"Hyah-ha! I’m launching Ciel-chan into the sky!"
"Faster, please, Levi."
"...That water slide is stretching... upward."
"That’s not a slide anymore, is it? Well, it looks fun, so whatever."
"Excuse me, everyone? Why exactly are we playing at the beach, pray tell?"
The sight before my eyes was a massive structure of water that looked more like a rocket launcher than anything else, with everyone being shot high into the air.
"It’s that, Tsubaki! Like an ending, or something!"
"I could overlook the 'ending' part, perhaps... but Levi-dono was our enemy just a moment ago, was she not?"
"Oh, ah... yes. But now I have become Reima-san’s summoned beast!"
Levi spoke with a look of pure triumph while freely reshaping the water slide. This cyan-haired End Serpent... Clad in a white swimsuit, she looked like she was having the time of her life. As I watched her, I couldn't help but notice how... substantial they were.
"I heard that much from Reima-dono... but where is the man himself?"
"Eh, he’s over there."
"I’m tired... I overdid it... this is miserable... my body... it hurts so much..."
"Are you alright, Reima? I’ll cool you down now."
"...Honestly, for my own disciple, you went way too far. What were you thinking, snatching a serpent away from the very world?"
Perhaps because he had taken on that demon-like form in the final moments, his entire body was wracked with muscle pain and his Magic Circuits seemed to be at their absolute limit. He was muttering like a man in a delirium.
He was being nursed in that state by Merli and Ayane. I was worried and wanted to help, but since that was their role, I remained on standby.
"My, he certainly looks like he’s having a difficult time."
"What does the culprit have to say for herself...?"
"Well, I am truly sorry about that."
She wilted, showing a look of genuine apology after my slight jab.
I will not mention the way certain parts of her swayed when she did so, but being forced to witness such a display left me with complicated emotions. Even my childhood friend, currently lying under a parasol... is like that. I felt as though Ciel was my only remaining ally.
"...What’s wrong, Tsubaki? Why are you hanging your head?"
"I am not looking at her with hostility, I assure you!"
"W-Whoa. Why are you raising your voice...? Ah, I see. You’re worried about that."
"Hah? About what? As if I would care about such things."
"Your tone is breaking..."
Perhaps because of my shrill voice or because I had caught a glimpse of a certain part of Levi for a split second, my foolish master had misunderstood me for some reason—God knows why.
Usually, I tried my absolute best not to care about this social disparity.
My frame was easy to move in, which was fine, but when I was forced to see the difference so directly, I found myself wanting to curse the unfairness of this world.
If Sol had been here, perhaps our side would have had a slight advantage in numbers... but when we spoke briefly before, she didn't seem to care, unlike me, which only made me feel more miserable.
In the first place, compared to everyone else, I was certainly small—no, I wasn't.
Was it that everyone else was just too large, or was it my body’s fault for growing only in height? I ate well and drank milk every single day, yet the important parts refused to grow.
I knew a woman’s value wasn't found only there, but watching Laura grow so rapidly since childhood was terrifying—rather, the world was to blame.
The world was to blame for letting comparison images slide onto my Tsumitter feed by chance... I had snapped back then, surprised by the intensity of my own emotions.
And wait, now that I thought about it, Saaya-nee was also huge, and I found out Kurobane was just binding hers when we were in the hot springs... It was just... painful.
"Ugh... I wish they’d just shrink."
Envy... yes, it was there.
Because they all looked so womanly—wait, now that I thought about it, Merli was on the smaller side here. Perhaps I could pull her to my side. And also... maybe there was a spell that could absorb the assets of those around me. I suppose I had no choice but to ask.
"Samurai girl... just so you know, if a Taboo-class spell like that existed, I would have used it already."
"Could you please stop your thought-eavesdropping?"
"It was just a hunch. Sorry..."
"Did Merli just... apologize? Ah, I see. This must be a dream."
Reima-dono looked as if his soul were about to leave his body.
Despite his slight rudeness, he seemed to lose even more strength, perhaps because he couldn't believe his eyes. But he seemed to have stabilized slightly; Ayane and the others stepped away from him and headed toward Levi’s group.
"I think I am beginning to hate the sea."
"Hey, are you alright, Tsubaki?"
As I sat on the beach, drawing circles in the sand while venting my grievances to the world, an exhausted Reima-dono approached me.
"Um, a question, pray tell. Is Reima-dono my enemy?"
"Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m on your side, Tsubaki."
"That is... quite unusual."
Wow, so Reima-dono actually prefers the meager ones.
It was rare, but now that I thought about it, Reima-dono didn't seem like the type to care about such things. Perhaps he wasn't the right person to ask.
"Well, look. You’re important to me, Tsubaki. If anything happens, I’ll save you."
"—Even if I become a bad girl?"
The words slipped out unconsciously.
I didn't even know why I had said that to him... because that was something I mustn't let anyone realize. Suddenly frightened by what I’d said, I peered at Reima-dono’s face... and found him looking back with a very puzzled expression.
"Of course. You’re an important companion, Tsubaki."
"Ah, haha—I see. You would say that, wouldn't you, Reima-dono?"
"I don’t know what’s so funny... but anyway, let’s play, Tsubaki. I’ve recovered a bit, so we might as well."
Looking at him as he held out his hand... he was so dazzling.
My heart gave a heavy thud. The Abominable Oni blood flowing within me pulsed, and the Black Reactor Core churned.
...Surely, the time I have left to remain myself is no longer long.
A sound like crackling... or perhaps clapping, echoed in my ears and wouldn't leave.
Ah, I really wish I hadn't met this man. If I hadn't met him, if he weren't this kind of person, I could have abandoned all hope.
"Very well! Let us play beach volleyball!"
"Oh, sounds good. Let’s do some Kaiser-style beach volleyball!"
"Hoh! My friend, in that order, it sounds like my own style. How grand!"
"Hey, Goro, what kind of beach volleyball is that?"
Within the roiling black heat, I watched the smiling hero through the eyes of the girl playing happily.
The monster who gave her hope. The freak driven mad by goodness.
Just a little longer, sister.
Soon, I will be born.
And then, I will fight him... Ah, I can't wait.
I, who was rejected by everything, am finally being desired.
In this place where magma flows, within the Black Flame Reactor Core—repeating my heartbeat, I sneered.
"Now—let us begin the god-slaying."