In front of the dining table, Arisu nodded with a half-understanding expression.
"I see. Because Arisu is going to serve as Schale's duty student these next few days, Sensei was afraid Arisu would stay up too late and not wake up, so you asked the little maid who happened to be passing by to help…"
Neru cut in with her face flushed red. "I told you already, who are you calling tiny!?"
"Wah! P-please don't hit Arisu!"
"What are you talking about! Do I look like the type who punches people at the drop of a hat? Huh!?"
She really did not look like it. Or rather, she looked exactly like it.
Arisu shrank her head back, her face scrunched up as if she were about to cry, and did not dare offer any more comments.
That only made Neru even angrier. Yet with no good way to vent it, she could only stew in silence, taking huge bites out of her breakfast sandwich.
Still, joking aside, at least as far as I know, Neru has never used violence recklessly.
Arisu's behavior looked more like she had some kind of psychological shadow when it came to Neru.
Was it because back when we forcefully attacked the Millennium Tower, she got beaten up badly by the Neru who rushed over?
Or perhaps… last night?
That still required observation.
At least for now, Arisu was acting exactly like the Arisu I knew, without the slightest flaw.
However, halfway through breakfast, Arisu suddenly seemed to remember something. She looked left and right, then her expression turned flustered.
She looked at me like a child who had just realized her beloved toy was missing, and asked anxiously,
"Sensei, Sensei, Arisu's Sword of Light, didn't you have the little maid… little Neru-senpai bring it over?"
"…Hey, brat, you do realize adding an honorific after little does not make it okay, right, kora (Hey)!"
It was hard to say whether Arisu was deliberately teasing Neru.
Facing Arisu's anxious question, I put on a stern expression and gave the answer I had already prepared.
"Arisu, lately, have you not been taking good care of the Sword of Light?"
"Eh? N-no, that's not true at all! Arisu comforts the soul of the Sword of Light properly every single day!"
Even as she said that, Arisu grew more panicked. "D-does that mean the Sword of Light thought Arisu lacked the qualifications of a hero and ran away from home?"
Quite the imagination she had.
"That's not it." I shook my head. "The Sword of Light seems to have developed a small problem, so it was sent back to the Engineering Department for repairs."
That was, of course, a lie. The gigantic electromagnetic cannon known as the Sword of Light was sitting perfectly intact in the Game Development Department's clubroom.
As for why I lied, naturally, I did not want AL-1S or Kei to get their hands on such a lethal weapon.
Even barehanded, AL-1S or Kei already posed a considerable threat. If the Sword of Light were used, with sufficient output and that halo, let us call it a halo, enhancing it, then if caught off guard, even Neru could be seriously injured.
As for why I deliberately chose this excuse…
"Hmm…"
Arisu pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something. "Arisu understands now! It must be tiny Neru-senpai's fault!"
At the very least, she accepted it completely.
"Why does this end up being my fault again!" Neru instantly boiled over, slamming the table as she stood up. "And how many times do I have to say it, stop calling me tiny! You think switching the word will let you get away with it!?"
"B-but if tiny maid-senpai hadn't fired randomly toward the Sword of Light…"
"Wasn't it you who used that Sword of Light as a shield yourself!?"
Watching the interaction between those two, I could not help but feel that their compatibility was actually pretty good, like they might become close friends.
…Of course, that still depended on fulfilling a certain necessary criteria first.
After breakfast, just as I was about to casually assign Arisu some so-called "work," I received a new message on momotalk.
Midori: Sensei, are you awake?
Staring at the message, I could guess what the Game Development Department wanted to ask.
They had all seen the scene last night when I was taken hostage by Kei.
Although Asuna had informed them of my safety, and I had personally sent a momotalk afterward to reassure them, the fact that they managed to hold back until now before asking about what happened next was impressive in its own way.
Me: Yeah, I've been awake for a bit now. Don't worry, I'm fine.
Midori: Um… last night really was Kei controlling Arisu-chan again, wasn't it?
Me: Yes. However, Arisu doesn't know yet, so please keep it from her on your end as well.
Midori: Okay, we will.
Midori: Then Arisu-chan right now is…?
In this short time, Arisu and the Game Development Department had already formed a certain bond and become companions.
Me: Since we don't know when Kei might appear again, I brought her to Schale for protective observation.
Midori: I see…
Midori: Can we come to Schale to visit today?
Midori: After something like that happened, everyone kind of lacks the motivation to do anything else…
To be honest, this was the kind of request that would only invite more complications, and I should have refused it immediately.
But just before I hit send after typing my response, a new thought suddenly occurred to me.
Without a weapon, AL-1S or Kei's primary target of attack would never be students protected by a halo.
It would only be me.
If I used myself as bait…
Would there be a chance to make it reveal its true face in front of everyone?
The moment this dangerous idea appeared, it spread through my mind at a startling speed even I could not anticipate.
No, it was still not enough.
I would also need to bring the Sword of Light over, bring it to Schale, to give AL-1S or Kei the confidence and the reason to strike.
With the information AL-1S currently possessed, it certainly knew that I did not trust it. And if it were to take me hostage, with the Sword of Light in hand, there was a high probability it would attempt to escape.
That would require the cooperation of the Engineering Department, and also give AL-1S, while in the state of "Arisu," an opportunity to approach the Sword of Light smoothly under my accompaniment.
Even if AL-1S cautiously appeared under the identity of Kei, at the very least, I would be able to extract information.
Thus, this vague plan, centered on a form of entrapment, gradually took shape.
There were still gaps, but it was already sufficient as a test. I would fill in the holes later.
With the Shittim Chest by my side, I had nothing to fear.
I deleted the text in the input box and typed again.
Me: Of course you can.
Midori: Really? That's great!
Midori: Then we'll head out right away.
Me: Don't rush just yet. Can you help bring Arisu's Sword of Light over as well?
Me: Ask the Engineering Department to help move it. I happen to have some business with them too.
However, before a reply came, the doorbell rang.