The sight was unsettling.

  Souta slept peacefully… holding a girl in his arms.

  **Pikonota.**

  Meliora’s heart burned with rage.

  — **Who is she?!** she shouted.

  Souta woke instantly, confused.

  — “Meliora? What’s wrong?”

  He looked to the side… and noticed what shouldn’t have been there.

  Pikonota was still asleep, clinging to him.

  — “P-Pukonota?!” Souta’s eyes widened.

  Meliora pointed her hand at the intruder.

  — **Do you know her, Lord Kihara? Who is she and why is she in your tent?**

  Pikonota rose slowly and, seizing the chance, hugged Souta.

  — “I am Lord Spoon’s personal slave. I was only fulfilling my master’s desires…”

  Meliora shot her a look of comic disdain.

  Souta jumped up immediately, flustered.

  — “What are you talking about?! Let go of me! That’s not true!”

  Pikonota frowned, theatrically.

  — “You’ll deny it after what you did to me? You almost killed me with excitement last night…”

  Her words cut Souta like a blade.

  Meliora kept her gaze steady.

  — “So even you have a perverse side… what a disappointment.”

  — “Pikonota, you’re not helping!” Souta exploded. “Tell it straight! We fought, I won. She’s a Celestial General!”

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  Meliora stepped back, cold.

  — “If she’s a general of the Demon King… why didn’t you kill her?”

  Sitting inside the tent, Pikonota interrupted:

  — “It’s almost like I forced him into something. Didn’t you say you could do whatever you wanted?”

  She smiled mischievously.

  — “They say I’m very good at wrapping men around my finger. They’re always satisfied when they sleep with me.”

  Souta and Meliora stared at her with disdain.

  — *She’s a pervert…*

  Meliora crossed her arms.

  — “Lord Kihara, I see she’s just a shameless woman. You don’t need to explain yourself.”

  Souta sighed in relief.

  But Pikonota didn’t stop.

  — “Why does Lord Spoon, the future king of all, need to explain himself to you, huh? Are you his mistress?”

  Meliora blushed, stammering:

  — “O-of course not!”

  Pikonota tried to leave the tent, but tripped and fell face-first.

  She stood up with her nose bleeding.

  — “Look at him! You people of Beeatrix are exploiters, that’s why Lord Spoon ran away!”

  She went on, unfiltered:

  — “He’s under so much tension. If you strip away his dark mana, his aura is so pure it’s like a baby’s. It’s obvious he’s a virgin!”

  — “HUH?!” Meliora blushed violently.

  Souta smacked Pikonota on the head.

  — “Hey! Don’t expose me like that in front of the princess!”

  His tone was firm, but his red face betrayed his embarrassment.

  — “Ow, ow, ow! Why hit me like that?” Pikonota whined. “I’m just telling the truth! A whole kingdom full of women and none able to satisfy Lord Spoon… He stayed on watch all night and finally fell asleep. I just wanted to pamper him. He held me tight while he slept…”

  She blushed, squirming, but didn’t let go of Souta’s arm.

  — “Lord Spoon needs to stay healthy and strong to protect me. So don’t hesitate to call me when you’re feeling lonely…”

  The mood was shattered by a surge of mana.

  The ground shook.

  — “Huh?” Souta and Pikonota looked around, confused.

  Meliora’s eyes shone like beacons in the dark.

  Her golden aura expanded, burning the air.

  — **Solar Magic.**

  She advanced, each step echoing like thunder.

  Thinking only one thing:

  *— Get away from my Kihara… you slut.*

  And she screamed, her voice tearing through the silence:

  — **This is war!**

  “So now what? Will Meliora truly fight Pikonota for Souta’s heart — and his honor?