"Eh...?"
Melt’s eyes flew open in surprise. The voice belonged to none of her companions. Struggling against her paralyzed limbs, she shifted her gaze toward the source of the sound.
A mysterious girl dressed in ornate gothic lolita attire stood there. As Melt stared in a daze, the girl—Drop—gave a casual wave.
"Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Drop. I suppose I’m your enemy, for the time being?"
"Drop...! I feel like I’ve heard that name before, during one of those incidents...!"
"...You’re the one who created the Slime Magic Armor Beast at our Cooking Club's training camp, aren't you?"
"Oh! Correct! I’m glad someone remembers me!"
It had been a horrific incident back at the village where the club held its camp. The one responsible for the Slime Magic Armor Beast, the true culprit of that day, was the girl standing right before them: Drop.
As Presia recalled those events, her expression turned uncharacteristically grim. Drop, however, seemed delighted and clapped her hands.
"What do you want? Did you come to mock us? Or are you going to make an example of someone else...!?"
"No, nothing like that. This current plan was Dogma's Group's idea; I'm just watching from the sidelines. Besides, I actually hate those guys... I have no intention of helping them, nor do I plan to hurt any of you."
"Then what are you doing here...?"
"...Just because, I suppose? I just felt like talking to you for a bit."
Despite being a mastermind like Dogma, Drop smiled as she answered Melt, insisting she had no desire to cooperate with their plan. Nodding to herself, she fixed her gaze on the wary Melt and spoke in a cheerful, rhythmic tone.
"I like you. What you said earlier... it really moved me. You truly believe in that Hero-kun, don't you?"
"Huh...?"
Melt stared at her, stunned. She never expected such words from a mastermind, even if they were meant as genuine praise.
Drop continued thoughtfully. "It doesn't feel like you’re just clinging to some desperate hope. You truly, from the bottom of your heart, believe in him. It’s nice—that thing called love."
"What? Are you mocking me...?"
"Of course not! I really think it's wonderful. It’s an emotion that Drop-chan could never feel, you see..."
Shrugging after her answer, Drop gave a lonely, self-deprecating smile. Melt and the others were baffled; despite being one of the masterminds, her aura was nothing like Dogma's Group. Drop spoke again.
"I don't have the slightest intention of losing, but... if I were to lose, I'd want it to be to people like you. Yes, I could be satisfied with that."
"What do you mean? What are you trying to say?"
"...The day will come when you understand. Or rather, if you manage to defeat Dogma's Group... you'll likely learn everything."
"...What do you know? What exactly is a mastermind...?"
"Drop-chan has no obligation to explain that. If you want to know, try beating Dogma. If you succeed, I'm sure you'll reach the answers you're looking for."
Drop giggled after those cryptic words. Raising her head, she spoke again, exuding an eerie aura.
"Dogma's Group will lose to Abyss... I see, so that's what it meant. I’m starting to understand what that guy was talking about."
Having reached a conclusion on her own, Drop stepped in front of Melt once more. She nodded to herself before the bewildered girl, then patted Melt on the shoulder.
"...Hold onto it until the very end—your love for Hero-kun. I’m actually looking forward to it, just a little bit."
"Drop...!"
"Yep, that’s right. That’s my name. Remember me... the girl who fell in love, but could never hold 'love'."
Leaving those words behind, she turned on her heel. After a few leisurely strides, she suddenly stopped and looked back, shouting to Melt and everyone else in the room.
"Make sure you’re properly prepared! There’s one person here looking forward to your turn... no, there’s another one, isn't there? Well, don’t let us down! I believe... that people like you can change history!!"
With a sharp wink, she took one more step, and her form vanished into thin air.
Melt and the others were left in a state of confusion. They couldn't fathom why an enemy mastermind would show them such concern, nor could they grasp her true goal or the meaning behind her words. Even so, amidst the mystery... they understood what they had to do and devoted themselves to their recovery.