Fairy Cookie and the Traitor Liliza (1)
After parting ways with Black, the fairy Cookie finished up her simple errands in the city and made one final stop at the Hypnosis Factory.
It was to let Liliza know she'd be gone for a while.
Cooperator Liliza.
That was Cookie's rough assessment of her.
'A weird woman.'
That was the impression, plain and simple.
Before Cookie had even fleshed out her concrete plans—back when she was just starting to puzzle things out with Er, who had only recently begun using the name Pure White.
Somehow, Liliza had tracked down Cookie's location, even though it should've been impossible to find.
Liliza had been on the run herself at the time, fleeing from Mech拉克 pursuers.
"Just guarantee that I can keep doing the research I want."
That single condition was all she demanded in exchange for her cooperation with Cookie.
Nothing else. Cookie had thought her head was a bit off, but someone with such firm desires could be trusted.
Liliza's presence was what gave Cookie's plans any real feasibility.
Pure White (Er), who had been so rough around the edges in every way, wouldn't have grown into someone with this much influence without Liliza's help.
The same went for Black's situation. Cookie was truly grateful that Liliza was on their side.
Of course, the arrogant fairy Cookie would never say thanks out loud.
As far as Cookie was concerned, it was all because she'd lived such a good life as a good fairy that a useful collaborator like Liliza had shown up—so really, she deserved the thanks. She brazenly believed that with all her thick-skinned pride.
Anyway, that's how things stood, and Cookie arrived at the Factory before the day was out.
Even with fairy magic at her disposal, sneaking into the Factory was normally impossible—its devices detected mana.
But she had an inside collaborator. Using the secret passage Liliza had prepared, Cookie could come and go without anyone noticing.
Of course, even with a hidden entrance like that, she kept its use to a minimum, just in case.
"Oh my, Lady Fairy. You've come? It's been so long."
Cookie flew into Liliza's lab through the usual passage, and Liliza, who happened to be there, greeted her warmly.
The research-obsessed Doctor Liliza was almost always holed up in this lab. Even at this late hour, here she was. That's why Cookie hadn't bothered contacting her ahead of time—she just dropped by when it suited her.
But Liliza seemed a little off today.
"...Huh? Were you in the middle of something, nyang?"
Liliza's clothes were a bit disheveled, her hair slightly damp with sweat.
There was even something furry stuck to the corner of her mouth, and she noticed it herself, hurriedly checking a mirror to wipe it away.
"Yes, I was focused on some work just a moment ago. I got your message and rushed back to the lab."
"Message? What message?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just personal contact."
Cookie couldn't pry any further after that.
Without beating around the bush, Cookie simply and concisely informed her that she'd be leaving the city for a while.
She laid out contingency contact methods in case something came up, along with any potential instructions.
"...I see. Are you sure you'll be okay? Leaving the magical girls in this city to their own devices?"
"They'll handle their own business just fine, nyang. I'm not their guardian or anything."
"True enough."
"I'll keep in touch periodically and give instructions as needed, nyang. And that hopeless Black seems to be adapting pretty well to life here, thanks to you watching out for her."
"You've been so worried about her, Lady Fairy. Whether that girl could really make it on her own."
"...She's so hopeless, my eyes keep drifting back to her, nyang. Like giving extra rice cakes to the brat you hate."
"There you go again. You worry about her so much and put in all that care, deep down."
"Don't say useless things, nyang. It's not like that at all. Thinking that gives me chills, nyang."
Liliza chuckled softly as she spoke, while Cookie vehemently denied it, shaking her head.
Worrying about the magical girl she was contracted with?
Sweet, fluffy things like that were best left to marshmallows or cake during teatime.
"Anyway, take good care of Black while I'm gone, nyang. You've done great so far. As for 'Pure White'... well, no need to worry about her."
"See? You're always doting on that one girl."
"I'm not, nyang! It's just that I don't know where that hopeless bitch might bolt off to next, nyang! If she suddenly throws a tantrum like 'I don't wanna~~' and runs away, I won't even be able to track her down, nyang!"
"Is her ability really that crucial? Irreplaceable, even?"
"...As much as I hate to admit it, yes, nyang. I could never say it to her face, even on my deathbed, but her potential is top-tier magical girl level, nyang."
Of course, that wasn't about combat prowess.
She had the record of wiping out enemy soldiers—including rival magical girls—in short order during their previous operation, but plenty of magical girls could pull off more than that.
What Cookie wanted from Black wasn't brute force brawling. Leave the savage punching and kicking to Er or the combat specialists from the Liberation Front.
What she wanted from Black were the flashy, upfront heroics? No—the truly vital tasks that happened out of the spotlight. Operations in the shadows.
Among magical girls, Black's magical talent was exceptionally outstanding.
It was already proven that her specialties—barrier magic and stealth magic—surpassed even a fairy's.
If they played to those strengths, she could accomplish so much. There were already several spots where Cookie wanted to deploy her right away. She was holding back only out of caution.
Once Black fully adapted to life in the city and Cookie observed her up close, confirming she was truly reliable and useful... then she'd work her to the bone, even if she sprouted a second body.
She could already imagine Black's cries, but that didn't matter. Black had no right to refuse.
'But with her head the way it is, she's a pain to handle, nyang.'
That fragile mind was part of why Cookie hesitated to use her right away.
Someone with such incredible abilities, held back by a user like that... it felt like wasting a treasure.
It looked like she'd need to give Black some harsh training for a while, to toughen up that weak spirit. Once she fixed that, she'd be somewhat usable.
Cookie recalled the feel of that punch she'd thrown into Black's womb earlier and chuckled inwardly.
Anyway, with that, she'd passed on everything she needed to.
There wasn't anything urgent, but lingering here too long still carried risks.
Just as Cookie thought it was time to go, Liliza made a suggestion.
"Before you leave, how about it? I managed to get my hands on those desserts you mentioned wanting before."
"Huh... You mean that patisserie's stuff from before, nyang?"
"Yes, Roro Patisserie—super famous back on our homeworld. She was originally in Central City, but she visited here for some morale-boosting event."
And apparently, she'd scored some of Roro's desserts that very morning.
Thanks to Mech拉克's amazing preservation tech, they could stay fresh for months, so Liliza had planned to treat Cookie whenever she dropped by. But Cookie showed up right on the day.
Cookie couldn't resist sweets and desserts.
She was sorely tempted by Liliza's words.
"W-well... I guess I have no choice, nyang... So, where's this dessert?"
"Then let's move to the next room. No cameras there, so you can enjoy it without worry."
Cookie followed Liliza's lead into the adjacent room.
It wasn't very big.
A bit claustrophobic, not the ideal spot for relaxed dessert-eating, but better than munching while paranoid about prying eyes or cameras.
'Hmm, maybe take it to go... Nah, she'd probably insist on eating together. Liliza has no friends, so I guess I have to keep her company, nyang... Poor thing, nyang...'
"Then, Lady Fairy, wait just a moment. I'll bring the table and dessert."
"Got it, nyang."
Cookie stayed in the room, heart pounding with excitement, and as Liliza left, the door clunked shut behind her.
A dessert from a patisserie famous enough to represent the homeworld—what could it be?
Macarons? Cake?
Maybe charlotte or ice cream.
Should've asked what kind it was.
Aah, I can't wait.
Hurry up and bring the sweet, fluffy dessert—
"...Huh?"
A sharp jolt of unease zapped through her.
It was just a fleeting sense of wrongness.
Before she could even pinpoint what it was... it overwhelmed her in an instant.
ZZZAPZZZAPZZZAPZZZAPZZZAPZZZAP!!!
"NYA< strong>AAAAAAAH?!?!?"
A brutal electric shock.
Cookie, floating in midair, froze rigid for a split second before flopping limply to the floor.
Two or three more shocks followed, hammering the already unconscious Cookie.
She could only twitch helplessly from the electrocution.
A moment later, another clunk as the door to Cookie's room swung open.
Liliza strode in, her earlier gentle smile wiped away, face blank and emotionless. She scooped up Cookie's cat-plush body and carried her out.
The room fell into utter, silent stillness....