The moment Ophelia tried to stand, her body seized.

“Agh…”

Tears welled in her eyes. Pain surged through her, far worse than it looked. Her legs were in the worst shape, as each movement sent a sharp sting through her muscles like razors beneath the skin.

“Meow!” (Snuggling levels insufficient! You gotta huff more of me!)

She understood the meaning behind Ayano’s outstretched paws and slipped her hands under the cat’s forelegs. A pure white, fluffy belly appeared.

The impulse struck. It would be rude not to.

Sniiiifff.

She felt the effects immediately.

The healing. The cellular regeneration. The magic.

“This is… Mikaela, are you by any chance… blessed with an Angel’s Memento?”

“Meow, meeeow~” (I think so. Mikaela had that rare magical trait. She didn’t age and had a healing power rivaling miracles. Guess you’ve done your homework, Miss Ophelia.)

Still holding the pouting cat, Ophelia huffed again and again.

Gradually, her strength returned.

“Sniff. I can feel my body healing… This is incredible.”

“Meow, meow.” (It works best when you huff me directly. Lung capacity plays a big role. Just another mystery of this fluffy body.)

Once she could move again, Ophelia cradled Ayano to her chest, huffing as she surveyed her surroundings.

In the morgue, she found the bodies of four Luxor Exorcists. A wave of grief and despair washed over her.

She gently stroked the cat, her voice trembling.

“My brother and sister went to the Akai sisters’ birthday party in my place because I refused to come. It’s my fault. My brother, my sister, the eight Exorcists who guarded them... and now four more.

They came all this way for revenge, only to die like this… before they could even fight. The regret… the rage they must feel… Oh, my friends.”

She wiped her tears and stood, still holding Ayano in one arm.

“Mister Akamuro’s body… I’ll search for it later. His righteous anger is now mine. I survived. I’ll make them pay for this.”

“Meow… meow.” (He’s alive, though... And to press on after losing so much? You’re strong. You have my respect, Miss Ophelia.)

Nestled in her arms, Ayano pressed a paw to Ophelia’s cheek.

Squish. Smoosh. It was the highest praise a cat could offer.

“Just my luck.”

Her car, parked under the hotel, had been crushed by rubble. She needed a new ride. 

Out on the street, she spotted a woman in a black coat, white shirt, and black tie.

The woman was clearly an Exorcist.

“You there, Exorcist. A word. What’s your name?”

“Huh? Me? I’m Sumire Akashi. Oh, Milady Mikaela?!”

“You know this cat?”

“Of course, she’s the Akai family’s cat. Wait, could you be the one… the person who’s helping Mr. Akamuro?”

“What about it?”

“Oh, uh… it’s nothing.”

“You’re just going to cut off in the middle? I’m not a patient woman, and right now, I’m particularly short on time.”

“Such an ‘Ice-Cold Noblewoman’… um. I mean, that’s just what Mr. Akamuro called you. It didn’t come from me.”

“…Fine. I’ll let it slide for now. I am Ophelia Luxor, the Ice-Cold Noblewoman. I need a car for an important mission. I trust you understand what that means?”

“Yes, I understand perfectly. He stole my car, too.”

“What? He? Are you talking about Mister Akamuro?”

“Yes, well…”

“He’s alive?”

Sumire told her everything she knew.

The news that Ikaku was alive and headed into battle brought warmth to Ophelia’s chest. She wasn’t the only one left.

“—Then he just grabs my arm, twists it like this, and knocks me out! When I came to, my car was gone! That man is unbelievably violent!”

“You poor thing. He’s basically a walking pile of muscle, so it’s a real pain when you can’t get a proper conversation out of him. Anyway, about that car… could I borrow it?”

“Huh? Um, but, this is my brand-new baby… I just had her delivered a week ago…”

“I’ll return her in perfect condition. I promise.”

Swallowing her tears, Sumire handed over the keys.

And so, the heiress and the cat came to bear witness to the vengeance Ikaku Akamuro would unleash that night.

His enemies burned, blasted, shattered, and utterly annihilated.

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