It seemed like an all-night baby castella talk session with Kuro was a done deal at this point. To be honest, as long as Kuro was the one I was talking to, it wasn't really a problem.
If it had been Machina-san, I felt like she truly would have talked my ear off until sunrise without stopping once. Kuro was different.
When Kuro talked about an "all-nighter," she factored in the time it took for her to gush over the specific details of her baby castella-shaped cushion, for me to get excited in response, and for the conversation to eventually derail into other topics as a result of that shared enthusiasm.
Well, the fact that she just assumed we would definitely get fired up over baby castella trivia was exactly what you’d expect from the Devil of Baby Castellas. Still, she wasn't wrong. We usually did have a blast, and I was sure I could keep the conversation going until morning.
Whenever the subject turned to baby castellas, Kuro’s energy was so high that she kept the dialogue moving effortlessly, meaning I didn't have to worry about the conversation stalling. Of course, I was occasionally floored by just how much she had to say about a simple sponge cake, but seeing her look so genuinely happy made me feel good, too. Keeping her company was never a chore.
In fact, seeing how much she truly enjoyed sharing the things she loved with the person she loved made her look so blissful that I always ended up going along with her whims.
With a wry smile, I imagined myself nodding along to her high-spirited stories later tonight as I reached out and spun the Garapon lottery machine once more.
The name that came up was Pandora.
A real problem child had arrived. She was the formidable woman who, during my last birthday, gave me a bundle of hemp rope and a set of candles while claiming I’d never have to worry about running out because they were "consumables." I haven’t used a single one to this day!
"Miyama-sama, happy birthday. This is a truly joyous day for me personally, as well as for all of the Phantasm King's subordinates. This date should be officially established as an annual anniversary for all of us under the Phantasm King."
"Th-Thank you. No, really, the sentiment alone is more than enough... I mean it..."
She was undeniably beautiful, but she carried an aura that felt... heavy. Viscous, even. She had a presence that made me instinctively understand the exact vibe of a yandere. It seemed she was in her private mode today, rather than her work mode.
During our meeting with the Ten Demons and the shipboard party, she had been assigned a specific mission and stayed in a crisp, professional work mode. I felt like it had been a while since I’d seen her like this.
"Last time, I lacked the time to prepare something truly sophisticated, but for this occasion, I have made a selection after the most careful deliberation. Here it is."
"Oh... thank you."
What she handed me was a whip with a perfunctory ribbon wrapped around it. Yes, an unmistakable whip. It wasn't one of those long, trailing ones; it looked like a crop used for horses.
"That whip was inspired by the mysterious tool you used on Phoenix some time ago, Miyama-sama."
"Eh? Oh, you mean the toy hammer?"
"Precisely. I have inscribed a special magic formula onto that whip. It is designed so that, exclusively when used against me, it neutralizes all my defenses and inflicts a powerful sense of ple—pain."
"..."
What was with this pervert? This was incredible. She had just handed me a whip specifically designed for her own use with a look on her face like she was in heat. What on earth was I supposed to say to that?
"Its applications are limited, but I guarantee its effectiveness, so please use it with peace of mind. Naturally, since I am the intended target, I must be present for it to function, so you may call for me at any time. I am prepared to meet any and all requests regarding my attire, and I am quite skilled at mimicking the appearance of whip marks on my skin to properly set the mood. I promise to cry out with a lovely voice for you."
"Could you maybe... I don't know, use a euphemism? Or just exercise a little self-restraint?"
"Hahn?! ...Th-Thank you very much! That sharp, commanding gaze sent a thrill straight through my core!"
She was actually drooling with excitement just from me looking at her with total exasperation. This pervert was invincible. I knew she wasn't a bad person, though. Even now, while she was gushing about her twisted hobbies, she wasn't forcing anything on me. She was ultimately leaving the choice to me and was perfectly willing to obey my commands.
It was just that her masochistic desires were far too intense when it came to me and Alice. In reality, she was incredibly reliable in work mode and often kept the other Ten Demons in line.
"Pandora, house."
"Ah, quite right. If I monopolize Miyama-sama’s time for too long, I will only be a nuisance. Therefore, while praying once more that this wonderful day of your birth remains a joyous one for you, I shall take my leave."
"Right. Thank you."
Yeah... deep down, she really was a good person. As long as her fetishes weren't involved.
"Shaltan’s subordinates are really something else, aren't they?"
"Please stop, Fate-san. Those words cut deep. I’m the one who has to deal with the headache of managing them, you know."
Serious-senpai: "Phoenix and Tiamat usually grab the spotlight, but Pandora is a full-fledged member of the Masochistic Four Heavenly Kings in her own right... By the way, why didn't you give her a job to keep her busy this time?"
???: "If I do that every time, her frustration builds up until she risks going on a rampage at the worst possible moment. I have to let her blow off some steam occasionally. She might be a pervert, but she listens to what Kaito-san says... At the very least, she's a pervert you can actually reason with."