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Chapter 15: Returning
🕑 Added 2024-03-11 15:23:16 +0000 UTCAlice approached me and conjured a hooded cloak from thin air. After Sapphire healed my wound, I examined my back through Felicia's vision but found no tear in my costume. When I touched my back, I only felt the smooth fabric under my fingers.
"Your astral shift costume automatically repairs itself. However, the wound was real, about 3 centimeters deep," Felicia clarified before I could inquire further.
"You should cancel your astral shift and rest. This hood will help conceal your identity," Alice suggested.
"Thank goodness it was just a minor wound. That was too close," Sapphire added.
"I've never experienced a shield break outside of practice and exams at Guardian Command. Don't push yourself too hard, Black Lily. You should increase your spirit and vitality stats," Red Flame advised.
"Let's head back to Guardian Command," Alice proposed. "Would you mind if I carried your weapons?"
"Sure." After giving my consent, she reached for my harpoon, seraph spear, javelins, and naginata. With a flash of pink light, they vanished.
"Shining Arrow, take mine too. Your dimensional storage is convenient!" Red Flame handed over his sword, and she made it disappear as well.
"It costs a thousand and five hundred points. You should consider getting it."
"No way. I'm saving up for the sword aura skill next. I currently lack a ranged attack, and it was rather foolish of me to invest in the dodging and parry skill. It's expensive."
"But that skill has saved your life multiple times today. You should appreciate it!" Sapphire chimed in.
"We're a team, after all. Opting out of dimensional storage just shows how much I rely on you, Shining. Let's head out. I'm craving a shower and bed. Anathema's blood is revolting." Red flame spoke out.
"Do you want me to use Purify?"
"No, I need a proper wash with water."
We engaged in light conversation as we made our way back to the military jeep. Despite my recent bout of mana exhaustion, I had installed a mana eye near the shelter from the now-cleared usurpation zone, allowing me to view its translucent yellow dome. It's curious how quickly I've adapted to utilizing this ability, employing it in various situations since gaining it just yesterday. Additionally, the magic eyes I placed near my home yesterday remained active. I seldom check them to avoid impeding my mana regeneration, but they persist as I have yet to deactivate them.
"What's going on?" the driver inquired about my hooded cloak.
"Black Lily has deactivated her astral shift, so we'd appreciate it if you refrained from delving into her real identity," Alice explained.
"You all seem to have pushed yourselves quite hard, haven't you?"
"Yes, we might have overextended ourselves this time," I admitted.
"The command center mentioned that reinforcements are arriving tomorrow. So, you don't need to push yourself that hard."
"Really? They're arriving a day early?"
"Indeed. The magical girls are quite eager, so the ship is proceeding at full speed. They plan to continue through the night, which is why the arrival time has been adapted."
"It seems everyone's putting in extra effort. I wonder if we should as well."
"We're nearing our limits with mana exhaustion. I'm on my fourth cycle and can no longer use my signature magic. Sapphire, on her twelfth cycle, has completely depleted her mana regen, having tirelessly healed the injured non-stop for the past three days. We can't proceed any further."
"There's no need to push yourself further; I know when to stop," I reassured.
Settling into the back seat, I curled up comfortably, feeling the pain gradually return as I rested. It appears Felicia had been mitigating the pain, but now, as I allowed myself to relax fully, the discomfort resurfaced, accompanied by a soothing sense of fatigue. Surrendering to these sensations, I drifted into the tranquil embrace of sleep.
I awoke abruptly, finding myself in a dimly lit bedroom adorned with a bunk bed. The creaking sounds from above hinted at someone occupying the top bunk. Rising quickly, I summoned Felicia for an update. She relayed that Alice had brought me here, placing me in the lower bunk before heading to HQ to deliver her report. After her own bath, Alice opted to rest in the upper bunk, considering our acquaintance. Sapphire and Red Flame, valuing their privacy as Magical Girls, had separate rooms. Alice thought it practical for us to share, given our prior interaction in our real forms.
Realizing I hadn't bathed yet and needed fresh clothes, I inquired about clothing stores within the vicinity. My current outfit, a ragged school uniform, desperately needed replacement. I resolved to express my gratitude and apologies to Alice later for her kindness and the comfort of the cloak she provided, which I hadn't noticed during my relocation due to its warmth and coziness.
After astral shifting and donning the cloak Alice lent me, I ventured out. The moon cast its glow overhead, and Felicia informed me that I had been asleep for four hours. I approached a vending machine to purchase a sports drink, observing several civilians congregated in the corridors. Many had spilled into the front yard, seeking rest under mere blankets. I was relieved it was still summer; otherwise, the chill night air could have posed a risk of colds for them.
I wandered around until I stumbled upon a store selling miscellaneous items. Unfortunately, no clothing was available; the refugees had bought everything. Next to the store was the cafeteria, where a sign declared the food was free. I picked up a box of lunch and warmed it in the oven. As I ate alongside my sports drink, Felicia suddenly perked up.
"Alice is looking for you. Should I let her know where you are?"
"Yes, tell her I'm here."
"Don't stay in your astral shift too long; it'll interfere with your rest. You still have a mana penalty for another two hours," Felicia cautioned.
As I continued with my late meal, Alice arrived, visibly displeased.
"Lily, eating late isn't good for you. Aren't you supposed to be the exemplary student? What's gotten into you?" she teased.
"I missed dinner; what else could I do?" I replied, my cheeks warming.
"Just joking. Oh, you wanted clothes, right? We're about the same size. Here, I got you these from the vault," she said, producing a white shirt and a long black skirt.
"From the vault?" I was taken aback. Clothes made by Zenith were purchased with valuable points!
"Yes, take them. Your help today was crucial in clearing four usurpation zones. You were particularly invaluable."
"But to buy them from Zenith..." I protested, louder than intended.
"It's okay; consider it a gift from me. Being Pink, I earn more experience and points easily. You've always been supportive, embodying the virtues of kindness, elegance, and bravery—the type of Magical Girl I aspire to be. I also wanted to get you some food. The MREs from the vaults are surprisingly good."
My head was reeling from the extravagance of the Magical Girl before me. It was ironic, considering my background as Yuri Shirayuki, the daughter of a Shirayuki Group branch director, a company ranked eighth in wealth across all sanctuary cities. Yet, witnessing this Magical Girl squander points on trivial items sparked an intense irritation within me.
"Yuri..." Shining Arrow hesitated upon seeing my glare. "What's the matter?"
"Magical Girl Black Lily, dictating how someone should spend their points is not your place. You're free to offer advice, but commanding them or dissuading them from their purchases violates the Magical Girl code of conduct regarding freedom of choice," Felicia cautioned me telepathically.
"But she's using so many points on things we could easily buy in a store or restaurant for 40 or 50 dollars!" My frustration spilled over, and I slammed my hand on the table, startling Alice. It then dawned on her that I was communicating with my familiar.
"Oh... I'm sorry..." Alice bowed.
"No, no, I should be the one apologizing. Please forgive me," I said, overwhelmed by regret. I suddenly recall a similar incident from years ago. "I accept your gift. Thank you."
"I didn't mean to flaunt my seniority as a magical girl. I was trying to be helpful. I just wanted to ensure you were comfortable. I've never been in an emergency contract, but I remember freezing during my first encounter with an Anathema. It was only after being reprimanded by a senior, as they restrained the Anathema, that I could move again. They bought me hot chocolate from the gate to soothe me afterward."
"Felicia?" I inquired her about such ridiculous behavior.
"The gate can provide anything, from bullets used by the MS to lunchboxes, even entire houses within dimensional storage. Shining Arrow likely accessed the terran clothes vault [common] for these clothes at 100 points and the food and beverage vault [common] for another 100 points."
"Why would anyone unlock those?"
"As I mentioned before, they're free to use their points as they see fit, and it turned out to be for the best, didn't it?" I suddenly understood. Shining Arrow had provided food for all the refugees here, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Considering the efficient use of points, I shouldn't have unlocked the glaive or naginata sections to begin with.
"Well, I actually unlocked it long before this disaster struck. Hehe. It's forbidden to misuse points provided by Zenith for unnecessary expenditures, including opening vaults; it would lead to unfairness."
"I understand now. My apologies."
"There's no need to apologize. It was rather insensitive of me."
"By the way, can we trade points among us?"
"No, that's not possible at the moment. You need permission from the central guardian command to do that."
"I was thinking it could be useful for pooling points to buy weapons or other items."
"Second-hand weapons and equipment are available at the guardian command, but you have to be selective. Many items might not fit properly or may have different alignments or enchantments than what you're looking for."
"Ah, so my naginata would likely be too short for a man?"
"Correct. All equipment bought from your gate is custom-made specifically for you."
"Alright, I'm sorry for earlier. And once again, thank you for the dress, Shining Arrow."
Felicia's reflection showed me that the clothes were somewhat large, especially around the chest, and the skirt was slightly shorter than I preferred. Using Felicia's eyes to look at myself, I noticed Alice had chosen a contrasting black skirt and white shirt for me, but there wasn't much she could do about the size discrepancy.
As I exited the bathroom, I encountered soldiers carrying assorted boxes. They promptly bowed to me, and I returned the gesture. Their lingering stares as they moved on suggested my initial fears were misplaced. In this gilded cage, I'm merely a tiny bird, largely unknown to them. It felt unjust to harbor such thoughts, as it would be hypocritical to expect recognition without making an effort to know them myself.
A knock on the door roused me from sleep before dawn. Groggily, I got out of bed and murmured the words to activate my astral shift before opening the door. A saluting soldier greeted me.
"Good morning," I responded.
"Miss Black Lily, your presence is requested at HQ," the soldier stated with another salute before departing.
"Understood."
However, I wasn't taken to the usual HQ, filled with individuals at their cubicles, but to a meeting room equipped with an overhead projector. Here, I was the sole attendee among my usual companions. My gaze shifted between my father, the mayor, and the figure on the monitor – Kageyama Shirayuki, the head of the Shirayuki family. Quickly, I grasped the gravity of the situation unfolding before me.
