Out of the Hole

(Bai Ziye)

While waiting for the other magical girls, she ate stir-fried noodles with lots of oil and salt.

The liaison lady probably didn't expect me to eat this; it was extremely salty.

The sweltering heat of summer made even steaming hot fried noodles unappetizing, but my empty stomach made me disregard all that. I opened the lunchbox and wolfed it down without any regard for appearances... cough cough cough.

I was indeed hungry.

Thinking about it carefully, I haven't eaten anything since last night, and running all the way from the underground pedestrian street has taken a lot of toll on my physical strength.

Although I ate it, it still tasted awful.

There were still five minutes until the shift change time SpiCa had mentioned, but the organization remained silent.

"Speaking of which, is it possible that this is a diversionary tactic by the enemy? Deliberately releasing false information, while their real target is still the branch building?"

A question came through my earpiece, I couldn't tell who it was, because this was a temporary team, and naturally there were magical girls among the members I didn't recognize.

"That can't be right."

Another magical girl said, "What's impossible? The person we're dealing with is the Association president! The president of the Magical Girl Association is actually colluding with a witch from 'the Other Side'? I really can't understand how things have turned out this way. I don't think I'd be surprised if something else happened."

"Sky Lock, say less."

The Sky Lock is...

Oh, I vaguely remember that name.

The magical girl from the E4 District, because we are nominally in a defensive relationship due to our proximity to the D3 District, we had a few interactions when she first became a magical girl... Newly appointed magical girls all have mentors, just like Ceruno was initially supervised by me and Heat Haze.

However, "Sky Lock" grew quite quickly and was soon able to complete the subjugation independently. The person who was responsible for guiding her at that time should have been Bai Ze from the F3 District.

I don't remember her, since our areas of responsibility aren't adjacent, so we've never crossed paths.

But she actually said she was my fan...

Sky Lock, who also had a short temper, was still yelling, "I can't stand receiving a mission like this! Sister Bai Ze, don't you think the Association isn't trustworthy either?"

"That Association president was just a figurehead leader anyway. As magical girls, all we need to do is trust Director SpiCa and Miss Sirius."

I turned off my microphone and didn't join their discussion.

But I don't trust the Association either.

When an organization becomes too large, internal resistance arises, Ceruno's actions have confirmed what I've always feared.

I finished the fried noodles.

My stomach is satisfied, but I'm starting to get thirsty. If only I had an ice-cold drink...

"Miluno has found it!"

I threw the empty lunchbox into the trash can, but something fell from the sky and landed on my back. My first instinct was to throw it over my shoulder, but then a striking blonde flashed before my eyes.

Sirius.

The world's number one idol exuded the scent of perfume, but his warm body made it difficult for me to feel any enjoyment.

"Hmm, here you go."

She was holding a bottle of chilled juice, and when she pressed it against my face, it stung.

I glanced behind her.

Why are you all alone?

"The other girls were waiting noisily in the shops on the street, so I came out to find you by myself, and even brought you water. You should be grateful and praise me."

"Thanks."

"I certainly accept your thanks! So, have you noticed anything unusual?"

"No, there's been no sound at all. At least the shady fire escape that SpiCa mentioned hasn't been opened at all."

I wasn't so focused on eating that I didn't pay attention to anything else.

"The shift change is coming up soon, so keep a close eye on things. A-Ji is a very cautious person; he won't act until the appointed time, and he won't make a move unless there's the slightest disturbance."

"Then why did you fly over here directly? Aren't you afraid of being seen?"

Sirius winked at me and chuckled, "Hmph, don't you understand? I want him to see me. I'll continue to increase my presence in a bit, making him think that my trump card isn't inside the building, so he'll dare to sneak in."

"What do you mean? You're going to use yourself as bait?"

"That's not wrong. Just take the elevator to the top floor, and someone will open the way to the cells for you. Then just wait for them inside."

"The Shark Princess Witch is dangerous enough, and then there's that black-robed man of unknown strength... How many reinforcements did you bring me?"

"Five have arrived; SpiCa has gathered all the magical girls from the area surrounding the branch."

"When dealing with guys like those from last night, numbers aren't that useful..."

Falcon was of little help, but that wasn't her fault.

Hawaii has few eccentric Monster but many magical girls, so she severely lacks combat experience. Against an opponent of the Sword Witch's caliber, she simply doesn't have the space to unleash her full power...

Sirius scoffed.

"What, you think you can't win? You've fought the witch several times already, why are you getting scared at a time like this?"

"It's different. That girl last night was on a completely different level from any enemy I've ever faced... She's too strong."

The oppressive aura emanating from the half-human, half-deer form is chilling just to recall.

Sirius remained unconvinced, saying, "If Fomalhaut has become a witch, it wouldn't be surprising if she had that kind of strength. That girl... isn't she the strongest among us?"

Is she stronger than you?

"At least within the realm of magical girls, she's better than me."

"But as an idol, I can't compare to you?"

Sirius paused for a moment, then frowned and snorted, "... Don't say things like that so seriously, it'll only make you laugh. Does being an idol increase your fighting power? The reason I'm stronger than her is because I'm not just a magical girl, I'm the world's largest Star Crystal..."

She was speaking when the security guards at the treatment facility left their posts and began lining up before their shifts.

"It's started, SpiCa. Anything unusual?"

"There's nothing unusual about either door, and the security cameras inside the cell are all working properly."

"Really? Girls, wait for the right moment to go inside the building~ I'll go attract your attention!"

Sirius unfurled its enormous and conspicuous Wings of Light and began to circle the building of the medical facility. Unless it was in the underground parking garage, Ceruno's father should have noticed it as well.

"The snake hasn't come out of its hole yet, hiss--(imitating the sound of a snake flicking its tongue)"

"I see, the target is indeed the Party branch."

"Were you scared off by Miss Sirius?"

The magical girls in the squad channel were all talking at once.

"It can't be that bad, A-Ji is..."

SpiCa was halfway through her rebuttal when, without warning, the glass curtain wall of the building, which was several stories high, collapsed.

Without anyone's prompting, an extremely fast, high-energy laser swept towards the glass curtain wall in mid-air, but the laser seemed to have come into contact with something and disappeared without warning.

No, it's invisible!

Is it possible to become invisible in an area where even light disappears?!

Sirius hurriedly adjusted the laser's path, drawing a semi-circular sphere within the indelible boundary.

"Sky Lock!"

A punk magical girl in a black leather jacket stood below the building, raising her hand and throwing out a matte chain. As the chain approached the area circled by the laser, it suddenly exploded into a large net made of chains.

She is Sky Lock.

Her straight, short black hair was adorned with purple highlights on her forehead, a testament to her rebellious and unruly nature.

"Good! Got it!"

Celebrating victory prematurely is always dangerous.

A gunshot pierced the sky.

Large-caliber bullets were fired from behind an invisible veil.

The magical girl, dressed in a heavy skirt, stood in front of Sky Lock, then staggered and fell backward...

"Sister Bai Ze!"