Chapter 80: Trial (2)

“…I understand Hojoon’s intentions. Fine, I’ll allow it. Go ahead and ‘use’ Janwol as you see fit.”

Miko covered her mouth with her fan, smiling with her eyes.

Though her expression didn’t overtly reveal it, she seemed rather displeased.

I timidly clutched Hojoon’s sleeve, carefully watching Miko’s reaction.

“Understood…”

For some reason, Hojoon remained highly vigilant of Miko’s attitude.

‘…For now, I need to figure out her intentions.’

A woman who smiles while stabbing you in the back—Miko’s specialty.

“However, keep this in mind. Our relationship has ended.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

There seemed to be some unspoken deal between them that I didn’t know about.

Or rather, I could only assume there had been one.

It appeared that Miko had chosen to take a step back temporarily to make a greater advance.

Her gaze, full of contempt as she looked at me, felt like that of a snake eyeing its prey.

‘What did I do…?’

More than fear, it was confusion that dominated my thoughts.

As far as I remembered, I hadn’t done anything to earn such resentment.

The only people I could consider acquaintances were all magical girls.

And now, every single one of them had turned their backs on me.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t recall doing anything to make Miko so hostile.

Leaking coolant just a little… That was something I couldn’t control.

Even if I did nothing, people would appear one by one, all hating Ianna.

Starting with Harsa, most people, except for the lieutenant, had harmed or planned to harm Ianna.

‘Is it my fault…?’

If my misguided path caused everyone to turn away from me, there was nothing I could say.

After having shouted confidently, I ended up in such a state.

I clenched my fists.

“And you know there are conditions, right?”

“Of course.”

Both of their gazes turned towards me.

“Um, excuse me…”

“Shall we take a walk together, Anna?”

Before I knew it, Miko’s expression softened, and she hugged me in a flash.

It happened so fast that I couldn’t even react.

“I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“…Should I capture her?”

“No, as always, just kill them. They’re replaceable parts anyway. No matter how many you kill, they’ll keep sending more, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Understood.”

After the dangerous conversation ended, Miko carried me in her arms and quickly left the room.

The hallway was eerily quiet, as if devoid of any human presence.

No, to be precise, Miko was the only one standing there.

Despite being underground, it felt as if a dense fog had settled around us.

It didn’t take long to realize that the mist was actually steam leaking from broken pipes.

“Anna, from now on, don’t make a sound. While Hojoon handles things, we’ll stay somewhere safe.”

“…Huh?”

It felt much more dangerous to be alone with Miko than to be thrown between unidentified entities.

My instincts as someone who had fought numerous battles against such beings were clearly warning me.

The way Miko’s eyes glinted, like a snake targeting its prey, was focused solely on me.

My body instinctively curled up.

“Um, excuse me…”

“Don’t refuse. This is a closed-off area that only I, Father, and Hojoon know about.”

Miko expertly pressed an ID card against the wall at a dead-end.

A small door opened as soon as the card touched the sensor embedded in the wall.

The room was dark and chilly, without a single light.

Holding me without any guards, Miko rushed inside.

Clang—

The door closed, and a red light illuminated the small room.

Photos of two black-haired girls holding hands while sleeping, a picture of what seemed to be a drunken, embarrassed Ianna (20), and various other photos, drawings, and game consoles filled the room.

As memories from the past resurfaced, I realized this was Miko’s room—her secret hideout.

I couldn’t make a sound.

If I did, I might really be killed by Miko.

“Anna, you remember, don’t you…?”

Her tone was light, but I felt a chill run down my spine.

I thought about shaking my head, but considering my sweaty state, doing so would definitely raise her suspicion.

“W-What do you mean…?”

“Can’t you see the pictures…?”

Miko was holding undeniable evidence right in front of my face.

Miko forcibly opened my eyelids, making tears well up from the pain.

But since she was covering my mouth, I couldn’t even let out a groan.

“Don’t you remember? Really?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Then forget about it. Don’t remember. Live as if it never happened, die quietly without saying a word. No matter what, don’t speak of what happened here.”

Seeing me nod tearfully, Miko finally returned to her usual expression, stroking my head.

She discreetly covered the bloodstained pillar with her body.

The mark was an old scar from a tragedy that had occurred years ago.

When she was very young, Miko had killed her half-sister here, staging it as an accident.

Despite having met officially only once, Miko and Ianna had countless unofficial encounters.

Ianna thought of Miko as a pitiful figure since Miko had struggled to feel emotions since childhood.

Although Ianna thought Miko’s killing of her sister was an impulsive, reckless accident, in truth, it had been a meticulously planned murder.

Ianna had tried to correct Miko’s behavior but was stopped by other magical girls.

The Bureau almost issued a ‘disposal’ order for Ianna, but fortunately, an unidentified entity’s invasion disrupted the situation.

“…Yes.”

“Just stay still and listen to me. It’s going to be far more entertaining than when it was my sister. Understand, Anna…?”

Fortunately, I managed to keep control over my bladder.

Miko’s threats were more revolting than frightening.

It felt like a snake was coiling around my entire body.

“Also, why did you take my loyal dog? It’s useless for you. How did you seduce Hojoon to the point where he’s desperately protecting you, even rejecting my orders?”

Miko’s gentle voice was laced with anger.

Her smiling gaze made me feel nauseous.

As her hands continued to wander over my body, I shook my head with a confused and clueless expression.

“…I really don’t know.”

“A-Ah, no! I didn’t… really… do anything like that…”

The conversation seemed to be heading in a strange direction.

Knowing Miko’s personality, where she would obtain whatever she wanted by any means necessary,
it wasn’t surprising that she might have added Ianna’s body to her “want list.”

It wasn’t all that shocking, honestly.

Miko’s eyes looked just like the sticky gaze Ianna had seen in a dream.

“…Anna, may I make a proposal?”

Miko, unbuttoning my blouse one by one, was breathing heavily as she spoke.