After Fia-sensei, it was Noin-san's turn to ride behind me for a lap. Since Bell was running consecutive laps, I worried she might be getting tired, but she didn't seem to have any problems at all.
Then again, Bell's recent walks consisted of a full circuit around the perimeter of the Sinfonia Royal Capital, so this distance was probably child's play for her.
Fia-sensei offered to watch Rin this time. Even with Bell carrying us, it felt like we were alone together.
I hadn't snatched her away while she was distracted like I had with Noin-san, so I expected Rin to throw a tantrum. To my surprise, she settled into Fia-sensei's arms without a fuss.
I wasn't sure of the details, but since Fia-sensei used to command countless monsters as her subordinates, she apparently understood their language to some degree. Maybe that was why Rin took such a liking to her.
Fia-sensei seemed to appreciate that Rin wasn't afraid of her, and the two of them looked like they were having a delightful chat.
And so, Noin-san and I rode together on Bell’s back, but the difference in their personalities was immediately striking.
Unlike Fia-sensei, who had clung to me with everything she had, Noin-san sat with a bit of space between us, balancing herself with a single hand on my shoulder. It was a modest approach, very much in character for her.
"By the way, Noin-san, following up on what we were talking about earlier... is Zwei-san really that powerful?"
"Yes. She's likely second only to the Six Kings and Ein-sama."
Thanks to the magic Fia-sensei had cast on us before we mounted Bell, I could hear Noin-san’s voice clearly even against the rushing wind.
"Of all the powers Zwei-sama possesses, her most formidable is likely Force Field Manipulation."
"Force Field Manipulation?"
"Indeed. Zwei-sama can freely manipulate attraction, repulsion, and gravity. Those who lack sufficient strength can't even get close to her."
"I see. Just hearing about it makes it clear how truly strong she is."
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It was the kind of "cheat" ability that really spoke to my inner teenager. I would have loved to try out a power like that myself... though I'd probably just end up failing to control it.
Still, I was starting to grasp the hierarchy within Kuro's family. At the very top was Kuro, followed by Ein-san and the Six Kings... and it seemed Zwei-san came right after them.
With the Six Kings operating independently now, did that make Zwei-san effectively Number Three?
"...By the way, the strongest after Zwei-sama is Fia."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Fia is a high-tier existence even among the Count-class. The only reason I was able to defeat her in the past was because her condition was at its worst and I had reliable comrades with me. In a fair, one-on-one duel where she's at full strength, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"I see... Then is it safe to say the strongest after Fia-sensei is you, Noin-san?"
When they had fought in the past as the Hero and the Demon King, Noin-san had emerged victorious, but in terms of pure combat power, Fia-sensei was apparently superior.
That said, Noin-san was still incredibly strong. Even Lilia-san, backed by Chronoa-san's power, hadn't been a match for her. I didn't know much about fighting, but I knew enough to realize Noin-san was one of the world's elite powerhouses.
So, when I asked if Noin-san was the strongest after Fia-sensei, the answer I received was staggering.
"...No. The strongest after Fia is Raz-sama."
"What?! Raz-san?!"
"Yes. It may be surprising, but it's the truth. Raz-sama is a very powerful individual."
Raz-san, of all people... To be honest, I couldn't picture that small, adorable girl as such a warrior at all.
Maybe it was her childish personality, or simply the fact that she was so tiny. I just couldn't imagine Raz-san being stronger than Noin-san.
Whether she had predicted my reaction or not, Noin-san continued with a faint, wry smile.
"Raz-sama is capable of Limited Interference with Causality."
"Huh? Uh, um..."
"To put it simply, Raz-sama’s arrows never miss. No matter where she fires them, they will always strike the target she intends. Of course, those who can interfere with causality themselves—like Fate-sama or the Six Kings—are exceptions, but..."
"...Arrows that never miss. That is terrifying."
"Yes. However, there are ways to deal with it. Raz-sama can only guarantee that she hits the target; she cannot specify exactly where on that target the arrow lands. Since equipped armor and weapons are treated as part of the target, you can block her attacks by intentionally taking them on your sword or shield."
Hearing the explanation, I understood that Raz-san was amazing, but I still wondered if she was truly stronger than Noin-san. After all, Noin-san clearly knew the countermeasures. Wouldn't she be able to win a fight?
"...Raz-sama’s true strength doesn't lie in her 'never-miss' arrows. It's her range."
"Range?"
"Yes. Let me put this simply as well. The range of her bow and arrows... effectively covers the entirety of the Demon Realm."
"...What?"
"For instance, if Raz-sama had truly intended to kill me in a past battle, she could have finished it simply by bombarding me with never-miss arrows from the Hydra Kingdom, across the ocean. Her arrows never lose velocity, and her magic consumption is so low she can fire them for days. Eventually, I would have been turned into a pincushion."
I see... I fully understood her true strength now. Being able to fire an endless stream of never-miss arrows from that kind of distance was a complete game-breaker.
"...Well, as you know, Kaito-san, Raz-sama is a gentle person. She would never resort to a tactic like one-sided slaughter. In fact, she doesn't like combat at all. So please, don't be afraid of her."
"I'll be fine. I think Raz-san is amazing, but I don't think she's scary. Like you said, she's a very kind person."
"Yes."
Dear Father, Mother—I learned so many new things today. It was surprising, but getting to see this hidden, incredible side of my friend Raz-san was... somehow, refreshing. It made me happy.
Raz-chan: "I'll snipe you!"