Equipment Enhancement

(Bai Ziye)

Although I had left the Shark Princess Witch's "cell," the things I had seen still weighed heavily on my heart.

For Magical Girls, becoming a Witch truly was an end more tragic than death...

"Miluno, how did you obtain your Star Crystal?"

SpiCa asked the question while I was still lost in those feelings.

"I don't want to answer that."

Naturally, I refused with a cold expression.

Even if I seriously tried to answer, I could not explain it. I did not even know the identity of that mysterious Magical Girl, much less who she wanted me to protect.

Ceruno chimed in, "Miss Miluno has always been secretive, so please don't ask, Miss SpiCa~"

As she spoke, she even winked at me, like a little animal trying to ingratiate itself with a human.

But SpiCa asked again, "Are you really secretive, or is there simply no secret beneath that shell of yours?"

No secret?

That sounded like it carried another meaning.

"Why would you say that, Miss SpiCa?"

"Like I said earlier, a Magical Girl's strength grows as she develops her magic. In truth, that is the process of the Star Crystal adapting to us compatible candidates. But you are clearly an exception."

"An exception? Because I'm too strong?"

"Suppose I'm merely talking to myself, Miluno. Could you be the Star Crystal itself?"

"...Huh?"

The speculation was so absurd that even transformed, I raised my voice unusually high.

"There is someone just like you. She was already at her peak from the moment she appeared, and in battle, she always crushed her opponents with overwhelming superiority..."

Before SpiCa could finish, Heat Haze and Ceruno spoke in unison.

"Sirius?"

"That legend was true?!"

Rumors that Sirius was not human seemed to have existed forever.

She was like a hero who had appeared out of nowhere, traveling the world to eliminate Monsters that arrived through wormholes. Even now, she was still active on the front lines.

"After all these years, it is no longer a secret that cannot be revealed. Though she disguises herself in human form, Sirius's true identity is actually the first Star Crystal to arrive on Earth—and also the first Magical Girl."

A humanoid Star Crystal. No wonder she could fight continuously for twelve years.

Heat Haze pressed on through her tablet. "So Star Crystals have wills of their own?"

"There is no evidence that other Star Crystals possess intelligence. Sirius is merely a special case. Earth was hell back then; it could not wait for a Magical Girl who needed time to grow. That was why she entered battle directly without a compatible candidate... So I was wondering whether you might be the same."

SpiCa was always looking for chances to probe my identity, even more directly than Luer, like a hairdresser trying to talk you into signing up for a membership card.

"I don't want to answer that question. When are you giving my Battle Dress back?"

"...You can have it now. It should already be repaired."

My Battle Dress was still on this floor. I could sense it.

As she led the way, SpiCa tried persuading me again. "Miluno, a Magical Girl with strength like yours should play a greater role in this war."

"I only want to protect the things around me. I will do what needs to be done. You do not need to force responsibility onto me."

"If you stay in contact with the Association, we can use Phase Wormhole technology to send you anywhere in the world where an External Invader appears. That could change the current situation in regions with too few Magical Girls."

"I am not a lab rat for new technology."

If I stayed in frequent contact with the Association, my identity being exposed was only a matter of time.

"...Sigh. You really are stubborn."

SpiCa seemed to have given up.

She led us into a laboratory—or rather, a weapons workshop.

Besides the researchers in white coats, there was another Magical Girl here. She had long brown hair and wore pure white light armor. Compared to a Magical Girl, her Battle Dress made her look more like a medieval light cavalryman, though the lining beneath the armor resembled a female high school uniform.

"Steel Dragon" Metal.

Her magic allowed her to manipulate all kinds of metal and shape them however she pleased.

"Miss Miluno? You're really sturdy. You're already out of bed?"

She knew me too.

"...What are you doing to my weapons?"

My two short swords had been turned into a slightly longer one-handed sword.

But upon closer inspection, there was a mechanism in the middle that allowed it to split apart.

"An upgrade! With Miss Miluno's simple and brutal fighting style, those two short swords barely had any presence at all. So when necessary, combine them into a longsword! Honestly, you used them even less than your thick-soled combat boots—I know you prefer kicking Monsters to death."

As she spoke, she took out the black boots from my Battle Dress.

Then she turned them over.

Metal rings resembling horseshoes had been embedded into the soles—not just at the toes, but at the heels as well.

"Horseshoes?"

What was I, some horse girl?

Long-distance or short-distance?

Dirt track or turf?

"Though they look like horseshoes, they will definitely be comfortable to wear. They are a little heavy, but they can greatly increase the power of your kicks. I am a weapons expert, so please trust me a little more on that."

"I never asked you to modify my Battle Dress..."

SpiCa said, "I was the one who asked her to help."

The kicking part did match my fighting habits, but I did not want to thank someone who had tampered with my things without permission.

I approached the clothes on the workbench.

The Battle Dress and the one-handed sword in Metal's hand flew toward me as though alive, merging into the Star Crystal within my body.

Then they manifested on my body once more.

"How does it feel?"

Metal eagerly asked for my opinion.

I stamped my foot. I had expected the metal horseshoes to reduce my grip, but apart from the slightly increased weight, there was no particular difference.

"It's acceptable. As for the kicking power... is there a training ground here?"

Ceruno hurriedly said, "Wait! Miss Miluno, you can't make any large movements right now!"

The wound on my back could indeed split open again.

"Looks like I can only wait until the next real battle."

"Let me handle the next one too! Miss Miluno, you need to take care of yourself!"

"Mm."

I sheathed the one-handed sword at my waist.

"Then I should be leaving soon."

"You do not have to be in such a hurry. You can leave after your injury has healed."

"No. I have a reason I must leave."

If Ceruno went back alone and could not find me as Bai Ziye, it would be over...

Yet this idiot said, "Since Miss Miluno does not trust the Association, could I take care of you? I promise I won't probe your identity!"

"I'm not at the point where I need someone to take care of me."

I pointed at the tablet in her hands.

"Instead of taking care of me, you should take care of Heat Haze."

"I don't need that! This treatment facility has professional nursing staff. Why would I let some amateur fa—some clumsy idiot girl take care of me?"

Heat Haze had originally wanted to say something about a fat shut-in, but changed her wording after remembering that I did not know Ceruno's identity.

Her mouth was foul, but unexpectedly, she cared a great deal for Ceruno.

"I really do want to do something for Miss Miluno..."

"I know."

I gathered my thoughts, then placed my hand on her head.

I rubbed that soft, silky pink hair.

Something I had been unable to do as Bai Ziye, I did as Miluno as though it were only natural. Ceruno lowered her head while I tousled her hair.

"I understand that you want to make it up to me. No matter what I say right now, the guilt in your heart will not be eased."

"Mm."

"But my injury was not your fault. It was only because I was not strong enough."

"How can you say that..."

"I mean it. My magic fills me with destructive power and makes everything I touch unbearably fragile, but it also leaves me unable to protect anything. So, Ceruno, your magic is gentle. If it's you, then you will definitely be able to protect many people from now on."

"Yezi..."

My heart skipped a beat. My hand froze, and even began to sweat.

"...What?"

But Ceruno raised her head and revealed a sweet, adorable, foolish smile.

"Hehe, the way Miss Miluno said that just now really reminded me of one of my friends."