Chapter 379

Just as the Black Goat was about to enter the portal, it suddenly sensed that something extremely dangerous and unsettling was instantly approaching its side.

It raised several goat heads, and the ghostly flames in its eye sockets looked at the girl who had teleported away. However, the next moment, a giant claw had already grabbed several of its goat faces, obscuring everything it could see.

[Well...]

The speed at which Thousand Sins acted exceeded Black Goat's imagination.

It kept waving its black tentacles, struggling violently like a writhing lump of flesh, but Thousand Sins's hand only trembled slightly, showing no intention of letting go.

"What happened? You were just spouting nonsense, and this is how I caught you?"

Thousand Sins glanced calmly at the Black Goat.

If I'm not mistaken, this guy is just a offspring of the Black Goat.

There's no need to waste any more time.

Without waiting for Black Goat's response, Thousand Sins swiftly and decisively crushed the Black Death Cult with a "bang."

The Black Goat's body let out a resentful howl, and for a time the lingering sound of its vengeful spirit lingered.

After crushing it, Thousand Sins shook his hand.

"It seems Kirishima and the others haven't noticed this area... and it looks like they can't leave this eco-park for the time being."

"It seems we have no choice but to go ahead..."

As he spoke, Thousand Sins turned around and looked at the dark portal that the Black Goat had just opened.

Even if the figure we just saw wasn't the real Sakaki Chika, judging from the Black Goat's reaction, the real Sakaki Chika is probably in there too...

She checked again, and as expected, the phone had no signal at all.

Then she would have to go in and investigate first.

After splitting up with Takanashi, Kirishima Ai and Kuroki Yuka continued searching for Sakaki Chika within the agency, and soon after, they received a text message from Takanashi.

Kirishima Ai took out her phone and turned on the screen.

Kuroki Yuka was standing nearby, noticed that it was a text message from Takanashi and asked curiously:

"What did you send?"

Kirishima Ai handed over her phone, showing Kuroki Yuka the text message that Takanashi had just sent:

[We've found Sakaki-kun. We haven't noticed anything wrong with her yet. You can come to the path I just walked down.]

This seems like good news.

They've only been working separately for a short while, and they've already succeeded. Perhaps today's operation will be over soon.

However, upon seeing this news, neither Kirishima Ai nor Kuroki Yuka showed any joy; instead, their faces were filled with confusion.

At that moment, Kirishima Ai raised her head and looked at a familiar figure in the distance---

"Takanashi said she went in that direction and met Chika, right?"

Her tone was slightly stiff.

Kuroki Yuka nodded with a similar expression.

Then, in their field of vision, in a place that didn't match Takanashi's description, appeared the figure of a girl who shouldn't have been there.

"---How come Chika is here?"

Right in front of the two Magic girls.

Also appearing there was a teenage idol— Tachibana Aeruru.

Chapter 147 Bearing the Name of the Black Death Cult

Just as Kirishima Ai said, they had already encountered Sakaki Chika, and just a few minutes earlier, in a corridor of the agency, where Sakaki Chika's private room was actually located.

After meeting them, Sakaki Chika warmly invited them to come in and sit for a while.

Shortly after that, Kirishima Ai received that text message from Takanashi.

"Hmm? Ai, why are you looking at me all of a sudden? Is there something dirty on my face?"

In front of the dressing table, Sakaki Chika was touching up her makeup in front of the mirror.

Everything seemed natural.

Sakaki Chika was even cuter than usual. Although she wasn't wearing her idol outfit, her casual clothes gave off a completely different impression from her usual uniform.

And how should I put it, the way she wears makeup makes her look so mature.

"No, it's nothing, don't worry about us, you go ahead with your work."

Kirishima Ai sat obediently in her seat, waiting for Sakaki Chika to finish her work.

It seems like Sakaki Chika is currently working as an idol.

Specifically, it involves filming a daily video that will be posted on social media.

Since they discovered that Sakaki Chika was actually safe and sound, and that the others had come uninvited, Kirishima Ai was actually a little embarrassed.

But now, Kirishima Ai began to ponder the meaning behind the text message Takanashi had sent.

Furthermore, she discovered that Takanashi had not replied to Takanashi text message.

She secretly showed it to Kuroki Yuka:

What do you think?

"Maybe she's mistaken? That's unlikely."

Kuroki Yuka herself felt it wasn't very reliable.

Could it be that Takanashi encountered Monster disguised as Sakaki Chika?

Having already experienced similar situations several times, the Magic girls didn't treat this strange text message as a simple misunderstanding. Instead, they began to observe Sakaki Chika in front of them with suspicion.

After finishing her makeup, Sakaki Chika began recording the video. Kirishima Ai and Kuroki Yuka remained quiet, trying not to disturb Sakaki Chika's work.

"Good evening everyone! Did you watch tonight's live performance? I sang a lot of songs today, and although I'm very tired, thank you all for your support. I hope you enjoyed it..."

Kirishima Ai suddenly realized that Sakaki Chika was incredibly talented in every sense of the word.

Being an idol is such an amazing profession.

She'll probably never be able to speak to a camera like that in her entire life—not even after transforming.

"... Everyone should take good care of their health. For example, eat your favorite foods, wear more clothes, and exercise more. Ailulu, after the performance today, I ate the lunchbox my mom brought me."

Um?

Kirishima Ai paused, taken aback.

"My mom cooks really well! It's a pity I have to maintain my figure and can only eat a little bit. It's such a shame."

Ailulu, in front of the camera, wore a cute expression of regret.

She spoke so naturally that almost nothing seemed amiss.

Until the recording ended, Sakaki Chika dropped her professional tone, let out a long sigh, and then turned off her phone.

Chika, as an idol, is indeed different from usual.

It has the feel of Star Flower.

But this time, something seems different.

Just as Kirishima Ai was looking for an opportunity to ask something, a woman dressed like an elite walked in from outside the door.

Upon seeing Sakaki Chika, the woman in the Formal Attire placed the large cardboard box she was carrying on Sakaki Chika's desk.

"Chika, if you're tired this time, don't force yourself to read the fan letters. But this is probably the last time you'll receive a fan letter."

This woman looks like Sakaki Chika's manager.

She quickly noticed the two unfamiliar girls sitting to the side:

Who are these two?

Just as Kirishima Ai and Kuroki Yuka became nervous, Sakaki Chika immediately explained on their behalf:

"These two are my friends. I invited them over. Has this bothered Ms. Takahashi?"

The agent shook her head:

"Oh, they're friends. I'll bring some desserts over later to treat them."

Even after Kirishima Ai and the others finished thanking her and the manager left, an indescribable sense of unease and awkwardness lingered in their hearts.

To be honest, they know too little about Sakaki Chika's daily life as an idol.

Therefore, they were unsure what was normal and what was abnormal for Sakaki Chika.

"So, Ai, what were you going to say just now? You can tell me now."

As she spoke, Sakaki Chika took out a fan letter from the box and began to read it with curiosity.

Originally, Kirishima Ai wanted to ask about the meaning of "mother" in Sakaki Chika's words.

However, I feel that if this topic is misunderstood or misinterpreted, it can be very hurtful.

"Why did that lady just say... this is the last fan letter?"

"Um..."

Chika raised a finger and lightly touched her lower lip.

After thinking for a while, she said with a hint of regret:

"Because after this performance, I'll be graduating and won't be an idol anymore, so I won't be able to read fan letters as an idol anymore."

"Graduate?"

Kirishima Ai taken aback.

Graduation, which should mean quitting your job as an idol, is something that should be done so casually?

Besides, this job must be something Sakaki Chika is truly passionate about, right?

"Well, I've decided to quit being an idol. It's really sad, considering how many fans like me and how they send me gifts."

"It's so nice to be liked, why do this?"

Sakaki Chika sighed, looking very unwilling, while saying very contradictory things.

It's as if she wasn't the one who announced her idol's graduation.

Both Kirishima Ai and Kuroki Yuka felt a sense of unease once again at this moment.

Perhaps noticing the expressions on Kirishima Ai's and the others' faces, Sakaki Chika suddenly cast an interested glance as well:

"Stop talking about these depressing topics."

"Let's talk about something interesting."

She suddenly moved closer to the two Magic girls, her beautiful rose-red pupils revealing a keen interest.

Kirishima Ai blinked, wondering what topic would be discussed.

Then, Sakaki Chika asked:

"How have you been lately, Teacher Haihara?"

This time, Sakaki Chika's expression was quite easy to understand.

It was obvious to the naked eye that she really wanted to know what was going on with Teacher Haihara lately.

"Is this Teacher Haihara...?"

When Kirishima Ai talked about this, she realized that until now, it had never been her turn to take care of Teacher Haihara.

So far, it seems that she has had the least contact with the student council president and Teacher Haihara.

So she looked at Kuroki Yuka, since Teacher Haihara had lived with Kuroki Yuka the longest.

"Uh, uh... Teacher Haihara? She's been settling in quite well lately, and I heard she's been having a good time staying at Takanashi's house."

When Kuroki Yuka talks about this topic, she always feels inexplicably frustrated.