This Woman Is Crazy, Ceruno
(Ceruno)
Xiaojie went back to the branch with Sister Luer.
My mom wanted to come with me to investigate, but I left her at home with the Doggy.
She's a bit absent-minded, and she can't be made to disappear during an investigation, so it's best not to let her come. After all, that store manager doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with, and I'm afraid my mom will get taken advantage of Past...
I'm not afraid of being taken advantage of; after all, I'm used to it.
"This matter rests on the two of us."
Xiaoling Ling said loudly, "Yes! I'll be enough!"
She pressed her head back onto her neck, then energetically bent her arms again.
"It's time to show the world the power of the Demon Realm's number one beautiful female detective!"
What kind of self-imposed title is this, stemming from chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)?
Sister Extinction certainly has an excellent mind, but her Xiaoling... isn't actually that smart. Her academic performance is even worse than mine, and she can't concentrate on studying, though she has a lot of energy.
If possible, I'd like to ask Antarctic Star for help, but it doesn't seem appropriate to ask for outside assistance at the beginning. For now, we'll just take it one step at a time.
"So, the beautiful girl detective (self-proclaimed)."
The parentheses are redundant!
Xiaoling was still protesting, so I put my arm around her shoulder like a good buddy.
Miluno and I can't really put our arms around each other. It's quite hard to find a magical girl who's about my height, except for Xiaoling.
"Let's go to the Metro Shopping Street first!"
"Past the subway?"
I created a teleportation portal in the living room.
"Why take the subway? Let's use teleportation!"
My teleportation magic isn't as powerful as Miluno's; it can't take you directly to your destination, so you need to transfer somewhere along the way.
Xiaoling's teleportation magic has a longer range than mine, but her portal is too small for me to squeeze Past...
It will get stuck in your chest.
Unless I become hostile towards Xiaoling and make her remove my breasts.
After two consecutive teleportation spells, we arrived at the door of the [Mahou-Shoujo Family Restaurant].
There were already customers lining up early this morning, waiting for the restaurant to open...
There are quite a few wealthy people in Skyreach City. The cost of a single visit to this shop is equivalent to one or two months' income for an average person. It's like using magic to make exorbitant profits.
However, the shopkeeper's total magic power is limited, and he can only use it a limited number of times a day. Naturally, the rare items go to the highest bidder.
"Yo! Ceruno sister~ What brings you here so early in the morning~"
I was attacked from behind, a short distance from the shop entrance.
It was Dantai Xue, the manager of this restaurant.
She wrapped her arms around my armpits, then lifted me up and spun me around.
Miluno also likes to hug the Doggy like this.
"Snow Sis, please don't be like this... I came here today to ask you to take me to see your father and ask him how he obtained that Contaminated Crystal."
She paused for a moment, then asked:
"Then I'll give you the address, you can just Past and ask, right?"
"But didn't you say last night that you were willing to help us investigate this matter?"
She then put me down and pointed to the people queuing at the door.
"Well, you've seen my situation. My magic effects only last when I'm near you. You don't expect me to lose a day's income to do this kind of investigation that's unlikely to yield any results, do you?"
I knew she would say that if I didn't cooperate.
"Just a heads-up, I do have the ability to get the Association to issue a notice of business suspension and regulate prices, you know?"
"You little brat, trying to threaten me?"
She put on a stern face and acted fierce, but I simply replied in a normal tone:
"This isn't a threat, it's a statement of fact. You're still operating in a gray area. The Association has been watching you for a while, but they've only been temporarily acquiescing and tolerating you. When it's time to cooperate, you should cooperate, okay?"
"Okay, okay, I'll close the shop this morning and go with you, alright?"
As she spoke, she walked to the front of the store, personally spoke with the customers, and had the store staff post a notice.
Xiaoling leaned closer to warn, "Sister Ceruno, she was hostile towards us for a moment just now. This trip might not be very safe. We should be careful."
"It's fine."
Since Sister Luer came to inform us, the Association must also know where to look for us. Under these circumstances, it will be difficult for Dantai Xue to absolve herself of responsibility for what she does to us. If we disappear, her shop can forget about staying open.
Moreover...
"Many-Faced Guest" is also a support-type magic, so she might not be a match for me and Xiaoling.
Dantai Xue returned to us and smiled:
"Alright! I'll be closed for half a day and reopen this afternoon. Now come with me to the parking lot, I'll take you back to the Dantai Society's headquarters."
Is it far?
"It's a bit of a distance from the Northern Suburban Highway."
It's quite a distance Past the city center. Although I have teleportation magic, I don't have a very strong impression of the North Suburbs, so I can't just go wherever I want.
Dantai Xue's car is a low-slung yellow sports car, a retro four-seater convertible with an incomprehensible foreign logo and a rear-mounted engine.
Wow! That's so cool!
Although the car's design was a bit old-fashioned, Xiaoling was still mesmerized, and Dantai Xue couldn't help but show it off.
"How about that? My ride costs fifteen million! I wonder how many years you two girls would need to work as magical girls to save that up?"
That dialogue sounds utterly nouveau riche.
I answered neither arrogantly nor humbly:
"Snow Sis, our reasons for fighting are different from yours, which is why you weren't directly chosen by the Star Crystal... Besides, making 15 million isn't a difficult thing if you really want to."
If we take Miluno to several concerts, we'll make our money back.
As for Xiaoling, she also has connections. She can imitate Dantai Xue's idea and open a "Louis XVI Experience Restaurant," where you can enjoy royal-level French cuisine while designing a guillotine. In the end... cough cough, someone might be willing to give it a try.
"Get in the car~ Grandma will take you for a ride~"
Xiaoling and I sat in the back seat. Dantai Xue seemed rather unreliable. What if she used the passenger's thigh as a handbrake? Would the car even be able to drive?
In addition to fastening my seatbelt, I also put a protective film on myself and Xiaoling so that we wouldn't be hurt even in a car accident.
Let's go!
The sports car roared with powerful acceleration, and the strong push-back feeling instantly pressed me into my seat. The gangster boss, gripping the steering wheel, grinned wildly and slammed on the gas, shooting out of the parking lot.
"Hey! Be careful!"
However, she wouldn't listen to my advice at all. Her roaring sports car weaved through the city's traffic, and other vehicles avoided her for fear of bumping into her. This became her license to be so reckless... I didn't know that luxury cars had this kind of advantage.
Once on the highway, she became even more reckless. The sports car was like a wild horse unleashed, speeding directly to its limit. Even her loud laughter could not be heard, only the whooshing sound of the wind remained.
I feel like my brain was shaken into a complete mess.
"We've arrived! Ladies, please disembark."
The journey was so dangerous and thrilling that I was still reeling when the car stopped, and my steps were unsteady as I got out.
Xiaoling, on the other hand, seemed to be having a blast, probably treating it like a roller coaster.
"Snow Sis, what's your favorite movie?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, Initial Letter and Passion, what's up?"
"Oh, really?"
I took another breath, holding the vomit bag, before cursing:
"I thought it was Mad Max! You motorcycle thug! Ugh!"