Another week passed after Merry and Naoki Number Two each completed their battle plans.
It had been three weeks since Ritsuka and Mash arrived in this Lostbelt.
In the past week, Ritsuka and the others in Salisbury had not encountered any more strange incidents. They enjoyed the week together with Artoria Caster, arranged by Coral and Aurora.
However, unlike their cheerful and enjoyable vacation life, some people far away in Camelot City were, in a certain sense, greatly tormented.
The reason was—
"I am stronger."
"No, I am stronger!"
"Then let's fight outside, even though the result is already certain."
"Let's go!"
Such conversations between Melusine and Arcueid occurred almost every day in the past week. The root of the problem was that Arcueid accidentally said she was the strongest, and it happened to be overheard by Melusine passing by.
As a result, the two immediately confronted each other.
On one side was the strongest dragon race, whose age was nearly as old as the Earth; on the other side was the strongest daughter of the True Ancestor. They couldn't yield to each other with words, so in the end, to determine the winner, the two fought all out.
As for the results...
"How many times have they fought in the past week?"
Touko, sitting on the open terrace not far from the courtyard where Melusine and Arcueid were facing off, gazed at the two.
"Eight times, with one win and one loss, six draws." Aoko bit into a biscuit she had just baked in the kitchen, speaking with a bit of frustration. "And those two wins and losses happened when they didn't know each other well yet. After that, neither could defeat the other."
"Then, it seems when we fight that kid later, someone will already be handling Melusine."
Hearing her sister's words, Aoko couldn't help but glare at her slightly: "Why do you have to say it? Aren't you afraid Naoki will hear it?"
Touko laughed: "Ah, do you really think we can hide it from him? How many times have we slipped up this week? He must have known for a long time."
"Tch, you're right."
As Touko said, Aoko didn't think their idea to stop Naoki could be hidden indefinitely. It must have been exposed by now, especially since some people weren't tight-lipped.
However, even so, Naoki took no action, as if he approved of all their plans.
(He might be confident he can defeat us, no matter what we do... Though reluctant, the current him really can do it.)
Recalling the crushing defeat in the battle with Naoki two weeks ago, Aoko felt annoyed.
At that moment—
*BOOM!*
A loud explosion suddenly sounded from within Camelot City.
The two simultaneously looked toward the source of the sound, and after confirming it, they gave bitter smiles.
"The same over there?"
"It should be, right?"
Just like Melusine and Arcueid, in the direction the explosion came from, there were also people facing off, but not two individuals, rather two groups.
—Morgan and Baobhan Sith.
—Sajyou Rei and Sajyou Ayaka.
However, unlike the childish fights below, all four confronting each other were wearing aprons, and the room they were in was filled with a strong aroma of food.
"You're really over the top, you vixen. Secretly telling your daughter to add spices to our cooking. Is that how a Queen acts?"
Rei stared at Morgan and Baobhan Sith with a very sharp gaze and a cynical smile.
"Aren't you the same? It's fine that you interfered with my fire's temperature using Magecraft, but you even deliberately made the ingredients I was using rot. Only a doll would pull off such cheap tricks."
Morgan retorted very firmly. Her already cold expression grew even colder by several degrees.
At the point where their gazes met, faint sparks of electricity could be seen.
As an observer, Ayaka watched the scene that had occurred multiple times in the past week and sighed wearily.
The four of them were now preparing lunch for Naoki and the others.
Originally, this was something Morgan did occasionally, but not long ago, when Morgan was preparing lunch for Naoki, she encountered Rei who had started preparing earlier.
Naturally, the two immediately clashed, but unlike the childish fights below, they didn't fight; instead, they decided to determine the winner based on cooking skills.
It was fine at first, but when Baobhan Sith got involved and used a little trick to turn Rei's cooking into something charred, this battle turned into a Dark Cooking Battle.
After glaring at Morgan for a while, Rei glanced at the clock on the wall and sneered: "Forget it. That's enough for today. If we keep dragging this out, Master won't have lunch—don't interfere anymore after this."
"That's what I should say, doll." Morgan also turned around and resumed preparing her cooking.
But—
"No need anymore, Big Sister."
"Queen Mother, I think King Father is already done eating."
Ayaka and Baobhan Sith said separately.
Rei and Morgan frowned.
"Why?"
"Because while you two were arguing, Miss Barghest already prepared lunch for Naoki and delivered it."
Ayaka's explanation left the two speechless.
(That giant!)
(Gawain... I need to have a good talk with her later.)
Seeing the two who looked slightly annoyed, Ayaka sighed helplessly. After removing her apron, she left the kitchen.
However, as she left, the small earring hanging from her ear suddenly glowed. After that, everyone, including herself, heard Merry's voice.
[Ehem ehem ehem, though this is sudden, could you all state your body measurements? It's urgent—no need for Artoria and Arcueid. I know your sizes definitely haven't changed.]
Artoria, who was eating with Barghest and Naoki: "?"
Arcueid, who had just punched Melusine flying into the sky: "?"
Though they didn't know why, both somehow felt a bit offended—they felt Merry's second sentence implied something else.