The moment Maur leaped down from the floating house, he hurried straight to Lilith’s side—putting as much distance as possible between himself and Mavis, who followed close behind.

That pervert Mavis… what she’d just tried to do…

Maur couldn’t help recalling what Mavis had shown him when the floating house peaked.

“This is my newest tentacle—super handy for cleaning~”

“It slips into tiny holes, licks up every last drop. Even the sharpest-nosed half-blood won’t catch a hint of anything off~”

“And oh—it can grow a mouth and tongue too~”

Mavis had spoken without turning, hands resting on the windowsill, gaze fixed outside.

To anyone peering through the window, she and Maur stood at maximum distance—backs turned, avoiding each other completely, the very picture of mutual disdain.

Yet her voice, though not directed at him, bubbled with cheerful delight.

Maur, long accustomed to Mavis’s tentacles, felt no alarm when that “simple cleaning tool” first appeared.

He noticed nothing amiss.

By the time it slipped inside—too late to stop.

This feeling… this sensation…

Maur’s whole body trembled.

Just as Mavis said—it *did* have a tongue, a mouth!

And her other tentacles never paused.

Everyone worked diligently on the final cleanup.

“Don’t worry~ I’ll make it spotless,” Mavis promised.

But it was too strange. Too, too…

So unfamiliar his vision flickered dark.

His legs went weak; he nearly collapsed.

A tentacle gently steadied his waist.

“You can’t faint now~ If you pass out, Princess Lilith will rush over.”

“Then we’d be discovered. You wouldn’t want that, would you, Maur?”

N-No! Of course not!

“Mmph!”

B-But…

Maur bit his lip hard, fingers gripping the windowsill, trembling.

As the floating house neared the ground, Mavis finally finished.

Yet that special tentacle remained.

With eager cheer, she whispered:

“Hey~ Since it can exist alone… leave it with you?”

“It hides quietly inside—no sound, no movement anyone’d notice~”

“Or… just keep it while you tour the festival?”

“You could stay like that… always…”

“Wouldn’t that be fun~?”

…D-Damn it! Fun my ass!

I’ll kill you, you pervert!

Reluctantly, Mavis retracted the tentacle.

Then, with practiced care, her other tentacles pulled up his pants, fastened his belt, smoothed every wrinkle.

After that ordeal, Maur vowed: never again would he be alone with Mavis.

He shot Lilith and Tabitha a furious glare.

“Why were you two just *watching*?!”

Watching him be… be…

First, he snapped at Tabitha: “Useless follower! Why didn’t you follow me up?!”

Then glared at Lilith.

*Damn it… even that dumb dog tagging along would’ve been better than Mavis!*

*I almost got stuck with that awful thing!*

Lilith stayed silent.

Tabitha let out a tiny “Eep!”, clutching her skirt hem, head bowed.

“I-I’m just a follower… I’m not allowed to ride the same floating house as Lord Maur…”

“Hah?!” Maur sputtered. “Since when?! A follower follows *everywhere*! Got it?!”

“From now on—you stick to my heels. Fall behind again, and I’ll *drop you*.”

“Eep!!!” Tabitha’s eyes welled. “Y-Yes! Lord Maur, I’ll never leave your side again!”

After scolding his flustered follower, Maur shot Lilith one last glare.

“Move out. To the Dream Cruise Ship.”

“You two—stay glued to me. Try drifting again, and you’ll regret it.”

True to his trauma, Maur glanced back every few steps, paranoid they’d vanished.

No more solitude with Mavis. Ever.

Thanks to her, he’d missed the festival’s joy mid-air.

Now he ticked off pre-selected events: floating house, Dream Cruise Ship, Courage Challenge, magic show—all cleared.

Too wary to join personally, he lingered on the edges, observing suspects.

Sometimes bribing organizers for whispers.

He’d noted several suspicious newcomers—names memorized for later digging.

As the final magic show ended, dusk settled.

The festival wound toward closure.

“Follow.”

Leaving the East District venue, Maur led the way north toward the Love Divination Hut—the last stop on his list.

Today, Maur had been oddly intense.

And made zero effort to hide it.

Beyond Mavis, even Lilith noticed he was searching for someone.

Yet she asked nothing. Walked silently behind him—simply his guardian knight for the day.

At the North District hut, a girl with fiery red hair stood waiting. Pointed witch’s hat. Black robe dotted with star patterns.

Sensing their approach, she turned and offered a mysterious smile.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Maur-sama—the fiancé of Lady Athena.”