Script Workshop

(Miluno)

Under the watchful eye of Betelgeuse, I took two family-sized packets of Chacha Sunflower Seeds from the Crystal and placed them on the table.

On the mechanical girl's eyepiece, [?] has become [...].

"Thanks a lot. Without sunflower seeds to eat, I couldn't even continue my research."

Aldebaran happily accepted the melon seeds, then greeted them:

"Please sit down. Let's begin the script discussion... Actually, there's not much to discuss, so let's just set a time... Miluno, what's the date on Earth right now?"

October 1st.

I sat down in the chair opposite Aldebaran.

Because of her wings, Betelgeuse couldn't sit in a chair with a backrest, so she just stood there.

Robots don't get tired anyway.

"Then I'll raid that prison at any time, two days from now, on October 3rd. You don't need to prepare anything; just create a relaxed atmosphere of carelessness. Of course..."

Aldebaran checked his watch and then pointed at me.

"Miluno, you'd better not be here."

"Why?"

She reached out and pulled Betelgeuse to her side, hugging the hard, robotic object, and said:

"With my strength, it would be reasonable for me to take Betelgeuse away while it was in a vulnerable position. But if I were to break through your and Sirius's defenses, the Supreme Council and Sun Ji's group would definitely be suspicious. After all, they have a very high opinion of you, and some councilors even believe that your strength is above that of Fomalhaut, and that eliminating you should be a priority over Ceruno... They've really blown your name out of proportion. How could a powerless researcher like me rescue someone from your clutches? Who would believe that!"

So this is how highly regarded I am in the "Supreme Council"? Should I say I'm flattered?

"I understand what you mean. As long as Sirius and I aren't present that day, it'll be fine, right?"

Since she wants me to be away, I'm going to go anyway...

This makes it easier to make a fuss.

"So, what are the specific arrangements? Do you have a plan yet?"

I'm not interested in detailed plans; I'm just asking as a formality.

In order to force her to hand over the technology of the Witch Domain, I never intended to follow the script from the beginning.

"Since you don't have any scenes, just don't worry about what I do. Just have your people cooperate with my performance that day."

Aldebaran waved to me, then reached out and touched the clone of Betelgeuse.

"Betelgeuse, you'd better cooperate a bit then, after all, I'm here to save you! Aren't you touched?"

Betelgeuse seems... completely unmoved.

She stared at Aldebaran silently, seemingly trying to figure out his plans.

Even in her eyes, Aldebaran was a fox she could never confide in.

"Is there anything else you'd like to say?" I asked.

"That's all. Remember to bring more sunflower seeds next time; two bags aren't enough."

She casually spat the sunflower seed shells onto the ground.

"Then we'll take our leave."

"I still have some research to do, so I won't see you off... Oh, it seems you're planning to go for a walk around the neighborhood again?"

I paused in front of the laboratory door.

"There were indeed other motives. How did you figure that out?"

"If you want to leave, just open the door. Making a point of going through the door is clearly telling me you're not planning to go back yet. What, are you taking Betelgeuse... back to the pit?"

Aldebaran remains as malevolent as ever.

"Let's just say that's how it is. Let's go, Betelgeuse."

I don't plan to tell Aldebaran about going to defuse the bomb, nor do I plan to ask her.

At least not before Betelgeuse.

Simply rescuing Betelgeuse through a transaction doesn't mean Betelgeuse can determine Aldebaran's stance.

But if I tell you the location of the Annihilation Bomb Armory, I'll easily be seen as a traitor.

Even if Betelgeuse doesn't overthink it, if Aldebaran informs the Supreme Council after I leave, it will still hinder our actions.

After all, whether she is "one of us" is still questionable.

The robot girl quickly caught up with me, her beady eyes shining through the visor beneath her black robe and hood.

"So, what's next..."

Call Mono before leaving.

I remember heading towards the fourth-floor Magical Girl Soldiers dormitory.

I had just changed into my protective suit and was about to go downstairs when the little thing suddenly popped out in front of me.

"Miluno! Don't you want to come down and take a look? I told you before... Heaven!"

Before? What paradise?

"What I saw through the Demon Eye... Magical Girl Soldiers's bathhouse!"

She insisted on coming along in her Base Body —was it for this?

So, that Demon Eye from before was taken to the bathhouse by the Magical Girl Soldiers as a floating toy!

His mind is filled with nothing but lewd nonsense; is this the scrap of Great Will?

I think it's excrement.

"Hey, want to shower together? These girls really love taking baths, probably because they lack other entertainment! They're not averse to close contact at all, and they're all young girls with Base Body!! Hehehe, so soft, they wouldn't resist doing anything while being held. Being able to sample all types of beautiful girls, this place is practically... a beautiful girl buffet!!"

Tsk, acting like an old man! Get out here now!

About half a minute later, Mono slunk back to the fourth-floor living room, but his face was beaming, his skin was like glazed white porcelain, and he was covered in steam.

"Let's go! Let's get down to business!"

So she knew she wasn't doing anything productive.

Leaving the research institute, we certainly wouldn't head towards the Betelgeuse's Great Crater.

Instead, it followed Betelgeuse southwards, moving laterally along the Ring Wall.

If she wasn't trying to lead me astray, then our destination was the Armory of the "Supreme Council" where the Annihilation Bomb stored.

If this Armory is close to the "Supreme Council's" headquarters, then when the bomb is detonated, it might even take these nominal high-ranking officials with it.

As for the fact that the fortress was erased from the map by the Annihilation Bomb, Betelgeuse and the others already knew about it. Sirius even showed her the video of when they passed through the crater. I don't believe she still has any goodwill towards the "Supreme Council".

"Hey, Betelgeuse."

The robot girl stopped in her tracks on the deserted street.

Turn around.

The eyepiece has [?].

"Let's put aside the big picture for now. From your personal perspective, are you prepared to join me in overthrowing the 'Supreme Council'?"

The eyepiece shows [√].

So you're still holding a grudge, huh?

"I said, do you really have to communicate this way? If I remember correctly, weren't you usually very arrogant?"

There was no response.

With Sirius watching me, am I really too afraid to speak?

I continued, "Think about it, Sirius and the others have no idea what's going on here, so they won't know anything you say. On the other hand, I can't touch your true form right now. No matter how angry you make me, the most I can do is smash this lousy Iron Shell of yours, right?"

I'm not saying this to try and get on good terms with Betelgeuse; in my eyes, she's still a bastard, a murderer.

But now that we're in a team, nobody wants to play a game with someone who doesn't use their mic, right?

Please turn on your microphone to communicate!

I've tried to persuade her to this extent, but she still won't say a word. However, the simple expression on her face behind her glasses has turned into a string of numbers.

[11.4km]

This appears to be the remaining distance to the destination.

Betelgeuse map guide you?