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

"Is there any purpose? Of course not, it's just that I've made new friends, so it's only natural to come and visit, isn't it?"

A pinkish-red cherry, slightly lighter than her hair color, rolled deftly between the girl's lips, giving Mizuno Yu a subtle, ominous feeling.

"Also, don't call me Lord Yuki. I'm not some big shot."

But since Mizuno Yu felt things weren't going well, she naturally wouldn't take the bait and hook that Yuuki Enishi threw at her.

It's quite difficult for Mizuno Yu to match her current emotions without arousing Yuuki Yuki's suspicion that she knows Yuuki Yuki's identity.

But Mizuno Yu has a way to deal with it.

"I didn't even know when we became friends?"

"So we weren't friends after all?" Yuuki Yuuki covered her mouth in surprise, and the cherry pit, still attached to the stem, fell from her mouth onto the table. She caught it with her index finger and thumb and threw it into the trash can containing the pits.

"I thought you would be willing to be my friend. In a place like Monarch City, it's not easy to make a few friends."

"Then why didn't you go to the general, but came to me instead?" Mizuno Yu asked bluntly.

“Generals, like monarchs, are not our peers and have little in common. As for me, I am just a weak little girl and don’t have the courage to befriend such important figures.”

"So you mean I'm not a big shot? That's why I can?"

"Of course, since you're not a big shot, we can have a proper chat without any distractions. Of course, it would be even better if you could become a big shot in the future."

Yuuki Yukino squinted and picked up another cherry.

"You should believe me, I genuinely want to get along with you and I truly want to become your friend."

Even after Yuki Yui left, Mizuno Yuu still couldn't figure out what Yuki Yui had come all this way for.

Is it a test? Or a gesture of goodwill?

Yuuki Yuki didn't reveal anything or ask him anything, as if she really only came to see him to exchange feelings.

If Mizuno Yuu didn't know Yuuki Yuuki's true identity, she might have been fooled by Yuuki Yuuki's harmless appearance.

But Mizuno Yu knew that every word and every glance could reveal something to Yuuki Yui, so she had to be extremely wary of Yuuki Yui.

The second person to invite him was the Minister of Home Affairs, whom Mizuno Yu had never met before. When the monarch was away, this Minister of Home Affairs would handle all sorts of trivial matters in the city on the monarch's behalf.

But the monarch returned, bringing with him a new prime minister, and these complicated tasks were handed over to General Yumimoto.

Now, the Minister of Home Affairs, who has been relieved of his heavy responsibilities, is a black-haired girl who looks to be about the same age as Mizuno Yu. She sits at the table with a few dishes on it. Although they are not shabby, they are still a bit simple for a Minister of Home Affairs.

Nishio Reki instructed the maid beside him to pour Mizuno Yu a cup of tea, then waved his hand, and the only maid withdrew on her own.

"It's just a casual meal, does Lord Mizuno mind?"

Although Mizuno Yu didn't understand the other party's intentions, she still maintained the courtesy of not disgracing the general.

"It's alright. I'm not some kind of lord, just an ordinary servant who came with the general. I really don't deserve such politeness from Lord Nishio."

“A servant? Lord Mizuno is too kind. How could the heir to the Shogun be just an ordinary servant?” Nishio Reki took a small sip of his tea. “This matter has already spread far and wide, there’s no need to be surprised.”

"So, Lord Nishio, are you planning to invite a general's successor?" Mizuno Yu asked, keeping her voice calm and not letting too much emotion show.

But it was clear that she hadn't done enough: "If that's what Lord Nishio thinks, he'll be disappointed. The Shogun has never designated an heir, and I've only received a little more favor from the Shogun."

“No, that’s enough.” Nishio Reki put down his teacup. “Lord Mizuno, if anything happens to the Shogun, then you will be her successor.”

"What are you saying? What could have happened to the general?!" Mizuno Yu slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her voice so loud that it startled the servants waiting at the door, who then pushed the door open and came in.

Nishio Reki waved to the servant at the door, signaling the servant to leave, and the door behind Mizuno Yu closed again.

"sit."

Nishio Reki squinted his eyes, an expression that reminded Mizuno Yu of Yuuki Yuuki, as if this was Yuuki Yuuki's favorite gesture.

But Mizuno Yuu still sat down, her chest heaving from the shock of her breath, and continued to question Nishio Reki with her eyes.

"Let's get straight to the point. I know why the monarch summoned General Yumimoto, and I know why the general brought you, his heir, here. I know everything." Nishio Reki personally poured half a cup of tea for Mizuno Yu and then refilled his own.

"But the current monarch is no longer the monarch of the past. The former prime minister could not protect her, the current prime minister cannot either, and she herself is even less capable. This country no longer belongs to the monarch."

Mizuno Yu was terrified by such a direct statement.

She had secretly received orders from the monarch to come here and investigate whether anyone intended to harm him.

To be honest, Mizuno Yu didn't really trust the monarch; she thought the monarch was just an alcoholic and lecherous woman.

This woman is unruly and disrespectful to the general. She even kicked him out when he refused to embrace a dancer.

In Mizuno Yu's view, perhaps the monarch was too suspicious. Many people may be dissatisfied with the monarch, but it is not certain that anyone would harm her because of this.

But now, an Interior Minister has personally confirmed this.

"Do you know who it is?" Mizuno Yu felt like she was about to grasp some crucial clue.

"Hmm, I can't say." Nishio Reki casually poured herself another cup of tea, then drank it all in one gulp, as if she were drinking alcohol rather than tea.

"who is it?"

"I've already said it, I can't say this."

"It's you?"

"If it were me, would I be foolish enough to say these things to one of the prime minister's most trusted people, like an idiot? And then have you report it to the monarch? Don't be so naive. If the general's successor is an idiot, many people will be in trouble."

"Then what's the point of telling me all this?"

"I feel it's necessary to remind you that you are now the heir to the position of general, but you can't always be one. Maybe you will be a general in the future, maybe you won't. It depends on your performance."

Immediately after the pause, Mizuno Yu made a small turn.

"But no matter who you become in the future, you should never side with the monarch."

Nishio Reki's words were mysterious, leaving Mizuno Yu completely baffled.

But Nishio Reki also gave him a warning: he wanted to harm the monarch, the general, and even the former prime minister.

Of course, they also made a move on Sakura Hanako.

A monarch cannot be a complete waste of space; otherwise, she could not be a monarch. The fact that she sent Baqi away to tell herself and the general about this matter is an excellent example.

Similarly, if the monarch asks for his help, it must be because he sees how much the monarch values ​​Sakura Hanako. He will do his best to fulfill the duties entrusted to him by the monarch in order to help Sakura Hanako avenge her. Because the general trusts him so much, he will do his best to fulfill the duties entrusted to him by the monarch.

The interactions with the previous two people left Mizuno Yui physically and mentally exhausted, but fortunately, the last person who invited her should allow her to face the situation with a more relaxed mindset.

"Ha! So many years have passed since we parted ways when we were little!"

Herlica generously downed the large piece of fried meat she was biting into with the icy juice, and the vibration of the empty glass hitting the table could be felt by Mizuno Yu, who was sitting on the other side.

“Yes, I never imagined we’d meet in a situation like this.” Mizuno Yu raised her glass and clinked it against the table as a toast with Helica. “It’s so good to see you.”

Helica and Mizuno Yu met when they were young. Helica is the heir of the Tenrai family and should also be a general, while Mizuno Yu is a key person that General Yumimoto is grooming. The two met several times at gatherings of generals.

Not only were they the same age, but their personalities also matched, and the two hit it off immediately, becoming very good friends.

However, the Tenrai family was later accused of treason and was completely wiped out by the monarch. At that time, Mizuno Yu thought that Helica was also among those being purged.

So when he saw Helica sitting in front of him, perfectly fine, and holding a high position despite not inheriting the title of general, Mizuno Yu's words were sincere and not just a perfunctory response.

“Yes, that’s nice.” Helica swirled the half-empty glass, which contained nothing but soda, but she seemed genuinely drunk.

One must reminisce with good friends, and one must not neglect the tasks assigned to one by generals or even monarchs.

Mizuno Yu was new to the area, and the only person she could talk to was Helica, whom she trusted would not deceive her.

That's why she boldly asked, "How much do you know about the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister?"

"Hey, you're not doubting me, are you?" Helica slammed down her wine glass, reminding Mizuno of the day the monarch got drunk in the city.

But Helica wasn't drunk, and the wine glass in her hand wasn't smashed.

Moreover, Helica's tone was clearly joking.

"I don't know, I don't know anything at all. There are very few things I can get involved in. Apart from leading troops in training and going on expeditions, nothing else is my responsibility."

Seeing that Mizuno Yu's reaction wasn't as interesting as expected, Helica swirled her glass, drank the juice in it clean, and spoke calmly as she poured it out.

"Didn't you hear a single word?" Mizuno Yu asked, still unwilling to give up.

“No, the descendants of traitors aren’t as free as you.” Helica tore off a piece of lamb chop with her hand, ripping off a large chunk of meat with her teeth. “And not as free as you think.”

"Then...did Lord Tianlei really betray his country?"

As soon as Mizuno Yu asked the question, she realized how stupid it was.

If Helica knew even the slightest bit of the news, the monarch wouldn't have kept her alive until now; therefore, Helica is absolutely, positively unaware of anything.

Mizuno Yu never even considered that Helica would hide her true nature; Helica wasn't that kind of person.

"I don't know." Herika's answer was also very simple: "I really don't know anything. The treason is something others said. I didn't see it with my own eyes, nor did I hear a single word about it."

In her meetings with the other two people, either Mizuno Yui or the other person left on their own.

But Helica was different. Just as the two of them were finishing their meal and conversation, a servant came in and whispered something in Helica's ear.

"I have some urgent business to attend to, so let's call it a day." Hearing the maid's words, Helica remained composed and tactfully ended the meeting.

Mizuno Yuu naturally wouldn't force the issue; if she and Helica wanted to meet, there would be many more opportunities in the future.

Moreover, in this complicated situation, Helica is the only person she can trust, and she will definitely have to discuss things with Helica in the future.

On her very first day here, Mizuno Yu felt immense pressure and realized firsthand that the waters of the royal city were much deeper than she had imagined.

Mizuno Yu had a vague feeling that the people who came to see her today all seemed to have some connection with her. Mizuno Yu also felt extremely familiar with these people, but apart from Helica, she definitely had never seen them anywhere else.

Besides Yuuki Yuki, Tenrai Herika, and Mizuno Yu, there was another person who gave Mizuno Yu that familiar feeling: Inuyama Tomoe, the guard who always stayed by the monarch's side and was known as the monarch's henchman.

However, after today, the monarch's henchmen will receive a brand new title.

Mizuno Yu witnessed that tragedy firsthand.

The silver-haired girl sat on the throne, her silver hair and ice wolf armor stained crimson with blood, yet none of it could surpass the crimson hue of her bright red eyes.

The silver-white gun blade was stuck in the ground, the bloodstains on it still wet, flowing down the girl's weapon and spreading a large patch of dark red on the golden wool carpet.

The blood did not belong to the girl; its owner lay on the ground, below the steps of the throne, her eyes wide open, her empty pupils reflecting no color.

That should have been a sun, pale yet still too bright to look at directly.

But the sun went out.

The monarch died, in front of Mizuno Yu.

The guard removed her armor, revealing a pure white military uniform.