A Place That Felt Like Home

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the ground-floor sitting room of the Villa.

Morning tea prepared by Miss Chef was laid out on the long table, while the maids stood quietly to one side.

Everyone was there.

With everyone together today, Knight made an exception and skipped training. Shen Yin had also recovered considerably after a night's rest.

Ranger stood by the window with a glass of juice, gazing at the shimmering lake outside for a long, long time.

Then she turned and raised her glass solemnly.

"Everyone." She cleared her throat. "Today, I have something to say."

"Oh?" Shen Yin obligingly set down her sandwich.

"Remember what I said when Thousand Blades video-called us?" Ranger looked around the room, finally settling her gaze on Thousand Blades. "I said seeing this Villa had given me another reason to work hard—"

"To live in a big house!"

"And now," she said, taking a deep breath, her voice trembling with excitement, "I've done it! All my hard work paid off!"

Clap, clap, clap.

The applause stopped after three claps.

Masked Heroine was the only one clapping. And as she did, she spoke in an infuriatingly leisurely tone:

"That's touching, really."

"But there's one thing I need to correct—you're living in this Villa because of me."

"Huh?!" Ranger bristled on the spot. "What did you say?!"

Masked Heroine pointed at herself.

"The Villa district is for Dawn Rank magical girls, Ranger. You just came along for the ride."

"And think about it. If the Branch hadn't sent you to me back then, would you be where you are today? You ought to be grateful to me."

A vein bulged on Ranger's forehead.

"You were supposed to mentor us? What the hell did you mentor? You lost both my