Ch.7272. Secret Conversations in the Dark

“Project Omega… When was this written?”

“It’s written at the bottom. Focus, Ellie. This is an important moment.”

“I know it’s important, but… was this project… really written back then?”

“Probably, yeah. I guess so.”

“The operation is planned in such meticulous detail. And it’s incredibly organic. If we miss even one thing, everything will fall apart.”

“That’s why it’s important.”

“Vine, are you seriously going to follow this plan? If we fail… Blanc, Citrus…”

“…”

“The risk is too high. This operation… has a low chance of success…”

“Ellie, this is about Eden’s resurrection.”

“Vine…”

“It’s a plan that can restore the Boss’s ideals, everything about the Boss back to how it was. Hmm? If this succeeds, we can go back to how things were.”

“Vine, it’s too dangerous. And isn’t the preparation time too short? For an operation this massive, just one month? Something feels off. How could the date be like this… as if someone predicted we would enter Eden, you know?”

“That must be the Boss’s will. The Boss must have prepared this document considering all possibilities.”

“You think the Boss would only prepare one method for such a plan? Doesn’t that seem strange? The Boss always moves with a Plan B in mind.”

“There must have been special circumstances. Ellie, I’m going to follow this plan no matter what. For the Boss.”

“Ugh… really, haah…”

“Ellie, you’re going to follow it too, aren’t you? Have you forgotten the new world the Boss was creating? A paradise where everyone can be happy, where everyone is equal, where everyone lives as one.”

“Fine. Let’s think about it a bit more. I’ll create an encrypted file of this document. Keeping it as paper makes me nervous.”

“Hmm… isn’t digitizing it more risky?”

“Vine, have you forgotten my skills? There’s no one in this universe who can beat me with computers. Don’t worry. Besides, it’s better than looking at paper in the dark every time we need to review the operation, right?”

“Ah, alright.”

“Hmm… then, I’ll keep this paper.”

“Huh? In your room?”

“The kids don’t come into my room anyway. And I have a hiding place there.”

“No one really comes into my room either…?”

“Hmm… I don’t think so?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you forgotten Arin or Blanc visiting you every night?”

“Ah, right.”

“And you invite all sorts of people over, don’t you?”

“Ah… well, don’t you do the same?”

“Why would I?”

“Well… Arin needs to train with you now…”

“I can go to Arin’s room for that. You know I’ve always hated letting people into my room.”

“Ah, that’s right. That’s why you never let anyone in except me… because your room is mes— mmph?!”

“Vine! Really…!”

“Pfft! Okay, okay. We might get caught at this rate. There are so many people with sharp ears at this hour.”

“This level of noise won’t wake anyone. The soundproofing here is surprisingly good.”

“When did you check that out?”

“You don’t need to know. The structure makes eavesdropping extremely difficult.”

“Ah. Speaking of eavesdropping, is there a possibility this conversation is being bugged?”

“I brought some equipment from Eden along with my personal items. Including anti-bugging devices.”

“You had enough room to bring that kind of equipment?”

“The equipment is smaller than people think. Plus, I don’t really have weapons, so while you were gathering weapons, I was gathering equipment.”

“Ah… don’t tell me.”

“I brought two of everything, including spares. I can now operate at about 90% of my potential from when I was at Eden.”

“90%? More like 50%, I’d say.”

“Why?”

“Your magic is sealed, remember? Plus, you’re bound by a contract spell.”

“Ah, right. But it’s not as low as 50%.”

“50% is being generous. Wait a minute. Ah, I see…”

“What?”

“I completely forgot about the contract spell… Doesn’t everything go to Blanc?”

“No… I don’t think so? At least Blanc swore not to randomly peek into my mind.”

“Haah… I didn’t expect this kind of obstacle.”

“Did you think I would? People bound by contract spells usually live like slaves, but I’ve been living so freely that I forgot about it.”

“Haah… contract magic… what a headache.”

“I should talk to Blanc about possibly releasing the contract spell.”

“You idiot, if you approach it that way, she might get suspicious and look into your mind. What if she finds out? Forget Eden’s resurrection—you could be kicked out of this house and locked up in Marina for life.”

“Ah… then what should I do…”

“I’ll naturally bring up the topic of contract magic when I talk with Blanc. I have plenty of time to chat with her. Meanwhile, you look for ways to break the contract or temporarily suspend it.”

“There’s no way to break the contract… Suspending it… I’ll think about that. Though I doubt even that will work…”

“Well, let’s focus on that then. And let’s forget everything about the operation plan. The meeting place, the date, everything.”

“Can we really forget just by trying…?”

“We have to try. We’ve had training to withstand interrogation, haven’t we?”

“But this is contract magic…”

“Haah… I don’t know. Anyway, that’s it for today. I’ll take charge of investigating for the operation.”

“Alright. When we need to discuss further, come to my room. You’re always welcome, Vine.”

“Sure, sleep well. I’ll let you rest tomorrow.”

“Good night to you too, Vine.”

* * *

There was a fatal mistake.

Ellie, who is bound to Blanc, is in a state where everything about her is forcibly shared with Blanc.

From her physical condition to all her mental states—Blanc can know everything if she wants to.

Well, given Blanc’s personality, she probably won’t look into Ellie’s mind unless Ellie causes trouble first…

But still, what if Blanc acts differently than I expect?

Haah…

The document didn’t mention any countermeasures for being under a contract spell.

Despite listing all sorts of other contingency plans.

Like how to escape through security networks after entering Eden.

Or how to divert attention if there are too many people at the meeting place.

It even included…

A method to remove this collar by myself.

I clearly remember not being able to remove it alone back at Eden. How could this…

In such detail. It described exactly how to disrupt just the locking mechanism of this collar.

Well, I should keep it on for now.

There’s still plenty of time until the operation day.

I should only remove this collar on the day of the operation, the moment we leave this dormitory.

Who would be foolish enough to remove it before then?

Yes, Ellie will need time to build equipment too.

I could use training as an excuse for her to build it.

Then neither Blanc nor the Association would suspect us preparing equipment for our operation.

With these thoughts, I drifted into a deep sleep.

There’s still plenty of time.

…I also needed time to sort out my feelings.

The look in Arin’s eyes lately—anyone, no matter how dense, would recognize it’s not just admiration.

How can I resolve things with Arin when I have to betray her and return to Eden’s embrace?

How do I deal with someone who has firmly established herself in a corner of my heart?

Somehow, Arin has become precious to me.

How painful it is to leave behind something so precious.

How heart-wrenching it is to betray someone dear and face them as an enemy.

Haah… my head hurts.

And these magical girls.

Besides Blanc.

Red-haired Garnet.

Crybaby Citrus.

Unemployed Plum.

And Arin too.

I have to betray all the trust they’ve given me.

And face them as enemies again.

Especially the crybaby…

She went through so much right after arriving.

Hmm… she picked a fight with me as soon as she arrived…

When I think about what happened that day, haah…

If we become enemies again, can I properly face her?

Can I fight the crybaby with all my strength?

Can I?

No, not just the crybaby.

Can I really fight properly against any of the magical girls here?

Truly, like I did back then.

Putting our lives on the line, trying to corrupt each other.

Treating each other as less than human.

Hurling curses at each other.

Using our ultimate techniques against each other…

Could I really unleash everything I have against Arin without mercy?

Blanc would surely endure somehow.

She always has.

But Arin…

Arin.

Haah, I don’t know.

What should I do about this strange bond?

Perhaps I need to take time to gradually resolve these connections.

Haah…

Severing bonds with my own hands is not easy.

Should I confront them with all my sincerity?

For now, I’ll spend time with each of them.

Right now…

It’s hard to maintain my sanity, to stay conscious.

I just…

Want to throw everything away and sleep.

Darkness has always embraced me.

And so, the darkness enveloping the girl grew deeper, intertwined with the sound of her breathing.