Silver moonlight passed through the transparent dome, quietly sprinkling onto the flowers and green leaves, as if coating them in a layer of white frost.
In the warm [Botanical Garden], its temperature regulated by a spell, Ritsuka, Mash, and El-Melloi II sat in a circle on the ground, back to back. The area around them was covered with various sheets of paper filled with dense incantations.
If they were to step out of a certain designated area, these papers would trigger a series of chain reactions and instantly subdue them.
However, what made Ritsuka and Mash tremble was not the spells arranged around them, but the girl in the green dress standing at a stone table not far in front of them, humming a cheerful little tune.
—Thwack!
The blade in her hand unhesitatingly chopped off a pigeon's head, sending a spray of blood everywhere.
She had performed the same action as if she had done it hundreds or thousands of times. Faced with such a bloody scene, Manaka's expression did not change in the slightest. A faint smile played on her lips, and she didn't even blink.
After processing two more pigeons in the same manner, extracting the blood from all three, and adding some special herbs to the crimson, viscous liquid, Manaka regulated the changes in the pigeon's blood with her magical energy while softly chanting an incantation. Soon, she had compressed the nearly small basin of blood into the volume of a single test tube.
Black magic? And of the cursing type... But her technique and speed are a bit too fast. Another genius naturally blessed by the path of magecraft...
Unlike the fear of the two girls beside him, El-Melloi II, as if by professional habit, couldn't help but start observing Manaka's spellcasting technique, feeling somewhat shocked.
However, before he could determine the effect of the black magic Manaka was preparing, the girl had already approached the three of them with light steps.
"While the idea of time travelers is interesting, and your identities seem quite mysterious, if you're thinking of deceiving that child because of his kind nature, I won't forgive you."
"So, as a small preventive measure, I'll just add a little something to you."
A faint curve graced her lips. Manaka casually plucked a small twig. Using the twig as a pen and the pigeon's blood as ink, she automatically ignored the strong resistance on Ritsuka's and Mash's faces and their frantic head-shaking, and gently wrote an incantation on both of their foreheads.
Only then, as if remembering there was one more person, did Manaka disdainfully scribble a few strokes on El-Melloi II's face. She then straightened up and watched as the blood-red letters on their skin gradually faded away, nodding in satisfaction.
Thinking they were about to be inflicted with an instant-death curse or some other painful hex, Ritsuka had instinctively closed her eyes and held her breath as she felt the twig moving across her forehead. For a moment, images of her life even began to flash before her eyes.
But a few seconds after the other party had finished, she found that her body had no reaction at all. Ritsuka couldn't help but slowly open her eyes again, looking quizzically at the equally confused Mash beside her, before finally turning her gaze to Manaka.
Could it be... she was just scaring us...
"It's not a joke. The curse is already complete. But I didn't want that child to think I went too far, so I changed the content of the curse to 'if you lie to Rei, you will turn into Madagascan rainbow frogs in three days'."
As if she were simply saying "hello," Manaka smiled, seemingly seeing through Ritsuka's thoughts, and uttered those terrifying words.
At the end, as if troubled, she tilted her head slightly, her finger tapping her lips, her delicate eyebrows knitted.
"Actually, I originally wanted to make it self-destruction, but that kind of scene would probably attract too much attention. If it were investigated and traced back to the source, it would be a bit troublesome."
"But in any case, instead of self-destructing, you just have to turn into Madagascan rainbow frogs to end your lives. Don't you think you're already very lucky?"
—Yeah, so lucky. I'm really grateful to you...
After hearing these words, Ritsuka felt like crying but had no tears.
She couldn't imagine that just a few seconds ago she was a vibrant high school girl, and the next moment she could become a small, colorful frog in a forest. The stark contrast sent a chill down her spine.
Of course, it wasn't just the curse that made her feel this way, but also Sajou Manaka's matter-of-fact tone and expression as she said it.
It was as if, aside from the young man she called "Rei," nothing else in the world mattered to her.
Is this the legendary yandere? This is way too scary... How did things even get to this point?
Mr. II, quickly use your invincible Zhuge Liang wisdom to get us out of this predicament!
Ritsuka cast a hopeful gaze at the long-haired man beside her. But as if not feeling her gaze, El-Melloi II just lowered his head slightly, as if sensing and analyzing something within his body.
I see, it's just as she said...
Still, this is a very sophisticated cursing technique. Even trying to break it would probably take a lot of time and effort. With this level of magecraft, and being a Master in this Holy Grail War... could it be that the reason this war has changed is because of her participation...
Having noticed the unconcealed crimson Command Spells on the girl's hand early on, El-Melloi II subconsciously began to think.
Seeing the man fall into such a state, Ritsuka knew that counting on him now was probably hopeless.
At the same time, after glancing at Mash, who was still blinking blankly as if she hadn't realized the gravity of the situation, Ritsuka felt an inexplicable wave of exhaustion and lowered her head in resignation.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the entrance of the [Botanical Garden].
Before the young man, fresh from his bath, arrived, Manaka, with astonishing speed, used magecraft to quickly clean up the site where she had prepared her materials, her face once again adorned with a gentle and lovely smile.
But at the very end, as if remembering something, she looked at the three captives and added.
"I almost forgot to mention, if you tell that child about the 'curse,' you'll turn into rainbow frogs too~!"
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