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

However, Nishio Reki also mentioned that she was bound by certain rules, so she had to continue being her riddle teller.

Even though she was unhappy, Yuuki Yuki couldn't force Nishio Reki to do anything. At most, she could only try to get more information through close contact during the school trip.

As for the rules that bind Nishio Reki, judging from the room full of monsters resembling Hayashi Mustard, they are very likely related to Hayashi Mustard.

However, what's intriguing is that Lin Jiezi's strange behavior before joining Nijisanji has yet to be explained, and now she's burdened with such a huge mystery.

After spending several months together, Yuuki En couldn't see anything suspicious about Hayashi Mustard.

Not to mention further probing, when Lin Jiezi suddenly visited his home before, he almost told her information that couldn't be revealed.

In short, we hope to get to know this socially anxious child better through the school trip, so taking Hayashi Mustard along on the school trip is not a bad thing.

That leaves only one place where we might obtain new information.

The "rules" that bind Nishio Reki, the "Saint" mentioned by the magical girl Koumori, all point to St. Yuu-Yu Academy.

More accurately, it refers to Saint Shiyin, the current chairman of Saint Yuu Academy.

Yuuki Yui originally planned to investigate the whole story of Seishin after the school trip ended.

But now it seems that before I could even investigate, the other party took the initiative to act.

Whether it was just a passing by or some new conspiracy, Yuuki Yuki doesn't know yet.

They didn't even know where the other party's destination was, Yuuki Yuuki.

But she had a strong feeling that the upcoming trip would be much more complicated than she had anticipated.

Chapter Fifty: The Uninvited Guest

"One last reminder to everyone: the train will take about three hours to reach its destination. During this time, each group leader must take responsibility for managing their group members. Group members who are not in the same group must gather together immediately after getting off the train..."

Standing in front of the ticket gate, the head of student affairs raised her megaphone again, giving the other students her final instructions.

After the little incident with Saint Shiyin passing by, Helica didn't loudly complain about the headmaster's nagging as she had before. Instead, she quietly looked around with keen eyes, searching for Saint Shiyin's whereabouts in the waiting hall.

Helica didn't recognize the magical girl Saint Shion, but she did recognize the nuns following behind her.

It's more accurate to say that you can't forget it even if you want to.

Herlica's mind, untouched by otaku subculture, immediately thought of the nuns who had stopped her on the day of the festival the moment she saw them.

Although Helica shouldn't have made such a connection if she had the cognitive barrier of magical girl transformation, the first thing that came to mind was the hellish scene of that day.

Perhaps it was because the nun she had defeated back then was not the same group as the one she was with now that Helica was able to connect the two events.

Although I don't know why I wasn't experiencing cognitive impairment, the nuns did have a leader on the night of the festival.

Coincidentally, this group of nuns also had a leader.

Even if Helica and Inuyama Baki don't get along, it's just a matter of classmates arguing a bit.

However, the enemy from Yuehai City is making a big show of attacking the neighboring city, which is far more serious than the former.

It wasn't difficult to find the group of conspicuous nuns in the waiting hall. Three nuns stood respectfully in front of and behind the seats, carrying luggage. Sitting on the chair was the girl she had never seen before, drinking green tea from a paper cup.

The enemy who stood with that destructive, corrupted magical girl that day is most likely the girl now surrounded by the nuns.

Whether someone is a magical girl or not isn't written all over their face; before they transform, all of Herika's thoughts are just guesses.

In her own group, only Nishio Reki is a magical girl, and Nishio Reki is clearly the type who wouldn't accept her invitation.

If she could, Helica desperately hoped that this was just a misunderstanding.

"There are other passengers on the train. Please be polite, line up in the correct order according to the carriage, do not crowd, do not chase or play around on the train, do not make noise during the journey, and do not disturb other passengers' normal travel."

The head of academic affairs stood by the ticket gate, maintaining order and guiding students through in sequence, as if he had endless instructions to give and was also saying some new precautions.

"Everyone here is a symbol of Moonsea Middle School. I hope that while you enjoy your journey, you will also pay attention to others, something you won't learn in your classroom. So..."

What are you looking around for?

Seeing that Helica didn't criticize as usual this time, Baqi originally planned to provoke Helica and make her uncomfortable. However, after glancing at Shengshiyin on the chair following Helica's gaze, she sighed and immediately changed her tune, and the hostility lessened considerably.

"Stop looking, get ready, it's time to get on the bus."

Helica wasn't oblivious to whether Baki's attitude was good or bad; her anger, which was about to ignite, was suppressed halfway through.

"Tsk."

Finally, Helica simply clicked her tongue in annoyance and followed after them.

"You too, don't fall behind."

Following the flow of people, I boarded the train, found a seat, put my luggage away, and then settled comfortably in my seat, waiting for the train to depart.

Amidst melodious music, the train broadcasts routine instructions in a sweet female voice, and with the sound of machinery starting up, the scenery outside the window is gradually left behind.

The girls, filled with anticipation for their school trip, soared into the heavens with the departure of the train.

With the head of student affairs' reminder, the students in the entire carriage maintained basic order and there was no loud noise.

However, everyone still couldn't hide their excitement as they whispered among themselves about their plans for the school trip and their boundless imaginations about it.

This atmosphere seemed to be nonexistent in Yuuki Yukino's group.

How embarrassing, so incredibly embarrassing! How come they were just arguing and now everyone's completely silent?

Lin Jiezi sat upright in the window seat, Helika sat opposite her but leaned back in a crooked manner with her eyes closed, and the other two sat on either side of her with their hands on her legs, seemingly unintentionally.

Although Baki and Herika stopped arguing, the atmosphere wasn't much better than when they were actually fighting.

Yuki Yui certainly didn't expect that the people who were just arguing would all restrain themselves in order to save her some trouble.

They all thought, "We'll arrive in a few hours, there's no need to make ourselves unhappy now."

Only Yuuki Yukino was still thinking about how to liven up the atmosphere.

Creating a lively atmosphere can distract Helica and prevent the school trip group from becoming too tense.

"I said, how about we discuss the plans for later? For example, where would everyone like to go? Or do you have any recommendations?"

Yuuki Yukino was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"I'll listen to Yuuki Yukino. I don't care how things are arranged, as long as we can be together." Helica peeked out from between her eyes, touched Yuuki Yukino's body, and then closed her eyes again.

“Whatever Yuuki says goes!” Baqi said, shaking her head as she spoke, then resting her head on Yuuki Yuuki’s shoulder.

The two glared at each other, then snorted, and neither spoke again.

Fortunately, Baqi is unaware of Helica's feelings for her; otherwise, the tension would be even greater.

"Are you alright? Is there anywhere you want to go?" To make sure everyone gets the attention, Yuuki asked Nishio Reki, who was standing to the side.

"Xiao Yuan has taken the initiative to invite me, her childhood sweetheart. She must have made a very thorough plan, right? I can just follow Xiao Yuan's plan. She doesn't need to give me any special consideration."

Nishio Reki maintained the composure expected of a childhood friend, displaying an attitude completely different from when he had competed with Tomoe for her. He answered with ease, and in his words, he specifically reminded the others of his and Yuuki Yukino's unusual identities.

Have they changed their battle strategy?

Even though Nishio Reki said that, he actually had no plan at all.

First of all, before hearing about the location of the school trip, I had never heard of the city of Yuuki-no-Yoshita.

Secondly, before the school trip began, Yuuki Enishi's main concern was how to deal with the huge problem of Tenrai Herika during the trip—although her answer was to improvise.

Finally, Yuuki Yui was simply not good at making such plans; after all, she was the type to do whatever came to mind.

"And what about Lin?"

Yuuki Yukino asked the last person who hadn't been asked, albeit symbolically, without much hope.

"I...I'll listen to everyone." Lin Jiezi's answer disappointed Yuki Yuki as expected.

Isn't this just making things even more awkward?

"Wait, wait, wait, does nobody have any interest in a school trip at all?" Yuuki Yui waved her hands back and forth, still trying to salvage the current atmosphere.

"Wherever Xiaoyuan is, that's fine. My interest in Xiaoyuan will never run out!"

Although Baqi's words touched me deeply, she should at least consider the atmosphere! Doesn't this mean she has absolutely no interest in the school trip?

"I'm not that excited. School trips and hot springs, I'm not looking forward to them at all, and they're not even required by the school."

Ah, that's a classic tsundere statement, but in this atmosphere, it'll only make the school trip worse, right?

"Not really interested."

This one is even more heavyweight!

"Ah, ah, well, I, I'm actually quite interested."

Lin Jiezi, on the contrary, said something that left Yuki Yuki and everyone else speechless.

"Lin-kun! Which part do you like more?!" Yuuki Yui finally grasped at a straw and pressed on, not intending to let go of this excellent opportunity.

"That's right, that's right. Rainbow Leaf City has a long history and many historical sites. Legend has it that they were left over from the war years. There are towers and... buildings."

Lin Jiezi stammered, but she actually managed to start talking.

"Um, um, and then?" Even though Lin Jiezi's speech was halting, it still gave the group a bit more of a school trip vibe.

"Yes, there is a shrine there, enshrining deities and sacred objects. It's worth a visit; you can pray for blessings, draw lots, and more..."

"And then there's more, and then there's more."

"Also, hot springs, which gush from the earth's veins, are very famous. They contain various elements and are very good for the body..."

"Does Lin know of any other special places?"

"Also, the city center is very traditional, and there are mountains...the mountains have maple leaves, you can go and see them too."

Just as Hayashi Mustard said, Nijiha City is a city with a long history, which made Yuuki Eri feel closer to the Hokkaido she knew.

But Hokkaido doesn't exist in this world.

"We should definitely spend our first day in the city and buy some souvenirs."

"Oh! That makes sense! So, how about we go to the shrine the next day? What do you think, Xiaoyuan?"

"The maple leaves in Rainbow Leaf City are so beautiful! Don't you all want to go see them?! Honestly! How come you don't know anything about this school trip?! I did my homework! Did you? You didn't, did you?"

"If you hike on the second day, won't you be too tired to walk on the third day?"

"Yes, that's right, climbing the mountain, the third day..."

Aribayashi Mustard broke the deadlock, and the awkward atmosphere among everyone eased somewhat, with everyone starting a basic discussion about Rainbow Leaf City.