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

“But where will you find her?” Helica asked earnestly.

"Take your time searching, we'll find it eventually. Just go check on anyone who transforms, okay?"

Baqi's words sound a bit silly, but there really isn't any better way besides this.

Even if we disregard the fact that Genki Mashiro definitely has a way to escape their pursuit, finding Genki Mashiro would be extremely difficult, like finding a needle in a haystack.

Even if she catches up, facing both Genken Mashiro and that scythe-wielding nun and the entire nun's guild at the same time, Baqi's chances of winning are extremely slim.

Even so, will Inuyama Tomoe still go?

"Wait! I want to go with you!"

Helica called out to Baki loudly.

"Oh, okay, come on then." Baqi's reaction didn't seem like she had gained a teammate who could significantly increase the success rate of rescuing Yuuki Yukino; she was completely indifferent.

Baki's attitude ignited Helica's anger once again.

Sure enough, I just can't get along with this guy.

"What do you mean?" Herica suddenly moved her body in front of Baqi, and grabbed the front of Baqi's wet military uniform just like when Baqi had grabbed her when she was in a daze.

"I'm quite happy you're here; at least I'll have another helper. But to be honest, I don't trust you."

Herika had a hard time discerning what kind of expression Bachina was wearing. Indifference, contempt, and disgust—all sorts of negative emotions directed at her were vividly conveyed in that single look.

Did she say that because she was angry with herself? No, at this critical moment, Tomoe's desire to help Yuuki Yukino is probably no less than her own.

But why is Baqi looking at me like that?

“Why don’t you believe me? Don’t you want to help…” Helica bit her lip hard to keep her voice from being heard by Mizuno Yu, who was not far away.

Mizuno Yu was looking this way, with a newly made umbrella of ice above her head, ready to rush over at any moment should anything happen—Herrika saw all this clearly when she looked in Mizuno Yu's direction.

"Can you guarantee you won't do anything stupid in a moment of excitement? You can't, can you?" Ba Qi raised her eyebrows, showing no intention of resisting.

They didn't deactivate their transformations the entire time. At such close range, even if Baki was still in her divine release state, being ambushed by Helica would be no joke.

This shows little resistance, which contradicts what Baqi just said about not believing in herself.

"Of course not. If you could just calm down, you'd be grabbing my clothes right now." Baqi remained calm, her words like steel needles piercing the softest spot in Helica's heart.

"Then tell me, why should I trust you? You're corrupted magical girls, you chose to fall into darkness on your own. Fighting alongside people like you? I'd be more afraid of being betrayed by you!"

Helica was already feeling guilty, and could only try to cover up her lack of confidence by raising her voice.

“I didn’t ask you to do this, I didn’t ask you to do it. I’m just informing you and telling you not to get in the way.” Baki reached out and slapped Helica’s hand away, then held her collar and straightened her clothes.

"Also, the responsibility for Xiaoyuan's corruption lies entirely with me. Not all corrupted magical girls choose to step into darkness on their own."

"What did you say?" Herica's guilty conscience was immediately apparent, and raising her voice wouldn't make her believe her words: "Don't talk nonsense, corrupted magical girls all willingly fall into depravity!"

Although this statement is the truth in Helica's heart.

Perhaps deep down she was hoping for an answer that could exonerate Yuuki Eri, make her feel better, and allow her to temporarily escape reality.

Yes, it's escapism again, Helica's old problem. She uses a strong exterior to cover up her inner inadequacies, then does many impulsive things, and then falls into self-loathing, and so on in a vicious cycle.

"Didn't Xiaoyuan tell you?" Baqi glanced at Helica.

In Helica's eyes, Baki acted very naturally, and Baki didn't seem like someone who would lie. As a corrupted magical girl, she gave the impression of attacking without saying a word, like a rabid dog.

"There's no point in lying to you. Xiaoyuan fell into darkness because of me. I was the one who inserted the Black Demon Mark into Xiaoyuan's body, which is why she fell into darkness."

Bachi pursed her lips and spoke in a narrative tone. Herlica keenly noticed the almost imperceptible self-reproach in her words, and it was this emotion that made Bachi's words more persuasive.

"As for me... I became a corrupted magical girl because I enjoyed the carefree life. Although I was also deceived? Someone who didn't understand magical girls not only entered the world of magical girls, but also became corrupted. I guess I'll just consider it my own fault."

What Baki said was all unrealistic and directly challenged Helica's original worldview of magical girls. If it hadn't come from Baki—even if it had been Yuuki Yuki who said it—Helica would have reasonably doubted the truth of these things.

But that annoying girl, Inuyama Tomoe, has a unique charm that makes everyone around her believe what she says.

This is also the impression left by Baqi's frankness.

"I made such a big mistake when I knew nothing about magical girls. At the time, I didn't know what corruption was, and I just let Xiaoyuan fall into corruption. Later I learned what corruption meant."

For no apparent reason, Baki started telling Helica about her own experiences.

"But Xiaoyuan accepted me without holding a grudge. Even if she abandoned me or took revenge on me when I knew nothing about her, it wouldn't be too much. So I can stand here because of Xiaoyuan."

"It's no exaggeration to say that my future was given to me by Xiaoyuan, so it's not an exaggeration for me to give up my entire future in order to save Xiaoyuan."

Baqi's gaze, which seemed to pierce the soul, hurt Helica even more.

"I have every reason to save Xiaoyuan, what about you?"

Helica was speechless.

"You suddenly had the idea to confess to Xiaoyuan, which made her rush out and bump into Xuyan Mashiro, causing all this trouble. I don't mean to blame you, I just don't understand what you were thinking."

"Then, Xiaoyuan rescued you, and instead of expressing gratitude, you fought at a time when it wasn't the right time to fight. You let Xuyan Mashiro take advantage of the situation and take Xiaoyuan away, isn't that also because of you?"

"Later, Xiaoyuan was arrested, and you knelt on the ground and started crying. If you didn't want to lose Xiaoyuan, why did you fight with her? If you did fight, what's there to cry about?"

"You short, blond guy, are you out of your mind?"

Honestly, Helica must have felt angry when someone pointed a finger at her and insulted her.

She was so angry, she was furious.

-*Slippery dance slippery【Dove umbrella willow『Is it unfair for me to be scolded?】

It's not unfair, or perhaps not so unfair. Even if Baki went a bit too far, Herika could have directly refuted many of his points, but most of what he said left Herika speechless.

Baki hasn't mentioned some details that Helica herself learned later.

Wanting to give up some things and willingly succumb to darkness, he impulsively pinned Yuuki Yukino down...

Every time I make a mistake, I want to correct it, but I never learn from my mistakes. Isn't that just how I am?

Is it possible for me to not act impulsively even once?

It seems impossible; such an impulse is already ingrained in my soul.

This excuse also became Helica's armor, enabling her to deal with all sorts of things.

"Yes, I'm sick. I always act impulsively, I don't think things through enough, and I often give up on myself. I can never calm down!"

"You want to know my reasons? Then I'll tell you my reasons!"

"Even with all my flaws, I am still a magical girl! Since I am a magical girl, my duty is to eliminate all corrupted magical girls, and I have to protect the safety of those idiots."

"I don't care about your relationship! It has nothing to do with me! But I remember everything you two did. You are two corrupted magical girls! I will settle accounts with you sooner or later!"

"But! It doesn't matter if we leave you alone for now! The most urgent thing is to deal with that girl who created another huge black magic rune and kidnapped Yuuki Yukino! She's the one who should be dealt with the most!"

"I just love Yuuki Yukino, and I can't stand others interfering in our affairs. Neither Utsugi Mashiro nor you can handle it. This matter must be resolved by the two of us!"

"You want to save Yuuki Yukino, and I want to settle accounts with her! So our goals are the same! Right? Helping you isn't out of the question, understand?"

Helica shouted each word until her voice became hoarse.

"Tsk." Ba Qi clicked her tongue: "Such a tsundere."

I myself feel that the pace might be a bit slow.

However, rivals will still have things to clarify and emotions to vent.

Good night!

Chapter 117 Cheongsam

Standing under the umbrella held by the nun, looking at the hot spring hotel that had become a ruin under the rain, Seishin felt no joy in her heart.

She has made her choice, but what consequences that choice will bring is still unknown to Saint Shiyin.

She had a premonition that she was destined to come to this point, ever since she heard that the Moonsea Middle School's school trip was coming to Rainbow Leaf City, or perhaps even earlier, when she discovered that the supreme god she believed in was not omnipotent.

She betrayed her beliefs and mission, choosing to stand with Mashiro Urouge, who wanted to destroy the magical girl system.

"What are you thinking about?" Standing next to her, Gen Ken Mashiro was still wearing that slightly dirty coat, her hands in her pockets, and she asked the girl beside her softly.

"Sister Mashiro, is it enough to just do this?" Seishion asked.

"What do you mean?" Genken Mashiro asked in return.

Saint Shion remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ruins as her answer.

Seishion knew the reason why she had chosen to team up with Genki Mashiro.

From the beginning, her mission was not to inherit the Holy Eternal Academy or lead the entire church; she had not received the corresponding education or been involved in related affairs.

Before the accident, she was just an ordinary magical girl who knew a little more than others, and the youngest daughter of the Holy Family.

Therefore, she did not feel a sense of belonging to the college or the church.

Those responsibilities fell on her shoulders because no one else could bear them.

Compared to responsibility, Sheng Shiyin would rather choose her family.

Genken Mashiro shifted her gaze from Seishion's face and looked back at the ruins.

"That's good. Xiao Shiyin doesn't need to help me. Just make sure no one else disturbs me."

Whether it's really okay or not, Mashiro Gorogen wasn't really sure.

For her, there were far too many unexpected events.

The girl in the black cheongsam, wielding the dragon-patterned halberd, had exhausted too much of her power, and other magical girls began to intervene. Besides herself and Saint Shion, there were as many as five known magical girls.

This forced Mashiro Gakuen to change her original plan again and again.

But hard work pays off.

When Yuuki Yukari rescued Helica, Gen Urobuchi Mashiro did not choose to chase after them immediately, but instead followed them in the direction they had gone.

This allowed Mashiro to witness the inexplicable conflict between Helica and Yuuki Yukino, and to launch a sneak attack, using the last of the magic power in the Black Magic Mark to imprison Yuuki Yukino without any resistance.

But she only locked her up, just like when she dealt with Nishio Reki; it didn't mean she completely subdued Yuuki Yuki.

Her war is not yet completely over.

However, Mashiro Gorgen could not show her insecurity in front of Shion Seishin. For her sake, she had to be able to bring all of this to a complete end.

"I will end all of this with my own hands soon."

The rain is still falling.