Magic Suppressant

(Miluno)

The little thing figured out the tower's structure, and she led me directly to the first-floor passage leading to the workshop of Aldebaran.

"She's coming out."

My plan is to open a teleportation portal behind her, then kick her inside. Since her defense is so high, can't I just avoid fighting her head-on?

The isolation door opened, and the diminutive Aldebaran emerged with two technicians, while some shimmering gas drifted out from behind the door.

Maintaining my usual caution, I didn't make a move before the gas dissipated, but instead followed Aldebaran into the ascending elevator...

So this five-story tower even has an elevator?

"I've blocked the surveillance for you, now get to it!"

The little thing was making a fuss, and of course I knew what to do.

--Time-Freeze--

The ascending elevator, the accelerating time, and the unusual darkness still alerted Aldebaran. I didn't expect her to notice the little thing causing trouble, but I wasn't going to wait for her to figure it out. The teleportation channel that had unfolded in 0.1 seconds... shattered.

"Hey? Why the blunder now!?"

No, it's not my problem.

Not only the teleportation portal, but also my speed boost, Ceruno's Bubble Membrane, and even invisibility magic were all canceled...

It's the effect of that gas!

After entering the elevator, Aldebaran released that gas.

"Hey, Miluno- chan, it seems you want to invite me over? Good thing I was careful, otherwise I might have fallen for your trick..."

She tossed aside the gas canister in her hand and said with a grin:

"Wow, that's impressive! You guys can actually interfere with this world's surveillance. How many more surprises do you have in store for me?"

"But the gas you created is even worse!"

What is this aerosol?

The magic within her was like solidified cement; any magic would fail, even Ceruno's Bubble Membrane...

"Don't worry, the magic blockade is temporary. But wow, how did you manage to sneak in? My research institute is surrounded by Magic Suppressant, isn't it?"

So this stuff is called Magic Suppressant; its function is actually quite easy to understand...

Hmm? Doesn't that sound like some kind of generic emoji?

However, I'm not worried about blocking the magic.

"Since you don't have magic power, you can't use magic either, right? You little dwarf who's only 1.5 meters tall thinks you can fight me?"

If we don't use magic and just fight each other, I don't think I'd lose to Aldebaran. Even if she were made of gold, I could still carry her.

Don't underestimate the physical abilities of a melee magical girl. My hand chops can even cleave through alloys, let alone relatively soft gold.

"Even if you can beat me, can you beat everyone? Without magic, you can't possibly leave my research institute on foot, and besides..."

Her Golden Thorns extended from behind her.

"I am a witch with two energy systems. The Magic Suppressant only targets your magic power; Dark Energy remains unaffected... You think you can control me without magic power? Aren't you being incredibly naive?"

This is troublesome.

"It's no trouble at all!"

This little thing stood in front of my chest like a hero.

"Don't be afraid! The witch will protect you!"

Darkness seeped out of the Morning Star Crystal once again.

A vast expanse of darkness.

The Black Mud -like non-Newtonian fluid condensed before me into... a human figure about the same height as Aldebaran.

"This is..."

Aldebaran raised an eyebrow.

"Take this!"

The little thing roared and threw Intentional Smash, but the latter didn't budge... she herself was like jelly.

"Huh? I thought it was some kind of trump card, but it seems pretty weak. I was worried for nothing."

"No, this body is too soft! I... I can't beat her!"

The little guy chickened out.

Then what were you trying to show off for? Give me back my expectations!

Although they have a similar appearance, the little thing doesn't have the suffocatingly strong sense of oppression that the Shadow Girl (first appearance limited time) has. Aldebaran even mocked, "Why aren't you saying anything? Show me what new tricks you have up your sleeve?"

The little thing's voice is still only in my head; Aldebaran can't hear it.

Are we at a loss?

"Miluno! Lend me your body, I can beat her!"

That's what the little one said...

"Fine, since you've blocked the surveillance, I'm too lazy to keep up the act. Here's what I'll do: just bow your head and call me 'Sister Aldebaran,' and I'll let you go back."

But that's what Aldebaran said.

"... Um?"

Wait, she said she'd let me go back?

Noticing my expression, Aldebaran's lips curled into a smirk.

"Why are you so surprised? Didn't I already tell you? I'm on your side!"

Although she did say that, I just let it go in one ear and out the other...

After all, this person has never acted like a friendly force.

You don't seem to believe me?

Aldebaran, however, looked hurt and spread his hands, saying:

"Miluno- chan, think about it carefully! Every time you've had a mishap here, wasn't I the one who took you back?"

I refute this:

"Then why did you make me absorb twelve Black Crystal last time, and even try to back out?"

"Please, you asked me to let Sirius and Spica back first, and I agreed, right? Besides, as an undercover agent, I can't openly help you, can I? I have to put on an act. If you really do become a witch after absorbing the twelve Black Crystal, that's fine too. I have my own ways to save you. After all, here, I can decide how to modify you, and I can even extract the darkness from your body... As for going back on my word, I know that straightforward girl from Fomalhaut will insist on letting you go. I'll just use that to make her take the blame."

"... The scapegoat?"

"That's right, she took all the blame for letting Spica go and for you. Even A-Ji's words don't carry any weight. She's currently under house arrest by the 'Supreme Council' and won't be able to go fencing with you for a while... But don't worry, she'll be fine. After all, the 'Supreme Council' still needs her fighting strength, and she'll be released in a while."

Fomalhaut was also outmaneuvered by Aldebaran.

Despite our adversarial relationship, I still feel sorrow for her...

"Put on your protective suit, and I'll take you to my lab."

"Do what?"

I was wary of her.

Aldebaran, however, shook his hand and replied:

"Don't worry, there's no Magic Suppressant over there. I'd get suspicious if I stayed in the elevator. We can talk about it over there."

Unable to use teleportation magic to saw off his leg this time, he could only crouch down and squeeze into the protective suit that was 10+ cm shorter than himself.

She glanced at me and said, "I'll get you something that fits in a bit."

Is it really a height restriction?

Aldebaran's laboratory is located on the top floor of the tower...

It's called the top floor, but it's actually only the fifth floor. The structure of this world doesn't allow for tall buildings; even a slight increase in height would alter gravity.

"The first and second floors here are the production lines, and the third and fourth floors are the classrooms and dormitories for the Magical Girl Soldiers. This matter was originally supposed to be handled by Fomalhaut, but she was put in solitary confinement, so this mess fell to me... Those guys in the 'Supreme Council' don't want to do any real work; all they think about is how to maintain their power. But their corruption is actually a good thing for us."

Aldebaran pushed open the door to the dedicated laboratory, I could smell a pungent stench of blood even through my protective suit.

"Ah!"

The little creature was also startled and cried out.

On the lab table lay the dissected corpse of a Monster...

No, it seems to still be alive, just unconscious.

Oh, don't worry about it.

She took off her protective suit as if nothing had happened and tossed her long, shiny, pure gold hair.

"Labors, after all, are bound to contain some horrifying things."

But this is way too scary!

"Even for this world, Monster are products that should be phased out. Wouldn't it be perfect to use them for experiments? If the modification is successful, he could become a magical girl or a witch."

Let's set aside our stance for now.

I find it hard to like Aldebaran's behavior.