of bills from his pocket. It must have been a noble's shakedown, the amount was huge.

The boss snatched the money from Zwey and put it in his pocket without hesitation.

"Sorry, I've been spending too much money lately and my dad's been angry."

"You can have that, but!"

"Hey, hand over that brooch too."

"Huh?"

His collar was grabbed, and his chest was pointed at. There was a large purple gemstone brooch there. It would surely fetch a good price if sold.

It must have been something very important, as Zwey started to panic the moment it was pointed out.

"Is that okay?"

"T-this is..."

"Stop making excuses and hand it over!"

(Can't take this anymore!!)

Cecilia grabbed a broom nearby and ran towards it. Then, with the momentum of her run, she swung the broom at the boss.

"Ugh"

The moment the broom hit his solar plexus, the boss groaned and crouched down.

The two henchmen were taken aback by the sudden attack.

"What the hell are you doing—"

Despite being used to fighting, one of the henchmen reacted immediately.

He tried to slash Cecilia with the knife in his hand, but it was deflected by Gilbert's Noble Phantasm.

"Ah!"

With a sound like something popping, the knife flew into the air. It fell near Cecilia, who caught it mid-air and pointed it at the throat of the second henchman.

"Alright, it's over. If you leave now, I'll let you go. Leave the money you just extorted and the cat."

"You—"

"Go!"

As she glared at them, they shuddered and looked at each other.

"Hey! Let's back off for now!"

"Ah, yeah!"

"Ugh..."

Surprisingly, they had some camaraderie, as the two henchmen carried the boss and hurriedly fled the scene.

After watching them go, Cecilia let out a sigh and relaxed her shoulders. At the same time, she deactivated her Noble Phantasm.

(Something unexpected happened...)

She might have been better off ignoring it, but that wasn't her nature.

(But, this shouldn't leave a bad impression, right? It's all good in the end.)

Turning around, she saw Zwey's eyes wide with shock.

Cecilia handed him the money they had thrown away.

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you very much. ...Ah! Coco!!"

Zwey rushed to the struggling sack and opened it. Out came a kitten she had seen somewhere before.

"Huh? You are—"

There was the kitten she had seen before.

It was when the 'Selection Ceremony' had just begun.

She had encountered this injured kitten in the courtyard while fleeing from the Cecyl Fan Club. She had wrapped the kitten's injured paw with a handkerchief, which later led to Oscar confronting her about meeting Cecilia.

"You're called Coco!"

"Meow"

As if to say thank you, the kitten rubbed against Cecilia's leg and meowed cutely.

"Do you know Coco?"

"Ah, yes. I met her once before."

"Really?"

Zwey blinked in surprise.

Seeing his expression, Cecilia had a sudden realization.

(Ah, maybe this is a chance to become friends! If I can talk about Coco, we can get along...)

In Cecilia's mind, a rosy future unfolded.

(Cecilia) "Coco is so cute!"

(Zwey) "Right? Coco is so cute!"

(Cecilia) "Yes! So cute! I love her!"

(Zwey) "We seem to have a lot in common! Let's be friends!"

(Cecilia) "Yay! I wanted to be friends too!"

(Perfect!)

Cecilia made a fist at her chest.

If she could also introduce Ein, and they all became friends, it would be the best.

(My goal is to have lunch with the three of us!)

That was Cecilia's ultimate goal. Whether it would be enough to increase her affection points for the True Ending was uncertain, but it would be a passing grade as a friend.

Cecilia smiled and spoke to him.

"Hey, Coco—"

"Ah!"

The moment she turned to Zwey, he flinched and fell on his butt again.

"Huh?"

Not understanding why he was surprised, Cecilia followed his gaze. There, she saw the knife she was still holding, its tip pointing at him.

"Ah, sorry!"

Just as she tried to let go of the knife in a panic—

"Zwey!!"

"!"

A deafening roar followed by a sharp pain on the back of her hand. The shock made Cecilia drop the knife.

"Ouch..."

Next, a blow hit her shoulder as she crouched down.

"Ugh"

She realized she had been kicked after falling on her back. Looking up, she saw a face identical to Zwey's. However, the braids and part in the hair were mirrored...

"Huh? Ein?"

"What did you do to Zwey!"

"Huh?"

Ein's words made Cecilia's cheeks twitch.

She reflected on her actions from a moment ago.

(Maybe I'm being misunderstood?)

Indeed, if someone saw the scene of 'Cecilia with a knife and a frightened Zwey,' it would look like she was threatening him. Just like the three who had fled earlier...

Moreover, the large amount of money she had just returned was still on the ground. That was a significant point against her.

"Um..."

Sweat trickled down her cheek. In such situations, no matter how much the person perceived as the aggressor tries to explain, it sounds like an excuse. Still, she searched for words to clear up the misunderstanding as Zwey chased after Ein.

"Ein! It's not like that, this person—"

"Zwey too! What are you going to do against such a scrawny guy! And I told you to tell me if you were called out!"

Blood seemed to be rushing to Zwey's head, as his words didn't reach Ein.

Ein grabbed Zwey's arm and put the money in his pocket. Then he turned his back on Cecilia.

"If you do this again, I won't let you off easily!"

"Ah, yes..."

"Let's go, Zwey! Coco too!"

Called by Ein, Coco replied cheerfully, "Meow!"

Then, the two and the cat left the scene, leaving Cecilia lying on her back.

Looking up at the passing clouds, Cecilia sighed.

"Why does this happen..."

At least, her shoulder hurt from being kicked.

Cecilia, who tried to increase her affection points, found it difficult to do so.