Phantom Thief Lupin, Be the Hope (1)

Siel succeeded in figuring out all the tunnel routes he had dug in advance, but after being caught by the guards and acquiring the Negative Skill 『Pregnancy Optimization… abbreviated as Pregnancy-Optimized Body』, which could break the Blessing of Contraception, approximately two weeks passed.

During that time, Black Rose, which had deleted the Auction Booth as Ma-chan had promised me, had its prestige significantly diminished. However, thanks to the idol duo project starring me and ChuChu gaining explosive popularity, sales surprisingly increased noticeably compared to when the Auction Booth was active.

After being helped by Ma-chan, the owner of Black Rose, during the process of rescuing me from the guards, I haven’t been intimate with a man, so the Blessing’s weakening level has remained at 0, but…

“…Hey, is something bothering you?”

“Ah, no… nothing…”

“Nothing… my ass. I see your face every day, only an idiot wouldn’t notice your expression rotting away.”

Was it that obvious…?

Today, too, after purchasing me from Black Rose’s Auction Booth, Mars, the son of the security company responsible for Black Rose’s security, was sitting across from me, only drinking tea and snacks.

He had suggested we meet, whether seriously or as a joke, but when I refused Mars’s offer, thinking of Miwol, we ended up just being ordinary friends.

Well… at most, we were sex partners. But even that promiscuous relationship was before I was caught by the guards and assaulted. After he found out that an employee of his company had laid hands on me, he definitely seemed gentler than when we first met.

Even with his slightly tanned, delinquent-like face, and his robust physique, which had grown even more solid from consuming my Magical Power, the impression of gentleness was almost non-existent.

“Hey, don’t be so frustrating, just tell me. Do you think I came here to see that kind of face?”

Today, in three hours. The Rebel Army Escape Operation begins.

It’s the first step to counterattacking the Clausin who invaded Earth, a golden opportunity to improve the team’s image, which has become a mess because of me, and to form alliances with Magical Girls from other countries.

But the thought, ‘Is that really the right thing to do…?’ keeps lingering in my mind.

Of course, there are monsters who deserve to die, like the 『Unaffiliated』 or that damn Seven Stars Halo who turned me into a woman, but aren’t there also good Clausin, like Ma-chan who saved me?

If it were my old self, I wouldn’t know, but in a situation where I’ve realized that not all Clausin are necessarily bad, is pointing a knife at them… the right thing to do?

Even with Warden Gould, it was just to catch intruders who had trespassed into his territory. On an Earth dominated by Clausin, the Magical Girls who attack them might even be the villains.

….I don’t know.

I don’t know, I said.

“Actually…”

Ttakong─!!

“Aah?! Ughhh…”

A shock was felt from the center of my forehead. The painful area was very small, but the sensation was so stinging that tears almost welled up in my eyes.

As I slowly raised my head, which I had lowered while clutching my forehead, I saw Mars’s hand, which had flicked my forehead with his middle finger.

“Hey, damn it… Ah, that really hurts… Ugh, damn it…”

“Now you’re more like Seri.”

Mars chuckled annoyingly, as if my violent flailing was quite amusing to him.

From his perspective, he might have hit me to cheer me up, but for the person who got hit, it was literally agonizing.

“Ugh… you’re making such fucking useless worries that don’t suit you at all. Did I tell you to do that without my permission?”

“What am I, yours?! Am I not allowed to have worries?”

“I’m not telling you not to. Do whatever you want.”

Mars roughly stroked my head as if petting a Puppy, then stood up first.

These days, since we stopped doing anything lewd, we would spend time finishing dessert and then falling asleep with me in his arms on the bed. But today, he was getting ready to leave, dressed in a stylish black uniform.

“You’re not mine, so keep shining brightly, enough to make me want to keep you.”

With those words, Mars completely left the room.

…I don’t know either.

I don’t know what I should do… if what I have to do as Phantom Thief Lupin is the right thing, or if what I’ve been doing was wrong.

“I’ve been here too long…”

Right… I’ve been influenced by the monsters, that’s why.

I’m human, and they’re aliens. Aliens who invaded Earth…

They’re just trash who treat people worse than livestock with their Human Rights Fee and Magical Power exploitation.

There’s no such thing as a good monster.

Just think about the day I’ll return to being a man and live happily with Miwol. This is to protect Earth.

The circumstances of monsters, who should be considered enemies… I don’t need to know them.

…

30 minutes before the escape operation.

Returning to the Staff Dormitory, I joined ChuChu, who was already there, and quickly finished our preparations.

The bracelet with the built-in Suit had no malfunctions, and both the handgun and bullets, which manifested based on my Magical Power, were created as intended.

Both the wire gun mode, which fires harpoons, and the shotgun mode, which has weak power but can stop movement for a very short time, were functioning normally.

I had memorized all the labyrinthine internal structures, and a few days ago, I had told Siel about the guards’ Staff Dormitory floor and all emergency access routes, so Siel should be able to hack Black Rose’s system without difficulty.

“Good… it’s perfect. ChuChu sunbae, what about the Sanctuary?”

“Yeah… the installation was all finished yesterday… Once activated, it should block all external intrusions…”

“You worked hard, our sunbae-nim.”

“Ehehe… it’s all thanks to Seri… If it weren’t for Seri, I would have already collapsed…?”

…Oh, right. I need to do that for her.

ChuChu, whose Magical Power is continuously consumed until the Sanctuary is activated, even though its installation is complete.

Unless bombardment on the level of warships covering the sky continued, it boasted an unbreakable sturdiness. As such, ChuChu’s condition, with her Magical Power still running low, was not normal.

Even in this situation, she had continued her idol activities so as not to disappoint others’ expectations, so it must have taken the biggest toll on her body. That’s why every night, I restore ChuChu’s Magical Power.

『Activating Mana Transfer for Magical Girl ChuChu.』

『You can give Magical Power to anyone you desire.』

As I held her fern-like hands, ChuChu’s complexion gradually improved.

But before her Magical Power was fully restored, ChuChu let go of my hand and smiled brightly.

“…I think this much is enough.”

“Are you sure? You received less than usual.”

“It’s going to be a real battle soon… and my role in any potential fight is defense and support… Seri’s role is important too, you know. Since Soo-ah unnie isn’t here… we have to do it ourselves.”

My role is initial aggro, leading the rebel army, and guiding the way.

In the chaotic situation, while Miwol, Mera, and ChuChu fought off the rushing guards, Hyun-ah, Soo-ah, and I, Phantom Thief Lupin, were supposed to go to the tunnel as a trio, but…

Since Soo-ah had gone to Home Planet Klaus to assassinate the 『Onmyoji』, Hyun-ah and I had to handle the guidance and cover, which significantly increased the difficulty.

“That’s true… And as expected of sunbae-nim~ calculating all of that.”

“L-let’s go quickly..! Everyone will be here…”

“Ah, ChuChu, wait for me!”

I was trying to ease her tension, but perhaps the praise embarrassed her, as ChuChu’s golden hair swayed as she rushed out of the Staff Dormitory, as if fleeing to the No-Touch Booth.

………….

“Hey, did you hear that the Seven Stars are coming today?”

“Of course. I heard Black Rose is holding the biggest auction ever.”

“Haa… I wondered what Ma-chan was thinking when she suddenly switched to no-touch… but it seems she had a plan, after all?”

“By the way, those human female customers over there… they make you gasp. Should we buy them as slaves?”

“Stop it, stop it. Have you forgotten the law designated by Halo-nim? If we do that to those with human rights, we’ll go to jail.”

As they barely caught the elevator and went down together, many faces they wanted to see were visible in the No-Touch Booth.

Three people had already transformed, ready to fight at any moment. The booth was already buzzing with rumors that three beauties, comparable to Black Rose’s bunny girls, had arrived.

ChuChu was equally pleased. No one could help but admire or feel their heart race upon seeing them, dressed in party dresses to look like customers.

“How am I supposed to wear something like this…!”

“What’s wrong with it~? It suits you well, so it’s good, isn’t it?”

Scarlet Magical Girl Mera, who, despite the dress not seeming much different from a Magical Girl uniform, was trying hard to cover up the highly revealing dress, as if she had her own standards.

Her feminine gestures and timid attitude, rather than the aggressive battle-maniac image ingrained in my mind, made me snort.

“W-what are you doing?! Don’t pull on the strap!!”

“Just stay still~ Mera needs to be more open to be hot, you know.”

“I don’t want to do that?!”

Yuri Magical Girl Hyun-ah, wearing a black dress that emphasized her entire thigh line, persistently trying to rub up against Mera in front of all the staff and other customers, claiming that even a gap moe Mera was hot.

Yeah… even I find that kind of Mera a bit hot. Though it only went as far as ‘hot’ because her inner self is a man, just like mine.

“Sunbae… Ah, there she is.”

And our hoobae-nim, the cutest in my eyes.

Her snow-white hair, sparkling amber eyes, and the sight of her in a spotless, pure white dress instantly made my face flush hot.

Phew… calm down, calm down…

“It’s starting soon… ChuChu, I’m counting on you.”

“U-uhm… leave it to me…!”

Indeed… I’m nervous too, so it must be the same for you, the youngest. Even if you have the most experience as a Magical Girl, fighting is still equally terrifying…

The signal for the operation’s start is my and Siel’s role.

When I put on the Suit and deploy smoke, Siel, who is in charge at the Workshop, will cut off the lights and hack Black Rose’s system. He will prevent the path to the tunnel from changing and minimize the incoming guards.

During that time, the plan is to buy time until ChuChu activates the Sanctuary, protect the rebel army with the team members, and escape outside.

There’s only one chance. Now, while the surroundings are quiet, is our opportunity.

“Then… here I go…!”

However.

No smoke rose, and no lights went out.

No contact came from Siel.

The Transformation Bracelet, which had been working perfectly just moments ago, had turned into a mere piece of metal with no functions, and the brilliant golden Sanctuary, which should have unfolded no matter how much time passed, remained hidden.

No, the Sanctuary hadn’t even been installed in the first place.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaak─!!”

“…Luna? Khk… Hyun-ah..! This crazy bitch…!”

“Haa… truly, it always tastes good, doesn’t it? Both of your Magical Po~wer♥”

At 23:00, the operation time. When no changes occurred, Mera and Luna sensed something was wrong and tried to cause a commotion, but Hyun-ah, who was right next to them, instantly drained their Magical Power, making them collapse.

“Hello~ sunbae-ssi. It’s a good night♥”

“Hyun-ah…? What on earth did you do?”

You’re a Magical Girl.

Why do you have those horns?

Why are wings sprouting?

“Well, of course, I’m doing it for myself.”

I was shocked once by the unbelievable sight unfolding before my eyes, and then…

When Hyun-ah snapped her fingers, Phantom Thief Lupin’s face was displayed on all of Black Rose’s electronic billboards as if on cue, leaving me utterly aghast.

[Phantom Thief Lupin’s true identity is…..Cafe Lapin’s owner, Lee Seri.]

[2■ years old, characterized by having the Brand of the Devil exclusively for Warden Gould of the Tax Evader Containment Facility.]

[Currently, the bunny girl Lee Seri (alias) infiltrating Black Rose is the same person.]

……To be precise, it was the moment Phantom Thief Lupin’s face, with the Perception Hindrance Magic dispelled, was revealed to the entire world.