Miluno's Goal

(Bai Ziye)

Sirius doesn't allow dogs to leave the ranch, so the golden retriever could only follow us to the fence of the pasture and watch us leave.

At the mansion's main gate, Melissa, the red-haired head maid, was already waiting to greet her mistress's return.

"Young Miss, welcome back. Would you like to have dinner first or take a bath first?"

Sirius replied, "Then let's eat first. Ceruno- chan must be hungry by now, right?"

"... Yes, I'm hungry."

Ceruno scratched her head.

Although she didn't say it, she still wanted to take a shower first, after all, being covered in sweat is never a pleasant feeling... Don't ask me how I know, I'm the person in this world who knows her best.

"Miss Sirius, why don't you take a shower first before eating?"

He spoke for her, making the request she was reluctant to say, "She's soaking wet, and she's feeling really uncomfortable."

The idiot gave me a grateful look.

As I said before, I'll do what she can't do. This is the only support I, as "Bai Ziye," can give her.

"Is that so?"

The blonde idol blinked and chuckled, "Because I didn't sweat much, I didn't think of that... Well then Ceruno- chan, go take a shower first!"

"Oh well."

Ceruno simply responded and ran towards the guest room on the first floor with her pink pigtails swaying excitedly, but she turned back after only a couple of steps, rubbing her hands and saying shyly, "Miss Sirius, um... I didn't bring any change of clothes."

Based on the Association's philosophy of "relying on them for everything," we came empty-handed.

However, Yin Wei did pack several sets of men's clothing in my suitcase, so as Bai Ziye, I didn't have this problem.

"Want to wear mine? There aren't any shopping malls on this island... Oh, I've got it!"

Sirius claps his hands.

"Melissa, take her to get a new maid outfit first. They should still have one, right?"

"Learn!"

Head Maid Melissa nodded, but then said, "But given Miss Ceruno's figure, I'm not sure if there's a suitable size."

"Get her a few to try first, and if none of them fit, get her a size bigger."

After arranging Melissa's actions, Sirius beckoned to me with his finger again.

"Boyfriend, come with me. While Ceruno- chan is taking a shower, I have something I'd like to talk to you about alone."

"Um?"

I was a little surprised to be called out by Sirius, but I guess he just wants to say something about my other identity?

However, she said to Ceruno's face that the fool would inevitably be unable to suppress his curiosity.

"What does Miss Sirius want to say to Yezi?"

Sirius smiled knowingly and retorted, "What? You don't want to lend me your boyfriend?"

"No, no, I was just asking. Yezi and I aren't in that kind of relationship."

Ceruno denied it while avoiding eye contact.

"Then it doesn't matter anymore, right? Let's go~ handsome, you're mine now."

The world's number one idol grabbed my collar and forcefully pulled me upstairs. Because she was shorter Ceruno, I had to hunch my back to accommodate her.

So this posture was quite comical, and I couldn't help but protest as soon as I got to the second floor.

"I can walk, stop pulling! You're tearing my collar!"

Sirius let me go.

"Don't be so dissatisfied. You have a lot of problems too, don't you?"

I do have things I want to know, and the fact that she saw through my true identity puts me at a significant disadvantage in our conversation... To make matters worse, I'm currently no match for this number one magical girl.

Her bedroom was located at the far end of the second floor of the mansion. It was about the same size as the guest room, but its decoration and furnishings highlighted her personal style—gold.

The room was filled with gold or yellowish things, which was too monotonous and even ruined the aesthetics, making it look like a nouveau riche's home.

The room had deep yellow apricot wood flooring, light yellow patterned wallpaper, and a large, gold-carved bed covered with gold silk sheets. Even the Crystal chandelier overhead was made of yellow Crystal.

"How much do you like gold?"

Sirius closed the door, smiled, and turned around.

"My color as the Star Crystal is gold, while the Morning Star is dark gold, so I have high hopes for you!"

"Just because of the color...?"

"When you transform, you like to pretend to be a master without saying a word. I can't stand that kind of repressed, brooding personality. I much prefer a kid like Ceruno."

She sat down on the sofa facing the balcony, her back to me, and asked, "Miluno- chan, what exactly are you fighting for?"

"What's the meaning?"

She stopped calling me "boyfriend" in a teasing tone and instead asked Miluno the question directly.

"I see no desire in you. Money, fame, even the pursuit of justice—those are still desires, but you have none of them."

From the balcony, you can see the beach under the night sky, the shimmering water reflecting the white moon...

Desire?

It doesn't seem very strong.

"I just went to fight as a matter of course. Dealing with Monster is a piece of cake for me anyway."

This is my answer after careful consideration.

"This idea leads to your second question."

Sirius patted the sofa next to her, and I sat down, keeping a proper distance from her.

"Miluno- chan, your strength has exceeded my expectations, but you're too complacent. There's no limit to the synergy between a magical girl and the Star Crystal. You still have room to grow, yet you've chosen to stagnate... That's a big no-no! The strength of Monster varies drastically too. Only by constantly becoming stronger can you remain invincible."

"... You're right."

I humbly accept your advice.

The setbacks I experienced in those battles—against the Shark Princess, the Werewolf, and Sirius —made me realize this.

I am by no means weak, but I am not strong enough.

"Does Miss Sirius also have training specifically for me?"

"There might not be a particularly good way. After all, your ability is quite special, and there are no shortcuts other than letting your body adapt."

"... That's true."

"But I hope you can also set a goal."

"Target?"

"That's right. Just like I encouraged Ceruno to follow in my footsteps as an idol, you should also set a tangible goal. That's my advice to you."

A goal?

"... There's nothing in particular I want to do."

"No, you don't understand yourself well enough, Miluno- chan... You're actually very competitive, aren't you?"

An unexpected viewpoint.

"Competitive? Me?"

She chuckled and turned to the side, saying, "Oh dear? Looks like you really didn't notice! This morning I was just sparring with you guys. Did you really have to risk aggravating your old injuries to fight? You must have gotten carried away when dealing with that Unusual Invader, right?"

That cannot be refuted.

"... Perhaps I'm not as energy-efficient as I thought."

"So, take me as your target! Not just for these five days, but I will accept your challenge at any time in the future."

"You mean you want me to surpass you as a magical girl?"

"You can also understand it this way: I'll be fully prepared to deal with you, and this goal definitely won't be easy for you to achieve, okay?"

Ceruno's goal is to become an idol;

Magical girls are my goal.

Sirius values us so much because she sees Ceruno and me as successors to her comrades, right?

But speaking of this...

"Miss Sirius, if you don't mind, could you tell me about the previous generation of Morning Star?"

I want to know why this Star Crystal chose me.