Bad News, Good News, Reunion

(Sun Yao)

I was locked in a sealed glass jar, but not soaked in any formaldehyde.

This is a device used for sampling magic energy. I saw it when I first became a magical girl, but now it's used to collect the "black energy" within me, and to see if I can remove it directly from my Vega Crystal...

"It still doesn't work; this energy and the Crystal's magic are completely mixed up."

Outside the jar, the female researcher, after several attempts, shook her head in frustration.

"Director, with our current technology, we can't extract this energy, and... it seems to be using Crystal to multiply?"

"Huh! Proliferation?"

I heard some rather ominous words, and even Miss SpiCa frowned.

"You mean, the power on 'the Other Side' is increasing?"

The female researcher, comparing the report in her hand, replied, "... Well, whether it's Ceruno, Anjie, or Miss Yuehan, the black energy within their Crystal is more than it was a few days ago. Although the rate of increase is still slow, it's a real increase. Given the inability to undo the transformation, I wonder what kind of impact this will have."

It would be a lie to say I didn't know.

The consequences of continuing to let things go unchecked have already been demonstrated by my father...

"Will we become witches too?"

The female researcher hesitated for a moment, but still replied, "Well, I'm afraid she'll eventually become a witch... But, but it's still unclear whether the power from 'the Other Side' will affect her mind, so you don't need to be too nervous. At this rate of proliferation, there's still a long time to go. During this time, we and magical girl researchers and scholars all over the world will try to find a solution. It's not time to despair yet."

"... Yes, thank you."

Having received such comfort, continuing to be depressed is not a solution.

My words seemed to have relieved the researcher...

I put on a smile and asked Miss SpiCa.

"Now that the sampling of the black energy is complete, can my mother and I go back now?"

She nodded and then pressed her temples.

"Well... I still have a lot to do here, so I won't see you off. Be careful on the road; you're still the Other Side's target, Skyreach City isn't safe for you."

"I know, please let me know if you need any assistance."

Just as I was about to leave the lab, Miss SpiCa called me back.

"Wait, Ceruno."

"Is there anything else?"

"There's been a lot of bad news lately, so I have some good news to tell you... Yuehan's adaptability to that Star Crystal has improved significantly since the last checkup. I think if this trend continues, it won't be long before she becomes a true magical girl."

Is the mother's and the Star Crystal's adaptability increasing?

This is indeed good news; she has also gained the sun's approval...

"Thank you, Miss SpiCa! I'll head back now!"

She nodded and watched me leave the research lab.

Shortly after my mother and I left the branch building, I received a text message from Yezi.

"Xiao Yezi's message? What did he say?"

My mother, who had become a magical girl, was shorter than me. At that moment, she was holding my arm and leaning against me to look at her phone. Her short gray hair was right in front of me, and I could smell the mixture of shampoo and body oil.

I don't know if this distance is normal between a mother and daughter, but I still held her arm to help her stand up straight.

He explained, "He told us to eat out before going back... He didn't cook, and he had already left because he had errands to run."

"What's up?"

"They said it was a project assigned to him by Miss Sirius, and if he completes it, he can get some reward."

"That kid became a mercenary?"

Although I don't know what it is, since it was Miss Sirius's arrangement, there shouldn't be any danger. It's probably related to my identity as an idol manager and the talent show I'm going to participate in.

"Ceruno ..."

However, given the current state of Skyreach City, it's uncertain whether the weekend's open and primary elections can proceed smoothly. Will they have to continue despite the casualties among the public?

"Miss Ceruno..."

As for the scene, there shouldn't be any clueless Monster causing trouble. All the contestants this time are magical girls, so even if a witch came, she'd have to be dealt with, let alone Monster.

"Yao'er, is someone calling you?"

It wasn't until my mother pointed it out that I realized there were two people following me.

"Antarctic Star?"

One of them was a famous person I had met before, Magical Girl Antarctic Star.

Because of the hot weather in Skyreach City, she did not wear her signature tuxedo, but instead wore a short-sleeved shirt and suit shorts.

Her delicate features, rational gaze, and beads of sweat dripping from her short, ear-length hair made her look more like a teenager.

"Long time no see, what are you doing here?"

"I came to attend the Supernova Idol Festival, but an accident happened right after I got off the plane."

Then I remembered what Miss SpiCa had said.

This afternoon, the magical girl who solved the lobster Monster at Greenfield Park was none other than Antarctic Star and...

"I didn't expect Miss Antarctic Star to participate in that talent show. I have a feeling that winning this time will be extremely difficult. Is this Miss 'Harvest Goddess'?"

Contrary to the atmosphere depicted in the brochure where she is dressed in Battle Dress, this appears to be her form after de-transformation.

Miss Harvest Goddess is Britain. She wears slightly oversized headphones, carries a huge guitar case, has long, golden curly hair cascading over her shoulders, and exaggeratedly long eyelashes. Her snow-white face is dotted with light freckles. Even without transforming, she possesses a unique and captivating charm...

But she wasn't listening to me at all, nodding along to the beat on her own.

Fran, the "Harvest Goddess," is completely different from what I imagined. I heard she's a support-type magical girl who uses the life force of plants to save people, and I thought she would be a gentler and more compassionate person.

Was she turned out to be a blonde, blue-eyed British rock star?

"Hmm, 'Harvest Goddess' Fran ...you can also call her 'Ceres'."

Antarctic Star nodded and added, "But she doesn't want to be recognized, so just call her Freya."

There's really no need to worry about that. Even I, a magical girl expert, am not very familiar with magical girls, so no one in Skyreach City would recognize one.

"She's just a support-type magical girl, no one will recognize her."

Although I couldn't understand what they were saying, I could tell what they meant from their tone.

Miss Freya smirked in displeasure, pulled out her phone and started typing rapidly before holding it up to my face.

[The magical girl who helps others fights for this world too.]

This is Chinese text generated using translation software.

Wait, what should I say to Miss Fran at a time like this?

"Um, Nomatter?"

The mother, however, sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Yao'er, now that your thoughts have been exposed, you should honestly apologize!"

"I'm sorry, oh... I'm sorry!"

I forgive you.

As compensation, please take me to try the city's delicious food.

I've heard that the food in this country is better than in Britannia.

Britain food is world-renowned.

No one can rival it in terms of how bad it tastes.

"Yes, I'd also like to ask you for a favor."

The composed penguin girl glanced at the time and then politely extended the invitation.

"It's almost dinner time. Would you two please join us for a meal?"