"Somehow, this feels different from the reason we came out here in the first place," Wendy said, sitting in her chair as she watched Erza standing in line with obvious excitement.
"If you treat it as sightseeing, it won't feel strange," Ultear said calmly, taking a sip of coffee.
She knew that if they wanted to communicate with Irene, the ones most likely to be useful were Raizel, Selene, and... Erza.
As for the rest of them?
If Irene allowed them to watch from the side, then they might be able to serve as an audience.
Erza bought nine servings of Starlight!
Originally, Erza had wanted to buy out the entire stock, but there were still people lining up behind them.
Only after Raizel persuaded her did she limit herself to nine.
Raizel told her they had to consider the customers waiting behind them.
Selene immediately exclaimed that she had learned something new.
Although they had money, and buying out the whole cart would not have been a problem, there really was no need for it.
As for why Raizel could persuade Erza?
The reason was simple.
They pre-ordered fifty servings first.
"Could we reserve fifty servings in advance? We'll come pick them up the day after tomorrow. We can pay now."
The shopkeeper who received the money and Erza who paid it both smiled happily.
The shopkeeper was not smiling because he had made a huge profit, but because Erza's reservation proved how much she loved Starlight.
"So good!!!"
Erza and Lucy, both lovers of sweets, opened their eyes wide.
"Mm... It is indeed quite good."
Selene scooped up a small spoonful and slowly brought it into her mouth, then nodded in approval.
Starlight.
The name sounded rather pretty.
In truth, it was just mango ice cream.
However, the shopkeeper had shaped the mango into stars, clearly putting great effort into Starlight's appearance.
As everyone knew, whether men or women, people were very willing to pay for products with attractive packaging.
Sweets were no exception.
As long as a dessert looked good, its purchase rate would rise sharply.
Raizel also had to admit that Starlight was indeed well made.
After eating it, there was none of that cloying sweetness that often came from eating too many desserts.
Instead, it had a refreshing feeling.
Starlight was more like a light, refined dessert.
...
Alvarez Empire, Akilos City
Akilos City was an extremely prosperous metropolis. Its population was large, yet it did not feel crowded.
The central streets were exceptionally wide, enough for eight carriages to travel side by side at the same time.
"Residual Magic Power..."
Selene closed her eyes and sensed it.
'Is this Universe One? Maybe it is only a partial application of Universe One, or perhaps High Enchant.'
Raizel could not help raising an eyebrow.
Irene Belserion.
As the strongest woman, she was capable of altering terrain.
Expanding territory, especially when that territory consisted of only one city, was something she could do with ease.
The group only briefly attracted the attention of residents and tourists. No one reacted much to Erza.
The reason was simple.
Irene basically never appeared before the city's residents.
She did not care much about the lives of the townspeople.
As a queen who had once been betrayed by her own people, she understood very well that one should not place too much faith in human nature.
She spent every day inside her lord's manor.
If not there, then she was out searching for some way to solve her side effects.
But perhaps because of this hands-off rule, Akilos City had developed quite well.
There were only three people in Irene's manor.
To be more accurate, there was only one person and two swords.
Aside from Irene herself, the other two members of the Irene Squad, Heine Lunasea and Juliet Sun, were actually products of Irene using Personality Enchant to attach personalities to a black sword and a white sword.
They had human forms, could speak, and could use Magic.
Yet they were only swords.
'Heh.'
'How ironic.'
'Just like her.'
'Able to speak.'
'Able to use Magic.'
'Yet unable to taste.'
'Unable to sleep.'
In the whole vast lord's manor, not one normal person could be found.
Ultear, Erza, and the others first found a place to rest for the time being, while Raizel and Selene went to the lord's manor.
Raizel had hesitated for a long time over whether or not to bring Erza.
Ultear felt that bringing Erza might have the opposite effect.
It would be better for Raizel and Selene to test the waters first.
There was also another important reason she had not said aloud.
Based on Irene's attitude toward Erza as described by Raizel, Ultear felt there was a high chance Erza would be hurt.
The two of them directly released their aura and Magic Power.
The originally clear sky was instantly covered by gathering dark clouds, and the residents pointed up at the sky.
There was no other reason.
'Damn it.'
In the middle of broad daylight, they had actually seen the moon?!
But in the blink of an eye, the moon vanished, and the dark clouds gradually scattered.
The two of them then withdrew their Magic Power.
The reason they had released their Magic Power was simple.
If they were not arrogant enough, there was a high chance they would not get to meet Irene.
A woman in a black cloak and bodysuit appeared before Raizel and Selene.
She wore a crescent-shaped ornament on her head, and her hair formed buns on both sides of her face. Her body was slender.
This was the black sword, Heine Lunasea.
Beside her was another woman with yellow hair, neat bangs, refined features, and two small buns of hair.
She wore a white dress.
This was the white sword, Juliet Sun.
Their personalities were extremely obvious.
Heine crossed her arms over her chest and observed them calmly without changing expression.
Juliet poked her cheek lightly with her index finger, tilted her head, and looked at the two of them with the lively cheerfulness of a young girl.
Raizel and Selene, however, behaved as though they barely noticed either of them.
The reason was simple.
Aside from Raizel, who already knew the truth, Selene could tell at a glance that these two were not human.
Irene, who remained inside the manor, was also observing Raizel and Selene.
The three of them were already clashing silently.
"Please invite our two guests in."
Irene's voice came from above, her tone extremely calm.
Those words were directed both at Heine and Juliet, and at Raizel and Selene.
"Please follow us."
Heine nodded to Raizel and Selene, then led the way in front.
"Make sure to keep up. Don't get lost, okay?"
Juliet gave them a rather playful wink.
Heine and Juliet pushed open the doors to the reception room from the left and right, then stepped aside to let Raizel and Selene enter first.
Sitting upright on the green sofa was a woman wearing a strange black hat.
Her scarlet hair was braided into four plaits, and she wore a black cloak.
Her slightly revealing black leather outfit displayed her exaggerated, manga-like figure, and there was an extremely obvious scar on the left side of her abdomen.
Behind her stood a brownish-yellow antler-like staff with black spots.
Leaning against the sofa with both arms folded across her chest, she crossed one leg over the other.
Her legs were wrapped in black high-heeled over-the-knee boots.
Her face bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Erza's.
A smile hung at the corner of her mouth.
She was looking at Raizel and Selene with an amused expression.
However, although Irene's face carried a smile, beneath that smile, her eyes were exceptionally calm and indifferent.
Irene clearly had no sense of hospitality.
After seeing Raizel and Selene approach, she neither greeted them nor showed any intention of standing up.
"You don't seem human."
Selene's first sentence stabbed directly into Irene's sore spot.
'You really do know how to chat...'
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