It was the worst possible situation. I was just about to confirm the identity of the spy with perfect reasoning, and now there’s another one-eyed individual.
Just when it rains, it pours, as the saying goes—this must be what it’s for.
“Edu, what do you want to do? Are we going to catch both of them?”
Jenny’s question. Clarissa wasn’t speaking either, but I could feel her gaze directed at me.
“No, let’s wait and see for a bit longer.”
If there had been just one one-eyed person, I would have dealt with them instantly, but the fact that there’s another drops the probability down to 50% right away.
Classmates make mistakes and play rough jokes on each other, but what I have to uncover is a spy. The suspicion is far too heavy to pass off as a simple mistake or joke.
“For now, let’s call that one One-Eye 1 and that one One-Eye 2.”
“Why don’t we just use their names?”
“That’s what I was going to ask—do we really need to?”
“Calling them out by name could leak information, and other people might look at us strangely, right?”
It’s suspicious wherever you look—a group of girls calling out names and chatting carelessly.
“That’s true.”
“Hmm…”
Both of them seemed to agree with my reasoning, confirming the two one-eyed individuals before addressing the two of them again.
“Then, let’s keep an eye on these two as much as possible, alright?”
“Alright!”
“Got it.”
Jenny responded with an exaggerated yell, while Clarissa nodded calmly.
Just then, Airlina arrived at the training ground and greeted the students.
“Okay, everyone here? Let’s start class then.”
“Yes, teacher!”
The class went on, but I kept my eyes glued to the one-eyed individuals the entire time.
Time passed, and when class ended, Jenny and Clarissa naturally gathered around me.
“Jenny, how was One-Eye 1?”
“Nothing much. Just attended class normally.”
“Clarissa?”
“One-Eye 2 was the same, nothing remarkable.”
“Hmm.”
Of course, the one-eyed characters aren’t going to show any openings easily…
“Then, let’s continue watching for a while. I’ll be monitoring with a drone tonight, but for the rest, can I leave it to the two of you?”
“Alright~ Leave it to me.”
“Then, as decided earlier, Jenny will handle One-Eye 1, and I’ll take One-Eye 2, alright, Jenny?”
“No problem~”
Clarissa suggested it, and Jenny nodded in agreement, drawing a “V” with both hands.
“Great, then let’s work together.”
“Okay~”
“Alright.”
That’s how the surveillance began.
At night, I used the little drone, and during the morning and afternoon, we thoroughly marked both one-eyed people together.
Quickly passing days…
Exactly on the fifth day of our joint surveillance at lunch, the three of us gathered on my bed.
“Phew….”
“Ugh…”
“Haa…”
Sighs flowed naturally.
Being on constant surveillance for a few days has been mentally and physically exhausting. I couldn’t even rest properly, and it really wore on my nerves.
Who knew that monitoring people could be such hard work? Respect naturally arises for detectives who conduct covert investigations, eating hardships like meals every day.
“Anyway, did anyone gather anything?”
“I didn’t find anything. They were so inconspicuous I kept forgetting to monitor them from time to time.”
“Same with me, no notable actions were observed. How about you, Edu?”
“Same for me, no reactions at all.”
““Haa-””
Sighs were let out in unison by the three of us.
Ultimately, the surveillance over several days was futile. Now is the time to take a firmer stance.
“There’s nothing we can do, let’s go with Plan B.”
“Plan B?”
“Did you think of something?”
“Yeah, it’s simple.”
As I said that, Clarissa and Jenny’s gazes naturally turned towards me.
“Let’s drop some bait to those guys.”
“Bait?”
“Yeah, we don’t know which of the two is the spy, right? So, we’ll drop some information from our side. There’s bound to be a reaction, no matter what.”
The spy is essentially alone in hostile territory. Even if they appear calm outside, their inner state must be anxious.
After answering Jenny’s question, Clarissa next to her clapped lightly and chimed in.
“Aha, so you’re trying to provoke the spy into acting!”
“That’s right.”
“Ooh, I’m in favor of that. Surveillance is too boring~”
“But, what kind of information do you plan to leak?”
“I’m thinking of leaking some information about myself.”
I thought casually of strolling around the academy at night and letting out information about it. Clarissa’s expression grew serious as I conveyed that thought.
“No, that’s too dangerous.”
“Yeah, do we have to take such a risk?”
“There’s something else I need to do.”
“Is there something else besides this?”
“Yeah.”
Saving Freya, Jenny’s sister.
Even with the time we have now, it’s better to start the task as soon as possible. There’s no way we can stay tied up in the spy situation for too long.
“Hmm~”
Jenny squints her eyes and makes a playful expression while poking my cheeks.
“Why are you doing that?”
“No, Edu looks so small and cute, but your actions remind me of a boy who likes to fight.”
Shiver…
That sharp comment makes me break out in cold sweat.
“Me, a boy?”
“Yeah, you’re quite active, aren’t you?”
“I understand what you mean. Edu’s energy is certainly out of the ordinary.”
Clarissa also agrees with Jenny and hums.
“Right? It’s really amazing.”
“Yes, I must admit, it’s quite enviable. Taking initiative requires great courage.”
Their gazes on me—though I’ve faced this situation a few times, the changed atmosphere makes it strangely hard to breathe.
“Hem. Then, I’ll handle dropping the information to them, so can the two of you continue surveilling for now?”
“Alright! Leave it to me~”
“Got it.”
…
The next day at lunch.
I explained the situation to Edward and Nisia and asked for their help.
“So, in short, you want us to spread stories about you around those guys, right?”
“Yeah, exactly. Can you help?”
“Of course, I’ll help.”
Edward nods immediately, but Nisia seems to be deep in thought and hasn’t answered yet.
“Nisia?”
“Ah, yeah. I will help too.”
It seemed she just snapped out of her thoughts when I spoke to her, and she nodded.
“Thank you, then I’ll leave it up to you.”
And I proceeded to stroll daily within the academy’s premises as planned. However, of course, I made thorough preparations.
Whirring…
Above my head flies the little drone, and concealed in the bushes nearby, mini carts armed with 36-gauge turrets are on standby. On either side of the tree’s shadow, marionettes are perfectly positioned in a formation waiting for the opponent.
Then, from the dimly lit path, the awaited figure finally appeared.
“Um… is that Edu?”
“There you are, One-Eye 1.”
“One-eyed…? Oh, you’re calling me that because of this eye?”
An innocuous tone, but I wasn’t foolish enough to fall for such amateurish acting.
“Tell me the truth. Why did you come looking for me?”
“Ah, well-”
A fellow struggling to speak, a common behavior of someone with something to hide, I’m certain of victory.
“Hmm, should I show this to you?”
With those words, One-Eye 1 tapped their face with their left hand.
‘?!’
Suddenly, not only their face but their whole body flickered like a mirage and revealed a completely different person.
“Finally, I can relax.”
A neatly pressed black suit with the distinctive trait of silvery hair swept back in an all-back style, and the long ears confirmed him as part of Clarissa’s elf race.
After brushing off his clothes, the elder elf walked towards me, but the issue was elsewhere.
“Eh, why are you here?”
Because this was a person I knew well.
“Hmm? Do you know me?”
“Of course. Aren’t you Halfpandel Cronos, one of the representatives of Fangju’s commerce guild?”
Halfpandel Cronos.
Clarissa’s grandfather, and a giant who’s long sustained the economy of Fangju.
“Ho, accurate. Yet, interesting.”
“???”
“You’re new to me, yet you know me? I haven’t made official appearances in years. Children your age finding out about me isn’t easy.”
A gentle tone, yet sharply perceptive. It’s clear there’s a reason why this old man is one of the representatives of the commerce guild.
“Ah, well, you see…”
As I hesitated and mumbled, Halfpandel gave a warm smile.
“Take your time thinking. We have plenty of time.”
But the unspoken meaning was that he would definitely hear my response. Sneaky old man.
“While speaking with Chancellor Ryeoju, I happened to hear about your grandfather.”
With that barely fabricated story, Cronos’s face grew serious.
“Once again.”
“Huh?”
“Repeat the word you just called me.”
His tone turned subtly gentle.
“The, grandfather?”
The moment he heard that, Halfpandel’s rigid face relaxed and he quickly approached me, scooping me up.
“So, you’re my grandchild~ Grandchild!”
“Wha-? Halfpandel!”
“Huh!!”
Suddenly, his expression turned stern again.
“Halfpandel who? Do it again, boy. Call me grandfather. Come on, granddad!”
“…”
This old man, why is he like this? The setting did mention that he loves children and treasures his granddaughter, but this is just grandpa crazy, right?
“H, grandfather?”
Timely arrival of Clarissa. Seeing her granddaughter, Halfpandel’s face lit up with a broad smile.
“Ah, our little baby!”
“H, grandfather! Calling me that here-”
Blushing furiously and shouting, Clarissa, but Halfpandel simply tilted his head.
“Why are you doing this, our baby?”
“T, stop it, it’s embarrassing!!”
“Embarrassed? I’m not-”
“I am!!”
Her outburst silenced Halfpandel, who then looked dejected and shut his mouth.
Ah, this grandfather really does dote on his granddaughter. If One-Eye 1 was this grandfather, then the spy should be-
Just as I thought about this, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind me.
Quick footsteps rapidly moving away.
“Little drone, mini cart, marionettes. Capture him!”
[Initiating movement.]
Clank, clank.
Marionettes rushing to track the shadow, emitting metallic sounds, with mini carts swiftly following on either side and the little drone starting to trace from above.
“Darn!!”
Even while hurling curses, the figure didn’t slow down. But as the marionettes quickly closed the distance, the opponent’s ankle was finally caught and he fell.
“Aaaah!”
Thud.
The man on the ground rolled around, and another marionette leapt and pinned him down.
“Hey, let go, let me go!”
In response to his shouts, I ordered the little drone to shine its light on the man’s face.
“Grumble!”
The man frowned and turned his head, but it was all in vain. With his body already restrained, turning his head wouldn’t change anything.
“Marionette?”
Following my words, the marionette holding the man forcibly turned his head toward the light.
“Agh!”
The face fully revealed—just as I predicted, the spy investigating us was One-Eye 2.
“Let go! What did I even do-”
“You are the person sent by the enemy, correct?”
“!!”
At my words, One-Eye 2 flinched slightly. But the man quickly changed his expression and started acting.
“What are you talking about? I just went out for a walk at night-”
“Why did you run away then?”
“That’s because something came to mind-”
Smirking with an unchanging expression, One-Eye 2 spouted blatant lies, but I already knew the perfect remedy for this situation.
“Uh? Wait, what are you doing?”
Whoosh.
Drawing out the monkey wrench from my waist, the cold and heavy feeling transmitting through the handle reached my hand.
The ultimate dialogue of persuasion (physics).
“An old-time remedy for villains.”
“Wait! Let’s talk- aaaaah!!”
…
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")