Ichi balked at Renya's words. He was becoming aware of how much his ignorance of his abilities as a druid might become an ongoing issue.

"I granted you power?"

"Yes. Until that moment you granted me the title of Maid Knight, I only suspected you might be a druid. When you told me on the rooftop that you could smell lies, I thought that was strange. Even the Tanuki Lord Genji Danzaburo is incapable of that. At least, according to the grimoires my family kept. When you told me about what happened with Scipio's sword, I decided to take that bet we made on the rooftop seriously. I wanted to know the truth behind what you were. When I kneeled, I was just acting, amusing myself more than you. Granting names, especially those granted titles by a druid, can be extraordinary powerful."

"So, soon after I called you Maid Knight you figured out I was a druid?"

"That lie I told Oni in the gol- 'giant robot' - sorry, about you making it, is partly true. Miko, the cat within me, barely has any magical power. This is all an application of my knowledge and ingenuity after being granted the title of 'Maid Knight'. Without your power, I wouldn't have been able to make any matierials."

Ichi looked around the small room. Vials of black goo were in the corner. He saw them everywhere.

"This black goo is part of your new abilities?"

"I'm using your power to make them. That you haven't even gotten exhausted after I tried to exhaust you is a testament to your natural ability as a druid. It's discouraging."

Renya breathed out softly, then continued.

"My pathetic betrayal was to reveal that I wasn't going to betray you at all. I wanted you to writhe for awhile wondering if I was truly on your side."

"You're merciless."

"Yes. And my betrayal now is to continue making you writhe in the future. I'll find a way to make things difficult for you, but at the same time, I'll open up new opportunities. That sounded like something worth doing for the stupidest druid in existence."

Ichi looked at Renya's dull blue eyes. She was half smiling.

"This really is a game to you, isn't it?"

"Is there anything wrong with that? At best, I've given you a kingdom and a brilliant beyond measure Maid Knight with vague romantic intentions, and at worst, I'll watch you suffer and enjoy myself. If you were planning on suffering anyways, isn't it better for someone to benefit from it? I may be a parasite, but I'm your parasite."

Ichi levered his forehead into his closed fist. He sat in silence with the girl, then flung out Syon's journal onto her lap.

"That's a gift. Syon's journal. Syon, you see, offered to bear one of my children after one conversation. I might become a happy person if that happened. You can't have that, right? She's way smarter than me, and I'm not very good at being a druid right now. You don't mind taking care of a mess like her for me, do you?"

Renya stared at the journal with a magical girl on the cover in silence.

"Bear your child?"

"Yeah. You know what happens to people that have children, right? They do anything for them and feel satisfied with life despite all troubles. I'd be miserable, but in the end I'd be glad I lived. Wouldn't stopping that from happening be satisfying?"