Surprise? Arrival

(Bai Ziye)

The magical girls dispatched by the Association for defense hadn't even left yet, and ultimately, Ceruno didn't even need to intervene. The Monster had barely passed through the wormhole, and before he could even unleash his abilities, he was devoured by hordes of wolf-like magical girls, becoming their living expenses...

"Sigh, with so many magical girls, everyone's share is too small."

Lying on the sofa Ceruno watched the live broadcast on TV while complaining rather pragmatically... even though she had just been saying she didn't want to go out.

"They were transferred here to capture UI-31 and, incidentally, to guard the D3 District while you and Miluno were away. Now that you're back, they'll be transferred again in the next couple of days."

As I spoke, I added, "But for your sake, SpiCa is planning to move the entire team from its Europe headquarters to Skyreach City."

"I know, so what?"

"Her team has many active magical girls. If they are all stationed in Skyreach City, even if 'the Other Side' really sends one every day, there will still be too many monks and not enough rice, given the large number of magical girls."

Simply put, you can no longer make money by fighting monsters.

"... Indeed, I'm going to run out of food?"

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Ceruno's expression also turned serious.

For me, it didn't make much difference, since Miluno had always worked voluntarily and never received a penny. This trip to Hawaii was the first time I had enjoyed the benefits brought by the Association.

"With the living expenses your father gives you, plus the Association's living allowance, you shouldn't starve, right?"

I then reminded you, "If you really need money, don't forget your other identity."

"What's your identity?"

"A soon-to-debut magical girl idol! A hot prospect, and a disciple of Sirius —all these titles will saturate you with attention. As long as you don't make a fool of yourself, there's no way you won't make money."

"That's right!"

After I said that, Ceruno sat up from the sofa, a professional smile spreading across her face.

"Okay, I'll stick to my idol training!"

As she said this, she began to do the shaping aerobics that Sirius had taught her.

Money makes the world go round; even someone as lazy as A-Yao can be motivated...

"No, I'm exhausted, I'll skip it today."

Before she could even utter a word of admiration, she lay back down on the sofa, sprawling limply like a Ceruno biscuit.

I feel helpless, but I'll let her off the hook today.

"I'm going downstairs to buy groceries. What should we eat for dinner?"

"Whatever, I love anything Yezi makes."

In my personal opinion, the hardest dish to make in the world is this "casual" dish.

"Sigh, I'll go downstairs and see what ingredients are on sale."

I'm not rich, so I still need to be frugal.

Okay~

Ceruno didn't seem inclined to go downstairs with me, so I left class alone.

There is a large fresh food supermarket near the apartment. Although a wormhole invasion had just occurred, the store and customers quickly resumed normal business and life after the alert was lifted. As residents of an area where wormholes frequently occur, they are very used to this kind of sudden refuge and rarely fall into disorderly panic because of it.

Magical girls can defeat Monster.

The long-term low casualty rate made this idea seem natural and fostered a collective cult of magical girls.

This is the outcome the Association desires, but it's irrational. Magical girls are just ordinary people; they can't be infallible. When a magical girl falls from grace due to certain events, the public's adoration will turn into a cruel poison...

For example, once the existence of witches is exposed, can the public still trust the Association and magical girls?

I can't predict the outcome, but it's sure to be terrible.

Besides going downstairs to buy groceries, I also called Yin Wei.

Because SpiCa's plan is classified, Ceruno won't tell me much, and even her answers to my questions were vague. As an ordinary person, it's not appropriate for me to ask her directly, so asking Yin Wei for information is the most suitable option.

"That's pretty much the situation; she ran into a wall with Chairman Sun Ji."

"Carrots, beef brisket... Ah, according to you, it's not like we've completely hit a wall, isn't there still a chance?"

I was a little absent-minded.

"Proving that the flow of time is different is simple, but proving that the magical girls from seven years Past haven't been altered can't be done with just drones."

"So, we need to send people to investigate?"

"I'm afraid it is..."

Yin Wei hesitated for a moment before giving her an affirmative answer.

I took two more large potatoes.

He replied, "Let me make this clear first, I'm not going."

"Your high-speed maneuvering makes you a perfect candidate for this kind of mission."

"This isn't reconnaissance, it's suicide. The Other Side time they open a wormhole, it's detected by our satellites. What makes SpiCa think we can sneak Past and infiltrate them?"

Besides, there are so many witches on the Other Side. No matter how arrogant I am, I don't think I can complete this task smoothly.

"We won't send you Past immediately. There will definitely be preliminary reconnaissance to assess the risks. Director SpiCa will also assign you a magical girl skilled in stealth to accompany you. The team operation will be..."

"They gave away even more."

"You're being far too pessimistic."

"That's rationality. Meaningless suicide isn't bravery; it's just recklessness."

"Director SpiCa will do everything possible to ensure your safety. I suggest you wait a few more days and see how the drone returns."

After that, Yin Wei hung up the phone.

I don't want to be a pawn or a guinea pig for the Association. If safety can be guaranteed, what need is there for close reconnaissance? The Past batch of magical girls who went to "the Other Side" never came back. And those who did come back weren't magical girls anymore; they were just modified weapons called "witches."

Put the carrot in the shopping basket.

My phone vibrated, so I took it out and looked at it...

It's my mother who's been missing for several days.

Connected.

"Little Yezi ~~"

She spoke to her son in a coquettish voice.

"The number you dialed is currently switched off. Please do not dial again, thank you."

"How cold-hearted, Mom! I'm going to cry!"

I feel helpless with a mother like that.

"So what's the matter?"

Your father and I are coming back for a visit.

It's not a big deal. Every time they come back, they have to go out again soon. They basically just stay one night, have a meal, and then go on another business trip. They've been like this since they were little.

I'm not very clear about their specific work, I only know that they are a research institution under the Association, and their job is to travel all over the world all day long.

At least not like a researcher.

"Okay, when?"

"About ten minutes~ We're out of the airport! Honey, do you want to say a few words to Yezi?"

Ten minutes?!

"Huh?! You only called me when we were almost there?"

"Isn't this a surprise for my son?"

I was shocked.

I didn't feel any joy at all.

After hanging up with my mom, I hurriedly dialed Ceruno's number.

However, the call could not be connected.

... broken.

His cell phone was burned at the mansion, and he hasn't gone to get a replacement SIM card yet.