Magical Girl and Infiltration Operation (2)
“But... is this really all I have to do?”
“Nyang?”
Black, watching the data download onto the chip, suddenly speaks up.
Cookie stares at her as if asking what she means, and Black awkwardly adds,
“No, I mean... Er's over there making all this noise... putting herself in danger, fighting and all... and here I am just doing something this easy...”
“......Difficulty and importance are separate things, nyang. And this infiltration needs your magic, nyang.”
Cookie says that, but Black still feels uneasy.
She decided to help Er save Earth, yet it feels like she's shoving all the hard work onto Er while cherry-picking the easy jobs. Her conscience won't let her relax.
But this is perfect for someone as weak and talentless as me.
Yeah.
Er right now is like a monster.
She's already a powerful magical girl on her own, and now with support, she's even stronger.
So worrying about Er would just be foolish.
“...Ah, it's done.”
“Good thing, nyang. I'll tell Er and Peanut to pull out now too, nyang.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
With that, the data transfer to the chip finishes.
Black retrieves the cylindrical chip she'd planted, then slips out of the data control room.
She hides her body with magic, taking extra care not to show up on any surveillance gear as she hurries to escape.
And with that, tonight's mission is over.
“......”
As they head down the escape route with Black, Cookie silently scans the surroundings with her round eyes.
The path Black is rushing through is littered with wreckage from broken machines and corpses of monster soldiers here and there.
And in one corner lies an enemy magical girl who was guarding this place... bound tight and slumped on the floor.
The bound magical girl isn't dead, but Black knocked her out with a special drug conjured by magic, so she won't wake up for a while.
—All this was Black's handiwork, done single-handedly.
A scene of brutal violence that could be called a massacre.
But unlike the flashy destruction where Er is fighting, this shows no extravagance—just precise strikes at vital points.
Cool-headed.
Precise and quiet.
...Black, you're plenty monstrous yourself, nyang.
The magical girl known as Black Twilight rates herself way too low.
Considering her upbringing and personality, it's understandable... but it's such a waste.
If Black Twilight's abilities were truly worthless, Cookie never would've risked her neck to save her.
She wouldn't have chased after Black when she tried to run and quit before.
And she sure wouldn't have forced this girl—who confessed over and over that she lacked confidence—onto the front lines.
If Black really was the worthless mid-to-low-tier magical girl she thinks she is, Cookie could've just swapped in some eager replacement.
The sense to refine her magic enough to evade my tracking for nearly a year... And her stealth and assassination skills, unorthodox for a magical girl but perfect for exploiting weaknesses...
It's seriously impressive. But her self-evaluation is ridiculously low, nyang.
Black Twilight is no ordinary magical girl.
She's undoubtedly exceptional, outstanding, and strong.
Of course, her magic lacks the flashiness of girls like Er, but in practicality and quality, it's far superior.
Her sense for using magic and her body is top-notch too.
Frankly, as a magical girl, her talent surpasses even Er's.
That damn lack of confidence is her one fatal flaw... such a shame...
Why are all my contracted magical girls like this, nyang?
Cookie has a knack for spotting talent in people.
Her eyes are sharper than most fairies'.
But the talents she's scouted and (forcibly) contracted all have screws loose somewhere.
The “strongest magical girl,” Kay.
Another “strongest” who might match her... Alpha.
And this Black Twilight here, whose potential might rival them both, though in a different way.
Anyway, Cookie sighs over the headaches from these idiots.
Regardless of whether her magical girls are fools or not, their skills are proven.
Just like that, Black and Cookie escape the factory unscathed.
They get word that Er's team—who'd stirred up a commotion at the main gate to draw attention—escaped safely too.
And so, tonight's expedition ends successfully...
…………………………………
…………………
……
Thanks to Cookie's space magic, Er and Black return to the 5th Factory City in one leap.
Not just to the city—they teleport straight to their rooms.
Fairy magic is seriously convenient, even if it comes with finicky conditions.
Once back, Cookie takes the chip with the stolen data and leaves.
“I set up a gate in Liliza's room too, nyang. I'll deliver the chip to her, so you two rest up, nyang.”
Cookie sends both Black and Er back to their rooms before vanishing with those words.
Peanut, the fairy who'd helped Er this time, leaves with Cookie too.
Unlike the annoying Cookie, Peanut was cute and super likable—Black wanted to chat and pet her more, but oh well.
If Peanut had been her assigned fairy, maybe Black never would've run away and kept being a magical girl.
...No, probably not.
I know myself best... I'd have made excuses again... too lazy or whatever...
Black shakes her head at the pointless what-if in her mind and gets ready for bed.
She didn't sweat much, but she smells like gunpowder and dust, so she washes up and changes first.
Too late for hobbies like writing.
She's used to all-nighters, but tonight's expedition wore her out.
Just sleep for now...
Just as Black climbs into bed...
Knock knock.
A knock echoes before she can respond. The door clicks open on its own, and someone enters.
“Black, Black? You in there? Sorry~ Coming in~.”
She asks shamelessly, already inside without permission.
But the voice gives it away instantly.
It's the dormitory manager.
Click...!
Ten Manager fiddles with the room's system and turns on the lights.
Black, just settling on the bed, and the manager staring at her both come into view under the harsh light.
“M-Mr. Manager? What brings you here so late?”
“Hmm. Well? Don't you know best, Black?”
“Huh...? No... um...?”
“Actually, I came by earlier too. But you weren't here. Where'd you go?”
Black inhales sharply.
Her heart pounds with tension.
“Oh... uh... I just stepped out for a quick walk...! It was stuffy, so...”
She blurts an excuse, but wilts under his gaze, tongue twisting worse.
Will he buy it? Is it too obvious...?
“Hmmm. A walk, huh? Can't stop that. Our dorm's motto is freedom and healthy living for all.”
“R-Right...?”
“Yeah. But y'know, the Factory Manager asked me to keep a close eye on you?”
He smiles inscrutably.
“Not a full curfew or anything, but if you're out late, report to me. What you did, how long... okay?”
Black's face stiffens.
That would expose everything she's doing.
Maybe even that she's not hypnotized—that she's infiltrated with ulterior motives... all of it!
“So, Black, shall we head to my office and chat about your night in detail? Sound good? Come on down.”
Her heart races, tension spiking.
But as always, Black nods obediently without refusing.
『Absolute obedience to the manager's words within the dormitory』
That's the rule—a command she must follow...