Palpation

(Ceruno)

When I made my request, Golden grinned, revealing two adorable, sharp canine teeth; getting bitten by one would probably hurt a lot.

"Then, can I sleep with my master tonight?" she asked again.

I just thought about it.

"No problem. Since Miluno and Mono aren't coming back tonight, you can sleep in my bed. That way, I can keep an eye on you and make sure you don't turn back."

"Yay!!"

Seeing her joyful expression, I added:

"I sleep in Miluno's bed."

The Golden was greatly disappointed.

"Huh! Isn't it okay to sleep while hugging your owner?"

"Not today, we'll have to see how you perform tomorrow."

"How could this happen!"

"If you're being unreasonable, then I won't let you hug me even tomorrow?"

She immediately fell silent, becoming obedient and docile... She squatted down with her legs apart, one hand supporting her on the ground, the other raised forward, sticking out her tongue and looking at me in a fawning manner.

Long-established habits cannot be corrected in just a few words.

I reached out and scratched her chin, commanding:

"Stand up quickly, people don't just squat down casually."

"But I'm not human, am I?"

"These 24 hours will be your special training as a human being. I will help you correct all kinds of bad habits... Stand up straight!"

Even when she's standing, she's a bit hunched over, and a hunchback isn't attractive.

"Ugh, walking upright is so uncomfortable."

It's so weird that she's turned into a beautiful girl and is still crawling on the ground, isn't it?

I sent the Golden to take a shower.

Although she's still a bit of a goofball at heart, she's actually quite clean.

Even before she came to the City School, and even before she revealed that she could become a magical girl, she would always take a shower when Miluno and I weren't home.

Of course, it's also possible that she simply enjoys playing in the water.

"Sister Ceruno, it's time for us to go to sleep."

"Hmm, goodnight..."

Xiaojie, dressed in cartoon pajamas, came out and held Xiaoling's head in her hands to say goodnight.

"You..."

She even sleeps with her head separated from her body?

As if sensing my question, Xiaoling provided the answer:

"Oh, this is a training exercise Teacher Antarctic Star gave me. My body is also in a decomposed state when I'm in bed! And, Ceruno, you've probably never tried resting your head on your own lap before! It's so comfortable!"

No, I don't want to have that experience at all.

Goodnight, Sister Ceruno.

Sweet dreams to you too.

Xiaojie Jie nodded, cradled Xiaoling's head, and went back into the house.

I'm the only one left in the living room for now.

10:30.

There's a dog in the bathroom. I don't know how long I'll be showering, but since it's on the same floor, I'll just wander around next door.

The light in the living room next door was still on, so I rang the doorbell.

"Miss Jaeger, are you asleep?"

"No, come in."

Upon entering, I found that Jaeger and Professor Stratos were still awake, discussing something around the dining table.

"I'd like to use the bathroom... What are you doing so late?"

"Ceruno, you've come at the perfect time."

Jaeger beckoned to me, gesturing for me to Past and sit down.

She said, "The recent discovery that magical girls gain power comparable to witches when they use a second Crystal is correct, right?"

That's no secret, I nodded in affirmation.

"Yes, that's how it seems at the moment."

"Director Stratos wants to replicate Aldebaran's Artificial Crystal technology and create Enhanced Crystal that can be fused with any magical girl."

Does this mean it's possible to enhance the magical powers of magical girls without any prerequisites?

That's exciting news.

"If this can be achieved, the magical girls' strength will be greatly enhanced! But, is the professor planning to help us deal with 'the Other Side'?"

In response to my question, Professor Stratos put away her pipe, gently twirled her long, gray hair, which was very similar in color to her mother's, and answered with a shake of her head:

"I don't want to be a traitor, but I want to prove that I'm no worse than that girl, and I also want those outdated and corrupt people in the council to understand my strength. For this, it's not unreasonable to give you a little advantage. Anyway, once I don't want to give anymore, you won't be able to make it."

The implication is that even if the Enhanced Crystal is developed, the Association cannot produce it independently without her core technology, and she can cut off the supply at any time.

Putting personality aside, at least in terms of scientific research, the professor is an arrogant person who is proud of his talent.

"How can I help?" I asked.

The professor stated bluntly:

"Let me examine your Star Crystal."

"Now?"

"Right here, very soon."

I wasn't prepared for the sudden talk of research, since it's still questionable whether she's even an ally.

"... Won't it be dangerous?"

"No, I promise."

Your guarantee is useless!

I thought about it for a moment, then asked:

"Actually, my Vega Crystal has been corrupted by darkness, and I cannot undo the transformation at the moment. Can you handle this situation?"

You mean... pollution?

The professor seemed not to understand what I was saying, so Jaeger explained from the side:

"The Planetary Will of this world is carried by Crystal, but the Blessing of the Great Will can also be absorbed by the Crystal. The absorption of the Great Will causes the Will of the Stars within the Crystal to be unable to be expressed correctly, which is what she calls pollution."

"Hmm, I can give it a try."

The professor raised her right hand, which deformed and cracked. Then, numerous thin, long tentacles extended from her hollow wrist. I suddenly became curious about her internal structure. Could it be that her girlish appearance was just an empty shell housing the tentacles?

"Wait a minute!"

These writhing tentacles snaked their way towards me.

"Let me take a look at your condition... Relax, it's just Palpation."

Palpation? The palpation of the hand!

"Are you serious?"

"If you won't let me see the Crystal, how can I resolve the pollution you mentioned?"

"... Then, please be gentle."

These tiny tentacles weren't very strong, but they were incredibly agile. They even managed to unbutton my collar and slip inside through my collar, cuffs, and under my hem. They were a little cool at first, but quickly warmed up by my body heat. They clung to my sensitive skin and crawled toward the Crystal buried in my chest cavity.

As the shame intensified, her body naturally became hot, and she even got goosebumps.

"Professor, I'm a little embarrassed... Ee-ah?!"

They even went so far as to touch sensitive areas that can't be described; the feeling of this "Palpation" is just too lewd!

The professor showed no reaction; she spoke calmly, like a doctor conducting a physical examination:

"Don't make a fuss. My Palpation should be quite comfortable, right? These hands have touched hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers. You don't need to worry about what I'll do to you; I have no interest in that."

You were touching Monster before, weren't you?!

I don't know how much time passed before the professor finally removed those tiny tentacles. The slippery feeling on my skin was gone, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, any results yet?"

It retracts its tentacles, transforming back into a normal hand.

The professor replied with some disappointment:

"No, I heard you're the chief consultant's daughter, so I had some expectations for you... but it turns out you and Crystal aren't very compatible, at least not with anything I wanted to see."

What?!

I've been indulging in self-pity with expectations, and then experiencing self-pity with disappointments. What do I really have?

The professor suddenly became a riddle-maker again, Jaeger continued translating:

"She wants to observe the upgraded Crystal."

Second-tier Crystal.

Indeed, some highly adaptable magical girls have awakened even stronger powers, such as Heat Haze.

But I...

"My Crystal is contaminated; there's no way to improve its adaptability!"

Is this my fault?

"I do have a solution to this, but I don't have the right equipment... However, I do know who can handle this situation."

"Who?"

The professor then pulled out an electronic cigarette lighter.

"Magical Girl Miluno..."

"Huh? Miluno?"

"... that thing next to her."

Miluno's side...

Mono?!