Assuming she would naturally take evasive action, the group was delayed in reacting.
"Arcueid-neeeee-saaaan!!!!"
"No way…!"
"————"
—W-What on earth…?!
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, freezing on the spot.
"A-A direct hit?! It hit you head-on, Arcueid-san?!"
"Why, why didn't you even try to dodge…?! It's a Noble Phantasm, you know?!"
(A True Ancestor—?)
As for her condition…
"—Boom!!"
With Arcueid's energetic voice as she kicked open the Iron Maiden, their anxiety was instantly blown away.
"Arcueid-nee—?!"
"Thought I was dead? Surprise, I'm totally alive~! Hehe, peace and cat claws~!"
Arcueid playfully flashed a peace sign. From the looks of it, she hadn't suffered a single scratch. Not a drop of blood was shed, nor was there a single visible wound.
"Hup!"
With a reverse roundhouse kick, she sent the Iron Maiden flying, smashing it into the ceiling and destroying it. The torture device crumpled into pieces, noisily crashing down to the floor.
"Hah… That's why I told you, it's useless. The current version of that can't harm anyone."
Exasperated, Carmilla pressed her hand to her brow, making no effort to hide her dismay.
—W-Was there some kind of modification made to her Noble Phantasm…? Ah!
Looking at the wreckage of the Iron Maiden, Ea realized the truth behind it.
An iron maiden consists of a space large enough to hold a single person and doors lined with spikes meant to impale the occupant. It was a torture device where the spiked doors closed onto the body, causing blood to flow from everywhere so the executioner could drink fresh blood from the hole at the bottom. Naturally, without the spikes, the device could not function as intended.
However… on the parts of the device that should have impaled Arcueid with spikes, there was nothing attached. Not a single needle could be seen. In this state, it was nothing more than an enclosure. While terrifying for anyone with claustrophobia, to anyone else, it was merely cramped. In short…
"Calling it a mere bluff would be an understatement. No—is that what you meant by 'restricted'?"
Grasping the Princess's observation, Gilgamesh quickly arrived at the truth. Already feeling a headache coming on, he stated the answer.
"Because of the order to 'frighten them, but do not harm them', my Iron Maiden has become useless even when used on humans. Without the needles, I cannot draw even a single drop of blood. To turn an infamous, abhorrent torture device meant to endure for generations into a mere party gag… what on earth were they thinking…?! Ah, I am so furious! I cannot stand this humiliation…!"
Stamping her feet in frustration, Carmilla pointed toward the stairs leading to the next floor.
"Hurry up and go, and put an end to that foolish version of me! I want to break free from this farce as soon as possible…! Singing, dancing—frivolous entertainment unfitting for a noble—for how much longer must I… Ugh, enough already…! Aahhh, I am going into the void, into the void…! —Fuuwaa~"
Her head spinning from tantrums, headaches, agony, irritation, and rage, Carmilla eventually froze in place. She simply refused to let her mind function any longer.
"Oh, you're letting us through? Then don't mind if I do! Shall we go, everyone?"
"That was fun! The torture device!" Arcueid cheered innocently with a bright smile, to which—
"Arcueid-nee, you dummy—!"
"Guehh?!"
Rikka tackled her head-on. Although Arcueid managed to catch her, the tackle from a girl who transformed her entire body into pure muscle was heavier than the True Ancestor had anticipated.
"You're not Spartacus! Taking a Noble Phantasm on purpose is bad! You could die, with a really high chance!"
"R-Rikka-chan? It's fine, I'm really sturdy!"
"Sturdy has nothing to do with it! I just hate the idea of someone willingly getting hurt! You'll end up making the people who care about you worry! Even if you're fine, the people worrying about you aren't okay!"
"So no more reckless stuff, got it?!" Rikka insisted firmly. Making someone a sacrificial pawn or a meat shield was a role Rikka would never let anyone other than herself take.
"She is right. Since we've gone through the trouble of getting to know each other, please do not do anything too reckless. The Master of Chaldea standing there is the type of person who feels others' pain more acutely than her own."
"Indeed. Just because your vitality is strong doesn't mean we want you actively threatening your own life. This might be unsolicited advice to you, but that is Chaldea's policy, so please give up and accept it."
The backline reinforced the point as well. Arcueid blinked, momentarily stunned.
"…By any chance, am I being worried about right now?"
"Precisely. We do not mind if you die, but at least wait until after you have parted ways with us."
—Partings and tragedies… are things we simply do not need.
"—…I see. So people are actually worrying about me."
Feeling that ticklish, warm sensation deep in her chest, Arcueid wriggled her body slightly.
What exaggerated people. Even if I were chopped to pieces, I'd be fine. But… this warm consideration feels just like what I felt in the past.
(To genuinely worry about someone you've only just met. What strange people.)
As she indulged in these sentimental thoughts, a smile broke across Arcueid's face. She immediately raised her right hand in a pledge.
"Okay~! I swear to Master Rikka-chan and everyone in Chaldea that I won't do anything reckless anymore~"
"Really?"
"Really, truly~ Fufu, this is the first time anyone's ever worried about my life. —It's not a bad feeling at all, this warm sensation!"
Arcueid hugged Rikka, laughing merrily as she stepped forward.
"All right! Be careful as we move to the next floor! Make sure you protect my life properly, Master!"
"O-Oh? Okay!"
"Surrounding area check complete… Senpai, is something wrong?"
"It's nothing~!"
One way or another, the group headed toward the next floor…
"Rikka-chan."
"Hmm?"
"Always remain the kind person you are, okay?"
"…—I'll do my best!"
—Now that everyone has gone ahead, shall we get going as well?
"We have seen what needed to be seen. Let us quickly proceed to the next floor."
—Yes! …—
"Fuuwaa~"
(? Is something the matter, Ea?)
—…King of Heroes.
"Hmm, there is no need to speak it aloud. I figured you would say as much."
—Thank you very much! Then, just for a moment. Cleaning, deodorizing, and the original source of detergent. Let us finish this in one minute—
"…Ah. I went too deep into the void. I have to clean up… Huh?"
The room was completely organized and tidy. Without a single stain left behind, it was absolute perfection.
"…What is the meaning of this? This is…"
Her eyes caught sight of a piece of paper in her hand.
"…?"
『With gratitude for the invitation to Csejte Castle — Gilgashana = Gilgameshia』
"…Did this child… do the cleaning for me?"
A soft smile involuntarily spilled from Carmilla's lips.
"Ufufu… What a silly child. The one who invited you wasn't me, but the me of the past."
Even as she said so, she gently tucked the note into her breast pocket.
"To think such a admirable child exists in this world. She must possess truly exquisite blood and beauty. I almost wish we could have shared a cup of tea together…"
In a visibly splendid mood inside the spotless, dust-free room, Carmilla quietly retreated into the kitchen…
[…What a thoughtful Princess. Is it her innate nature? Good grief, always keeping so busy. It seems I may have underestimated her a bit.]
Accompanying a exasperated, quiet chuckle, the admiration of an unknown party soaked into the quiet floor—
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