Mistress Of The Evil Forest

''So?''

''So...?''

''Explain yourself, damn idiot.''

''Y-You! How dare you use that tone with my voice—''

''Shut up. Let's not forget you're making that pathetic expression with my face, shall we?''

''Ugh... this stupid face! It's not even pretty!''

''You bet.''

''Ack! H-Help! She's beating me—''

Somehow, the room has turned into a battleground. No, is it more like a ring?

One Amelia Luminous and one Chloe, both in one another's body, is battling it out... for some reason. Aren't we on the same team now?

Anyway, let's do a summary of the current situation.

The original Amelia Luminous has somehow been flying all the way to Yugen and stayed in the body of this generation's Miko, Uwara Kanna, while said Miko's body is actually the original Chloe's body.

I don't know what is going on.

I suppose one good thing is that I already have her under suppression. It would be a disaster if she were to speak about any of this to the public.

It's rather a good thing, really. The only problem left is...

''Chloe.''

''Hm?''

As Chloe savagely pinches Amelia's cheek, I tap her shoulder.

''Do you want to return to that body?''

''That... I mean, of course, but... it'll be too inconvenient. People will definitely notice.''

With a regretful expression, Chloe gazes longingly at her old body. If it was me, I think I would want to return to my own body as well.

''We can switch back after Silaerob turns public.'' She suggests.

''Really?! Hey, when will you do that? I thought Silaerob was, like, a mysterious kind of hero or whatever.''

Seeing Amelia perk up, my thoughts freeze for a moment. That expression... is just like what Chloe used to do. If someone were to ask me which version of Chloe I liked better, I would answer the old one, of course. I've seen her like that for more than a decade, whereas this version of her...

In any case, we still have one of the elite demons, the same guy who can kill people with his sheer mind if his targets are hated enough, lurking somewhere. Not only can he disguise himself nearly perfectly, but he can alter minds to a certain extent as well. 

At this point, he might have already taken somebody's identity. It's a bit intriguing to think about, really.

''Whew...''

Sometimes, I admire myself for memorizing the lore pieces that Chloe threw onto me. I suppose people can do anything for their survival.

Talk about surviving. Isn't there a wide-scale survival test coming up for the first and second-years?

Chloe told me that it is some sort of hunting race, but I haven't heard much from the school. In the game, only fiery competitions between characters occur, but we can't be complacent. I'll have 'Silaerob' situated there, just in case.

Now, there is another immediate problem we need to address.

''Get her to meet Claire.''

''Oh, there was that, too.''

''H-Huh? Who's Claire? What am I going to do with her?''

''You... you truly don't know anything, do you?''

Without bothering to explain, Chloe grabs the other 'Chloe' by the wrist and forcefully drags her out of the room. Since Chloe is vastly stronger than Amelia, it isn't even a competition.

A while later.

''Ahem... it is nice to meet you, Miss Miko.''

''You can call me 'Miss Uwara,' esteemed heroine of Astra.''

''Ah, you can simply call me Claire, then!''

Different from before, Amelia now holds an extremely proud stance, like that of a swan. It seems she has no problem communicating. She is good at it, even, but then we have the whiny Amelia...

Nevertheless, I suppose it is better than having a stuttering Amelia.

After the introduction, we naturally settle down at a table near the park's lake to talk. Amelia somehow has the confidence to subtly brag about her unique skill, [Divine Sight], in front of Claire, even though it isn't supposed to be hers in the first place.

''With this ability, I can indeed see many things the ordinary eyes can't, which is—''

''Hoh? Are you the Miko?''

''G-Ghost?! Oh, wait... are you a guardian spirit?''

Out of nowhere, Skylar emerges.

''Indeed... your eyes are genuine.''

Skylar seems to have taken a liking to Amelia, seeing her nod approvingly after a few back-and-forths. Then, Skylar dumps some lore onto Amelia, who clearly looks pissed at the guardian's lengthy and grandiose explanation.

''O-Okay, I get it, I get it...''

Finally, it is time for the main objective of this conversation.

''Close your eyes, Miss Claire.''

''Mhm!''

''Manifest, the Eye of Truth!''

The skill's visual effects are certainly flashy. I don't think a third eye as glamorous as a chandelier is needed—I really don't.

''Hmm... indeed. I can see it. I can see... a malevolent force had intervened in the world's fate.'' Amelia says. ''And in the crux of it, you alone stood, Miss Claire.''

''As expected, Buerizth was coming after this child... Miko, when did it all start?''

''...In the storm of space and time, as I am gazing into the chaos—''

Okay, it started when Claire was born. It's honestly very cut and dry. Amelia is just exaggerating for impressions.

Beyond that, further investigations from Claire's side are needed to unlock more precise 'truth,' so nothing can be done for now.

''Thank you so much, Miss Uwara, and also you two!''

''No problem.''

And so, the incident with Claire and Amelia has safely come to an end. Suddenly having one more member in our team is a bit odd, but Amelia manages to adapt decently.

It isn't until a while later that something of significance happens.

February 27th, 1835.

As I walk to the class with Chloe, I notice many stressed sighs around me.

Today is the first major exam of the second semester—at least for the first- and second-year students. I understand their fear, as failing this one will be detrimental to their grades... but I'm more stressed than them.

''My... there are certainly many determined friends, isn't it?''

''...Indeed, Your Highness.''

''Oh, just how many times had I asked you to comfortably call me 'senior'?''

''How could I dare... Your Highness?''

On one side, there is an amused Nydia playing with scorching, scarring flame, and on the other side, there is the flame herself, Chloe, from whom I can hear the sounds of her teeth grinding.

Enduring such a suffocating atmosphere, we enter a modified Evone Hall, where preparations for the occasion have been made. Instead of a flat and dull ground, a multi-environment field has been built, intending to stimulate as many battle scenarios as possible during the exam.

''That's... a lot of people.''

Alongside the two hundred or so students who will be the participants, seniors of third and even some of the busy fourth years can be seen in the spectator seats. 

Professors, judges, security staff, investors, etc.

The unimaginable number of seats are actually decently filled.

With this scale, won't it be more appropriate to call this a tournament? Still, it'll be hard to find suspicious individuals if there are this many people.

I need to focus.

But before that...

''Good luck, you two.''

''Thanks.''

''I'll take the win for you, Aurora.''

Seeing the two smile, I also smile.