"Dad, Dad."
"What is it?"
"Um, well... I want you to read me a picture book."
"Yeah, sure. Come over here."
"Ehehe♪"
Aisha happily wagged her tail as she sat on my lap.
I took the picture book from her and began reading aloud.
"Once upon a time, in a certain place, there lived a wolf."
"Exciting~"
...We had to find the hideout of the Dawn Alliance.
The most suspicious place was the communal graveyard.
Erin and I were supposed to investigate it together, but in the end, Sofia and Lena were assigned to handle it instead.
As for me, I stayed behind at the inn with Aisha and Snow.
Aisha and Snow were being targeted.
Under these circumstances, I couldn't leave the two of them alone.
And so, I ended up staying behind.
"Hey, hey."
Licorice fluttered down onto my head.
She was munching away on a cookie.
I really wished she'd stop, since crumbs were falling everywhere...
"Just waiting around is sooo boring."
"It can't be helped. We can't leave Aisha and Snow alone either."
"Hmm... But haven't I been stuck babysitting this whole time lately? Isn't it weird to keep leaving behind the Ultra Miracle Magical Lyric Heartful Wonder Special Holiday Life Licorice-chan over and over again?"
Wasn't that because everyone thought Licorice might throw the whole situation into chaos...?
...I thought that, but decided not to say it out loud.
"The communal graveyard might actually be the Dawn Alliance's main base. The danger level is completely different from before, so it can't be helped."
"But don't you think someone as amazing as me could overcome any kind of trouble? Any bad guys would get obliterated by this Licorice-chan Punch."
Her choice of words was extremely dangerous.
"Um... Well, you see. Precisely because you're so strong, Licorice, we're entrusting this place to you."
"Hm? What d'you mean?"
"Aisha and Snow are being targeted, right? And if the two of them get kidnapped, then... something truly terrible will probably happen."
Aisha was a shrine maiden, and Snow was a divine beast.
If their powers were abused, they might create an absurdly powerful cursed sword...
No.
It might lead to a catastrophe far beyond just a cursed sword.
"So protecting those two is more important. And to carry out that important mission..."
"You need my power, right!?"
"Exactly."
"Hehe~ Well, if I'm being relied on that much, then I guess I have no choice. This super—"
"Dad, the rest!"
"On!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. Umm..."
"..."
When I prioritized Aisha and Snow, Licorice ended up teary-eyed.
Um... sorry.
But listening to the two of them seemed more important than hearing another one of Licorice's bizarre self-introductions.
"Now then, the rest—!?"
Just as I was about to continue reading the picture book, I suddenly felt a chill run through me.
An overwhelming pressure, like something piercing straight through my back.
Even though nothing had happened yet, my hands started trembling on their own.
"Dad?"
"Off?"
"...Aisha, Snow. Get behind me."
"O-Okay..."
Though confused, Aisha and Snow obediently hid behind me.
In the meantime, I grabbed my sword and held it ready to draw at any moment.
"Licorice, this is..."
"Yeah... an enemy."
Without making a single joke, Licorice was sweating.
I felt like this was the first time I'd ever seen her so lacking in composure.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Slow footsteps.
They came straight toward this room...
"Excuse the intrusion."
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