Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

"So? Is this your reason? Where did you go, the one who asked me for advice even before knowing my identity? Did you die?" Rongshan Deng really didn't hold back at all.

"On the path to becoming a strong person, must one be bound by things like factions? Birth, physical attributes, talent, factions—these things may affect how quickly you become a strong person, but they cannot fundamentally shake your determination to become a strong person!"

"To become strong, you must utilize everything you have! Even if it's an enemy, if they can help you, you should cultivate a good relationship with them. Even if they are a friend, if they might hinder your path to becoming strong, you should not hesitate to change their mind!"

"There are countless paths to becoming strong. I won't deny your idol, nor will I deny your method of improving yourself through hardship. What I can't stand is your cowardice in not wanting to become stronger!"

Although it sounds very strange, what Rongshan Deng said was actually quite positive.

Becoming strong doesn't necessarily mean being invincible in the magical girl realm; it means conquering others with power.

In fact, improving academic performance, expanding interpersonal relationships, accumulating social experience, and mastering new skills can all be described as becoming stronger.

It's not just individuals, but groups, cities, and even entire countries that are on the path to becoming stronger.

Or, to use another word—progress.

Is this what the "Molten Mountain Lamp" is actually talking about?

Mizuno Yu realized that even her usually quick thinking was becoming sluggish, and only now did she understand Lava Mountain Lantern's intention.

Fortunately, her mind started working again.

"Judging from your expression, you must have understood what I meant, right?" Lancelot crossed his arms with a rather imposing air.

"Ah."

"But there's still something I can't figure out, I just can't understand it." Lancelot twirled his chopsticks: "You're doing special training to get stronger, but you don't even have the desire to get stronger. Don't you find that strange?"

Rongshan Deng's remarks went straight to the heart of the problem.

Mizuno Yuya only just realized how she gradually became like this.

From the start of summer vacation, no, perhaps even earlier, Mizuno Yui had sensed the resistance.

Despite being tutored by Helica, he still couldn't make progress in his studies.

Despite being taught with great enthusiasm by many, he still failed to learn how to manage his own business.

Furthermore, in the battles of magical girls, their enemies are also growing at an extremely rapid pace to a level that is difficult for them to handle.

From the moment she first met the two mysterious, corrupted magical girls, Mizuno Yu was completely at ease.

As a magical girl, it is my duty to punish them, but before I finish my duty, it is not bad to use them to bring me some pleasure.

At that time, everything was still under Mizuno Yu's control.

Gradually, they gained the strength to fight against themselves, and slowly, they grew to a height that they could never reach.

Not only the tentacle girl, but also the other corrupted magical girls are even more difficult for Mizuno Yu to deal with.

For example, Miyashita Mia, who can only barely hold her own when she teams up with Helica.

For example, the blonde vampire on the beach who could only hold off the enemy for a short while no matter how hard he tried.

For example, the black fallen angels who are absolutely invincible and can only escape if someone covers their retreat.

And then there's Lava Lantern, sitting right across from me, whom I'm now so afraid to even make a move against.

Time and again, Mizuno Yu realized her own weakness.

However, she cannot admit her weakness. She has the incredibly sensitive Tenrai Herika by her side, Yuki Eri who trusts her, Hayashi Mustard who needs protection, and recently, Sakura Hanako who admires her.

She was someone on whom high hopes were placed, and should be the last bastion of the magical girl camp.

If you don't engage in battle, you can't become stronger; but if you do engage in battle, what will happen to the others if you fall?

So, during the last period of their vacation, Mizuno Yu and Tenrai Herika also began their magical girl training.

She did indeed feel that she had made progress.

This is the first step Mizuno Yu has taken toward the direction she wants to move in.

If things continue like this, everything will move in a better direction.

This feeling was completely shattered by the cold reality during the battle with Kuroba Reise.

Mizuno Yu is actually very weak. It's useless for her to keep using being given away as a shield; she is just very weak.

Therefore, Mizuno Yu needs to become stronger.

That's why more special training is needed.

That's why, during the special training, he thought that his efforts might be in vain.

Therefore, more special training...

This is Mizuno Yu's confusion.

"Because I'm too weak." Mizuno Yuu sighed, looking at the oven that was contorted by the heat.

“Indeed, you are too weak.” Lava Mountain Lantern nodded in agreement.

The words of the magma lantern completely swallowed back the feelings that Mizuno Yu had already been about to express.

"However, being weak is not a bad thing, because it is because of weakness that endless challenges await you! It is through these challenges that you can break through your limits!"

Lava Mountain Lantern didn't think that shutting down Mizuno Yu's words was a bad thing at all, and continued talking.

"Although I said I would respect your training and idols, that kind of fake stuff can't push you to the brink. Only the most real crisis can awaken the instincts in your body."

Mizuno Yuu acknowledges what Rokuyama Tama said about seeking self-improvement through suffering, which is what Mizuno Yuu is pursuing. However, gradually, she can no longer be satisfied with the suffering she inflicts on herself.

The more intensive the training, the more anxious one becomes about one's own lack of strength, and the more one worries that the training will not be effective.

So that's how it is. Special training for one person is meaningless!

With the help of Lamp, the missing piece of the puzzle for Mizuno Yu was completed.

"I understand! I completely understand!" Mizuno Yu slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

"Oh! Not bad! Looks like you're no longer confused! What do you understand? Speak it out!"

"○○! It only makes sense when two people do it together!"

Half an hour later, the other members of Nijisanji, who had sensed an unusually powerful magical force emanating from a corner of the city, found Mizuno Yu, who was covered in injuries but beaming with excitement, in a secluded spot.

After Mizuno Yu's explanation, the other members of Nijisanji understood the whole story.

The great critic, Miss Helica, offered this assessment.

"Is this your reason for picking a fight with that guy, you idiot?"

Chapter Thirteen: Today's rumors are particularly outrageous.

When Yuuki sensed the sudden appearance of Mizuno Yu and Lava Mountain Lantern's magic in a corner some distance from Tsukimi Middle School, Yuuki was genuinely worried.

Mizuno Yuu didn't even come to the activity room, while on the other hand, Mizuno Yuu's magic appeared far away from the school, which made Yuuki Yuu very concerned.

Both Laughter Mountain and Mizuno Yuu have unpredictable personalities. It was fine when they did silly things together before they knew each other's identities, but now no one knows what kind of chemistry will happen when the two of them get together.

At this moment, Yuuki Yui had no idea, and would never know, that during her last class before the morning break, Mizuno Yui was having a very off-topic conversation with Kouyama Touka about getting stronger while eating barbecue.

Also sensing the presence of magic, Helica exclaimed, "There's the aura of a corrupted magical girl!" Then she put down the half-eaten bread in her hand and rushed out.

Sakura Hanako, also a magical girl, followed closely behind.

Because she really cared, Yuuki Yukino followed him out.

It's hard to say what Lin Jiezi's feelings were when she followed behind; perhaps she thought it would be impolite not to go.

In the end, after Helica and Sakura Hanako transformed, they each carried one and flew over with Yuuki Emi and Hayashi Mustard.

Upon arriving at the scene and seeing the rather horrific battlefield wreckage, Yuuki Yukino's ominous premonition intensified.

However, this ominous feeling didn't last long; the moment Yuuki saw Mizuno Yu in person, the smoke from her drinking vanished.

"Feeling lost, suspended from school, handing out flyers, finding direction in life? What does all this mean? I can understand each sentence individually, but I can't understand it when put together."

Helica deactivated her transformation, squatted down in front of Mizuno Yu, and repeated Mizuno Yu's explanation after extracting the key words.

"So, that's your reason for picking a fight with that guy, you idiot?"

While Helica scolded Mizuno Yu for her recklessness, she also gently brushed the dust off Mizuno Yu's clothes and put one arm under Mizuno Yu's armpit, supporting Mizuno Yu's arm on her shoulder.

“That’s right! ○○ It really does take two people to do it together!” Mizuno Yui put most of her weight on Herika’s petite body and reluctantly raised her thumb with her trembling hand.

"Why didn't you let that guy beat you to death? You idiot!"

Hearing this cryptic statement, Herlica stopped in her tracks, turned around, and angrily raised her elbow, delivering a powerful elbow strike to Mizuno Yu's stomach.

Mizuno Yu let out a painful groan after being hit by Helica, then closed her eyes, looking as if she was seriously sensing something. She nodded from time to time and occasionally let out a few soft "hmm" sounds, the kind of sounds that only come when she is deep in thought.

“I know this guy’s brain isn’t very sharp to begin with, could he have been completely destroyed?” Herica rarely showed a frightened expression, and she frowned as she pointed at Mizuno Yu and looked at the others who had come with her.

"do not know."

"Um, I don't know..."

"Huh? I, I, I..."

"Fine, all of you shut up." Helica waved her hand dismissively, then helped Mizuno Yuu limp back the way they came.

"No, that won't work."

Mizuno Yu suddenly spoke with an extremely serious expression, as if she were about to present some research findings.

"Huh?" Helica was stunned. Her foot, which had only taken a few steps, was suspended in mid-air, as if she was struggling with whether or not to land. She gritted her teeth and raised her eyebrows in fear: "What are you talking about now, you idiot?"

"Heavenly Thunder, I feel no power from your attack, I feel no love."

Mizuno Yu spoke with an unusually serious expression.

thump.

Helica tossed Mizuno Yu back to her without any expression.

"Let's go back, this guy is completely broken."

Yes, Mizuno Yuu has gone mad. Yuuki Yuki thinks so too. This Mizuno Yuu is even more abnormal than before.

But the abnormal Mizuno Yu is the normal one.

Why does that sound so strange?

In short, if something can make someone as abnormal as Mizuno Yu take it seriously, then the situation is truly abnormal and needs to be taken seriously.

Yes, "abnormal" is just a euphemism for Mizuno Yu.