Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Ah! My voice was too loud at this hour!
Flora-chan’s room is next door, of course she would hear if I’m talking with the window open. W-what should I do?

Though Ekaterina panicked, Vladforen remained perfectly composed.

“Calm yourself. I told you that to other humans, I appear as a bird.”

So to others, I would look like a girl conversing with a bird.
No, wouldn’t that just make me seem positively gone cuckoo?

“Is that the girl who is always with you lately?”
“Yes, she is my dear friend, Lady Flora. She possesses holy magic.”
“Oh?”

A note of interest entered Vladforen’s voice. Hearing it, Ekaterina stiffened.

Come to think of it, the Demon Dragon King has deep ties with a holy maiden who possesses holy magic.

Actually, I’ve been careless!
During summer vacation there was no connection to the otome game scenario, so lately the game had completely slipped my mind.
The Demon Dragon King is a capture target in the otome game. In other words, a possible romantic partner for Flora-chan!
This situation is probably completely different from how they meet in the game. But if they see each other face-to-face, there’s a possibility of entering his route…!?
No—is it possible that her visiting Jurnova in itself already triggered the Demon Dragon King route!?

It seems Flora-chan had not entered the prince’s route, anyway. Well, I don’t know for sure—perhaps I simply am not aware of it.
But wouldn’t it be better to have them meet at least once!?
If I left it vague now, it feels like I’d brood over it later. In situations like this, it’s mentally easier to settle it cleanly and quickly.

Ah, but it’s the middle of the night.
Wait! Flora-chan is obviously in her nightclothes.
No. As her big sister figure, I absolutely refuse to have pure-heroine Flora-chan suddenly meet him like that!

While preoccupied with such thoughts, Ekaterina delayed replying to Flora—
Time’s up.
The door to the room opened hesitantly.

.

“Ah… you are awake. I’m sorry to disturb you so late.”

Flora peeked her face out from behind the door and bowed apologetically.

“Lady Flora. What brings you here at this hour?”

Swiftly donning her noble-lady facade, Ekaterina smiled gently.

“I thought I heard voices. I became worried—what if something had happened to you, Lady Ekaterina…”
“Lady Flora…”

Ekaterina nearly teared up. What a good girl, worrying about her.

“Thank you. There is nothing for you to be concerned about…”

Still uncertain whether to introduce the heroine to a capture target, Ekaterina’s tone became vague.
Finding that strange, Flora looked around the room again—and noticed Vladforen outside the window.

“Lady Ekaterina, why is there such a large bird at this hour?”
“Y-yes. How very unusual.”

Good. He truly appears as a bird.

Unaware of Ekaterina’s relief, Flora stared intently at the “bird.”
Then she gasped and ran into the room.

“Lady Ekaterina, that is not a bird!”

Placing herself protectively in front of Ekaterina and facing Vladforen, power swelled within Flora—

“Lady Flora…!”

Ekaterina’s attempt to stop her was too late. From Flora’s body, white light burst forth.

The white light enveloped Vladforen.
This was the holy magic that had once driven off the magical beast that appeared at the academy. That powerful and ferocious beast, which Ekaterina, Alexei, and Mikhail together had still been unable to defeat, had been calmed and dissolved when wrapped in this white radiance.

At that time Flora had not even known what her magic was. Since then, she had trained and refined it, and her holy magic now surpassed its former strength.

However—The light shattered easily and vanished.

To Ekaterina’s eyes, Vladforen still floated calmly in the air. But Flora’s eyes widened.

“A human…?”

Ah, now he appears in human form to Flora-chan as well. Or rather, the mechanism making him appear as a bird must have been nullified.

Vladforen gazed steadily at Flora. Then he glided smoothly through the air and entered the room through the window.

Though she drew back slightly, Flora did not move from the position shielding Ekaterina.
Landing on the floor, Vladforen murmured,

“A Holy maiden, indeed. And a rare one at that—still like an uncut gem, yet her brilliance is already visible.”
“Just as I said, no?”

Despite the situation, Ekaterina could not help but sound smug.
Then, realizing Flora was indeed in her nightclothes, she moved to share her own shawl, ending up hugging her from behind.

“L-Lady Ekaterina…”

Flora flushed red in flustered confusion. Patting her shoulder lightly, Ekaterina turned a stern gaze upon Vladforen.

“I understand you bear no ill intent, but to stare so intently at a lady whose attire is not properly arranged is exceedingly rude. My dear friend is greatly perplexed. I must ask that you take your leave for tonight.”
“Hm.”

A wry smile crossed Vladforen’s peerless face.

“My interest overcame my manners. That was discourteous. I shall apologize to you as well, Holy Maiden..”
“Eh?”

Addressed so formally, Flora seemed even more flustered.

“However, since we are at it—should I offer greetings, as you call it?”

As he spoke, Vladforen’s gaze shifted past Ekaterina, toward the door of the room.
What does he mean by that—she began to ask, when—

She noticed a stirring throughout the minor lord’s mansion, which had been quiet in sleep.

Ah… Flora-chan’s magic earlier!
Those who possess magic can sense it when someone nearby releases theirs.
If Vladforen called her a rare Holy Maiden, then magic of that magnitude—anyone in this mansion with magical ability must have jolted awake at once…

Ignoring Ekaterina’s paling face, the sound of running footsteps—was drawing nearer.