Thump... thump... ×N
Across this expanse of pale white space echoed a series of soft, muffled sounds. The two of them walked side by side over the icy snowfield, their destination the perilous mountain rising into the clouds in the distance. According to Pandora, at the summit lay something that could free her from the "gaze" of the other 'Pandora'—her original self. It seemed to be a sapphire-blue crystal.
Although they walked shoulder to shoulder, the silver-haired girl beside her was half a step ahead. In this frozen wilderness, she wore only a thin, plain white dress, barefoot without even shoes. Her beautiful silver-white hair swayed gently with each step.
...Doesn't she feel cold?
She could not help but wonder.
But thinking about it, that made sense... Her Authority worked in such ways. Perhaps she could invoke something that prevented her from feeling cold. The details were unclear.
"Why are you dressed like that? You don't even have shoes on?"
Unable to resist, she asked.
"...?"
Pandora turned to glance at her, then looked down at her own dress and bare feet. A faint smile curved her lips as she lifted a finger to rest against them, speaking in a mysterious tone.
"It's a style~ The style of a Witch~"
Her voice, sweet as silver bells, carried a trace of playful enigma.
"Style? Haa... To be honest, you've successfully made it onto my list of 'most peculiar' people."
Why say "one of"? Because it was not only Pandora. There was also Sangonomiya Kokomi. In her mind, those two were equally strange—their personalities, habits, and various traits all impossible to fathom.
"Should I feel honored at a time like this~?"
Pandora teased.
"You should not~!"
She shot her a glare.
"How unfortunate... I thought this might make Miss Raiden pay a little more attention to me~?"
Pandora smiled and resumed walking.
"Haa..."
She sighed helplessly.
As expected, she was impossible to understand.
"Aren't you cold?"
Glancing at her thin frame, she asked again.
"Cold? Not at all. As long as I tell myself I won't feel cold—and that I shouldn't dirty my body—that is enough. Even walking barefoot on the snow, the soles of my feet won't become wet."
Pandora replied in her delicate voice.
How convenient... that kind of ability.
Both convenient and shameless.
"May I ask a question?"
This time Pandora took the initiative. Her tone never changed much—always refined and elegant, like a gentle young lady who was neither coy nor affected. Every word carried polite phrasing.
"...What?"
She looked at her in confusion.
"The woman who shares your bed... Is she your elder sister? Or your younger one?"
Pandora asked.
"...You mean Ei? She's my mother."
Right. She had nearly forgotten—her mother was still sleeping alone. Had she noticed her absence? She hoped not. Otherwise, things would become troublesome.
"I see. Truly a mother as beautiful as a flower."
Pandora showed no surprise upon hearing this. With her usual serene smile, she offered the remark lightly.
"...You're not surprised that she looks almost identical to me?"
She shook her head helplessly.
"No~ 'Appearance' has both an outer and an inner aspect. Though you may resemble one another externally, inwardly you are entirely different. Therefore, your 'appearances' are naturally different as well. Whether it is Miss Raiden or your honored mother... to me, both are unmistakably beauties."
Pandora turned to her and spoke in that soft, refined voice.
"It's the first time anyone has described us like that... It's strange... but it's nice."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Hehe... Mm~"
Pandora returned the smile sweetly.
ROAR—ROAR!!!
At that moment, a beast-like roar suddenly echoed from the distant mountains. The sound reverberated across the entire range, even producing waves of shock that rolled outward.
"...It seems we aren't the only ones here."
Pandora glanced at the spreading sound waves and commented calmly.
"...And it isn't human."
The Shogun instinctively summoned Engulfing Lightning, bracing it behind her as she spoke.
ROAR—ROAR!!
The deafening cry drew nearer. In an instant, they pinpointed its source—the forest to their left rear, rapidly approaching.
Whoosh!
She raised Engulfing Lightning in front of both herself and Pandora, assuming a battle stance and waiting.
Boom! Boom!
Heavy footsteps shook the earth. Then, with a thunderous crash, a swath of trees was smashed aside—revealing an enormous, almost absurdly massive... woolly mammoth?!
ROAR—ROAR!
Upon seeing them, the mammoth lifted its head and bellowed skyward. Like a war horn, the shockwave radiated from its body, sweeping away the soft snow on the ground and sending their long hair—one violet, one silver—fluttering in the wind.
If one looked closely, the beast's forest-green eyes shimmered with an uncanny, almost sentient light. Its long trunk lashed back and forth like a whip as it advanced with heavy, pounding steps.
"What is that?"
She asked.
"Most likely... a wild beast native to this area."
Pandora's expression remained unchanged as she answered lightly.
ROAR—ROAR!
Thud! Thud! ×N
After a few steps, the mammoth suddenly broke into a charge. Its trunk lowered in an attacking posture as it barreled toward them, each stride shaking the ground.
"Miss Raiden, please step back."
Pandora moved forward, passing her by, offering the instruction.
"You... Haa, very well. Be careful."
She obediently retreated a step, entrusting the scene to the seemingly fragile girl.
Pandora simply stood there, lifting her gaze to watch the massive creature rush toward her. Her expression did not change. She did not even raise an arm.
In that instant... her lips moved silently, as though uttering a single sentence—
ROA—
...
In the next second, before the mammoth could even finish its roar, it vanished without a trace. The thunderous cry cut off abruptly. No echo followed. It was as if the event had never occurred, and tranquility returned at once.
"Is it dead?"
The Shogun asked.
"Please rest assured. I merely returned it to its original nest. I did not harm it. It was simply frightened."
Pandora turned and reassured her.
"'It should not be standing before us. It should be in its own nest, accompanying its children.' That is what I said just now."
She explained.
So she altered the causality of its appearance?
Her gaze instinctively fell upon the snow where the mammoth had stood. There were no footprints.
Because the mammoth had never come here, no tracks were left behind.
Then why?
Why had she chosen her?
Had it been from the very beginning...
Looking up at the thunderous sky thick with storm clouds, the Shogun could not help but frown.
"I've been meaning to ask—where exactly is this place?"
She had not expected such a dangerous region to exist in this world. It reminded her of the time she had once crossed Amakumo Peak with Sara.
"Mount Sylvia. It lies within the southern hemisphere archipelago of the Kingdom—Lugunica. Hardly anyone ever sets foot here. It is the best possible place to conceal one's traces."
Pandora replied in her usual tone.
Not only that. First, it would delay the other 'Pandora' from discovering her. Second, it would prevent the Archbishop of Cornelius from pursuing her. After all, crossing an entire hemisphere was no trivial matter. Surely he would not want his 'wives' too far from him, would he?
Hehe~ Otherwise, he would not be able to feel their 'love.' And if he could not feel his 'wives' loving him... he would suffer for it.
Pandora laughed quietly to herself.
"...Southern... hemisphere? Beneath our feet?"
The corner of her lips twitched.
"Yes. Due to its geographical position, it is currently still daytime here. However, later it may fall into night. When that happens, the temperature will drop far below the usual levels."
Pandora nodded.
"...Haa. Fine."
She relented. Today had truly broadened her horizons. She almost suspected she was dreaming. Perhaps Pandora did not exist at all. And yet, this was reality. Not a dream.
Several minutes later—
The two finally reached the upper half of the mountain. The summit was now much closer. The nearer they drew, the more oppressive the low pressure became, thick with storm clouds and roaring thunder.
Boom—!
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck—directly hitting Pandora on the head.
Crack!
Zzzzz!
In an instant, the girl collapsed, her body charred black. Her dress burned away entirely, her once delicate skin scorched into a darkened ruin. The air filled with a faint, unpleasant odor. A corpse remained where she had stood.
"!"
Even knowing she would revive, she still found the sight unsettling. It felt grotesque.
"It seems I'm not welcome..."
In the blink of an eye, the corpse vanished. In its place stood Pandora once more—perfectly intact. She lifted a hand to smooth her long hair, a rare trace of subtle frustration appearing in her expression.
"Haa... Get behind me."
She reached out, took the girl's slender hand, and pulled her behind her.
"..."
Pandora paused slightly but obediently stepped behind her, peeking up at the swirling vortex of thunder above.
Hum—
She formed a lightning barrier around Pandora to nullify the strikes, then clasped her hand and began ascending the steep slope. Perhaps because of her identity, the violent storm gradually quieted. As she moved forward, the vortex slowly parted, yielding a path.
"Is this why you asked me to accompany you?"
She asked over her shoulder.
"Mm... One must try, no matter what. I did not expect it to be this effective."
Pandora nodded, a hint of delighted surprise flickering in her sapphire eyes.
"Why me?"
She asked abruptly.
"...You?"
Pandora seemed unsure of her meaning.
"Why did you seek me out?"
She clarified.
"Because, Miss Raiden... you are very special."
Pandora smiled.
"Special?"
"Yes. Your origin. Your Authority. Your very existence... all of it makes me curious. Or perhaps... deeply interested."
Pandora explained as she allowed herself to be led upward.
"You know my origin?"
She did not turn around, continuing to look forward as she walked.
"From the moment you arrived in this world, I noticed you, Miss Raiden."
"..."
Her steps faltered briefly. She turned to meet Pandora's gaze. Those sapphire eyes now shone with a distinct clarity, no longer dim. She could tell the girl was sincere—though her expression remained as calm as ever.
"Fortunately, I am the only one who noticed you."
Pandora lifted her eyes slightly.
"Even 'she' failed to perceive your existence. You do not belong to this world. You are a being that stands beyond it. Perhaps only you can defeat her."
"..."
She stared at her in silence.
"So... once I understood that, I decided I wanted to meet you—Miss Raiden Shogun. But there was never an opportunity. I did not want 'her' to become aware of you, so I waited for the right moment."
"And that moment is now?"
She interjected.
Pandora nodded slowly.
"Perhaps... for me, staying by your side is the safest choice."
This time, a faint, almost imperceptible fragility entered her voice.
"Haa... I'm sorry. I've been speaking selfishly this whole time. I know you do not trust me yet. Nor do I have the right to ask anything of you. Consider this my... final confession to you, Miss Raiden."
She was, after all, the Witch of Vainglory—the one despised by all. Regardless of whether she herself had committed crimes, the sins committed by 'her' were inescapable. As a fragment of that existence, she bore guilt. There was no avoiding it.
"Haa... 'Final confession'? You make it sound like you're about to disappear. I'm holding your hand right now. I won't let go. So... don't try that with me."
For once, she tugged firmly at Pandora's arm, pulling her slightly off balance and closer.
"Miss Raiden... you are unbearably gentle."
Pandora smiled weakly, resting her forehead lightly against her body.
Hearing that, she lowered her gaze briefly before looking toward the summit not far above.
"I'm going to fly us up directly. Hold on tight."
She warned.
"Alright... as you wish."
Pandora obediently wrapped her arms around her waist. The chill of her body seeped through the fabric, making her frown slightly. Instinctively, she tightened her own hold, transforming into a streak of lightning and ascending into the sky. In a flash, they arrived at their destination—the peak of Mount Sylvia.
After landing, Pandora stepped lightly onto the ground and looked ahead.
Floating in midair before them was a sapphire-blue crystal. Yet it was entangled by raging lightning, clearly forbidding any intrusion.
Pandora reached out to touch it, only for the Shogun to grab her back immediately.
"I don't feel like watching you get electrocuted into a crisp again."
She complained.
"It's alright... I won't di—"
"Absolutely not~! Do you have any idea how awful your burnt corpse smells~?"
She teased her in a slightly morbid tone.
"...///"
For once, Pandora actually looked embarrassed. A faint flush colored her pale cheeks, and she averted her gaze.
"Miss Raiden... you sometimes have rather mischievous tastes."
After regaining her composure, Pandora replied lightly.
"What a coincidence. I learned from you."
She shot back smoothly.
"Pfft..."
Pandora laughed softly.
"Step back."
She instructed Pandora to retreat, then drew Musou Isshin from within her body and raised it high overhead.
Zzzzz!
A dreamlike violet radiance spread from the blade, expanding across the skies above Mount Sylvia. The thunder began to ripple with patterns resembling a starry firmament.
The storm clouds gradually dispersed. The vortex slowed. The raging thunderstorm cleared, revealing bright skies.
"...!"
Pandora watched her movements, momentarily entranced.
Hum—
With the storm dispelled, she returned the divine blade to her chest and exhaled softly.
Thankfully, it went smoothly. She had half-feared she might wake Ei.