The black ring around Mina's neck squeezed tighter and tighter.

  As Mina writhed in pain, Arc came to her side and rubbed her back.

  "Are you okay, Mina?!"

  Mina crouched with her face twisted in agony, but after a while the constriction seemed to ease, and she was left panting heavily.

  "...Is this kind of squeezing going to happen every day...?"

  While Mina caught her breath, Arc fetched her some water. She took the glass and drained it in one gulp.

  "Thanks, Arc..."

  "You alright, Mina...?"

  "Yeah, I'm fine now..."

  Mina steadied her breathing and swallowed hard.

  "I wonder if that was some kind of warning... Like it's telling me to hurry up and find the treasure..."

  Arc fell silent, his gaze dropping to the floor. Then he looked up at Mina and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.

  "Either way, we need to keep moving. If we get a little further along... we might even figure out how to get that collar off."

  "I hope so."

  Mina let out a long breath. Her parents had been killed, and she hadn't even had time to grieve before being thrown into mortal danger. How unlucky could one person be?

  She truly felt that way.

  "Come on, Mina... let's head out."

  Mina nodded, rose to her feet, and brushed the dust from her pants.

  "First, the fire site... I hope we can find those cards."

  She pushed aside the sheet and stepped out into the abandoned factory.

  ◆

  This time, Arc carried Mina in his arms and flew through the sky. Since he could manipulate gravity, perhaps carrying her while airborne was no burden at all.

  "Thanks, Arc."

  "Don't mention it. You must be exhausted."

  Mina smiled at that.

  "For someone in a band of demons, you've got a sweet side."

  "There are good demons and bad demons."

  "Are you a good demon?"

  Arc glanced down at her.

  "Who knows. Good and evil change depending on where you stand... Anyway—we're here, Mina!"

  Mina peered down from his arms.

  From above, she could see that her house—and only her house—had burned cleanly to the ground.

  Arc touched down just outside the property and set Mina gently on the ground.

  "Mom... Dad..."

  Mina stared at the charred remains. A few surviving pillars stood like gravestones amid the wreckage. Her chest tightened painfully.

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  "What a mess... Those bastards showed no mercy."

  Mina gave a small nod.

  "Come on, Arc. Let's search."

  She rolled up her sleeves and stepped into the ruins.

  "Hey, Arc... is there any chance the angels already found the key?"

  Arc shook his head.

  "I doubt it. They don't even know what form the key takes."

  He poked at blackened timbers with his foot, scanning the debris as he went.

  "Step back, Arc. You're going to turn that white sweater pitch black."

  With that, Mina began poking through the area where her room had once been, digging with a stick and shoving aside charred beams.

  "I'm pretty sure there was a bookshelf right around here..."

  "You kept them on a bookshelf?"

  "On one of the middle shelves, yeah."

  Mina kept rummaging.

  "That's strange... Magical artifacts really don't burn?"

  Arc pitched in, clearing away scorched timbers as he helped her search.

  "Maybe someone already found them..."

  "Is there any chance they'd be noticed?"

  Arc let out a low groan.

  "If the cards were leaking magical energy... then yes, someone could have sensed them."

  "Hmm, that's not good..."

  But as she kept searching patiently, Mina spotted a glittering light shining through the gaps in the debris.

  "There! That's it!"

  "You found them?!"

  Arc rushed over, and Mina pulled a purple bundle from the ashes.

  "This is it—this is it!"

  Arc came closer and peered over her shoulder.

  "...Mina, open it up."

  Mina gave a small nod and unfolded the purple wrapping.

  There, revealed, was a bundle of cards shimmering with light.

  Mina cradled them in both hands.

  "They're warm... I can feel some kind of strange energy."

  "Yeah... they're overflowing with an incredible amount of magical power..."

  Mina touched the cards directly. The moment she did, memories of her mother—warm, nostalgic memories—flooded back into her mind.

  "Oh... I remember now... my memories with Mom..."

  Arc came to her side.

  "Mina... what did you remember?"

  "Mom told me these cards were special. She said... the day would definitely come when I'd need them, and that I should never forget..."

  Tears threatened to spill from Mina's eyes. Arc shifted nervously and spoke up.

  "...Mina. Those cards are radiating far more magical power than I expected. Wrap them back up—now. If you keep broadcasting that kind of energy out here in the open... you'll attract all the wrong attention."

  "Really? Sorry—"

  Mina hastily wrapped the cards back in the purple cloth and shoved them into her pocket.

  "Let's get back to the hideout. This place is about to become a danger zone."

  Mina nodded and followed after Arc as he started walking.

  Then, at that very moment, she saw something like a shooting star streaking toward them from the sky. Arc broke into a cold sweat.

  "This is bad... Mina, we need to hide!"

  Mina looked around frantically, but there was nothing but charred ruins.

  "Are you kidding me?! There's nowhere to hide!"

  "Don't be ridiculous! Where exactly am I supposed to go?!"

  "Behind that pillar—that'll do."

  Mina looked where Arc was pointing. Standing there was a single blackened pillar, burned to charcoal.

  "Are you insane? I don't care how slim I am—there's no way I can hide behind something that thin!"

  Arc threw himself flat on the ground and started smearing mud on his face. "Hurry up!" he hissed, his expression deadly serious.

  Mina shook her head vigorously.

  "There is absolutely no way I'm putting mud on my face!"

  Arc scowled and mouthed something silently.

  "Do. You. Want. To. Die."

  While they bickered, the shooting star slammed into the ruins with a thunderous crash.

  And there, standing in the impact, were three angels.

  Oh wow, Mina thought. They actually have halos over their heads.

  After a moment, the one who appeared to be the leader—a man carrying a staff—struck its base against the ground with a sharp crack.

  "Batanel! Where has that powerful magical energy we sensed gone?!"

  She couldn't place it, but she'd heard that voice somewhere before.

  The young angel beside him bowed his head deferentially.

  "Lord Seraphim... the energy was detected only minutes ago. Whoever it was must still be nearby."

  Seraphim struck the ground with his staff again.

  "Find them! They must be close!"

  "Yes, my lord! I shall find them without fail!"

  Watching this exchange, a thought occurred to Mina.

  Wait—could the magical energy they're talking about be... the tarot cards?

  She watched the young angel thump his chest with brimming confidence, and the color drained from her face.

  Seraphim smirked.

  "My, my, Batanel... you seem awfully confident. Can you truly deliver?"

  Batanel puffed out his chest and smiled.

  "Indeed... the truth is, I noticed the moment we arrived."

  He drew in a deep breath.

  "Stop hiding and come out! I know you're there!"

  In that instant, Mina thought her heart might actually stop. She could feel its pounding pushing up against her throat.

  She clamped both hands over her mouth.

  "...Not coming out? Perhaps this will change your mind?"

  Batanel raised one hand high.

  Then, with the flourish of a conductor sweeping his baton, he thrust his arm forward and shouted, "Thunderbolt!"

  What happened next was beyond belief.

  Streaks of lightning tore across the sky, and with a deafening roar, countless bolts of thunder rained down from the heavens.

  "Eeeeek!"

  I'm actually going to die!

  Mina covered her head and stomach with her hands and clung desperately to the charred pillar.