"There really is someone here!"
Seeing this, Felicia immediately screamed, while the others stared at the figure before them. The figure herself seemed somewhat confused about appearing here. She glanced around but said nothing.
"Yo, can you hear me? I've connected to your signal. Hmm... judging by this, you're not human, are you?"
Red Ponytail grinned and waved at her. Upon hearing Red Ponytail speak, the figure fell silent for a moment. Then, an electronic voice soon emerged from within it.
"Are you Magical Girls?"
"That's right."
Yachiyo nodded, staring intently at the figure.
"Who are you?"
"I am Rumor."
However, the figure's answer stunned everyone.
"I am at The End of Loneliness. Please come to The End of Loneliness."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Felicia blinked in confusion, while Yachiyo frowned slightly.
"This is also a rumor. Legend says that someone created an artificial AI with a powerful memory and the ability to understand and analyze things. But gradually, she learned malicious language, so she was shunned and abandoned, sealing herself away alone in the world of radio waves..."
After explaining this to everyone, Yachiyo looked at the figure again.
"Then, miss..."
"My name is Ai."
"Miss Ai, you say you're a Rumor? As in, a Rumor Witch? You're the artificial intelligence from that 'The End of Loneliness' urban legend?"
"...Yes."
"Why did you seek us out?"
"I intercepted radio waves within Kamihama City and learned that you were destroying Rumors everywhere. That is why I came to find you. I hope you can destroy me."
"This..."
Faced with that strange answer, everyone exchanged looks. Until now, the Rumor Witches they had faced had been like ordinary Witches, with virtually no rationality. But this Rumor Witch seemed different. Her voice was steady and rational, completely unlike those mysterious and