"Sensei, sensei, can you come a little closer? Just a bit closer."
"That's too close, Karen."
On the DEM's private jet, although they could use spiritual power to cross directly to the European Continent, there was no need.
First, such an action consumed a lot of magical energy and wasn't convenient for bringing people along.
Second, Ryuya preferred to experience the life of an ordinary person. In his view, life as a King came with immense responsibility and was often tedious in daily life. He also wanted to experience things he hadn't before.
And now, returning to DEM Headquarters with Ellen, Karen, and Westcott to handle some urgent matters was undoubtedly an 'enjoyable' part of life.
However, this enjoyment seemed to be disrupted by Karen and Ellen.
As mentioned before, among the sisters Ellen and Karen, Ellen is the older sister. As the strongest Wizard, she isn't adept at some practical matters, being somewhat airheaded and clumsy.
The younger sister, Karen, is someone whose level of perversion rivals or even surpasses Origami's.
Inside the aircraft cabin, thanks to technological advancement, the entire plane was on autopilot, with no pilots or flight attendants.
Dressed in a flight attendant uniform, Karen held a drink and looked lovingly at Ryuya, asking her teacher if he wanted a drink, juice, or alcohol.
At this moment, Ryuya's headache regarding Karen had only one cause: Karen's outfit.
Well, if the flight attendant uniform Karen was wearing could be considered a qualified one, then 99% of people would probably dream of flying.
After all, such an exposed flight attendant was truly hard to resist.
Feeling quite helpless with Karen practically glued to him, almost merging into one, Ryuya cast a pleading glance at Westcott beside him, "Westcott, what are you doing? Can't you rein in your sister?"
"Sensei, is something the matter? Ah, right! I just remembered there's a very good Italian restaurant near the company's headquarters. How about we try it together after we arrive?"
A hint of jealousy sparkled in her purple eyes. Somehow, Westcott had picked up many behaviors she would never normally exhibit.
"Ellen, what about you?"
"Ah? Sensei, what are you talking about? Of course, I support Westcott and Karen. After all, I'm not that narrow-minded a woman."
Looking at the girl who also wore an innocent smile while continuously pressing her body closer, Ryuya showed a troubled expression.
"You all... just who did you learn this from?!"
(Omitted 20,000 words)
After arriving at DEM Headquarters, Ryuya finally learned about the issues DEM was facing: recently, there had been a lot of incongruity within the organization.
"Incongruity? Can you be more specific?"
"It's like this, Ryuya-sama, actually..."
The staff weren't clear about Ryuya's identity, or even about Westcott's female appearance, but Ellen and Karen's status was evident.
Combined with Elliot's recent busyness, the remaining DEM's staff obediently explained the recent troubles: many people were behaving completely differently from usual.
"Completely different behavior?" Ryuya confirmed softly.
"Yes. For example, the PR Manager just talked about a team-building event yesterday, but today he claims he forgot all about it."
"And the procurement department staff have messed up the purchase orders several times recently. All sorts of rare materials have had issues."
"Everyone... it's like they've become different people. It's really hard to understand."
Hearing the staff's description, the first thing that came to Ryuya's mind was the concept of 'replicas'.
If it were just one person frequently forgetting things, that would be one thing. But many employees acting this way seemed like the behavior of two different people.
Rather than coincidental issues at headquarters, it seemed more like a prank orchestrated by a certain Spirit.
'The Replica Witch?'
Instantly thinking of the last two Spirits, Kyouno Natsumi and Hoshimiya Mukuro, Ryuya felt the one capable of causing such effects was likely Kyouno Natsumi's ability.
"Alright, I'll handle this matter properly. You may go now."
Dismissing the employee, Ryuya explained Nana's abilities to Ellen, Karen, and Westcott.
"She can project and materialize any person or object? And mimic others' appearances? That ability is very complex."
"Correct. She is a powerful enemy."
Exchanging glances, Ellen and Karen agreed that Natsumi was a troublesome individual after hearing Ryuya's explanation. They hadn't expected the Replica Witch could project anything Nana wished to materialize, even replicating the power of other Spirits' Angels.
"Westcott, refrain from using your Angel, 'Know-It-All', for now."
The Eleventh Spirit, belonging to a Sephira not present in the original work, representing the Angel of Knowledge, Westcott's Angel ability was 'Know-It-All.'
It could absorb any known power into her Spirit core, then replicate it.
Westcott's Angel was somewhat similar to Nana's ability, but the key difference was that Nana could directly replicate and create a slightly weaker copy.
Westcott's ability was different… she devoured the power, then evolved and replicated a product stronger than the original.
Worried that Nana replicating Westcott's Angel could cause more trouble, Ryuya pondered why Nana would come to DEM in the first place.
"Sensei, I can find some information on Kyouno Natsumi here, mostly about her past family circumstances."
Working on the computer, Westcott quickly found information on Natsumi.
She was the daughter of a mistress who had an affair with a married man for money and benefits.
Because Nana's mother was only after money and child support from Nana's biological father, Nana never received maternal love growing up. She often went hungry and suffered a tragic childhood.
"Information on Kyouno Natsumi only goes up to her middle school years. After that, her father died accidentally, and she was abandoned by her birth mother. Her whereabouts are unknown."
Looking at the information about Natsumi, Westcott didn't much like such a sorrowful life. It was precisely to prevent similar evils in the world that she worked hard to purge humanity.
Feeling sympathy for Natsumi's plight, yet unable to understand why she would come to DEM, a rare look of bewilderment appeared on the face of this decisive, efficient Executive Director.