The real world.
As the darkness in her eyes slowly faded, Manaka, like a newborn opening her eyes, gazed at the world before her with slight confusion.
(It seems we succeeded, my other self.)
A voice identical to hers echoed from deep within.
Manaka touched her body. "It seems… it went smoothly? The transfer of soul and consciousness."
(Yes, first, through the circuit connection between me and Master, I entered your domain. Then, through my connection with you, I brought your soul back to my side—it sounds simple, but doing it was a bit difficult for the current me. Luckily, it worked.)
It worked.
At the cost of losing all her power, she successfully escaped the Mystic Eyes that had imprisoned her for ten years—Manaka fully grasped this fact.
"Rei… no, it should be Manaka-chan now, right?"
The incubus's voice reached her ears.
Manaka turned to see Merry sitting on the sofa beside her, smiling. "Rei suddenly passed out earlier, and I wondered if something happened. Turns out she went to fetch you—how do you feel now? Free after ten years."
"Indeed. You could say I'm thrilled and happy. My heart's filled with those feelings. Being able to move freely in my own body like this is wonderful."
(This is my body—no, our body. Don't get that wrong, my other self.)
Rei reminded her.
(Also, control over this body is mostly mine. Don't think about acting recklessly. If you do, I'll do this—)
As the voice ended, Manaka suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. Her vision receded endlessly, and control over her body vanished instantly.
Back in control, Rei ran a hand through her hair. "If my other self tries to do something bad, I'll take over the body like this. Control is about seven to three—me seven."
(What's the difference from before?!)
"It's a huge difference. In Master's body, you had no control at all, right? Now you at least have a little." Rei laughed. "But don't worry, I won't randomly take the body back while you're using it, unless you're thinking perverse things like before."
(Do I have any reason to do that now?)
"Of course, I know you don't. This is just insurance. Besides, only I can keep you in check, right? And… when Master and I recharge Mana later, it's fine if I quietly swap in halfway. Master probably won't notice."
(That's what you say.)
"Mhm, leave it to me."
Seeing them start to discuss how to share time right in front of her, Merry couldn't help but clap her hands. "Alright, alright, you two, restrain yourselves a bit. [Position One] is still here, you know. If you're going to discuss, at least don't do it in front of me."
"But about what you were discussing… How about I disguise myself as you to recharge Mana with the King, then we apply senses-sharing Magecraft between you and me? That way, all three of us can experience it together."
"—What do you think of that idea?"
"…"
"…"
Rei and Manaka both fell silent—truly, this incubus was the master of mischief. Disguising herself as someone else for fun and even using senses-sharing Magecraft to let others feel it too.
What a ruthless method!
After hesitating and pondering the feasibility of the idea, Rei said, "Let's talk about that later. For now, let's wait for Master to wake up—my other self, how long until Master wakes?"
(At most half an hour. The consciousness domain needs time to collapse.)
"Half an hour… Alright, then let's start preparing dinner now. That way, Master and Lia can eat right after waking up."
"It might not be half an hour."
Merry's sudden words stunned Rei and Manaka.
Not possible? Did that mean Naoki and Artoria wouldn't wake up in half an hour? But why, when the monsters had already been defeated—
*BOOOOOM!*
The sound from the television drew their attention. After looking at the screen, they understood why Merry said that.
"Not all of them are gone, those monsters."
Merry clenched her fists slightly.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Thrown back nearly a hundred meters with a loud crash, Naoki quickly stabilized the Sacred Sword Armor and looked up. "Lia, you okay?!"
"I'm fine, Master—ahead!"
"Got it!"
As he responded, the Sacred Sword Armor's hands gripped a blade of pure light. Swinging it at two approaching lightning orbs, the overflowing light instantly engulfed them!
But before Naoki could continue his attack, the phoenix giant's body, soaring in the air, suddenly exploded. Then, as if in response, the holy sword in the Sacred Sword Armor's hand shattered into pieces!
A moment later, the lightning giant delivered a heavy blow!
*CRASH!*
A terrifying impact, accompanied by lightning, struck Naoki's arms! The hastily raised defense couldn't fully block the attack. The Sacred Sword Armor was sent flying, crashing through and toppling numerous houses!
In the air, the phoenix giant, which had exploded seconds ago, had somehow fully regenerated.
(This move again… Damn it, it's driving me crazy!)
Since the fight began, it had always been like this. The phoenix giant seemed to have a special ability to seal techniques by self-destructing, rendering them temporarily unusable. And after exploding, it could even revive and regenerate!
As a result, Naoki's Imaginary Manifestation and Summoning Magecraft were now sealed, leaving him to fight solely with the Sacred Sword Armor.
Meanwhile, the lightning giant capitalized on Naoki's weakening state, constantly seeking opportunities to launch fierce attacks. In both speed and power, the Sacred Sword Armor was slightly outmatched.
[You cannot escape, Holy Sword Wielder.]
[You will be destroyed, Holy Sword Wielder.]
[In this consciousness world.]
[We and you.]
[Will fight forever.]
[Until your consciousness is completely worn out and shattered.]
In the sky and on the ground, the two giants declared as such.
Then, a massive lightning bolt and blazing phoenix flames filled the entire space in Naoki and Artoria's vision.
"Roooaaarrrr——!"