Familiar, Life is SHOW TIME!

by The Wild Fang

Meet Nozomi Saigo, one of the survivors from the Solar Eclipse ritual, the Sabbath. He also wields the power of hope that protects the people of the city known as Kamen Rider Wizard. When he receives a calling from another place where magic does exists, how would he cope with the situation in an unfamiliar surroundings? Remember this, minna! Life... is SHOW TIME!

7. T7: The Inn-side Task

(Normal Point of View)

Nighttime befalls upon the quiet city and seems like there are not much activity going on around the area. While the citizens inside the city is sleeping in a peaceful slumber, somewhere nearby the forest, just outside of the city, there is seems to be a commotion as there is a woman in her 30s, with long silver hair, having blue eyes and wears a maid dress. Her eyes are filled with sorrow as she kneels down in front of the another figure, pleading for something that she held it in the figure's hand.

"Please, I beg of you, return the necklace you held to me! It is the only thing I have left from my family!" the woman begs before the figure.

The figure stood before her consists of a purple humanoid body with a very slender body, having a wide shoulder pads, having black insect-like breast armor, having a human features on her appearance as she has her mouth and nose that is visible with a helmet that resembles the head of the spider with its fangs sticking out from it. An additional item that she has on her was the extra two pairs of arms to aid her and lastly, having a spider's thorax extending from her tailbone.

This is the Arachne Phantom.

"Oh~?" the Phantom cooed while looking at the necklace she held in her hand. "Does this necklace seem important to you, I presume?"

"Of course!" the woman cries out as she starts to kneel in front of her closer, extending her hands for having her necklace back to be returned to its owner.

"Fufufu, maybe I should just crush it in front of you, never letting you see this back in one piece?" the Phantom chuckled, loving this moment of playing with her victim in front of her.

"NO!" the woman cries once more as tears continues to fall off from her eyes. "I would do anything! Anything for you to return it to me! Just name your price! I-I'll try my hardest to have it back safely with me!"

"Anything, you say?" the Phantom questions the maid while circling around her.

"ANYTHING!"

"Hm~" the Phantom ponders for a bit, thinking playfully of what to do with the helpless Gate. A slight chuckle can be heard as she faced the Gate and looked at her intensively. "There is ONE thing you can do for me…"

"Yes?" the maid asked, preparing to aid her in any way possible… until she noticed the Arachne Phantom starts to clench her fist tightly. "W-wait, what are you—"

"Fell into despair for me~" the Phantom cooed before—

*CRUSH!*

—the said necklace in her hand lets out a rather loud cracking and crushing sound, crushing every single bit of it with all of its might. The maid's eyes were wide opened upon seeing the view and she was literally stunned as well. Once the sound inside her palm is heard no more, she just opens it and letting the wind blew the remains of the necklace, which it now nothing more than just pixie dust.

"No…" the maid's tears are now flowing uncontrollably and the Phantom just chuckled upon seeing the weak-willed woman in front of her.

"Now~, fell into despair and reborn as a Phantom!" the Phantom demands.

Moments later, the maid felt something sharp of a pain within her chest, as if she is having a heart attack. As she is now on all four, a few large purple cracks are starting to form on her body, preparing for casting away its shell and reborn as a new one. The Phantom continues to chuckle, looking forward to see what would be the Phantom will be shaped from the Gate in front of her.

"I'm sorry…" the Gate mutters quietly as more cracks are forming on her face and arms, spreading it across her body. "…I can't go on… anymore. I have… no more hope… to live on…"

"Then, awaken your true self… Phantom!" the Phantom commands. With the remaining cracks are finally formed all over her body and with one last cried out in pain, eventually, the Gate before her is no longer can be seen and it has been completely replaced with a feminine monstrous roar and stood proudly after being reborn.

The Phantom stood tall after it has made its stretches and rotating her neck a few times to loosen up after being confined from its shell. On its green humanoid body, there lies a hardened forest green leaf as its hair with humanoid human features on its face, and having a nature theme on its armor. It is consists of forest green leather breast armor with simple shoulder pads and leafy bracers, which it has been installed with a thorn whip on each bracers, slender forest green pants and finally pointy earthy brown boots to finish it up.

This Phantom is known as the Dryad Phantom, the spirit deity of the tree.

"Ha~, I have finally freed myself from that confinement. With this profound freedom, I shall do thy bidding that I am mostly fond of…" the Dryad said while looking over her new surroundings.

"Dryad Phantom." Arachne began. "Though you have awakened from your slumber, the task has already begun from the moment you have awakened."

"Yes, I am aware of that…" Dyrad noted. "And does this involved finding the Gates and sent them to the world of despair?"

"You seem to have made your homework, I see…" Arachne compliments her with a chuckle.

"The whispers of the trees have been spoken to me and I shall do so within my strength in order to awaken more of our comrades! That is a promise!" Dryad said with determination.

"Now go! Enter this city and find a potential Gate for their awakening, as we have been ordered by the Great One!" Arachne commanded, making Dryad nodded before she sprints off towards her destination. Upon seeing the Phantom sprints away, a purple aura engulfed Arachne for a moment and moments later, she has been reverted to her human form. Her appearance is of a beautiful 20s girl with a long dark curvy hair that spreads beautifully over her fair skin in a Venus-like figure and having emerald green eyes. She wears a dark blue kimono with a Sakura pattern on it, wearing a red sash around her waists and brown wooden sandals.

"It's good to see a new Phantom on the hunt for the Gates." Arachne chuckles.

A strike of thunder can be heard behind her, making its appearance while walking boastfully towards Arachne's direction. This figure is a Phantom with a shogun-like helmet on top of its serpent-like features on its face, donned with golden full set armor on his black body, having a red cape on its back and a red sword rested on its waist.

"You sure took your time, Quetzalcoatl…" Arachne said without even turning her back while the latter reverts to his human form, which consists of golden short hair on his fair appearance, barely covering his brown eyes, wearing white shirt underneath his black jacket and pants with golden line, a pair of black sneakers and a golden necklace around his neck.

"Hah! I ALWAYS take my time AND make my appearance, MY way! And there's nothing you can do about it, Arachne!" Quetzalcoatl mocked her while speaking boastfully of himself. "And besides, I have just recently forcing another Phantom in despair, as our task given by the Great One!"

"At the very least, you have performed your duty without trouble…" she said. "Remember what happened last time when you dealt with a Gate?"

"Look, that was just an accident!" Quetzalcoatl told her with a groan. "I didn't know that Gate can conjure an electric spells within my appearance! I thought that guy can hold on my sparks, but he didn't and went 'poof!' in the moment I pay it back in spades!"

"No matter. For now, our job here is done. We shall report it back to the Great One of this matter." Arachne commanded him and the two departs from their current location.

---

Inside the town, the Dryad Phantom tries to find a potential Gate in her human form, only to find no one but herself in this quiet night. "Tch, despite this land fills with potential Gates that can use magic; it is still hard to find a proper one… but I must continue on with the task given." Dryad mutters to herself as she continues on with her search.

After what it seems like forever and night continues to drift further with two moons shone brightly in the sky, eventually, she came to a stop at the water fountain, letting out a sigh after her failed search to find one. "Just as I thought, it is a waste of time in search of this town. Nightfall is where most of the Gates have went to bed or even amused themselves with beverages that would even knocked down an elephant in one drink…"

"Why are you here alone?" a girl's voice can be heard, which caught the Phantom's attention for a moment. Upon closer inspection, this young girl has midnight blue hair underneath her white scarf on her had, with blue eyes on her beautiful appearance, wearing silver locket around her neck, wearing green dress that reveals a slight view of her big, uh… assets, with white drape on her shoulders, white apron and brown boots. At this time, the girl is carrying basket in her hands. "Are you alone?"

"What is it to you?" Dryad asked, confused by her words for a moment.

"From the looks of it, it seems like you are lost." The girl deducted easily. It is then she offers something to her, "Don't you have any place to stay around here? Or relatives that lives around here as well?"

'Hmm, she seems to be concerned for me…' Dryad ponders for a bit while inspecting her for a moment. 'She may be the perfect candidate for my first Gate, since the spirit of the trees have told me of this world…'

"Excuse me?" the girl waves her hand in front of her, catching Dryad's attention. "Are you there?"

"O-Oh! Forgive me!" Dryad apologized. "It's just that… well, I suddenly have this flashback of my parents that has been killed and I was the only survivor from it…" she began, using the former Gate's memory as her own. "Ever since that day, I have always been on the run, trying to live for another day. Any place I can find would be my sleeping place for the night and after that, I have to continue on with my run from my assailants…"

"Oh…" the girl got out. It is then she began to offer her something. "If you looking for some place to stay, why don't you stay and worked at the inn that I worked for the time being? We can provide room, wage and meal for you, in exchange of your works at our inn."

"Are you certain?" Dryad questions her. "Am I not going to be a burden for your workplace?"

"Of course not! We ARE currently short of staffs at the inn and we can always use an extra hand. All of the workers in our inn are coming from different walks of life, so to speak." She informed her.

"If that is the case, then I will accept it." Dryad agrees, making the girl smiles at her direction.

"It's settled then! Come, let me show you the direction of the inn." The girl suggested before she walks off with Dryad followed suit. "By the way, I don't think I have your name just yet."

"Ah, where are my manners?" Dryad got out as she lets out a sigh. "My name is Elena."

"It sounds like a good name. I'm pleased to meet you, Elena! You may call me Jessica."

Dryad lets out a nod as the two continues to move forward. 'Heh, it would seem like she's the candidate for my first Gate. Have no fear, Gate. I shall become your savior in being reborn as another comrade of mine… a Phantom.'

---

(The voice is narrated by Jessica)

The magical rings, the Wizard Rings

(The magic circle appears as the four rings floats out from it.)

The power of magic casts within the potential of a mage

(An image of a hand appears as the Flame ring slides into his left middle finger, and the Driver On is on his right middle finger)

Can he turn one's fate or despair… into hope?

(The figure, Nozomi Saigo who was hovering right between the magic circle and makes a glance towards the viewers as a quick flash of Wizard can be seen.)

(Cue in Life is SHOW TIME!)

(Maji ka?! Maji de?! Maji da! Show Time~!) The montage starts with Kamen Rider Wizard twirls around a few times with a magic circle on a background and he opens up a magic circle to the sky, letting the Wyvern Phantom soar the sky, above the academy and it spews out flames to make the title appears and the Wyvern flew away from the screen to shift to the next screen.

(Maru de tsuki to taiyou) At the backstage of the magic theatre, Saigo was resting his head on the table as his arms covers his face while his hand grips hard onto his sleeves as a quick montage shows the solar eclipse and the purple cracks on his arms that resembles scales.
(kasanaru toki no shougeki!) Louise was walking all alone at the corridor of the academy as Siesta is serving another student their food as both of them stopped and looks up at the sky to see the solar eclipse is happening.
(Dare datte kiseki wo shinjitemitai) During this time, Saigo was trying to take Louise's hand, but they kept passing though each other and froze in place as the background shatters away into pieces.

(Kitto hitsuyou~ fukaketsu no) Kirche was doing her usual dating with other boys and they passed by Tabitha, who was walking while reading her book on her hands.
(ENAJII~ kokoro tame) Guiche was trying to seduce another girl from the academy, only to realize the furious Montmorency behind him, leaving him sweatdrop.
(Yume to yosou ii ima de uragitte kureru mono~) A quick montage on other characters in order such as Forquet the Crumbling Earth with a huge golem at the background, Old Osmond with the "Staff of Destruction", Jessica and her father, Scarron in a pub, Princess Henrietta with Prince Wales on the background of the lake, Wardes wielding his sword-wand and his air dragon by his side, Cromwell with an evil smile with the Ring of Andavari and it switches to Saigo preparing his henshin stance and placing the Flame Ring onto his belt and his body glows radiantly.
(3! 2! 1! Show Time!) Guiche and Montmorency counts 3 with their fingers, Kirche and Tabitha does the 2 with their finger while Tabitha still reading her book and at 1, Louise casts a spell, which only ends up in explosion.

(Magic time~! trick janai!) Saigo changes into Kamen Rider Wizard and he spins around while showing his Flame Ring on his left hand.
(Mahou wo hero hanpa nee zo [Mahaluto Hallelujah!]) Three PlaMonsters, a golden Kitsune (fox), indigo Roc/Rukh and green Hydra, floats away from Wizard as he cast a spell to make some fireworks behind him.
(Kioku no roots moguri-konde) In a fast forward montage, Kirche tried to hug Wizard in Flame Style but he immediately entered the magic circle and he accidentally splashes the water that he skids onto Montmorency in Water Styles. Another magic circle appears above his head and he immediately jumps high to change into Hurricane Styles as Tabitha was riding her dragon.
(Kibou wo tsukui dasou~) When he passed through the magic circle on the ground, he transformed again into Land Styles, creating a crater that makes Guiche ended up sits on his butt. Louise extends her hand as Saigo manages to grab her hand.
(Show Time!) Professor Colbert, Siesta, Jessica, Scarron and Princess Henrietta shouted "Show Time!" with smile on their faces.

(Life is Show Time! tobikkiri no) Saigo rides on his Wyvern, with Louise at his side as both of them soar to the sky.
(Unmei DORAIVU mucha shitemo [Mahaluto Hallelujah!]) He wears the Cross Ring on Louise's finger, where he just smiles at her while she blushes a little bit.
(Kinou, kyou, ashita, mirai) He got pulled back by Kirche as she wanted to hug him, followed by Siesta.
(Subete no namida wo~) Both of them tried to pull him to their side, only to have Louise getting angry with her horse whip on her hands, making him gulp.
(Show Time!) Derflinger appears out of nowhere while shouting "Show Time!"

(Houseki ni kaette yaru ze) All of the shattered pieces are formed back as one and three other Styles are entering his Flame Style.
(Maji ka?! Maji de?! Maji da! Show Time~!) The montage ends with Guiche and Montmorency showing the Land and Water Ring respectively on their finger, Tabitha looks at the screen while showing the Hurricane Ring that she wears, Kirche shows the Flame Ring on her and Louise readied with her wand in her hand and Saito showing the Driver On Ring with a confident smile on their faces.

---

Disclaimer: I do not own both Kamen Rider Wizard and Familiar of Zero. All credits goes to respective owners.

---

Trick no. 7: The Inn-side Task

(Saigo's Point of View)

It has been a week since that we managed to nab Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth and ending her terror of nabbing anyone's valuables once and for all, mine included. Ever since that ball night, after Louise has become an instant hit and our little dance together around the ball, there weren't many kids that mocks her as Louise the Zero, after seeing what she accomplished with my assistance and aided further by Tabitha and Kirche. On the next day after the dance, Marteau decided to celebrate with the rest of the kitchen staff over my victory as well, making it as festive as possible and truth to be told, I'm actually having a good time there than the grand ball.

Besides, high class staff isn't my thing, mind you.

On the present day, as the sun is up high in the sky and clouds are as beautiful as it always been, both Louise and I walks out from the academy gates. The reason? We got summoned by her childhood friend, Henrietta, via mail and not many knew about it, other than Old Osmond and Colbert-sensei.

"Saigo, remind me of why we shouldn't ride a horse this time?" Louise questions me suspiciously, resting her hands on her hips in annoyance.

"Because the last time I ride on it, my bum is pretty much in a world of pain, making me having a hard time to sit on a chair. That, and it'll be the last time I'm gonna ride on it." I replied while subconsciously rubbing my butt. "Look, since we're gonna go to Henrietta's place on a rush, I suggest my Crimson Claw would do just fine."

"Hmph…" Louise huffed while crossing her arms. "Then, get to it already! We don't have much time!"

"Alright, alright…" I waved it off. As I wear my usual getaway ring on my finger, it is then I placed it on my belt, activating it.

= Konekuto! …Pureezu! =

After I conjured a rather large magic circle, I stretch my arm in it and pull out my ride from it. Since this world isn't like my modern world where rules are applied if you ride on your bike, I would just hop on my bike and already rearing to go without my helmet on. "C'mon then. Hop on!"

"It better be quick, as you claimed, Saigo!" Louise grumbles as she sits on the back seat.

"You better hold on tight, 'cause this one is pretty fast!"

"Hold on wh— WAAARGH!" Louise screams in terror after I put the pedal to the metal, revving up my ride away from the academy's view and the refreshing wind hitting my face. "SAIGOOOOOOO!"

---

After what it seems like half an hour to reach the city, it was quite a hassle, especially if it was accompanied by a few shouts on my ears and a very tight grip around my waist; enough to knock me out cold if done properly, courtesy of the complaining Louise. She even threatens me to use her wand to literally blow me up if I don't slow down the Crimson Claw. As we went through the crowd with our ride in the city, we also received some odd stares at our direction, due to the fact they have NEVER seen such a craftsmanship of this motorcycle.

Kudos to you, whoever created this miracle stuff in the first place, man! It truly is a man's blessing!

Once we reached the front gate of the castle with a skid of my ride, the guards went on full alert, pointing their spears on our direction. As both of us mounted off the Crimson Claw casually, while I put it back into the magic circle, Louise showed them the letter, which it was the summoning of the princess herself, letting us in as one of them escorted us to the throne room.

"Now remember, Saigo! We're going to face Princess Henrietta and I expecting you to keep your mouth shut and not doing anything funny!" Louise hissed while staring at me angrily.

"Look, will you just relax? I know all of the rules around here…" I deadpanned.

The guard is then opening the door that leads us to where Henrietta is waiting for us, as she sits on the throne. Upon seeing our appearance, most likely Louise, both of us approached forward and bows politely upon seeing her.

"Milady." I said with a kind gesture of bowing in front of her like a true gentleman.

"Princess..." Louise also did the same, in a high class lady's way and just stays bowing to her lightly.

It is then Henrietta stood up from her throne and approaching towards Louise with a kind smile. "Congratulations, Louise Françoise; for a job well done."

"Being granted the title of Chevalier is a great honor for one person such as me." Louise replied kindly.

"You deserve to be granted with the title for what you have done. It's amazing that you were able to capture the thief who was harassing our citizens."

Yeah, and I did most of the heavy lifting, Phantom wiping included. But meh, it won't matter much. Just as long as everything's peaceful and no Phantom goes AWOL around the area, I'm fine with it. B'sides, I'm just a magician-in-training and it's my duty to aid those unlucky Gates in the first place.

It is then Henrietta shifts her attention to me with the same kind smile on her face. "And thank you too, brave Wizard-san."

"Oh, it's nothing really. And please, just call me Saigo. I'm still not used to the title outside of my armor." I reminded her while rubbing the back of my head, as Louise glares at me in annoyance.

"Please vow to take good care of my precious friend." Henrietta said as she raised her left hand to me, making me taking note on the matter.

"Wait! You can't, Princess!" Louise shouted; intervene between the two of us from doing anything silly, from her view. "You mustn't allow your hand to touch a familiar such as this one!"

"Hey, that's just rude!" I exclaimed.

"It's truly obvious!" Louise shouts back at me.

"Louise Françoise, having him protecting you is the same way as he is vowing to me for your safety." Henrietta said calmly. "When one vows to do something, there has to be a reward."

In the end, Louise couldn't help it but to give it up and steps away from interfering now. It is then I step forward and letting out a smile on my face.

"Of course, milady." I said while holding her hand and placed a kiss on it. "I'll be sure to do it well."

"Thank you." She smiled, which I just earned her trust. Look on the bright side, at least I still know ethics around these parts and if I didn't follow my ethics and just plain lazy, I would've yanked her to my direction and planted a kiss on Henrietta. RIGHT. ON. THE. LIPS.

I can just imagine Louise is gonna explode on me with her wand and Henrietta is pretty much in a dizzy state.

"So, why is it that you summoned us, Henrietta?" I asked her casually, knowing that there is only just the three of us.

"Actually…" she began. "…I have a favor to ask of the two of you."

"Please, anything!" Louise exclaims while kneeling down in front of her, which surprises me for a moment. "If you tell me to kill myself, I shall jump out the window with this stupid dog this instant!"

"H-hey! Don't drag me into this!" I snapped.

"Shut up!" Louise counters back.

"Upon my request, I would like the two of you to live in town for a short while." Henrietta speaks up, which stops the argument in an instant.

"Eh?"

"In 'town'?" Even Louise is quite dumbfounded with this new information.

It is then she handed a scroll that she kept under her cape and handed it to Louise, much to our confusion. "A scroll?"

"What's in it?" I asked.

"It has the identity card printed by us." she began to speak.

Louise looked at the wrapped scroll for a moment, thinking of what she should said next. "You want us to spy on the town?"

"Yes." She nodded in agreement. "I have heard rumors that some aristocrats are oppressing plebeians."

That part is true. I know because I've witnessed it firsthand. I knew these guys would pull the ranks on the innocents…

"When I asked, all they said was 'aristocrats are role models for plebeians, so no such thing would go on'. None of them would admit it…" Henrietta seems a bit disappointed in this situation. "But, after seeing what happened between you and Count Mott, I can't believe it's just a rumor anymore."

Louise is quite surprised upon hearing it. Why is it that I'm not really surprised about it anyways?

"So, I would like the two of you to investigate the matter secretly." She implied. "It's a very hard task, but—"

"I'm at your service, Your Highness!" Louise is all perked up in an instant, making me surprised for a bit.

"Where did you get that energy?" I deadpanned, as she is literally ignoring me for a moment.

"I shall fulfill your request even if it costs me my life!" Louise twirls around before her hand grabbed onto my collar and forces me to bow in front of her. "And this dog will aid me!"

Why do I have a funny feeling that she's gonna pile the workload more on me than ever?

---

After we accepted the task (by force, courtesy of Louise), Henrietta provided the money, enough to be spent on this secret mission of ours. As we went to the nearby shop to buy some casual clothes, while I was waiting for her outside of the shop, Derf is then speaks up to me, just to clear out my boredom. "Another day, another mission, huh, aibou?"

"More like troubles are starting to pile on me, Derf." I deadpanned.

"Oh, relax! There's no need to have that sour face of yours plastered on ya'. And besides, at least you can get yourself out from the academy for a while and who knows? Maybe a Phantom or two would show up around here?" Derf suggested.

"We can't tell for sure." I said. "Phantoms may be unpredictable. Heck, it wouldn't be a surprised to know that these guys are spreading all over the continent. That's what worries me the most as these guys are just gonna pin down these Gates to despair…"

"But knowing ya', I think you can beat 'em down good! With me in your disposal!" Derf perked up.

"Even so, I'm still a man with limited energy, Derf." I reminded him. "Fighting a Phantom on my own would also bring me trouble. I just hope that there are more Gates that survived the trials and aid the people in need whenever I can't reach for them…"

"But for the time being, whenever there's trouble around ya', be sure to use me!" Derf told me.

"Yeah, I know…" I could only smile gently while looking down.

"Thank you~!" I heard the shopkeeper's voice thanking her while Louise has finally got out from the shop. On her disguise, she wears white slippers with silver anklets, wearing black dress, a necklace, and black beret on her head. The Cross Ring remains on her finger, of course. And she's not pretty much satisfied about it. How can I tell? Her face and gesture of placing her arms on her hips says it all.

Here are the three main pointers in order to differentiate between aristocrats and plebeians.

Number one: Clothing. If it is a classy clothes made from the finest materials, embedded with diamonds on it, that's just to show you are an aristocrat. Plebeians can't afford on such a thing as they can only afford the low quality of the materials used to make their clothes in everyday life. In aristocrat's case, the quality of the materials will definitely determined your ranks amongst the people.

"It's bland." Louise complains.

"It was YOUR decision to dress up as a plebeian." I told her.

Louise's left eye twitches for a bit and looking at me in annoyance. "But, don't you think something a little flashier would still do? Doesn't your Dress Up ring would aid me?"

"Sorry, Dress Up Ring is only for PERSONAL use…" I warned her as both of us steps down from the stairs and start to walk around the town. "Hey… do you actually understand what we're dealing with here?"

"Of course I do."

Sounds like you're not…

"I could only think of what's going to happen next…" I let out a sigh, not knowing what's in store for both of us.

"Well, here we are." Both of us came to a stop, right in front of the barn where we can heard the neigh of the horse from the inside.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"I'm going to get myself a horse!"

Number two: horses. As you may know, most aristocrats would have at least a horse in their disposal, so that they don't have to walk around tiredly, as what normal people would do. Should the horse is decorated with some high materials on it or comes from a good breed, it will CLEARLY shows the differences between two sides; showing their true colors as well.

"Seriously… a horse?" I deadpanned.

"Of course! A lady like me needs to have her horse in order to make things easier. Besides, your Crimson Claw would attract more attention than ever."

"Try implying that to yourself for once and see how THAT feels…" I deadpanned as we entered the barn to meet up with the breeder.

---

(Normal Point of View)

During this hour, both Jessica and Dryad are walking around the town, getting some supplies for their inn to open up later in the evening. "Thank you for helping me getting these stuffs for me, Elena." Jessica thanked her.

"It's not a problem." Dryad waves it off. "Besides, you really DO need some help, after all. I am only here to return the favor."

"That's very nice of you." Jessica smiled as they have reached the market. "Hm… this is a long list to buy the groceries. I think we should split up into two and get them all. What do you say?"

"I couldn't think of a better plan than that…" Dryad smirked as both of them started to part ways inside the market.

---

(Saigo's Point of View)

I can't believe a horse cost 400 Écu!"

"I can't believe that you even tried to buy one with ALL of the money…" I deadpanned further. "I wonder what your plan is next... one thing for certain, it won't be pretty…"

"A place to stay. And we're here now!" Louise exclaims while both of us stopped at a large building.

And finally, number three: High class inn. As you might know, in order to further enhance their traits as an aristocrat, they would go to the most expensive inns so that they will get a good service the inn provided and not to mention they wanted to make sure no bed bugs biting on them… oh, and also getting a free mint as well. Also, these guys are just too lazy to tidying their beds as well, hence the reason why I can see a butler at the corner, ready to serve the customers at any time given.

"200 Écu?!" she exclaims and shocked at the same time.

"Of course, my dear customer." The manager on the front desk said. "We're a 5-star hotel that even aristocrats stay at."

"You might as well just give it up, Louise. It ain't gonna work…" I told her before both of us decided to leave the inn and I can tell by the looks that she's pretty much disappointed on this matter since her privilege as an aristocrat has been limited to a plebeian's status.

Now you know the three main guidelines of two different sides... and the whole reason why it has been also underlined as well.

"We don't have enough money…"

"Gee, you think?" I raised my eyebrow while crossing my arms. "You should learn on living in a modest life, Louise. Besides, aren't there any cheaper hotels nearby? Why can't we just book there instead?"

"We can't! I won't be able to sleep in a cheap room!" she said with pure determination.

SERIOUSLY, you aristocrats sure have issues when it comes to this matter…

I could only lets out a sigh and shrugged on this matter, saying, "I knew it… I guess this task is just too big for an aristocrat such as you…"

Louise, still annoyed about that fact, turned her gaze away from me and just keep walking forward. "Fine! If that is the case, then I'll manage it by myself!"

"'Manage'?" I got out. "Why do I have a funny feeling that it won't work well?"

As I tried to follow her, she is then turned around and glared at me intensely. "Don't follow me!"

"Wha—?"

"Let me handle this stuff myself!" and with that, she just trots away from my view. Even if I tried to call her name out, she wouldn't listen. In the end, these guys are just as hardheaded as they would always be…

"Hey, aibou…"

"What?"

"I sense something strong nearby."

"Huh?" I blinked in confusion.

"RUN AWAY!" I heard a shout nearby as a group of citizens are running away from a corner, scrambling out for their lives.

"Crap… trouble."

"You betcha, aibou! And I do believe it's an ol' friend of ours!" Derf said as he got out from the sheath.

"Then, we better make it snappy!" I said while placing my getaway ring onto my belt to activate it.

=Konekuto! …Pureezu!=

---

As I continue to speed fast with my Crimson Claw, while wearing a robe to cover my identity since these parts of the town didn't know Wizard, unlike in the academy, as I turned to a corner, it is then I spotted a Phantom as that thing is closing in on the maid in green dress. "S-Stay away from me!"

"Oh, don't worry, Gate. I will end your suffering and you will reborn as a Phantom. Accept your fate and join our cause!" the Phantom said as she extends her thorny hand on the maid.

"Not on my watch!" I got out while revving up my ride, catching both of their attention. With one big leap, the front tire of my Crimson Claw inflicting damage on the Phantom; creating some sparks on it. As I put on the brakes and now in front of the maid, while the Phantom is trying to regain its balance, I turned my attention to the maid. "Go."

And in an instant, that girl immediately nodded and goes away. "Who dares to interrupt my important task from making that Gate fallen into despair?!"

I mounted off from my Crimson Claw and looking at her with the hood covering up my eyes. "Me."

= Doraibā On, Pureezu! =

"What's this?" the Phantom questions as I don't reply back and flip the Hand Author to the side, letting out a ringtone.

= Shabadoobi Touch to Henshin~, Shabadoobi Touch to Henshin~ =

"Who are you?" the Phantom asked me once more as I wear the Flame Ring on my finger.

"A mahōtsukai; that's all you need to know. Henshin…"

= Fureimu~ ...Pureezu! HI… HI… HI! HI! HI! =

(Insert song: Aratanaru Tatakai from To Aru Majutsu no Index OST)

"Remember this, Phantom! Life… is SHOW TIME!" I declared while getting onto my pose. I immediately replaced the Driver On ring with my getaway ring, shifts the Hand Author to my right and placed it onto the belt.

= Konekuto! …Pureezu! =

"You would be a nuisance, should I let you live on…" the Phantom mutters as she draws out her thorny whips as I draw out Derf in his WizarSwordGun mode from the magic circle.

"Oh boy! Time to get to work!" Derflinger said happily as the mark behind my hand starts to glow radiantly. "Let's do this, aibou! We can't let this thing get away!"

"You betcha!" I nodded before I started to rush towards her direction, ready to slash her down in one fell swoop.

As I tried to close in the distance between me and my target, it lashes out a few whip attacks from afar, trying to push us off to the back, but I was able to block it with Derf and even made a side flip and accompanied with a swift back flip, just for fun. After we close in the gap, I noticed it straightens its thorny whip, turning it into a sword as both of us starts to clash weapons in the middle. When I tried to give a strong backhand horizontal cut, it ducks down and it counters back with a quick slash onto my stomach. I was able to dodge it in time with another side flip, using momentum to my advantage.

I started my offensive steps once more by trying to deliver the kick on her, followed by a strong punch with my free hand and finish it off with a diagonal slash; but all three attacks failed and blocked with her thorny whips. She's able to retaliate back with a quick slash on me, creating sparks on my armor. Next, she loosens up her thorny swords and whips it around to wrap around my armor and decided to throw me to the wall nearby, crashing upon impact.

"Hah! Is that all you can do?" the Phantom mocks me as I pushes myself up from the rubbles and get out from it.

"That thing is quite nimble, aibou! Better swap it with something fast!" Derf advised.

"Good idea." I nodded as I swap the Flame Ring with a Hurricane Ring. Flipping the Hand Author, I immediately placed my hand on it to commence the change.

= Harikēn~ …Pureezu! Fū! Fū! Fū, Fū, Fū, Fū! =

I immediately changed Derf to Gun Mode and start to shoot it with volleys of windy shots, making it to take a few steps back while I was hovering in the air. As I slowly descending down toward its direction, I am able to continue the assault with the bicycle kick on her, just like how Liu Kang does so. The Phantom can't block the continuous attack of my kicks, resulting it to tumble down while I land on one knee before standing up straight.

"Alright! Time to pull down the curtain on you!" I declared while opening Derf's palm to signal it for the kill.

= Let's start shooting! Shake my hand! Let's start shooting! Shake my hand! =

With a quick placing of my palm onto it—

= Harikēn~ Shooting suteraiku! Fū! Fū! Fū! … Fū! Fū! Fū! =

As Derf charges up for the finishing touch, the Phantom is conjuring a defensive wooden barrier to protect itself from danger. "Oh no, I ain't gonna let you go away unharmed!" With a pull of a trigger, a concentrated windy shot has been released, breaking through the barrier created by the Phantom earlier. Though the attack was a success, but seeing there's no big boom behind the barrier, there's only one thing I could think off in this matter.

"It got away…"

(End at 1:34)

"Yeah, and I'm pretty sure that thing just ran through that hallway to make an escape." Derflinger told me. "Well, no matter. For now, the citizens are all safe and sound. And don't worry, if that thing is around the area, I'll be sure to detect it with my trusty sense!"

What are you, a Phantom detector? There aren't any Dragon Balls around here, y'know?

---

As the sun sets for the day, I could only just walk around without the robe that I hide it in the alley, in order to NOT to attract attentions around me. It's a pain in the butt to know there's a Phantom around this city and hidden from our sight after our confrontation. That Phantom could be anywhere by now; trapping those Gates with those twigs and whips, putting them into despair and turning them into more Phantoms without even me knows it! Things are getting worse since this place is infested with magic users, anyone's a target practice and I can't be there when it happens.

"Still thinking about this whole Phantom stuff, aibou?" Derf asked.

"Yeah…" I replied back as I bite down the plain sugar doughnut.

"I suggest you should stop thinking about it and focus on the mission provided by that princess! And who knows? Maybe we might encounter it again?"

"Hm…" I ponder for a bit upon his words. "Maybe you're right, Derf. Maybe I should loosen up my tense in me… and maybe search for my mistress… wherever she is…"

"Now that's a good boy!" Derf added as I finished the last bite of the doughnut. It's a good thing you have a partner to speak up with and letting off the load in me.

As I turned to a corner, the sound of the bell can be heard nearby, which it must be indicating the time in the city. Anyways, I spotted Louise at the fountain but for some reason, she seems sour for a bit.

"Hey, Louise!" I called out her name as I casually walk towards her direction. "Why are you here all alone?"

"S-Saigo!" she exclaims in surprise before she sits upright and looked away from me at the moment. "Why are you here?"

"I should've asked you. Where have YOU been?"

Louise could only stay quiet for a moment. After a while, she finally begins to speak up. "I, um… went to the casino."

I have a ba~d feeling about this… "And what happened?"

"I… lost all of the money."

Yep, I knew something like this would have happen. She could only piles up more troubles than lifting it off from my back…

"Darn it, you should've told me you were going there!"

"But they said I could win more money!" she defends herself. She EASILY fell for the bait, hook and sinker without having second thoughts. "Stop looking worried like that! I'm thinking of what should I do next. You should be grateful I'm still keeping your Cross Ring."

I'm truly afraid of what you're planning next. You're even scarier than those Phantoms.

"Look, we don't have much of a choice but to apologize to her and asked her to chip off more money." I suggested.

"This task was assigned by Her Highness personally." Louise reminded me as she stood up from her seat. "I'm sure she went through a lot to gather all the money for provision."

"Despite all of that, I'm quite impressed to see that you can still complain about your dress, trying to get a horse and whines on about the hotel." I deadpanned.

"But… I need them."

I could only let out a sigh upon her antics. "You REALLY do need to learn about living in modesty… but for the time being, with no more change in our pockets, we need to find a place to sleep before food. I can pull out a doughnut from my Connect Ring, so rest assured."

"Is doughnut is the ONLY food you can think off?" Louise glared at me.

"Any complains?" I counter back with a glare of my own.

"Tres bien~" both of us heard a feminine cry at our direction and it has caught our attention. Once we shifted our attention to the source of the voice, we can see there's this big guy who has a muscular hairy legs, arms and chest, with a nicely combed hair, nicely curled moustache and beard, wearing purple female exercise clothing with dark purple exercise underwear with a small ribbon, white sweat bracers and white go-go shoes. At this time, he has one of those shiny eyes, looking at us fondly, and both of his hands clasps while waving his body side to side.

Seriously, this is disturbing AND an eyesore in my view…

"You seem like you're in trouble~ Bon~jour, Bon—"

Yeah, and it's already right in front of me… please stop it, don't jiggle around some more… I think I'm getting a stomachache.

"As you can see, I'm not a suspicious person at all~" he cooed while doing the swan flapping its wings.

"I wish I want to believe that… but I can see 'suspicious' written all over you…" I said as both Louise and I having a sweatdrop from what we see.

It is then he starts to dance and moving forward at the same time. "My name is Scarron. I run an inn just down the road." He said as he ends it with a pirouette and looked at me with his gentle eyes… and his face is REALLY close to my face.

"An inn, you say?" I asked.

"That's right! An inn~!" he cooed as he manages to pull away his face from me. "Would you like me to lend you a room?"

Upon hearing his offer, that really caught my interest. As weird as he may be, that doesn't mean I can't let this chance go! "Really?! You would do that?"

"Saigo!" Louise exclaims to me, which I looked back at her.

"What?" I blinked. "At least it's better than staying out here and freezes yourself overnight, right? I'd say this would be a good chance!"

"As good chance as it is, there is ONE~ condition you must follow to earn it~" Scarron said.

"Just as long as I don't have to wear something that you wear… no offense." I said.

"Dai~jo~bu!" he said while pointing his finger at Louise's direction. "This mademoiselle MUST work for my inn in order to earn it~"

"Then you got yourself a deal!" I said without hesitation while happily shook his hand in agreement, much to Louise's chargin.

"What?! Saigo, you can't just—"

"Sorry, Louise. But I think now's a good time to redeem yourself for once after you have lost ALL of the money at the casino." I reminded her. "C'mon, show me where you inn is! I might help out as well for this kind favor!"

"Oui!" Scarron chirps happily before he starts to do pirouette once more. "Follow me~"

---

(Normal Point of View)

Inside the inn, as the rest of the girls are preparing themselves for the opening of the inn, Jessica is within the kitchen area, washing a few plates. While she does so, her mind went elsewhere, thinking about the current situation she had to face earlier. She just had a frightening experience due to the appearance of the Phantom; only to be saved by her savior.

'What was that thing? And why did it after only me?' she began to ponder. 'Though I managed to escape from the person that aided me, but, I haven't thanked him for that. If we somehow meet once again, I'll be sure to give proper thanks for helping me…'

"Jessica." a voice called out her name, making her snap back to reality and when Jessica turns around, it turns out to be Elena with her right arm wrapped with a bandage. "Soon, the shop would be open."

"Oh, right!" Jessica nodded. It is then she asked Elena something. "How's your arm right now?"

"It's not much of a trouble for me." She replied. "Even so, I will continue to work, despite what that 'fiend' did to me."

"Well, alright. But don't push yourself too hard about it, alright?" Jessica reminded her worriedly.

'Have no fear, Gate. I am sure what I must do. And that 'fiend' will pay for injuring me from that blast…' Elena thought before she began to move to another place to suit up.

---

(Saigo's PoV)

Okay, let's see here… girls in colorful bustier as the main frame of modernized French maid costumes, check.

Nice set of racks, check.

And finally, pretty girls with different hairstyles, check.

Oh man, this is heaven, if you asked me…

The place where Louise and I will be staying for our mission would be Charming Fairy Inn, owned by Scarron. At first, I was in disbelief to know such a weird guy owned quite a place, but after witnessing myself and most of the girls acknowledged him as the owner of this inn, I can't complain anymore. B'sides, he lent us a room as he promised; which Derf would have a place to hang out on its own. I also decided to help out as well in the kitchen, just to earn some extra cash.

"Okay, my dear fairies~!" Scarron got out.

"Yes, Master Scarron!" the fairies shouted in unison, making Scarron felt slightly uncomfortable for a reason…

"No~~!" he whines while keep moving his free left leg up and down. "I've always told you to call me "Mi-mademoiselle" at work!"

Are you serious?

"Yes, Mi-madamoiselle!" the fairies shouted in unison, making Scarron to feel pleasure from the girls said just now.

"Mmm~, tres bien~!" he got out. "Oh, ecstasy~!"

"To be honest, it gives me the shivers…" I muttered to myself. By the way, if you're asking where Louise is, well…

"Okay, I have an important announcement to make, my dear fairies!" he got out, getting their attention with a few claps. "Today, we have a new friend here that will be working for Charming Fairy Inn." He paused for a moment as he turned to his left. "Louse-chan, come on in~!"

As she walks in and faces the other fairies, I could also see the full view of what she is wearing for today. Just like any other girls, she also wears the French Maid outfit, but in white and right now, Louise is trying to keep her poker face, despite she's blushing slightly due to her unfamiliarity within the commoner's clothing.

You should have seen Japan, Louise. Whenever they dressed one, the rest of the boys would be instantly hooked up, for sure… just… as long as you got the right figure, that is…

"It is quite a tale, my dear fairies. Louise-chan is a poor girl who fled to town with her big brother when she was about to be sold by her father who's overwhelmed with debt from casinos." Scarron told them, which the girls felt sympathy for her. In order to be sure that our secret mission assigned by Henrietta is not being discovered, I come up with a good story which involves Louise and the casino. The result? Well, Scarron fell for it and Louise didn't complain, considering the situation. That's all that matters for now.

"Ahh, so pitiful." One of the fairies cried out.

"L-L-Louise is m-my name! N-N-N-Nice to m-meet you!" Louise stutters badly while she tried to smile in front of the other fairies.

"Alright, my dear fairies. Please give her a round of applause." Scarron said to them, which the girls happily clapped for Louise, but from what I can see, she's starting to get annoyed about it.

"Yeesh, she's really mad about it." I got out while still peeking outside of the kitchen. "I just hope she doesn't blew her top off right off the bat."

"Hey, newbie!" a young girl called out to me, which caught my attention. "If you have the time for looking for your sister, you should help me wash these dishes instead! We're opening soon."

"Ah! Coming!" I said as I immediately went towards her direction. While she turns her attention back to the sink, I took off both of my rings and put it into my pocket, for safe keeping.

As both of us starts to wash the plates, she is then speaks up once more. "You have a cute sister."

"Well, thanks." I got out. While I'm washing some more plates, I felt her glare of suspicion at my direction. "Yes?"

"It's nothing." she said before both of us resume our cleaning duties. "My name is Jessica. What's your name?"

"Oh, the name's Saigo. Nozomi Saigo."

"Saigo?" she looked at me with her confused look.

"Yes, that's my name."

"What a strange name…" she got out, which lets me let out a small chuckle, to cover up my deadpanned expression.

"I know. I get that a lot."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Saigo. Should you have any problems regarding work, just be sure to ask me." Jessica told me.

"I'll let you know if there's something that pops out of my head." I replied back as we continue to wash the plates.

"Jessica, where shall I put these plates?" I heard another girl's voice from a nearby door and Jessica looked at that said woman.

"You can put it on the table, Elena." Jessica got out. "And please, don't push yourself too much. Your arm is still hurting."

"No matter. I shall be cautious about it." Elena said before she went towards the other fairies.

"What happened to her?" I asked.

"Well… it's best that you don't know." Jessica got out. Probably she might be one of the victims of the Phantom that terrorize the city earlier today…

---

(Normal PoV)

As Louise leans against the bar, she watches the scene between Jessica and Saigo and her reaction to this matter was annoyed and angry. "That stupid dog." Case in point.

"Okay, everyone!" Scarron's voice is heard, catching Louise's attention. "Now that we're done with the newbie's introduction, let me announce you that this week is a Tip Race!'

That announcement alone makes the fairies squealed happily but brings Louise to confusion. "Tip Race?"

"For this Tip Race, the one who gets the most tips this week will get an extra bonus, AND…" Scarron paused for a moment as he was already in front of the curtain. Once he grabbed hold of the rope that was dangling near him, "Tada~!"

Behind the curtain is another bustier French Maid costume in black that seems to be a bit more modern than what other fairies are usually wearing. "This family heirloom of mine is also the basis of the inn's name. Those who win this week will earn the right to wear this fairy bustier!"

"Wonderful, Mi-mademoiselle!" The girls exclaims happily upon hearing what he said, as Scarron seems to be enjoying what the girls just mentioned.

"Mmm~, tres bien~" he said. "This bustier has a spell cast on it that charms people. So, on the very day you wear this, you can make all the money you want!"

Those words alone makes Louise stammered for a moment. "M-Make all the money that I want?"

"For those who didn't know of this matter, the girl who wore it last made SOO much money, she was able to go home! Everyone, please work hard for this bustier!"

"Yes~!" the girls squeals happily once more.

It is then he shifts his attention to Louise. "You too, newbie!"

"Eh?" Louise blinks for a moment until she gets the grasp of the situation. "Ah, yes!"

"Tch…" Elena got out as she is all alone at one corner. "This bustier has nothing to do with my chosen Gate. But no matter, with the plants around this inn, it shall provide me the information that I need to make her succumb to despair."

---

As the night continues on, while Saigo continues to help out Jessica (much to Louise's dismay) with cleaning the dishes and Elena continues on whispering onto any nearby plants to know more of her target whenever she sees the chance, the rest of the girls, including Louise, are trying their best to entertain their customers on the grand prize for the Tip Race. Louise walks to another table, where it has been occupied with another fairy to entertain them, and her action just caught the man's attention to her.

"H-Here's your order!" Louise said while trying to keep up with her smile.

"What are you doing, missy?" the man asks her, which caught Louise's attention. She saw a man holding up his glass in front of her and said, "Why are you just standing there? Come on, pour it some for me."

'Me? Pour wine for a plebeian? As an aristocrat?' she thought angrily but trying her best to keep her composure up.

"What's with the hold up? Do it already!" the drunken man demands.

"This is a mission. This is a mission…" she mutters to herself before putting on the fake smile once again while holding the wine bottle in front of her. "T-Then, please allow me t-to pour it into your glass!"

And she did, pouring the wine onto his glass. Due to her 'nervousness', the wine spills out from the man's glass, which surprises the latter for a moment. "What the hell is this?!"

"I-I'm sorry!" she apologized while quickly pulls the wine back.

The man looked upon the frightened Louise for a brief moment and after that, a smirk appears on his face. "Aren't you a pretty cute one? Well, it's a shame your cute face doesn't match with your flat chest."

This guy just struck Louise's nerve right on the spot.

It is then he presents the full glass to her and said, "Well, I don't blame you for what just happen. I will accept your apology… if we drink this wine mouth to mouth."

And Louise returns the answer by taking the man's glass and spills it right at the man's face, which it literally surprises the latter… literally.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing, you brat?!" the man snapped as Louise had enough of the man's antics on her.

As she steps on the chair and places her other foot on the table, in addition with her heavy blush and points the finger at him, she yells, "Y-Y-You s-s-scum! How d-d-dare you to a Duke's—"

Before the drunken man can even stood up to give a piece of his mind at Louise, Scarron gently wraps his muscular arms around that man and said, "Ara~, I'm so sorry. She's still a newbie around here and due to that; she's still not used to the routine." Scarron cooed before he shifts his attention to Louise. "Louise-chan, please bring a new napkin."

"Y-Yes!" Louise receives her command as she immediately lifts her foot off from the table and immediately darts to another direction.

Meanwhile, Scarron leans his face close to the drunken man's cheeks and cooed, "As an apology, please allow me to give you some of MY hot service."

As Scarron starts to bombard the man with his smooches, the latter tried to struggle off from him, literally begging him to stop. "No, wait! Stop it! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

*DING~*

---

(Saigo's PoV)

After a hard day of our work, eventually, the shop came to a close and it's time for us to take a break. While I was preparing myself a makeshift bed on the ground, Louise still grumbles about the event that I don't know off, considering the fact I was working at the kitchen the whole time, helping out Jessica with her stuff. "Y-You have got to be kidding me! W-Why does a Duke's daughter… h-have to—"

"Look, calm down, Louise." I assured her while placing my hands on her shoulder. "That's what I liked to call an everyday life. You don't know because you live in luxury. Look on the upside, at least we have found a good place to sleep, food to feed you other than my doughnuts and most importantly, like any manual labor works, we got paid as well."

"What do you mean sleep?" she began as soon as I remove my hands off from her shoulders. "You mean this haunted house-like attic?"

"If this one might cools ya' down, they even said there were a few aristocrats came here as well. So, in other words, you should be grateful that you aren't the first ones ever sleep here."

"I still don't get how you can get used to all of this… especially spending your time with that girl…"

"That's because— wait, a 'girl', you asked?" I blinked. "Oh! You mean, Jessica, was it?"

"N-Never mind that!" Louise cuts off as she turns away from my view for a moment while I am on the floor, mending my bed to sleep for the night. "Besides, how do you intend to make me, an aristocrat, sleep in this place?"

"I'm not going to judge you for that one. If you want to go to sleep, or do whatever you want, it's your call." I told her while I prepared myself to go to sleep. "As for me? I'm gonna recharge my mana for tomorrow's work… and not to mention the incoming arrival of that no good Phantom…"

"Just how in the world you were able to adapt around these parts so easily?" Louise questions me.

"Once you got the hang of things, all you need to do is just follow the flow, and that's what I'm doing right now." I told her before I tuck myself in and went to Wonderland. "G'night…"

---

(Normal PoV)

Louise could only let out a sigh, seeing her familiar sleeping like nothing much is going on. She took a quick glance of her familiar once more, as his right free arm spreads to the side while the other one is on the blanket and his face still have that calm look on it. She lets out another sigh before she also decided to tuck in for the night.

Half an hour went by and despite the gentle moon shower its gentle glow via the open window, accompanied by Saigo's snoring, Louise still have her eyes wide open, unable to get some shut eye. She turns to the left and seeing Saigo sleeping without much trouble. She questions herself, 'Honestly… didn't he felt anything while her mistress is wearing THAT for a whole night? I know that he's been busy at the kitchen area, but… why won't he feel—'

Her thoughts have been interrupted as she heard a squeak somewhere nearby. Her eyes were wide open as she sits up. From her view, she spotted three bats hanging upside down on the top part of the foundation, dangling around while looking at her with their red eyes. With one quick gesture, the three bats immediately swarm her, scaring the pinkette. As she immediately gets off from the bed and cuddles to herself tightly, the three said bats returning back to their spots, dangling around while letting out a squeak. While this is happening, the pinkette looks upon Saigo and noticed his open arm that spreads across his makeshift bed.

She lets out a quiet groan before decided to do one thing that she doesn't want to do most…

And that's to sleep with him to ease her fears.

She slowly crawls towards him and gets under his blanket; resting her head on his arm while Saigo continues to sleep without even bothers about it. 'Why do I have to suffer of these consequences?'

"I'm… sorry…"

"Huh?" Louise got out as she seems to hear someone mumbling out loud and it turns out to be Saigo, talking during his sleep. "Saigo?"

"Mom… dad… I'm sorry…"

"What's going on?" she asked herself silently until she noticed a tear runs down from his eyes, which surprises the pinkette for a moment. To think that a person like him tends to act so carefree most of his time, she hasn't noticed this familiar have a weak side as well.

"It's… my fault…"

"Saigo…"

---

At the same time, Elena walks out from her room quietly, trying her best to not waking up the girls as she went towards a nearby flower pot. "So, what have you learned about my target? Does she have any weakness?"

Unheard by the human ears, the plant lets out a screech only she can hear it. The Phantom lets out a sigh and said, "Very well… if it takes quite a while to find something that kept her hope alive, then so be it. Inform this matter to the other plants in order to make my work easier…"

It is then she heard another screech from the plant, which puts her having a little surprise of her own. "What's this? That young man is suspicious, you say? Hmm…" the Phantom got out. "No matter. From what I'm seeing, he is nothing more than just a mere mortal. Have no fret, my friend. I shall eliminate him when the first chance bestowed upon us… after we have dealt with my targeted Gate."

---

(Saigo's PoV)

It has been a few days since Louise and I started to work around this inn and I already got the hang of things. Not only that, seems like Elena's arm hasn't completely healed as well for no reason. At the same time, there has been some attacks courtesy of that no good Phantom, trying to hurt Jessica around these parts but fortunately; I was there to stop it from happening. I also have to keep my identity as Wizard away from others as well, just to be sure our secret mission hasn't blown up just yet.

While we're getting onto that subject, things are NOT looking good for Louise over the past few days… the reason? Let me break it down for you one by one.

There's this one rude customer telling why a brat working at the inn. The answer to that question? She spills the wine on its head.

When she was sitting next to another customer on the other day, when they compliment her on her cuteness, when his naughty hands had its sight on her, um… flat assets… well, she just give that man a bitchslap while blushing madly.

And from that point on, more bad incidents just keep on coming…

Also, throughout these days, I also made a recent discovery of the matter as well… "EEHH?! You're that guy's daughter?!"

Yes, you heard me right. The beautiful girl presented in front of me is the daughter of that sissy man who is serving the customers. Damn, the reality can be quite painful…

"Yes, I'm his daughter and don't you dare saying such things about him!" Jessica warns me.

"Y-Yeah! Understood!" I immediately implied. As this is happening, the plate I held in my hand slides off from my hand and lands it on my right foot, making me yanked it back to my hand before I placed it on the sink. "Phew, that's a close one…"

"Yep. It sure did." She nodded. "And that's right. I'm in charge of the shop."

"To be honest, I wasn't expecting THAT…" I said.

"I thought so." Her smile can be seen while she still cleans up a few plates. "Say, can I ask you something?"

"Huh?" I snapped out from my trance and looked at her for a moment. "Sure, what is it?"

"You see… recently, there's this strange warrior that has been protecting me from a monster." She began. "I never got the glimpse of his face due to the cloak he's wearing that covers most of his face and his voice is somehow sounds familiar as well… like you."

"Really now?" I raised my eyebrow, which I already know who that person is. "It must be a coincidence. B'sides, I was at the inn most of the time."

"I see." She got out while looking down, continue to wash those plates. "I haven't really thanked him for saving me on multiple occasions. When do you think I could meet him once again, Saigo?"

"Dunno… my guess is when there's trouble involving that monster, he will surely come to a rescue." I told her, which makes her smile for a bit.

"And poor Elena, she always ended up getting injured from that Phantom, from what I heard."

"Eh? You mean… she wasn't with you?"

"That's because I assigned her to buy other ingredients for the shop, so we were pretty much occupied on that matter." She explains to me, which got me curious. How in the world would Elena ALWAYS get herself injured during the process as well? Was she the target of the Phantom as well? Or is it… that she IS the Phantom?

It's a possibility with numerous results that even I can't comprehend as well.

"Uh… I know that this may sound rude, but… where's your mom?" I asked her, which she paused her hands on washing the plates.

"She… died when I was young…" she frowned sadly on that note.

"Oh… I'm… sorry to hear that…"

"She was bedridden from an unknown disease that deteriorates her life but nevertheless, she continues to keep her smile up to the very end." She told me as her left hand held onto the necklace she had on her neck. "This is the only memento I have left from her, which keeps me going forward."

"I see…" I nodded in agreement as I continue to wash the plates. 'Now I know what keeps her going. The only thing left to do now is to make sure that Phantom doesn't get its paws on her and puts her into despair…'

---

(Normal PoV)

Around this hour, as Louise committed another mistake, Scarron has no other choice but to make Louise stayed at the corner once again."Louise-chan, you stay here and watch on how the other girls work, okay~?"

"I-I'm truly sorry…" she apologized.

"No worries~. Apology accepted." Scarron forgives her before he heard the bell, as he immediately runs towards his incoming customers. "Welcome~!"

While she stays at a corner, she looked around for a bit and mutters to herself, "Why do I have to wear these clothes and act coquettish? Besides, all they say is "small", "flat" and anything that refers to my inferiority…" as she continue to mumbles on her own, she noticed Elena walks toward the plant and whispers something to it, which she quietly listens to it. "And what's wrong with that woman; talking to a plant? Doesn't she have someone to talk with?"

"Eh? Is Scarron-san really likes me?" Louise heard the conversation between Jessica and Saigo and paid attention to them for a while.

"Of course! He said that he likes you in a good way and finds you quite a decent man. That's why he said you're his type of man! What would you do?" Jessica replies happily, making the kitchen area fills with laughter and striking Louise's nerves once again, especially she thought Saigo is more focused on her due to her… assets.

"Breasts?!" she snapped. "Is what that dog ever thinks off?!"

She bents down to grab hold of an empty bottle and immediately throws it at Saigo's direction. The hit was a success; knocking his lights out and surprising Jessica for a moment.

"Saigo!" Jessica exclaims.

---

(Saigo's PoV)

Ugh, what hit me? The last thing I remember before I was out cold is chatting happily with Jessica and for some unknown reason, I got hit by an object that literally knocks me out cold.

From the looks of it, somebody must be quite pissed off to do such thing and I can think of one person that does so.

While my free hand rubs the back of my head, I noticed Jessica was sitting on the bed and noticed my current condition.

"Oh, you're awake." She got out while holding onto my ring. "Are you alright?"

"Well, I can still feel the throbbing at the back of my head, but I'll live…" I got out. "What hit me?"

"A flying bottle knocks you out cold."

"Flying… bottle?" I blinked in confusion.

"That's right." She smiled. "Say, can I ask you something?"

"Go on…" I told her as her hand seems to point her finger at my direction.

"Let's be honest. You and Louise aren't really siblings, right?" she starts to question me from out of the blue.

"Eh?" I was caught off-guard from her question. "W-Why would you say that?"

"I can tell by just a glance." She shrugs on the matter. "Also, from the looks of it, it doesn't seem like both of you are lovers as well."

Wow, she can REALLY deduct that fast…

"W-wait a minute! Aren't you getting the wrong idea about this stuff?" I stuttered.

"As the matter of fact, Louise is actually an aristocrat, isn't she?" Jessica easily cuts me off while looking at me with her stern eyes.

Oh crap… I should've known this would happen… better think of something, Saigo!

"Uh… w-what makes you say that? H-How can she be an aristocrat w-who's so violent at r-random times and lacks any fragment of grace w-within her?" I tried to cover up my story, which she lets out a fit of giggles upon seeing me stuttering in front of her.

"I knew it!" she chirps happily. "I can tell from the very beginning because she doesn't even know how to carry a plate properly! She's strangely prideful, and her attitude gives it off instantly as well. There's no other way you can't deny that she isn't an aristocrat!"

Oh man, Louise…

"Also, there's something fishy about you as well, Saigo." She starts to interrogate me as she leans forward and I'm slowly crawling my way back against the wall.

"Uh, what about me?"

"Can you explain… this?" she asked me while presenting… wait, that's my Driver On ring!

My quick hand immediately snatches it off from her hand and keeps it inside my pocket for safe keeping. "U-uh, let's just say this is just—"

"No use to cover up now, Saigo." She cuts me off again. "When Papa carries you up to this room, that ring fell off from your pocket, which I picked it up and looks at it. From the looks of it, you are definitely hiding something from all of us at the inn, especially me."

Great, how am I supposed to get out of this one while her face is starting to closing in on me. "So, who ARE you actually?"

"Truth to be told, I suggest that you should keep your distance away from us…" I told her with a slight blush on my face. I REALLY hope this one could make her back off from me and ends this story once and for all.

"Wait, what? You're on a dangerous mission or something?" she got out, getting curious over the matter instead of getting scared. "That sounds interesting! I like those kinds of stories!"

Not what I have in mind…

"Come now! Please tell me about it! I promise I wouldn't tell anyone, including that scarred arm underneath your sleeves!"

"Eh?! Y-You took a glance underneath my sleeves as well?!" I said, shocked about that fact.

"Of course! It looks strange that you didn't lift your sleeves up while washing the plates. Papa tries to mend that scars of yours, only to have it break slightly in purple!" she is getting more excited as she is getting WAY too close within my comfort zone. "So, aren't you going to tell me how did you get those scars?"

"I don't know if I should—" I tried to find another way out of this mess. While I was doing so, she took my hand and… yabei! Why is she placing my hand on her— her— damn it! I can't even say it!

And I can even feel her heartbeat throbbing in a steady speed as well!

"And if you tell me your stories, I will teach you LOTS of stuff, in ex-chan-ge." She cooed with a slight blush, which she probably wasn't very comfortable with this situation as well… or maybe it's just me…

Now that I'm a cornered rat, just as I was about to confess to her about it, the door behind her slams open, presenting the pissed off Louise. Saved by the bell!

"Saigo!" she exclaims, making me immediately stands next to the bed and Jessica looks at her. "What are you even thinking?!"

Man, she's REALLY pissed off right now, blushing included.

"W-wait! I can explain!" I stuttered as she slowly making her way towards my direction. "Y-You see, Jessica here is Scarron-san's daughter and she got curious about me and what about the customers who often come here, that's all!"

"Getting curious about you?! Customers who often come here?! Do you think I'm THAT stupid to NOT notice what has been going on?!" Louise is literally blowing off her top here and facing me furiously. "I even saw what other 'explanation' you were gathering!"

*POW!*

…damn it… she kicked where my sunshine doesn't shine… at its max. Damn.

Why do we men must feel painful on our manly parts and felt vulnerable there?

After I lay down flat on my back, she grabbed hold one of my legs and starts to drag me out from the room. "What a stupid, stupid dog!" she mutters angrily on her own.

"Hold on for a minute, Louise." Jessica calls Louise out, making the latter paused on her tracks for a moment.

"What is it now?"

"What happened to work?"

"Be quiet!" Louise got out. "When I'm done with this stupid dog— I mean, this stupid brother of mine, I'll go back!"

"The main question is: Do you even have enough time to do that, when you can't even get any tips from the customers?" Jessica continues to question her while shrugging on that fact. "Oh well, I guess you can't do anything with that lousy—"

"W-what?!" Louise exclaims while dropping my leg and covers up her chest. "Don't treat people like kids or water fleas just because they have flat chest!"

"No one said you have a water flea—" unfortunately, I didn't get to finish my part as she stomped my face with her free foot and gets angry in an instant.

"Just you watch! I'm incredible when I do things for real!" Louise shouted, full of determination.

"Is that so?" Jessica said with a smirk while she raised her eyebrow, getting interested on that matter. "Then, you won't have much trouble winning the tip race, right?"

Truth to be told, even after a week of staying here, she hasn't gained any tips from her customers and this IS the final day. How should she overcome this matter?

"Heh?" Louise got out in surprise. As she regains her composure, she said, "O-Obviously I wouldn't!" and with that, she literally continues to drag me away from the room, as Jessica continues to have her smirk on her face.

---

(Normal PoV)

Back at the working place, Elena approaches to the plant and she continues to do her usual whispers. "So, do you have found the Gate's weakness?"

With a loud screech coming out from the plant, a smirk carves on her face. "Is that so? Very well. With perfect timing, we shall execute the plan…"

"Elena-chan~" Scarron calls her name out. "Please serve this customer well~"

"And as soon as I have completed my task, I will NOT do this nonsense anymore…" she mutters quietly to herself as she walks toward her next customer.

---

(Saigo's PoV)

After I have taken a beating from Louise for something that I didn't do earlier today, I continued to work back to the kitchen area and this time, things are not going to be easy for me. The reason? Since Jessica knew of our little secret we had and starting to get suspicious about it, there are times where she tends to make a move on me, trying to make me leaks out for more information. Luckily, at the very least, she hasn't know the identity of Wizard, even though she found out about my Driver On ring.

"The last day, huh? At this rate, she's not going to be first…" I muttered to myself.

"Of course she isn't going to make it." Jessica smiled. "With her current stature, it would take a miracle to happen!"

And she really DO need one… right about~ now!

"Nyoh hon!" I heard a triumphant laugh that echoes within the bar and as I take a good peek on it, there's this obese guy with not much of a hair on his head, a very thin curly moustache, wearing green noble outfit with brown pants, brown boots and a red cape to finish it up.

Wow… this must be one of the aristocrats, huh?

"Hello~, hello~, Sir Chillan~!" Scarron-san greets him happily. "Welcome to the Inn~!"

"It would seems like you're making good money around here." The proud aristocrat said as he looks around for a bit.

"N-no, no!" Scarron-san denies it. "Y-you just come here on a busy day. For it is usually very quiet and lacking exuberance."

"I don't want to hear you excuses!" the proud aristocrat exclaims. "I'm here as a customer for today!"

"Unfortunately, all of the seats have been taken right now." Scarron-san told him, as Chillan's smirk continue to plaster on his face.

"Is that so? It doesn't seem like so to me…" he said confidently. With a snap of his fingers, a few loyal soldiers of his steps forward and pointing their wands at the frightened customers. This makes them immediately going out of the inn and making the rest of the fairies to crowd at one corner.

"Talk about being a control freak…" I muttered to myself as the inn is now empty and he picks up a good place to sit.

"Heh heh!" he chuckled as he sits on the chair. "You are right! I guess this place truly lack of exuberance!"

"Y-yes, it may be so!" even Scarron-san seems to be afraid of this fatso.

It is then he looked around for a bit, having that unsatisfied look on his face. "Hey, you! Isn't there anyone going to attend to the Queen's revenue agent?" he demands.

"It seems like he's here again…" I heard Jessica said as she stood next to me.

"Who's the fatso?"

"He's nobleman Chillan, one of the revenue agents in charge of this area." Jessica begins. "We get heavily taxed if we disobey him, so anyone who is working has to listen to them."

"The effect of pulling ranks on us, huh?" I muttered to myself while looking at that guy's antics of demanding someone to serve that guy, which makes me sick to the core.

This is why I don't like living in luxury, as the result would be like that guy…

"He touches us all he wants, and won't leave a single tip behind." Eh? You're kidding me, right? Oh yeah… I forgot, that's the specialty of this place… nevermind… "No one would attend to him."

"I can see why… hey, wait a minute… there's someone going up." I got out and I can't believe what I just saw. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me! Is she looking for more troubles or something?!"

"Louise?!" Jessica exclaims in surprise as I immediately starts to walk towards Louise's direction.

"Y-you're very handsome for today, Sir!" Louise stutters while serving him.

That guy had a smirk on his face while looking at the certain part of Louise's body… until he lets out a scoff and looked away. "I didn't know this place is letting guys work over here…"

"E-Eh?!" the pinkette stutters in surprise. "G-Guys?!"

Upon seeing her stuttering, that guy just laugh his butt off and once he calms down, he said, "Oh, actually she's a girl. And having a flat chest, no less. It was so flat, I thought you were a guy!"

Oh boy, I'm starting to think you're trying to start ticking the time bomb in her…

It is then he stretches his perverted hand towards her direction. "Here~, let me measure how large it actually is~."

At first, Louise tries to smile throughout his whole shenanigans… until her ticking time bomb explodes. "Will you please CUT THAT CRAP OFF!" she exclaims while kicking him right in the face, which makes the residents within the inn exclaims in surprise.

"Heh… this is quite a surprise…" I hear Elene got out as the aristocrat seems to be in a shock while sitting on the floor.

"You little—" the baron got out as his loyal soldiers start to stand up as well, facing the pinkette.

"You insolent girl!" the first soldier got out.

"How dare you, a plebeian, do that to an aristocrat!" another one exclaims.

"P-Please forgive her! S-she's still new here!" Scarron-san begs for his forgiveness but the stubborn, hard-headed Chillan had enough and he shows them by flipping the table.

"Shut up! How dare you—"

"I believe this is where you shouldn't cross the line…" I said while throwing a half-eaten doughnut on his face, which makes him surprise for a moment.

"Who dares to throw this food on me?!"

"I am…" I said as I step forward and stand in front of Louise. "Hey, old man. I suggest you back off from her right here and now."

"Saigo!" Louise exclaims.

"To be kick on the aristocrat's face and having this half eaten food on my face… this is simply unforgivable!" he exclaims further.

"I don't really give a damn." I reply nonchalantly, making that guy more furious than ever.

"Wh-what did you just say?!"

"If you want to harm my mistress, you gotta have to go through me." I said while wearing the Driver On ring on my finger.

"That's it! I have enough of this!" Chillan growls angrily as he points his finger at my direction as his men gets into their fighting stance. "Arrest these people! I want them to be hanged for good!"

"I warned you… and you didn't listen to it…" I said as I placed my hand on my belt.

= Doraibā On, Pureezu! =

"W-what's this?!" Elena seems to be surprise.

"That tone!" Jessica seems to recognize it as well.

"W-wait a moment…" one of the soldiers stutters for a bit.

"What's the matter?!" Chillan asked while I flipped the Hand Author to the side, activating its ring tone.

= Shabadoobi Touch to Henshin~, Shabadoobi Touch to Henshin~ =

"I have heard about rumors, regarding a man in strange armor that aids Count Mott and also prevails justice at the same time using his rings!" one of the soldier got out.

"What?" Chillan said, confused before shifting his attention to me. "Who are you?"

"A mahōtsukai; that's all you need to know. Henshin…" I said as I wear my Emerald Green ring and flip its goggles down before placing it onto the WizarDriver.

= Harikēn~ …Pureezu! Fū! Fū! Fū, Fū, Fū, Fū! =

As the chant occurs, I raised my left arm upwards, creating the green magic circle above me before it slowly descends down and making me donned within my armor. I can hear gasps of surprise from within the inn, including the soldiers as well.

"It's him!" one of the soldiers recognized. "He's the masked man the rumors spread around!"

"A masked man?" I started. "I got a name, you know? And it's Kamen Rider Wizard."

"Wizard…" Jessica got out as I do my trademark pose and said.

"Remember this, Chillan. Life… is SHOW TIME!"

"Attack him!" Chillan shouted, making his men to rush towards my direction and the rest of the fairies, Scarron-san, Jessica and Louise are crumpled up at one corner. Meanwhile, I swapped my Driver On ring with my usual getaway one, flips the Hand Author to the other side before immediately placing it onto the belt.

= Konekuto! …Pureezu! =

With a quick stretch of my arm into the magic circle, I pulled out Derf in his WizarSwordGun mode and makes a few fancy flicks with it. "Heya, aibou! What's shakin'?"

"A beatdown of these guys, that's what!" I shouted as I parried two of the blows from their swords on me.

"Hey, aibou! I picked up—"

"Now's not the time! We need to finish these guys off first, okay?" I told him as I push the soldier's attack while cutting away the windy attack on my direction.

---

(Normal PoV)

"Oh dear me~" Scarron seems to be surprise for a moment. "Just… who is this Saigo-chan~?"

'This cannot be!' Elena hissed upon seeing what's happening in front of her. 'The fiend before me is actually the man who works in here and I can't even noticed of his presence; even with the assistance of these plants?! How can this be?!'

'Saigo… I knew something is strange when I found out about your ring…' Jessica ponders as she watches Wizard hovering in the sky, deflecting the windy blasts from the mages. '…but to think that you are the one that protects me from harm whenever that monster arrives… why didn't you told me of this matter before? Or better yet, why can't I see the savior was right in front of me this whole time?'

'Drats! At this rate, he'll be interrupting my work in order to put my chosen Gate into despair! I must hasten the process of the awakening of my comrade!' Elena got out as she grabs hold of Jessica's hand, surprising her for a bit.

"Elena?"

"Come, Jessica. We must go upstairs to avoid this nonsense of conflict…" Elena said as she drags Jessica out of the group and towards the stairs.

---

(Saigo's PoV)

I kept dodging to one side, go roll over the table to avoid being smacked by the edges of their sword and also slashing away the flying chairs that was being casted by the mages. "Hit him good! I want to see him grovel in pain!" Chillan commands his troops, which I had enough of this.

"Time to end this in one shot!" I shouted, flipping Derf into Gun Mode and opens up his palm to activate it.

= Let's start shooting! Shake my hand! Let's start shooting! Shake my hand! =

Before I have the chance of placing my hand onto his hand, I have to parry one of the swords with Derf before delivering a swift back kick onto his face. Once I got back into my stance, there are two more of these guys trying to cut me down; one going low and one going high. The solution of this mess is simple: I bend down for a bit and does the side flip, avoiding the attack by going though the middle before landing back on my feet. These guys weren't expecting to have me dodge the attack and as soon as they turn around, I perform a slide kick on one of them, making them fall as their head connected to a chair, knocking their lights out. The other one, I was able to connect the roundhouse kick before he was able to swing his sword down on me.

"W-what?!" Chillan seems to be a bit surprise as his prized soldiers are down.

"Now then… where were we?" I said as his mages are stepping in front of him, ready to cast down the windy attack on me. Meanwhile, I placed my hand on Derf's hand that was still open and chiming throughout the battle.

= Harikēn~ Shooting suteraiku! Fū! Fū! Fū! … Fū! Fū! Fū! =

With that declaration, my gun charges up for an attack as the opposition already shoots out volleys of windy ball. With a pull of the trigger, a rather huge tornado shoots out horizontally, blowing away their attacks and the remaining three mages that has been protected him. Now, the terrified man is on his knees, begging for his life to be spared.

"P-please, just leave me be!" Chillan got out.

It is then I shifted my attention to Louise. "I believe this is where you steps in, mistress…"

Louise lets out a nod as she approaches to the terrified fatso. "Of all people, I was attending to you, so why do I deserve such words?" she began.

"Y-You're an aristocrat?!" the man stutters before looking at me. "I-Is THAT the reason why he called you m-mistress?"

"My name is worth more than you deserve to hear!" Louise exclaims, making the man flinched for a moment. "Disappear from this place before you regret picking a fight with my familiar once more!"

"Hmph!" for some unknown reason, this guy doesn't seem like givin' up anytime soon as he also points his wand at her direction. "You must be a ruined aristocrat!"

"Sore wa doukana~ (I was wondering about that~)" I got out as Louise takes out the letter that she hid it in… wherever she takes it out, and presenting it to the fatso, making him flinched for a moment.

"WHO'S the ruined aristocrat?!" Louise counters back with one of her own and the result of that makes him bow down before her, along with his loyal comrades.

"A l-letter from the royal palace…" Chillan stutters badly as he and the rest of his men draws out a bag of gold from their pockets and presenting it to her. "H-have this and please forget this matter…"

"Please! We beg of you!" they said in perfect harmony, which it is music to my ears.

"Alright, under one condition." She told him. "You must forget everything that you saw and heard here. Is that clear?"

"Yes!" Chillan squeaked. "In the name of the Queen, I will never mention anything about it!"

"Well, that takes care of that…" I got out.

"Not really, aibou!" Derf intervened. "Like I said before, there's a Phantom inside this inn!"

"EHHHHH?!" I was truly in shock. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"

"I was TRYING to tell you! And that Phantom is now—"

"KYAAAAAAA!"

"—upstairs…"

"Ara~, Jessica went up with Elena earlier~" Scarron-san got out, which makes me realized one thing.

"Damn it! I should've known! That Elena IS the Phantom!" I shouted before I began to hover in the air to go upstairs—

*CRASH!*

—only to have it appearing by the hole, with Jessica in tow.

"W-what is that?!" one of his soldiers panicked upon seeing the Dryad Phantom.

"…boo."

"GWARRRGHHH!" great… the so-called aristocrat has already left the building, along with his cronies.

"Great… when they had their tails between their legs, they always left me with the hard part." I said with a sweatdrop as Jessica continues to struggle.

"Let me go, Elena!" Jessica screamed while the fairies are scared from what they saw.

"I'll let go, alright… after I obtain your hope!" the Dryad Phantom said as one of her whips latches upon her necklace and snags it to her hand. The Phantom lets out a chuckle and looked at it for a moment. "So, THIS is what keeps you going forward, hm?"

"Return it back to me! It is a memento of my Mama!" Jessica pleaded as I start to rush forward, only to have a wall of vines to stop within my tracks.

"Damn it all!" I cursed.

"Now, fall before despair…" the Dryad Phantom smirked before her fist clenches tightly on it, making Jessica's eyes widened upon seeing it. After re-opening her palm, it is nothing more than just crushed metal. "…and reborn as a Phantom!"

"Mama…" Jessica is in shock and quite speechless on what she just saw. Just then, she felt a strong jolt of pain inside of her and when the Phantom lets her go, she is now on her knees and a few purple cracks starts to appear. "Mama… mama…"

"Jessica-chan~!" Scarron-san exclaims in surprise and this just revved my anger to the max.

"Hahahahahaha! Now witness, as a new Phantom shall be reborn within the Gate!" the Dryad said triumphantly, only to have her wall of vines to be exploded into pieces, thanks to Louise's explosion.

"Unforgivable… this is just UNFORGIVABLE!" I shouted as I make a mad dash towards her direction, forcing the battle to occur outside of the inn and the rest of the people starts to run away from the scene.

(Insert BGM: Aratanaru Tatakai from To Aru Majutsu no Index OST [Starts from 1:47])

"Hahaha! Come at me, mahōtsukai!" Dryad challenges me. "With the Gate is now in despair, it would be a matter of time before a Phantom would be reborn!" it taunts me while swinging her chakram around, making me went defensive and pushing the attack back.

"Not if I'm around!" I growled angrily as I do front flip kick, connecting my attack onto its arm. "I will NOT letting anyone within my sight to become Phantom! Enough is enough!"

"Hah! Such bold words coming out from you! Let us see who will have the last laugh!" the Dryad pushes me further as the battle continues onward.

The battle continues on with the chakram swings at my direction in multiple directions, forcing me to block it during Derf's Gun Mode. With a few shots aiming at her, I was able to disarm her weapon and advance forward. By throwing Derf in the air, the Phantom was caught off guard when I approaches it and delivers a ridiculous amount of punches on it. Despite it was able to block a few hits, even with the combined whip + chakram combo, I am able to dodge it with multiple flips before landing another kick on its stomach. When I land right in front of it, with Derf is now in my hands, I went trigger happy on it, shooting out more of the compressed wind shots on her abdomen and cutting off those vines on her arms.

"Gh!" the Phantom growls angrily. "I will not make you humiliate me like last time!"

"There IS no last time… this IS the last time…" I mutter while sliding in a new ring, which it has a dragon's head that resembles a fist on it. "Time to pull down the curtain on you…"

"Hah! See if you can try!" the Phantom challenges me as she creates the same barrier in front of her while I flip the Hand Author twice.

= Lupachi Magic, Touch to Go! Lupachi Magic, Touch to Go! =

With a quick gesture of my hand on it—

= Chou iine! Panchi (Punch) Suteraiku! SAIKOOOO! =

My punching fist tightens up, instantly igniting my fist with a super compressed windy orb. With a quick dash forward, the Dryad's defensive walls continue to whip out its vines on my direction. The rune on my hand glows radiantly, which allows me to maneuver over it with ease before eventually, I lunge my hand back and makes a dire dash towards the wall.

"Crush the obstacles ahead of you, filled with burning passion! Absolute Powerforce~!" I shouted.

I get it, I get it… I got the wrong element for the attack, but who cares? One swift punch, I was already at the back of the Dryad Phantom, with its defensive wall breaks into pieces. As I stood tall, the Phantom was totally in shock with a hole on its stomach.

"The Phantom… has taken its final bow…" I muttered while I bow down in a gentleman manner. Seconds later, a rather large explosion occurs, thus ending my battle with the Dryad Phantom.

(End BGM)

"There goes that one… now to resolve the Phantom within…" I said as I immediately rush back to the inn and noticed the fairies are gathered around Scarron-san, who is trying to comfort her daughter and the purple marks on her began to surfaces more than ever.

"Jessica-chan~, please hold on~! Saigo-chan will help you~!" Scarron-san assures her.

"Mama… mama…" Jessica mutters silently as tears continues to flow out from her eyes.

"Saigo! She's starting to have more purple cracks on her!" Louise exclaims at my direction.

"I know…" I said as I draw out my Engage ring and slides it onto Jessica's middle finger, which her soulless eyes are looking at me. "Don't worry. If all hope is lost, create a new one… as I will be your last hope…"

"Sai… go…" Jessica mutters as I flipped my Hand Author twice before placing her ringed hand onto my belt to activate it.

= Engēji! …Pureezu! =

With that in place, Jessica fainted in her father's arm and a magic circle appears above her, scaring the rest of the fairies for a bit. "Louise, keep me informed should anything else happens around here…"

"Just go already." She sternly told me before I decided to hop into her Underworld.

---

Just like my last trip in Count Mott's Underworld, it does take quite a while until eventually, I've reached her Underworld. With a quick scan around the area, I noticed a young girl running towards her mother, who is bedridden and the little girl is crying helplessly on it, while Scarron-san also stood by his wife's side. Just before her mother took off her necklace, the crack appears and out comes an unstable large sized Phantom.

It has a wavy long multicolored tail on its black body, with blazing red head color with crimson eyes, this thing is on fire.

No, seriously, this one is on fire.

"Ah, nutbar… an Ibong Adarna…" I grumbled in annoyance. Another thing I noticed… my armor is on default based form. I guess if you wanna enter this world, you gonna have to wear red.

"Uh, an Ibong what?"

"An Ibong Adarna. A legendary myth from Philippines." I explained. "It's quite a long tale, but it has something to do with three princes, a gigantic bird and a whole lot of chaos in between... and some princess."

"Oh… okay." Derf simply shrugs on the matter as the Phantom soars out from the inn and starts to crash onto the sides of the Underworld. "I don't know how you know this, but… we better hurry, aibou! Sooner or later, that birdie is gonna escape from its cage!"

"And I'll be making sure this bird doesn't go elsewhere!" I said as I switched my Punch Strike ring with my partner's ring. Flipping the Hand Author twice and a quick placing on it—

= Uwaivōrai~zu! …Pureezu! Here I come, to become your Master! =

Wow, I didn't know my WizarDriver got updated just now… oh, scratch that!

A magic circle appears above my head and soon enough, Wyvern soars out from it, finding its next prey and immediately rushes towards the Adarna.

"Oi! Wyvern! Wait up for a bit!" I shouted, but that Wyvern can be a pretty stubborn one. Without its claws to hold it on to deliver the poisonous bite, it would have a hard time trying to go for the kill. As Adarna saw Wyvern heading towards its direction, it lets out a screech, which is enough to make Wyvern came to a halt. "Oh crap! If that bird starts to sing, something's gonna go down bad!"

"Why? That thing just sings—"

"—which it is bad!" I said as I mounted on my Crimson Claw before revving away towards the slowly but surely drowsing Wyvern. "If that bird makes Wyvern asleep and drops its load on it, it'll petrify him! Fortunately, this one target things one at a time, which it gives us enough time to intercept it!"

"Let's give that bird a whirl, then!" Derf said happily as I was able to reach the tallest building I can find and mounts the Crimson Claw on it, giving me a complete control on it. It completely breaks the spell that fell upon Wyvern and allows it to spew some flames on the already on fire Adarna.

What a bad move…

The bird screeches once more before it dives down towards us, only to be counter with a grip on its wings, thanks to Wyvern's claws. I draw out Derf from my back and start to slice its wings away; making sure this Phantom had enough of flying around. As it creates a crater on the ground, I then pull Wyvern up high in the sky, checking up on the condition.

"Looks like we're having chicken wings for main course…" I said as the Phantom lets out a screech once more. Moments later, a new pair of wings grew back, making me sweatdrop. "…or not."

"Let's close this birdie's curtain, aibou!" Derf gives me the signal as I swapped my Wyverize ring with the same ring I used for my last battle. Repeating the process once more—

= Chou iine! Panchi Suteraiku! SAIKOOOO! =

With the declaration has been made, I immediately stands on my seat and leaps up high, while my Wyvern shape shifting into a gigantic claw. At the same time, the Adarna takes flight once more, heading towards me for the finishing touch as well.

(Insert BGM: Gundam 00 Movie OST – Final Mission)

Time to recite a famous quote for this situation!

"This hand of mine glows with an intense power! Its blazing heat screams from my grip to defeat you!" I shout out as I grabbed the handle of the gigantic claw, which it instantly ignites it in flames. "Ba~kunetsu! God! FINGERRRRRR!"

With its trailblazing speed heading towards the unstable Phantom, the nails of the claw penetrate through its body, making the Phantom screeches in pain. Steam can be seen slowly seeping out from its body as I slowly raise it up high in the air. Time to wrap it up! "HEEEEAT! END!"

(End BGM)

After the declaration, the Phantom screeches for the last time before the fireworks displayed before me. As the gigantic claw lands on the ground, as soon as I land back on the ground, I returned back to the scene, where the cracks have been fixed and Jessica's mother puts her necklace around the girl.

"No matter what happens… stay strong… and always be a good girl to Papa… my dearest child." the woman smiled, which little Jessica nodded.

This scene right here reminds me of my own past, where my parents also told me to continue on living as their hope in me before they moved on. It feels a little nostalgic for me and it has to break away with Derf snaps me out of it.

"Oi, aibou! What's the matter?"

"Oh… just recalling the past, that's all…" I got out. "C'mon, let's get out of here. Our job here is done."

---

After a hard day, eventually, things have come to an end. With the Phantom no longer luring around the area, disguising herself as a former Gate, peace is gonna settle down here once again. Oh yeah, time to tell the tale of the aftermath. After I got out from Jessica's Underworld, Scarron-san wanted to thank me for saving his daughter with his French Kiss, but I deny it politely for a reason and telling him to have Jessica having a good rest. Also, as Louise and I receiving the praise from the fairies, at the same time, Louise is also the winner of the Tip Race, which she has the right to wear it. With enough tip that was left behind by that aristocrat earlier, it is enough to cover up the damage ensued earlier, during the bar fight and the Phantom busting. Also, despite our covers have been blown, Scarron-san points out that his inn doesn't care whatever your status is, as long as you are working in his place as a big family and they also promised to forget everything that happens around here.

"Man, I can't wait to return back to academy after these shenanigans…" I got out as I lay my head on the pillow. "…besides, I wonder how things are going on around the academy?"

I wait for quite a while for Louise to reply something, only to hear some sort of ruffles from the cabinet's direction. "Hey, Louise, what are you doing? If you need a helping hand, I can—"

"N-no! Don't look!" Louise stutters from my request.

"Okay~, that's rather odd…" I got out. After stuck with her for quite a while, I already used to help her changing without blushing madly anymore. It's kinda like an everyday activity.

After quite a while, she closes the door and boy, was I getting a good view! Remember that black bustier Scarron-san introduced? Remember, she has the right to wear it for the night and I gotta say, it suits her perfectly, especially the pony tail hair.

"Wow, Louise… that bustier you're wearing… it's suits ya'." I got out.

"R-really?" she stutters as she looks at me. "Y-You think so? B-Because it would be a waste for not wearing it!"

I can't tell whether it has something to do with the spell Scarron-san mentions or the fact that seeing her wearing black is just attractive enough. One thing I do know for sure…

"W-what are you staring at? I-I wore it… j-just for you…"

…whenever she blushes and stuttering at the same time, seems like the pain I had to endure feels worth it.

"Sorry. I just find you too attractive, just for tonight." I smiled, making her look away while still blushing.

"Ne… Saigo. Can I ask you of something?"

"Sure, hit me."

"I heard about… your mumbling in your sleep on the other night… regarding you were apologize to your parents…" when she points that out, I couldn't help it but to have my eyes wide open.

"Wait! H-How did you—"

"Tell me. What actually happen to your parents within your dreams?" she questions me worriedly. Now, the smiley face I had on my face turns upside down in an instant, looking away from her direction. "Saigo?"

"When I'm ready to tell, I'll tell you. Right now… it's not a very good time to do so, Louise…" I told her before I decided to lay down on my makeshift bed.

"Saigo…" Louise mutters to herself. "The burden you are carrying on you… is it too heavy of a task you are dealing with?"

---

(Normal PoV)

Inside the prison cell in the middle of the night, Fouquet was resting at one corner, thinking about what she should do next. Her last encounter with Wizard and loss was the main reason why she would be held captive in it. Her train of thoughts has been interrupted as a figure opens up her prison cell, making her went full alert. She stares upon the figure and asked, "What business do you have this late?"

"I'm here to pick up our comrade." The figure said. "Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth… or should I say Matilda de Sachsen-Gotha."

Her eyes are wide open upon the figure who knew her true name. "You're…"

"For now, let us make an escape..." the figure told her as a smirk can be seen on the figure's face.

---

At the same time, somewhere hidden deep within the forest, both Arachne and Quetzalcoatl enters the lone room, where a feminine figure can be seen behind the white curtain, sitting quietly on the bed. "How goes the Phantom expansion?" the woman asked.

"It would seem like the Dryad Phantom has been destroyed…" Arachne told her.

"Oh~?" the woman's interest has been caught. "How so?"

"There's this rumor regarding a mahōtsukai known as Kamen Rider Wizard…" Quetzalcoatl told her.

"Kamen Rider… Wizard…" the woman repeats herself. "How far of a threat is this… mahōtsukai?"

"We do not know for sure…" Arachne got out. "It was only a mere coincidence where he might have been there, mistress…"

"Is that so? Then, he'll be not much of a threat after all…" the woman got out as she flicks her long hair. "If he does, then be sure to send out Phantoms to go after him…"

"As you wish…" Arachne bowed to her.

"Hmph, why can't you let ME handle him good, huh?" Quetzalcoatl demands.

"Quetzalcoatl! Her words are absolute! So, you must obey them!" Arachne reminds it, making Quetzalcoatl growls in annoyance.

"Do not worry… you will get your chance when I see fit…" the woman got out.

---

(Saigo's PoV)

Sunshine is in the air and the city is not fully packed just yet. Right now, as Louise seems to pack something on my Crimson Claw, I had a small conversation with Scarron-san. "Thanks for everything you have done for us, Scarron-san." I bowed to him, as he waves it off.

"I should thank both of YOU for saving our inn AND my daughter!" Scarron-san told us. "Should both of you are visiting this town yet again, we will welcome both of you with open arms!"

"We will." I nodded.

"Saigo, let's get going already! I don't want to be late to return back to the academy!" Louise commands me, which I let out a sigh.

"Coming, Louise…" I mutter to myself as I slowly heading towards my Crimson Claw, where she has already sits on it.

"Wait! Saigo!" I heard Jessica's call as she seems to rush out from the inn and she carries along a basket of… Ooo, doughnuts! And it's plain sugar, no less! My favorite! "Here, this is for you for the trip back to your place, made by the fairies from the inn."

"Oh, uh… tell them thanks for the gift." I smiled. It is then I wasn't prepared for what is going to happen next. I felt something soft pressing on my lips. My mind takes a while to register on what's going on… until it hit me.

She just kissed me on my lips.

And it's pretty soft and warm too.

As she slowly backs off, while she is also blushing just as I am, which I tried to recover my shock from her sudden action, her smile continues to be on her face. "I guess that kiss would be sufficed for saving me on multiple occasions… and returning back my hope."

"Uh…" truly, I am quite speechless from her sudden action. Heck, even Scarron-san seems to be surprised as well. My moment of trance has been broken off with Louise pulling my ears.

"I said come on, you stupid dog! We don't have all day!" she growls angrily at me, as I am now wincing in pain.

---

(Normal PoV)

As both father and daughter looks upon the departed duo back to their respective place, it is then Scarron breaks the ice. "I'm going to miss both of them…"

"Yes, Papa. I know what you mean…" Jessica got out as she looks upon the Engage Ring. "This ring would fetch quite a fortune… but I think it is better to keep it."

"Yes, Jessica-chan. I believe it is best to keep that Engage ring he gives you." Scarron got out, which somehow makes Jessica looks at her father in surprise.

"Engage ring, Papa?" Jessica got out, as she starts to misunderstand about it and her heavy blush can be seen on her face. "This ring right here?!"

"Oui! It is the very ring that keeps your hope alive! Just like how I keep your mother's legacy alive within this inn… though, if only it was a ring that shows the sign of love~." he said while looking at the direction where the duo departed. It is then his whole body starts to shiver. "Ooh~, the ecstasy~!"

"Keeping my hope… alive…" Jessica could only mutters it with a smile as her finger traces upon the ring while slowly recovering her blush. "I hope we'll meet again... Wizard."