"—Wuu-wuu-wuu, achoo! Ahhhhhhh—achoo!!"
Nia opened her mouth wide and let out several sneezes, completely abandoning any lady-like image.
"Nia, are you okay?"
Shido asked with concern.
"Okay—my foot! Why is it so cold here!"
Nia complained with a pale face.
Not long ago, while Shido and the others were discussing how to find the rest of their companions, the tad Big Bad Wolf volunteered to help.
According to it, "foreign objects" like Shido and the others, who entered from the outside world, would carry a scent that was out of place in this world. It could use its sense of sll to find the scattered Spirits. After discussing it, Shido and the others felt that the Big Bad Wolf, having eaten the peach, could be trusted, so they accepted its proposal.
Thus, led by the Big Bad Wolf, Shido and the group headed north. After crossing a large mountain, they arrived at a castle town. According to the Big Bad Wolf, there was a scent similar to Shido's group inside the castle in the city.
The mont they entered the streets, day turned into deep night, clear skies turned into heavy snow, and spring turned into harsh winter. Ti, weather, and seasons underwent earth-shattering changes in a way completely unexplainable by the natural laws and common sense of the real world.
"Tohka and Yoshino, are you cold?"
"Don't worry, Shido! Not a problem at all!"
"Yes... I am already used to... the cold..."
Tohka and Yoshino both nodded, indicating they were fine. Looking at their energetic appearances, it didn't seem like they were just putting on a brave front.
"Ah... Why is there such a huge difference even though we're all Spirits? Is this the difference between the outdoor type and the hikikomori type..."
Hugging her arms and shivering, Nia muttered in incomprehension.
By the way, because it was inconvenient to bring the Big Bad Wolf into the streets, Tohka told it to return to the forest. As for Nia, she was wrapped in the conspicuous mascot costu Shido took off, using it as a blanket. Although this completely clashed with her cool outfit style, Nia straightforwardly declared, "What's the point of being cool? Can it get you warm?"
"Damn it... We need to regroup with everyone quickly and find a warm place to warm up. Alright, hurry up and let's go!"
Watching Nia walking briskly ahead and urging them on, Shido and the other two exchanged a glance, smiled bitterly at each other, and quickened their pace to catch up with Nia.
Then, after walking for an unknown amount of ti, Shido stopped at the castle gates.
The reason was simple; he saw Kotori and the Yamai sisters arguing with the guards at the castle gates.
"Kotori! Yuzuru! Kaguya!"
"Shido! I'm so glad you're safe... What is with those outfits?"
Hearing Shido's voice, Kotori turned her head in pleasant surprise. Then, upon seeing the bizarre attire of the four, a large sweatdrop appeared on her forehead.
"Well... it's a long story. What are you guys doing?"
Walking up to Kotori with a bitter smile, Shido asked puzzledly. To this, Kaguya answered with a dissatisfied face.
"Perfect timing, Shido. I was just planning to go and witness the rmaid inside the castle, but these guards shut out."
"A rmaid?"
"Note. It's a strange beast that sings while calling out 'Darling—Honey—'."
"Ah..."
Hearing Yuzuru say this, everyone imdiately knew the true identity of this rmaid.
"Um... Excuse , how can we enter this ball?"
Looking at the guard at the entrance, who looked very unapproachable, Shido stepped forward and asked carefully.
"No! Today is a ball where nobles gather in the castle. There's no way we'd let shabby people like you inside."
Saying this, the guard swept a glance over Shido and his group, adding disdainfully.
"And you look all weird and suspicious."
Ah... that's true too. Shido thought, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"What! You blind fool! Can't you see the supre aura radiating from my entire body?"
"Indignation. Judging a person's worth by their clothes is terrible!"
"Everyone, hold back Yuzuru and Kaguya quickly!"
"Sorry, sorry, we'll leave imdiately."
Pulling back the Yamai sisters, who were ready to charge forward and argue with the guard, Shido hurriedly smiled bitterly and apologized to the guard.
"Everyone... how do you think we can get in?"
"Well... it's highly unlikely they'll let us in. Sneak in quietly?"
"No... that probably won't work."
Kotori shook her head helplessly. Before Shido arrived, Kotori had observed that the castle was designed with only two gates, both heavily guarded by soldiers. There were no small doors or holes they could sneak through, and the castle walls were too high for them to scale.
"How about we knock out these guards and force our way in?"
"Agreent. A truly excellent idea."
"No... wouldn't we be the ones getting knocked out?"
Shido said with a bitter smile. Right now, they couldn't use Spirit power or Angels. The only ones who could be counted as combat power were Tohka and Nia. For just the two of them to take down so many soldiers was clearly unrealistic.
"Hey, hey—Everyone, look over there quickly!"
Just as everyone was agonizing over how to get into the castle, Yoshinon suddenly pointed towards the street and shouted.
Everyone looked in the direction Yoshinon was pointing, only to see a super gorgeous carriage driving this way.
Unlike other carriages, this one was pulled by two robust and handso white horses. It was a ticulously decorated pumpkin carriage, its body sparkling with a dreamy light under the streetlamps.
Because this scene was simply too unbelievable, for a mont, everyone's gaze was attracted to this fantastical pumpkin carriage, unable to speak.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the carriage stopped at the castle gate. A coachman wearing a toy mask respectfully opened the door—and a woman stepped out of the carriage with elegant steps.
A gorgeous, dazzling ballgown as if inlaid with jewels, and crystal-clear glass slippers, incomparably showcased the woman's elegance and nobility.
And not only that, the woman's voluptuous, sexy figure, and her peerless beauty that carried a hint of charm within its dignity, made all the n present cast admiring glances, while the won let out sighs of feeling inferior.
After sweeping a glance around with clear erald eyes like jade, upon seeing Shido and his group, the woman showed a surprised expression.
"Oh my, Shido and everyone are all here."
Shido and the others couldn't help but freeze.
"...Natsumi?"
"Yes~ Who else could it be but ?"
Hearing Shido's sowhat unconfident voice, Natsumi couldn't help but smile.
"Wh-What's going on, Natsumi? You looking like this... could it be you used an Angel?"
Kotori asked puzzledly. Natsumi's current appearance was exactly identical to the adult Natsumi she turned into using Haniel.
Natsumi shook her head gently, denying Kotori's guess.
"No. This carriage and these clothes were created by a wizard using magic not long ago, so I could attend the ball at the castle. I saw the dress was very pretty, so I agreed. Look at these glass slippers, aren't they beautiful?"
Saying this, Natsumi happily lifted the hem of her skirt and twirled around, clearly very satisfied with her current outfit.
"Kotori... Natsumi's outfit and that carriage..."
"Mhm, it should be Cinderella."
Shido and Kotori conversed in low voices. Natsumi, ignoring their conversation, leisurely walked towards the guards.
"—Good evening.Guard, may I pass?"
"O-Of course! Please go right ahead."
Seeing the guard respectfully make way for Natsumi, this world of difference in treatnt made Kaguya and Yuzuru complain in dissatisfaction.
"Hey, you! Why is your attitude completely different from how you treated us?"
"Shut up! How can such a noble lady be lumped together with the likes of you."
Just then, Yoshino and Yoshinon walked up to Natsumi and whispered in her ear.
"Say, Natsumi-chan. Yoshino-chan and everyone want to go inside the castle too. Could you please help us?"
"Please... help us..."
"I see, I understand. Leave it to ."
Hearing Yoshino's request, Natsumi smiled slightly and promised with full confidence.
"—They are my companions, can they go in with ?"
"Eh... th-this..."
The guard showed a troubled expression. Seeing his reaction, Natsumi took a step forward, cupped his face, and guided his gaze to her alluring cleavage. Near his ear, she said in a coquettish tone.
"—Pleeaassee~."
The guard's face instantly turned bright red.
"Yes... th-then please, everyone, please pass—"
Success. Natsumi secretly gave everyone a victory sign.
Dong—Dong—!
However, just as everyone was about to pass through. The large clock hanging on the castle wall suddenly echoed with the toll of a bell.
At the sa ti, Natsumi's body abruptly shrank. And not only that, her gorgeous ballgown turned into ragged clothes covered in patches, and the magnificent pumpkin carriage behind her turned into a real pumpkin.
"Wh-What happened?"
Realizing the changes in her body, Natsumi instantly beca panicked and at a loss for what to do.
"Oh no, is it twelve o'clock already?"
Shido thought grimly.
Although he knew that the magic in the Cinderella fairy tale would wear off when the clock struck twelve midnight, because day had directly turned into night when he entered, he didn't know the exact current ti.
"Natsumi! Co back quickly!"
Unsurprisingly, upon seeing Natsumi's transformation, the guard, who was just looking enamored, instantly put on a terrifying expression.
...
"Wuu-wuu-wuu... a witch... That person actually called an ugly witch... A-Anyway... I'm just an ugly duckling who got carried away... Anyway... my existence in this world is a mistake... Wuu-wuu-wuu..."
Natsumi looked deeply devastated, curling up in a corner of the alley and weeping softly.
"My—I'm really sorry, Natsumi-chan."
"I'm sorry..."
"Cheer up, Natsumi! You did nothing wrong. It's that guard with no taste who's wrong. There's no need for you to brood over it."
"That's right, that's right. It's that guard's fault for not realizing Nattsun's unique charm."
"Comfort. You worked hard, Natsumi. Have a donut to change your mood."
"Mhm... thank you."
"Umu, eat more! If it's not enough, I have dango here too."
Seeing Natsumi gradually calm down under everyone's comfort, Shido finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"What a pity, we almost made it inside the castle."
"Well, failure can't be helped. Let's think of another way."
Kotori glanced at the guards at the castle gate in the distance, then looked at the matches in her pocket. Recalling how Natsumi looked after magic was cast on her, she suddenly had an idea.
...
"Excuse , we would like to attend tonight's ball. Could you let us into the castle?"
Walking to the castle gate again, hearing the conversation between Kotori and the guard, Shido swallowed hard, lowered his head, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead due to nervousness.
"Mhm..."
After sizing up the group, the tight muscles on the guard's face relaxed, and he answered in a polite tone.
"Of course, ladies. I hope you have a wonderful ti at the ball."
Passing through the castle gate check without any danger, Shido couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
"Kuku—Blind fools. In the end, they still politely invited in."
"Retort. The people here only have eyes for clothes."
The Yamai sisters couldn't help but snicker. At this mont, they were no longer wearing those tattered old clothes, but rather quite expensive and gorgeous ballgowns. Not just the two of them; everyone had changed from their original outfits, dressed like aristocratic young ladies.
Of course, these weren't specially custom-made at a clothing store. In reality, they didn't have that much money to buy formal wear. These were all illusions created by Kotori lighting the matches. Kotori specifically found a piece of slow-burning wood to use as a torch and lit it with a match, so the illusion would last a long ti.
It had to be said, Kotori's trick was very effective. But—
"Why do I have to wear a dress too..."
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, the corner of Shido's eye twitched slightly.
A beautiful long dress like everyone else's, a feminized face with makeup, and long hair reaching his waist—undoubtedly, in the eyes of outsiders right now, Shido looked exactly like a cute girl
"If it's the ball Cinderella went to, then it's highly likely a ball held by the prince to find a marriage partner. Wouldn't dressing up as a girl give us a higher chance of success?"
Kotori answered with a perfectly valid-sounding reason.
"Ooh... So this is the legendary Shiori form..." Framing her hands like a cara and gesturing around Shido, Nia nodded in realization. "I see, no wonder Biri-chan wanted to choose Shiori as the protagonist. Boy—uh, no! Maiden! How about you apologize to Biri-chan looking like this? Maybe she'll make up with you right away."
"How could it be that simple... Ah... my heart is so tired..."
Too lazy to correct Nia's words, Shido dropped his shoulders in exhaustion.
"Wait... you just said Yutsuki chose Shiori as the protagonist..."
Suddenly, Shido noticed a hint of incongruity in Nia's words. However, before he had ti to ask, a cry of exclamation outside the castle gate caught his attention.
"Look! In the sky! Soone is flying in the sky!"
The sky? Shido couldn't help but look up at the sky.
In the night sky, a dark silhouette was continuously approaching from afar. Like a swift swift, the silhouette lowered its altitude and descended into the town. It deftly navigated through the bustling pedestrians and carriages, finally stopping at the castle gates.
After the silhouette stopped, everyone finally saw the other party's true identity clearly.
It was a very bizarre vehicle. Although its shape sowhat resembled the carts commonly used by rchants, there were no wheels attached to the bottom, nor were there horses pulling it. The entire vehicle simply floated in the air. The cart was fully loaded with heavy goods, and amidst them, a traveling rchant wearing thick winter clothes sat on the cart, very arrogantly crossing her legs.
Seeing the other party, Shido and the others were as speechless with surprise as everyone else.
However, their reason for surprise was sowhat different from the others.
"Yutsuki-nee... why is she here?"
That person, the Spirit they had left in Tengu City because she had a conflict with Shido—Ryougi Yutsuki.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?!"
Quickly, the soldiers surrounded Yutsuki. Pointing their spears at her, they interrogated her with a vigilant look.
"A traveling rchant doing business all over the world. I heard the King is holding a ball, so I ca to attend."
Facing the unfriendly guards, Yutsuki answered calmly and composedly.
"Then what is that thing you're riding on? A flying traveling rchant has never been heard of. What proof do you have that you aren't a witch or a demon?"
Hearing the guard's words, Yutsuki burst out laughing as if she had heard a funny joke.
"Haha! How utterly unreasonable. This is a magic item. Is it permissible for your King to obtain a legendary rmaid, but not for to have a flying magic item?"
"Ugh—Shut up! We need to inspect your goods to determine if what you're saying is true."
"Hah... you guys are really a pain."
Yutsuki sighed, stepped off the cart, and walked up to the soldier talking to her.
—Smack!
A crisp sound echoed in the night. The next second, the guard, suddenly slapped by Yutsuki, fell into the snow.
The soldiers' expressions changed instantly, and they rushed forward to subdue Yutsuki.
Seeing this scene, Shido and the others, who had been secretly observing from inside the castle gates, couldn't care less about exposing their identities and prepared to go help Yutsuki.
"Hold on!"
Just then, the soldier who had been knocked to the ground suddenly called out to his subordinates and slowly picked himself up.
Taking off the gold bar stuck to his face, this soldier didn't care in the slightest that half his face had turned red and swollen. He gave Yutsuki a fawning smile.
"Consider this small gift a reward for everyone's hard work. It's tough standing guard in this freezing weather, go buy so hot wine to warm yourselves up."
Stepping forward and patting the soldier's shoulder, Yutsuki asked very kindly.
"Excuse , may I go attend the ball?"
"Of course, no problem~ Please co in~ Please co in~"
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