"Lan-chan! Onegai! This time I really, truly mean it—this is my life's biggest plea! If you don't help me… watashi wa…"
It was early morning, and the wailing voice of Honjou Nia—resident manga artist and professional drama queen—echoed through the Spirit apartment.
"I've lost count of how many times I've heard you say 'this is my life's greatest request.'"
Melusine, currently cradled in Nia's arms, remained as expressionless as ever. Her voice was cold, and her doll-like features betrayed no hint of emotion. "And this is your own fault, isn't it? Who told you to procrastinate until three days before the deadline?"
What, you think you're Rohan Kishibe? Even the priest had to accelerate time to make that work.
It had been mentioned before: Honjou Nia was a popular manga artist. Even Itsuka Shidou was a devoted fan.
His bookshelf still housed copies of Nia's long-running work, Silver Bullet, a series he'd been following since elementary school.
When he found out Nia was the author, his look of astonishment had been hilarious. But Melusine suspected what shocked him more than "My childhood idol is living in my apartment!" was Nia's actual age.
"Lan-chan! Don't tell me you've never experienced this—"
Nia suddenly straightened up and declared, "When you're doing your summer homework, haven't you ever naively thought, 'Let future me handle it! I'll enjoy the now!' And then the night before school starts, staring at a mountain of untouched work, don't you just want to go back in time and slap your past self across the face?!"
…Honestly? Too relatable.
Let's be honest—who really paces their homework across the summer break? Of course it all gets crammed into the last few days.
Random multiple-choice guesses, fill-ins scrawled in black ink, big essay questions left blank, maybe a few ripped pages to make it look like you "tried."
Just bet the teacher won't bother reading it and will stamp a lazy "Reviewed" on top.
Math wasn't so bad—ninety percent of the time, you could figure it out at a glance. Language arts? One look at the answer key and you'd lose all motivation to write anything yourself.
Still… understanding didn't mean forgiveness.
"You're a grown woman, Nia. You need to learn to take responsibility for your choices."
Melusine still refused her request.
"Besides, even if I wanted to help, what could I do? I can't draw manga."
"No worries! I just need you to do linework—nothing complicated."
Melusine looked troubled.
"Even so… I promised to visit Shinon today. She's being discharged from the hospital, and I wanted to pick up a gift for her at the shopping arcade… Surely there's someone better suited for this than me?"
As she said this, Melusine turned her gaze toward a certain direction.
From behind a nearby corner, a puff of green hair gave a startled twitch—then quickly ducked out of sight as if trying to flee.
"Natsumi."
"Eeeek—!!"
Her shriek, laced with raw terror, echoed like a mouse spotting a cat.
A few moments later, a tiny head cautiously peeked out from behind the wall.
A gaunt, fragile-looking face peeked into view, eyes brimming with fear as though she were facing down a demon.
"S-s-sorry! I wasn't eavesdropping! I just happened to be passing by—really! I didn't mean to listen! Please don't kill me!"
"…"
Melusine paused for a long moment, then sighed softly in exasperation.
But that one sigh was enough to send Natsumi into a shivering fit. Her messy, uncombed green hair seemed to stand on end like she'd been electrocuted.
"I was just going to ask if you'd be willing to help Nia. Of everyone I know, you're probably the best artist."
"Eh? Eh? Ehhh?"
Natsumi blinked rapidly in disbelief, her already pale face growing even whiter. Tears began welling up at the corners of her eyes.
This… this is a trap, right?! She's complimenting a total waste of a person in front of others just to set them up for public humiliation! Raise them up just to drop them harder—it's over. I'm dead. If I say no, I'll be erased on the spot, right?
All of that flashed through Natsumi's mind in less than a second.
Melusine couldn't read her thoughts, but she could read her expression. After a moment of hesitation, she added,
"Of course, if you're uncomfortable, you can say no."
"!!!"
Natsumi's eyes widened slowly. Her small mouth opened slightly. Her tears flowed even faster now.
You can say no? No! That's clearly reverse psychology!
She's clearly getting impatient and wants me to accept already—uwahhh…
And so, Natsumi agreed to help Nia with her manga.
She didn't leave right away, though. Only after Melusine gave her explicit permission did she trudge off like a ghost.
To anyone who didn't know better, she looked like a terminal patient who'd just been given three days to live.
"Why is she so scared of me…"
Melusine pouted slightly, looking genuinely downcast—like a girl who tried to pet a kitten only for it to bolt in terror.
"There, there. It's not your fault."
Nia reached out and patted Melusine's head. (And wow—her hair was incredibly soft.)
Nia knew exactly why Natsumi was terrified.
A few days earlier, while Natsumi was in the middle of impersonating Shidou and ruining his reputation, she had the misfortune of running into Melusine—and ended up being knocked out and brought back.
At the time, Natsumi had disguised herself as a glamorous older woman. She hated Shidou because she mistakenly believed he had seen her true form—her petite, loli-like body.
When she woke up and realized everyone in the apartment had seen her real form, she lost it and tried to attack everyone using her ability.
But Melusine promptly suppressed her a second time.
Natsumi's power allowed her to transform not just her appearance, but also reality. She could turn deadly missiles into cartoon props, molten lava into strawberry jelly, or even transform her own Angel into those of other Spirits—complete with their abilities.
But when she tried to use it on Melusine… something went wrong.
Natsumi turned Melusine into a bobblehead doll, a piece of candy, even a puff of cotton candy.
Yet none of these changes seemed to affect her power.
Which was how everyone ended up witnessing a piece of pastel-blue candy body-slamming Natsumi into the ground and beating her until she cried.
Afterward, with Melusine playing the "bad cop," the others comforted Natsumi until her guard came down, and the conditions for sealing her power were met.
In truth, Melusine had been a great help—without her, sealing Natsumi would've been far more difficult.
But the result was that every time Natsumi saw Melusine now, she reacted like a lamb spotting a wolf.
"I just want to be on good terms with her…"
Melusine sulked, puffing out her cheeks.
"You can't force it."
Nia sighed. "Natsumi has intense persecution paranoia. No matter how kind you are, she'll interpret it as a threat. The only way forward is for someone she trusts to slowly guide her."
It was going to be a long road.
To rekindle the hope of someone who had already given up on the world—to get them to trust again—was never easy.
"It'll be fine. Tohka and the others are all kind, sincere girls. If they spend enough time with her, Natsumi's walls will come down eventually."
"Who knows. Human emotions are so delicate and complicated. I've never understood them."
Melusine paused, casting a sidelong glance at Nia.
"…Also, when you mentioned 'kind' and 'sincere,' you very intentionally excluded yourself."
"Well, I do have a healthy amount of self-awareness. I'm already a dirty grown-up."
...
That day, Melusine was scheduled to train Tobiichi Origami.
The location was Ratatoskr's underground base in Tengu City. Since this was for Origami's combat training, Melusine had borrowed the facility from Kotori.
The Reality Refractor (i.e., Spirit manifestation equipment) was also supplied by Ratatoskr—far superior to the outdated gear AST had provided Origami.
Melusine had never been fond of powers granted by external devices, considering them hollow, like castles in the sky. But Origami wasn't seeking strength for its own sake—she was seeking revenge.
So, when she asked for better equipment, Melusine didn't object.
With Ratatoskr's gear, Origami could probably overpower Tohka and the others (at their current, limited power levels). But if they ever regained their full Spirit powers, she'd still lose.
Yet that morning, when Origami suited up and entered the training ground… she saw several familiar figures she hadn't expected.
"Sensei, may I ask what's going on?"
Origami looked toward Melusine, who stood at the center of the arena.
"My goal is to strengthen Shidou's entire support system. Training only you would be too limited. So I brought everyone else here."
Melusine met Origami's gaze without flinching.
"Besides—how does the saying go? Herding one sheep or herding a flock… it's all the same."
Origami locked eyes with Melusine's golden irises, then turned to the others gathered at the edge of the training area: Yatogami Tohka, Yamai Kaguya and Yuzuru, Yoshino, and Miku.
Further away, Honjou Nia and Natsumi lingered in the spectator area.
"I'm working hard for Shidou's sake, and I won't let you get ahead of me!"
Tohka shot Origami a determined glare.
"The Wind Priestesses do not shy away from trials!"
"Self-reflection: Last time, I felt helpless. I won't let that happen again."
Kaguya and Yuzuru were already warming up.
"To protect Shidou, everyone's fired up."
"I… I'll try my best too."
"I'll cheer for you, Yoshino! Just go all out and show them what you've got!"
With encouragement from Yoshinon, Yoshino's timid spirit flared to life—and Yoshinon became hyped right alongside her.
"Geez… I was so happy that little Ran invited me herself. I even put on my best makeup. Now you want me to sweat?"
Miku pouted as she stroked her cheek.
"But… spending time with so many adorable girls isn't a bad consolation prize. I'll stay back and do my idol duty. Leave the music and motivation to me~!"
"Ugh, fighting's not my thing…"
Nia lounged lazily in the spectator seat.
"I'll just… pass."
"…Mmph…"
Natsumi said nothing. But whenever her eyes met Melusine's, she quickly looked away and shrank into herself.
Clearly, it was still too soon for her to go up against Melusine.
"Kotori decided not to come in the end," Melusine remarked. "Partly because she's the commander of Fraxinus and rarely fights as a Spirit. But also… because she's afraid of losing control if she transforms into Efreet."
Melusine frowned slightly.
"If you ask me, that's unnecessary. Even if she did lose control, I could easily neutralize her before she caused any real damage. Does she not trust my ability?"
No, actually… she probably trusts you too much. That's why she didn't come.
After all, losing control hurts enough. Getting smacked around by Melusine on top of it?
No thanks.
Several of the more perceptive members didn't say it out loud—but they all silently agreed.
---
T/N: Efreet... isnt that a fire elemental... DONT TELL ME THE ONE THAT KILLED ORIGAMIS PARENTS IS KOTORI?????
Also! For this month, and potentially future months Heroic Spirit will be daily like Title Master! Luminary privileges yeppers! (webnovel readers can ignore this)