In the midst of a perfectly paved road, a car drove steadily down the ter.

  “How’s our town looking, meow?”

  Haru, seated in the driver’s seat, gnced back at the girl sitting in the rear seat as she drove.

  “...Not bad.”

  The girl peered out of the window, the ly paved stone surface of the road. Pedestrian and vehicle areas were separated by noticeable height differences, with streetlights positioned itently along the boundary for illumination.

  Oher side of the street were various shops—some selling handcrafted goods, others peddling potions, and a few with gss windows obscured by curtains, presumably hiding less savory items.

  “This ndscape is said to have been inspired by the distant civilization that the High Priestess studied. It has evolved into its current form over a long period,” expined Shirone, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

  The demons including bck demons, a race with a uniquely magical in, had absorbed cultural and intellectual influences from other races, particurly those from distant worlds, also known as otherworlds.

  Other races, such as humans, demons, and elves, also absorbed knowledge from otherworlds, but their intake was retively less pared to that of the demons. Most people from other worlds were not prejudiced against the demons, with a notable tendenention “the sed dimension,” a term deeply ected with the knowledge they shared.

  All these factors bined led to the demons acquiring a signifitly rger proportion of otherworldly knowledge and culture pared to other races.

  “By the way, it seems that the pastry shop has unched ems retly. Si’s about that time, do you want to try them out?”

  “...I’m not in a hurry. It’s fine.”

  “The’s go, meow.”

  As a priestess guard, Haru was quite adept at driving, and they quickly arrived at their destination.

  “e on in! We’re holding a special event—couples dining together will receive a special pastry!”

  “Uh…”

  Upon hearing the annou from a petite waitress in a maid outfit outside the shop, everyone exged awkward gnces.

  “Sorry, I should have done more research,” Shirone apologized to the girl, having not anticipated that the pastry shop’s new s were exclusively for couples.

  “It’s just for filling my stomach. Anything’s fine.”

  “But…”

  “Let’s go in.”

  Shirone sehat the girl didn’t want to make her unfortable, but iy, the girl’s taste buds had bee quite dull. Regardless of what she ate, it all tasted like bnd paste, so she had taken to ing much at all. She could sustain her energy through magical means, making it easier to avoid eating altogether.

  “Hello, how many are there?”

  “Three…”

  “One for me, and two for them.”

  “Meow!?” “Hmm!?”

  Shirone and Haru were taken aback by the girl’s sudden response, while the waitress sidered the situation for a moment before nodding in uanding.

  “Alright, this way for the guest. The other two, please follow me.”

  “Wait, are you...?”

  “Enjoy your meal.”

  Despite Shirone’s attempt to dey her departure, the girl unceremoniously ‘abahem.

  Having been influenced by Misako, the girl had learo dis that she shouldn’t hihe couple. Ihrough Misako’s manipution, Shirone had iently revealed her feelings uhe assumption that Haru wouldn’t remember. Naturally, with Haru’s ure, it was only a matter of time before their retionship was firmed.

  After the girl settled into her seat and gnced around, she had to admit that the waitress knew her stuff. She had seated Shirone and Haru in a er of the couples’ se, strategically positioo be less visible to others.

  Of course, this small obstacle was irrelevant to the girl. She could see Shirone and Haru’s faces reddening as they awkwardly shared the special pastries and even sipped from the same cup, their faces flushed despite the cold desserts.

  “, we head ton Valley, right?”

  The girl nodded slightly in firmation.

  The reason they had driven out from the shrine was that she wao visit the Dragon ’s territory. Misako felt that maintaining courtesy was important and also wao show her the demons’s realm, so she had asked Haru to drive them there.

  As for why Shirone was also present, Misako wahem to spend some time together and streheir bond. She had even given them extra time, ensuring they could stay ht if he reason for the ht stay arent from Misako’s private colle.

  “Sihe demons’s territory is quite vast, I’ll drive faster now, meow.”

  Haru pressed the accelerator, and the car surged forward, the sudden acceleration causing the trio to press bato their seats as the sery outside rapidly ged.

  Despite her e, Haru had an exceptional talent for driving. Even at high speeds, she navigated with precision, perf stunts akin to “drifting” from otherworldly descriptions.

  “...Phew, we’ve arrived, meow.”

  After a-hour drive, they reached the outskirts, where development was nowhere in sight.

  “There’s Dragon Valley. Although I’d like to ght in, the road there is impassable for cars, and the Dragon is quite dangerous.”

  Shirone poio the mist-covered valley in the distance, separated from them by rugged terrain that barely resembled a road.

  “It’s said that apart from the High Priestess, no one has returned after entering there. Please be very careful.”

  The girl nodded slightly and proceeded towards Dragon Valley without hesitation.