An Azur New Year's Party [Sanghyeok Only]

[Azur Deutschland]

The 31st of December. The year will come to a close at night and a brand new year will awake in its stead.
Today was to be an extremely happy and wonderful day.

It was very early in the morning. Sylvia and Julienne were already practically wide awake. Phym was still fast asleep, so the rose twins let her sleep for a little longer. Sylvia and Julienne's eagerness was enough to completely remove any sense of being tired. They had been thinking of plans and what to do throughout the week, last night specifically, where they stayed up for quite a while. Chairwoman Oomiya from Sanghyeok was to arrive for their gettogether. The twins wanted to make sure that everything was perfect for when their friend arrived. The Dellamorte Castle was alive now more than ever for this occasion. Servants bustled about. Guards helped out. Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall were busying themselves making sure everything was smoothly being prepared.

The two rose twins were sipping their morning tea at a little table as they thought of what to wear. What would look good for today? Something elegant? Something a bit more relaxed and casual? So many choices... Settling on, surprise, a couple of Gothic dresses, they sipped the rest of their tea before getting dressed and ready. Just then, Phym had woken up. Smiling at their little daughter, they helped Phym pick out a dress to wear as well. It was one they had bought on one of their outings a bit ago, around Halloween time.

After they were all dressed up, Schnee Kristall walked in with Rosenkristall. Smiling the two dolls informed Sylvia and Julienne about the situation. ""Everything is prepared and in order.""

The twins gave a nod along with a smile. Phym ran up to the two dolls and hugged them. They returned her hug warmly.

"Thank you, you two. I guess all that's left now is to wait for our friend." Sylvia had said.

The group then walked down to the entrance hall of the castle to wait for the news about Oomiya's arrival.

[Sanghyeok]

29 December

A thin, delicate, light pink coloured envelope had appeared on Ōmiya's desk, and she knew who the senders were just from the appearance. She opened it quickly out of excitement, breaking apart the bright red wax seal carefully to extract the letter. Ōmiya felt her heart flooding with happiness as she scanned the contents within: an invitation to a New Year's party in Azur Deutschland from her friends Julienne and Sylvia. The moment she finished reading, she placed the letter down and called to her assistant. "Chisaki, are you there?"

Chisaki's voice confirmed that she was listening, and she soon appeared by Ōmiya's side, looking at her with interest. "Is there anything I can help you with, Chairwoman?" she asked, curious as to why Ōmiya had asked for her. It wasn't often that Oomiya needed assistance with her work, and at any rate Chisaki doubted she had the ability to offer Ōmiya any advice on matters of policy.

"Can you move my New Year's Address to the evening of the 30th, Chisaki?"

Chisaki readjusted her glasses before asking again. "I'm sorry, Chairwoman? Did you ask me to reschedule your New Year's Address?" Her voice was that of disbelief, for the New Year's Address had always been given on the morning of the 31st of December, never earlier nor later. A precedent set by Premier Sakigawa as early as 1981, nobody had disrupted it for nearly forty years. And yet...

"That's correct, Chisaki," Ōmiya replied. "You see, I'm going to be quite busy these few days," she continued, and Chisaki thought she saw Ōmiya's eyes light up for a moment. That's not good. She always proposes something completely unexpected when she becomes so energetic. Last time she did this, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to spend ages explaining to foreign diplomats why she had been creating approval ratings for their nation's leaders. Ōmiya gestured to the letter resting on her desk, and Chisaki understood immediately. "It's your friends from Azur, isn't it?"

Friends from Azur. Within those three words was perhaps the most recent-and perhaps largest- controversy Ōmiya had gone through since she began serving as Chairwoman. Ever since meeting with the Rose Twins of Azur Deutschland without official notice, all of Sanghyeok had been deliberating over whether or not their tea party should have happened, the consequences for the nation, and even if Ōmiya should have been replaced in her position as Chairwoman. The noise had just stopped, and Chisaki was desperately hoping Ōmiya wouldn't do something like that again.

"You're not going to invite them over again, are you?" Chisaki finally asked, somewhat worried. While she was certainly pleased Ōmiya had been finding more friends similar to her, she was anxious about the political consequences of Ōmiya's friendship.

"No, I'm not inviting them over this time," Ōmiya replied, and Chisaki let out a deep breath of relief. "Instead, they're inviting me. Isn't it lovely, Chisaki? I'm going to explore Azur Deutschland with my Julienne and Sylvia, and spend New Year's with them." Chisaki nearly choked upon hearing Oomiya's answer, and coughed rather loudly.

"Are you alright, Chisaki? You should be wearing more with the weather outside. After all, your mother wouldn't like it very much if you were to suffer from a cold on New Year's gathering, would she?"

"I'm fine, Chairwoman," Chisaki said, but she wasn't entirely fine. For one, she knew the opposition leaders- Tomie Shinpei especially- wouldn't be using lovely to describe Ōmiya's trip outside of the federation. But however willing the Chairwoman was to listen to advice in official affairs, she remained rather stubborn in her private life, and Chisaki knew Ōmiya well enough to understand she couldn't persuade her matter how hard she tried.

After a period of silence, Chisaki spoke again. "I will inform the Ministries of your desired change, Chairwoman." She made to turn around and leave the room, but Ōmiya had one more thing to say to her.

"Thank you, Chisaki" Ōmiya told her, and she smiled gratefully. Chisaki nodded soundlessly, perhaps somewhat embarrassed, before sliding the door closed to leave Ōmiya all alone once more.

---

31 December

Ōmiya was floating somewhere, though she couldn't tell where exactly, her body being carried about by an invisible current while sweets of all colours and shapes surrounded her. They drew closer, and Ōmiya happily reached out her arms, ready to embrace the rush of sugar when-

"Good morning, Chairwoman," came the familiar voice. Crimson-orange light of early dawn painted her room and filled her eyes as she slowly opened them. "Did you sleep well, Chairwoman?" Chisaki asked, and Oomiya nodded briskly. "I had a most interesting dream, Chisaki" Ōmiya said, and she described its contents to her while Chisaki began preparing her makeup and hair.

"That is amusing," Chisaki agreed. "As for this morning, how would you like your hair?"

"Tied back the usual way," Ōmiya replied. She had been deliberating about what her appearance would be like ever since she had read that letter: bright colours for energy and liveliness, or perhaps something more dark and elegant? Tied back for formality, or let down for the occasion? Shoes for walking and touring Azur Berlin, or high heels for style? In the end Ōmiya had decided to bring "all of the above", and her purse was now packed with a formal evening gown and necklace, while she had settled with wearing her usual outfit for the season, winter coat and scarf included.

"Done!" Chisaki proudly announced, and Ōmiya admitted she had done quite a good job. "Thank you as always, Chisaki" Ōmiya complimented. "I'm leaving now." "Have a good trip!" Chisaki told her, and they waved farewell as Ōmiya began to walk towards the centre of her residence. Now, it was time to travel to the world of Azur. Ōmiya prepared herself mentally one more time, and began the complex process of transferring herself to Sylvia and Julienne's universe.

At first, nothing. And then a curious sensation like wind surrounded her, before the ground and air around her disappeared. There was a moment of darkness, and when Ōmiya opened her eyes again she was in an unfamiliar place. The air here was still cold and clouds overhead gray, but the fragrance here was different from the flowers of Chu'o Tokai. Instead, Ōmiya sniffed the air and smelled cinnamon, ginger, and what appeared to be butter. Looking about her surroundings, she saw cobblestone pavement on the narrow streets, surrounded by architecture that seemed to be mixing influences from all eras. Tall spires existed side by side with short, flat roofs and rounded arches of stone. People milled about in front of stores and restaurants, their warm breath forming visible clouds of mist in the chilly air as they spoke to one another in a language Ōmiya could distinguish, if nor understand. Signs hung from windows and doors proclaimed that New Year's was coming, while others advertised events which had been held for Christmas a few days ago. There was no doubt she had successfully arrived in Azur Berlin.

Looking up again, Ōmiya saw the spires of Julienne and Sylvia's castle protruding above the skyline as if piercing the heavens. She began to walk forward as she hummed a cheerful tune, eager to meet her friends.

[Azur Deutschland]

As Oomiya walked about Azur Berlin, she could see that Azur Deutschland wasn't exactly an ordinary nation. For instance, a centaur walked past Oomiya, carrying some boxes to deliver to a store or someplace. Ahead, in the sky, appeared to be human-like birds, harpies, flying around. There was a family of four walking into a nearby restaurant. The mother and the two children had cat ears. Surely, Oomiya also saw a lamia slither past, around a corner.

Approaching the Dellamorte Castle, Oomiya would be greeted by three women dressed in the garb of one of the enforcement agencies of the Great Azur Court. The shorter one, the one with the gold metal gauntlet on her left arm, appeared to be the leader. Upon sighting Oomiya, she gave a bow. The two taller women with her proceeded to bow as well.

"Hello, Chairwoman Oomiya. I am Dlanor. These two are Getrude and Cornelia." The shorter one spoke before rising from her bow. The taller women rose after their names were called. "If you don't mind, we were tasked with meeting you and escorting you to the Dellamorte Castle."

The three inquisitors weren't really known for small talk, but they tried their best to offer some words to Oomiya as they made their way to the castle. They made sure to keep the pace steady. They weren't exactly rushing their way to the castle, but they weren't taking their time either. Dlanor was sure that both the twins and Oomiya were rather excited to meet each other again, but she also didn't want to force Oomiya to miss out on seeing Azur Berlin.

Soon enough, after walking past soldiers and guards who gave salutes to the three inquisitors, the four arrived at the entrance to the castle. The guards at the doors snapped a salute before moving to open the gates.

[Sanghyeok]

Though Ōmiya had known Azur Deutschland was a country in an entirely different world from hers, she hadn't expected there to be so many unfamiliar sights and sounds. Whenever she looked around her, she saw something new and unseen before: magical creatures flying overhead and walking alongside, different types of buildings, and plants of odd colours and scents. She was still in awe of it all when she neared Dellamorte Castle. There, three women- one about Ōmiya's height and two somewhat taller- wearing the dresses Great Azur Court introduced themselves to her, and Ōmiya did so as well.

"It is a pleasure to meet the three of you, Dlanor, Gertrude, Cornelia," Ōmiya said in English, replying with a polite bow of her own. She reminded herself that she should learn at least some common phrases in German for the future, but she was so focused on taking in her surroundings that she didn't have time to think about it further. As they walked along the streets of Azur Berlin at a steady pace, the three ladies explained as quickly as Ōmiya could ask questions, telling her about Azur Berlin's history, culture, and society on the long climb uphill.

At last, Ōmiya had arrived before the main gates of Dellamorte Castle, and she let out a gasp of amazement. Though she was no stranger to tall buildings or castles, this was different. The width of the castle and its construction of layers upon layers of solid stone were impressive. From where she was standing there appeared to be no end to the tall spires protruding from the top of each tower. Even when she raised her head to see it all, some of the towers almost seemed to disappear within the clouds. She wondered what it would be like to stand from one of the towers, looking down at the city below. How lovely it would be, to look at the entire panoramic beauty of Azur Berlin from high above like birds.

The low roar of the gate opening up brought her attention back to reality, and when she had lowered her head Ōmiya saw the gate had been opened fully. Dlanor nodded, and Ōmiya entered, each forward step echoing lightly in the silent morning, bringing her closer to where Julienne, Sylvia, and Phym were waiting for her.

[Azur Deutschland]

Sylvia and Julienne were chatting with Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall. They were exclaiming their excitement about being able to see their friend once again. Suddenly, the sound of the gate to the entrance hall opening filled the air. The twins, the two dolls, and Phym all turned their attention to the doors. The light from the outside poured in. From there, the natural spotlight cast its gaze onto their guest, Chairwoman Oomiya Sakura, as she stepped into the castle.

With giddy expressions on their faces, Sylvia and Julienne quickly walked up to Oomiya. Without any warning, both of the twins gave their friend a nice, warm hug.

"Ah, welcome to Azur Deutschland, Oomiya." Sylvia said.

Julienne nodded before adding her own words. "Welcome to Azur Berlin."

After remaining there for a little bit, the twins finally pulled away from the hug. Phym walked up to Sylvia's side and grabbed her hand. She wanted to greet Oomiya as well. The little girl gave a bright smile and waved playfully. "Hello, miss, hehehe~"

Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall smiled at this scene. Stepping forward, the two dolls bowed. In sync, they both spoke, ""It's so nice to finally see you in person, Oomiya.""

[Sanghyeok]

Almost as soon as she stepped in the entrance hall, Sylvia and Julienne came up to Ōmiya before hugging her affectionately. Without words, they had already expressed to one another their delight at being able to meet again in Azur Berlin. Warm smiles still on their faces as they embraced her, the Rose Twins welcomed Ōmiya as their guest to Dellamorte Castle in quick succession, which Ōmiya gratefully accepted. "I'm so happy to be here too, Julienne, Sylvia," Ōmiya replied. "It's lovely to see you two again, my friends."

After they separated from their hug, Ōmiya saw there was someone else with them: a little girl with ivory white hair clinging to Sylvia's side. "Hello, miss," she said cheerfully, and Ōmiya realised this must be Sylvia and Julienne's adopted child: Phym. "Pleased to meet you, Phym," Ōmiya said as she leaned over to greet her, matching Phym's lively expression.

There were two more friends for Ōmiya to meet: Sylvia and Julienne's dolls: Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall. Since Julienne and Sylvia had visited themselves the last time they had a tea party together, this was their first introduction to each other face to face. They bowed and greeted her softly, to which Ōmiya returned the favour.

With reunions and introductions complete at last, Ōmiya was more than keen to pass time while having fun with everyone. "What shall we do now?" she asked friends new and old before her. She wanted to do something that they could all enjoy.

[Azur Deutschland]

As the Chairwoman returned her greeting, Phym smiled even more and giggled like the adorable little girl she was.

After the introductions and initial reunions were concluded, Oomiya posed a question. "What shall we do now?"

Jumping at the opportunity, Sylvia answered her friend's question quickly. "Well, I suppose we should give you a sort of tour of our castle. Though, it is a vast complex... I'm sure it'd be fine to skip some areas in favor of showing off some of the more fanciful and memorable areas."

"That should be more than fine, I hope." Julienne added on. It certainly would be quite an undertaking to give a full tour of the Dellamorte Castle. It was practically a miniature, compact city on its own. "The basis for our home comes from some old legends that are related to our bloodline. One of our ancestors, supposedly a witch of legend, lived in a grand castle-like city in the Alps." After explaining this, the younger twin looked over to Oomiya for her approval on the shortened tour. Their friend gave an understanding nod.

"So, I think it's alright to move on to the lounge." Schnee Kristall suggested. "Or maybe we could save that for a bit later to relax and unwind. It is a rather relaxing spot, so it would probably be wise to save that for later, now that I think about it. Wouldn't want to get the tour bogged down when it just started." The doll then gave a slight giggle.

"We could start with the library." Rosenkristall proposed. "It would be a good point of interest to mention some further history and culture about Azur Deutschland."

The Rose Twins and Phym all agreed to going to the library first. Oomiya was in agreement too. So, with smiling faces and a giddy step, the group moved through corridors and stairs and doorways. After some walking, passing some guards and servants, the door to the massive library was in sight. Carefully pushing open the doors, Sylvia and Julienne led the group into this world of both paper and books.

Multiple floors filled with desks, tables, towering bookshelves, sparkling chandeliers. Calling it a little world full of literature was a pretty good description.

[Sanghyeok]

At Rosenkristall's suggestion, they decided to begin their tour at the library. On their way to the library, Ōmiya took in all sorts of décor around her: long passages adorned with paintings of Azur Deutschland's most landscapes, floors covered with majestic carpets of finest velvet, staircases grand and spiraling made of elegantly carved wood, large windows that let in dazzling morning sunlight. To say Ōmiya was surprised by her friends' residence was perhaps an understatement. Ōmiya had been in castles before, of course, and she had also had an idea of what Dellamorte Castle would look like from her information on Azur Berlin and the Rose Twin's personalities. But Ōmiya still found herself stunned by the sheer scale of it all. Sylvia was definitely right when she said their castle was vast- there were a myriad of walkways and doors in their way, almost like a labyrinth or giant maze. In style Dellamorte Castle was also the polar opposite of Ōmiya's Chairwoman's Residence: if the latter emphasised beauty in simplicity of form, the former was quintessentially grandeur and magnificence.

However, even though the decorations and architecture here had a certain luxurious flair, at the same time it didn't seem pretentious or overly glitzy at all. Ōmiya had to admit that even though it was quite different from something she would arrange for herself, the interior design was more than acceptable for her tastes. In fact, she probably wouldn't mind at all living here for some time.Every time I think I know just how similar Julienne and Sylvia are to me, there's always something that surprises me, Ōmiya acknowledged.

As the six of them continued walking towards the library, Sylvia and Julienne led the way as they deftly moved through the castle, the rest of them following in turn. Even a casual observer could see the spring in their step, as they moved along swiftly yet unhurriedly, happily chattering while Ōmiya continued to take in the lovely scenery around her. Just when Ōmiya had started to wonder if perhaps Dellamorte Castle was endless, Sylvia announced they had arrived their destination. "We're here," she said, "our castle's grand library, filled with books from the ages about our nation's culture, history, and society."

Together with Julienne she pushed open the tall and heavy doors to the library together. Slowly but surely, the doors opened inwards, exposing the library within. The sight of the grand library before her made Ōmiya feel she was in paradise. Here at last was a literature collection which could challenge Ōmiya's own: endless rows of shelves separated by subjects, each stuffed completely with tomes of various colours and sizes. All of the library was also illuminated by countless chandeliers made of crystal as well as windows above. As they walked together between towering stacks, Ōmiya stepped closer to view their spines and saw the variety of writing: some books were written in indecipherable writing she couldn't make sense of, while others were so old their aged pages seemed to barely be held together. There were also newer books as well, some of them from authors and publishers she knew. What caught her interest the most, though, was a pile of books on a nearby desk which seemed to have been read and returned recently, with some notes written in one of the Rose Twin's handwriting nearby. Ōmiya inspected the top one's cover; though she didn't know what Nachspeisen or Kochbuch meant, the picture of a sliced cake could mean only one thing.

"Have you been reading this book recently?" Ōmiya asked Julienne. "I love baking sweets too, but I've never made anything like these." She was curious about what sorts of traditional Deutsch desserts her friends were fond of.

[Azur Deutschland]

Sylvia, Julienne, and Phym walked over to the desk that Oomiya was standing over. Indeed, on the desk, was a small pile of books that were dessert cookbooks. Next to the cookbooks were small papers with Julienne's handwriting. Notes about desserts and lists for ingredients. Julienne's cheeks lit up with a gentle blush as Oomiya turned to her and asked her if she had been reading these recently. Hearing her friend say that she also enjoyed to bake made the younger twin's lips curl into a wider smile.

"Yes, I have been checking out various books about dessert. Most of the recipes in this book are German desserts. Apple strudel, Schneewittchenkuchen, Vanillekipferl, and more. That Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte that we made for the tea party you invited us to, that recipe came from this book." Julienne's lips still gave a smile as she answered Oomiya. "We've been coming here to look through recipes or to just look at the pictures of all the pastries, cookies, and sweets."

"Mhm. As you know, we've been teaching Phym how to bake. With that, we've been learning more and more about baking for ourselves too." Sylvia added on. "Cookies and cakes are what we're better at making, but it doesn't hurt to broaden your horizons. In fact, baking is a rather sweet and delicious way to experience other cultures.

"Mommy Julie was writing down some recipes that we were going to bake together." Phym exclaimed with a cute grin and an adorable giggle. "Maybe... We could all bake something together later?"

Sylvia and Julienne looked down at their adopted daughter and pat her head softly. ""That would be quite nice.""

Rosenkristall and Schnee Kristall gave a slight giggle before injecting a small joke into the conversation. ""You three always leave a bit of a mess when you bake. If you want to stay clean, Oomiya, we could lend you one of the cookbooks."" To this small little friendly jab, the group laughed and giggled.

[Sanghyeok]

Responding to Ōmiya's question, Julienne showed a content smile before explaining that she had been reading through the recipe books to learn more about making German desserts. Julienne listed the names of several sweets, some of which Ōmiya knew such as various cakes and pastries, while others were completely new to her. Julienne also added that the lovely Black Forest Cake and assorted cookies which she, her sister and Phym had personally baked for their tea party several months ago also came from this very recipe book before them. Black Forest Cake...closing her eyes slightly, Ōmiya could still taste the slightly sweet chocolate and fruity cherry flavour as well as the cake's distinctive rich yet soft texture. She smiled slightly from those memories while Sylvia and Julienne continued describing the various recipes within the book and which ones they had tried for themselves or with Phym.

Standing behind her adopted parent's, Phym spoke, giggling lightly as she gave her own thoughts. "Maybe... We could all bake something together later?" she proposed.

"I would love to make some sweets with everyone," Ōmiya offered enthusiastically, agreeing wholeheartedly with her proposal. She was quite excited to learn how to make some sweets from German culture like her friends' had made for her last time.

---

As they had all agreed with Phym's suggestion to bake something together after Ōmiya's tour of Dellamorte Castle was over, Sylvia decided to change their tour's conclusion so it could end somewhere for them to bake. Before then, though, there was still some time to explore some other parts of the castle.

"Is there any place you're interested in exploring, Sakura?" Sylvia asked her kindly as they exited the library after taking one last look. She wanted to make sure that even though there were far too many sights to visit at once that Ōmiya was able to see all of the places she wanted to.

"Just tell us, and we'll take you there," Julienne added, her face lit up in a sunny smile. Rosenkristall and Schnee Kristal nodded in agreement as well, and Ōmiya paused for a moment. "That's a difficult question..." she said, still considering. Finally, after some time she turned towards Phym again and affectionately asked her: "Where's your favourite place here, Phym? I think I would love going there too."

[Azur Deutschland]

Phym thought about Oomiya's question for a little bit. She put on a cute thinking face as she brought up a hand to her chin, imitating some of the poses and expressions she had seen her two parents had done sometimes when they were deep in thought. There was a lot that she loved around the castle. To pick one place she absolutely enjoyed, it would probably be... "What about the music room? There's a piano and other instruments there... I love to listen to mommy Julie and Sylvie playing music."

Sylvia and Julienne smiled at Phym's suggestion, the two of them giving her another pat on the head.

"I guess we have our next destination." The elder twin stated.

The younger twin and the two dolls nodded happily before the group set out to visit the grand music hall. Once again, the group stepped through more long hallways and stairs.

"The grand music hall is similar to the grand library. Though, a bit obviously, there's a lot more musical instruments, tools, records, and sheets filling it up rather then literature." Sylvia explained as she and her younger twin led the group to the music hall.

After sometime, the group was once again met with a set of large, ornate doors. Pushing aside them aside revealed yet another grandiose room. Similarly, as Sylvia had said, the layout was definitely familiar to that of the castle's grand library. There were multiple floors. All of them filled with things relating to music. Shelves with records were set out next to tables with record players. There was some stages set up with differing instruments. There was a little lounge area with a piano.

"You would think that an area like this would be a cacophony of sound, but there are some special magical spells and wards put in place here. You can freely listen to whatever is playing in one area, and the sound from the other areas won't seep into your ears." Julienne explained to Oomiya. The grand music hall was a special place that required quite a bit of attention to keep it relaxing.

[Sanghyeok]

"Then the music room it is," Ōmiya agreed. Though she was somewhat surprised by Phym's choice, she soon recalled that Julienne and Sylvia were proficient in several instruments. I wonder if Phym also joins along when they play pieces together, Ōmiya thought to herself. Does she sit next to one of her mothers when they play piano, or perhaps learn an instrument herself? She giggled lightly when an even sillier thought came into her mind: What if little Phym were to be a pretend conductor, directing them while they played? The image of such an adorable scene was enough for a gentle, barely audible laugh to escape her lips.

Before they left for the music room, Julienne shut the entrance to the grand library, which hid behind elaborate wooden doors the library's majestic interior of shelves, windows, and chandeliers from view.

Stepping through hallways wide and narrow and walking on countless sets of stairs, Ōmiya and her friends made their way to the music room of Dellamorte Castle.

On their way there, Sylvia described the grand music room as she led everyone from the front: "The grand music hall is similar to the grand library. Though, a bit obviously, there's a lot more musical instruments, tools, records, and sheets filling it up rather then literature." Having been impressed by the grandeur of just the library already, Ōmiya was trying to imagine what such a room would look like. Based off of Sylvia's explanation, Ōmiya's mind was filled with images of a tall thick door for blocking sound, small practice areas within, and instruments of all varieties.

Sure enough, when they finally arrived, Ōmiya was once again greeted by a set of doors similar to those she had encountered earlier at the library. Entering together, Ōmiya had an impressive sight come into view before her. Collections of instruments both familiar and unrecognisable were here, of course, but there was also much more. Like the library, there were also a myriad of writings on the shelves, but here they were all about music- books on learning instruments, volumes on music theory, and piles of sheets from all kinds of music. Further away, Ōmiya thought she could see more shelves with music recordings, neatly arranged into stacks besides players. Most breathtaking, though, was how all of the music hall was open: there were no smaller rooms or doors for practice or listening, instead everything seemed to be unobstructed.

Just when Ōmiya was about to ask how someone could possibly concentrate without a quiet space to practice or read in, Julienne stepped in to explain. Ōmiya listened closely, intrigued by how magic could be applied in such a way. That makes sense. To use magic like this is something I've never thought of before, but it is quite genius.

Ōmiya walked towards the practice area closest to her, her eyes focused on the instruments and their surroundings. There was a grand piano here, as well as a two violins beside it, all of them resting on a smooth marble surface that was smooth enough to reflect her image as she walked. Ōmiya smiled lightly, her already happy mood lifted even more by being in such a calming and tranquil environment. Already, Ōmiya could easily understand why Phym loved the music hall so much.

After stopping just steps away from the piano, Ōmiya turned to her friends. "I know the two of you practice piano and violin," she said, gesturing to Julienne and Sylvia. "Although I haven't played violin in some time, should we give Phym, Rosenkristall, and Schnee Kristall a nice performance? It would be a shame to come here and not play for a while" she finished.

[Azur Deutschland]

Somewhere above, on one of the higher floors of the music hall, a group of women were dancing, singing, and practicing for a big event later tonight.

Sylvia and Julienne were quite happy to not that Oomiya was fascinated with the way they had made the music hall. It was unconventional, but it really emphasized how much magic meant to the culture of Azur Deutschland. The two looked at Oomiya, watching her as she walked up to one of the practice areas. A piano and some violins were set up. The Rose Twins held smiles on their faces as they followed their friend closer to the instruments that were asking to be played.

Oomiya then turned around to face the rest of the group. "I know the two of you practice piano and violin," she said while gesturing to the twins. "Although I haven't played violin in some time, should we give Phym, Rosenkristall, and Schnee Kristall a nice performance? It would be a shame to come here and not play for a while"

Quickly, both of the girls nodded and agreed to the idea. ""Ah, yes, we should."" It's true, it would be a shame to come here and not play anything or listen to anything.

With the idea of getting a nice performance, Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall both smiled. Phym jumped with joy and gave a playful 'yay' along with smiling adorably and giggling. They were quite eager to hear Sylvia, Julienne, and Oomiya perform. So, the three spectators took seats that were set out for a small audience to relax and listen to the instruments that were set up in the practice area.

The twins then turned to the instruments set up. Julienne moved to gracefully and carefully pick up a violin, gripping it with a practiced hand. Sylvia, before settling on an instrument to play, looked over at Oomiya and asked her friend a question. "So, Sakura, what would you like to play? Piano or violin?"

"Do you also have a song you'd like to request to play?" Julienne asked, adding on to her elder twin's question.

[Sanghyeok]

"So, Sakura, what would you like to play? Piano or violin?" Sylvia asked her friend.

"Do you also have a song you'd like to request to play?" Julienne asked as well, violin grasped expertly in her hand as her sister stood halfway between the piano and remaining violin.

Ōmiya paused for a moment, considering her two options as she tilted her head to one side slightly while placing her chin between two fingers. Julienne noticed this was the same expressions she, her elder sister, and Phym liked to make when they were deep in thought, and she smiled at the mental image of all four of them in the same position like a group of childhood friends who had become too used to one another's habits and customs.

When Ōmiya spoke again, she had already made her decision. "It would only be fair for the two of you to play violin together, since after all you're both sisters and can probably match each other much better than I could," she told them. "And," Ōmiya added in a slightly embarrassed tone, "I haven't practiced violin in some time, so it might be better for me to take piano this time."

"That's alright," Sylvia replied as she made her way towards the second violin. Like Julienne, she too was well practised, holding the violin in one hand and the bow with her other. "I'm more than happy to play violin this time, since usually I'm the one on piano."

"Leave it to me," Ōmiya said cheerfully as she stepped aside for Sylvia to pass her, before she sat down in a single motion before the piano. As she slowly lifted the heavy cover above the keys, she took a moment to admire the piano itself: coloured black as night, it was compact yet refined, and looked like something from a concert hall- is from a concert hall, she reminded herself. The piano's elegant exterior matched Julienne and Sylvia's violins well too, and Ōmiya was relieved she had decided to wear something half-formal that morning.

There was just one question left unanswered before their performance was to begin, and Ōmiya had what she thought was a perfect answer. "Shall we play Mozart's Violin Sonata No.35?" Ōmiya suggested. "It's a well known piece, and I've always loved music from that era," she explained, her expression having turned to anticipation as her hands hovered just above the keys.

Julienne and Sylvia nodded, with most of their attention having gone to the instruments in their hands. Sharing a brief smile, the three of them looked at each other, then at their audience one last time. Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall both gave encouraging smiles, and Phym nodded.

In unison, they moved their hands: two pairs placed bow on string, and one pair lowered themselves on the keys below. And then, music burst forth from their instruments. Their practice concert had begun.

[Azur Deutschland]

Oomiya had chosen to play the piano. Sylvia smiled and nodded at her decision, along with her reasoning. The twins didn't want to put their friend in a spot where she hadn't practiced a certain instrument in quite some time. It was also a good idea to have the two twins on violin, as they did know how to keep pace and stay in sync with each other exceptionally well.

Sylvia had picked up her violin with the same amount of grace and care as Julienne had done. Looking at Oomiya, the Rose Twins watched as she admired the piano while getting it and herself ready.

Back to the question that was still unanswered, Oomiya had given her thoughts. "Shall we play Mozart's Violin Sonata No.35? It's a well known piece, and I've always loved music from that era."

Both of the girls holding violins gave a nod, acknowledging and agreeing with Oomiya's suggestion. A wonderful, classic piece of music. The audience also nodded to the decision, the two dolls giving warm smiles to the performers. Phym was quite excited to listen to the three's performance.

The three performers took a brief moment to get completely ready. Sylvia and Julienne placing their bows on the strings of their violins, Oomiya getting her fingers ready on the keys of the piano. After that brief silence, their performance began. A beautiful melody filling the air of the practice area. The twins were really adept at moving together. Their friend was a natural. Oomiya's skill was quite exceptional. Beautiful smiles crept along the faces of Sylvia and Julienne as they continued to play.

Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall continued to wear the encouraging smiles they had shown to the three performers earlier. The music was perfect. Phym was eyeing all of the movements Sylvia, Julienne, and Oomiya made. She watched with awe as Oomiya's fingers danced around the keys of the piano or as Sylvia and Julienne matched each other perfectly.

[Sanghyeok]

As their audience eagerly watched the recital, Ōmiya, Julienne, and Sylvia were completely focused on their instruments. From listening to the clear sound of violins behind her, Ōmiya admired Julienne and Sylvia's in playing their violins with absolute mastery. Despite the complexity of playing together with each other for the first time, Julienne and Sylvia seemed to be following her performance without any problem; with the two Rose Twins matching her own pace. Sylvia and Julienne moved their bows precisely without hesitation or mistakes and both of them had effortless expressions on their faces. Ōmiya knew these calm smiles were the result of countless hours of painful practice from her friends, and she admired both their ability and dedication.

Of course, Ōmiya was not letting Julienne and Sylvia carry the performance by themselves either. As she was performing a familiar melody on an unfamiliar piano, Ōmiya allowed herself to enter her piano playing state of mind, focused not just on playing correctly but also with imparting her full interpretation of the music into her performance so the dolls and Phym could feel as she was. As naturally as Sylvia and Julienne were moving their bow hands, so Ōmiya too allowed her fingers to move freely across the keys.

Allowing herself a glance at her audience, Ōmiya noted that Schnee Kristal, Rosenkristall, and Phym were still excitedly enjoying their performance, looking content. Becoming more involved in her performance, Ōmiya too began to feel more immersed, the edges of her lips forming a cheerful smile. Together, their instruments seemed to be expressing the full emotion of the work itself.

And then, in what was seemingly an instant after they had started their performance had ended. The last reverberations escaped their instruments, and the practice area was silent once more as the three performers stood up one by one to face their audience, who were clapping enthusiastically. Phym was most enthusiastic of all, and she didn't hide any of her joy at hearing the performance.

"Mozart's Violin Sonata No.35" Ōmiya announced half-seriously, and simultaneously she bowed with Sylvia and Julienne bowed their audience. Immediately after, they turned towards one another, with looks of accomplishment but also pure satisfaction evident.

"That was wonderful, Julienne, Sylvia," Ōmiya told her friends, her tone filled with genuine admiration for their skill.

[Azur Deutschland]

It had been sometime since they started, but it indeed felt like a single instant. They drew their performance to a close. Schnee Kristall, Rosenkristall, and Phym were quite thrilled with the practice concert. The three clapping happily for the performers, Phym being a cute little beacon of enthusiasm. Sylvia and Julienne carefully relaxed and set the violins back before moving to stand next to Oomiya. At once, the three performers all bowed together.

Turning to Oomiya, the twins continued to hold their warm and sweet smiles on their faces. They nodded to their friend's words, blushing and smiling all the while. They were quite happy not only to hear Oomiya's praise, but also because they were excited to praise her as well. Oomiya's effort probably exceeded their own, considering she was playing on a piano that was probably unfamiliar and foreign to her.

"Mhm, a beautiful performance for this wonderful occasion." Sylvia's words chimed in.

Julienne's voice let out a giggle before speaking. "You were amazing, Sakura. Your skill is magnificent."

Phym and the two dolls stepped up to the three girls and gave their own nods and words of the wonderful performance.

"Ehehe, that was amazing! Thank you for playing for us." The little demon girl exclaimed playfully while giving Sylvia, Julienne, and Oomiya a playful hug.

""Mhm. You three were perfect. It felt almost as if you all have been playing together since childhood. It was a wonderful and enjoyable show."" The dolls said in unison. The performance was so natural, so elegant and refined. It was hard to believe this was only the first time these three girls had played instruments together like this. There was no faults at all. Everything was just balanced perfectly.

[Sanghyeok]

"You were amazing, Sakura. Your skill is magnificent," Julienne said admiringly as she echoed her sister's sentiment. Ōmiya blushed lightly at hearing her friend's compliments, and with slightly red cheeks replied in kind.

"Even the greatest pianist can only do so much alone," Ōmiya said, "You and Sylvia are by far the greatest violinists I have been able to play with." Her tone was genuine, of course, for there were no others she knew of who could match their ability. The three of them shared a look of close camaraderie before breaking into laughter once again, and the sound of their giggles spread amongst them until their spectators came up to give their own praises, including the two dolls and Phym.

Though she had been expecting it from Phym this time, Ōmiya was still pleasantly surprised when she eagerly ran up to each of the performers in turn. "I'm glad you enjoyed our performance, Phym" Ōmiya told her, and she embraced the adorable little child, pleased but also relieved that Phym had liked their impromptu session.

---

After touring Ōmiya around the remainder of the grand music room, during which she had admired the countless rare instruments and music sheets within, as well as the elegant yet unimposing design, their time there had come to an end. As Julienne closed the doors behind them with seeming ease, Sylvia guided everyone towards their next destination, Phym skipped ahead cheerfully while humming a cheerful tune, and Ōmiya followed immediately behind her. As they went through another hallway, Ōmiya realised this portion of Dellamorte Castle seemed to be different: gone were the regal-like patterned rugs, wooden accessories and oil landscapes, in their place was an entirely different style of ivory coloured walls and floors of pure marble. If not for the large windows and familiar chandeliers, she would have guessed she had entered an entirely new city altogether.

Curious, she was about to ask Sylvia for an explanation when the silence of pristine hallways was broken by the sound of a faraway explosion, making her look around in surprise for the source. Although Ōmiya had been quite startled, nobody else seemed the least bit shocked; even Phym's reaction was the same as she continued dancing and walking as usual, her expression still carefree. Just when she was starting to wonder what exactly had been going on there, Julienne caught Ōmiya's concerned expression and gave her a reassuring look that nothing was amiss.

"Panzer-KampfKunst," she said matter-of-factly. "They must be having a practice session today," she continued, and Ōmiya was now even more confused.

"Pants are what?" Ōmiya asked hesitatingly, unsure of what she had just heard. Julienne smiled knowingly, and began to explain Panzer-KampKunst to her.

[Azur Deutschland]

Julienne's lips curled into a smile and gave a soft laugh before she went on to explain Panzer-KampfKunst. "Panzer-KampfKunst. Also called Tank Martial Arts. It's a sport where teams use armored vehicles. The goal depends on the type of match, but the general idea is that the matches are mock battles. A team has to hit and knock out the opposing side's vehicles without getting hit in return. Teamwork, coordination, and tactical knowledge are some key elements in P-KK."

Sylvia went ahead and added on to her sister's explanation. "Mhm. Overall, there are three main types of matches. The first is flag battle, where each team has a designated tank that they have to protect. Second is elimination battle, where the winner is whichever team is the last one standing. The third is base battle, which is an offshoot of elimination battles where each team also has a base that they must protect."

"P-KK is played in a large, magical arena. The magic can create a variety of terrain and weather patterns which can even change mid-game. Of course, the equipment used is all military equipment, tanks and other armored vehicles." Julienne looked once again at Oomiya with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry though, we've made sure the sport is as safe as possible. The sport uses specialized ammo which are basically magical paintball markers. The magic infused into the paint can determine if a hit should've been a penetration or a ricochet."

"The sport is still in its infancy, but it's gaining popularity. Julienne and I, we even participate sometimes with some modifications to our old tank from the war." Sylvia stated. As she was speaking, an idea sprung into her head. "Maybe we could go and watch the practice session? Maybe show you our tank, Perfekte Welt, as well."

Schnee Kristall and Rosenkristall had no problems with the suggestion. Phym didn't either. The little girl loved looking at the tank that her two mothers had, calling it cute, pretty, and cool because of the 'camo' pattern the vehicle had.

[Sanghyeok]

Ōmiya listened closely as Julienne and Sylvia patiently told her all about the rules of P-KK, her eyes growing wider as they continued their description of how everything worked. A safe yet challenging event played in teams with real tanks, along with the ability to fight alongside one's friends while your allies were attacking and defending in formation definitely sounded interesting, and perhaps even a bit exciting. Not only that, Ōmiya was also entranced by the many ways the match could be set up, with moving terrain and magical battlefields. So when Sylvia offered to show her their specially decorated tank, she quickly nodded in agreement out of curiosity and interest. "Most certainly," she replied, wondering what sort of reveal was awaiting her.

She didn't have to wait long, as they soon arrived in before a room with high ceilings and a conspicuous and rather angular shape at its centre protected by some sort of cover. Together, the two Rose Twins stepped forward at once and took the cover off, exposing the shape below as their P-KK tank. "Our P-KK tank is a Panzer VI-class heavy tank," Julienne said proudly. "Some call it Tiger, but to us it's our own Perfekte Welt," Sylvia added as she and Julienne stepped aside dramatically to give Ōmiya a better view of the vehicle behind her.

"The tigers in Azur are really large," Ōmiya said in awe as she stared at Perfekte Welt. She had never seen a tank up close like this before.

"Maybe it's a good thing we didn't take Miss Ōmiya to see our mice, then" Phym chimed in amusingly, and the sound of everyone's soft laughter filled the room.

Inspecting the tank before her more closely, she realised it truly was massive, with a height that stretched far above her and an oversized cannon that looked like something from naval ships. Yet despite all this the tank wasn't entirely imposing thanks to the elaborate blue coloured patterns flowing from the front towards its sides, which seemed quite fitting considering the Dellamorte's aesthetic preferences. Ōmiya felt odd thinking this way about something designed as an industrial weapon, but she would probably agree with Phym and and use the word elegant to describe it.

"That's right," Ōmiya said to Sylvia as she finally finished admiring the design of Perfekte Welt. "You said there was a practice match today, right? Do you ever participate in them as well?"

[Azur Deutschland]

With the whole group in agreement on seeing the P-KK equipment, Sylvia and Julienne gave a warm smile before leading them all over to go check it out. Stepping into the room, the group was met with a massive shape under a cover. The Rose Twins stepped up and proudly gripped the cover, pulling it away to reveal the vehicle hidden beneath.

Perfekte Welt. Perfect World. The name of the modified Tiger II that Sylvia and Julienne used during the later parts of the war. The definitive symbol of the 666th Azurblaue Rozen. The tank was fitted with armored skirts much like the Panzer IV H. The grey metal of the tank was wrapped up in a 'camo' pattern of white vines. From the vines, azure roses dotted around the tank. Along with all of that, the metal also had a slight magical glow.

"Our P-KK tank is a Panzer VI-class heavy tank," Julienne said with some pride. "Some call it Tiger, but to us it's our own Perfekte Welt," Sylvia added on before she and Julienne stepped aside to give Oomiya a better view of the tank.

"The tigers in Azur are really large," The astonishment in Oomiya's voice was noticeable.

"Maybe it's a good thing we didn't take Miss Oomiya to see our mice, then" Phym chimed in. In response, the sound of everyone's soft laughter filled the room.

The laughter died down a bit as the group examined the tank more closely. Oomiya then turned around to the twins. "That's right, you said there was a practice match today, right? Do you ever participate in them as well?"

Sylvia's head nodded rather quickly. "Ah, yes, we do participate every so often." Maybe getting a sense at what Oomiya wanted to ask, Sylvia continued on. "I'm sure we can hop on in Perfekte Welt and roll out to watch the rest of the practice match."

Julienne jumped at the opportunity to suggest another event. "Maybe we could get them to play another match afterwards so that we can join?" The younger twin gave a smirk as she let her hand brush against the armored skirts of Perfekte Welt. "It'll be fun, hehe~"

[Sanghyeok]

"Maybe we could get them to play another match afterwards so that we can join?" Julienne suggested, just when Ōmiya thought of the same idea.

"I wouldn't mind at all," Ōmiya said, not at all trying to hide the energy in her voice. After all, everything she had learned about P-KK so far only made her more willing to participate in that game filled with such contradictions as organised chaos and beautiful conflict.

"Then a match it is," Sylvia replied eagerly. She too was looking forward to seeing how Ōmiya might react once she was in an actual P-KK match.

Of course, before their match begun, they would have to show her how everything worked first. After hearing Ōmiya express her desire to see the tank's operation, Julienne quickly slid her hand upwards from the tank skirt to the side handles and climbed upwards with swift, measured steps. When she reached the top of the tank, she reached towards the hatch and opened it slowly with care before entering the tank. Following right behind her were Sylvia, Schnee Kristall, Rosenkristall and finally Phym, who beckoned to Ōmiya playfully in invitation. Understanding her meaning, Ōmiya reached out to grab onto the handles as well and made her way up and into the tank cabin where her friends were waiting. The room inside was compact, but still more spacious than she had imagined, with five seats on two levels. However, nobody was sitting in those seats: Julienne and Sylvia were on one side of the turret interior, while the dolls and Phym had their backs against the wall on the other side.

Upon seeing Ōmiya's entry, Sylvia began her explanation of tank tasks and crew members. "You may be surprised, but there are actually five crew members in a Tiger tank such as Perfekte Welt, although it appears we have six today," Sylvia said, smiling lightheartedly for a moment. "The crew works on two levels, with three roles seated above and two seated below. Below are the seats for the driver and radio operator, while above are where the commander, gunner, and loader stay." Sylvia pointed briefly towards each of the positions as she listed each of them.

Julienne continued where her elder sister left off. "Some of the roles seem obvious, but I'll go over them anyways. The driver is responsible for controlling their tanks' speed and direction, while the radio operator keeps in communication with allied tanks. The loader makes sure the gun's shells are prepared for firing, and once those shells are loaded the gunner aims and fires at their target. Finally, the tank commander gives orders to the crew, and makes sure they work well together at highest efficiency." Finished with her explanation, Julienne added, "the commander is usually Sylvia, since she's the eldest and wisest among us. Although to be honest, I wouldn't mind being commander more often either."

Ōmiya was trying to remember everything the two Rose Twins were telling her. Though none of it was particularly difficult, she had never operated a tank before and still felt some unease from it all.

"If you don't have any questions," Sylvia said excitedly, "why don't we practice together? We can do some aiming, driving, loading, and even commanding so you can experience some of everything before our practice match."

---

"Not this way, Sakura. You have to take into account every factor before taking aim." Julienne was giving feedback as she observed Ōmiya in the gunnery position.

"But look, I hit the target! Didn't my shot land exactly within the circle?" she replied, a little surprised.

"You're not wrong that you hit the target, but that's not your target," Julienne said patiently. "Unfortunately, your shell landed on the target belonging to the tank next to us."

"That would be a problem, wouldn't it?" Don't worry, I won't give up," Ōmiya replied, preparing to fire again as she saw Julienne load another shell into the cannon.

---

When their practice had finally concluded- and Ōmiya had realised it was perhaps best she had never been chosen as tank driver or gunner- it was at last time for the friendly match to begin.

[Azur Deutschland]

Hearing Oomiya's excitement, Sylvia and Julienne gave happy and energetic smiles. The Rose Twins promptly gave their friend a little crash course on operating an armored vehicle. They told her about the positions of the crew and their responsibilities, gave her details on specific parts and inner-workings that is common on all or most armored fighting vehicles and, lastly, let her operate and practice being a part of the different crew members on a tank.

There was some minor hiccups, but even then, Oomiya did extremely well.

Now, though, would be the real test. Well, real in the sense that they were going to play a friendly practice match.

Just so that it wouldn't be too cramped, it was agreed by the group that Oomiya could commandeer one of the other tanks on the team. This way, she could test out her skills some more and also try out some tank other than a Tiger II.

As they sat by, getting the teams ready, the radios on the tanks crackled to life. A young, feminine voice sounded over the comms. "For this practice match, we'll do a Base Battle. The terrain will be based of off Karelia for this one." The practice field suddenly transformed into the specified terrain. The transformation wasn't extreme or abrupt, but it wasn't slow either. It was also rather gentle, almost as if everyone had just walked to a new field. "Good luck, everyone. The game will start shortly. Get geared up and ready~"

Sylvia smirked and ducked down from the commander's hatch. Closing it up, she nodded to her crew. Julienne as the gunner, Schnee Kristall as the loader, Rosenkristall as the driver, and Phym as the radio operator. Back in the war, the tank's radio operator was a third doll. She was moved over to be one of the heads of staff for the servants that worked in the castle.

"Good luck, Sakura. Remember, keep calm and give it your all. Let's have some fun." Sylvia's cheery voice echoed out of the comms equipment.

[Sanghyeok]

Having managed to successfully (mostly) complete her training under the composed direction of Julienne and Sylvia, Ōmiya now found herself preparing for her first real P-KK match to begin. Instead of the familiar surroundings of Perfekte Welt, though, she was at the commander's hatch of a different tank that her crewmates called the "Churchill Heavy". Apparently this kind of tank was well armoured, had decent speed, and good firepower. More importantly, of course, was the spacious interior and included tea kettle, which she planned to put to good use later.

"For this practice match, we'll do a Base Battle. A voice filled with excitement signaled the match would begin soon, and Ōmiya inspected her tank and formation. To her left, there was another commander looking down and making similar checks, while before her was the tank body and weaponry. Suddenly, the terrain transformed before her eyes, with the flat land disappearing and one of the P-KK battlefields taking its place. Where there was nothing, now dusty roads stretched far off beyond the horizon, disappearing among small hills, endless grasslands, and even a massive lake.

"Good luck, everyone. The game will start shortly. Get geared up and ready~" Ōmiya looked at her surroundings one last time, and as she turned to the right she saw Sylvia on top of her Tiger II doing the same. Their eyes met, and Sylvia smirked with confidence while Ōmiya smiled back in response. This was the moment she had been waiting for, and although she was still somewhat nervous she knew Julienne and Sylvia had taught her everything she needed to know. Together, they entered their tanks before closing the hatches and giving the start command to their crew.

"All tanks, forward!" came Phym's gleeful call over the radio. "Good luck, Sakura. Remember, keep calm and give it your all. Let's have some fun,", Sylvia added as they began their advance towards the enemy base. "Let's have a good match and do our best, everyone!" Ōmiya agreed. Even over the radio, Sylvia could hear her voice had an unusual feel, almost as if filled with competitive energy.

---

Es braust unser Panzer,
Im Sturmwind dahin!

Their tanks moved forward in a V-shaped formation, with Perfekte Welt as vanguard and Ōmiya's tank to its immediate left and rear. There were also some other tanks of various shapes and sizes, but all of them were painted in the same blue-gray-white pattern just like Perfekte Welt. They advanced at medium speed, fast enough to cover terrain without issue but slow enough to spot enemies. Clouds of dust stirred into the air by tank treads followed them, while the roar of engines could be heard far away.

Inside the tanks though, there was hardly any noise thanks to the same magic sound blocking system found in Dellamorte Castle's music hall. Ōmiya's voice finally broke the silence when she asked: "Any sight of our targets so far?"

The gunner shook her head before replying: "None at all. We're nearing the one-third mark, but there's no sign of them for some reason." She frowned before adding: "I don't know why their base seems so lightly defended. Usually we would expect to see some resistance by now."

Sylvia's came on over the radio to give her opinion. "Be careful, everyone. They may be setting up an ambush for us somewhere, especially since ahead our path ahead will be surrounded by lakes and mountains on both sides."

Right when she finished speaking, a shell detonated near their formation, barely missing one of the tanks.

"Enemy panzers ahead!" Julienne called, moments before another explosion landed to their right.

Meanwhile, another voice started calling for help, which Ōmiya recognised belonged to the commander responsible for defending their base. "At least four heavy tanks are coming in our direction, we have only one tank and need reinforcements!"

They must have passed us without revealing themselves, she realised. We made the mistake of assuming they would want to meet us in battle directly. But they wouldn't do that, not when they know Perfekete Welt can defeat them in any fair fight.

"What shall we do, commander?" Ōmiya's gunner asked. "Should we rush back to defend, or move forward with our division here?"

Ōmiya didn't hesitate to give her answer. "Ask Sylvia if she can manage here. If so, we will head back to reinforce."

[Azur Deutschland]

And so, the game began.

"All tanks, forward!" Phym had said with a playful voice.

Their platoon took to advancing up the middle to meet head on with the enemy's vanguard. The thing was, the enemy didn't send a platoon out through the middle lane. At least, it didn't appear that way. Sylvia smirked. She knew that what they were doing was pretty reckless. Looking over the map for this arena, the optimal attack points would be around the left or right lanes. Those lanes were also perfect spots to fire upon anyone attempting to drive through the middle lane.

Sylvia spoke to the team through the radio. "Be careful, everyone. They may be setting up an ambush for us somewhere, especially since ahead our path ahead will be surrounded by lakes and mountains on both sides."

Suddenly, an explosion. Another one to the right. "Enemy panzers ahead!" Julienne called out.

It's begun. Sylvia thought before speaking to her crew. "Julienne, for the heavier tanks, aim for their tracks, then try to aim for their turrets. That'll give us a good advantage to get around to their rear. Rosenkristall, angle us for maximum armor effectiveness, but keep moving. Don't let them hit us." The two nodded and gave voices of confirmation.

One little neat detail about P-KK was that the magic simulated tank combat almost to perfection. The specialized paintball rounds would actually inflict 'damage' to the target. Nothing actually happened other than the tank getting coated in paint, but the magic would ensure that it simulated an actual hit to the vehicle. So, you could still 'knock-out' the tracks of an enemy or 'jam' their turret.

The radio came to life once again. "At least four heavy tanks are coming in our direction, we have only one tank and need reinforcements!" It was one of the tank commanders of the base defenders.

The elder twin responded to the call by giving out some orders. "Sakura, take your tank and the fourth tank in our formation and head back to base. Perfekte Welt and our third tank should be fine enough here. We'll continue to head for the enemy base. That should force them to back off of our base, allowing you all to counterattack through one of the other lanes."

Perfekte Welt roared as a round blasted out of the barrel. Hitting one of the enemy tanks' suspension system. The paint settled on a nice red color, indicating a damaging hit. The enemy tracked them with their gun and fired back. The round just barely missing them.