Black Cat decided to grit her teeth and go all in.
She figured that a group of beings this powerful would hardly show patience toward an ordinary human.
If her true identity were exposed, someone might very well kill her on the spot out of anger at being deceived.
So… she would act.
"As a Demon King, my strength naturally lies in magic and mana, not in my physical body."
After saying this, Black Cat turned to Shinobu and asked:
"Could it be that you are… Miss Vampire?"
"I am no longer a vampire," Shinobu replied firmly. "As for me… now, I should count as human."
"…" Black Cat screamed inwardly. Since when do humans have pointed ears!?
At that moment, Tohsaka Rin and Illya also walked over.
Illya circled around Souta a few times, then reached out to touch him. Her hand passed right through his body.
Souta shook his head. "Illya, right now your bodies are only holographic projections. Only Kurumi and I are actually present."
"Illya knows that. I just wanted to try." Illya replied indifferently.
For the record, she currently kept the form of a twelve-year-old girl, dressed in a short skirt with white stockings, a pair of cat ears on her head. With her otherworldly beauty, her look fused cuteness and temptation into one… truly the kind of loli that could make anyone's mouth water.
Illya noticed that Souta had let his gaze linger on her stockings.
She smirked, leaned close, and whispered in a tiny voice:
"Big brother can sneak into Illya's room any night. I always sleep with my stockings on, never take them off. I change to a new pair every day. And right next to me is mommy's bedroom. Exciting, isn't it? Heehee."
"…" Souta was a little tempted.
But with so many sharp-eared people present, he scolded Illya with a glance.
Then, secretly, he sent her a telepathic message: no problem.
He wasn't even sure if telepathy would work during a video projection.
But judging from Illya's knowing expression, she had received it.
On the other side, Tohsaka Rin introduced herself to Black Cat, then stared curiously at the cat ears on her head.
"This… why is Miss Black Cat wearing cat ears?"
"…" Black Cat answered calmly, "This is quite popular in the human world. I thought it was interesting, so I tried wearing them."
"To think a Demon King doesn't mind wearing cat ears…" Shiroyasha studied her closely, the more she looked the more approving she became. "And this outfit too… Oh! You really have good taste! No wonder you're the Demon King I admire, someone with the same hobbies as me, equally carefree!"
"You like this too?"
Black Cat couldn't help glancing at Shiroyasha with acknowledgment.
Of course, her real thoughts were the complete opposite of what her expression showed.
So this kimono-wearing loli must be the so-called "Great Benevolent God Shiroyasha"?
A so-called deity, and yet so unserious.
So myths really are full of lies!
"Yes, I love it, very much," Shiroyasha chuckled. "I've got even more treasures back at my place, Black Cat. Once this meeting ends, come visit Little Garden. I'd love to discuss fashion with you."
"…Next time," Black Cat tightened inside, but managed to keep her expression calm as she promised. "Definitely next time."
"All right everyone, let's not forget the real matter here."
Kurumi clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"I'd like to finish this battle before night fully falls. Souta, go lure out Takamiya Mio."
"Wait," Souta's expression grew sharp as he fixed his eyes on Black Cat. "Black Cat and I still haven't settled our contest of presence. As a god, how could I allow myself to be overshadowed by a Demon King? That would be a disgrace, one I must wash away!"
Kurumi: "?"
"…" Black Cat felt the urge to quit the call immediately and run.
But even more terrifying was the thought of these people noticing something was off, then hunting her down at home.
She couldn't risk dragging her family into this. She had to keep up the act… she had to!
"…A duel to wash away disgrace? Kukuku, though you are a god, you seem awfully eager to fight.
But as for a contest of presence, it wouldn't do to decide for ourselves. Others must judge."
Black Cat gave Souta a cold glance.
"God, tell me first... how do you want to compete?"
'Has Black Cat… given up all pretense?'
Souta studied the girl's steady expression and piercing gaze, and nearly believed she wasn't afraid at all.
Her acting was flawless!
Yet, behind that calm façade, she was probably panicking so hard she could barely stand.
To toy with her like this… wasn't it too much, considering she was just an ordinary human?
Thinking it over, Souta decided he should let it go.
No need to push her to the breaking point.
He wasn't a demon, after all.
Just as Souta was about to relent—
Rin suddenly spoke up.
"I think Black Cat-san's presence is far stronger than Souta's."
The twin-tailed girl shot him a sharp look, her words blunt.
"Souta's presence comes from the divine aura of his godly power. It's just a byproduct of his strength. Strictly speaking, it doesn't even count as his own presence. Black Cat, on the other hand, feels like she could unleash dark magic at any moment. That is clearly stronger… Ah, forgive me, I didn't mean that as an insult."
"I agree. Black Cat's aura is stronger," Altair nodded.
Shiroyasha judged, "The kid's just cheating with god power. Black Cat's projection isn't even her true body. Purely in terms of presence, I'd say Black Cat wins."
Kurumi also nodded. "Indeed, Black Cat comes out ahead."
Black Cat: ?
Stop it, this is killing me with praise!
If the god gets offended and insists on a real fight offline, she'll be doomed!
"Speaking of which," Rin frowned suspiciously, "why did Souta release his divine aura in the first place? Doesn't he usually control it at will? What's the point of showing off in front of us? It's strange."
"Indeed," Kurumi agreed. "Saying he wants to compete in presence with Black Cat-san is odd to begin with. I never thought he was the type to be so competitive."
Kurumi and Rin both turned toward Souta.
Their eyes sharpened.
It was as if they were silently saying,
Do you have some improper intentions toward Black Cat?
"…"
Souta slowly turned his gaze to the sky, ignoring their interrogating stares, and said casually,
"It's getting late. I'll go lure out Takamiya Mio. Shiori and the others must be getting impatient."
With that, he vanished on the spot.
His sudden disappearance gave Black Cat another fright.
Her sense of crisis deepened.
Why, oh why, had she gone and provoked a god in the group chat?
She had managed to bluff her way through this time… but what about later?
Could she still quit the group now?
Could one even leave this group?
Glancing at the gathering of mighty beings still around her, the corner of Black Cat's eye twitched.
She could barely hold the act together anymore!
[Meanwhile]
Souta reappeared in the sky, scanning ahead until he located the warship Fraxinus.
Its cloaking device couldn't hide from his sight.
Takamiya Mio should be up there.
But instead of warping directly over, Souta glanced back down at Black Cat, offering her a few silent seconds of pity.
If only she had taken the chance to admit she was just a normal human earlier, by now she'd probably be chatting happily with everyone.
After all, the group members were quite easy to get along with.
Even Shiroyasha, as much of a rascal as she was, was still approachable.
But Black Cat had chosen the path of the master Klein.
All Souta could do now was pray for her.
Hopefully, when she witnessed the battle between Kurumi and Takamiya Mio, her expression would hold steady.
If her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground, the Demon King act would be impossible to maintain.
Surrounded by so many "big shots," she might break right then and there.
"I really shouldn't have teased her. Now I'll have to step in and bail her out later."
Souta sighed, setting aside his mischief for the moment.
He flew up to the outside of the warship, lifted his hand, and summoned a raging storm that shook its hull.
Then his voice boomed forth.
"Takamiya Mio… no, Murasame Reine, dare you come out and fight me!"