After arriving at Isis-san’s castle and enjoying some tea, I spent a while playing with Vul. Before long, the little fox began to nod off, looking exhausted. Once we tucked her into her bed, Isis-san and I headed outside.
Our destination was the Blue Crystal Flower field that Spica-san had reportedly cultivated. Apparently, it was normally quite difficult to find a colony of these flowers in the wild. Since the laws governing how they bloomed were a mystery, no one could predict where they might cluster.
Of course, as it turned out, the "laws" of their blooming were entirely dependent on Spica-san’s whims.
"Oh, when did this road get built?" I asked as we walked.
"...Mm. A road from the castle to the flower field. Rasal and Sirius... worked together to make it."
"I see. It’s just an impression, but I’ve always thought of Rasal-san as the strategist and Sirius-san as the physical powerhouse."
"...Correct. Rasal designed it... and Sirius built it. Finally, Polaris... put up a barrier so snow wouldn't pile up... then it was finished."
My assessment was partly based on their appearances. Rasal-san had the look of a traditional mage. She was a Necromancer, of course, but she definitely gave off a long-range fighter vibe. In contrast, Sirius-san looked every bit the hardcore close-quarters combat specialist—she was tall, solidly built, and always carried a sword.
Granted, since they were both top-tier Count-class powerhouses, they could likely handle both long and short-range combat if they had to, but their outward appearances fit those specific roles perfectly.
"...Rasal is very smart... and Sirius is very strong. Together... they can do many things."
"They seem like a good match, then."
"...Mm. They get along well... but they argue often. Like Ein and Chronoa."
"Ah, I see. The type where the more they bicker, the closer they actually are."
Based on what I’d heard from Iris-san, I had been under the impression that they hated each other. However, hearing their relationship compared to the one between Ein-san and Chronoa-san made perfect sense.
Chatting like this, I held hands with Isis-san as we walked along the well-maintained path. The weather was clear today, making the snow-covered plains look breathtaking. It was a strange feeling—looking out over the horizon, the Land of Death actually felt like a beautiful place.
As we continued forward, I spotted the very pair we had been discussing just ahead on the road.
"Oh, speak of the devil. There’s Sirius-san and Rasal-san."
"...You’re right. I wonder... what they're doing?"
The scene we stumbled upon was anything but peaceful. Sirius-san and Rasal-san were glaring into each other's eyes, each clutching the other by the collar in a state of high tension.
"Are you ready to meet your end, you walking corpse? If you kick the bucket here, maybe that rot you call a scent will finally improve."
"Kukaka. As usual, you spout nonsense you cannot hope to achieve. It seems your head is as empty as ever, you muscle-brained woman."
"...You two... what are you doing?" Isis-san called out.
The two of them stiffened instantly. Despite the touch-and-go atmosphere of a moment ago, they both wore looks of sheer shock. They immediately released each other's collars and threw their arms around one another’s shoulders in a feigned embrace.
"Oh! Isis-sama and Kaito-sama, what a coincidence! Seeing as you’re on this path, are you heading toward Spica’s flower field?" Sirius-san asked brightly.
"How lovely," Rasal-san added. "The weather is perfect today, truly a wonderful day for a date. As for us, we were just about to get in a bit of training."
"...Training?"
"Yes! Rasal’s diverse combat methods are incredibly educational, so I often ask her to be my sparring partner."
"And for me as well," Rasal-san chimed in. "When I fight Sirius and her overwhelming physicality, it highlights many of my own weaknesses. We train together quite frequently."
Wearing plastered-on smiles, the two of them answered Isis-sama with forced cheer while whispering urgently to one another under their breath.
"...Our goals are aligned, yes?"
"...Indeed. We cannot sadden the gentle Isis-sama. We shall get through this by pretending to be friends."
They were too far away for me to hear their exact words, but it was clear they had no intention of fighting in front of Isis-san. They had called a temporary truce for her sake. Isis-san was a kind soul and would surely worry if she saw them genuinely fighting; Sirius-san and Rasal-san clearly understood that.
Still, the fact that they could fall into such a perfectly synchronized act suggested they really were close, in their own way.
"...I see. You two really are the best of friends."
"Hahaha, that’s right! One way or another, Rasal and I just click."
"Kukaka. I feel the same. Thanks to Sirius, I am never bored."
Their faces were smiling, but the emotions I picked up via Sympathy Magic were crackling with pure aggression. Furthermore, the hands they had draped over each other’s shoulders were clearly gripping with far more strength than necessary.
"...I see. But if you’re going to train... make sure to put up a barrier. You are both strong... and might damage the surroundings."
"Yes, Ma'am!" they replied in unison.
The way they answered her in perfect sync... they really were close. More than that, seeing how much Isis-san was adored and how she had built such a wonderful relationship with her subordinates made me feel happy, as if the success were my own.
Serious-senpai: "I see... so these two actually play nice when Isis is watching."
???: "Essentially, the Death King’s subordinates are an Isis-san fan club. They go to any length to keep her from worrying. Though, as a matter of fact, it’s true that the two of them are genuinely close in their own twisted way."