Deep within Death King Isis’s castle, one particular room stood out. Belonging to Rasal the Earthbound Star—one of the Mutsuraboshi and a high-ranking executive—it looked far less like a living quarter and much more like a dedicated research laboratory.
The room’s mistress, Rasal, was currently hunched over her desk, meticulously blending chemicals in the middle of an experiment.
“...What are you making this time, Rasal?”
“Where did you come from...?”
“Through the front door, of course. You changed the security formula again, didn’t you? You’re as paranoid as ever, and it’s a real pain to crack.”
“Tch. You broke through it already? You’re as unnecessarily talented and ill-mannered as ever.”
While Rasal was naturally prudent and wary, the complex wards she kept on her door were almost exclusively intended to keep Vulpecula out. An inveterate prankster, Vulpecula had a habit of dropping in unannounced to meddle with Rasal’s work or help herself to the woman's inventions.
Unfortunately, Vulpecula possessed the intuition, talent, and dexterity of a "Bug of the World." No matter how often Rasal updated the formulas, the fox girl could dismantle them in minutes.
“So, what are you making?”
“Iris asked me for a new detergent. Dish soap, this time.”
“Heh. Is it going to be as disastrous as that soap from before? The hot spring was practically buried in bubbles, you know.”
“That was a failed prototype I’d set aside. You were the one who stole it and put it in the bathhouse... which is the only reason that happened.”
“It was fun in its own way, though!”
Research was more of a hobby for Rasal, and she dabbled in a wide array of fields. Lately, she had turned her attention to household goods. Because her creations consistently outperformed anything else on the market, she had become quite famous in specific circles. However, Rasal cared only for the thrill of discovery; she had no interest in fame or commercial success. She typically sold the finished products and their patents to acquaintances like Zex.
“...Oh? What’s this?”
“That’s a prototype bleach I was working on. Don’t touch it. I maximized its potency for testing purposes; it will literally turn anything pure white.”
“What’s the point of making something so extreme?”
“It’s for the sake of the experiment. It’s more efficient to record the absolute maximum and minimum values, then work backward from there to find the right balance.”
“...Hmm.”
Vulpecula nodded along, a subtle smirk playing on her lips.
“In any case, stay away from my equipment. Some of these materials are irreplaceable... Hmm?”
Rasal reached a stopping point in her mixing and turned to deliver a proper warning, but the girl was already gone. In her place, a small wooden box sat on the shelf.
“...That wicked fox. She’s up to something again.”
Recognizing the suspicious box as one of Vulpecula’s pranks, Rasal stood up and began to inspect it with extreme care.
“...A trigger that activates upon opening. Simple enough to disarm... but there’s no way she’d settle for something so basic.”
Rasal respected Vulpecula’s intellect—or rather, her sheer deviousness. The girl was sharp-witted enough to consistently prank Rasal despite her legendary paranoia. There was absolutely no way the trick ended with a simple booby-trapped box.
“...Just as I thought. There’s a secondary formula hidden underneath, keyed to the first one being disarmed. A two-layered trap? Impressive to set up so quickly, but...”
After muttering to herself, Rasal turned her gaze toward the floor beneath the shelf. Her expression grew even more intense.
“Found it. Of course. Vulpecula would assume I’d see through the first two layers, so she’d go for at least three... Honestly, her thoroughness is exhausting.”
Muttering to herself, Rasal neutralized the complex formula at her feet—the one she believed was the true trap. But the moment she did, a bottle flew out of thin air, struck her squarely on her hooded head, and shattered, drenching her in liquid.
“...I see. Not bad at all... A four-layered trap. The final trigger only activates if the floor ward is cleared without touching the box... and she even hid the bottle with a cloaking spell so I wouldn't see it coming... And the contents... ho... the bleach prototype? Heh... hahahahaha!”
Rasal clutched her face and let out a booming, delighted laugh. Once she’d had her fill, she grabbed the giant coffin leaning against the wall and charged out of the room.
“You damned fox! Get back here!”
That afternoon, the inhabitants of Isis’s castle were treated to the sight of Vulpecula being relentlessly pursued by Rasal, whose dark robes had turned a blinding, snowy white.
Following an extensive game of tag, a haggard Rasal returned to her laboratory. She peeled off her ruined robe and stuffed it into the trash. Because her research involved volatile chemicals, she didn't use robes woven from magic power; instead, she wore garments made of specialized, magic-resistant fabric.
“Good grief... Well, that robe was getting old anyway. I was planning to replace it soon, so I suppose no harm was done. Still, that wicked fox is far too talented for her own good. Catching her is a nightmare.”
Rasal slumped into her chair, exhausted. Then, remembering something, she stood back up and approached the wooden box still sitting on the shelf.
“...By the way, what was the point of this box? Was it just a decoy?”
She carefully disarmed the box and lifted the lid, only to find a brand-new robe folded neatly inside.
“...Honestly. She really is impossible.”
With an exasperated but oddly tender smile, Rasal slipped her arms into the sleeves of her new garment.
??? : “Allow me to explain! Mutsura☆boshi is a lighthearted slice-of-life comedy featuring Isis-san and the members of the Mutsuraboshi!”
Serious-senpai : “Wha—?! Where did that come from?!”