Chapter 120

However, that's not what she wants to hear right now.

She lowered her head.

Takanashi didn't really feel like she was the other person's daughter; on the contrary, most of the time, she just felt like an ordinary and weak Magic girl.

Therefore, she didn't have much confidence.

"I still don't understand, why her?"

But thinking of that woman who was very special to him, Takanashi still asked the question.

After seeing the Takanashi waiting for a response, Al White remained silent for a moment.

"Shiori, after your mother passed away, I was actually in a lot of pain."

She gently stroked the portrait of the gray-haired woman.

From the time Takanashi could remember, the Queen had always been alone and had no lovers.

Throughout these centuries, the Queen has never been involved in any romantic relationships.

Takanashi considered that she was their daughter, then perhaps her mother died shortly after her birth?

But that doesn't quite make sense.

"I always thought I had lost her forever."

Al White's tone carried a hint of sorrow, but this sorrow quickly faded, replaced by other emotions.

"However, it has recently been discovered that this is not the case..."

The Queen raised her head.

"I think... this must be a miracle."

For her, it was a miracle of being brought back from the dead.

Upon hearing the Queen's words, Takanashi lowered his head and looked at the woman in the portrait...

To be honest, in terms of temperament, they are somewhat similar.

They were all somewhat aloof, gloomy, and expressionless.

One was a stunning beauty who rivaled, or even surpassed, the Queen in radiance, while the other was a gloomy and ordinary high school teacher.

She didn't think the two people looked very alike.

"Because... she looks a lot like Your Majesty's lover, so you fell in love with her?"

"... Perhaps that's how it is..."

He hesitated for a moment at first, but for some reason, Al White quickly became certain of his daughter's guess.

Before anyone knew it, Takanashi gently tugged at the hem of her skirt, swaying somewhat awkwardly.

Falling in love with someone because they resemble your deceased lover is like treating Teacher Haihara as a substitute.

Furthermore, is it possible that the bond between the Queen and her birth mother can be so easily replaced...?

At first, Takanashi seemed a little angry.

But she soon realized that something was not right.

"Wait a minute, if you think they look alike, why have you been secretly taking pictures of her since she was a baby?"

It's impossible to think they look alike from infancy.

"..."

Takanashi's gaze gradually turned somewhat cold.

Queen Al White fell into an awkward silence after her explanation was exposed.

Judging from her expression, the Queen probably won't tell her the truth.

She wasn't discouraged or angry; after realizing the truth, she slowly raised her head.

After staring at the other person for a while, she opened her mouth.

"Can you let her go?"

Takanashi's expression seemed to speak volumes in silence.

She rarely looked up and stared directly into the eyes of the woman in front of her like this, but while saying this, she kept looking at her, waiting for a response.

Al White was initially confused, but after making eye Takanashi, he also fell silent.

Looking at this dignified and powerful mother, Takanashi said, word by word:

"She's nothing like the person you like. She's plain-looking, has a terrible personality, and is just an ordinary person you could find anywhere..."

"Isn't someone like that worth all this?"

That woman really didn't have anything particularly remarkable about her.

He was unremarkable in appearance, unpopular as a teacher, and not a special person who could use Magic.

He was troubled by the Problem Child in his class every day, and had little enthusiasm for teaching, but he would tease JK with great interest on weekends.

Such an ordinary person would naturally have no connection with the Queen of R'lyeh.

But...

"But to me, she's special, so..."

Even if she were an ordinary person, didn't live long, and didn't know Magic, it wouldn't matter to her.

Because she herself was just as useless.

"Regardless of her relationship with your ex-lover, she doesn't know you, so please leave her alone and stop bothering her."

Takanashi looked up at the Queen intently and said this.

After she finished speaking, the Magic girl Queen was unusually stunned for a moment, then she slowly approached Takanashi and extended her hand.

Takanashi initially closed his eyes instinctively, thinking that Her Majesty the Queen was angry about it, but what he received was neither a reprimand nor a lecture.

She felt her face being gently stroked.

"... His Majesty?"

Al White stroked her face.

It seems her child now has something they want to protect.

But...

"I'm pleased with your idea, but Shiori, if you truly want to protect those you value, is your current strength sufficient?"

She looked at Takanashi Shiori with a meaningful expression.

To this day, Takanashi Shiori remains Magic girl apprentice without Magic name.

So far, they have not encountered a crisis that the Silver Feather's power could not resolve.

But one day...

If Takanashi Shiori needs to protect herself, what should she do then?

Al White had that premonition.

It is not Demon King, not Monster or Black Death Cult, but something more complex and ugly than those mere vessels of desire.

After resting for a while and receiving treatment from a physician in the Royal Capital, Haihara's injuries were not as painful as before.

She can walk normally now.

If you're not ashamed, you can have the Black Magical Girl next to you carry you on her back without any problem.

For some reason, after leaving the Abailia Territory, she wasn't noticed by the Magic girls in the Royal Capital as Haihara had imagined. It was as if some high-ranking person had deliberately hidden everything.

Although the truth behind the missing underwear case has not yet been found, having achieved her purpose in coming to R'lyeh, Haihara felt it was time to go home.

The journey home will no longer require the long trek as before.

After their Magic Power is restored, they can use a pre-set Teleportation Array Magic Spell to return to the vicinity of the original train station.

After they've rested well, they can go back every morning.

However, Haihara is not a completely boring person.

Noticing the curious and sparkling gaze of the Black Magical Girl beside her, she decided to show her the night view of the Royal Capital one last time before leaving.

Haihara donned her large cloak once more, while Dark Feather disguised herself as an ordinary Magic girl. The two of them strolled through the streets of the Royal Capital, enjoying the Magic fireworks display in the central square that evening.

"Oh, right, Witch."

As if remembering something, Dark Feather waved the hammer-shaped snake-shaped candy in her hand.

The Witch bought this for her.

However, she didn't really like the colorful look, as it easily reminded her of people she didn't like.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know... a Monster whose prototype is Chameleon?"

After hesitating for a moment, she asked the question.

Her Magic Armament was a gift from a very mysterious Chameleon -like Monster.

It was that Monster who gave her the power and the opportunity to fulfill her wish.

But it's strange that a Monster would possess Magic girl transformation device, even if the transformed being is Black Magical Girl.

As she gradually learns more about Magic girls and Monster, the Chameleon Monster becomes even more mysterious.

That Monster doesn't seem to belong to the Black Death Cult organization.

They also had no interest in resurrecting the Demon King.

If it were Witch, would she know anything about it?

However, upon hearing this question, Haihara suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"... You mean, Chameleon?"

The Witch's tone seemed somewhat different from usual.

Dark Feather nodded.

After that, Haihara seemed to drift into a memory, stroking her chin before casually saying—

"I know."

Before Dark Feather could ask any more questions, Haihara walked ahead, and Dark Feather could only follow with a curious expression. Then she saw the woman casually mention something ahead of her:

"That Monster caused me quite a bit of trouble before."

"Trouble?"

Haihara did not elaborate further.

But...

"Before, it almost cost me my job."

Chapter Fifty-Four: Today's Evil Duty

Maple Plain City has been unusually peaceful these past few days, with no Monster causing trouble and the city maintaining its peaceful order. However, some Magic girl fans are reminiscing online about the Magic girls who haven't appeared for some time.

In the park, a young couple, who looked to be around high school age, were talking and flirting on a bench.

They were in a Ring Mountain Park in the suburbs, where people often jog or cycle in the morning, and many also camp here, but they didn't see many people that morning.

Just as they were chatting and laughing, even somewhat awkwardly trying to get closer, a strange and comical voice suddenly came from behind the bench.

[They're secretly being so affectionate here, it's making me so jealous... hehehe.]

The sound was extremely unpleasant, the kind of harsh that sent chills down one's spine. The man and woman who were about to get intimate were immediately jolted, and both of them turned their heads away, their movements slightly stiff.

When they turned around, they both saw a monster with an extremely terrifying appearance.

It was a horrifying, ugly creature resembling a lizard, with two round, slanted eyes that rolled around, staring at the boy and girl respectively, while a sticky, long tongue dripped saliva from the corner of its split mouth.