<h4>Vol. 1 - Chapter 5.4: Awakening (4)</h4>
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<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Just as Leelou''s letter for Takashi had said, Serphiano, the Demon Lord''s Chief Advisor, paid a visit to Leirune shortly after noon that day. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi had attended the meeting between Serphiano and Nephira as her familiar. Because the Thunder-Lance Charge had killed the king and conquered Leirune with lightning speed and swiftness, the reception hall of Syness Castle was still furnished with priceless artwork and furnishings as they were in their original glory. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Around a long, horizontal table sat Serphiano, Nephira, Takashi, and the twin demons, the Meru-Kiru sisters. Nephira addressed Serphiano, who was seated directly in front of her. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "The time was very sudden. If you had let us know in advance, we would dly have made arrangements to wee you." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> All three of Serphiano''s eyes turned to Nephira. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "As a matter of fact, my third eye had detected a disturbing presence. The shadow of a human other than Suzuki moving in the midst of the Thunder-Lance Charge...." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "What!" </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> The air around Nephira became tense at once. Takashi was inwardly worried, thinking that this must be about his master. </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Therefore, I visited without prior notice. However, by the time I arrived here in Leirune, the unsettling presence had already vanished." </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> At the same time, Takashi was relieved and amazed at Leelou''s skillful execution. How in the world had she detected the arrival of Serphiano, who possessed irvoyant Eye, when she imed that her only skill was the ability to transform? </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (I don''t understand it, but Master Leelou is really amazing!) </em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Serphiano let out a small exhale with a <em ss="chakra-text css-0">fuu and sipped the cup of tea in front of her. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Perhaps it was just my imagination. It is not humanly possible to instantly disappear from Leirune upon realizing that I''ve been watching with my third eye. However... If there is a person who can do such a thing..." </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Below her eyebrows, Serphiano''s eyes sharpen sharply. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "...Former Imperial Strategist, Leelou Dimension" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Impossible! She should have died in thest great war!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "My intuition can''t help but feel that she is still alive out there somewhere." </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> While listening to Serphiano and Nephira''s conversation, Takashi swallowed hard. She is the most intelligent person in the Demon Lord''s army. She is aware of Master Leelou''s survival. Takashi realized once again that Serphiano was no ordinary woman. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "The empire has fallen. But the remnants of the Imperial Army are still scattered all over the world. The world is almost in the Demon Lord''s hands, but we cannot be toocent." </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Serphiano drank her tea. When the conversation came to a close, they took a short break, and Kiru spoke to Takashi in a loud voice. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Come to think of it, Suzuki! What happened to that conversation? The matter of those human ves!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Ah. I''m supposed to have a face-to-face meeting right after this." </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "It''s amazing, isn''t it? You have five ves all of a sudden!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Suddenly, the ce went quiet. Her sister Meru elbowed Kiru. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "H--Hey Elder Sister---! Don''t talk about that right now---!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Ah..." </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Kiru suddenly noticed and gave an embarrassed expression. Although Takashi had be a Bronze-rank soldier, he could normally only hold a maximum of three ves at his rank. However, Takashi wanted to save as many ves as possible. So he asked Nephira to allow him a special limit of five ves. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi nervously looked at Serphiano. After returning the tea to the te, Serphiano firmly stated. </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "The rules are only meaningful if they are strictly enforced. That''s how disorder begins in a corps unit!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Y--Yes, that''s right! My bad, Suzuki! As expected, you can only have three ves!" </em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Hearing Nephira''s words, Takashi was disappointed. However, suddenly Serphiano blew out the tea she was drinking from her nose and mouth with a <em ss="chakra-text css-0">"buh-buh". </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Da--Dame Serphiano?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Everyone looked at Serphiano, tea dripping from her face. Serphiano then wiped her face with a napkin and smiled beautifully. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Even so, it is fine if it is Suzuki! He is so cute!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (I--I''m d. It was a bit risky, though) </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Depending on one''s perspective, the presence of Serphiano, the Chief Advisor of the Demon Lord''s Army, might be a chance for Takashi to make his various requests known. Takashi hesitantly asked Serphiano for help. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Eh-uhm. I''d also like to have asrge a territory as possible... Can I?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Suzuki! That''s a bit presumptuous of you!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Nephira rebuked him. But after that, both Nephira and Takashi silently looked for Serphiano''s reaction. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "What Nephira said is right! The territory should be within the limits set by the rules of the corps." </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Suddenly, Serphiano began to tremble and mutter iprehensible words. And then, her eyes peeled back. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Dame Serphiano!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> But as soon as Nephira shouted, Serphiano changed her mind and smiled gracefully. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Arge territory is fine. Because Suzuki is so cute!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (All right! This might be a good idea!) </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> If Serphiano, the Chief Advisor, approves it, surely no one willin. Takashi took the initiative and attacked. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Ma--Maybe you could do something like,pletely freeing all the ves...!?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> This caused not only Nephira but also the Meru-Kiru sisters to turn pale. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "I--Idiot! Suzuki!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Th--That''s absurd, no matter how you look at it---!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Uh-huh. It''s outrageous!" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> But for the time being, everyone stared at Serphiano and waited for her reaction. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Yes. That''s right. If the adorable Suzuki says so, then let''s take the plunge and free all the vvvvvv, <em ss="chakra-text css-0">ofwashaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!" </em></em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Suddenly, Serphiano was bleeding like a fountain from her nose, ears, and mouth. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Uwhaaaa!?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Takashi shouted in horror at the sudden slush of blood. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> "Dame Serphianoooo!?" </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> Nephira also shouted. Serphiano nted her face on the table, twitching and spasming. </em></em></em>
<em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> (Serphiano''s "inner rationale for maintaining discipline and her desire to give me special treatment" are at odds with each other! So--Something seems to be wrong! I think I should stop!)</em></em></em><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"><em ss="chakra-text css-0"> </em></em></em>