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Despite their surprise, Liselotte remained indifferent. She merely tilted her head slightly, completely ignoring them. She pointed the halberd in her hand toward them.

“Liselotte…!? Don’t you recognize us?”
“Liselotte! What’s wrong with you!? Please, listen! Liselotte!”

As they called out to her, Inglis noticed something was off. This was different. Liselotte’s aura was unmistakably different. The intense, heavy presence she exuded was far beyond that of a mere knight academy student.

“Wait, no…! This isn’t the usual Liselotte!”
“Huh? What do you mean, Glis…!?”
“This aura, it’s the same as Miss Eris and Miss Ripple…! It’s the aura of a Hyrule Menace, Rani!”

The halberd she wielded was different from her usual magical weapon. It gleamed with a golden hue and had a significantly large ax head. This was the weapon unique to each Hyrule Menace.

“No way!? Liselotte became a Hyrule Menace!? She had incredible potential, but why didn’t she tell us…? And why doesn’t she recognize us? Why is she attacking here…?”
“I don’t know, but…!”

Could transforming into a Hyrule Menace cause memory loss or alterations? Judging by Eris and Ripple, it seemed unlikely. However, it might be possible that such changes occurred beyond their awareness. Since Inglis and Rafinha hadn’t known Eris and Ripple before they became Hyrule Menaces, they couldn’t be sure.

Liselotte’s current behavior was clearly abnormal. Moreover, she was attacking the Central Research Institute. If her memories had been tampered with, the manipulation must have been a major failure.

“If you have no intention of fighting, then stand down. I don’t intend to discipline children unnecessarily.”
“I don’t think that’s an option…!”

Under these circumstances, Inglis couldn’t afford to enjoy fighting Liselotte. They needed to subdue her and find out what had happened.

“In that case, I won’t hold back!” With those words, Liselotte launched herself from the ground.

Though she lacked her usual white wings, her speed and approach were completely different from the Liselotte Inglis knew.

“…She’s fast!”

Thinking she had dodged the thrust aimed at her, a lock of her hair was sliced off and fluttered in the air. It was proof that Liselotte’s attack surpassed their expectations.

Next, a series of rapid thrusts followed, grazing Inglis’ clothes and skin. Considering she could easily handle Eris and Cystia’s attacks even in her current form, this was notable.

Despite her smaller stature, Inglis hadn’t grown weaker. On the contrary, due to relentless daily training, she was stronger now than ever before, even without using Ether.

Yet, Liselotte’s attacks were finding their mark on Inglis.

“Then…!”

Not just evading, but receiving and parrying as well. Inglis, too, summoned her weapon: Dragon Sorcery, Dragon Ice Sword. However, it required a brief moment to activate.

Inglis leaped back while avoiding the attacks.

“There!”

Even in that moment, Liselotte closed the distance. From the halberd she swung in a horizontal sweep, the shockwave from earlier burst forth and caught Inglis.

“…!?”

In an instant, her body was sent flying, almost crashing into the wall of the Central Research Institute.

BOOOM!

The wall burst open violently, leaving a gaping hole in the building.

“Glis!?”
“““WHAA…!?”””
“What incredible power…!”

Liselotte brandished her halberd toward the trembling Highlanders.

“She’s aiming over here!”
“““Everyone, run for it!”””

However, the expected shockwave didn’t come. Instead, a high-pitched metallic sound rang out as Liselotte’s halberd was locked in place.

The blade, clear blue like a dragon’s fang and claw, emitted a fierce growl akin to a living dragon. Inglis briefly activated her Ether Armor to escape the shockwave, then unleashed Dragon Sorcery, slicing into Liselotte once more.

“That’s a no-no. Things will get really bad if you do that…!”
“That’s not a face someone makes when preventing harm, you know?”
“Hehehe…! Maybe because I’m happy you’ve gotten stronger, Liselotte?”

Feeling a definite response, Inglis couldn’t help but feel a hint of joy. Even in this clash of blades, it seemed like she was being pushed back. Clearly, Liselotte now possessed more strength than her usual self, or even than Eris, Ripple, and Cystia, her fellow Hyrule Menaces.

Professor Vilkin had spoken of Liselotte’s exceptionally high aptitude for Hyrule Menace transformation. Perhaps Liselotte, with her extreme compatibility, had become something distinct even among transformed Hyrule Menaces.

“That is not my name…!”
“Huh!? What…?”

Is her memory so disturbed that she’s forgotten her own name? Or could it be that she’s truly someone else entirely?

Upon a closer look, Inglis noted that Liselotte might appear slightly older than her usual self. Then again, if it’s due to her Hyrule Menace transformation, perhaps that’s the case.

“Glis, what’s happening!?”
“She said she’s not Liselotte!”
“Eh!? Then, who is she…!?”

Rafinha’s confusion was understandable. She looked almost too similar to be considered a different person. Her voice, her facial features… but she insists she’s someone else.

Rather than being a different person, it’s much more likely that Liselotte was affected by the Hyrule Menace transformation, making her memory seem clouded. But what’s the reality?

The answer came the next moment.

“Inglis! Rafinha!”
“What in the world is happening!?”

A voice called from above.

Looking up, they saw Liselotte, flying with her usual white wings, holding Leone in her arms.