“Who… has summoned Me?”

The voice belonged to a hulking figure, teeth tipped like moonlit daggers, claws poised to rip the world, pupils black as ink wells that prickle the scalp.

Its brown fur was dense, a natural shield like autumn bark; a black chest button and a blue bow tie lent it sweetness; a tiny top hat sat like a cherry.

Ah… yes, no mistake—fangs, claws, bravado, all smoke and lantern-light. Strip the fantasy, and you get a teddy bear plush.

(A tiny girl walked past. “Have you seen my bear?”)

“Hey?! What’s that look? Believe it or not, I’ll tear you to ribbons in seconds!”

So the teddy had a temper; call it magic with a crooked edge, strong in the strangest way.

But with those fluffy paws? Heh… not that you’re clawless, but you couldn’t even shred a sofa. Tear my face? You must be out of your mind.

Ling wasn’t one to hide her feelings; mockery lit her face like a paper fan, and her eye-roll was playful yet sharp as a reed.

The bear couldn’t ignore that roll; those ink-black eyes caught the barb, and he stomped, feet drumming the floor like a little storm.

“Hey! You bratty little girl! H-how dare you show such disrespect to the great ‘Demon God Kappa’!”

???

What?

Demon God Kappa??

Ling’s puzzled look washed over Kappa and somehow became fear and awe in his mind.

“Hahaha!! Now you know how mighty Lord Kappa is! Begging still works! Lord Kappa is ever merciful!”

“…”

What is this—being looked down on by a plush with an IQ lower than the chairman’s paperweight?

Mocked or not, disgust wouldn’t rise in Ling; pity pooled warm in her gut like morning tea.

She turned to the minister who had summoned Kappa, gaze soft with quiet sympathy.

“Hey, was your Queen proud of summoning this idiot?”

The Queen’s honor was on the table, yet the minister showed no embarrassment; calm as if he’d expected it, he explained.

“I told you not to expect much from this spell. It doesn’t even touch the basics of magic. That bear couldn’t beat a sponge, so of course it’s weak. Besides, the Queen created it when she was very young. How could it be powerful?”

What is that—forced logic or self-comfort?

Eh… we already knew a chuunibyou-phase loli Queen wouldn’t produce anything grand. If she truly summoned a demon god, that’d break common sense.

Still—hehehe.

An impish idea sprouted in Ling’s mind; a sly smile and half-lidded cat’s eyes made people—no, the bear—uneasy.

“Y-you… w-what are you going to do?!”

As the girl drew closer, Kappa’s unease grew like a ripple into waves.

—Don’t let her catch me! Absolutely not!

That was Kappa’s only thought.

“Don’t come closer! I’m warning you! One more step and you’ll feel my claws! For real!”

You say that, but why does your face look ready to cry? Since when can plush toys cry?

“Relax~ Uncle will be gentle.”

Her voice slipped into a creepy purr, and she snatched him with a blur, fingers closing like a trap.

“Aaaahhh!!!! I’m going to die! The legendary life of Demon God Kappa ends here?! No! I haven’t lived enough!”

“…………”

“Huh?”

No boiling, braising, stir-frying with scallions, or pan-frying into bear buns happened; instead, his view rose like an elevator.

“Hmm? Could it be Lord Kappa burst into power in crisis, evolving from little Kappa to big Kappa, then sat on that brat, crushing her? Hahaha! I knew Lord Kappa was invincible!”

“Quit the nonsense. If you’re on my shoulder, stop yelling. You’re loud.”

The brat’s voice came from the left; Kappa turned stiffly, and a little face filled his sight like a moon, so close he almost jumped. Why didn’t he? You think Lord Kappa will admit his legs went weak?

“L-l-lord! Please don’t hurt little Kappa! Kappa hasn’t done anything bad. Kappa’s a good guy…”

Maybe he knew he couldn’t beat this girl who was just a teensy bit stronger; Kappa chose to fold.

“Don’t be scared. I don’t plan to hurt you. Sit still on my shoulder and don’t squirm. I’ll let you go after a while.”

“Really?!”

“If I lied, I’d be a little girl.”

“…”

After a whole lot of chatter, Alicia lost the mood to watch; she took Ling’s hand, called to the minister who’d spaced out, and had him lead them back.

“Please wait here, my lord. I’ll inform Her Majesty the Queen.”

He withdrew at once, leaving Alicia, Ling, and a tiny plush bear in the first room they’d visited.

“What is this, back to where the dream began?”

She tossed a joke no one got; the next moment, Amelia pushed the door open with the speed of a blade.

She entered and dipped a small bow to Alicia and Ling in apology.

“My apologies for earlier. Let’s continue our discussion…”

Amelia lifted her gaze, and the moment she saw Ling, she froze like dew under sudden sun.