Buy One, Get One Free

(Ceruno)

When Miluno first Past, I felt that time was passing too slowly.

Being stuck here with nothing to do, this feeling of just waiting is unbearable and agonizing.

But time has flown by, and with the deadline fast approaching, it feels like time is passing too quickly. Why hasn't Miluno opened the door and come back yet? I'm anxious, yet helpless...

Don't worry too much.

Miss Metal, dressed in a JK uniform, came over to comfort me. She put one arm around my shoulder and held a cup of coffee that had been brewed sometime during the day in the other hand.

"Miluno always wins, right? She'll complete the mission this time too; at worst, she'll be hospitalized."

Although I always ended up in the hospital before, this time was different.

"But this time it's not a simple matter of escaping unscathed or being hospitalized; after all, she's fighting on the enemy's stronghold, facing the overwhelmingly powerful Fomalhaut..."

"It's okay~"

After hearing what I said, Sirius said this:

"That guy 'Seaheart Sword' was only ever ranked second for ages. As a magical girl, I'm definitely stronger!"

To boast, to exaggerate.

Miss Spica and Aunt Hefi both wore expressions of disbelief.

Everyone here knows she can't beat Fomalhaut.

I clearly didn't say anything, but Sirius still complained:

"Hey! Ceruno, what's with that disbelieving look? Let me make it clear, I haven't been completely stagnant lately."

"But aren't you completely incapable of growing up?"

Although she is called the first magical girl, Sirius is not actually a magical girl in the strict sense.

She is the simulated personality of Sirius Crystal, the front-end interface for communication with people.

"Hmm~ I don't have a suitable candidate, so I can't grow... Then why don't I just find a suitable candidate?"

"Ha?"

"I've been thinking lately, maybe I should just quit being a magical girl and go back to my original job as Star Crystal."

Thinking this way might lead to a breakthrough, but putting it into practice is not easy.

"But what mortal is worthy of such a renowned Crystal as yours?"

I hadn't finished speaking.

Buzz--

A red teleportation portal appeared without warning in the Wormhole Laboratory.

"Yezi... Miluno is back?"

No one answered me; everyone was holding their breath in shock at the sudden appearance of the wormhole...

"Ceruno, back off!"

SpiCa suddenly flung out White Silk, pulling me away from the teleportation portal. Then, a long white iron spear shot out from it, piercing through the laboratory door behind me.

"W-what..."

The sudden attack forced Sirius into battle mode. She donned a Flowlight evening Battle Dress, and dozens of Light Arrow Sigil shot out from behind her, all pointing towards the teleportation portal.

Emerging from the passage was a gun-wielding magical girl clad in heavy Western armor... Daddy!?

"A-Ji! You dare to come back?!"

Sirius's sudden rage transformed into a sharp offensive, but the volley of Light Arrow Sigil was completely blocked by a heavy tower shield.

However, the White Silk had already silently wrapped around her limbs from behind.

"Snort."

The old man remained completely calm, simply asking, "SpiCa, is this also part of your plan?"

Plan?

Does this refer to Miluno going to the Other Side?

Has she been discovered?

SpiCa gripped the White Silk tightly. These seemingly soft White Silk silks possessed astonishing strength. Even a magical girl like her father, known for her strength, could hardly break free. It was already her limit if she wasn't hung up.

"Whether it's part of my plan or not is irrelevant. Now that you're here, don't even think about escaping!"

SpiCa neither confirmed nor denied it.

Her answer was vague; clearly, she didn't know what her father's so-called plan was either.

"Is that so? Well, that's hard to say."

My father simply stood up straight, and from beginning to end, she never once looked at me, her son.

Then, two invisible sword energies sliced through SpiCa's tough White Silk, and the old man regained his freedom.

Winter General, with antlers on her head and wearing ice armor, burst out of the teleportation channel, bringing with her a chilling aura that could freeze everything. The moment she crashed out of the channel, the Teleportation Halo rapidly collapsed and vanished without a trace.

The Seaheart Sword Ocean: Fomalhaut.

Even the strongest witch, the Winter Swordsman, SpiCa, and Sirius working together are no match for her, let alone her father, who is known for his defense. Even with me and Miss Metal added to the mix, they still wouldn't be a match... Wait, how did Father transform?

Initially, it was thought that Miluno was in danger, but the situation behind them suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse.

It's one thing for Dad to come back, but isn't giving away Fomalhaut as a bonus a bit too extravagant?

The tall, white-haired girl stood before her father and gave a cold command.

"All you do is resort to these unorthodox methods, opening wormholes... Otherwise, I'll sacrifice all of you to my sword."

She suspected that we were behind their coming here.

Miluno's operation has not yet been exposed?

But Sirius is Honey Pot, and she has absolutely no intention of backing down when facing Fomalhaut.

"Huh? Who do you think you are, offering a sword sacrifice? Try it if you dare! My head is as hard as stone!"

Regardless of whether she could win a fight or not, she had no intention of avoiding any confrontations that came her way.

The Lightforged Heavy Hammer slammed down on Fomalhaut's face, but the latter conjured a bladeless ice blade and deflected the heavy blow with a single hand.

"Again! Again!"

Sirius's offensive was relentless, with light-forged weapons being fired incessantly at Fomalhaut, yet they couldn't even inflict any substantial damage on the latter. Even when the ice sword was shattered, it would instantly reform itself in the next second...

But my father never lifted a finger, nor was there any need for him to.

"They're difficult to deal with, and it's also difficult to get involved."

Aunt Hefi, as a support-type magical girl, was indeed feeling powerless at this moment. Miss Metal, wielding her sword and shield, did not rashly intervene in this extraordinary battle.

Sirius is the largest known Star Crystal, and theoretically the Star Crystal with the most magic power, yet it still cannot contend with Fomalhaut.

Before long, Sirius's output began to weaken, and its offensive slowed down.

"What's wrong, Sirius? Is it already too late?"

Fomalhaut mocked him expressionlessly.

She never went all out from the beginning; at least she didn't turn this wormhole research lab into an ice hell colder than Antarctica.

After all, she wanted to use the Wormhole Device to go back with her father.

"This guy gets infuriating when he's smug! SpiCa! You try it with me!"

Sirius's words were somewhat cryptic, and Miss SpiCa naturally didn't understand them either.

"Huh? Try what?"

Sirius, however, pulled her close to his side.

"Use me to transform!"

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up? I have my own Star Crystal..."

"No one says we can only use one Crystal! Since witches are a mixture of two powers, let's combine the power of the Star Crystal! Come on! SpiCa, I'll match your rhythm!"

"But that hasn't been tested yet... Hey!"

Before SpiCa could say anything more, Sirius had already transformed into a brilliant meteor and crashed into her body.

"Let's unite, Vice!"

Who is that?