The Suspicions of SpiCa

(Miluno)

Although I had left the “prison” of the Mermaid Witch, the things I had witnessed left me feeling exceptionally heavy-hearted. For a magical girl, becoming a Witch is a fate more tragic than death itself…

“Miluno, how did you obtain your Star Crystal?” With a heart full of emotion, SpiCa suddenly asked.

“I don’t want to answer that question,” I refused, my expression remaining cold.

Even if I had answered sincerely, I couldn’t have explained it clearly. I didn’t even know the identity of that mysterious magical girl who gave me the crystal, nor did I know who she truly wanted me to protect.

Sailuno chimed in, “Miss Miluno has always been secretive, so Director SpiCa, please don’t press her~” As she spoke, she winked at me like a small animal trying to please a human.

“Is it secretiveness, or is there simply no secret beneath your skin?” SpiCa asked again.

No secret? It seemed there was a hidden meaning in her words.

“What makes you say that, Director?”

“As I just said, a magical girl’s strength typically grows alongside her development of magic—that’s actually the process of a Star Crystal grinding together with its user. But you are clearly an exception.”

“An exception? Because I’m too strong?”

“Consider it a mere musing. Miluno… are you yourself a Star Crystal?”

“…Huh?”

Because the speculation was so bizarre, even I, in my transformed state, rarely raised my voice in shock.

“There is someone just like you—someone who started at the peak and has always crushed opponents with an overwhelming advantage…” Before SpiCa could finish, Yang Yan and Sailuno spoke in unison.

“Sirius?” Yang Yan asked.

“That legend is real?!” Sailuno gasped.

The rumor that Sirius is not human has always existed. She appeared out of nowhere as a hero, traveling the world to eliminate the External Invaders, and even now, she remains active on the front lines.

“After all these years, it’s no longer a secret that cannot be disclosed,” SpiCa explained. “Though she is disguised as a human, the true identity of Sirius is the very first Star Crystal to arrive on Earth—and also the first magical girl.”

A humanoid Star Crystal—no wonder she could fight continuously for twelve years.

Yang Yan’s voice buzzed through the tablet. “So, do Star Crystals all have their own will?”

“There’s no evidence that other Star Crystals possess intelligence. Sirius is a special case. Back then, Earth was hell; it couldn’t wait for a magical girl who needed time to grow. So, she directly entered the fray without a qualified user… I’m wondering if you are the same, Miluno.”

SpiCa was constantly looking for opportunities to probe my identity, even more directly than Yin Lu—like a barber aggressively urging you to buy a membership card.

“I don’t want to answer this. When will my battle outfit be returned to me?”

“…It should be fully repaired by now.”

I could still sense my battle outfit on this floor. As she led the way, SpiCa tried to persuade me again. “Miluno, a magical girl of your strength should play a greater role in this war.”

“I just want to protect the things close to me. I’ll do what I need to do—you don’t need to impose responsibilities on me.”

“If you keep in touch with the Association, we can use phase wormhole technology to send you to any corner of the world where an External Invader appears. We could change the situation in regions where magical girls are scarce.”

“I’m not a lab rat for your new technology.” If I communicated frequently with the Association, my identity would be exposed sooner or later.

“…Sigh, you really are stubborn.” SpiCa finally seemed to give up.

She led us into a laboratory—or rather, a weapon workshop. Besides the researchers in white coats, there was also a magical girl with long, chestnut-colored hair clad in pure white light armor. Her battle attire looked more like a medieval light cavalryman than a traditional magical girl, though the lining under the armor resembled a high school uniform.

This was Metal, the “Steel Dragon.” Her magic allowed her to manipulate various metals and shape them freely.

“Miss Miluno? You’re really tough—already out of bed?” She seemed to recognize me instantly.

“…What are you doing to my weapons?”

My twin short swords had been transformed into a slightly longer one-handed sword. Looking closely, I could see mechanisms that allowed it to split apart.

“An upgrade! For Miss Miluno’s straightforward and brutal combat style, the presence of those two short swords was far too small. So, I made them able to combine into a longsword when needed! After all, their original usage count couldn’t even match your thick-soled combat boots—I know you prefer to kick monsters to death.”

As she spoke, she held up the black boots from my outfit. She turned them over to show the soles. They were now inlaid with metal rings like horseshoes, not only on the toes but also on the heels.

“Horseshoes?” What am I, a horse girl? Long distance or short distance? Dirt track or grass track?

“Though they look like horseshoes, they are absolutely comfortable to wear. They’re a bit heavy, but they can greatly increase the power of your kicks. I’m a weapons expert, so please trust me a bit more on this.”

“I didn’t ask you to modify my battle outfit…”

SpiCa interjected, “I asked her to do it.”

Although the kicking was indeed my combat habit, I didn’t want to express gratitude to someone who tampered with my belongings without permission. I approached the gear on the workbench. The battle outfit and the one-handed sword in Metal’s hand flew toward me as if alive, merging into the Star Crystal inside me. Instantly, they manifested on my body.

“How does it feel?” Metal eagerly asked for feedback.

I stomped my foot. I had thought the metal horseshoes would reduce grip, but aside from being a bit heavier, there was no negative effect.

“Acceptable. As for the kick power… is there a training ground here?”

Sailuno hurriedly interrupted. “Wait! Miss Miluno, you can’t make any large movements yet!”

The wounds on my back might indeed split open.

“Looks like I’ll have to wait for the next real battle.”

“Next time, let me handle it! Miss Miluno, please take care of yourself!” Sailuno cried out.

“Mm.” I sheathed the one-handed sword at my waist. “Then I should be going.”

“You don’t have to be in such a hurry. You can leave after you’ve fully recovered,” SpiCa said.

“No, I have a reason I must leave.” If I let Sailuno go back alone and she doesn’t see me as Ziye, it’ll be a disaster…

But then that airhead said, “Since Miss Miluno doesn’t trust the Association, could you let me take care of you? I promise not to probe your identity!”

“I’m not yet at the point of needing a caretaker.” I pointed at the tablet in her hand. “Instead of taking care of me, why don’t you worry about Yang Yan?”

“I don’t need that!” Yang Yan barked from the screen. “This facility has professional nursing staff. Why would I want to be taken care of by an amateur fat… by a clumsy, dumb girl?”

Yang Yan was about to say “fat otaku,” but remembering that I supposedly didn’t know Sailuno’s identity, she changed her words. Despite her foul mouth, she was unexpectedly looking out for Sailuno.

“I really want to do something for Miss Miluno…”

“I know.”

I organized my thoughts, then reached out and placed my hand on her head. I rubbed her soft, fluffy pink hair. What I couldn’t do as Ziye, I naturally did as Miluno. Sailuno lowered her head under my touch.

“I understand your desire to compensate me. No matter what I say now, your guilt won’t be satisfied.”

“Mm…”

“But it wasn’t your fault that I got hurt. It was just my own lack of ability.”

“How can you say that…”

“I’m serious. My magic gives me destructive power, making everything I touch fragile, but it also prevents me from protecting anything. But Sailuno… your magic is gentle. If it’s you, you’ll definitely be able to protect many people in the future.”

“Ziye…”

My heart skipped a beat. My hand froze, and a cold sweat broke out.

“…What?”

But then Sailuno looked up, revealing a sweet, adorable, and slightly silly grin. “Hehe… the way Miss Miluno said that line… it really reminds me of a friend of mine.”