After reluctantly parting with Kurono at the Stratus Smithing Workshop, Lily visitsFairy Tail, which has firmly established itself as her favorite store.

The person she has come to see is the beautiful Dark Elf, Sofia Sirius Percival, who serves as the chairman of the Royal Spada Academy.

Sofia, the matriarch of a large noble family, is wearing a humble yet elegant robe while Lily is wearing an academy uniform. The two of them might appear to be parent and child, but Sofias dark skin and Lilys shining wings make it clear that they are of different races. Indeed, the two of them are simply friends.

The store is considerably packed with customers as it is lunchtime, but its only natural for Lily, an honored customer, to be sitting in a reserved seat where she can place orders for secret information. The two of them were seated without being forced to wait, and they should have been elegantly enjoying a meal that has been handmade by Fairies.

This incident was a blunder on my part(Sofia)

There is a dark expression of deep regret on Sofias brown-skinned face. A truly bitter expression.

There was no helping it; reinforcements wouldnt have made it to Iskia Fortress in time if it werent for Kurono. It takes time to send out an emergency quest, and more importantly, its impossible for you to make a move immediately since youre not a knight or adventurer, isnt it?(Lily)

Lilys calm remark is proof that although her appearance remains young, her mind is in an adult state. Her wise words are right on the mark.

No, but Still(Sofia)

I understand how you feel, the frustration of not being able to come to the rescue when someone you love is in trouble.(Lily)

Sofia could not save Simon. That is her sole regret.

As Lily says, there was nothing that Sofia could have done in that situation. It would have been impossible for her to reach Iskia Fortress faster than the Knights Order no, faster than Kurono.

Fortunately Simon is safe, and he isnt concerned that you didnt come to save him. In fact, something like that wouldnt even occur to him, would it?(Lily)

From Simons point of view, his relationship with Sofia is nothing more than that between a student and headmaster. She was doing him favors as he took a break from attending the academy and worked as an adventurer, but it certainly cannot be said that they share a deep bond.

Its not like he has lost faith in you or anything, so isnt it alright? The more important thing is what you should do from now on, isnt it?(Lily)

As Lily gives a gentle smile, Sofia replies with a serious expression, as if she has hardened her resolve.

Yes, thats why Ive decided that its time for me to make a move.(Sofia)

But is it alright to do that? It would be troublesome if the head of the Percival family, one of the Four Great Houses, were to act carelessly.(Lily)

I have made the necessary arrangements. No, those werent even necessary. It would have been better for me and him to have been together from the beginning rather than waste time on worthless things like this. I can just freeze and break any troublesome people who try to get in the way.(Sofia)

She exudes the spirit of a Rank 5 adventurer who is well-known even in the neighboring nation of Daidalos. Her crystal-blue eyes have a dangerous glint in them. Lily senses that they contain enough cold to freeze the entire store in an instant. She cannot help but sense it.

Ufufu, it seems that my warning was unnecessary. Im cheering for you, so if you have anything you want me to help you with, please let me know.(Lily)

Thank you. I feel bad for asking you for something right away, but I do have one favor to ask (Sofia)

Simon will return to the dormitories tomorrow. Is it alright if I introduce you then?(Lily)

It seems that you know everything.(Sofia)

I have a good understanding of what goes on inside the heart of a lost maiden.(Lily)

The two friends laugh together. Maidens who are in love are beautiful indeed.

Ah, that reminds me, Ill return the magic items that I borrowed. If youre going to make your move starting tomorrow, youll need this ribbon and these glasses, wont you?(Lily)

Returning the items of disguise that Lily and Fiona had used in Avalon to aid their acts of pure evil or rather, their training, is one of the reasons Lily has met Sofia today.

The ribbon and hairband that change the color of the wearers hair, and the glasses and contact lenses that change the color of the wearers eyes. Each of these items are worth tens of millions of Klans.

No, that wont be necessary. Ive found the perfect thing, so Ill be using that.(Sofia)

Youre amazingly confident. Is it really that good?(Lily)

Yes, theyre my best clothes*. If I wear them, I could even face down a Rank 5 monster.(Sofia)

TLN*: This is a term used for a womans best clothes, like a special outfit, thats used for dates and stuff.

Even as Lily wonders if this is the correct way to use ones best clothes, she comes to the conclusion that its probably fine if Sofia can say with such confidence.

By the way, I have a favor to ask as well, would that be alright?(Lily)

Of course.(Sofia)

As Sofia gives this happy response, Lily continues.

I am going to buy a new bed, so I want you to recommend a good shop.(Lily)

Lily is currently a Rank 5 adventurer. She is free to go into the upper-class districts if she simply presents her Mythril-plate Guild Card. She can visit the high-quality stores that Sofia, a member of a great noble family, shops at herself.

If youre going to be fussy over it, it would be best to have it made by a furniture craftsman, wouldnt it?(Sofia)

No, I need to replace my bed with a new one as soon as possible.(Lily)

Youre in a hurry? Hmm, that dormitory was quite worn out, after all. Has one of the beds there broken? Or is it so dirty that you cant stand it anymore?(Sofia)

Lily lets out a troubled sigh and gives a forced, fake smile that conceals the discomfort rising from the depths of her heart as she tells Sofia the reason she needs to purchase a bed.

Yes, a winged insect landed on it and its very dirty.(Lily)

Insects have appeared there? That is quite the disaster.(Sofia)

Yes, it must exterminated quickly(Lily)

TLN: Another case where singular and plural is vague in Japanese. Lily is obviously referring to a single insect but Sofia thinks that there are plural insects.

Those wings must be torn and scattered so that they will never buzz around Kurono again Lily keeps these words hidden in the depths of her heart.

There is something that Fiona must do, even if it means refusing to share a wonderful lunchtime with Kurono.

So what kind of divine protection are you offering me?(Fiona)

You should find that out for yourself.(Endymion)

As these were the words spoken by the black witch Endymion, Fiona still does not know what power is contained in the divine protection that has been granted to her.

Fiona had initially thought that there might be some meaning to keeping it a secret, but seeing the goddess giving a large yawn right in front of her, she realized that the goddess simply found it too bothersome. It seemed that the goddess of witches really did things at her own pace.

Rest assured; I have granted you the power* you need.(Endymion)

These few words were the last thing that Fiona heard before returning from the purgatory world in her dream.

She was very doubtful as to whether she had even been granted a divine protection at all, but it showed itself in the battle at Iskia Village.

At the beginning of the battle, Fiona castAur Soleilat the incoming monster army.

Her prided, most powerful original spell. The Element Masters most destructive flame spell, which even Kurono and Lily werent capable of matching, should have drained Fiona of all her mana* after a single cast.

TLN*: As of this chapter, Im now translating magical power as mana. I only translated it as magical power in previous chapters because the previous translator did, but its been driving me crazy so Im fixing the translation now.

Fiona did not collapse even after castingAur Soleilat Iskia Village.

She did feel fatigue as her mana reserves dropped below half, but she didnt have any difficulty continuing to fight afterwards.

The divine protection either decreased the amount of mana required to cast her spell, increased the amount of mana she possesses or perhaps both. Its exact effects are still unknown, but Fiona immediately understood that this was the power of the divine protection.

However, there is no way that this basic enhancement that could be granted to anyone is the only effect of the divine protection of the black witch Endymion, a goddess so heavily involved with magic.

What Fiona was granted is the divine protection of an evil goddess as a result of offering many lives as sacrifices. There is no doubt that her body currently contains a more fearsome, terrible, extraordinary power.

But she doesnt know what that power is. In short, Fiona must confirm the currently unknown powers of the divine protection as soon as possible.

There is no telling what kind of evil effect it may exhibit. That is why Fiona is heading for a place outside Spada, where no eyes will see her or so she should have been.

Why am I in a place like this?(Fiona)

Before Fiona knows it, she is sitting in a chair. There is a hand-cloth and a cup of hot tea that is letting out dense steam.

On the other side of the counter in front of her is a chef wearing cooking attire that she has never seen in Elysion or Spada, spiritedly shouting an order,One serving of tuna!

This is a restaurant that has opened in Spada today which offers the famous traditional food of the nation of Rune. This store is commonly known by its nickname, theSushi* Store.

TLN*: This isnt actually the Japanese word sushi, the food, but sushii in katakana. It does seem to refer to sushi though.

Ahem, thank you all for coming to the Sushi Store,Orwed, today. Now then, we will begin the event to celebrate our opening, the Sushi-eating tournament!(Chef)

The customers occupying every single seat in the store let out a cheer. Fiona looks around her as if she still cant process the current situation and takes a sip of the hot, pale-green tea.

The slightly astringent tea is something that she is tasting for the first time, but it isnt bad. Her gluttonous instincts tell her that it will taste much better when consumed together with a certain dish.

The rules are simple; the person who eats the most sushi within the given time limit will be awarded 10,000,000 Klans and (Chef)

The chef standing at the center of the counter raises an old-looking book high in the air as he makes a declaration.

this precious, secret book written by Count Redwing himself that contains the essence of the culture of Rune!(Chef)

Among the customers who are making noise once more, Fiona absentmindedly sips her tea as she tries to remember where she has had heard Count Redwings name before.

However, this secret book is a copy, not the original. Dont get me wrong.(Chef)

As Fiona hears the disappointed voices coming from around her, she remembers.

Count Redwing was the nobleman from Rune, the foreigner who came from the other world known as Japan like Kurono. But he died over fifty years ago; it would be impossible to meet him now.

Kurono was saying something like that in a disappointed tone around the time they enrolled at the academy.

I wonder if Kurono-san would be happy if I brought this back for him as a souvenir.(Fiona)

As if giving an answer to Fionas whisper, her stomach lets out a growl.

Now that she thinks about it, it is lunchtime. She was seriously thinking about experimenting with her divine protection, but it was undoubtedly her bodys honest instincts that led her to this place that seems as if would offer her delicious food.

The tea that she drank on an empty stomach stimulates her hunger further. Her stomach growls once more.

The conditions are not bad.(Fiona)

If there are any problems, it would be Fionas gourmet rivals who have gathered here today.

With her serious, sleepy-looking face that shows as much caution as when she ventures into Dungeons, Fiona looks around at her surroundings once more.

Gahaha, this is to celebrate my return from Iskia! Im gonna eat as much sushi as I want and even take some prize money home!(Gustav)

An enormous red Orcs loud voice fills the entire store. Fiona has seen him before; he was one of the adventurers defending Iskia Village.

Jeez, Im a vegetarian so there isnt a whole lot I can eat on the menu.(Douglalas)

I-I cant, eat, eggs.(Gon)

Sushi with no wasabi, please.(Zedra)

If Fiona recalls correctly, these are the members of theIron Demon Brigade, a Rank 5 party of adventurers famous in Spada. All four of them have incredibly large bodies and one look at them told her that their appetites would be Rank 5 as well.

Still, the four of them look very cramped sitting in a single booth of the restaurant. An Orc, a Minotaur, a Cyclops and a Golem. It looks as if that booth has become a high-Rank Dungeon.

Listen, Kai. We must obtain that secret book at all costs.(Safiel)

I know, Safi, just leave it to me!(Kai)

Sitting on seats at the other end of the counter are Kai and Safiel, two members of the fatedWing Road.

Fiona cant see the other members. She guesses that these two are perhaps very intimate with each other.

Still, its unusual for you to want a book thats not an erotic book, Safi.(Kai)

Ill kill you and turn you into a servant. Shut up and start eating some sushi.(Safiel)

It seems that the theory of them being a couple is incorrect.

Nevertheless, Fiona knows that the swordsman called Kai is a mere human, yet possesses superhuman physical prowess equivalent to Kuronos.

In that case, he likely also possesses a superhuman appetite.

It seems that I am surrounded by powerful enemies(Fiona)

As Fiona looks about at the banners around the inside of the store, she catches glimpses of others here and there with serious looks in their eyes, letting out an extraordinary presence.

This place is about to become a battlefield. Fiona braces herself.

Its been a long time since I had some sushi~ I wonder which one I should have first!

The adorable-looking boy wearing a males academy uniform on the seat immediately to Fionas right grins broadly as he stares at the menu.

Fiona feels a little pity for him.

No matter how she looks at him, this child who has black hair and red eyes resembling Kuronos is not the target of this eating competition. It is likely that he is just here to enjoy the taste of the Runes cuisine.

However, the overeating party that is about to begin will produce an atmosphere where it will be impossible for him to leisurely enjoy his food.

Even so, I will fight my own fight.(Fiona)

Fiona steels her resolve, loosens the belt of her uniform a little and prepares for war.

Now then, please place your orders!(Chef)

Kurono-san, give me your strength Itadakimasu.(Fiona)

Thus, a fierce battle begins.