After the tidal wave Shildina launched had passed, Ethnobalt appeared behind her. He was surrounded by layers of paper, even using it to stand on in the air. In his hand, there was a book. From the shape, it looked like the vassal weapon Kyo had used.

“Ethnobalt,” I said.

“I am here!” he replied.

“Me too!” said Filo, popping her head out from behind Ethnobalt.

“It seems the book vassal weapon wanted to guide us here after we were all scattered,” Ethnobalt explained.

“That book?” I said.

“Once it finished guiding us, it settled in my hand and seems to have accepted me as its owner,” Ethnobalt continued. That made sense. Ethnobalt was a type of monster called a library rabbit, so this might suit him better than a ship.

“With my acquisition of Hengen Muso Style, all of my training, and now a vassal weapon . . . you can’t count me out in battle any longer,” Ethnobalt said.

“Glad to hear it,” I told him. “So defeat these guys.” There was no time for heartfelt reunions.

“Of course. If they are binding the vassal weapons with illegitimate power, I will free them from that binding!” Pages from the book flew up, obeying Ethnobalt’s will, and wound themselves around Miyaji. “A skill mixed with Hengen Muso Style . . . you might call it: Life Force Style Magic Explosion.” The name was similar to a skill Kyo had unleashed. Ethnobalt must have added some life force to it. Miyaji was certainly moaning enough about it.

“What have you done to me?!” he shouted accusingly.

“I’m simply circulating some life force through your body. It’s just that each of those pages is also holding it inside, causing further damage,” Ethnobalt explained. That was a pretty nasty trick too. It was the kind of attack that would have shredded me to pieces before I learned how to let life force flow out of me.

“It only has one exit,” Ethnobalt said. “That accessory.”

“You can’t be serious!” Miyaji raged. The life force from Ethnobalt passed through Miyaji’s body and then erupted out from the accessory, which was itself about to break anyway. With a high-pitched sound, the accessory shattered.

“No! Stop! You’re mine! Don’t leave me! You’re mine!” Miyaji shouted, trying to cling to the musical instrument. Like shedding its skin, the musical instrument popped into a ball of light, moved away from Miyaji’s hands, and then flew into Itsuki.

Then, as I had expected, the musical instrument was in his hands. It was shaped like a violin. The small accessory representing the bow became large enough to be used as a violin bow.