Chapter 64: Connection
The dinner plates were cleared, the leftovers stored in the fridge, and the four of them settled into their usual spots around the living room. Sarah sprawled across one end of the couch, Lisa curled up in the middle, Sein leaning against the armrest with her legs stretched out, and Andrey in his armchair, the inventory ring glinting on his finger.
Sarah stretched, then looked at the others. "So, about those artifacts. The mirror bracelet and the chalice. We already know they’re keys to unlock the seal of that primordial demon, Laplace. But why can’t we use them in a fight?"
Lisa nodded. "The system told us they’re essential for the seal, but they have no combat power."
Sein added, "Yeah, I’ve been wondering that too. They look like they could be useful, but apparently not."
Andrey adjusted his glasses. "It’s simple, really. Artifacts, in general, are not designed for combat. They never were."
Sarah frowned. "So they’re just... not weapons?"
"Exactly," Andrey said. "Think of it this way: a hamr can drive a nail, but you wouldn’t use it to perform surgery. An artifact is the sa. It does one thing well—its intended purpose. Using it as a weapon would be like trying to cut a steak with a spoon. It’s not about being fragile or durable. It’s simply not what it was made for."
Lisa tilted her head. "So even if it looks sturdy, it won’t help us in a fight?"
"Correct. The mirror bracelet and the chalice are excellent at purification and maintaining seals. But if you swung the chalice at a monster’s head, it would be no more effective than any ordinary tal cup. Worse, you’d be putting a critical key to the seal at risk for no benefit."
Sein snorted. "So we’re just glorified babysitters for fancy junk."
Andrey’s lips twitched. "Essentially, yes. But that ’fancy junk’ is the only thing keeping a primordial demon sealed away. So we protect them."
Sarah leaned back, crossing her arms. "Hmm. Well, next ti an artifact shows up, I’m purifying it. You two have had all the fun."
Sein snorted, not bothering to open her eyes. "It doesn’t work like that, brat."
Sarah’s head snapped toward her. "What do you an ’brat’? And why not?"
"It depends on compatibility," Sein said flatly. "Not everyone can just walk up to any artifact and purify it. The dark mana inside resonates with certain people. Lisa was compatible with the mirror. I was compatible with the chalice. You might not be compatible with the next one."
Sarah’s face scrunched in frustration. "But you just did it today! How hard can it be? You two make it look easy."
Andrey interjected, his voice calm but firm. "Sein is right. Compatibility matters. Lisa’s energy was stable and pure, which made her a natural fit for the mirror artifact. Sein’s fire affinity and her history with the corruption made her compatible with the chalice—it was almost like the artifact recognized sothing familiar in her."
Sein’s eyes cracked open, a flicker of sothing vulnerable passing through them before she looked away. "Doesn’t an I’m proud of it."
Sarah’s frustration deflated slightly. "So... I might not get to purify anything?"
"Not necessarily," Andrey said. "The next artifact could be compatible with you. Or with Sein again. Or with Lisa. Or even with , theoretically, but I’m not a Magical Girl, so the system probably wouldn’t allow it. We won’t know until we find one."
Lisa smiled encouragingly at Sarah. "Don’t worry! Your turn will co. And when it does, you’ll get a great new skill too."
Sarah sighed, uncrossing her arms. "Fine. But if the next one is compatible with , I’m calling dibs."
Sein waved a dismissive hand. "Knock yourself out. Less work for ."
Lisa nodded thoughtfully, her fingers absently playing with the end of her twintail. "So we’re collecting these artifacts and purifying them so they can’t be used by demons? That’s the whole point, right?"
Andrey adjusted his glasses, the silver inventory ring catching the lamplight. "Exactly. And from what we’ve seen, there’s more at stake than just random gate breaches. The demon we encountered today was clearly working for soone. He ntioned a ’Sacred Artifact’ and a ’Ritual.’ They’re planning sothing."
Sein, still lounging on the couch, sat up slightly, her green eyes narrowing. "That demon... in all my years as a hero, that was the first ti I’ve actually fought a real demon." Her voice was quiet, almost uneasy. "Usually, gates just spit out mindless creatures. This one is different."
Andrey leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "That’s probably why the system appeared. The demon threat is escalating—they’re starting to infiltrate our world more directly. The system was designed to counter that by creating Magical Girls."
Sarah slumped deeper into the couch, pulling a cushion against her chest. "Ehh... so we’re like, chosen ones or sothing? That makes
uncomfortable. I didn’t sign up for saving the world from demon lords."
Lisa smiled warmly, placing a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. "Isn’t that a good thing? It ans our strength is going to be needed. A lot. We’re not just random C-rank heroes anymore—we’re actually important."
Sarah groaned, burying her face in the cushion. "Important ans more work. More work ans less sleep. I hate it already."
Sein’s green eyes flicked toward Sarah, her expression flat. "If you hate it that much, then don’t be a Magical Girl. No one’s forcing you to stay."
Sarah’s head snapped up, the cushion falling from her grip. "What did you say?! In front of your senior, you talk like that? That’s incredibly disrespectful!"
Sein didn’t even flinch. "I’m just saying it’s better than having a coward in our party. I’m only speaking facts here."
Sarah’s face flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to fire back—
"Oh, right," Andrey interrupted smoothly, his voice cutting through the rising tension like a knife. "We unlocked a new mode earlier. Synchronized Heart Mode. It multiplies our power several tis over, but it consus our Affection Points."
The shift was imdiate. Lisa’s eyes went wide, her argunt forgotten. "Affection Points... the ones we’ve been earning all this ti? I never thought they’d actually be used as energy for a mode."
Sarah’s mouth snapped shut, her fury replaced by confusion. "Wait, what? We’re spending our relationship points to get stronger?"
Andrey nodded, adjusting his glasses. "The system explained that the bonds we build aren’t just emotional—they’re a source of tangible power. The stronger our connection, the more effective the mode will be. It’s... unconventional, but it works."
Lisa tilted her head, her cheeks faintly pink. "So when we... when we do those rewards together... it’s not just for the system’s entertainnt? It’s actually helping us get stronger?"
"Apparently," Andrey said. "I’m not thrilled about the thod, but the results are undeniable. We’ve grown significantly faster than any normal C-rank team."
Sarah crossed her arms, her earlier anger slowly deflating. "So you’re saying we have to keep doing those embarrassing rewards if we want to keep up?"
Andrey t her gaze steadily. "I’m saying we need to be honest with ourselves about what this team is becoming. We’re not just colleagues anymore. We’re... sothing else. And that sothing else gives us power."
The room fell silent. Sein looked away first, her jaw tight. Lisa stared at her hands in her lap, her twintails hiding her expression. Sarah bit her lip, her arms still crossed but her posture less rigid.
Finally, Sarah let out a long breath. "Fine. Whatever. If it ans we don’t die in the next gate, I’ll put up with it."
Sein snorted softly. "How noble of you."
"Shut up, brat."
Andrey felt the vibration in his pocket and glanced at the screen. Markus. He stood up from the armchair, excusing himself with a small nod.
"Work call," he murmured, though everyone knew he didn’t have a job anymore.
Andrey walked into the kitchen, putting a few feet of distance between himself and the living room. He swiped the screen.
"Markus. Good to hear from you."
"Andrey, my boy. How are you holding up?" Markus’s voice was warm, though there was a faint rasp underneath—the remnants of his injuries, perhaps.
"I’m fine. More importantly, how are you? I thought you were still in the hospital."
Markus chuckled, but it turned into a brief cough. "Bah, hospitals are for people who can’t fight. I got out two days ago. They patched
up good as new. Well, almost new. The left shoulder still twinges when it rains."
"You should have told . I would have visited again."
"No need, no need. You’ve got your hands full with that team of yours. Speaking of which—" Markus’s voice shifted, becoming more serious. "There’s an event tomorrow night. The Horizon Guild is hosting a social gathering. A lot of high-rank heroes will be there. I think you should co."
Andrey’s brow furrowed. He glanced toward the living room, where the sounds of the movie and Sarah’s occasional complaints drifted in. "A social event? Markus, I appreciate the thought, but that sounds like a waste of ti. We’re not exactly the networking type."
"Listen to , man." Markus’s voice hardened slightly, the tone of a veteran who had seen too many young heroes make the sa mistake. "In this line of work, who you know can save your life. You’ve got talent. You’ve got guts. But talent and guts don’t an anything if you’re fighting alone when the big one hits. Connections—allies who owe you favors, who know your face and your na—those matter."
Andrey was silent for a mont, his thumb absently rubbing the inventory ring on his finger.
’I hate to admit it, but he’s right. Back at Apex Logistics, the people who got promoted weren’t always the hardest workers. They were the ones who schmoozed with the right managers, who went to the happy hours and the company retreats. If I’m going to lead this team, I need to think beyond just fighting.’
He let out a quiet breath. "Fine. What ti?"
"Tomorrow, seven PM. The Horizon Guild Hall, downtown. I’ll et you at the entrance." Markus’s voice ward again. "Wear sothing decent. And tell your girls to dress up. First impressions matter."
"They’re not my—" Andrey started, then stopped. "Never mind. We’ll be there."
"Good man. See you tomorrow."
The line went dead.
Andrey lowered the phone, staring at the dark screen for a mont. Sothing about the call niggled at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t place it. He shook his head and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
anwhile....
On the other end of the call, Markus let the phone slip from his fingers.
It clattered against the concrete floor, the screen still glowing with the call log. Andrey’s na sat at the top, the tistamp fresh.
Markus didn’t pick it up.
He couldn’t.
His hand was shaking, trembling violently as dark, thread-like veins crawled up his wrist and disappeared beneath his sleeve. His mouth hung open, and blood dripped from his lips, pooling on the floor beside the phone. His eyes, once sharp and weathered, were now glassy, unfocused, the pupils contracted to pinpricks.
Behind him, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
She was beautiful in the way a spider’s web was beautiful—delicate, intricate, and deadly. Pink hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes glead with satisfaction. Small black horns curved from her temples, and a heart-tipped tail swayed lazily behind her.
She walked past Markus’s slumped form, her high heels clicking on the floor, and bent down to pick up the phone. She studied the screen, her smile widening.
"Huhu... prey has been lured into the trap."
She wiped the blood off the screen with a delicate finger, then set the phone on a nearby table. Turning back to Markus, she cupped his chin with one hand, tilting his face up to et her gaze. His eyes were empty now—completely vacant, like a doll’s.
"You did well, my puppet," she murmured, stroking his cheek. "Now rest. Tomorrow night, the real show begins."
Markus’s body remained motionless, his chest rising and falling in a slow, chanical rhythm.
Gea released him and walked toward the window, staring out at the city lights. Her tail curled and uncurled behind her, the heart-shaped tip twitching with anticipation.
"See you soon, heroes," she whispered to the night. "I hope you’re ready to play."
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