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

“You asked me first, Helica, and it’s my freedom not to answer.” Yuuki Yuki still didn’t turn around.

Herica still refused to believe that Yuuki Yuki was directing other corrupted magical girls to exterminate Nijisanji.

Yes, that's too much of a stretch. I just came to this shop for a coffee; it has nothing to do with those messy things.

It was just a coincidence, nothing more.

But why would Yuuki Enishi send out her two juniors, and then lead away Mizuno Yu and Sakura Hanako?

How did she know that Sakura Hanako and Mizuno Yu would definitely go?

No, Yuuki Yui knew that the two of them were magical girls, and that they would definitely fulfill their duties even if it meant risking their own safety, should they encounter danger.

Because Yuuki Yukino knows everyone in Nijisanji.

Yuuki Yukino knew that she definitely wouldn't go.

Just as she understands everyone in Nijisanji, she also understands herself, even after experiencing those unpleasant things and preparing to leave Nijisanji.

Even Helica herself thought the answer was outrageous.

But once all the wrong answers are removed, only the truth remains.

"You want...me?"

"Hmm?" Yuuki Yuuki gave a light hum, neither confirming nor denying.

What exactly do you mean?

Helica seemed to be grinding her teeth into powder, a sickening crunching sound constantly emanating from her mouth, though she was unaware that her cheeks were going numb from the effort.

No, that's definitely not right. There must be an answer I haven't thought of yet.

The one who rejected Yuuki Yuki couldn't possibly want her.

"Never mind, never mind." Yuuki Yui finally turned around, pressing her arms against the bar, bringing her face very close to Herika's, who was sitting on the chair in front of the bar, only a few tens of centimeters away.

“Last time, in Rainbow Leaf City, we should have talked more.” Yuuki Yuuki rested her chin on her arm on the bar, and the little devil hair accessory at the end of her hair swayed in front of Helika instead of her face.

Yuuki Yui's gaze swept upwards towards him: "But it's not too late now. We can still talk about the topics we didn't have time to discuss back then, right?"

Helica tried her best to remain calm, moving the chair she was sitting on a little further away from Yuuki Yuki.

What are you trying to say?

"Why do you keep asking me questions? Never mind." Yuuki Yui seemed a little annoyed by Helica's question, which was probably the umpteenth one she'd asked all day. She turned her head to the side and rested her cheek on the back of her hand.

"Shouldn't we start by talking about the day you found me at the foot of the Moonsea Tower?"

……

"You've become much stronger than you were at the foot of the Moonsea Tower."

The chainsaw unleashed a thick, blood-red magic, and the blonde magical girl's expression, which seemed to dance and intertwine with Mizuno Yu's genitals, became even more fanatical, a stark contrast to the composed demeanor she had displayed on previous encounters.

The swirling blade of light tore apart the pure white arrow of light shot from the giant moon bow. The shattered beam of light stole the heat from the chainsaw, and the spinning sound of the saw blade became even more piercing and slower due to the interference of ice particles.

If Helica were here, she would definitely say, "You're not much better than you were back then."

But Mizuno Yu is not Helica after all, and she also needs to take care of Sakura Hanako, whose Leaf Vein Whirlwind is being completely suppressed by the Blade Whirlwind. There is no need for her to just be happy with her words for the moment.

At this moment, she simply pursed her lips, gathering more magic power on the bowstring and launching attacks on both sides.

She did manage to suppress Hong Moli and Bai Gui Qianyou, who hadn't made a move before, but this situation was definitely not something to be happy about.

The fact that the divine liberation method failed to quickly eliminate the enemy who was only using the true name liberation method greatly exceeded Mizuno Yu's expectations.

The fact that the other side hasn't activated their divine liberation means they definitely still have power to spare.

Therefore, Mizuno Yu could only increase her output frequency, using denser and more solid attacks to take advantage of her opponent's underestimation and decide the outcome.

The countless strands of moonlight, like fireflies in a summer night, wove erratic paths, falling towards that other kind of moonlight—the crimson moonlight falling to the ground.

The blood-like magic flowing beneath Hong Moli's feet rose up from the ground, like withered hands reaching out from the gates of hell, yearning for salvation, grasping at the only light before them.

However, that was not their salvation. Those hands were pierced by the moonlight, torn apart by the moonlight, and purified by the bright moonlight until they disappeared without a trace.

Next, the only thing to be illuminated by the moonlight will be the girl bathed in blood.

However, moonlight can also be cut off.

The lifeless gray severed the boundary between black and white, causing everything cast to return to nothingness.

"Do you need any help?"

After the soft clinking of the hilt and scabbard, Hyakki Senyou, who had sheathed her sword, cast a glance at him.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Hong Moli turned her neck, took a step out from under her long boots, and formed a spear made of scarlet magic, creating a spear array that was ready to pierce the enemy, waiting for the next attack.

“But you…” Hong Moli glanced in the direction of Bai Gui Qianyou: “Never mind, she’s really unlucky to have met you.”

Sakura Hanako, kneeling on the ground with her lower lip clenched, held her snake staff high. Emerald light covered the wounds on her body caused by the sharp blade, allowing the wounds to slowly heal.

However, the recovery is too slow.

Minor injuries that would normally be insignificant now seem like incurable ailments, and no amount of magic can bring about any improvement.

Sakura Hanako knew she had encountered the kind of enemy she least wanted to face.

Her combat prowess isn't that strong; what truly suits her is her astonishing healing ability.

Therefore, the most suitable fighting style for her, besides cooperating with other companions, is to gradually widen the gap by constantly healing herself and wounding her enemies, and win by accumulating small advantages.

But the gray magic attached to the blade of the Hundred Ghosts and Thousand Ghosts conveyed the true meaning of death.

Healers can only save living beings, not bring them back to life as in mythology.

Therefore, while restraining herself, Hyakki Chiyu had the spare energy to spare to defend Hong Moli from the attack.

"Don't underestimate her. If it weren't for me, you might have several holes in your body."

Hyakki Senyou gave Hong Moli a sideways glance, clearly annoyed.

But there was no contempt in the girl's eyes; instead, there was only reproach for the other person's lack of carelessness and for the girl's worry that the other person had been hurt.

"Halloween is still a long way off, how can we not have some fun?" Entering battle mode, Hong Moli brought her rapidly spinning twin saws together, sparks flying as they clashed.

The twin saws separated, and a bright red cross-shaped slash rose into the night sky, colliding violently with the giant magic wand beneath Mizuno Yu's feet.

"That's no reason for you to risk hurting yourself and acting recklessly."

Hyakki Chiyu was still looking at Koumori, her wrist flicking as she drew her long sword, seemingly casually swinging it aside, a gray line staining the vibrant green with a withered hue.

"No problem, then I'll be more serious."

"It's us, let's be serious."

……

"W-what did you say? What Miyashita Mia... are all seniors?" Helica shook her head vigorously, denying it. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Why would I need to lie to you? Or do you think my way of defeating them is to run to the top of the Moonsea Tower naked?" Yuuki Yui stroked her chin, looking directly into Helica's eyes without any hesitation.

"So, the seniors I trusted have fallen into darkness? And they even tried to coerce you?"

Herlica's brows furrowed even more deeply. Although her tone remained assertive, she was beginning to believe Yuuki Yukino's words.

“That’s right, because I can help them. So what? Your respected senior has become so hysterical because of that relationship? Can’t accept it?”

“Tsk…” Herica clicked her tongue, not refuting Yuuki Yukino’s words.

Even if not all of them, Yuuki Yuuki's explanation now is indeed more plausible than the previous one that "she was threatened because she could see through the magical girl's identity."

The idea that Helica could see through the magical girl's identity was just wishful thinking on Helica's part. If Helica hadn't taken the initiative to explain those strange phenomena to Yuuki Yuuki, Yuuki Yuuki's identity might have been exposed much faster.

But she didn't think she could trust everything; Yuuki Yuki must be hiding something.

But she couldn't figure it out.

"Judging from your expression, you don't believe what I'm saying?" Yuuki Yuen raised an eyebrow: "But it doesn't matter, your senior isn't the only one who wants to make a move against me and completely eliminate me."

As soon as she got the chance, Helica immediately followed up on Yuuki Yuki's words and moved on to the next topic.

As long as we don't talk about things that make us even more unhappy, anything is fine.

"Who else?"

“You know, she fought you when we went to the beach together that day.” Yuuki Yui rested her chin on her hand: “During that time, she really wanted to get rid of me. Thanks to you guys, I escaped a disaster.”

Herlica knew that the magical girl wielding the chainsaw was her most devastating defeat before she met Mashiro Urouge.

"Oh, right." Yuuki straightened up. "That child should be fighting Mizuno Yu right now, right?"

Helica gritted her teeth and deliberately turned her gaze outside the store.

The sight that came into Helica's view made her already wavering expression even more unpleasant.

She had seen this kind of scenery on the very day that Yuuki Yuen had just mentioned; she had witnessed it with her own eyes.

Above Moonsea City, the full moon, suspended in the pitch-black night sky, was dyed crimson by flowing magic.

Chapter Fifty-One: The Senior's Willfulness

"Wow, the moon is so red tonight! I've never seen a moon like this before."

"Look, look! Did you see the photo I took? I didn't edit this picture of the moon at all!"

"Don't you think this moon and Halloween night are very fitting? It's as if a castle would really appear."

"I have a slightly ominous feeling. I saw it when it was stained red. Could it be some kind of curse?"

The full moon hanging in the night sky of Moonsea City was unexpectedly tinged with a color that would never be seen on ordinary days.

For a time, this red moon became a hot topic of discussion, whether it was the legend of the red moon or the exploration of astronomical phenomena. Its appearance draped this already unusual night in a veil of mystery.

Some people may feel uneasy about this red moon. After all, a sight that deviates from the norm always makes humans feel insignificant and unable to control everything. Strictly speaking, their unease is not due to the red moon, but rather to the unknown.

But they would only feel uneasy, since they didn't have any real evidence to prove it.

But the unknown is not the only source of fear for humanity; the known can also instill fear.

The more you understand, the clearer you become about what you are facing, and the more you feel your own insignificance and powerlessness.

This is how Teresa Helica feels right now, sitting in the coffee shop.

“The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?” Yuuki followed Helica’s gaze to the night sky outside the door, as if she couldn’t read the heaviness in the air: “It’s also very fitting, very suitable for the atmosphere of Halloween.”

Helica stuffed her mouth with scalding hot coffee; only in this way could she escape from the unpleasant question posed by Yuuki Eri.