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

……

"Honestly, I still don't know why Qianyou fell into darkness." Hong Moli held her head and turned to look at Bai Gui Qianyou beside her.

"I said I would eat away all of Mori's unhappiness," Hyakki Chiyu gave a reply that didn't sound like an answer at all.

"I lost to you!" Hong Moli sighed. "But how much longer do we have to wait?"

"I don't know. If there are any changes, we'll definitely know immediately."

A concise and to-the-point answer.

“Indeed, Yuuki Yuuki really gave us a lot of trouble, but I think it’s still easier than the day she asked me to buy Halloween supplies.”

"Do you find going out with her agonizing?"

"It's not torture, Yuuki Yuuki is the kind of person who... well, like her older sister, is completely unpredictable. When there's nothing important, being around her is exhausting."

“She’s very reliable when it comes to important things, like right now.”

"Never mind, never mind." Hong Moli shook her head.

After a moment of silence, Hong Moli resumed her proposal.

"That person is still hiding nearby. I can easily find her. Or, shall we add fuel to the fire?"

"I think it's okay."

On the other side, Sakura Hanako's mood became even heavier.

Suddenly, the magical powers of two corrupted magical girls who were aimlessly wandering around the area began to move at high speed.

However, the paths they took pointed in the direction they were in, as if they knew exactly where they were.

Sakura Hanako held her breath, found a relatively short tree nearby, and slowly squatted down under it.

She was trying her best to control her movements as lightly as possible, so light that she wouldn't make a sound.

But that was just wishful thinking. The shift in her center of gravity would only cause the fallen leaves under Sakura Hanako's feet to be crushed even more, making an even crisper sound.

In short, she had already squatted down, pressing her body as close to the tree trunk as possible.

From now on, we can only leave it to fate.

Fate seemed to be on Sakura Hanako's side, as the two rapidly approaching magical forces suddenly vanished.

Perhaps it was a final, thorough search, and after finding nothing, they left?

Sakura Hanako breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't rush to stand up.

The situation is not good, and Sakura Hanako doesn't want to fail at the last minute.

If she just perseveres a little longer, everything will pass.

Time began to drag on endlessly for Sakura Hanako. All she could hear was the sound of the wind and falling leaves. The pitch-black world was terrifying for a girl who had just started middle school.

There had been no sound for a long time, and Sakura Hanako's legs were starting to feel numb and weak. If she didn't move soon, she might not be able to get up.

So much time has passed, it should be fine by now, right?

With that thought in mind, Sakura Hanako struggled to her feet, supporting herself on her knees.

The fallen leaves underfoot were crushed even more, but this slight rustling shouldn't attract anyone's attention.

Sakura Hanako stretched out a long yawn, easing her stiff body.

When she opened her eyes again, she was met with something else.

Those were a pair of eyes?

Sakura Hanako covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming, and the pain from biting her tongue made her even more alert.

But she was certain that what she was seeing was a human pupil, and it was very close to her.

The consequences of not calling out were obvious; Sakura Hanako staggered a few steps and fell to the ground with a thud.

Even if she was certain, it didn't matter, because the figure she looked up at had already begun its transformation in front of her.

Sakura) Cold item umbrella dad~ Easy/Hanako The bright red light spot, which was not unfamiliar to her, reflected on the vampire lady's cheek.

The blonde vampire bared her fangs and greeted her softly, uttering the same monotonous words as the corrupted magical girl who had cornered her here a year ago.

"Oh dear, what a coincidence, we meet again?"

Chapter 54 The Most Dazzling Magical Girl

The flattened straw, like a leaky spoon, let out a resentful scream as it sucked in the brown liquid.

With a slightly unsettling squeaking sound, the last bit of black tea in the cup was completely sucked out, and the ice cubes, now without buoyancy, tipped over with a crisp crack.

The glass, still damp with dew, was pushed back untouched. Helica closed her eyes and straightened her back.

"You drank a bit too fast. Don't you feel any stomach discomfort?"

Yuki Yuki casually put the glass into the sink, an action she had repeated several times that night.

A story, a drink, and a crisis—Yuki Yuuki's menu for Herika is remarkably regular.

Helica, who received special treatment because of the coupon, had been enjoying such services all night, even though she didn't enjoy them at all.

The evidence is that Helica still has no intention of answering Yuuki Yuuki's question.

This kind of feigned concern is not what Helica needs.

“Alright, it’s okay.” Yuuki Yuen waved her hand. “Then let’s change the subject. You can feel it too, right? Those three magical powers that suddenly disappeared have reappeared.”

Yuuki Yukino's words were disjointed and incoherent; even if someone were eavesdropping, they wouldn't be able to understand her unless they were a magical girl.

She's always been like this, open and uninhibited, talking about things related to magical girls as if she doesn't mind revealing her identity at all.

There was some encryption, but not much, just enough for Helica to understand.

At first, Helica could no longer sense the presence of the magical girls from Moonsea City. After Sakura Hanako's magic disappeared, the magic of the two enemies sent by Yuuki Yukino also became undetectable.

Helica thought the matter was completely over.

Finding a magical girl in such a big city who hasn't transformed and whose identity is unknown is not easy at all.

Helica would probably feel more at ease if she knew that Sakura Hanako had hidden in the back mountains of Tsukimi Park.

Fortunately, she didn't know this. Otherwise, if the three magical forces had appeared at the same time and in the same direction, the relief she had just felt would have been choked up again, making her feel suffocated.

Although Helica didn't know how those magical girls did it, they did it nonetheless.

We're facing an enemy that even Mizuno Yu couldn't stop, and there are two of them.

Sakura Hanako must be in danger too.

"Don't worry so much, none of this concerns you anymore, right?" Yuuki snapped her fingers, interrupting Helica's thoughts.

Yuuki Yukino didn't intend to let Helica answer any of her questions, just as she never asked Helica for anything and served her masterpieces on her own.

The drinks, the stories, and even the threats posed when taking action against other members of Nijisanji are all examples of this.

If I obey Yuuki Eri's arrangements, then I will have done everything I wanted to do.

He severed all ties with Nijisanji and everything related to magical girls—their lives and deaths were no longer his concern.

Meeting everyone in Nijisanji is just a fleeting moment in my life. I will face a much broader, more expansive life, like a wilderness. There is no need to confine myself here.

Just treat it as a normal setback; when I lose my magical girl powers, these memories will fade away.

But is that really a good thing?

Are these really what I want?

Would my strong-willed self allow myself to do that?

Helica didn't know.

Yuuki Yukino glanced at Helica's face, which was contorted with worry, out of the corner of her eye, then looked away.

"Don't worry, I'll prepare a new drink for you. Drinking too much coffee can affect your sleep, so how about a cup of soothing hot milk with lymphaden? I think it'll be perfect for you."

"I don't want to," Helica muttered softly.

Although her voice was soft, the area around the bar was quiet enough for Yuuki Yuen to hear clearly what she was saying.

"Oh? It's alright. Whether it's because of our past relationship or the coupon you have, this cup of hot milk is nothing, and it suits you perfectly, doesn't it?"

Yuuki raised an eyebrow, completely ignoring Helica's refusal, poured the carton of milk into a container, and heated it up by herself.

"I said, I don't want to!"

Now Herika's voice was loud enough for everyone in the store to hear clearly.

Herlica slammed to her feet, leaning on the bar, just like when she had been sitting around the table chatting with the other members of Nijisanji and suddenly stood up excitedly after hearing something.

This time, the commotion was smaller, and the disturbance to the surrounding customers was also less—after all, it was already this late, and there weren't as many customers left in the store as during peak hours.

The most fundamental difference is that Helica made this move after careful consideration.

"why?"

Yuuki Yukino's eyes were squeezed shut, her lips curving into a gentle smile, like the kind smile a close friend would show when they are worried about someone. She asked him gently and persuasively.

"Petite guidance" is actually more like enticement, isn't it? Enticing oneself back to that gentle haven where one can temporarily forget everything.

If she doesn't answer this time either... Helica thought, swallowing the saliva that was uncontrollably secreted in her mouth due to nervousness.

If that's the case, the subtle yet noticeable coldness in Yuuki Yukino's narrowed eyes will be magnified without limit.

Helica will answer.

Even though she knew that her answer was a thousand times more dangerous than not answering at all.

"Because I am a magical girl."

"But you said yourself that you wanted to cut ties with them, right?"

Yuuki Yuki's tone was still as calm as ever to Helica, but the subtly changing atmosphere made Helica shrug and shiver involuntarily.

She knew Yuuki Yuki. Although she had never seen Yuuki Yuki like this before, she knew that Yuuki Yuki, who had been asking questions all night, was not questioning her this time, but issuing her an ultimatum.

If they can turn around and do such a horrific thing to their fellow members of Nijisanji, then Yuuki Yukino wouldn't be surprised if she did anything.

At this moment, Yuuki Yuki only made Helica feel that danger.

But retreating in the face of danger is not in Helica's nature.