"Ayane and Setsuna, I called you two here today to ask sothing of you," I say to Setsuna and Ayane, who are sitting on the couch in my living room.
"Go ahead, Ophelia!" Ayane says with her usual excited smile, while Setsuna just gives a nod.
"Mizuhane Kōri is a veteran among the magical girls. She’s going on a special mission and needs two allies to provide support. Ayane, you already know her, so I thought you two could go with her," I tell Ayane.
"This mission is a bit special, so it might take several days. After this mission, you’ll get a 1-month vacation, which will likely leave you completely free for the month of December," I say, placing so papers on the table.
"Are you willing to accept? This mission will take place on the other side of the city and involves two things. First, it’s related to human criminals, but the real objective is the monster that commands them in secret."
"Second, the focus is on information gathering and the possible elimination of the monster if possible. We don’t know the level of the monsters there, so it could be dangerous, but they’re gathering for sothing, and that could be a problem."
"As you may have noticed, the number of monsters in the city has strangely started to grow too much, and we need to resolve this as soon as possible," I say as Setsuna grabs the papers and starts reading them.
"..." Ayane also starts reading along with her.
"I understand if you want to decline. If you don’t want to go, I’ll talk to other magical girls to go with Mizuhane," I say as Setsuna looks at .
"Why the two of us?" she asks.
"First, you, Setsuna. You’re suitable because of your magical branching that allows you to create wings, which enables you to fly and, in ergency situations, you’d be the most capable of coming to the base to ask for help." It’s a very interesting magical branching that she’s developed.
"And Ayane’s going because of her barrier magic, which is useful since Ayane herself said she’s able to isolate even sound with her barriers, allowing you to explore the location more skillfully."
"Mizuhane has currently infiltrated the cri world disguised as a criminal and has made contact with the leader. You two will go with Mizuhane as ’newly recruited allies’ who need to show so service."
"I hope you understand that there’s only one chance. Probably, to the monsters, you two will be seen as traitors who betrayed the base."
"You just need to keep up this image while collecting information. It’s a more difficult job than just killing monsters, but Mizuhane is good at acting."
"You only need to stay quiet and not say anything that compromises the operation. If they ask, just say you betrayed the base for personal reasons."
"Mizuhane will take care of the rest." Setsuna is perfect for the mission, but Ayane is an unusual variable. She’s too kind and might ruin the disguise, but her magic is useful in the situation of possible combat.
"Do the two of you accept?" I ask. The papers have the things they need to say and the perfect way to act as Mizuhane’s helpers.
Mizuhane has been on this mission for almost 4 months, gaining the trust of the criminals. If everything falls apart, it might be difficult to get another opportunity this good.
"We accept," the two of them say, Ayane with her altruistic tone as always, and Setsuna with her cold tone.
"Great, Mizuhane is waiting downstairs for you. You can go with her while she explains everything, and take these papers to read on the way."
"And rember, this mission is a total secret. Don’t leak any information, even to close people. Only 5 people in total know about this operation: , Lenore, you two, and Mizuhane."
I make it clear how important this is as the two of them leave the room, and I watch them go down the elevator.
"Miss Ophelia, is it really a good idea to let those two participate?" Lenore says, erging from invisibility and shifting to her standard form.
"Yes, they’re not traitors," I need to deal with those dirty rats who think they can deceive .
"But Mizuhane..." I murmur her na. I still don’t know if this girl is a reliable ally or a potential traitor. Mizuhane has shown herself to be very good in her activities, but her loyalty is questionable. If that stupid girlfriend of hers were to be kidnapped, Mizuhane would betray us without a second thought, which is bad considering she’s the one dealing with missions involving human criminals.
"I’ll leave it that way for now," I say, heading for the side elevator, wanting to go to my personal gallery to paint a picture.
"Lenore, what do you think of Setsuna’s wings?" I ask, interested in her response. This is sothing I haven’t questioned yet.
"Odd, they don’t have a hint of magic, and the wings seem to co directly from her back," she says with doubt.
"Thank you for your answer."
’Maybe I should... take a look at that?’ Her wings are beautiful, but they remind of a troubleso problem. Descending to the art room, I go to another secret passage, opening it to a dark room.
"Lenore, would you kindly give your blood?" I ask her with a gentle smile. Without hesitation, she walks forward, climbing onto an altar and cutting her arm with a knife.
’Masaru Arata...’ I think of the country’s president as Lenore donates her blood to the altar, sothing that neither magical girls nor humans know, but that I know.
The existence of demons, there are rare people in the world who have contracts with demons. I myself have a contract with Demon No. 3, my beloved artist colleague Triel.
Counting myself, I know three people in the world who have contracts with demons. Demons don’t care if it’s a normal human or a magical girl, as long as they catch their attention, they can offer a contract.
Triel and I have a long-standing contract because we both love art. Triel is a girl with mud-green hair and black eyes. She has an extra pair of black arms that co out of her back. She usually wears an elegant dress and likes art. Her voice is calm and composed, while she values her artistic pleasure above all else.
And so, we’ve always gotten along very well. Another person I know who has a contract is Mizuki Aihara, the school psychologist that Setsuna and Ayane attend. Mizuki Aihara is a normal human, but she has a contract with Demon No. 4.
And thanks to this, I know that Tetrael, Demon No. 4, is a girl with long black hair and pink eyes with heart-shaped pupils. She has large breasts and a provocative body. With a uninhibited, teasing, sarcastic personality, she likes to test the limits of others.
Mizuki Aihara knows well that she made a deal with a demon, but since they’re both lecherous hags, it makes sense for them to unite.
And lastly, there’s the president of this country, Masaru Arata, who has a contract with Demon No. 1, Monoel. Thanks to Masaru, I’ve already seen this demon. He’s a tall, slender man with black eyes and equally black hair. He wears a sleek black suit while always having a serious expression. He has a slightly androgynous appearance that leans a bit more towards the masculine side.
Seeing Setsuna’s wings imdiately reminds of demons and angels, which reminds that I need to talk to my beloved artist colleague, Triel.
Soon, an image appears from the altar, and I see her, Triel, the demon I made a contract with in the past.
"Hi, Triel. I see you’re still as beautiful as ever," I complint her, seeing her dirty with paint while her two extra arms hold brushes with impressive delicacy.
"Oh, Ophelia, I see you haven’t changed at all. I’m pleased," she says with a small smile as she sees .
"You called for?" she questions.
"I’d like to know, are more demons influencing the Earth?" I ask with doubt.
"...Another contract has arisen in this world, but who made it, with whom it was made, and for what purpose, is sothing I cannot say and have almost no information about," she says, while Lenore faints on the floor.
’Another contract, huh...’ The Septarion has no idea that I have a contract with a demon. He can’t see this place where I am or enter here, as Triel has made so positive changes.
"It seems the gears of the world have started turning again, then?" I say with a smile.
"Apparently so, it’s been 39 years since a new contract surfaced," she says, putting down the brushes while the image approaches . I know she’s not here, but it’s always exciting to see her.
"You sll of blood, paint, and old books. It’s a good scent. Have you made any new interesting paintings?" she asks after comnting on my scent, even without being here.
"Hmm, I’ve been making so new beautiful arts, and I’ve also acquired a good model for paintings, even though the model itself doesn’t know," I say with a gentle smile on my face.
"Excellent. Can we have this conversation when it’s more opportune? I’m busy," she says, and I nod.
"Of course, Triel. We can do that when you’re free. I’m sorry for interrupting your concentration on your painting," I say, moving my wheelchair back.
"I accept your apologies. You can call again in 26 hours, 39 minutes, and 27 seconds. That’s the exact estimated ti for to finish my painting. And bring a beautiful painting as a gift," she says in a more authoritative tone.
"Of course, Triel. Anything you want. Then, I’ll see you soon," I say as the image disappears. She’s still the sa as when I first t her.
"Lenore, it seems she lost a lot of blood to maintain good contact." For Triel to decide to answer my call, Lenore gave almost half of her blood. I decide to bandage Lenore’s hand and wait for her to wake up.
I could have called Triel just by saying her na, but that doesn’t guarantee she’ll co. If I call her by na, she only appears if she wants to. But I can force her appearance by sacrificing things she likes.
And since I was in a hurry, I decided to give Lenore’s blood, the blood of a magical girl who transforms, which serves as a good paint that Triel might like.
"So another contract has arisen. I wonder who the lucky one was who made the contract and who the demon was." Demons usually only make a contract with one person at a ti.
So it’s not Demons No. 1, 3, and 4. Apart from those three, it could be any other demon.
"Well, ti to paint an offering gift for Triel," I say, moving my wheelchair to get bandages for Lenore and art supplies for painting.
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