Chapter 2: Demonstration of Fear

''AHHH!" Screamed Louise as she shot up from her bed. Sweat was forming on her forehead and she's gasping for air.

She then looked around her room. Nothing seems out of place. There's nothing out of the ordinary, there's even no signs of Kurumi around.

She sighs in relief as she stops panting. "Just a nightmare huh?" She mutters to herself as she now looks at the window. Rays of sunlight shine on the floor and somewhat illuminate the room.

"Yep, just a nightmare." She reassures herself.

"I'm back, Louise-sama." Announce a new person, but not from the door, but somewhere inside the room.

Louise was caught off guard with the newcomer's voice, and she grips her blanket tighter.

"Wh-Who's there!?" She said as she scrambled for her wand. "I-I know how to use magic!" She declared as she pointed her wand from one place to another. Frantically looking for the person who just announced themselves in the room.

"Louise-sama, that hurts for forgetting your Familiar." The person stated.

Hearing "your Familiar" from the person, it confirms that it wasn't a nightmare. Everything she saw before she woke up was real.

"F-Familiar?" She repeats as her body shakes in fear, still remembering the foreign concept of 'Spacequakes'. An event that almost killed them and their remains last night.

"You really mustn't be so forgetful Louise-sama, or you'll regret it someday." The person said as if they were disappointed.

Then Louise spotted a reddish-black type of substance formed beside her bed. It made an eerie sound and she then pointed her wand at it. Anticipating for what was to come, she was determined to defend herself, even if the spell's outcome is usually a failure.

But she didn't need to cast a spell as Kurumi got up from the shadowy substance, hands firmly on her back.

"Good morning, Louise-sama." She greeted and bowed as she was fully out of the shadow.

"A-Ah, Kurumi, good morning to you too…" she greeted, rather awkwardly since she doesn't even know to trust her newly summoned familiar or not.

"What's with that rather distrustful tone, Louise-sama?" Kurumi asks, rather innocently.

"Y-You dare call me distrustful!?" Louise did not like the comment of her Familiar and got her irritated.

"Yes I do, and it hurts your dear servant's feelings." She said and looked like she was a bit sad.

"But you were a maniac last night for summoning that spacequake or what it is called." Louise utters.

"Hmm? Can't you be more trustful of me? It would only tarnish my name if I do something irrational now." Kurumi reasoned, "Plus, I am your servant, so I have to follow every order you give me, should I not?" she added.

"You do have a fair point." Louise acknowledges, "But do you swear that you'll never abandon that loyalty you have to me, protect me from any danger, and not turn on me?" She asks her.

"Yes, you have my word Louise-sama." Kurumi bows as if she was a maid to Louise.

"Well that settles it." Louise sighs, "But, it's not easy to adjust myself, knowing that I have a possible serial killer as my Familiar." she added.

"Your words wound me, Louise-sama." Kurumi said, playfully acting as if she was hit in her heart.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Oh, by the way Louise-sama."

"Hm? What is it?"

"I already did your laundry." Kurumi said, smiling.

"Wait, really?" Louise asks, not expecting her familiar to be so diligent.

"Of course, it is only right to do so as a servant." She bowed.

"You're not the only one who did the laundry." A new person said. They sounded awfully like Kurumi.

"Who said that!?" Louise freaks out, then she looks at Kurumi, "You said that right!?"

"No, no I did not." Kurumi replied.

"Then who-" Louise gets cut off as another shadowy portal opens.

"It was me." The person said as she came out of the shadows. And to Louise's shock, there were two Kurumis in front of her.

"Oh right, well, it was a good job for both of us, me." Kurumi said.

"It indeed was, me." The other said in agreement.

All the while this is happening, Louise is still trying to comprehend what is happening in front of her.

'T-Two of them…?' She thought to herself, 'A-Am I hallucinating?'

"Louise-sama, it's time to wake up!" Someone said from behind the closed door, to which said closed door opens and reveals it was Siesta, "Your morning classes are about to-" not finishing her statement as she saw two Kurumis and a panicked Louise.

"I-I uh…" Siesta then awkwardly closed the door and booked it out of there. She did fear Kurumi at first because of last night's incident.

"Odd." Both Kurumis commented.

"W-Why are there two of you?" Louise nervously asked, fearing that she might somehow get killed by asking that.

Both Kurumis just looked at each other and gave out a small chuckle. "No need to be nervous, Louise-sama." Said one of them, "Although, it is pretty cute when we see you so nervous." commented the other.

Both Kurumis then coughed and began explaining.

"We spirits have different powers and angels."

"Angels are the spirit's personal weapons."

"W-When you say weapons, are those muskets included?" Louise asks them.

"Oh dear, no, these are just weapons manifested through magic." One of the Kurumis said.

"So you can use magic?" Louise asks, somewhat calm now.

"Why yes we could."

"So you must be a noble?" Louise asks again.

"No, we are not nobles."

"But how can you-"

"In our previous world, any spirit can use magic, it doesn't matter if you are a noble or not."

"And of course, the concept of nobility is long gone in our home world."

"A world without nobles with people that can use magic?" Louise utters, "Does that really exist?" She asks and both Kurumis nod.

"Before we were summoned here, we were after someone who holds the power to seal a spirit's power."

"And because of that, he managed to seal ten spirits with that power of his."

"Too bad we didn't get to see if we succeeded or not."

"Such shame indeed."

Both Kurumis sighed.

"But why are you after him?" Louise asks.

"Because we want the powers within him." One Kurumi replied.

"Powers within him?"

"Yes, because those ten powers of other spirits stored within him will be useful for us for our upcoming fight." said the other Kurumi.

"What fight?"

"Our fight against the Spirit of Origin."

"Spirit of Origin?"

"The mother of all spirits." One kurumi answered with disdain and hatred against the being.

Louise looks a bit confused with this backstory and both Kurumis had already given a lot of information.

"Looks like we have diverged far enough."

"Yes, me, let's return back to our angel."

"Oh right, your angel, can I see it then?" Louise asks, to which one of the Kurumis obliged and brought forth her guns

She raises her flintlock and then she summons her angel.

"Zafkiel!" she said as behind her appeared, out of a somewhat portal, a clock, big as the portal's entrance.

Louise was taken aback to see such a thing. It's as tall as her room's wall and twice the size of her cabinet.

"Eighth Bullet; Het!" Then the roman numeral eight on the clock glows red, then the light went into the barrel of the flintlock.

Louise was still anticipating what was about to happen, but then the Kurumi with her angel out aimed at the other Kurumi with her flintlock.

"What are you doing!?" Louise yelled as she saw what was happening.

The clone just smiled and closed her eyes.

"No, don't-" Louise got cut off as Kurumi fired her shot.

Louise just closed her eyes, not bearing to see someone die before her. But when she opened her eyes, there were now three of them.

"Wh-What!?" Louise was shocked to see not one, not two, but three Kurumis before her.

"That's one of the powers of our angel." She replied.

"Y-You mean…" Louise stutters.

"Yes, I could make a clone of myself." she responded.

"But I do wonder." said one of the clones, "I don't feel like I have a shorter time period…" she said as she fell into her thoughts.

"What do you mean by that, Kurumi?" Louise asks, but her shock had passed and now concern was washing over her being.

"Even though I too am a clone, I don't feel like I'll die soon." Said the Kurumi who was originally summoned, "And I don't feel weaker than the original." She added.

"Why, is there some sort of handicap to this?" Louise asks, listening attentively.

"Well, usually us clones in nature are weaker than the original and we can't use some of Zafkiel's time-based magic, but here, I managed to use them and I could fight like the original…" the first Kurumi replied. "And our life spans depended on how much time was consumed by the original to make us." She added.

"W-Wait, so that means our world has mended that handicap?" Louise asks, to which the third replied, "Possibly, Louise-sama. That means from here on out, every clone is like the clone you had summoned." She explained.

"Meaning, our power here is that of the original." The second one replied.

Now all of the clones looked at each other and had an idea.

"If in this world we are free with that rule, then we should have nothing to worry about." One of them said,

"That is true, but to keep things short, it might be best if the three of us would be the head of this new Me council." Said the other one.

"Agreed, but we have to serve Louise-sama and align our interests with hers." Said the first one to which the other two clones were kind of conflicted.

"Why should we?" One whispers.

"I don't see any point in doing so." The other said in agreement.

The clone that was summoned then reasons, "We are currently in a new world far from Shido-san and we don't even know if there's a way out of here." She said, "So it might be best if we act friendly as of now and don't appear as hostile as we are back there." She added.

The two other clones still seem unconvinced with what she said. "Look, if we get on their good side, they are bound to treat us kindly, and maybe repay us someday."

"But why would you want them to- Ah, I get it now." Said the second clone.

"You mean if they discover some type of magic that could get us back, they might repay us by lending us a helping hand to go back to our world?" The third one said, to which the first nods, confirming her plans.

"Plus, making enemies too soon would make things for us a lot harder if we want to go back." Reasons the first.

The two clones thought about it for a second, then agreed to her plans. At first they'd seem to follow Louise with her adventure, but in the end, it would be their key to go back.

Then all of them faced Louise to which Louise was confused. But then they bowed before her before she could even ask.

"Please take care of us, Louise-sama." They said earnestly. For the first time, these Kurumis somehow do not have the intent to kill.

Louise, confused with their sudden declaration just shrugs and becomes her normal self again.

"Alright, whatever." She just said as she got up from bed and went to her cabinet. "Dress me." She said, to which all of the Kurumis did so and dressed her up in her academy's uniform.

If the original Kurumi witnessed this sight, she would have killed three of the clones and Louise herself.

And so with Louise dressed, they now set off to her classes.

"Oh, by the way." Louise said before opening the door.

"What is it Louise-sama?" All three Kurumis asked in synchronization.

"I only need one to join me so as to not freak out the entire academy that I have three of you spirits that could possibly kill us." she said to which the spirits obliged.

"Then we shall leave the first one with you Louise-sama." Said both the second and third ones as they went back to the first one's shadows.

Louise looked at the first one for an explanation as to why those two went in her shadow.

"You see, I am able to make some storage within my shadows." She replied.

"I see, very well then, come along." Louise said as she opened the door and went on their way to her first classes.

---

Along the way to her classes, all of the students feared not her, but the familiar she's with. They and their familiars would try their best to avoid both Louise and Kurumi. Some familiars would even growl at the spirit as they see her as a threat.

But to those who are clueless, Kurumi is walking as if she was Louise's personal maid. To be fair, Familiars are servants, but Kurumi takes things to another whole step to make sure she looks trustworthy enough to other people.

"I-It's Zero- I mean Louise…!" One of the students whispers.

One of the students stumbles as she gets out of their way, in the process, some of her papers flew around.

Some of the students were, for the lack of a better term, salty against Louise, since they were almost killed last night.

All the while, Louise felt she had finally power for once, and Kurumi didn't bother with those around her. She was focused on a conversation with one of her clones.

'I think it would be best if we surveyed the surrounding area.' Thought one of the clones in the dimensional pocket.

'Yes it would, why don't you two start making more of us and send them to survey the surrounding area.' Thought the Kurumi outside with Louise.

Then in the pocket, unknown to Louise, The Kurumis decided to clone themselves, only using a bit of their power, time, thinking it would work as if the clones' lives didn't depend on the time used on the power that brought them into being.

'I think we still have that handicap…'

'What do you mean by that, me?'

'Well I tried to clone myself, but as soon as the clone came into being, they returned back into the shadows…'

'I see, are you also encountering this problem, me?'

'...' the third one just went silent.

'Are both of you giving a little amount of time to them?' She asks, to which both say, 'Yes.'

'I see, so we still do need to use our time for them. And to get more time, we need other people's time.' She sighs, 'Well at least we know our limits.'

"Uh, Kurumi?" Louise couldn't help but notice that her Familiar seems to be irritated by something. "Is there anything in your mind?" She added.

"Ah, nothing, nothing." Kurumi reassures her. 'If she finds out now, we may be in trouble.' Said one of her clones. 'I know.' She simply answers.

Louise then looks at her for a bit then shrugs it off. "If you say so." She said as she continued walking on.

Kurumi just followed her through the corridor. The corridor filled nothing but the eerie sound of silence and shoes clacking through the hall.

---

"You must understand the threat we have in our hands, Osmond-sama." Said Longueville to the old man. 'If she's here, she may sabotage my plans.'

Osmond just hummed to himself as his familiar looked at Longueville from beneath her, to which she notices and tries to step on the mice. The mouse then runs behind its servant, cowering for dear life.

Longueville just glared at the old man, to which he decided to look away from the woman in front of him.

Instead of not provoking her, it did provoke her to hit the old man.

A scream of mercy was heard by the rooms near the head master's office, to which both student and teacher stopped paying attention to their classes, wondering what happened.

"Y-You didn't have to use brute force, Longueville-san." Osmond said as he was holding the place on his head where she had hit him.

She just sighs in response, "We really need to do something about Louise's Familiar."

"Why do you think so, Longueville-san?"

"Didn't you see what she had done last night?" She stated, "She has some sort of magic that is not from this world. Who knows what she could do." She added.

It was no surprise that they were confused and concerned that they saw a type of magic that they or in the history of their world had not seen before. It made them wonder if there is some other magic out there that they don't know of, other than void magic.

"I suggest we try to keep on observing them for now." Osmond said, to Longueville's shock and dismay.

"Y-You want us to just keep on observing and not take action after the events of last night?" She asks the woman, her entire form trembling from the thought of not doing anything against a monster.

Osmond just nods, keeping his calm, but Longueville snaps, "Are you insane!?" She asks the old man, slamming her hands on his desks.

Osmond was taken aback by the sudden action. "I-If we act rashly, it may tarnish our reputation."

"But if we don't act now, the students might be placed in danger!" She reasons, but of course some good intentions are more of a facade for sinister ones.

"B-But we need to confirm if she really is a threat to the school!" Osmond counters, "B-Besides, nothing had happened so far this morning." he stutters out.

Longueville just sighs again in disappointment, dismayed that a Familiar that has magic never seen before will stay and that the old man would absolutely do nothing until said Familiar would make a move again.

While Longueville was not paying attention, the mouse took its opportunity to take a look at more specific parts of her. Once Longueville got to her senses again, she saw the damn mice again and nearly stomped on it.

Once again she gave Osmond the death glare while the mouse hid behind him. And once again another plea for mercy was heard, and both teacher and student stopped for a moment to think who kept interrupting them.

---

Meanwhile, one teacher was in the most secluded parts of the library. Stacks and stacks of books and papers were on his table, clearly researching for some time now.

"Colbert-san…" Said the librarian, Colbert just continued on reading.

"Has Colbert-sensei been here since last night?" Whispers one student.

"He looks so restless…"

"He does…"

Colbert didn't mind those around him, and kept on reading through the pages and the scriptures in front of him.

'What type of magic is that…?' Kept on going through his mind last night, 'What is she entirely…?'

Scrolling through pages, paragraph after paragraph, sentence after sentence, word after word. He's been trying to look for answers after what had happened last night.

'Spacequakes…' He heard Kurumi's voice in his head, 'Have the power to destroy and erase entire cities…' he heard, remembering how psychotic Kurumi looked last night after she made everyone witness a spacequake.

Her face last night would forever haunt his mind. Just thinking of it brings chills down his spine.

'Its as if I met the devil herself…' He thought, closing the book he has on hand.

He sighs, "Nothing." he utters, "Found nothing useful, except for this…" he mutters to himself as he opens another book, flipping through the pages then stopping on a specific page.

"There's no doubt about it…" He utters.

The page which he stopped on shows the text explaining about Gandalfr. "She has that rune…"

The rune of the previous familiar of the one who made their world.

Such a thought would be terrifying. The same rune on a familiar that may have blood lust.

'No, stop overthinking.' He shakes his head, 'I have to wait until everything is confirmed.'

With practically nothing else to do, he decided to take a leave from the library. He would have to observe closely to see what goes through Kurumi's mind. Her background and magical prowess.

'She might be a dangerous threat or a possible ally.'

---

"Looks like Louise gained another reputation huh." Zerbst said to the ever reading Tabitha next to her.

Tabitha just nods in response, not bothering to look away from the book she's reading.

"Hmm." Zerbst hummed as she looked at everyone in the room, most of the students whispering to one another.

"Y-You know, Louise just summoned…"

"Her familiar is terrifying!"

"S-She's too scary to look at…"

These were the thoughts of their classmates on Louise, well mostly on her familiar. The fuss from last night had made them terrified at the thought that their almost murderer is staying at the same school they're in.

"I would personally leave this school just to get away from that freak!" Commented another classmate.

"From Zero, to being the master of a terrifying Familiar." Zerbst sighs. She had been with this batch since the beginning, and it would be a common sight that Louise would be made fun of because of her countless failed spells. But after what had happened, everyone technically feared her alongside her Familiar.

Tabitha just once again nods to Zerbst's comment, not wanting to divert her eyes from the page she's reading.

The door opens to which everyone's attention gets caught. Thinking it was the teacher, they forgot that there was still one person missing in the classroom. And to their horror, it was Louise and beside her is her Familiar.

Everyone stopped whispering at each other once and went back to their seats. It was as if the disciplinarian had arrived.

"Hm?" Louise said as she observed her surroundings. No student whispering something bad about her, no mocking her as soon as she arrives and silence. Just pure silence.

She then looks at Kurumi who was still wearing her astral dress.

"Is there anything wrong, Louise-sama?" Kurumi asks.

"Yes, and it's your attire, can't you change into something else other than that? It looks kinda indecent." Louise said as she started heading to her chair.

"Of course, Louise-sama." She said as her body began glowing and her gothic lolita dress became that of a modern day school girl's uniform.

Her classmates remained silent even when they saw the change. Kurumi just followed Louise and sat beside her.

'S-She's kinda cute in that dress…' Thought some of the boys in the classroom, almost forgetting the fact that they almost died last night.

Everyone waited in silence for the teacher, some praying to be out of the same room with the master and her Familiar.

"Why are y'all so silent today?" Louise asks them, "Usually you'd bad mouth me about some failed spells I casted." She added.

They still refused to speak against her. Because it may cause them their lives if they say so because of her new Familiar.

'This… This is a good pace of change for once.' She thought as she internally enjoys the silence she's having. 'No mocking, no teasing and nothing but silence.' she blissfully thought.

But among those who fear her, of course, there are those who still hold the same opinion of her, but not voicing them out right now.

'Just because you have a powerful Familiar doesn't mean you're powerful.' Some of the students thought out of spite.

The silence went on until the teacher finally arrived for their first class.

"Good morning students." The teacher greeted, to which the students greeted her in response.

"Alright, for today we shall be going on with our previous lesson…"

---

After a long set of lessons, it was finally their lunch time. The lunch hall was busy as it was packed with students. Chattering filled the hall as students talked about their day. That was for the students who were not near Louise and her Familiar.

Near her, like in the classroom earlier, was filled with nothing but silence and silent whispers among those seated next to each other. The only one brave enough to even have a normal conversation with the Vallière was the red head, Kirche.

"So, who's your Familiar Louise? I believe you haven't introduced her yet." Kirche said as she looked at Kurumi with great interest.

"Why should I?" Louise asks after she gulps down her food.

"Oh come on, I want to be well acquainted with her." Zerbst said, as Kurumi just smiled at her, giggling.

"I believe my Familiar already introduced herself after the commotion last night." Louise responded, not wanting to be disturbed from her peace so far.

"Oh, but I can't remember her name." Kirche whines.

As the conversation continues, Kurumi is having a conversation with her clones.

'That's all I have to report.' Said one of the clones.

'I see, well it looks like it really is like a fantasy world.' Kurumi sighs, 'Is there anything else you have to report, me?'

'Nothing of note,' Said the other, 'although the clone I dispatched encountered a minor inconvenience.'

'Hm? What inconvenience?' She asks the clone.

'Well, the clone I sent out encountered a group of vagrants as she explored the area.' The clone explains, 'So as a response, she murdered them all.'

'Did you clear up the area, me?' She asks.

'Yes we have,' Replied the clone, 'We removed any trace of them, and as compensation, we took them into the shadow for you to consume their time.'

'Thank you for the reports, me, just stay put for now.' She said to which they replied, 'Of course, me.'

"Hey." someone said to her. She forgot that she's also in the middle of another conversation.

"Huh?"

"Let's go, I'm done with lunch." Louise said to her, to which Zerbst playfully clings to Louise.

"Aw, you hadn't introduced her yet!" Zerbst said as she still wanted to know Kurumi more.

"You have your own familiar, Zerbst." Louise said as she walked off.

"I'm sorry but I have to follow Louise-sama." Kurumi said as she stood up and followed Louise out of the hall.

Zerbst just pouts in response, while tabitha still was expressionless.

---

"Really, what does that Germanian want from me?" Louise sighs as she goes out into the courtyard.

"I think she just wants to be friends with you, Louise-sama." Kurumi said, not knowing any of Louise's past.

Louise just snorts in response. "Not in a million years."

Along the way they saw Siesta, cleaning laundry as usual, but when Siesta noticed them, a chill went down her spine.

"Ah, Siesta, you're here." Louise greets her.

"L-Louise-sama!" Siesta greets back, stuttering.

"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Louise asks, noticing Siesta shaking.

"I-It's because of your Familiar-" Siesta gasps as she utters those words out, "Sorry! I've said something I shouldn't!" she apologizes then quickly bows before them.

"Hm? What about me, Siesta-san?" Kurumi asks.

If it were Louise the one who's asking, Siesta may have gotten straight to the point, but Kurumi herself asked, which made Siesta sweat bullets.

"I-Its nothing!" Siesta quickly replies, not wanting to answer her question.

"Really? But why are you scared of me?"

"..."

"I won't do anything that would harm you if you answer me truthfully." She said with a smile.

Siesta contemplates for a second to see if it would be best for her to answer, or would her life end right then and there.

She then glances at Kurumi who was still smiling innocently. She sighs and gives in.

"Y-You see, after what had happened last night, I couldn't help but be scared of you." Siesta gives her opinion.

"Oh, I see. Well I'm sorry about that. Louise-sama and Colbert-san just wanted a demonstration." Kurumi said, then bowing, "I'm sorry if I brought you discomfort." She said,

"I-It's fine! If Louise-sama wishes to, I have no objections to…" Siesta replies in a low tone.

Her attention was caught again when Kurumi gave out her hand to her.

"Let's work together from here on out, okay?" She said,

"O-Of course! Uh-"

"Kurumi."

"Ah, of course, Kurumi-san!" Siesta said, shaking Kurumi's hand.

"I see you two are already chummy enough, but I hate to break this conversation this way." Louise said as she walked off, "But I have somewhere else to go." she said.

Before they could even respond, they saw a girl outside, conflicted with something.

Kurumi decided to approach her and talk to her. Once she got near the girl, the girl noticed her and froze in place. She's one of the people that feared Kurumi.

"I-I did nothing wrong!" She pleaded, "D-Don't hurt me please!"

"Oh, I'm sorry." Kurumi replied, "I'm not here to hurt you, I just wanted to know why you look so conflicted."

To both sides of the spectrum, they were confused at Kurumi's actions. Even Kurumi was somewhat questioning her decision to even approach this girl.

"Ah! I-I see…" The girl responded.

"Now, would you like to tell me what's in your mind?" Kurumi asks.

"W-Well, it's kind of embarrassing." The girl says, then she explains her relationship with Guiche, and whatnot. She likes some things about him and her doubts about him and such.

Kurumi listened to every bit of detail she had said. 'Your cliche romantic love story I see?' She thought.

"And, that's all…" The girl said, sighing.

"Well, if you want to clear out your doubts, we should take a look then." Kurumi suggests to the girl, who had introduced herself as Katie.

"I- Are you sure it's going to be fine?" Katie asks, hesitant on whether or not she should spy on her "Boyfriend".

"If it would clear out your doubts, why should we not?" Kurumi replies.

Katie was hesitant at first, but in the end, "Alright, it would clear my doubts, right? Then I'll go." Katie said.

"Hold on, let me accompany you." Kurumi said to which Katie halted on her tracks, "Eh?"

"Louise-sama, may I accompany her?" Kurumi asks Louise.

"Uh, sure?" Louise said, to which Kurumi smiles.

"Thank you Louise-sama, let's go then, Katie-san." She said as she walked to Katie.

"A-Ah, sure…" Katie replied and they both made their way to Guiche.

It was more of an awkward walk rather than an eventful one.

---

On the other side of things, Guiche was simply waiting by the door. Waiting for Katie to show up.

"Why must I wait for this long?" He utters to himself, getting impatient. "She said she's here around this time." He sighs.

He was here ever since morning classes ended, not bothering to show up for lunch.

Unluckily for him, he saw Montmorency coming his way. Either she would cure his boredom or may be the death of him.

"Ah- H-Hey Monmon!" Guiche awkwardly greets her from afar.

"Ah there you are!" Montmorency said as she hastily made her way to him, "Where were you? What're you doing out here?" she asks him, looking around the area to see what he was up to.

"A-Ah, it's nothing Monmon." Replied Guiche, sweating bullets.

"Then what are you doing out here?" She presses her interrogation on, "Have you eaten lunch yet?" She asks.

"Why do you sound like my mother?" Guiche replied,

"I'm just worried, afterall, I'm your girlfriend." She replied.

As their discussion went on and on, two people were observing them. Both Katie and Kurumi were hiding behind a wall's corner, hearing everything they had said. Katie's awkwardness with Kurumi was thrown out the window and replaced with anger.

"Are you alright, Katie-san?" Kurumi asks, but Katie doesn't respond. Her face was hidden and she's gripping the corner of the wall ever so tighter.

"Kurumi-san…" Katie utters, "What should I do…?" she asks, on the verge of tears and murder.

Kurumi, showing no concern at all, innocently said, "How about you go and confront them, Katie-san?"

Katie, after hearing what Guiche had said, lost all reason and confronted both him and Montmorency. Kurumi remained where she was and observed the incoming confrontation between two girls that had fallen for the same man.

"Huh, I knew it." Out of nowhere, Louise said, to which Kurumi glanced behind her. She saw Siesta with her.

"Ah, Louise-sama." Kurumi bows before her, to which Louise said to raise her head.

"You know, you don't have to bow before everytime you see me." Louise said.

"It is only out of courtesy, Louise-sama."

"Well, do as I say and don't bow down to me every time you greet me, okay?"

"As you wish, Louise-sama."

"Uhm, what's going on here…?" Siesta asks as she takes a peek. What she saw is two girls having a heated discussion while a blond man is trying to quell the argument.

"Ah, a love triangle." Kurumi said as she glanced back at the main topic.

"That player." Louise just sighs, along with Siesta who awkwardly laughs, "Ehehe…"

Once the argument had died down, both girls glanced at Guiche and both had slapped him.

"H-Hey, Monmon…!" Guiche pleaded to Montmorency, who began to walk away towards Louise's direction.

"Hmph!" She storms off.

Guiche then turned his eyes to Katie and pleaded, but was met with, "Thanks for everything Guiche, but thanks to a friend, I saw that you have no honor to yourself at all." and then went back to Kurumi.

"W-Who…!?" Guiche's eyes snap at the mention of a "Friend" being involved.

Katie just ignores him and proceeds walking.

"Tell me who!" He demanded, "I swear by my honor, I'll challenge them to a duel!"

"Ara ara." Kurumi utters. "Brave are we?"

"Y-You…!" Guiche utters, cannot even tell if he should feel angry because she's nosing in his business, or be terrified because of her capabilities and that he's royally screwed.

"I just saw Katie-san conflicted with something until I led her here." Kurumi explains, "But you gave her enough reasons to doubt you, two-timer."

"I-I uh…" Guiche stutters as he did not expect that out of all people, Kurumi had been the reason for his predicament. 'Why does it have to be her!?' He mentally berates himself, 'Why did I have to openly declare a duel!?'

"So, mister two-timer, I humbly accept your duel." Kurumi said as she got closer to him.

"Huh?" Were the answers of the confused spectators.

"I accept your duel, set the date, time and place of our little duel." She said as opens her eyes with the clock in it.

"A-Ah yes you duel!" Guiche said, to keep on his tough act, but in reality, he's about to soak his pants. "L-Let's have our duel today, after classes at Vestri Field!" He declared, much to Kurumi's delight and to Louise's horror.

To everyone in earshot of the conversation, challenging a familiar into a duel is something unexpected. But said Familiar was the being with unknown prowess. After what had happened last night, Kurumi practically became a horror story material around the academy.

So to hear someone like Guiche challenge the very source of nightmares is close to the edge of insanity. And everyone got out of the area as soon as they heard her response.

"Alright then, mister two-timer, let's have our little date~" She playfully said as she slipped her fingers from his lip down his chin.

Guiche just had a close up look at Nightmare. 'That's the face of death…' he thought to himself, preparing himself for what was about to come.

Most of the students felt sorry for him as he was about to duel a monster later, all were horrified, but no one was more horrified of the damage that may be done later but Louise herself.

As soon as Kurumi returned to Louise, she was about to receive some scolding from her summoner.

"Ple-Please reconsider your decision, Kurumi-san!" Siesta pleaded.

"What were you thinking!?" Louise yells at her, the only thing that was left to happen is for Louise to go pale from agreeing to that duel, "It's against the rules to even have a duel!"

"Hm, but from my sources, it's only not right for two nobles to have a duel within school grounds. Not Familiar with Noble." Kurumi reasons.

"That's beside the point, you might kill him or he might kill you!" Louise reprimands her, trying to call off this duel.

"You care about me that much, Louise-sama?" Kurumi childishly said, puppy eyes and all.

Louise blushed at the thought, but immediately shook her head. "I'm afraid that I might get reprimanded for this because I'm your master!"

"Ah right, that rule that the servant is the responsibility of their master." Kurumi nods, remembering that it's just a moral rule at this point.

"So why are you continuing this duel!?" Louise yelled at her.

"Hm? I already accepted though, it would be bad for my master's reputation if I backed down from a challenge right?" Kurumi uses reverse psychology against her.

"I-I-"

"Hm? Can't refute can't we?" Kurumi said, "Plus, it would be a great time for me to see if I am still capable of fighting."

Louise couldn't find the right words to tell her that this is a terrible idea, but backing down would show weakness to both master and servant. By this point, Louise was talking to two spirits on her shoulders. One telling her to let Kurumi have her way, while the other telling her to not allow this. But in the end, she decided to go on with a compromise.

"Fine, you could have your way," she said, "but, go easy on him. I don't want to deal with a rumor or his death."

With a go signal from her master, Kurumi smiles much to her delight. "Don't worry Louise-sama. I'll go easy on him." She said as she went back into her shadow.

Both Louise and Siesta just looked at each other, gulping as they feared what would happen in her duel with Guiche.

Other than that, they hadn't seen Kurumi for the rest of the day, which was worrisome for them. But nonetheless, their afternoon classes continued and the time of the duel draws ever nearer.

---

"Have you heard that there's going to be a duel…"

"He challenged a Familiar…!"

"He's an idiot…"

These were the rumors that were circulating around the school after some students had heard about the duel. It was bound to be a rumor, but what takes the cake is that a nobleman challenged a Familiar, out of all things, to a duel.

Some were interested in the upcoming duel, while the others just thought he was downright stupid. Not only that but rumors of Guiche's two timing also had spread around the school.

"He brought this upon himself…"

"Definitely…"

Some said as they believed he really deserved what was going to happen to him. While the rumors continued to spread, their classes were nearly done and Guiche was down the drain.

'This could be the death of me…' This was the single thought that was running through Guiche's mind.

'You are an idiot…' Kirche sighs, feeling sorry for him.

"Don't forget to do your research for tomorrow's lesson, and class is now dismissed." Said the teacher.

Everyone stood up and started packing their things. Louise went to Guiche to tell him something.

Guiche just glances up to Louise as she stands there.

"My Familiar will go easy on you." Louise said, "I assure you that." she said, trying to keep his morale up. "Try not to die." She said as she went out of the room.

"Good luck out there, Guiche." Kirche said with Tabitha nodding, and exited the room.

Guiche was the last one to leave the room, gulping down his fear, he decided to act now, rather than running away.

'She'll go easy right…?' He thought, trusting Louise's words to him. 'Yeah, she'll go easy…'

Gathering all the courage he has, he went out and made his way to the field.

---

There on the grassfields stand a blonde boy, and some people watching from afar to see what was gonna happen.

In the midst of the bystanders, there were notable people, such as Louise, Montmorency, Kirche, Tabitha, Katie and Siesta.

Guiche was a little sweaty, still nervous with his duel with Louise's Familiar. After all, he had not seen any of her other capabilities. All he knows is from the recent event that she can make a spacequake that could kill everyone within the academy's premises.

Guiche had his rose out, waiting for Kurumi to appear. And appear she did, as shadows formed in front of him, and rose from the shadows is Kurumi in her astral dress.

"Ara, ara. Looks like someone really has the nerve to challenge a spirit to a duel." Kurumi said as she rose from the shadows. "This certainly brings back some memories."

Keeping up his straight face, he replies, "Well of course, I'm here to rectify my honor."

"Ah, such a nobleman you are, restoring your own honor by a duel." Kurumi mocks him, "So, shall we use magic in this duel?"

"Of course we will." Guiche replied, readying his rose.

"Alright then, can I use any weapon I wish to be fair?" Kurumi asks, to which Guiche nodded. "Thank you." She replied as now her musket and flintlock had manifested in her hands, gripping them tight.

"Since we'll be using magic, I'm not the one you're fighting." Guiche said, he swung his flower and a petal fell off. Once it hits the ground, a metallic angel forms from the petal. "This valkyrie shall be your opponent."

"Hmmm, alright then, I accept." Kurumi said in response.

Both were on a silent stand off for a while, waiting for the other to make a move. The people watching anticipated the first clash as they kept observing.

Sensing that Kurumi would not make the first move, Guiche decided to act. "Proceed my valkyrie." He said.

And with that the valkyrie charged at Kurumi at high speeds. Kurumi seems to be delighted by it and she's not even going to dodge it. She's just there, standing in place.

'What is she up to…' Guiche asks himself as he was confused at what he was witnessing.

And by the time the valkyrie had found its target, in a flash, the valkyrie passed Kurumi, and her left arm was severed from its elbow. Dropping the rifle in the process.

Witnessing this, the bystanders cheered on for Guiche, except for Louise who watched in horror at what happened to her Familiar's arm. "Kurumi!" She yelled as the crowd continued to cheer for Guiche.

Guiche's nervousness was relieved from his shoulders, smirking as if he had achieved something great. And he then began mocking the spirit.

"Ha! You really took the hit?" He then proceeds to laugh, "You were just a show-off last night!" He continues mocking her.

"Hehehe~" Kurumi just giggles in response, making all of them stop cheering and mocking her. "Hahaha~!"

"What are you laughing for?" Guiche asks, irritated by her laughing.

"Now's my turn." She declares, "Zafkiel!" she said as a big clock then formed behind her.

Everyone, except Louise, was confused by the device behind her. Some thought it was some type of joke, or bluff.

"Dalet." She said as the four on the clock started to emit shadows that went into Kurumi's flintlock.

Now everyone was watching with a close eye, some anticipating for something worse, while some were interested in what's going to happen.

Kurumi points the gun at her head, to everyone's surprise and horror. "So you're going to kill yourself?" Guiche asks, and Kurumi does not bother responding and instead pulls the trigger.

BANG

Everyone closed their eyes from the action, not wanting to see someone's blood spill, Louise's mouth went agape from Kurumi's action, as she saw her spirit still standing, wait- what?

"Hehehe~!" Kurumi just laughs as everyone opens their eyes and sees her severed arm move for a bit and returns to where it used to be. They couldn't believe it, she managed to link her arm back with one shot?

Guiche was taken aback when he saw that, "H-How did you do that…!?" He asks, nervousness filling his entire being.

"Never underestimate your opponent." She smirks as she aims her musket at him.

Fearing for his life, Guiche commands his valkyrie once more, "Go and attack!" He said, the valkyrie going for her head this time.

"Zayin." She utters, then points her flintlock at the incoming valkyrie. She fires and the colors of the valkyrie become inverted. Not only that but the valkyrie just stood there, frozen in place.

"Wha-"

"How did she-"

Everyone was shocked at her demonstration of her power once more. Before they could even form entire sentences about what she had done, shadows began forming underneath the valkyrie. Then eerie hands, white as if they're dead, reached for the valkyrie and grabbed it, pulling it with them into the shadow.

When that was done, Kurumi took a glance at Guiche. "Shall we proceed?"

Louise was left speechless and so did everybody else watching. They put out a scenario in their heads if they were in Guiche's boots. There is no absolute way they could outbest her in a fight.

Guiche panics and summons three more valkyries to his aid. "Proceed!" He yells and then the valkyries all out once went for Kurumi.

Kurumi just smirks in response. Behind the valkyries, appeared three more Kurumis. From the shadows they came out, and to the shadows these valkyries shall fall. Every Kurumi then fired their guns at the valkyries all at once, killing the summons and enveloping them into the shadows.

Once that was done all four Kurumis looks at Guiche, making him stumble onto the ground.

One of the Kurumis walked forward towards Guiche.

"I-I yield! I yield!" Guiche pleaded as he tried to back away from Kurumi. But he then noticed that something was holding him in place.

He glanced around and saw the arms from the shadows. He was scared shitless with what was happening.

"So, do you yield?" Kurumi asks him as she points her musket at him.

"I yield!" He yells on top of his lungs to Kurumi's satisfaction.

"Alright then, everyone back in the shadow." Kurumi said as all her clones began jumping into her shadow, and the arms letting Guiche go and going back into the shadows as well.

Once Guiche was free, Kurumi cups his cheek. And she then whispers something to his ear, "I had fun with our little date~" She said, and Guiche fainted in response.

"Guiche!" Everyone yelled as they all ran towards the boy who passed out.

"Don't worry, he just fainted." Kurumi reassures them, "Shall we go Louise-sama?" she asks Louise.

Louise didn't bother using words and just nodded, and then both master and familiar went back to their room, ignoring the panicked crowd around Guiche.

Those who remained in place were shell shocked with the fight. They thought he had the chance in the beginning but it was nothing compared to Kurumi's response in the climax of the duel.

"J-Just what is she…?"

"She's- She's something else…"

"W-What even is that magic…!?"

"H-Her powers are terrifying…!"

These were the words of the stunned students. They couldn't believe that someone powerful became Louise's familiar. Not only that but they also have magic foreign to them.

Kirche's interest in the spirit just grew bigger, Tabitha was not that shocked, and Montmorency somehow shows sympathy for Guiche. And as for Guiche, he had experienced Nightmare not even at full force. This day would leave a scar on his mind, remembering the shame and defeat he was forced into, not only that but the terrifying powers Zero Louise's Familiar holds.

And with that, another day had ended for them, and a threat was looming near the school.