Chapter 105

We need to meet the Yellow Beetle again.

On this point, Eve and I are on the same page.

In other words, we need to meet and settle this.

The best scenario would be to fight moderately and achieve a balance of 33:34:33.

Of course, we’d be the 34.

But even to me, the probability of the Yellow Beetle agreeing to this proposal is close to zero.

After all, his goal from the start was me, and if we achieve balance, he can’t fulfill that goal.

Anyway, the main goal is that, and realistically, the goal we’re aiming for is the use of the Dark Realm.

If we don’t use the Dark Realm, the damage to humans will be too great.

Buildings will collapse, people will die, and it’ll be a huge mess. Personally, I’d really like to avoid that.

But from his perspective, whether he agrees or not, it’s not a big deal for him, so I’m annoyed wondering if he’ll even agree.

I’ll have to offer some reasonable conditions, like “If you agree to this, I’ll do this for you,” but I’m not sure how to pull that off.

“Anyway, I’ll make a demand of you.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

After the building was destroyed, I ended up staying at Eve’s place, but life itself hasn’t changed much.

Since I can use magic again, my minions don’t have to worry about where to stay, and with Kabe, Dusik, and Sohee, there are four more people, so life hasn’t changed much.

“Anyway, the Gwangmyeong situation is something the government should handle, and our Combat Engineer Girls have finished restoring Myeongdong, so we’re sending them to Gwangmyeong. They’ll handle it moderately.”

I wonder what his “moderately” even means.

“But… we don’t know where the Yellow Beetle is.”

“That’s why we need to lure him out.”

“How?”

*

“You didn’t say it would be like this.”

“What else can we do? To lure out a bug, you need bait that the bug likes.”

“So, I’m the bait?”

“There’s no bait as effective as you.”

I grumbled as I felt the brush touch my face.

If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have agreed.

“Alright, it’s done!”

“There’s a dress in the next room. Put it on.”

“A dress?”

“You need to be more self-aware. If you have such a shameless figure, use it. Why do you always wrap yourself in a uniform?”

“It’s just pretty.”

She doesn’t understand the romance of a uniform.

Clicking my tongue, I went to the next room and was shocked again.

To see this here again.

It’s the same dress I wore while preparing for the Christmas charity event.

The dress was neatly placed on a mannequin, waiting for me.

“Technically, your uniform is a battle suit. Who wears a battle suit to an event like this? Put it on nicely before I force you.”

Hah, listen to her.

Does she think I’m still the Mother-Body? I may look like this now, but—

…Fighting with her is pointless.

Well, the dress isn’t bad.

It’s pretty, and… well, it’s… yeah, it’s fine.

*

Anyway, Eve’s plan wasn’t anything special. It was to announce the alliance between the Mogmog Group and the Magical Girl Association on a large-scale broadcast.

After the first attack, the Mogmog Group did a lot of bad things, but since the development of the Dark Realm, they’ve been following the rules and doing well.

Of course, there’s the issue of the bereaved families, but compared to those guys who declared they’d wipe out humanity, they’re not that bad.

The official event would declare the alliance between the Mogmog Group and the Magical Girl Association to oppose and defeat Core Light.

And if such an event took place, and the Mother-Body clearly expressed hostility toward Escario, Eve explained that he would surely lose his temper and show up.

It’s a plan that seems a bit off, but I couldn’t think of a more effective method, so I agreed to it.

Outside, the event was already underway, with the sound of trumpets and a noisy, bustling atmosphere.

They’ve got a lot of money. If they’re going to waste it on such pointless formalities… no, never mind.

“When are we going out… Hey, what’s with you?”

Eve was also wearing the blue dress she wore during the photo shoot, with sparkling dust-like particles floating around her.

Seriously, why does she get to be the only pretty one?

“Stay still. I’ll do it for you too.”

As Eve chanted a spell, a magic circle appeared above my head.

As the magic circle grew and swept over my body, rose petals began to scatter around me.

“Oh…”

The dress is red, so the rose petals scattering like this look nice.

“Let’s go. It’s almost our turn. You go that way, I’ll go this way.”

Since it would be weird for the leaders of both factions to enter from the same entrance, we’d enter from opposite sides.

After climbing a couple of makeshift stairs and stepping through the entrance—

“Ah, the flash is really…”

Ever since my eyes became like this, I’ve been too sensitive to flashes.

When the light suddenly hits, my eyes hurt so much it’s unbearable. As soon as I stepped out, reporters from broadcast stations and newspapers all flashed their cameras at me and Eve, and my eyes teared up.

“Are you okay?”

With my eyes half-closed, I forced myself to walk when someone came over and held my arm to support me.

“Who are you?”

“Prilly.”

“Ah… thank you. The light is too bright.”

“Oh dear. But there’s nothing we can do. The reporters are just doing their job. Just bear with it. Here, a handkerchief.”

Prilly handed me a handkerchief, but it felt a bit suspicious.

“I didn’t do anything. It’s been a while.”

Her voice sounded a bit sulky, but what can I do? You’re the one who did something.

“I’ll support you. Let’s go. Don’t forget I supported you, Goddess.”

I see.

Anyway, with Prilly’s support, I wiped my tears with the handkerchief and slowly made my way to my seat.

“Everyone, welcome. I am Eve, the president of the Magical Girl Association. Thank you for gracing us with your presence in this chaotic time.”

Eve’s voice echoed.

Her clear voice spread through the microphone into the air.

“Now, it’s your turn.”

“I’ll take it from here, Prilly.”

“Ah, okay.”

Dusik’s voice was heard, and a microphone was placed in my hand.

“Sister, just stand up and speak.”

“Okay.”

Now that my tears had stopped a bit, I put down the handkerchief and stood up with the microphone.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I am the Mother-Body, the leader of the Mogmog Group. Thank you for attending this event—”

Ugh, another flash barrage.

The lights were already shining directly at me, and with the flashes popping, it’s a real mess.

My eyes hurt like they were being stabbed, and tears started flowing again.

“…Thank you.”

I finished the greeting and sat back down.

Then I picked up the handkerchief and started wiping my tears again.

*

I don’t think my eyes were this sensitive before.

What’s going on?

“Currently, the Mother-Body is the direct target of Escario, the leader of Core Light…”

Eve’s voice continued explaining.

Ah, really. Can’t they stop those flashes?

“…Therefore, to oppose Core Light, which poses a significant threat to humanity, we need to form a united front. Through this alliance with the Mogmog Group…”

“The Mogmog Group was also an enemy of humanity, but through the advanced protection of the Dark Realm, they have actively responded to the rules of conflict…”

“…Core Light has refused to use the Dark Realm…”

“Primarily, Core Light has demanded the transfer of the Mother-Body, who is present here. Shocked, she spends her days in tears…”

Did I just hear something strange…?

“Even if we hand her over, peace cannot be guaranteed…”

“Peace is something we must achieve through our own strength…”

Eve’s clear voice continued.

The reporters’ questions and Eve’s answers were heard.

Ah, it’s starting to feel a bit better.

“She is also a woman in need of protection…”

Huh?

The conversation seems to be heading in a strange direction.

“Mother-Body, could you testify about Core Light’s demands? Is that possible?”

Forcing my eyes open, I saw Eve looking at me with concern.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. I can do it. Just a moment.”

Wiping my tears with the handkerchief.

Can’t they stop those flashes?

As soon as I stood up with the microphone, another barrage of flashes exploded.

“As Miracle Princess Eve mentioned, Escario, the leader of Core Light, has launched this invasion out of a desire to possess me… Ugh…”

Ah, my eyes!

“Oh, is that something to cry about? Madam?”

That greasy voice…

“The bait worked, Mother-Body.”

The flashes aimed at me suddenly stopped.

As the pain in my eyes subsided, what came into view was—

Escario, smiling smugly at me, and the reporters suddenly turning their flashes toward him.

“Well, how about it? I brought my subordinates to introduce them.”

Behind the Yellow Beetle stood four female angels in white winged outfits.

Compared to the usual angels with one pair of wings, these angels had two pairs and were holding ominous-looking tridents, walking toward us.

You’re such a jerk.

*