That smells amazing! What's cooking in there?

In front of the house, Poporon inhaled the rich, tempting aroma that was growing stronger by the second and couldn't help but swallow. Wait a minute! This isn't the time to be thinking about that! Her gaze shifted from the food cart, where steam was beginning to rise, to Beto, who was whining and wagging his tail at his masters' feet.

"That's a magical beast, isn't it?" she asked, her tone already certain.

"That's right. Beto is a Beast of Gévaudan," Ryohei replied casually after telling Beto that his dinner wasn't ready yet and giving him the "sit" command.

"Ehhh~," Poporon drew out the sound with a meaningful tone. "( ﹁ ﹁ )" She looked at Pekola. "Pekola-sama, consorting with people who keep magical beasts…"

"..." Pekola guiltily turned her head away, giving Poporon the back of it. That's not all! she screamed internally. Pekola is consorting with demons, too! She broke out in a cold sweat. Is this it? Am I finally exposed?

"My, you seem very guilty," Poporon said, circling around to face Pekola. "Is there something you're hiding from me, Pekola-sama?"

"N-No, not at all!" Pekola frantically turned away again, avoiding her gaze.

What an honest angel, Ryohei thought, crossing his arms and happily watching the show.

"Stare—!"

"I don't know what you're hiding, but it seems to be something that can't see the light of day," Poporon said, placing her hands on her hips and blocking Pekola's path again. She bit her thumb with a frustrated look. "Damn it! I acted too soon! I should have observed you for a while first, found your weakness, and then reported it to Heaven! I could have gotten rid of you and secured my position without any effort!"

"You're surprisingly polite," Ryohei interjected with a smile. "Still calling her 'Pekola-sama' even while you're plotting to kill her."

"..." Poporon paused, momentarily taken aback. "It's a habit," she replied. She had served Pekola for a long time.

"You're not very angel-like," Yurine said, coming out of the house and closing the door behind her. She had overheard their conversation.

"It's not like I became an angel because I was suited for it," the idol-like angel replied with a pout. "I became an angel because I was born one." Her emerald-green eyes then darted to Yurine's hands and lit up. They're not in her hands… Did she leave my halo inside the house? Poporon's heart began to beat a little faster as a new plan began to form.

"Just a reminder," Yurine said, having already seen through her, "there are two demons inside that house. And one of them is particularly despicable, shameless, and scummy. You wouldn't want to run into them without your powers, would you?"

Poporon felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head. She looked at the house in shock. Two demons are in there?! Wait a minute! A spark went off in her brain. She turned her head, her face a mask of astonishment as she looked at Pekola. "Pekola-sama, you…"

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Pekola, who had been wondering when another demon had moved in, replied with the classic three-part denial.

"I haven't even said anything yet, why are you so defensive?" Poporon asked, squinting at Pekola. Her guilt was a dead giveaway. The great Archangel Pekola was shacking up with demons!

"I'm just working for Chef Ryohei to make a living! I haven't betrayed my faction!"

"I never said you did."

"Eh?" Pekola, who had been in the middle of a frantic explanation, froze. She blinked, looking at Poporon with a blank expression.

"Since that's all cleared up, it's time to get to the stall, Pekola," Ryohei said, unfolding his arms and gesturing for her to get moving.

"Oh," Pekola replied instinctively, her body moving faster than her brain as she went to pull the cart.

Poporon watched them go, then looked back at the house, her expression conflicted. In the end, she hurried to catch up. She walked up beside Yurine and asked directly, "What do I have to do to get my Angelic Halo back? Do I have to work for you, like Pekola-sama?"

"Hmm…" Yurine glanced at her, considering. She had taken the halo to protect Pekola and to stop Poporon from causing trouble. And now, seeing the "shadow of Jashin-chan" in her, she was even more reluctant to return it.

"You're making this very difficult for me, Poporon," Yurine sighed.

Poporon's eyelid twitched. What did you just say?! You're making it difficult to return something you stole from me?! You've got to be kidding! You're a monster! No wonder you hang out with demons, you're just as black-hearted!

On the outside, however, she put on a pitiful expression, her eyes welling up with tears. "Please, I beg you, give it back to Poporon," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "The Angelic Halo is so important to me… Without it, I'll lose everything! And I didn't report that I was leaving this time. If I don't get back in time, I could be listed as a deserter! If that happens, I'm finished!"

"Even if you say that, it's still difficult," Yurine replied, her expression just as troubled. "Poporon, you're too dangerous."

Poporon: "?"

What are you talking about? I'm too dangerous? (ο´･д･)??

Ryohei, watching from the side, had to stop himself from laughing out loud. Yurine's logic was truly on another level.

~~~

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