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

As a result, Sumireko Yumehara changed the subject, pouted, and started to sulk.

"There's nothing I can do if you don't believe me! That's just how it is."

Why did it stop at the most crucial point?

This is a serious crime! It's like watching an anime and finally uncovering a huge secret, only to have the episode end, and then the author drags it out for three weeks before suddenly shifting the focus to something else – it's enough to send your blood pressure soaring.

Yuuki Yukino has lost count of how many times she's felt like spitting out blood today.

You must stay calm, absolutely you must stay calm.

Yuuki Gen calmly let the tentacles soothe her breathing inside her magical armor, and it took her a while before she could speak.

"If you're not a bad person, why would you collect the memories of magical girls and use them to create such a large space for your own enjoyment? Is this how you make friends?!"

Previously, Yuuki Yukino had asked the question half-truthfully, but this time, her question was what she believed to be the truth.

There are many mysteries in this dreamlike realm, and among them, the one that Yuuki Yukino is talking about now is one of the most important.

"I...I didn't do that! I was helping them! What do you know! I...I'm not a bad person!" Sumireko Yumehara stammered again.

Yuuki Yui didn't know what the other party was hiding, but what Yumehara Sumireko said didn't seem like a lie; at least, Yumehara Sumireko herself genuinely believed it.

Of course, given their differing values, even if everything Yumehara Sumireko said was true, Yuuki Enishi cannot assume that Yumehara Sumireko is innocent.

Putting aside the fact that Sumireko Yumehara kidnapped a group of magical girls, the fact itself is highly problematic.

If Sumireko Yumehara were to say, "I'm making them my dolls so they can exist forever; it's for their own good," then that would be considered a bad deed done with good intentions due to differing values.

Although this situation, which often occurred in horror puzzle games more than a decade ago, is not a very appropriate example.

Yumehara Sumireko's statement that the magical girls she had captured were unharmed was met with skepticism from Yuuki Yuuki before she saw them safe and sound.

"Stop making excuses! You think I'm a bad person, and I think you're a bad person too. I want to prove I'm not a bad person, but you won't accept it, and you can't prove to me that you're not a bad person. I think you're the biggest bad guy, a bigger bad guy than everyone else!"

Yuuki Enishi is genuinely getting anxious now. While her words during her argument with Yumehara Sumireko were carefully crafted, her anger is undeniable.

"No! No! I'm not a bad person! I...I...I can't explain to you. If you knew our secret, you would bring misfortune here with you! No! No!"

Sumireko Yumehara seemed to get anxious after what Yuuki Yuki said, and kept pacing around in place, looking like she had something to say but couldn't get it out.

Looking at it this way, does it seem like I'm the bad guy who's bullying a child?

Yumehara Sumireko and Nishio Reki seem to be in slightly different situations. Nishio Reki is simply unable to express himself, which is why Yuuki Enishi lacks information. Yumehara Sumireko, on the other hand, is sulking and doesn't want to tell him.

If you keep pestering Sumireko Yumehara, maybe you can succeed?

"No, I already said I'm not a bad person. You see, bad people always cause trouble, right? I haven't done anything bad."

"That's not the issue!"

"And I want to help you, and I want to be your friend. If I'm really a bad person, I can change!"

"That's not the issue either!"

"You just said that person is a bad guy too, shall we go together and drive that bad guy away?"

"I've already said it's not about these issues!"

Yumehara Sumireko stamped her foot, then blinked at Yuuki Yuuki with a hint of doubt, and whispered, "Wait, you said you could help me get rid of that bad guy? Really?"

She's taken the bait; Chestnut should be a big problem for Sumireko Yumehara.

Yumehara Sumireko's skeptical thoughts naturally did not escape Yuuki En's discerning eye. For a child like her to try to scheme under the watchful eye of Yuuki En, who was always scheming, was simply like showing off her limited skills before an expert.

If nothing unexpected happens, Sumireko Yumehara should only now realize what she meant by "the fisherman benefits."

This was an attempt to ensure that both he and the corrupted magical girl on the other side would suffer heavy losses.

Sumireko Yumehara's stance has softened somewhat, and she should be close to being completely persuaded by Enishi Yuuki.

Yuuki Yuuki would never let a small fish that has taken the bait escape.

"Really, really, I will get rid of that bad guy, but if I do that, you can't keep calling me a bad guy."

"No way! A bad person is a bad person." Sumireko Yumehara pouted and shook her head like a rattle.

"I can't just help you for nothing, can I?"

Yumehara Sumireko has been persuaded, and Yuki Yukino is now determined to make a fuss about this matter. All that's left is to negotiate terms with Yumehara Sumireko.

Yumehara Sumireko thought for a long time, but seemed to be an absolute novice who wanted to bargain but didn't know how to price it. She pouted and circled around Yuuki Eri until she was a little dizzy before finally giving up.

"Hmm... so what do you want?"

If Sumireko Yumehara can't say anything, doesn't that mean she can just let herself set the price?

"Alright then, if I'm going to help you get rid of her, I need to know something about her, right? You have to tell me first what kind of magical girl she is and what her abilities are, otherwise I might not be able to beat her."

Yuuki Yukino put forward the first condition, which, in this case, might not be considered a reward at all, but rather a prerequisite for the transaction to be completed.

The objective is clear: to gather information about the corrupted magical girl and thus uncover part of the truth about this place.

“But…” Sumireko Yumehara hesitated.

"What if we fail if you don't tell me?" Yuuki Yukina pretended to scare Yumehara Sumireko.

"Hmm... okay, I promise you." Sumireko Yumehara nodded in agreement.

Next is the second condition.

"You have to come with me. I can't find the way by myself, and you have to help. What if I fail on my own?"

“Isn’t that even better…” Sumireko Yumehara muttered to herself.

"What did you say?" Yuuki Yu's voice rose a few decibels, feigning anger.

"No, it's nothing, it's nothing!" Sumireko Yumehara waved her hands repeatedly, as if she could fool Yuuki En and make her willingly go to her death.

Why would this brat want to get himself killed?

Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything like "the fisherman benefits" in the first place.

"Anyway, you have to come with me. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that the problem will be solved, so I might as well not go at all," Yuuki Yu said, turning around as if to leave.

"Hey, no way! You promised to help me!" Sumireko Yumehara blocked Yuuki's way, acting like a spoiled child and refusing to let her leave.

Yuki Yukino deliberately changed directions several times, but Yumehara Sumireko blocked her way with her body each time. Finally, she put on a troubled expression and asked as if she were giving an ultimatum.

"Are you coming with me?"

"I'll go!" Sumireko Yumehara nodded vigorously.

Are you too easy to fool?

Sumireko Yumehara is indeed a one-track mind; she doesn't think much at all.

This couldn't be better. Having Sumire Yumehara with me serves several purposes: first, it provides me with an extra layer of protection; second, it allows Sumire Yumehara to expend some energy, so I don't have to face her at her peak in a weakened state; and third, it gives me a chance to observe what other abilities Sumire Yumehara possesses and what other fighting habits she might have.

"And also, I need..."

Just as Yuuki Yukino was about to state her third condition, Yumehara Sumireko waved her little paws to stop her.

"Why are there still some?"

Yuuki Yui said with a serious expression, "What I just did was a must, otherwise I wouldn't have gone. That's my condition."

"Oh." Sumireko Yumehara nodded as if she understood, "Alright, then go ahead and tell me."

Yuki En patiently guided her, firmly grasping the initiative in her own hands. Yumehara Sumireko was completely unaware that Yuki En, who was originally begging her for information, was now actively negotiating with her.

"Also, before you go, you have to let me know that my companions are safe and sound. I can't have gone through so much trouble to help you drive away the bad guys, only to find that my companions have been ruined by you."

Confirming that the magical girls who had fallen into a deep sleep were safe and sound was the most important task. Yuuki Yukari had gone through all this trouble just to casually bring up this condition when Yumehara Sumireko wasn't paying attention.

As for whether or not to actually fight Hanzawa Kuriko, Yuuki Yuki hopes it won't be necessary, but if it really is, she will fulfill her promise on the premise that she can get out unscathed.

"I would never do such a thing!" Sumireko Yumehara retorted loudly.

Yuuki Yukino calmly began coaxing the child:

“I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am today because of my friends, but you said you wanted to make friends and then you took them away from me. I can’t fully trust you unless I see it with my own eyes.”

"I... I don't completely trust you either. What if I take you to see them and you go back on your word and don't help me drive that bad guy away?" Sumireko Yumehara began to stammer.

The information revealed in Sumireko Yumehara's words is also very crucial.

Will I go back on my word after meeting them?

Could I interpret this as meaning that Sumireko Yumehara really didn't do anything to those magical girls who fell into a slumber?

Moreover, those magical girls who have fallen into a deep sleep are likely able to communicate normally with him, and may even be capable of moving freely.

"I wouldn't do that kind of thing, because I'm not a bad person, right?" Yuuki Yuen patiently explained to herself.

"Who knows if you'll actually do that! Humph!" Sumireko Yumehara turned her head away angrily.

When it's time to be content, you should learn to be content.

If you push Sumireko Yumehara too hard, she might throw a childish tantrum.

Children are all impatient.

If the entire negotiation falls apart because she tries to take another step forward, that's not what Yuuki Yuki wants to see.

"How about this? You tell me what happened first, then we'll go chase that big bad guy away together, and then you can take me to see my friends?"

"Hmm, in that case, if we only watch for a short while..."

Watching for only a short while, does that mean you're treating yourself like a child whose TV time is strictly controlled by their parents?

That's how it is when you talk to Sumireko Yumehara. One minute she's angry, the next she wants to laugh. It's like you're really coaxing a child.

Having come this far, Yuuki Yukino had no reason to refuse.

"Okay, I'll watch for a little while."

"Hmm." Sumireko Yumehara said, sounding like a little adult, "Then let's agree on that!"

……

Despite being pestered by Seishin for what seemed like the umpteenth time, Nishio Reki still chose to refuse.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened.

"I don't want to think about anything you've said. Can you please stop bothering me?"

One day after the New Year, the long-lost Saint Shiyin came to him for the first time and said, "I took you away to make a deal with you, but your good childhood friend interrupted it. Now let's continue this deal."