Just as Kaito was feeling a mixture of bewilderment and relief at Lilia’s unusual reaction, a visitor arrived to see Needsveld in the guest room of Kaito’s home.
"Would you care for some... black tea?"
"Ah, I appreciate the hospitality. My apologies for the trouble, I will gladly—hm?"
Needsveld started to offer words of gratitude to the maid who presented the tea—Illness—but her sentence trailed off midway. She squinted, studying Illness’s face with a distinctly suspicious expression.
As Illness tilted her head with a curious look, Needsveld spoke, choosing her words with great care.
"...From your bearing and movements, I perceive you to be a warrior of considerable strength. Tell me... have we met somewhere before?"
"No... perhaps it is merely your imagination?"
"Mmph, I see... It is certainly difficult to imagine I would forget the face of a combatant of your caliber. Forgive me; it seems I was mistaken."
"Not at all. Please, do not let it trouble you."
In truth, the two were already acquainted. In her guise as Pandemonium, Illness had met and even spoken with Needsveld in the past.
The reason Needsveld failed to recognize her, despite Illness’s distinctive manner of speaking, lay entirely in Recognition Inhibition Magic.
Because the Phantasm King’s subordinates frequently engaged in deep-cover infiltration, they were naturally more proficient in concealment and Recognition Inhibition Magic than any other faction. Among them, the Ten Demons—the group’s executives—had been personally tutored by their King, Shaltier. In these specific magical arts, they boasted a level of mastery that ranked among the best in the world.
So long as she remained in a state where her magic power was suppressed, Illness’s magic was effective enough to deceive not only the highly capable Needsveld, but even the Six Kings themselves.
Naturally, however, no matter how high her proficiency, Illness’s Recognition Inhibition Magic could not hope to match Shaltier’s. The Phantasm King's magic was so absolute that even the Six Kings or the Supreme Gods could stand and speak directly with her without realizing her true identity; its potency was so terrifying that one would only notice her presence once she chose to direct her hostility toward them.
In contrast, the magic wrapped around Illness lacked that absolute power. While she could deceive most opponents by keeping her magic power strictly suppressed, she would be exposed the moment she released even a fraction more power than she held now.
Furthermore, a warrior as seasoned as Needsveld could still sense a lingering trace of familiarity. Even if she couldn't identify Illness as Pandemonium, she felt a nagging sense of incongruity, a feeling of "having met somewhere before." If they continued to cross paths, there was a real possibility that Needsveld would eventually see through the veil.
"Serving me tea in such a refined manner... Are you a maid in the service of Miyama Kaito... my Comrade? As expected of him, he has recruited truly excellent personnel."
"I am honored by your praise."
"It is the simple truth. The presences I feel within this house belong to individuals of remarkable ability. I sense two others at the Count-class level... and the rest seem to be around the Baron-class. As for you, your skill at suppressing your magic power is so great that I cannot fully read your depth... but if you possess such Magic Power Control Technique, you are undoubtedly Count-class as well. What do you say? If your schedule allows, perhaps we could have a spar at a later date?"
"I must politely decline."
Needsveld possessed the battle-hungry temperament common among the War King’s subordinates. Because she was driven by an insatiable desire for self-improvement, she was perpetually hungry for combat against the strong.
It was this very trait that made her a favorite of Megiddo and his followers; Megiddo often lamented that if she weren't already one of Magnawell’s subordinates, he would have claimed her for his own.
"I see. That is a pity, but I will not force the issue. Should you change your mind, send word to me. I always welcome a challenge from the strong."
That said, she was not a maniac who would force a fight on those who were unwilling. She nodded, accepting Illness’s refusal without further pressure, and brought the tea to her lips.
"...Exquisite flavor. You have masterful skill."
"I am humbled."
After acknowledging Needsveld's compliment, Illness gave a deep, respectful bow and withdrew from the guest room. Watching her retreating figure, Needsveld took another sip of tea and then murmured to herself.
"...Still, I feel quite certain I have met her somewhere before. I simply cannot place it."
Tilting her head in wonder, she casually cast her gaze out the window. Suddenly, Needsveld’s brow twitched. She set down her cup and stood up, moving closer to the glass.
"Is that... a World Tree? Come to think of it, Lilliwood-sama bestowed it upon my Comrade as a gift to commemorate the Six Kings Festival."
Needsveld narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied the sapling growing in the garden—a tree that had reached a respectable size in the two years since it was planted.
"...Was it just my imagination?"
Muttering under her breath, Needsveld moved away from the window and sat back down.
She had stood up because she thought she had sensed a strange presence. It hadn't even been a distinct presence, really—just a momentary flicker that had piqued her curiosity. Now, however, she felt no sense of incongruity at all.
A few seconds later, Needsveld had forgotten that she had even sensed anything strange, and she returned to her tea as if nothing had happened.
At that exact moment, in the center of the God Realm... within the Sanctuary...
"...It seems there will be no issues. Then, as planned, I shall install 'her' as the 'Spirit of the World Tree' to act as the watchdog of Kaito-san's house."
The God of the World sat alone, murmuring her plans to the empty air.
Serious-senpai: "...Wait, the 'Main Culprit' is up to something again... Is there a chance for a serious plot twist here?"
???: "Not a chance."
Serious-senpai: "...Come on, you could at least let me dream for a second..."