Terms of Exchange

(Miluno)

The little creature continued to interfere with the monitoring, while Aldebaran, having removed its protective suit and put on its huge floral Aldebaran again, pushed the chair, which had just been wiped clean of thick bloodstains and was still not quite clean, in front of me.

"Miluno- chan, shall we sit down and talk?"

"Never mind."

When I refused, she turned around and sat down in the chair herself.

"So tell me, what are you trying to steal this time?"

"You."

"... Um?"

"Kidnapping you"

He pressed himself for answers:

"Interesting, why me?"

I thought about it and answered anyway:

"We need technology related to the Witch Domain. Betelgeuse said you developed that."

Originally, I didn't want to tell her, since it would be easy for her to guess our intentions. But thinking about it the other way around, without this technology, our operation would be impossible.

Given her resistance to brainwashing, even if you carry her back, it will be difficult to extract information from her if she doesn't cooperate.

I simply told her.

"No."

She was flatly rejected, and explained:

"I can't go back with you yet. I have my own plans. I can give you the technology, but I'll only provide the research topics. You'll have to figure out the answers yourselves. It might take some time, but with the Association's current research capabilities, we should be able to find the answers."

"Why go through all this trouble?"

Aldebaran, whose feet barely touched the ground while sitting in his chair, crossed his legs and replied, "Miluno- chan~ Openly helping you would arouse suspicion from the 'Supreme Council,' which would be detrimental to my own activities."

"But you've been lying in wait here for so long, just so you can help us one day, right?"

"That's true, but it can't be something so trivial, can it?"

Does she consider the technology of the Witch Domain to be trivial matters?

She shrugged indifferently and said, "I have another condition: you have to let me bring Betelgeuse, Viktorika, and Regil back."

"Why should I?"

There's no reason to give away a witch you've already got your hands on.

Aldebaran explained, "I still need them to confront the 'Supreme Council.' As witnesses to the misuse of Annihilation Bomb, look how decisively I released Spica. Shouldn't you repay me? Three witches for a key technology, it's not a bad deal!"

"Do you know how many people that Betelgeuse has killed? She's a demon for humanity, one who deserves to die."

Even Aldebaran herself is the same; I really don't know what she has ever done that allies should do, besides talking about it.

"I understand your anger. I promise you, they won't go back as soldiers to invade that area again after they return, okay?"

"I can't make a decision on this. To be honest, I still don't know your purpose... What is this so-called plan of yours?"

"What? You still don't trust me?"

With thorns supporting it on the ground, Aldebaran hung himself up again.

"If I'm not mistaken, A-Ji wants to transform the entire 'Supreme Council' into witches and win them over in order to achieve her so-called, hypocritical peace plan."

Aldebaran's conjecture does coincide with the testimony given before his Extinction.

"As I told you before, this is a world on the verge of its lifespan countdown. In this desperate situation, it's impossible for the 'Supreme Council' to reconcile with humanity. They are the tools of Great Will's aggression, and their purpose is to send the Great Consciousness to Earth before this world comes to an end... At that time, with an invisible god as their opponent, humanity will truly be doomed."

I don't know how strong Great Will can be.

But the Shadow Girl, as a being suspected of being a "Great Will," begged for mercy without any dignity in front of my Crystal.

"Ha! Weakness! Great Will is nothing special!"

He was even mocked by the little creature.

The topic has gone off track.

I asked, "What do you want Betelgeuse and the others for?"

"It has two functions."

Aldebaran extends two fingers.

"First, accuse the 'Supreme Council' of its atrocities and work with other witches to put pressure on them; second, make them my achievements."

"I can understand the first point, but what does the second point mean?"

"It's simple. I'm going to plan a surprise attack to rescue them, and you all need to cooperate with me and play your part well."

I see.

She wants to put on a show for the Supreme Council in order to enhance her own status and influence.

This guy is really cunning...

"I understand what you mean, but I can't make that decision."

"You can go back and discuss it with Spica."

I don't think she trusts you.

SpiCa's paranoia is no better than mine.

"Well, you don't need to tell her my situation. Just lay out my conditions for her: hand over three witches in exchange for one technology. I think she'll make the right decision... Also, I'll reserve a space for you in the lab. You can transfer here anytime via the teleportation channel. Of course, remember to interfere with the surveillance."

There was no Magic Suppressant in Aldebaran's lab, so I could come in anytime. However, coming this way required trust in Aldebaran, which I clearly didn't have.

"You really don't trust anyone."

The little thing whispered in my ear, complaining, "I've helped you so much, shouldn't you be a little nicer to me now?"

Speaking of this, I have some things I'd like to verify...

"Aldebaran, can you witches directly manipulate Dark Energy?"

The little one is obsessed with her identity, and I want to use my knowledge of Aldebaran to find out who she is.

"..."

The little thing rarely remained silent. Aldebaran replied:

"Of course, the Dark Energy you mentioned is our second energy source, essentially half a life. A witch who loses the darkness will revert to a magical girl, and her strength will plummet... Don't you know that?"

"Then why don't you use this to interfere with that ubiquitous surveillance?"

"Because it's impossible. Everyone knows that crystals are etched onto wafers, but can you etch crystals by hand? It's the same principle. Although it's possible to manipulate them, a witch alone cannot do it."

So, the little thing isn't a witch...?

"Nonsense! What am I then?"

Aldebaran observed the changes in my expression and asked again:

"Is there anything else you need the teacher to answer, Miluno?"

I think she seems to know something.

Or perhaps, I am also one of her lab members.

I asked, "Then what exactly is 'me' who can interfere with surveillance?"

"Who knows? Your Crystal is very special, extremely special, like a divine weapon forged through countless trials, powerfully captivating~"

Aldebaran stood on tiptoe, trying to touch my face, but I dodged it.

"Eh--"

She drew out her words in dissatisfaction and continued:

"I wouldn't be surprised if you could do something like that."

What exactly is my Crystal...?

"Then I'll go back and discuss your terms with SpiCa."

"Sure, you're welcome to visit anytime. Remember to bring some sunflower seeds next time; we don't even have any snacks here, and my mouth is getting so dry."

"However, if I go back like this, it would be Taibai trip."

I still need something.

"I need a Magical Girl Soldiers's Base Body."

Hey! It's almost the end of the month! Are there any tickets left?