I Have a Plan Too

(Bai Ziye)

"Ha?"

Ceruno was stunned after hearing my proposal.

"What's wrong? Is it hard to understand?" I asked.

She glanced hesitantly at the Ancient Tree magic girl beside her.

"I understand what you mean... but... Yezi, aren't you more adaptable than me? Why don't you merge with Barbara?"

"I can't, I have Mono here."

In terms of adaptability alone, I should be the highest among all magical girls.

But I already have that bad thing called Mono inside me, so I can't merge with any other magical girl... After all, she can keep Sirius out.

"Hmph, if Ceruno wanted to merge with us, I'd wholeheartedly agree!"

I went to get some food, but the little thing's projection is still hovering on the table in front of me, even soaking in the pot that was just served.

"Well, I'm in line for my veal steak~ Should I secretly use Crystal to bring some back for the Doggy?"

"No, outside food is not allowed at the buffet."

"What are you pretending to be, some respectable person? Everyone knows you're despicable!"

The little thing muttered something to itself and then said:

"However, your idea is indeed quite good. If you merge with someone and then take Barbara along to talk, perhaps it will help her find the feeling of speaking."

But Ceruno was unwilling... no, she should be said to be embarrassed?

"After all, merging means sharing everything with the other person, but strictly speaking, she and Barbara aren't very close. She met indirectly through you, so it's difficult for her to truly accept the other person from the bottom of her heart."

According to that logic, finding other magical girls would be even less feasible.

"Let them spend more time together and get to know each other."

Since the little thing said that, Freya had already brought over a bunch of seafood: salmon sashimi, boiled tiger prawns, and crab tuna stuffed with tuna paste.

This plate of goods looks like it could give me gout.

She placed the plates piled high with food between the hot pot and the grill, indicating that we should help ourselves...

"Does Miss Freya really like seafood?"

The girl wearing translation earpiece nodded, but didn't stop eating. Although she ate in small bites, the pace was quick, resembling an elegant chick pecking at rice.

Ceruno also asked:

"Britain is an island nation, so seafood must be very cheap there, right?"

Freya shook her head this time.

"Huh? Is it very expensive?"

[It's quite expensive.]

When asked this, Miss Freya wiped her hands and picked up her phone.

The financial industry has led to a decline in the fishing industry, resulting in insufficient fish production to meet demand.

If I remember correctly, there was also a conflict between Britain and France, which is across the sea, over fishing rights.

"Hahaha, here comes the chicken soup for the soul!!"

Mono also brought back some food, including a bowl of fish maw and ginseng chicken soup, but mostly it was already grilled meat that didn't require any effort from the customer...

Miss Freya took seafood that she was going to eat directly; there was no other ingredient that could be cooked.

This is what lazy people do at a buffet; they don't even plan to use the pots and grill pans.

"I'll go get some."

I sighed, nudged Miss Freya's arm, and prepared to leave.

The little thing said in my head, "Go! Leave the task of Ceruno -chan to merge to me!"

I have no idea what this guy is planning.

But when I returned to the table with the hot pot and barbecue ingredients, Ceruno suggested:

"Yezi! Shall we go take a bath after we eat?"

"Ha?"

If they embrace each other honestly, the distance between their hearts will shorten, Ceruno will be able to accept merging with Barbara...

This theory seems to make some sense at first glance.

But coming from Mono's mouth, one can't help but suspect she has ulterior motives.

No...

It should be said that Sima Zhao's intentions were as clear as day.

"What are you doing! It's not like I haven't seen Ceruno- chan naked before. This time, the main purpose is to help her and Barbara get to know each other better, okay? I think you're just being petty!"

"Alright, alright..."

In short, we are on our way to the hot spring baths.

Of course, there are no natural hot springs in the city; it's basically just a high-end bathhouse with a different name to make it sound more upscale.

Although it's a well-regarded shop in Skyreach City, I haven't been there yet. After all, A-Yao is a socially awkward otaku. Asking him to soak in a pool with a bunch of strange men is less appealing than letting him take the Ice Bucket Challenge.

But after becoming a magical girl, she actually dared to rush into the women's bathhouse?

Thanks to the convenient city transportation, one can quickly reach their destination even without using teleportation magic.

It's a detached building, and the bathhouse is quite large, about three floors in total.

"Huh? Why is it Japan style again?"

Although it's called "Heavenly Wind," does it actually have nothing to do with Tianjin?

"Yezi, you don't know this, do you? Heavenly Wind means 'wind from heaven' in Japan!"

Is a hot spring resort with that name too cold?

I don't want to be exposed to the wind in the bathhouse!

Mono sniffed like a dog, then said with satisfaction:

"Hmm, the experience at this store seems really good!"

"How so?"

"The darkness that shrouded Skyreach City has thinned considerably in this area, indicating that the guests who went in were genuinely enjoying themselves. They were in good spirits, without pressure or negative emotions, and the darkness, unable to grow, naturally starved to death."

So, can you really starve to death in the dark?

Ceruno then asked, "By the way! Miss Freya, would you be comfortable with a public bathhouse? Like, where everyone takes off their clothes and bathes together? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

You're asking about this only when you get there?

[No problem.]

[Britain also has thermal baths built by the Roman Empire.]

As she said this, Miss Freya even used her phone to search for photos of the area.

"Alright! Since no one has any objections, let's go in!"

Mono spread her arms and pushed everyone toward the hot spring, but I grabbed her.

Hmph, trying to take advantage of this opportunity to Ceruno?

"Only the four of us can go in. Mono can go back to the City School now."

"... Huh? Why?!"

Her dissatisfaction immediately surfaced on her face, and she pouted while stomping her feet at the entrance of the hot spring.

Don't you know what I'm thinking?

"I promise I won't do anything to Ceruno- chan!"

That's not the reason.

I poked her little head.

"You can't wear a hat in a bathhouse, so how are you going to hide the horns on your Base Body?"

Mono clutched his head, suddenly realizing what had happened.

"... Ah! I'd completely forgotten about that!"

The brutal battle in the Old District had only Past a few days, and related reports were still circulating on news programs. The entire Skyreach City had not yet emerged from the shadow of that battle. If a witch were to appear in the bathhouse at this time, the people would surely panic.

I thought that after hearing that, Mono would give up.

"Lend me your helmet!"

"... ah?"

"My horns are short! As long as I wear a helmet, I won't cause panic, right?!"