“What are you planning to do to Chris?! I won’t be held accountable for my actions, depending on your answer!” Glass raged. So she was on Raphtalia’s side. I didn’t like her tone of voice either.

“Raph, raph!” Raph-chan jumped on my shoulder and started hitting me on the head. I guessed she wanted me to stop giving people the wrong idea about her.

“Pen!” said Chris, also directed at Raph-chan. Just what were the two of them trying to do?

“Just what have you been doing with that shikigami anyway?” Glass asked.

“Not much. Researching her with my monster specialist back in the village, a woman named Ratotille. That and raised her mutability a little, that’s all,” I told her.

“That’s all? Increasing her mutability might turn her into who-knows-what kind of dangerous monster! How could you do something so reckless?” Glass exclaimed.

“Even if Raph-chan did turn into a dangerous monster . . . Raphtalia is the only one who would be put out,” I said.

“Why are you bringing my name up in that context?” Raphtalia asked.

“Because you’re the only one who doesn’t like any of this,” I said.

“Raph,” Raph-chan said. Then Chris leapt down from Glass’s arms and started waving a flipper about, trying to explain. I thought for a moment it was just shadowboxing, but no. After punching an imaginary foe, Chris pretended to take damage, then spun around on the spot and collapsed.

“You’re weak and you hate yourself for it?” I ventured.

“Pen!” Chris pointed at me, indicating I’d guessed correctly. I was smart when I needed to be. Then Chris pointed at Raph-chan and struck a pose, arms flexed.

“Raph-chan is strong, so you’re learning something from her?” I guessed again.

“Pen!” Chris leapt around happily, indicating another correct answer.

“Mr. Naofumi, your skills at communicating without language have really improved recently,” Raphtalia said.

“I guess so,” I replied. It felt like he was making sense. I actually enjoyed conversing like this!

“You’re not allowed to do anything!” Glass put her foot down. “If something happens to Chris, we’re the ones who’ll be sad! I’m sure Kizuna would feel the same way!” She made Raph-chan sound like some kind of virus or infection. Still, if that was her stance, then it couldn’t be helped. I’d just stay quiet about Raph-chan and Chris having already done this numerous times behind Glass’s and Raphtalia’s backs. They seemed to have split whatever ritual it was up into numerous parts.

“In which case, maybe I’ll make an accessory for Chris to try and provide a bit more confidence,” I suggested.

“And will it really just be an accessory?” Raphtalia asked. She and Glass both had accusatory eyes. It looked like I had to prove I wasn’t involved in the ritual Raph-chan and Chris had been performing.