When the light dimmed, Orange and Rokuko were in a large room.

It was luxuriously made, like one used for a ball. This years venue was likely a [Castle] setting.

However, this room was large enough to accommodate even something as large as a dragon flying freely through it. Shed never heard of a castle being that large.

The lineup of attendees was as chaotic as every. To point out the noticeable ones, there was a dragon, a pegasus, and a unicorn. There were also ogres, frogs, slugs as well as various cores that had humanized.

Even so, Core No. 5, the Dragon King, stood out. His size was in a class of his own, but what stood out the most was the sheer size of the meat he was eating. What sort of animal did that [Manga Meat] come from? It was practically as big as him

For the time being, Rokuko decided to rush over to the side so as to not stand out. The venue was held indoors as opposed to last time, which meant there were walls.

The wall would help settle her mind. Recesses were supreme.

Lets go to the wall, No. 629.

Nah, Im going to go say hi to my friends and make the rounds~

In contrast to Rokuko, who wanted nothing more than to get out of the way, Orange started to go say hi to his friends but he froze on the spot and turned around.

Wait, now that I think about it I changed factions nkyuu

Orange shook himself.

Hed changed to Hakus faction, the faction of the one known as the [Betrayer]. With that, the cores that had been his friends up till then would likely distance themselves from him. He stamped his foot on the ground.

Theeen, Rokuko, please introduce me to the cores in Haku-samas faction!

Sorry, I dont know them either.

Eh?

Weve been keeping me being Haku Ane-samas sister a secret from everyone, so Orange, why dont you go meet with your friends as usual? Well keep it a secret.

In that case, he could go greet his friends, but still

Nyuu want me to spy?

Hiding your identity as being inside another faction. An informer.

I see, Haku is called the [Betrayer], after all

Orange was convinced of his own assumption.

I couldnt do that to my friends but still, no one knowing whos in Haku-samas faction is troubling.

Now that you mention it, yeah. As expected of Haku Ane-sama!

Rokuko nodded to herself.

By the way, Rokuko actually just stood out way more than the other cores, making it easier for them to hide.

Even if she couldnt hide Rokuko, making such a cute little sister be her [Pawn] is her heartlessness her secret to her ranking in the top ten?

Orange thought to himself.

So, Orange, no one knows youre in Haku Ane-samas faction now either, right? You can go meet your friends, you dont have to spy on them.

Ooh. Rokuko, youve got a good head on you, but you know? My friendship with them collapsed the moment I changed factions! Probably.

Thats unfortunate.

Theyre going to hate me, please cheer me up.

If you dont have any confidence in yourself, why not just not?

Uuu Im just being anxious

In truth, Oranges friends were mostly timid cores and would very likely run away in surprise upon hearing hed joined the [Betrayer].

Of course, his friends were basically all part of the Beast King Faction Which meant that Orange had become their [Enemy]. That being the case, she could see how it would be hard to stay friends.

M-Maybe! If I explained the situation theyd understand nkyuu maybe!

What will you do if they understand the situation and still not want to talk to you?

Nkyuaaaaw R-Rokuko is mean! Nyuu are breaking my little heart!

Well alright then. Ill be heading to the wall, you just go play with your friends.

O-Okay

Orange hopped away, leaving Rokuko.

Core No. 112, Ontentoo, came up as Rokuko saw him off.

Yo, Rokuko. Long time no see whatre ye staring at?

Oh, No. 112. Oh, well, him.

Nnn? The rabbit? You know him?

Orange was talking to one of his friends a giant squirrel around the size of a child, as well as a chat about the same height. Soon after, his friends looked at him with difficult-to-read faceswell, more difficult than usual, seeing as how they were animalsbefore silently walking away from him.

Carrying an air of dejection, Orange returned.

They left me

My condolences?

Oh, did something happen? Cheer up.

Yeah wait, Core No. 112-sama!? U-Um, Ill try!?

No. 629, youre talking strangely.

Kukakaka! Well, I dunno whats going on, but as long as you got the will left, you can keep moving on!

Saying that, Ontentoo patted Oranges head with his tail.

It was a bit heavy, but Orange received his pat gladly.

N-Nkyuu! Thank kyuu very much

Yeah. Im going to go say hey to No. 5-sama. Cya, Rokuko.

Yeah, see you.

Rokuko saw him off with a wave, the ground shaking as he took every step.

Meanwhile, Orange still hadnt managed to get a hold of himself and mechanically turned to face Rokuko.

Wh-Why did Core No. 112-sama come here!? And he talked to you!?

Why? This is the core assembly, of course?

THAT-EXPLAINS-NOTHING! Why were kyuu talking with him like it was normal!? Didnt kyuu say kyuu had a Dungeon Battle against him!?

We just talked though and whats the Dungeon Battle have to do with it?

Rokuko tilted her head to the side.

Im friends with No. 112s master. And Kehmas No. 112s buddy, yep. Were friends with No. 112.

Uaaah. How can I put it? Kyuu are his friend even after doing a Dungeon Battle?

Oh, thats irrelevant.

Rokuko responded, thinking back to the three-way dungeon battle. That was another Dungeon Battle, but she wasnt friends with any of them.

Heck, Core No. 666Aidieven declared herself as her best friend for some reason.

Nuuu, Im going to go meet a friend thats not part of the Demon King Faction. Core No. 112-samas words encouraged me!

See you soon. Ill be at the wall for sure this time.

With that, Rokuko once again watched Orange hop away.

This time, the friend was a rope tentacle thing? A thing. Rokuko had no choice but to be concerned over the extent of Oranges group of friends.

Still though, this time it just pulled away a little before their friendship that had already crossed faction lines took control and led to them embrace each other.

It still just looked like he was being predated, but it was a beautiful, ish, kind of friendship. Maybe.

Yup, good for you, No. 629

Watching up till she figured it was probably safe, Rokuko began to walk to her recess that she would definitely actually make it to this time.

Just then, she heard the sound of footsteps, but when she turned to look who it was, she saw a core that walked gracefully without hiding her true self at all.

An exemplary core amongst the 600 series cores, she had already managed to humanize. The person in question had long red hair, telling greatly of her temperament. With a bold smile on her face, she was putting off a feeling that seemed like shed use the magic sword that was her own doppelganger to cut you down if you let your mind wander.

Rokuko. Its been a while, doing well?

Oh, Aidi! Yep, Im doing great. You?

Yeah, of course.

It was Core No. 666. The Demon King Factions star childthe one who calls herself Aidi, as well as one of Rokukos few [Friends].