Hiding from me?
Impossible. What reason would they have to hide from me?
Still, someone had definitely been here not long ago. There were signs of activity. Either they had gone upstairs, or everyone had left the institute before we arrived.
Whatever the case, it definitely had nothing to do with me!
It wasn't like I was some man-eating old monster...
"Let's check upstairs."
The fourth floor had originally been where Aldebaran's researchers worked, but it was deserted now. All that remained was Aldebaran's private laboratory.
In other words, the entire top floor.
But we still didn't find anyone here.
"Hmm, looks like she really isn't home. We've broken into an empty house."
I had no idea where those Magical Girl Soldiers had gone. With them absent, how was I supposed to find out what Aldebaran had left for-
Click.
The entire fifth floor plunged into darkness without warning, as though all the lights had been switched off.
No, this darkness went beyond that.
I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. There wasn't the slightest trace of light anywhere in sight.
"Hehe~ Miluno, you've finally come~"
Aldebaran's familiar voice came from the darkness.
"Have I been pulled into another dream?"
No, I could feel Agatha and Azura right beside me.
If this really was a dream, it was far too realistic.
Aldebaran denied it as well.
"No, this is reality. Welcome to my laboratory~"
"Where are you speaking to me from? Inside the Moon Seal?"
Her voice was coming from right in front of me.
"Actually, I'm right in front of you..."
"Then why did you turn off the lights?"
"Some things are better left unknown."
"I didn't come here to listen to more of your riddles."
Seeing how firm I was, she sighed in the darkness.