Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

However, civilian application was just a pretext. Miss Spica's reason for insisting on developing wormhole technology was to organize a second counterattack operation. It is unknown whether her father was aware of this plan.

However, these are not things I should be thinking about.

"I wonder how things are going with Miluno."

Hearing my mutterings, Sirius said, "The experiment is over. If you're worried, go check it out. If you can't find UI-31, call them over for a barbecue. They must be hungry after working all morning, right?"

"Eating barbecue when there might be invaders on the island?"

Is this the confidence and composure of the world's number one?

"Come on, we have so many magical girls, what can a mere weirdo do? Besides, the island's surveillance cameras only showed a blurry figure, whether it's a werewolf is still questionable. Don't make a fuss~ Let's call everyone back for some skewers!"

"...Okay."

Although Sirius said that, the figure I saw in the sea earlier still made me uneasy, so I walked alone toward the mountain path where Antarctic Star and Miss Milno had left.

Perhaps due to the abundant tropical sunshine, the trees on the mountain are all very tall, including species like the mimosa tree with an exceptionally large canopy. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint their location at a glance, but if you head up the mountain, you should be able to find the general direction.

"Oh my? Miss Seruno?"

But after taking only a few steps, a voice called out from behind.

Turning around, I saw the enthusiastic head maid, but...

"Huh? Miss Melissa, didn't you go to Hawaii and Oahu with Ye Zi to do some shopping?"

They even took the leaves with them.

The red-haired maid gave me a friendly smile.

"You are a guest, so there's no need for you to use honorifics with me. As for the supplies, they've all been ordered and will be delivered to the island later."

"Has Ye Zi returned as well?"

"He's tired and is currently resting at the Western-style house."

"Tired? I didn't even lift anything heavy... Miss Melissa, please head to the beach! The barbecue is about to start!"

Miss Melissa shook her head slightly, placed her hand on her chest, and said, "My identity is that of a maid. How could I possibly participate in the activities of guests and masters? If you want to go back to the mansion, I can take you there first."

"Does this even need to be delivered?"

"It was just on the way."

Eh?

She said it was on the way, but the direction she was going was clearly from where she had just come out of the mansion.

Although Miss Melissa's behavior lacked logic, there was no real reason to refuse. As for the UI-31 matter...

Just like Miss Sirius said, let's leave it for now.

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

"Yes, please come with me."

As expected of Sirius's maid?

Miss Melissa walks with elegance. If she took off her maid outfit, I would believe she was an international socialite. Even if I wanted to imitate her, I wouldn't have her grace; I would just be a poor imitation.

However, this way of walking also has its drawbacks, namely, it's slow, too slow.

I remembered that it was only a minute or two's walk from the foot of the mountain to the mansion, but it took us a full five minutes to get to the mansion's main gate.

"By the way, Miss Seruno."

Just as she was about to enter the house, Miss Melissa turned around as if she had remembered something.

"Mr. Bai Ziye has run into some trouble."

"……What's wrong?"

That one sentence made me tense all over.

"He choked on a burrito while eating on Oahu and hurt his throat, so he can't speak right now... I wanted to let you know in advance so you wouldn't worry too much later."

Is that really the reason?

Why would he eat a burrito in Hawaii?

Will coughing damage my throat?

"Having Tabasco sauce in your mouth can cause, and may even cause, permanent loss of voice."

After answering, Miss Melissa added, "It's a very spicy hot sauce. It's my fault; the burrito vendor didn't understand my warning. I didn't realize it either."

"That leaf, he..."

Would he lose his voice for such a ridiculous reason?

Miss Melissa smiled wryly, "Did it still make you worry? His throat problem isn't serious. I'll prepare some pear syrup for him, and he should be recovered by tonight. But the barbecue... I'm afraid we'll just have to watch."

Being safe is the most important thing. I get extremely worried whenever something happens to Ye Zi, after all, he is my only best friend.

"He's really unlucky."

"I bear some responsibility for this."

It seems like Yezi is just making assumptions. Usually, when squeezing out chili sauce, people would ask if it's spicy, right?

Miss Melissa had already pushed open the door of the mansion.

What was once the lobby of a hotel, now the grand hall of a Western-style building, witnessed a scene I can't comprehend...

"What...what are you doing?"

My tongue is a little wobbly.

Miss Miluno was stepping on Ye Zi's face with her leg, her hand covering her chest, and her usually cold face was flushed with an unusual blush.

Ye Zi, sitting on the ground, was clutching a black swimsuit that looked very familiar.

...? !

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Wolf Warrior Never Takes Off His Helmet

(Albinocotyledon)

Faced with three magical girls and a dog at the same time, the mechanical werewolf actually behaved itself.

In this clearing halfway up the mountain, despite being covered in dust, it still knelt on the ground like a daimyo samurai, its posture dignified and polite.

The wolf-shaped helmet's visor was opaque, so I couldn't see his eyes, but perhaps it was a woman's intuition, I felt his gaze constantly shifting between me and Nanjixing, which instinctively disgusted me.

I asked, "You... can you understand us?"

He nodded.

Unlike other eccentrics, this guy had a bit more humanity, which ironically made him annoying.

Are our swimsuits really that good-looking?

He nodded honestly.

I couldn't help but kick it, the iron sole of my boot clanging against the armor made of that unknown metal.

Nanjixing didn't mind at all, and even leaned closer to examine the mechanical werewolf.

"It's strong and fast. Even if the Tactical Commander wants us to capture it alive, we can't restrict its movements unless we keep touching it to maintain the mass magic, but that's not a long-term solution."

Melissa then said, "Ultimately, is it really a weirdo? Don't you think it looks more like someone wearing armor?"

"Oh, really!"

Antarctic Star suddenly became interested and chimed in, "This armor looks like the suits worn by tokusatsu heroes that used to be shown on TV..."

Tokusatsu Heroes.

Those were the kinds of films and TV shows that were common before the arrival of the magical girl era, featuring fantastical heroes. But with the advent of real heroes, fictional heroes disappeared from the stage of history. These kinds of works vanished more than a decade ago, and even I only have a vague impression of them.

"It really does look like a character from a tokusatsu show. I'm a little surprised that you know something from that era."

Nanjixing replied in a serious tone, "The joint research station's archives have many old videotapes that scientists brought over to pass the time. I sometimes borrow them to watch."

This penguin girl has quite a colorful life outside of work.

"So, can you take off this armor?" I asked again.

I asked the question rather casually, but ui-31 shook its head frantically, which only deepened my suspicions.

I reached out and tapped the back of its helmet, but I couldn't tell if it was solid or hollow.

"Awooo!"

ui-31 pointed at me and then barked a few times.

"Wang Wang!"

Perhaps thinking it had encountered someone of its own kind, the Golden Ship next to it also started calling out.

I naturally couldn't understand the wolf's howl, but Melissa said, "Hmm, it seems to want Miss Miluno to deactivate her transformation first."

The werewolf nodded in agreement with the head maid's statement.

"Huh? How could I let you see that?"

"Awoooooo—"

Melissa rubbed her forehead and translated again: "It says... Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you."

"Why can howling sounds be translated into idioms?"

I couldn't help but complain, and then questioned UI-31: "Do you understand your position? You are our prisoner now."

It shook its head.

"Ugh!"

Both Nanjixing and I looked at Melissa, wondering why she could understand those wolf howls and ghostly cries.

"It said it was not a prisoner, but came to talk to us with great kindness and generosity."

Wow, so arrogant?

"Mmm!"