ランはどうしたかというと、そろそろ我慢の限界に達しかけていた。
　退屈なのではない。シュトラヘルツ家のメイド達は、親友達やその親代わりの大人達に負けないくらいの個性派揃いで、絶えず騒動が起きている。皆、ランが笑顔を作れない事を知っているのか、ここ数日でランの雰囲気から楽しんでいるのかそうでないのかを読み取る術にも長けてきて、笑いのツボを探ろうとわざと騒動を起こしてはコルに殲滅されるメイドまで出てきた程だ。ゲームの甲斐もあって、ランを愛でるだけの対象として見たり、無理に迫ろうとするメイドは若干一名（桃色なアイツ）を除いていなくなり、意図せずランが騒動に巻き込まれた時は、それを楽しめるギリギリのラインまで退避させてくれたりもする。お付きのキュイも相変わらず甲斐甲斐しく世話をしてくれて、自然体で会話をする事も増え、騒動の際にはメイド達に混じって笑い、泣き、時には怒る（迫力は無いが）ようになり、他のメイド達はキュイが少しずつ恥ずかしがり屋の面が形を潜め、やっと地で接してくれるようになってきたと喜んでいた。そして、そのキュイの変化はランのお付きになれたからだ、キュイを伴ったゲームを提案して勝利し、キュイに自信を付けさせたランの功績だ、と口々に褒めるのだ。
（皆が言う程、大した事はしていないのにね）
　こそばゆい思いはありつつも、きっかけくらいにはなれたのだろうと思うと、キュイが笑うたびに嬉しくなってくる。
　しかし何かが物足りなかった。
　普段何かとちょっとかいを出してくるエルザは毎日、朝早く出掛けては深夜遅くに帰宅し、ほんの数時間寝ただけですぐに起床し、ランが起きる前に朝食を済ませて、また出かけてしまう。ミフィはたまに連れ出されるだけで、基本的にはシュトラヘルツ邸に残りランの相手をしてくれるのだが、やはり立場上メイドの仕事をしなければならず、ランに付きっきりという訳にはいかなかった。常にランの傍に控え話し相手になってくれるキュイと、猫可愛がりはやめてもランの気を引こうとするのはやめないメイド達のお陰で、やたらに広い邸宅内でも孤独を感じる事はなかったが、普段生活を共にしている者達が傍に居ないという状況に、一抹の寂しさのようなものを感じていた。そんな時、贅沢な悩みだな、と解っていながら、日本に居る友人達の顔が浮かぶのだ。この屋敷に比べれば日本の自宅は離れの小屋よりも狭いが、あの家で偽家族と寝起きを共にし、友人達と馬鹿をやってじゃれ合う生活が、堪らなく恋しい。
　ランはちょっとしたホームシックに罹っていたのだった。一応ここが実家ではあるのだが…住めば都というには、まだ過ごした時間が短過ぎた。

「不足　シテ　イマス」
　自室のベッドに腰掛けて、ロボットボイスで唐突に語り出したランに、キュイとコルは小首を傾げた。
「タマリュニウム　ガ　不足　シテ　イマス」
「はぁ、そのタマリュニウムとは何の事でございましょう」
「えぅ…マグネシウムみたいなものでしょうか？」
　聞いた事も無い化学物質らしき名称に大きなハテナを浮かべる二人の前で、倒れるようにベッドに仰向けになったランが、小さな声で呟いた。
「玉竜に会いたい…他の友達にも」
「小お嬢様…」
「えぅ…侍従長、タマリューって誰でしょう？」
「ああ、あなたはまだ知らなかったのね。お嬢様のお弟子さん兼義理の娘のセレン様が育てている竜の子供よ。家が隣同士だそうだから、親しくしてるんでしょう」
「ご友人、なんですね」
（遊びたい盛りの年頃に、友人と引き離されて連れてこられたんですものね…会いたくもなる、か。だから最近、小お嬢様は元気がなかったのね…）
　すっかりしょぼくれて垂れたランに、手を頬に当てどうしたものかと思案に暮れるコル。するとキュイが不思議顔で尋ねた。
「あの、あぅ…あれを使えばいいじゃないですか、その、ええと…てれぽん！」
「キュイ、テレ”フォン”ね、ＰＯＮじゃなくてＰＨＯＮＥ。でもそうね、小お嬢様、国際電話でご友人とお話しされてみては如何です？」
　コルが言い切る前にランがベッドから跳ね起きた、その瞬間は目で追えたが、次の瞬間には両手を握られ期待の眼差しを向けられていた。
「する。電話したい。玉竜とお話したい！」
（う、動きが見切れなかった…！）
　以前の遺跡調査で同行した雪恋と話した時に玉竜が女の子だと聞いていた為、まさかランが同性の玉竜を友人の枠を超えて恋人として見ているとまでは知らず、これが感情が可能とする限界を超えた動きか、と人が持つ感情の未知の領域に戦慄するコルが、それが恋する乙女が発揮する限定異能”乙女力（「おとめぢから」と読む）”が可能にした超反応だと知るのは、まだまだ先の話である。
　待ちきれないのか、早く早くとせがむランの足踏みが早送りしたおぼんこぼんのようなタップになり始めた辺りで我に返ったコルは、ランを連れて事務室に向かった。
「ここなら、メイド達に邪魔をされず落ち着いてお話できると思います」
「ありがとう、コルさん！」
　さっそく電話に飛びつくラン。直後に国際電話のかけ方が判らないと喚いたりもしたが、代わりにコルがナンバーを入力する事で無事、菓厘堂に電話が繋がった。
「玉竜！玉竜！？」
『ランちゃん？久し振り～。どうしたの、まだ外国に居るんでしょ？』
「うん…玉竜に会えなくて寂しいの…」
『あはは、もう二週間も会ってないもんね。でも今そっちのエルザの家に居るんでしょ？セレブの暮らしってどんな感じ？』
「世界が違い過ぎて胃に穴が空きそう…って、玉竜知ってたの、あの人がお金持ちだったって事！？」
『うん、なんだっけシュトラヘルツ・コンツェルンだっけ、当主なんだよね、隣に越して来た時にその話は聞いてた。昔、たまに遊☆戯☆ウォーの高額なレアカード買ってくれたり、ゲーム買ってくれたりしてたよ。雪恋に「孫を甘やかす祖母みたいだからやめろ」って散々文句言われたらしくて、学校行き始めた辺りからはこっそり買てくれてる』
「そ、そうだったんだ…あ、じゃあ詳しい話は抜きで良いよね。あのね聞いて聞いて、こっちのメイドさん達がね…」
『あはは！金香お姉ちゃんみたいだね、その人。あ、その話で思い出したけど、こっちは昨日かとりんと更紗ちゃんがさぁ…』
「え～、それは白石さんが正しいと思うよ、紫月は間違って覚えてるんじゃない？そういえば、こっちにも白石さんみたいな蛇の人が居てね…」
　友人の声が聞けて余程嬉しいのか、必死に話すランの姿がなんだか微笑ましくて、コルは思わず顔が綻んでいた。
　その後ろでは、先程のランの超速タップがどうしても気になって再現しようと試みたキュイが、異様に高速移動する一風変わった太極拳を披露してズッコケていた。

「お友達に電話して…ハッハァ。ホームシックってやつじゃないデスか？てか、もっと早くに気付くべきデシたね」
　ランが少し元気を取り戻したようだ、というコルの話を聞いていたピンクちゃんが、ここ数日のランの様子を思い出しながらそう言った途端、フルスイングでビンタをブチ込まれた。
「ああごめんなさい、あなたが正論言うのが無性に腹が立ったものだから、つい」
「いえ…いいんデスけどね…そういうキャラデスからあたし…」
　くっきり頬に残ったモミジを擦るピンクちゃんだったが、ちょっぴり涙目である。普段の行いの悪さは一応自覚しているらしい。
「みんな小お嬢様の気を引く方ばかりにご執心ですものね。もう少し小お嬢様の事を考えて気に掛けていれば、お寂しい思いをされる事も無かったのかもしれないでしょうけれど…」
「今からでも遅くはないと思いマスよ？ここはひとつ、小お嬢様に気晴らしして頂いたらどうデス？」
「気晴らし…ねぇ」
「騒ぐだけが気晴らしじゃないデスもの。小お嬢様はそれなりにあたし達の騒ぎを楽しんでいらっしゃるみたいデスけど、やっぱりご本人のストレスはご自身で発散した方が効果的だと思うんデス」
「そうねぇ…例えば？」
「それは勿論、あたしがベッドの上で足腰立たなくなるまでウソデスゴメンナサイ！」
　珍しくまともな事を言ったな、と感心していただけに、直後のお約束に対して反射的に構えた拳銃で額をポイントするコルである。流石に銃で撃たれるのはシャレにならないと、ピンクちゃんも素晴らしい反射神経を発揮してトリガーが引かれる前に慌てて謝った。
「あなたねぇ、お嬢様から小お嬢様の境遇を聞かされたでしょう？それでいてよくそんな事が言えたもんだわね」
「うう、ほんの冗談なのにぃ。ん～…運動…は苦手なんデシたっけ。戦闘訓練体験なんて以ての外デスね」
「激しい運動でなければ大丈夫だそうだけれど」
「お散歩とか？」
「それは毎朝してるわ、キュイと一緒に」
「無意味にパーティーを開くとか」
「内容にもよるけど…今度お嬢様に打診しておきましょう」
「甘いものお好きそうデスし、ケーキ食べ放題とか」
「自棄食いされてお太りになられたら、お嬢様に叱られるの私なんだけど…あれ？ゴーストって太るのかしら？」
「ショッピングとかどうデス？アクセとか買うのもいいし、お友達へのお土産も買えマスし」
「良いわね、お嬢様行きつけの店に連絡入れておきましょうか。小お嬢様のカードも作らないと…って、ちょっと待ってピンク、今すぐにできる気晴らしってないの？」
「今すぐデスか…このお屋敷でできる事だと限られちゃってマスから～…」
　そんな調子で１５分程意見を出し合った二人だったが、あっという間にアイデアが底をつき、無言になってしまった。元々、生まれてすぐ自分が人殺しの道具である事を自覚し傭兵として生きてきたコルと、戦火に運命を弄ばれた少女娼婦上がりの暗殺者だったピンクちゃんの二人は、当然の事ながらまともな少女時代を過ごした記憶など無く、普通の感性を持つ少女が何を喜ぶのかが判らないのだ。
　何を考えようとも既に頭の中が真っ白になっていたピンクちゃんが、エルザが戻ってきた際に相談してみては、と言おうとした時、何気なく手に持ったリボルバーを眺めていたコルが、あ、と声を上げた。
「そうだ。私のコレクションが使えるかも」
「え？」
「これなら準備に大して時間かからないものね。うん、たまに使ってあげないと拗ねちゃうかもしれないし。ピンク、小お嬢様を地下に案内して差し上げて。私は準備しておくから」
「地下…って、あれを使わせるんデスか、小お嬢様に！？」
「当然じゃない、なんで？」
「なんでって…お姉サマがそれで良いんなら、あたしはこれ以上何も言いマセんけど…」
「？？じゃあ、お願いね」
　自分の案に絶大の自信があるのか、意気揚々と部屋を出ていくコルの背を見ながら、ピンクちゃんは盛大な溜息を吐いた。
「小お嬢様がお姉サマの趣味についてこれるとは思えないんデスけれどね…」
　ボヤきながらも、ああなったお姉サマは止められないしなぁ、とランを連れ出すべく探しに行くピンクちゃんだった。

「え、じゃあ”ちゃん”まで含めて名前なの？」
「そうデスよ、フルネームが”ピンクちゃん・アスタル”デス、面白いデショう？だから小お嬢様もあたしの事はピンクちゃんって呼んで下さいね。まぁ最初は普通に”ピンク”って名付けられてたんデスけど」
「それがなんでちゃん付けまでが名前って事になってるの…？」
「戦災孤児の赤ん坊だったあたしを拾ってくれたシスターが日本人で、その人が日本での感覚でちゃん付けしてたのを、あたしはずっと自分の名前が”ピンクチャン”だと勘違いしてたんデスよ。後になってそれが間違いだって解ったんデスけど、それまで散々”ピンクちゃん”を名乗ってたんで、それで良いやって」
「うぅん、戦災孤児…なんで私の周りの人達はお気楽な人程、壮絶な人生を歩んでるんだろう…」
「何か？」
「ううん、なんでも。じゃあ…ピンクちゃん、ストレス発散って、何をするの？」
「そ、それは～…行ってみてのお楽しみデスね～。あははは…はは…は…ハァ…」
「？」
　そんなこんなでキュイと共にピンクちゃんに連れられて地下にやってきたランは、到着するなりそこが何の施設なのかを確認するよりも早くコルにゴーグルとイヤーマフを装着され、背中をぐいぐい押されてブースボックスに押し込まれた。そして手渡されたデザートイーグル。
「さぁ小お嬢様、どうぞお気の召すまま、溜まった鬱憤をお晴らし下さいませ！」
　ランの前でこれまで一度も見せた事のない　心底楽しくて仕方ないといった様子のコルが示した先で、マンターゲットが起き上がる。どう言い繕った所で、この地下施設は射撃訓練場としか言えなかった。ここに来るまでにもいくつか似たようなスペースがあった事から、おそらく護衛メイド達が自主鍛錬を行う為に作られた施設なのだろう。「ストレス発散しましょう」の一言に、何か面白い事でもあるのかと着いて来てみれば、これだ。なにより手元の冷たい感触が気が気でならない。
　両手にずっしりとした重量感を伝えてくるデザートイーグルは、どう考えてもモデルガンやトイガンの類のものとは思えず、冷や汗が止まらないランはすっかり固まっていた。その後ろから、コルが普段愛用するリボルバー以外の拳銃を初めて見たらしいキュイが、ランの手元を興味深げに覗き込んでいる。早速ランの手を取って撃たせようとするコルの腕を掴んでブースの片隅に引っ張っていったピンクちゃんは、真っ青な顔で苦言を呈した。
「いやいやいやいや！初心者にデザートイーグルとか何考えてるんデスかお姉サマ！？」
「…アナコンダの方が良かったかしら？あっちの方が反動デカいけど」
「そーいう問題じゃありマセんよ！もう、銃の事になるとホント見境なくなるんだから、お姉サマは…なんで４４マグに拘るんデスか」
「だって、ストレス発散なら威力のある方がスカッとするじゃない…？」
　人差し指を口に当て上目遣いで覗き込むコルに、小粋にきゅんと来た下腹部に全神経を総動員して堪えたものの、妙に気疲れした気がしてがっくりと肩を落とした。
「あのデスねお姉サマ。あたし達ならともかく、小お嬢様じゃ文字通り手に余るブツなんデスよ？」
　ピンクちゃんの言う通り、世界最高クラスの大口径を謳い文句とするこの大型ハンドガンは、長い全長の弾丸を収める為にグリップの幅が広く、ランの手ではしっかりとホールドできない事は一目瞭然であった。あまつさえハンマーはおろかトリガーにまで指が届かないといった有様である。まさしく手に余りまくっているのだった。
「力が無くたって撃ち方さえ知っていれば、ちゃんと正しく構えて撃てば反動はそんなでもないのに」
「だ・か・ら！どう見ても撃ち方どころかまともに構えられるようには見えないんデスってば！せめて撃たせるんなら最初はもっとこう、軽くて口径の小さな銃を選んであげて下さいよ！」
「む～…解ったわよぅ…」
　頬を膨らませて武器庫に入っていくコルの背中を見ながら、やっと安堵の息を吐く。
（拗ねるお姉サマは可愛いけど、内容が物騒なんだもんなぁ。まさかあたしがお姉サマを諌める立場に回るとは…ああでも、あの強気なお姉サマを躾けるってのも、悪くないなぁ）
　反抗的な目をしながらも自分に逆らえなくなったコルにあれやこれやをする様を想像しようとしたが、どう考えてもコルが服従した姿よりも、鬼の形相で銃を乱射するコルに蜂の巣にされる自分の姿しか思い浮かばなかったので、すぐにやめた。
　その後も妙に大口径の銃をチョイスしたがるコルに、このままでは埒が明かないと感じたピンクちゃんは、苦肉の策としてランを交えて銃選びを始めた。ハンドガンを初めとしてマシンガンやらショットガンやらライフルやら、果てはグレネードにバズーカ、ロケットランチャーまで、年代物をも含む博物館かくやというやたら豊富な銃火器類を取り揃えたラインナップが、シュトラヘルツ家所有のものではなくコル個人のコレクションという事に顔を引き攣らせていたランだったが、次第にやれこれはあの映画で使っていた、やれこれはあのアニメで見た、等の話でキュイまで巻き込んで盛り上がるようになっていった。
　ランが興味を持った事でご満悦となったコルによる各火器の解説を挟み、小一時間の時間をかけて吟味した結果、００７の銃だからという理由でワルサ―ＰＰＫに落ち着いた。いつの間にかキュイまで一緒に撃たせてもらう事になっていて、ちゃっかりＨ＆Ｋ Ｍｋ２３ Ｍｏｄ．０（ソーコム）を拝借していたりする。
　映画で得た知識しかないランは気にも留めていないが、このコレクションの大半を軍用モデルが占め、細かく刻まれた傷痕や表面処理の剥がれなどが経年劣化ではなく実戦によるものである事にもし気付けていたとしたら、一体どんな顔をしただろうか。乾いた笑みを浮かべつつ呆れ返った表情でそんな事を考えたピンクちゃんは、満面の笑みで二人に撃ち方をレクチャーするコルを、遠い目…というか濁った眼で眺めるしかできなかった。
　どうか小お嬢様がお姉サマのガンマニアっぷりに感化されマセんように。小お嬢様まで銃を携行するようになったら、気軽に悪戯できなくなっちゃうから！

「では小お嬢様、何度も申し上げました通り、しっかりとグリップを握って固定して下さいませ。反動で銃身が跳ねた際に取り落としたりして危険ですからね。それと、着弾を確認するまで目を瞑らない事。よろしいですね？」
「う、うん」
　頷いたランは、乗り気になっていたとはいえやはり本物の銃を撃つ事に些かの緊張があるのか、真剣な面持ちでターゲットサイトを覗き込み、やがて乾いた音が響いた。
「ヒュゥ！初めて撃ったにしてはちゃんと命中してマスね～。しかもヘッドショットとか、小お嬢様やっるぅ～」
「そ、そんな…ビギナーズラック…じゃないかな」
　照れながら、胴体を適当に狙ったんだけどな、と言うランの視線の先では、見事に頭部の中心を撃ち抜かれたマンターゲットがあった。
「多分次は外しちゃうと思うけど…」
　そうして構え直し、一度撃った事で多少気持ちも慣れたらしく、二度三度と続けて撃ち込んでみる。すると確かに急所に命中はしなかったが、胴体に二発、右腕部に一発が命中していた。両肺と右手首、どれも人間相手なら無力化が可能となる個所である。
「…確かに外してマスけど。小お嬢様、意外とエグい」
「ち、違うの、狙った所と違う場所に当たってるのぉ！」
　黒髪を振り乱して足をパタパタさせながら己の無実（？）を訴えるランだったが、隣のブースで突如激しい光が炸裂し、驚いてそちらを見てみると、キュイが狙っていたマンターゲットの上半身が綺麗サッパリ吹き飛んでいた。

「…こっちの方が狙いは見るだけで済むから、命中率は良いですね…」
「命中っていう次元の問題じゃないわ、キュイ…」
　キュイは数発銃を撃った後、アイビームを発射したのだった。一体どれほどの強さで何処を狙ったのかは定かではないが、少なくとも半分になったマンターゲットを見れば、多少の誤差は平気で呑み込めそうはある。
「いやービックリした。それにしても凄い威力ねキュイちゃん、ターゲット貫通してタマイト合金製の壁が陥没してるよ～。ところで銃の方は命中してるの？」
「えぅ…一応、命中はしたんですけど…狙った所に当たらなくて、全部同じ所に当たっちゃって…」
　キュイが指差す先、下半身を残したマンターゲットの股間に、着弾の跡が数発分見て取れた。
「キュイ、あれ全部狙いを外してああなったの？」
「えうぅ…」
「うっわぁ、キュイちゃんもなかなか…相手が男だったら効果絶大よ」
　見るからに情けない顔でコクリと頷くキュイと、それを聞いて力強く頷くランに、流石のコルも呆れたものやら感心したものやら、かける言葉が見当たらない。
「こうなったら小お嬢様とキュイちゃんに、あたしが手とり足とり、腰☆と☆り、教えてあげるっきゃないデスねー♪」
「銃持った相手に欲情した人の末路ってどんなのだか、身を以て知りたい？」
「おゥ！小お嬢様に毒吐かれてマスよあたし！？」
「いや…自分の行い振り返って好かれると思ってたんなら、大人物よあなた？」
「義姉が”あれ”なので同類の扱いで良いかと」
「「納得」」
「”あれ”？えぅ…？」
「…あなたはもう暫くしたら解ると思うから気にしないで」
　一人意味が解らないキュイを宥め、顔をしかめたコルはピンクちゃんに向き直った。
「大体ピンク、教えるっていっても射撃訓練の成績最下位じゃない、あなた」
「えへへ、まあそうなんデスけど…ちょ、小お嬢様あれは場を和ませようとしたジョークなので銃口こっち向けないで下さい危ないから」
「あれじゃ和まないってば…じゃあ折角だからピンクちゃんもコルさんに教えてもらえば？」
「それも悪くないんデスけどね、どうもハンドガンは性に合わないんデスよ。あたしはどっちかっていうと、得意なのは…！」
　言葉の途中で腰を落とすと、スカートの両側が舞い上がり、くるりと身を翻す。背後で硬い音が聞こえ、ランとキュイが振り返ると、ランが撃ったマンターゲットの額、喉、心臓の部分に、それぞれナイフが深々と突き立っていた。
「こっちなんデスよね～」
「あわわ…あれが人間さんだったら、完全に死んじゃってますよぉ…！」
「ピンクちゃん、いつもナイフを持ち歩いてるの？」
　今にも腰を抜かしそうなキュイと呆気にとられたランに向かって不敵な笑みを浮かべたピンクちゃんは、スカートの裾から新たなナイフを抜いてウィンクした。
「ふふ、女はスカートの中に男を殺す武器をいくつも隠し持っているものなのデスよ。あはん♪」
　不覚にも「格好良い」と見惚れた二人の前で調子に乗ってスカートを捲り上げ、無意味に下着を露出してセクシーポーズをとるピンクちゃんの後頭部に、ぶっとい青筋を浮かべたコルがチョップをブチ込んだ。

No matter what she did, Ran was slowly reaching the limits of her endurance.
It wasn't boredom. All the maids of the Schtlehertz family, not wanting to lose to her best friends and adults who made up her foster family, in their own way, were always in a sort of chaos. Maybe they all knew that Ran couldn't smile, but for several days now, they've gotten good at being able to tell whether Ran is enjoying herself or not, and in order to figure out what makes her laugh, they were causing chaos to the point where Col even started exterminating some of the maids. The game was effective, and a certain maid (a pink one) who wanted to fawn over Ran and forcibly followed her around was no exception. When Ran would unintentionally get caught up in the chaos, she would enjoy herself, and get saved right before crossing the line. Her attendant, Cuey, also heroically looked after her as usual, and she talked more openly more often. During the chaotic times, she would be mixed among the maids and laugh, cry, and sometimes get angry (though there was no bite behind it), and she stopped being as shy and hiding around the other maids, and was happy that she finally felt comfortable among them. Also, Ran was praised as the cause of Cuey's transformation, since ever since she became Ran's attendant, she suggested and won the game, and Cuey had more self confidence.
(Though it's not such a big deal as everyone makes it out to be.)
Every time she would be embarrassed by the praise, and think it was just because she had the opportunity, Cuey would happily laugh.
However, something was insufficient.
Elza, who would normally only go out shopping occasionally, was now going out early every day, coming back home late at night, sleeping for only a few hours and then waking up, finishing breakfast before Ran woke up, and leaving again. Mifi would only sometimes be brought along, and would be with Ran, who was left in the Schtlehertz mansion, but of course, as a maid, she had work to do, so she couldn't be with Ran all the time. Normally, Ran's secondary conversation partner was Cuey, and due to the maids who were still attracted to her (though they stopped fawning on her), even in the huge mansion, she didn't feel lonely. But the ones she lived her normal life with weren't here, so she felt a little bit of loneliness. In those times, understanding the worries of the rich, the faces of her friends in Japan came to mind. Compared to this estate, her home in Japan was smaller than one of the detached bungalows, but she missed living in that house with her fake family, and messing around with her friends.
Ran felt a little homesick. Even if this is her real home... They say home is where you make it, even if the time was very short.

"Not enough"
Sitting on the bed in her room, Ran suddenly spoke in a robotic voice, and Cuey and Col tilted their heads.
"Not enough Tamaryunium."
"Huh, what is this Tamaryunium?"
"Eh... Is it something like magnesium?"
In response to the never before heard chemical sounding name, a big question mark appeared above the two of them. Ran flopped face up on the bed and murmured in a quiet voice.
"I want to see Tamaryuu... And my other friends too."
"Little mistress..."
"Eh... Head chamberlain, who is Tamaryuu?"
"Ah, you don't know? It's the dragon child that Seren-sama, the mistress' apprentice and adoptive daughter, is raising. Their homes are next to each other, so they must be close."
"A friend, I see."
(At an age where she wants to play, she was separated from her friend and brought here... So she wants to see her. So that's why the little mistress hasn't been as energetic lately...)
Col put her hand on her cheeks and thought about what to do about Ran, who was feeling down. As she did so, Cuey asked with a strange expression.
"Umm, c... can't you use that, the, umm... telepon!"
"Cuey, it's tele'phone'. 'Phone', not 'pon'. But yes, little mistress, how about you try making an international call and talk with your friend?"
Before Col could finish speaking, in a moment, Ran sprang up from the bed faster than a blur, and in the next moment, she had a look of hope that she was grabbing with both hands.
"I'll do it. I want to call her. I want to talk with Tamaryuu!"
(I, I couldn't see her movements...!)
Earlier, when she was investigating the ruins, while she was talking with Seren, she heard that Tamaryuu was a girl, so she didn't think that Ran saw Tamaryuu as more than a same sex friend, and as a lover. Col was afraid of these feelings that were beyond her knowledge, that allowed her to move beyond her limits. It was the restrictive mysterious ability shown by a maiden in love called "maiden power" that made this super reaction possible. Col would find that out later, but that's a future story.
Maybe she couldn't hold back any more, but as Ran prodded them saying hurry hurry, and started moving her feet and tap dancing around like Obon Kobon. Col, coming back to her senses, led Ran to the office.
"Here, I think the maids won't disturb you, and you can calmly talk."
"Thank you, Col-san!"
Ran quickly flew to the phone. Right after, she yelled that she didn't know how to make an international call, but Col dialed the number instead, and she was connected to Karindou.
"Tamaryuu! Tamaryuu!?"
'Ran-chan? It's been a while~. What's up, are you still abroad?'
"Yeah... I couldn't see you, so I was lonely..."
'Ahaha, we haven't seen each other for only 2 weeks. But you're at Elza's house over there right now, right? How does it feel to live like a celebrity?'
"It's all too different, and I feel like I have an ulcer... Wait, Tamaryuu, you knew that she's rich!?"
'Yeah, she's the head of, what's it called, the Schtlehertz Konzern. I heard that when she moved in next door. A long time ago, she would sometimes buy me expensive rare Yu-Gi-War cards, and she bought me a game. Seren complained to her that "you're acting like a grandma spoiling her grandchild, so stop that", so ever since we started going to school, she's only bought me stuff in secret.'
"I, I see... Ah, you don't have to give me such details. So, listen, listen, the maids here are..."
'Ahaha! She sounds like Kinka-onee-chan. Ah, that story reminded me, yesterday, Catherine and Sara-chan were...'
"Eh~ I think Shiraishi-san is right, and Shizuki remembered it wrong? By the way, there's a snake-person like Shiraishi-san here..."
I guess she must be extremely happy to hear her friend's voice, Col thought with a smile, as she watched Ran smile as she ferverently talked.
Behind her, Cuey, who was thinking about Ran's earlier high speed tap dance and wanted to try to replicate it, was acting like a fool and doing some strange tai chi high speed movements.

"Calling her friend... haha. Isn't she homesick? Actually, you should have realized that sooner."
When Pink-chan heard Col's story about Ran feeling a little more energetic, she said that as she thought about Ran's condition over the past few days, and was given a full swing slap.
"Ah, sorry, you're right, I was overly annoyed at how right you were, so I just..."
"No... It's okay... I'm that kind of character..."
Rubbing her cheek where the impression of a hand was left, Pink-chan was tearing up a little bit. It seems like she was conscious of how awful this being an ordinary thing was.
"Everyone's attraction to the little mistress is an infatuation. If they think and worry about the little mistress a little more, maybe they wouldn't make her feel lonely..."
"Even now, I don't think it's too late? How about we try to relax her?"
"Relax... huh."
"Just making a fuss isn't relaxing. The little mistress seems to enjoy our fuss, but I think it's most effective to have the little mistress herself let out that stress."
"I see... Like what?"
"Of course, we can be on the bed, and, until she can't stand up straight, do I'm kidding, I'm sorry!"
Right after she praised her for being unusually decent, in response to her usual stuff, Col reflexively pointed her prepared handgun at her forehead. Of course, being shot by a gun is not joke, and before she could reflexively pull the trigger, Pink-chan wonderfully and hurriedly apologized.
"You've heard about the little mistress' circumstances from the mistress, right? But still, you can say all that."
"Uuuh, but it was just a joke. Mmm~...Exercise... She's bad at that, right. Combat practice experience is unreasonable."
"But if it isn't strenuous exercise, it should be okay."
"Like walking?"
"She does that every morning, with Cuey."
"What about having a pointless party?"
"It will depend on the content, but... This time, we should check with the mistress."
"She seems like she would like sweets, how about all the cakes she can eat?"
"If she gets fat from eating due to stress, I'll be the one yelled at by the mistress... Huh? Do ghosts get fat?"
"How about going shopping? She can buy accessories, and buy souvenirs for her friends."
"That's good, should we contact one of the mistress' favorite shops? We'll have to get a card for the little mistress... Wait, hold on Pink, isn't there anything relaxing we can do right now?"
"Right now... The things we can do in this mansion is limited~..."
And like that, the two of them exchanged their opinions for about 15 minutes, but then they ran out of ideas, and went silent. Neither Col, who was born and quickly became aware that she was a tool for killing people, and became a mercenary, nor Pink-chan, who, by the whims of fate and the horrors of war, was a girl prostitute who became an assassin, had any memories of a life as a normal decent girl, so they didn't know what would make a girl with common sense happy.
When Pink-chan thinks about something, her mind goes blank, so thought that they should consult with Elza once she gets back. As she was about to say that, Col, who was staring that the revolver that she had in her hand, said.
"I know. Maybe I can use my collection."
"Eh?"
"It doesn't take much time to prepare. Yeah, if I don't use it once in a while, I might get annoyed. Pink, please guide the little mistress to the basement. I'll go prepare it."
"The basement... Wait, you're going to let the little mistress use that!?"
"Of course, why?"
"Why... If you're okay with it, Onee-sama, then I won't say anything, but..."
"?? Then please get her."
Maybe she was extremely confident in her plan, but as Pink-chan watched Col's back as she proudly left the room, Pink-chan gave an enormous sigh.
"I can't imagine that the little mistress has the same hobby as Onee-sama..."
Grumbling, Pink-chan thought ah, Onee-sama can't be stopped when she's like that, and went to look for and bring Ran.

"Eh, then 'chan' is part of your name?"
"That's right, my full name is 'Pink-chan Astal'. Isn't it funny? So, little mistress, please call me Pink-chan. Well, originally I was named 'Pink'."
"So why do you have the chan attached to your name...?"
"I was a baby war orphan, and was adopted by a Japanese nun, and in the Japanese style, she added chan, so I always misunderstood that my own name was 'Pink-chan'. Later on, the mistake was cleared up, but until that point, I called myself 'Pink-chan', so I figured that was fine."
"Uhh, a war orphan... Why are all the people around me so cheerful, and moving forward so magnificently with their lives..."
"What?"
"Uh, nothing. So... Pink-chan, what is this stress relief?"
"W, well~ ...Just look forward to it~. Ahahaha... haha... ha... hah..."
"?"
Ran was being brought to the basement by Pink-chan along with Cuey. When they arrived, before she could confirm what kind of facility it was, Col put on goggles and earmuffs on her, and pushed her forward into a booth. And then she gave her a desert eagle.
"Well, little mistress, please go ahead, and get rid of all of the anger that's building inside you!"
Ran had never seen Col so eagerly happy before. In front of her, a man-shaped target popped up. Although it hadn't been said, this basement facility could only be a shooting range. Before she had gotten here, there were many other spaces that looked like this, so this facility was probably created for the guard maids to practice on their own. The phrase "stress relief", the fun thing that she had come here for, was this. Most of all, the cold thing she felt in her hand was making her uneasy.
The heavy weight of the desert eagle in both of her hands told her that it wasn't a model gun or a toy gun, and Ran broke into a cold sweat all over. Behind her, Cuey, for whom it seemed like this was the first time seeing another hand gun aside from Col's regular revolver, was staring with great interest at the one in Ran's hands. Just as it seemed like Col was going to take Ran's hands and fire it, Pink-chan grabbed Col's arm and dragged her to a corner of the booth, telling her off with a pale face.
"Nonononono! What are you thinking Onee-sama, to give a desert eagle to a beginner!?"
"...Would an anaconda be better? But that has a bigger recoil."
"That's not the problem! Geez, when it comes to guns, you have no sense, so Onee-sama... Why are you always using a 44 magnum?"
"Because for relieving stress, isn't it more refreshing to use a high-powered one...?"
Seeing Col put her index finger to her mouth, and looking with upturned eyes, she resisted the twinge she felt in her lower body. She felt oddly exhausted, and slumped her shoulders.
"Umm, Onee-sama. It might be fine for us, but the little mistress would literally be blown away?"
Just as Pink-chan said, this large handgun that says it's the world's highest class caliber has a very long bullet, so it has a wide grip, and it was obvious from a glance that Ran's hands couldn't fully hold it. Also, her fingers couldn't reach the hammer or the trigger. Obviously, it was too much for her to handle.
"Even if she doesn't have any strength, as long as she knows how to shoot, and takes the proper preparations to shoot, the recoil won't be that great."
"I'm telling you! No matter how you look at it, she doesn't know how to shoot or the right preparation! If you're going to make her shoot, then at least please select a smaller caliber, smaller gun for her to start with!"
"Mmm~... Fine..."
With puffed out cheeks, Col went into the weapon storage. Seeing this, she gave a sigh of relief.
(A pouting Onee-sama is cute, but her personality is dangerous. Really, for me to have to scold Onee-sama... Ah, but disciplining the strong willed Onee-sama isn't too bad.)
She tried to imagine doing this and that to a Col who had defiant eyes, but was unable to defy her, but no matter how she thought of it, it wasn't an obedient Col that came to mind, but rather an oni-like Col who was recklessly firing and herself riddled with bullet holes, so she quickly stopped.
Afterwards, seeing that Col had chosen an oddly large caliber gun, Pink-chan felt that she hadn't gotten the point, and in desperation, started choosing a gun for Ran instead. There was a huge lineup of firearms. Handguns, machine guns, shot guns, rifles, and then even grenade firing bazookas and rocket launchers. There were even antiques included, and it was like a museum, but this didn't belong to the Schtlehertz family. This was Col's personal collection. Realizing this, Ran's face twitched, but then she started saying that this was used in that movie, and she saw that in an anime. Even Cuey got excitedly caught up in it too.
Col, happy that Ran had an interest in it, gave an explanation about each firearm, and after spending almost an hour going over them, Ran felt calm about choosing the Walther PPK, because it was 007's gun. At some point, Cuey was allowed to shoot with Ran, and wisely borrowed the H&K Mk 23 Mod 0 (SOCOM).
Ran, who only had knowledge gleaned from movies, didn't realize it, but the majority of this collection were for military use, and the scars etched into them and the bits of the outside that were coming off wasn't due to the passage of time, but were from actual combat. I wonder what kind of expression she would have if she realized that. With a dry smile and a surprised expression, Pink-chan thought that, as she watched a smiling Col give a lecture about how to shoot to the two of them with distant eyes... Or rather, she could only stare at her with impure eyes.
Anyway, I hope the little mistress isn't influenced by Onee-sama's gun mania. If the little mistress starts carrying a gun, I won't be able to lightheartedly tease her!

"So, little mistress, as I've told you many times, please tighten your grasp on the grip. If you drop it when the gun moves due to the recoil, it will be dangerous. And don't close your eyes until you confirm that the bullet has hit the target. Understand?"
"Y, yeah."
Ran nodded. While she was interested, maybe she was naturally nervous at actually firing a real gun, but with a serious expression, she started down the sights, and a dry sound echoed.
"Whistle On your first shot, you actually hit it~ And it was a head shot, good job little mistress~"
"T, that's... beginner's luck... Probably."
Embarrassed, she said that she was trying to aim for the body. In front of her, the man-shaped target was splendidly hit in the head.
"I think I'll probably miss the next one..."
Preparing herself again, she fired once more, getting a little more used to the feeling, and then continued firing a 2nd and a 3rd. This time, she certainly didn't hit any fatal locations, but she hit the body twice, and the right arm once. Both lungs and the right wrist, if the target was a human, it's possible he would have been incapacitated.
"...You certainly did miss. Little mistress, you're surprisingly harsh."
"N, No, the place I'm hitting isn't where I'm aiming!"
With scattered black hair and her feet pitter-pattering, Ran was claiming her innocence(?), when suddenly, in the next booth, a violent light exploded. When she looked over there in surprise, the upper half of the man-shaped target that Cuey was aiming at was cleanly blown away.

"...I can aim this just by looking, so it's more accurate..."
"It's not a problem of accuracy, Cuey..."
After Cuey had fired multiple shots, she unleashed her eye beam. It's not certain how powerful it was, or where she was aiming, but looking at the man-shaped target that was blown in half, it looks like she calmly knew that she made a slightly miscalculation.
"Ah, I was surprised. But still, it's very powerful, Cuey-chan. It pierced the target and dented the tamaite alloy wall~ By the way, did you hit with the gun?"
"Eh... I did, but... I couldn't hit what I was aiming for, but they all hit the same location..."
Cuey pointed, and in the crotch region of the remaining lower half of the man-shaped target, they could see evidence of multiple bullet holes.
"Cuey, all of the ones that missed their mark turned out like that?"
"Uuuh..."
"Whoa, Cuey-chan, you're quite... If your opponent is a man, it would be very effective."
Cuey nodded with an embarrassed expression. Hearing that, Ran strongly nodded, and of course Col was shocked, but praised her, but the words didn't stick.
"In that case, I'll have teach the little mistress and Cuey, in intimate detail~"
"You want to know, first hand, what fate awaits those who force their sexual desires on someone with a gun?"
"Whoa! The little mistress is spewing poison at me!?"
"No... If you would like your own actions turned against you, then you're quite something?"
"I thought I should treat this the same as I treat my sister's 'that'."
""I understand.""
"'That'? Eh...?"
"...You'll understand in a little while, so don't worry about it."
Calming Cuey, who was the only one who didn't understand what she meant, Col frowned and turned towards Pink-chan.
"What do you mean, Pink, by teaching them? You had the lowest rank in target practice, right?"
"Ehehe, that's true, but... Wai, little mistress, that was a joke to break the tension so please don't point the gun at me it's dangerous!"
"That didn't break the tension... So, what did you want to teach Col-san?"
"That's not bad, but a handgun doesn't suit me. If I had to say what my specialty is...!"
Midway in her speech, she bent over, threw up both sides of her skirt, and spun around. Hearing a dull sound behind them, Ran and Cuey turned around. The man-shaped target that Ran had fired at had knives stuck deep into its forehead, throat and heart.
"...This~"
"Awawa... If that was a human, it would be a complete death...!"
"Pink-chan, do you always walk around with knives?"
Cuey was bent over in fear, and Ran was stunned. Pink-chan gave them a bold smile, and from the hem of her skirt, pulled out a new knife and winked.
"Fufu, a girl has numerous weapons to kill a man hidden inside her skirt. Ahah."
As the two of them watched in awe, with an unconscious "cool", Pink-chan got caught up in the moment and rolled up her skirt and meaninglessly exposed her underwear and gave a sexy pose. Col, with a large vein appearing on her head, gave her a chop to the back of the head.