[175] : Shiori Itsuka?? First Meeting with Tohka Yatogami!

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Meanwhile, above Tengu City, where the Spacequake had occurred, aboard a ship cloaked in optical camouflage—

Inside the ship's command room, Kotori Itsuka watched Shido Itsuka, who had run to the edge of the massive crater, on the large screen.

Kotori, dressed in a red and white Gothic Loli outfit, black ribbons adorning her hair, and wearing red knee-high socks, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, swung her legs back and forth.

"Reine, how are the Princess's vitals?"

"Unstable. A meltdown could happen at any moment," Reine Murasame, standing beside Kotori—a natural airhead ojou-sama with long, silvery-gray hair and blue eyes—replied calmly, her gaze fixed on the blue-haired boy on the screen.

Hearing this, Kotori, still sucking on her lollipop, commanded the young man with long golden hair on the other side. "Kyouhei, get everyone ready! The show's about to begin!"

"Understood, Commander!"

"Hold on, Commander! Another boy has appeared near the Princess!" Suddenly, an anxious report came from within the command room.

"What?! Who is it? Quickly, switch the screen!" Hearing her subordinate's report, Kotori Itsuka was startled and quickly ordered them to display the live feed.

As the screen switched, a young man appeared between Shido Itsuka and Yatogami Tohka—standing still in mid-air.

This suddenly appearing young man was none other than Kyoya.

———

Looking at me, who had abruptly appeared, Shido Itsuka was startled, looking at me nervously.

Similarly, I looked Shido Itsuka up and down with a strange expression.

'Why does this Shido Itsuka look so delicate? And wearing a female school uniform? Could it be some kind of perverted cross-dressing fetish?!'

"You... Are you also here to kill me?"

Suddenly, a clear but slightly weary girl's voice came from the deep pit below.

Hearing this, I and Shido Itsuka, who had just been staring at each other, reflexively looked towards the sound.

There—

The girl stood on the armrest of a throne, looking warily at me and Shido Itsuka.

Purple armor, like a princess's gown, enveloped the girl's body. The seams, inner lining, and hem of the dress were composed of an intangible, light membrane that radiated an incredible glow. She wore a crystal hairpin adorned with a purple bow.

Her knee-length black hair flowed with the wind. Her appearance was the epitome of cute and pure, yet she also possessed a majestic aura. No matter how one looked at her, she resembled a princess from another land.

Especially those eyes, radiating a pure and flawless light, deeply captivated my gaze.

Our eyes met. The helplessness, loneliness, and pain deep within the girl's eyes were also seen by me. A desire to cherish and protect her welled up in my heart.

"Princess..." I murmured softly, looking at the Spirit girl before me.

———

The Spirit Princess gracefully grasped the hilt of the sword protruding from the back of her throne and slowly drew it.

It was an ornately designed, wide greatsword that shimmered with a dreamlike light.

The Spirit Princess raised the sword high and swung it towards me, unleashing a slash radiating a purple light.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The slash, emanating purple light, whistled past my ear, leaving a deep trench over a hundred meters long in the surrounding ground.

All the buildings, roads, trees, and everything else along its path were shattered into fragments by this purple sword energy.

Despite this, I remained unfazed, looking at the girl before me with a faint smile.

However, Shido Itsuka beside me wasn't so lucky.

Due to Princess's attack just now, a large area of surrounding buildings collapsed, about to bury her.

(PS: Yes... HER. Shido Itsuka in here is Shiori Itsuka!)

Seeing this, I transformed into an afterimage, embracing the terrified Shido Itsuka and bringing her to a distant location.

'Even if Shido Itsuka met with an accident, Kotori, hidden in the shadows, would have ways to prevent her death. But earning a favor is always good.'

However, I soon noticed something strange. Because I was holding Shido Itsuka, I could clearly feel her body was too soft, and a delicate girlish fragrance emanated from her.

"Mmm~"

The next moment, Shido in my arms couldn't help but let out a soft cry, a faint blush creeping across her face.

Now, I was so shocked I froze on the spot.

"A... A girl?!"

"This Shido Itsuka is actually a girl?!"

"Wait a minute, Shido..."

'Holy crap! Shido Itsuka has become Shiori Itsuka!!!'

———

While I was still reeling from the shock, Princess, holding her greatsword, arrived not far from me, her expression wary.

"...Who are you? Are you also here to kill me?"

Princess's sudden words interrupted my shocked thoughts. Looking at the Spirit princess before me, I smiled and shrugged.

"I have no grudge against you. Why would I want to kill you, silly Princess?!"

Saying this, I used [Soru] to appear before her, admiring this Spirit princess—who would later become a glutton in the anime—from up close.

I slowly raised my hand, pointing at the greatsword in her hand, and said.

"I say... silly Princess, you should put away that little toy in your hand. It can't hurt me!"

"I'm not silly!" The Spirit Princess was enraged by what I called her, her little face puffing up angrily...

Immediately, she raised her weapon again, swinging the greatsword, preparing to kill this human who posed a threat to her.

CLANG—!

The two greatswords clashed, creating countless sparks.

Princess looked closely and saw that I, now also in Spirit attire, wielded a greatsword identical to her own Sandalphon.

The only difference was that her Astral Dress armor was purple, while mine was blue.

"H-How... How do you have the same outfit as me?! Could you also be a Spirit?!" The Spirit Princess's deep purple eyes widened in astonishment, witnessing this bizarre scene firsthand.

Looking at Princess's bewildered and shocked expression, I secretly laughed. 'Of course, it looks the same. It's the same Astral Dress, rewarded by the system!'

Immediately, I chuckled softly. "Looks like you need to be properly taught."

Saying this, I reached out my left hand, placing it on Princess's Sandalphon. With a thought, I directly "confiscated" her weapon.

Princess, who was still in shock, suddenly found her hands empty. Her Angel—Sandalphon—had inexplicably disappeared.

"Where's my Angel?? Damn it! It must have been you, human! Quickly return my Angel!" Princess stared deadly at me, her words filled with anger and panic.

Before I could speak, several missiles shot down from the sky, hurtling towards Princess and me.

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