Ch.108108. Amethyst and Garnet (8)

“Really. Blanc, you. Sigh.”

“It’s boring, isn’t it? I can tell just by looking at you.”

“That’s enough. You’ll have your turn the day after tomorrow anyway. Be patient.”

“Come on. I’m just thinking about you.”

“Someone who claims to care about me is being a nuisance? Go away.”

I waved my arms as if shooing away an annoying fly, trying to drive Blanc away.

But as if Blanc would ever be driven away.

Instead, she came even closer and sat right next to me, pressed against my side.

“Hey. This is uncomfortable.”

“Deal with it. I’m warm and nice. I feel even warmer than usual.”

“Of course, I was just in the water… Wait, you even know my body temperature…?”

“No…? I just said you were warm…”

“…Creepy pervert. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have followed you.”

“I’m not a pervert!”

“Knowing strange information like someone else’s body temperature is a bit… concerning, even if you are my enemy.”

“Hey.”

“I don’t know your body temperature either…”

“I said I don’t!”

Blanc, seemingly unable to win against me with words, raised her fist and gave me a knock on the head.

“Ow! That hurts. Really… I’m against violence.”

“Tsk, you deserve a beating. You do.”

“Violent magical girl, woo~”

“Want another hit?”

“…Where were we in our conversation?”

I decided to let it go this time.

Absolutely not because the knock hurt more than expected and the cost-benefit analysis of getting hit again wasn’t worth it, so I gave up and decided to think about something else.

“Well… anyway. I’ll handle today’s incident so neither Seohyun nor you have to worry about it. That person won’t be a concern anymore either.”

“There’s no need to trouble people because of me. If I get hit with a stone, then I deserve to be hit, and if I fall, then I deserve to fall.”

“Who says that?”

“I do. It’s my karma, isn’t it?”

“…That’s not how it works.”

“It is how it works, Blanc. It’s my fault. All of it.”

“That can’t be true.”

“Blanc. You know how the world works, don’t you?”

“The world doesn’t work that way.”

“Well. As a guardian of light, a supposed champion of justice who stands with the citizens, you might think that way.”

“Even if I weren’t.”

“It’s not ‘even if I weren’t.’ Bad people, people who appear bad in others’ eyes, deserve such treatment. I am a villain after all.”

“…”

“…The conversation has gotten heavy. Come on, let’s talk about something lighter. Could you recommend a movie?”

I asked for a movie recommendation to avoid the depressing atmosphere.

I thought it might be good to know in advance before going out with Seohyun.

“A movie…?”

“Yes. You know. Today is Seohyun’s day. We were planning to go see a movie.”

“Ah…”

I wonder what made Blanc look so excited earlier.

Her dejected expression suddenly became lively, but when I mentioned Seohyun, her face changed to an expression I couldn’t understand.

“…? You won’t recommend one? Then I’ll just go and choose one with Seohyun—”

“Seohyun likes action movies. I wonder if there are any good ones now. No, Bine. Do you like action movies?”

“…Action movies. Honestly, compared to our battles, they’re just a drop in the ocean. Mere…”

“They have a different appeal than actual combat… Wait, did you find our battles enjoyable…?”

“Fighting with you was fun. Honestly, there were a few times when I was nervous. But the thought of training to overcome that and challenging you again was good.”

“…I guess. You were a battle maniac after all.”

“I wasn’t quite a battle maniac. The real battle maniac is the 4th Division Head.”

“…That one?”

“Yes.”

“…No way.”

“What?”

“No matter how I think about it, that’s not true.”

“…?”

What is this magical girl talking about?

Who dislikes fighting more than I do?

“You… Sigh. Never mind. It’s pointless to argue. Anyway, let’s say we go with an action movie. What would be good? Among recent movies that are worth watching…”

“When it comes to action, isn’t it Bibl? Don’t they still make those?”

“…? Bibl…? That… place… is…”

“Huh…?”

“Too…”

“Too…? Why?”

“…No, honestly, that series these days is a bit…”

“…What on earth happened during those 4 years or so while I was gone?”

“The movie world has changed dramatically…”

“…What?”

“Nothing. Anyway, I don’t recommend it. You’ll just be disappointed. Rather, um… action… do you like military action?”

“Well… I do like historical things…”

“…How about ‘Winter in Seoul’?”

“Huh…?”

“No, this one has a short running time too, so it probably won’t be good for Seohyun…”

“If this is how it’s going to be, I’d rather just go and decide with Seohyun. Sigh. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No… sigh, well… fine.”

“So why is Seohyun taking so long?”

“How would I know? Probably the Association President. She said she’d take responsibility and handle it.”

“Is the Association President more powerful than the police?”

“Hmm… magical girls each have military-grade power, and the Association controls those magical girls. And right now, only magical girls can stop villains. Well… the military is researching too, but do you think they’ll succeed?”

“If they just took all the research materials from Eden, wouldn’t it be possible?”

“Apparently not.”

“How stupid.”

“I know.”

“…Sigh. So what did you come down here for? Are you really just bored? Knowing you, you must have some ulterior motive. What is it?”

“…?”

Blanc looked at me with a genuinely puzzled expression.

As she always had.

What would she have to hide?

Between people who know each other so well.

“Why are you pretending not to know? Just be honest. It’s better for both of us…”

“No, I really don’t have anything…”

“…What?”

“You really looked bored, and I really came because I was bored…”

“…You? Blanc?”

“What exactly do you think I am…?”

“No, do you think it makes sense that you’d come to me just because you’re bored, with no other reason? That doesn’t make any sense from the start…?”

“Of course it does…”

“No, huh…?”

“…Seohyun’s here. I’m going, okay?”

“No, Blanc…?”

“You said it’s Seohyun’s day, right? Have fun! Well, I’ll be going now…!”

Blanc hurried back to her room as if escaping when Seohyun arrived.

…Why would she react to me like that, so suddenly…?

I don’t understand, but for now, today is Seohyun’s day. I should focus more on Seohyun.

“Seohyun. You’re here.”

“Yes. Did you wait well?”

“Well… apart from Blanc bothering me, it wasn’t as boring as I expected.”

“I’m glad you were playing with Yunseul. I was worried you’d be sitting alone and bored.”

“I’m someone who knows how to enjoy solitude.”

“Liar. People are naturally better off with other people.”

“Sometimes it’s good to be alone too.”

“So how about now?”

“Ha, haha… As if I’d be bored being alone right now with no one…”

“You should have seen your expression when I said I was going to make a call. I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“Well… um… yes.”

“So you’d rather be with someone than alone, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Sigh. Really. What am I going to do with someone this cute…”

“Um… Seohyun. I’m older than you…”

“Let’s say anyone cute is a younger sibling.”

“Does that even make sense…?”

“Yes. That’s how it is. I just got permission from the Association President during that call. Including handling that incident.”

“Ah, I heard about the handling from Blanc… but what permission?”

“Well… actually, rather than permission, I asked for some escorts. To prevent people from attacking you like before. I should have been escorting you too. Since I failed at that.”

“…Why trouble others? If I stay right by your side, won’t that prevent such incidents?”

“We were right next to each other earlier, and it still happened.”

“…The problem was that I ran after you from behind. …Like this.”

I grab Seohyun’s arm and link it with mine.

Since Seohyun is tall, it might look like I’m clinging to her.

“…Bine?”

“…If we stay close like this, there won’t be any problems, right…?”

“…”

Seohyun just stares at me silently.

She keeps staring.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Could you not talk to me…? I’m holding back.”

“Holding back what…?”

“…The urge to pick you up right now and squeeze your cheeks.”

“What?”

“I want to lift you up and feel how soft and squishy you are.”

“…Are you crazy?”

“…Sorry.”

Kids are really strange today.

And I think my face is getting a bit red too.

But ignoring that.

“…Anyway! If we do this, neither you nor I need to bother with calling or escorting other people, right…?”

“Are we going to walk around like this the whole time…?”

“…Ah.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

For no other reason than just.

Yes, I was just spacing out when Seohyun suddenly grabbed my hand.

“This will work, right? Why are you overthinking it?”

“…Ah.”

“Are you stupid?”

“…It’s because of you! Isn’t it because you said those weird things just now…!”

“If we’re going there, it’s because of you…!”

“…I don’t know. Ah, are we going out now?”

“Yes.”

“…Please contact the Association and tell them that the escort or whatever isn’t necessary.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

“…Because you said you’d protect me.”

“Yes. This time, I won’t let anyone attack you.”

“…Yes.”

I became embarrassed.

Very.

Extremely so.

“Shall we go?”

“…Yes.”

We changed our clothes and headed outside again.

* * *

“Hela. Change of plans. It’s a message from the Doctor.”

“The Doctor? Has he come to his senses?”

“When I told him we found a way to contact the test subject, he finally improved.”

“…Crazy bastard.”

“Right. But our lives depend on that bastard.”

“Shit. Haa. A change of plans means we have to make contact with those kids, right?”

“Well, the Doctor says he’s found a way to contact them secretly.”

“Yeah, I don’t care about that. What is it? Explain first, Voltorn.”

“We’re moving the operation date way up.”

“How much?”

“Three days from now.”

“…Are you insane?”

“He’s demanding we bring the test subject by then.”

“…Haa. So do we have a plan?”

“Watch for an opening, secretly inform them of the schedule change and meeting place. Disguise as needed.”

“You go.”

“With this body? You’re better suited to get near those kids and magical girls.”

“Haa. Shit. Really. The Doctor must be crazy too.”

“He definitely is.”

“…Does it have to be exactly three days from now?”

“Yes. Otherwise, he says he’ll kill us too and act on his own.”

“Haa. Fine, I’ll secure it before then.”

“Then I’m heading back. Make the contact and prepare. Our next meeting is tomorrow at this location.”

“Let me know if anything changes.”

“Sure.”

“For the glory of Eden.”

In a deep warehouse somewhere where not even sunlight enters, below the basement.

The conspiracy of those targeting the Amethyst had just concluded.