"Isn't that Sparkle?"
After wandering through the Radiant Feldspar, Herta's peripheral vision caught sight of a nondescript figure, a complete nobody, blending into the background.
This "nobody" was surreptitiously hiding a small, red, doll-like object in various corners.
Without a doubt, this seemingly ordinary person was anything but. It was Sparkle in disguise.
"Looks like I'm destined to run into little Sparkle after all. I can't believe I caught her," Lumina remarked, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.
Without hesitation or deliberation, Lumina strode directly toward Sparkle.
"Hey~ Miss Completely Ordinary Background NPC, nice to meet you for the first time!" Lumina glided up silently and gently tapped Sparkle's avatar on the shoulder.
"!"
Sparkle's avatar trembled at the sudden touch, clearly startled by the unexpected gesture.
She hastily tucked the object away and whirled around.
To her dismay, she discovered that the newcomer was the very person she least wanted to encounter in Penacony.
Is this woman always so free? It feels like I see her everywhere!
"Hallo~"
Sparkle, playing an NPC: ...
"Aha ha, miss, is there anything I can assist you with?"
Sparkle knew Lumina had already seen through her disguise, but she still answered with the full NPC aura, as if completely oblivious.
Sparkle was gambling that Lumina wouldn't make things too difficult for her, that she wouldn't reveal her true identity, and that she wouldn't care about her little charade.
"Alright, I do need some help," Lumina said with a slight nod and a gentle smile. "I'm new to the Radiant Feldspar and would like someone to show me around."
The Family hadn't publicly announced that they had granted Lumina and Herta the rights to use the Radiant Feldspar.
So Sparkle definitely wouldn't know.
Since you're clueless, you might as well obediently become my tool and let me play with you~
"A tour...?" Sparkle, still playing the NPC, forced a strained smile of "respect" as she confirmed.
"Yes, seeing you seem fine, I assume there's no problem?" Lumina glanced at the Sparkle doll in the bystander's hand, asking a question she already knew the answer to.
"Ha ha ha, Miss, there is a slight problem."
"After all, I only just boarded the Radiant Feldspar myself and am not very familiar with the ship. I'd just lead you around like a headless fly, which would really spoil your experience."
"How about I find someone who knows the ship well to give you a proper tour?"
Good news: Lumina was playing along with her plan.
Bad news: Lumina was playing along with her plan.
Given Lumina's past behavior, Sparkle chose flight as the best course of action.
"Why bring someone else in?" Seeing her attempt to leave, Lumina grabbed her arm, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"I feel a connection with you. You should be the one to show me around."
"Headless fly or not, I'm all about the companionship and emotional value. That's something no one else can offer."
Lumina spoke with unwavering sincerity, as if she truly valued this so-called "emotional value."
In truth, Lumina wasn't lying. Having a beautiful girl of Sparkle's caliber personally guide her on a tour—and being able to easily manipulate her—wasn't that a kind of emotional value?
Definitely!
This was something no one else could offer her.
Hmm... unless Sparkle brought another beautiful girl who was equally easy to manipulate...
"..."
"Aha ha, fine, fine," Sparkle finally relented after a brief silence. After all, she couldn't escape from this woman's grasp.
"Wait here a moment. I need to put this event-reward doll somewhere."
"It'll be quick, just two or three minutes."
The doll in her hand was an ordinary doll imbued with a trace of Path power—nothing particularly remarkable. Sparkle wasn't worried about Lumina making a fuss.
Inventing a flimsy excuse, she began searching for a hiding spot right in front of Lumina and Herta herself.
"What mischief are you up to now?" Herta asked Lumina, raising an eyebrow. She seemed utterly baffled by Lumina's behavior.
Sparkle clearly has something urgent to handle. Why are you bothering her?
"Even if you want someone to show you around the Radiant Feldspar, I could handle it for you, you know?"
"I'm not very familiar with this place either, but I could get acquainted first and then give you a proper tour."
A hint of resentment crept into Herta's gaze.
Lumina: "?"
"To mess with Sparkle," Lumina replied truthfully, ignoring the strange look in Herta's eyes.
Isn't it obvious what I'm doing?
What else could it be besides messing with Sparkle?
"I mean, why did you ask her to show you around the Radiant Feldspar?"
"Didn't I already explain? Having her give us a tour of the Radiant Feldspar was just a pretense. My real goal was to mess with her, trick her, and play with her," Lumina said, scratching her head, genuinely confused.
She couldn't understand how Madam Herta, Genius Society #83, could suddenly become so dense that she couldn't grasp such a straightforward, literal meaning.
Herta: ...
Sensing Lumina's gaze filled with astonishment, bewilderment, shock, confusion, and doubt, Herta fell silent for a moment before offering an explanation:
"I mean, the Charmony Festival is about to begin, and the honored guests are starting to arrive."
"We shouldn't waste any more time on Sparkle. Let's find our seats quickly and wait for the festival to start."
Lumina: ?
Upon hearing this, the astonishment, shock, bewilderment, and confusion in Lumina's eyes deepened even further.
Wait, is this still Penacony? Is this the Herta I know?
She's actually interested in the Charmony Festival?
Am I still trapped in Ena's Dream...?
"Don't overthink it. It was just a sudden whim," Herta said calmly, flicking her hair and maintaining her composure under Lumina's intense gaze. "A momentary impulse."
"Really?" Lumina remained skeptical, finding Herta's behavior utterly unlike herself.
For a moment, Lumina thought she glimpsed a small, red ear peeking out from Herta's hair.
Okay, never mind. Herta's hair is too thick and dense; Lumina couldn't possibly see anything.
"What else could it be?" Herta scoffed lightly, then turned and followed the festival signs.
Herta, confident that Lumina would follow her, strode away decisively.
Hmm... what if she doesn't follow me?
Simple, just grab her...
"Herta's acting so strange..." Lumina murmured, shaking her head helplessly after watching Herta's retreating figure for a moment.
Turning her gaze to Sparkle, who had been hiding her doll for what seemed like ages, Lumina tossed her a red-and-green ring.
"Here, Sparkle, this will probably be our last meeting on Penacony. Consider this ring a farewell gift."
Sparkle: ?
Upon hearing this, Sparkle, whose identity had been exposed by Lumina, dropped her disguise and caught the ring, giving her a surprised look.
Can this Annoying Saint really be overflowing with saintly compassion even now?
"Goodbye." Ignoring Sparkle's gaze, Lumina smiled and nodded as she watched her catch the ring, then jogged off to catch up with Herta.
Shaking her head and pushing the thought aside, Sparkle began examining the ring in her hand as Lumina left.
"This ring is actually quite pretty."
Sparkle examined the ring in her hand before slipping it onto her finger. It fit perfectly, as if custom-made just for her.
"For the sake of this ring, the great Miss Sparkle will overlook your antics on Penacony~"
"Beautiful and kind Sister Lumina~ You're a Saintess, not a Saint!"
Sparkle grinned at the ring, her fondness growing with each glance. In her mind, she upgraded Lumina from "Annoying Saint" to simply "Saint."
But her smile soon faded, and she retracted her earlier words.
Because she discovered the ring... couldn't be removed.
It felt fused to her finger, as if it had become one with her flesh. No matter what she tried, no method she devised, the ring remained stubbornly fixed in place.
Though the ring appeared harmless, a sinister premonition stirred within Sparkle's heart.
Could this ring somehow teleport that Annoying Saint here directly...?