The One Waiting Here...

(Bai Ziye)

Nabu Island.

A narrow island with tropical rainforest terrain, it was not large, high on the left and flat on the right. The raised section was a reef mountain covered in broadleaf trees and vines, its nearly vertical cliffs facing the sea, while the other side sloped gently all the way down to the beach. The reef mountain was not tall, perhaps only twenty or thirty meters above sea level. Round barnacles could even be seen near the waterline. Nabu Island's coastline was similarly narrow, with azure waters washing over golden sand. The seawater that rolled across the beach was crystal clear, and even the shells beneath the surface were visible.

The yacht left after dropping us off. Yin Wei was still organizing her luggage, while Ceruno looked ready to rush onto the beach and start playing at any moment.

Standing on the pier, I was a little dazed too.

"It's so beautiful... A private island? How much would something like this cost?"

"I don't know how much this island cost, but magical girls can afford it with their income... because the island's owner waiting for you here is a famous magical girl herself."

As Yin Wei explained, Ceruno asked in surprise, "Huh? Then how many Monsters would you have to defeat to earn enough?"

"A magical girl's income does not come solely from bounties for defeating Monsters. There are also commercial endorsements and all sorts of other opportunities. There are currently thirteen thousand magical girls registered with the Association worldwide, and they are all concentrated in regions and cities where wormholes frequently appear. There are too many monks and too little porridge. If they relied on bounties alone, some magical girls might not earn anything for an entire year... Of course, registered magical girls receive a minimum monthly subsidy from the Association, so at least their basic living expenses are covered."

That last sentence had been obviously aimed at me. Was she trying to tempt me into registering with the Association by bringing up their salary and benefits?

But if money could persuade me, I would have registered long ago.

"I'll help you."

Ceruno lifted the wheeled suitcase that Yin Wei had struggled to drag across the shallow sand, then asked, "So where are we going?"

"Follow that only path. It leads to the mansion on the island."

"A mansion?"

"It's my first time here too, so I don't know the details."

Ceruno paused, then asked quietly, "Um, we're not going to run into some snowbound-mansion murder case, are we?"

"No."

Yin Wei was not very good at responding to jokes. She simply denied it in all seriousness.

As for me, I was no better suited to it.

After leaving the pier and crossing the dazzling beach beneath the sunlight, we found a red-haired maid in a short-sleeved top and short skirt waiting for us at the entrance to the rainforest path.

"Miss Miluno, Miss Ceruno, and Miss Yin Wei, I'm here to guide you... Ah, please leave your luggage to me!"

"Thank you for your trouble."

Yin Wei nodded and handed her bag to the smiling maid.

Perhaps because she had worked on the island for a long time, the short-haired maid's skin was slightly tanned. She was probably Southern European like SpiCa, but her warm personality suited the impression people had of the Hawaiian Islands.

After only a few steps along the mountain path, we saw the mansion halfway up the slope, a symmetrical wooden building painted white with gold trim.

It was only two stories tall, not especially high, and was easily hidden by the surrounding tropical broadleaf forest. That was why the mansion could not be seen from the pier.

Ceruno asked, "Miss Maid, who exactly is the owner of this island?"

The red-haired maid glanced back at Yin Wei before answering, "You have definitely seen my mistress before."

"We have?"

"Television advertisements, online videos, and even all kinds of books and materials about magical girls."

"Is she a very famous magical girl?"

The maid merely smiled without answering, teasing us with suspense just like Yin Wei had.

But I had a vague idea of who it was...

"Hey! I've finally been waiting for you!"

The moment we entered through the gates, a greeting called out from the second floor of the mansion.

Following the voice, we saw a golden figure dart out onto the exquisitely carved wooden balcony.

She jumped so high that I had to look up at her, yet landed as lightly as an elegant cat. The petite figure landed steadily on the stone path before the mansion, her pure white high-heeled boots clicking against the ground as she approached us with catlike steps. Then she lifted the hem of her short skirt and curtsied.

"Welcome to my vacation estate, my dear Vega... and Morning Star."

Her glittering idol dress, dazzling long golden hair, and exquisite, ethereal features all radiated a presence that could not be ignored.

Her bright, sparkling eyes seemed to shine as though they could fire off dazzling lasers.

No wonder she was the strongest and oldest magical girl. Just her looks alone put her in a different dimension from us.

"Could it be Miss Sirius? Whoa!!"

Ceruno had already covered her mouth, too astonished to speak.

Though she claimed that Miluno was her favorite, it would be a lie to say she was not moved when facing the magical girl ranked first in both popularity and strength.

But Sirius herself was not what concerned me...

"Morning Star? Is that referring to me?"

"You're clearly so powerful, yet you don't even know which planet your Star Crystal belongs to? Miluno, you're Venus's magical girl!"

It really was the first time I had learned that.

After all, there had not been any writing on the Star Crystal.

"But Morning Star isn't..."

"That's right. Surprised, Miluno? Your Star Crystal came from one of the original seven magical girls. A few days before your first battle, that Star Crystal vanished from the Association's vault. Looking back on it now, it must have run away because it found someone suitable."

If my Star Crystal had come from one of the original seven magical girls, then my strength seemed perfectly reasonable.

But who was the magical girl who had given me the Star Crystal?

Could it have been that legendary Morning Star?

"Come inside, don't just stand around in the courtyard!"

When I came back to my senses, Sirius was already waving at us from the mansion's porch.

Then she added, "I'll say this up front: I didn't invite you here for a vacation."

I had no particular reaction, but Ceruno asked, "Huh? But Miss Spica said we were allowed to enjoy ourselves in Hawaii as much as we wanted?"

Even our travel expenses could be reimbursed.

Sirius said, "I don't care what that Spica girl had in mind. Once you're on Nabu Island, you listen to me. I've decided to give you two little flowers raised in a greenhouse some training... practical combat training!"

As she spoke, she pushed open the mansion's doors. Seven maids stood on each side, the staff of the mansion.

Sirius stopped before the imposing staircase, turned around, and continued the topic from before.

"Ceruno, didn't you want to explore Hawaii? No problem! For these five days, I'll accept your challenges anytime. As long as you can knock me down even once, you can spend the rest of your time however you want. I can even come along with you, totally okay! But if you can't do it, then you'll obediently accept the training program I arrange. Reasonable, right? No problem, right!"

The strongest magical girl truly was different. She could say such things with such imposing confidence.

"Do you mean the two of us should take you on together?"

"Of course!"

When I asked that, Sirius narrowed her eyes and turned toward me.

"Miluno~ You don't think you can beat me all by yourself, do you?"