–+–
Nicole stared at Belle for three seconds.
Her gut told her something was fishy here, but the words “save money” had far too much pull.
So much pull, in fact, that they crushed every scrap of doubt.
The conflict on her face vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual sharp, calculating smile.
“Hmph. Fine, you’ve got a point.”
Nicole flicked her hair with style, then turned toward Sandrone, who sat on the sofa with a cup of water in her hands.
“Ahem.” Nicole cleared her throat, planted her hands on her hips, and put on the air of someone about to strike a major business deal.
“Sandrone, and Columbina too. Given the change in the situation, the Cunning Hares will be heading into the core area of the Hollow tomorrow to recover a safe. There’s a chance we’ll run into a tricky mutated Dullahan along the way…”
Before she could finish building up the mood of “hardship and danger,” Sandrone set down her cup.
“Do you need help?”
Her voice was flat.
It even sounded a little… eager?
Nicole froze.
The long speech she had prepared got stuck in her throat.
‘She’s this willing?’
She blinked, then fixed her expression at once.
“That’s right!” Nicole gave a firm nod.
“On behalf of the Cunning Hares, I hereby formally invite you both to join this special operation as ‘special consultants’! Your main duty will be… uh, fire suppression and cleanup against high-risk targets. How does that sound?”
“Of course!” Nicole took a deep breath, as if she’d made some great sacrifice.
“In return, the exchange fee for these pieces of Moonfall Silver…”
“Sure.”
Sandrone nodded without the slightest pause.
She turned her head and looked at the girl beside her, who was playing with the ends of her hair out of boredom.
“Columbina, you don’t mind either, do you?”
Columbina lifted her head.
Her eyes blinked behind the thin veil, and she shook her head like a sweet, obedient child.
“I don’t mind.”
“…will be half off…?”
The second half of Nicole’s sentence finally drifted out, carrying a trace of blank confusion.
She tilted her head and looked at the two of them, who had already settled the matter.
It felt like she’d punched cotton.
Just like that… the deal was done?
She had prepared several rounds of bargaining, too.
Sixty percent, fifty-five percent, all ready to go!
How had she not used a single one?
Sandrone watched Nicole’s stunned face, lifted her cup, and took a sip to hide the faint curve at the corner of her mouth.
A tiny service fee didn’t matter at all.
The real point was—
The girl sat there quiet enough, but her fingers kept picking at random things.
These past few days, with all their trips back and forth into the Hollows, Columbina had come home each night and fallen asleep right away.
Sandrone had enjoyed a rare stretch of peaceful days.
If this woman got cooped up at home for too long and had too much energy left over, then the one most likely to suffer would be… herself.
Going to the Hollow was great!
Not only could they make money, it was also a free place to “walk the bird.” Perfect!
“Fine.” Sandrone stood and looked at Nicole, settling it with one final word.
“Half off. Deal.”
–+–
After everyone exchanged what information they had, they agreed to meet at nine the next morning in the parking lot behind the video store, then went their separate ways.
Nicole hummed a tune so off-key it barely counted as music, carrying her signature briefcase as she vanished into the night, pleased as could be.
Wise and Belle yawned and closed the video store for the night.
Sandrone held Columbina’s hand and walked through the quiet streets of Sixth Street.
Then they went home.
Once inside, Sandrone pushed the door open and flicked on the light.
In the living room, five huge red-and-white crates stood side by side along the wall.
Those were all the parts of Pulonia.
Finally!
She wouldn’t have to carry heavy things by herself anymore.
She wouldn’t have to clear a path and fight mobs by herself anymore.
She wouldn’t have to hide behind Columbina for every little thing anymore—
Uh.
Actually, she probably still had to hide for a while on that last one.
But at least!
She wouldn’t have to do everything herself!
Sandrone rolled up her sleeves and pulled the five slips of paper from her pocket, the ones that had been stuck to the crates.
She gathered the scraps into a stack, ready to crumple them up and toss them into the trash.
Then, all of a sudden—
“Toot—!!!”
An absurd, over-the-top horn blast, like the opening note of a circus show, exploded through the quiet living room.
The five wrinkled slips tore free from Sandrone’s fingers and fluttered into the air like five startled pigeons.
“Wow.”
Columbina had been about to get pudding from the fridge, but the noise drew her over.
She padded up barefoot, her pink eyes full of the joy of watching trouble unfold.
“What’s this?”
“What else could it be?” Sandrone stared at the air without expression.
“Some bastard’s idea of fun.”
The moment she finished speaking, the five slips slammed into each other in midair.
“Bang!”
With the sharp crack of a party popper, countless colorful streamers and glitter burst out of nowhere, drifting down until both of them were covered.
Columbina didn’t mind at all.
She even reached out, caught a handful of falling glitter, and lifted it close to her eyes for a better look.
“So pretty.”
“…”
Amid the cheap special effects filling the air, a glittering gold card spun down.
At last, it landed with perfect aim in Sandrone’s palm.
On the card, Aha’s signature clown-mask symbol grinned wide, as if laughing at her without a sound.
Lines of cheerful, wavy text appeared on the back of the card:
–+–
[🎭 Joyous Troupe Performance: The Banned Demon Queen and the Hardworking Little Wife~ 🎭]
[Dear Sandrone~ Congrats on getting back your beloved big toy! But—]
[If “Miss Demon Queen” simply crushes the enemies with one finger, then this play would be far too boring, wouldn’t it? The audience would ask for refunds!]
[Mission Objective: Help the Cunning Hares defeat the mutated Dullahan.]
[Special Restriction: Princess, Please Watch the Show]
[During this mission, Columbina is forbidden from making any form of attack!]
[That’s right! She can’t even throw a single feather! Her only jobs are to look beautiful, eat popcorn, or cheer you on~]
[All the dirty work and hard labor shall be left to “Little Wife” Sandrone and her tin-can friend!]
–+–
Sandrone’s fingers tightened around the edge of the card.
Little wife?
Her?
–+–
[Mission Reward: The Taste of Freedom]
[The “safety leash” mechanism that someone “hates most” will gain a daily exemption!]
[You’ll receive 2 hours of unrestricted free movement every day!]
[Failure Penalty: Closer Than Ever, Super Deluxe Edition]
[If the mission fails, or if Columbina can’t hold back and makes a move… hehehe~]
[1. The safety leash range will be reduced to 2 meters forever!]
[2. You’ll gain the negative status “Superglue”: At random times, a “specific body part” from each of you will be forcibly stuck together! Guaranteed thrills! Duration: ten minutes~]
[Kind Reminder: If this triggers in public, you may attract quite a crowd~]
[PS: For those precious 2 hours of single life, work hard, girl! Elation is watching you! 🤡]
–+–
The words on the card flashed twice, as if Aha were winking at her.
Sandrone’s fingers began to tremble around the card.
“What do you mean, ‘little wife’?!!!”
She yanked hard, trying to tear the card apart.
The card didn’t budge.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Instead, the card glowed faintly and let out a burst of “heeheehee” laughter, as if mocking her helpless rage.
“Pfft…”
A laugh slipped out from behind her.