"Aren't I in a pickle… Sole Supremacy is on cooldown for approximately… 23 hours and 48 minutes. I doubt I will be able to stall them that long, so it will be save to assume myself helpless without Yuki conscious… But I don't want to wake her up… Not even sure if I could. She might have passed out… So proud of you, boo… Anyway, since I gained Sole Supremacy, and Yuki gained Cage of Envy amongst other abilities, I think it'd be wise to assume that everyone else present gained at least one ability comparable to our own. Ah, what to do… I suppose I will just have to try and take control without relying on forceful means. Should be easy enough."
"Alright then, now that this is behind us…Let's make one thing perfectly clear… I was not guided or summoned or whatever. I was here to begin with, so if anyone was guided it were the five of you, towards me."
"I-I'm terribly sorry for making such a rude assumption, p-please forgive my insolence, good sir pride!"
Cinderella's expression shifted to one of playfulness, seemingly bot offended by Yamato's intentional rudeness.
"Oh~ Now there's something that sounds like pride~ Aren't you going to tell us about that woman you are holding? Is she envy now or not? Either way, she looks delicious…"
"Well as you can see she is very tired at the moment, so I'd hate to wake her. And I'm a firm believer that everyone should only ever introduce themselves. So I'm afraid you will have to make due with that."
"Oooh… That makes sense… I'm very tired too… I like your friend, mister pride…"
"What did we introduce ourselves for if you are all just going to call me pride…"
"I understand, but then we seem to have a problem, Yamato… You see, without envy, we are incomplete. Don't you hate when things just aren't perfect~?"
"That's… True, I suppose…"
"Though that last bit is an odd thing to say."
Yamato took a look at Yuki. It did not seem as though she would wake up any time soon, and he had already declared he would not wake her up.
"What exactly is supposed to happen once we are all together in the first place?"
"I dunno~! But surely, once they arrived, or woke up… Something would happen."
"And why would I be waiting around here just for some big maybe?"
"Because, it would be really rude to leave, wouldn't you agree~?"
Yamato's eyes narrowed at that, as he could not help but interpret that as a threat. If he just gave in now, it might be just as dangerous as doubling down.
"Ooh, what a scary look~ Are you sure you are not envy instead? Have I become your object of desire now~? Have I~?"
"Not to interrupt your rather questionable exchange, but I could not help but notice that our surroundings are rather devastated. Since you declared already having resided in this area beforehand, I can only assume you are not completely innocent in its current state."
"Zonar, was it?"
"Sir Zonar will suffice."
"Right, Sir Zonar… If it bothers you, I do apologize. You see, it appears I have gone a bit overboard, and allowed the landscape to take more damage than I had originally intended to. But it was all in self defense, I assure you."
Cinderella seemed to back down for now, in the end still falling victim to Yamato's intimidating gaze.
"I-I suppose I got a bit carried away…~ I'm sure something will happen eventually, even if she doesn't show up. Do forgive me, dear Yamato~"
"I guess I can wait for just a bit and see what happens, but I won't stay for any longer than I see reasonable."
"Interesting… And here I thought he would be the first to escalate… Yet wrath was the one indirectly reminding Cinderella of the potential danger a conflict could pose, making her back off..."
"Really~? Thank you so much~!"
After a moment of silence, a voice appeared in Yamato's mind.
"That's a bummer… And I thought you wouldn't get along… Color me surprised!"
Seeing as everyone suddenly looked around, it seemed they all had the same voice in their head.
"Though, of course that may very well be thanks to the most troublesome out of you not taking part in the conversation… But enough about that! Since you alre went through the trouble of introducing yourselfs, I'm sure you are wondering what I have planned for you! Well… There is nothing! It is like I said when we first met in your dreams. I am only here to guide you, my little champions! Though I was asked to bring you together by one of you, and I did say I would help anyone who asked… It does make me wonder, what would one gain from luring you all into one place… Ooh, ominous, is it not? It would be natural to assume that person's intentions are not exactly favorable for everyone present, so maybe find out who it was, mhm? Well, best luck to all of you! I will be watching with the upmost excitement, I promise!"
Of all the things Yamato expected, that was probably the last one. Everyone seemed surprised as well, though of course one was acting. Sir Zonar was the first to break the silence.
"So, who was it? I have come all this way for a silly joke. Step forward and explain yourself."
"I too, would love to know what could possibly be the motivation behind this little gathering, other than make friends, of course~"
"I-I don't think friendship w-was a motivation... T-That seems like a weird thing to do…"
Cinderella gave Kuro a mockingly suspicious look, the combination with her sultry voice making it hard to tell whether she was serious or just teasing.
"Huh~… You seem like someone who is in the need friends. Are you sure you weren't just lonely and wanted people to talk to~? Calling us all here for your own selfish desires does seme rather… Greedy, don't you think~?"
"I-I did no such thing! I h-have lots of friends!"
"R-r-r-really? What's up with the stuttering anyway? I've only known you guys for a couple of minutes, yet it is by far the most irritating thing I have ever had to deal with. Won't you try to be better, please~? Do it for me~"
"I-I'm sorry…! I will just stay quiet then…"
"Good boy~!"
"This is stupid… I'm leaving. I believe I did my part in staying until this useless message. I'm sure you all will manage…"
"Now hold on a second, Yamato my boy~… The way I see it, one here has it out for the rest. That very well might be you, carrying that sleeping beauty of yours… Now, what do you have to say about that?"
Yamato could not help but get extremely irritated by being called that, though he was somewhat glad Yuki was not awake right now.
"…I find your earlier insistence on my presence far more suspicious in that regard, seeing as that person "having it out for us" would profit the most from that."
"Can't blame a girl for being curious about the unknown~ Neither of us knew what was going to happen, and no one else seemed to object my curiosity either. Or am I wrong, Kuro~? You agree with me, right?"
"I-I would like to be left out of this please… But I suppose I did not object…"
"That's right! He did not!"
"May I ask why you get so hung up on this? I can't say the revelation that one of us called us here has any particular meaning to me, whatever their intent. I don't trust anyone of you in the first place."
"What! I cannot believe what I am hearing! How can you not trust me!?"
"Is… That a serious question? Because I can't help but notice you increasingly wasting my time."
She responded theatrically, obviously not taking any of this seriously. Yamato could not help but be reminded of Yuki, though she would be far more captivating during her antics.
"You truly are cruel, pride through and through! Do you have no shame!? Not taking my feelings into consideration…~"
Yamato was about leave when a genlte tuck on his clothes stopped him.
"…Where are you going… Mister pridy…"
"Pridy…? Uh… To that town over there… Why?"
He looked down at the little Phoebe, who had moved next to him without anyone noticing. Maybe it was because she moved so slow, and was so small, that no one payed her attention.
"Can I… Come too…?"
"Why would you want that?"
"All the other people are scary… But you carry the sleepy lady with you… So I was wondering… If you would carry me too… maybe…"
"…"
"Can I trust her…? She seems innocent enough… And her reasoning is that of a child… But she is also the incarnation of a deadly sin. Then again, it's sloth… I feel like if I had to pick one sin to trust, it'd probably be that… However, I don't have to pick one. Or rather, I already did. And would she be okay with me picking this random girl up? Where even are her parents? She's ten at best… I should have probably started with that question…"
"And…?"
"Where are your parents?"
"They are gone… It's only Pheobe…"
"How did you get here then?"
"By myself… Just like everyone else… Because M said I had to…"
"…"
"I can't believe I'm considering this… She's a stranger, and at least somewhat capable to survive independently… But leaving her here with the rest of them seems…"
"If you don't want to, that's fine too… Pheobe will go back home then… To sleep there…"
"…You can come with me, but I can't carry you right now. As you see, my hands are full."
"Oh… Okay… Then Pheobe will walk with you…!"
Despite the little enthusiasm, her green eyes seemed as tired as if they had just woken up. Which he remembered, they literally had.
"Oh, so now we are supposed to let two of you leave? I think that's not very good though~"
"If I may ask, why is it that you continuesly use the term "we", as we shared goals and opinions? I for one, could not care less about what Pride and Sloth do. And I, Sir Zonar, will be leaving as well."
"Aw, so that's how it is… I'm all by my lonesome self…~ Well, it was fun while it lasted! See you around, pretty boy~!"
She gave a wink in the direction of Yamato and Kuro, not specifying who she meant, though Yamato could not care less, and Kuro seemed anxious about it being him. Which is when the group broke off. Yamato and Pheobe walking back to the city.
"Mister Pridy… The woman you are carrying is super pretty… Is she and you like a mom and dad?"
"Something like that…"
"Do you have a Pheobe too…?"
"No, we do not. Why do you ask?"
"No reason… Pheobe was just worried she would be a bother… Pheobe hopes she won't…"
"I'm sure you won't."
"She might be… But whatever."