Chapter 258: Lunch Discussion

‘Even though it’s a semi-official organization, are they really that well-funded?’

‘The food is really good. Every day at noon, the Association’s employees can eat a buffet… Well, not exactly a buffet, but employees have free lunch and can order anything, so it’s basically the same.’

This made Clara’s eyes go wide.

Sitting across from her, Kamui rolled her eyes and replied,

“Top-tier Heroes of the Association don’t take a salary. In fact, they use their own money to subsidize the Association, so what you’re thinking is impossible… This is an organization of heroes, after all. Can’t you keep that little head of yours from being so cynical?”

Clara grumbled to herself.

‘I was originally a mutant anyway, so what’s wrong with being a little cynical?’

“I’m going to join the Association someday! To serve a hero like you, Miss Kamui!”

“I think you just want to freeload every day.”

Despite her harsh words, a smile hung on Kamui’s lips, one she herself hadn’t noticed. Perhaps, without realizing it, she had already come to see Clara as a friend she could joke with.

Having set down her chopsticks before Clara, Kamui pulled a toothpick from the holder. While picking her teeth, she said,

“Aren’t you ready to tell me all about the origin of that Drive Unit?”

“Cough, cough, cough—”

Kamui bringing this up again caused Clara to inhale rice into her nose, immediately making her eyes water in discomfort.

“Do… do I have to?”

Clara’s question brought a smug smile to Kamui’s face.

“Hmph, so you didn’t deny ‘Drive Unit’?”

“Ah, well… I mean… Magic Gem…”

Still choking on the rice, Clara failed to notice the trap in Kamui’s words. By the time she realized, she had already stepped right into it.

“You really aren’t a proper Magic Girl. A black Magic Gem is amateurish even as a forgery.”

Clara couldn’t speak.

“Who exactly is that ‘important person’ who gave you the Drive Unit? What is your relationship? As a direct victim of that incident, I think I have the right to know the answer.”

‘As expected, Kamui already knows most of it. The only thing she doesn’t know is that “Clara” is “Squill.” She thinks the impostor disguised by Mossima is the real Squill, so she suspects a connection between Clara and Squill.’

‘I absolutely must not let Kamui discover this!’

‘The only reason she hasn’t reported to the Association yet is that she sees Clara as a “poor little girl” who needs a hero’s identity to change her fate as a born mutant. If this identity is exposed, it would be like pushing a child off a cliff…’

‘Perhaps out of a hero’s pride, Kamui can’t bring herself to do that.’

‘Therefore, this final misunderstanding is Clara’s last line of defense. She must hold it tight…’

‘If it really comes to that, she’ll have to ask Minister Mossima to continue playing along.’

“It’s not convenient here.”

Clara put down her chopsticks and said quietly,

“If you don’t mind, could I go to your place after the meal to talk in detail? And if I can wait for Miss Nangong to get off work, I’d like to discuss the comic website launch with her too…”

The comic website was already done by Nyx. Clara just wanted to get Nangong Xiwang’s opinion before going live. But according to the prophecy Alice gave, Miss Nangong would refuse to host her in the afternoon…

“No.”

“Huh? No?”

“Not today. We have something else to do today.”

Kamui said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

“But I can keep you company in the afternoon. Still, you have to leave before she gets off work…”

‘Shocking! The hero network’s prophecy turned out to be true! But according to the prophecy, the rejection was supposed to come from Miss Nangong, not from Kamui. Does that mean even Kamui’s side is blocked?’

Though rejected, Clara wasn’t ready to give up.

As if trying to salvage something, she even forgot about the delicious meal and asked hesitantly, “Excuse me, do you and Miss Nangong have any special plans tonight?”

‘After thinking it over, that’s the only explanation. Kamui must have made plans with Miss Nangong first, so she has to exclude me.’

“That’s right.”

“Um, can I know what it is?”

“Uh, it’s something private, so I can’t tell you.”

It was something between herself and herself—how could it not be private? As for what reason to use to reject Clara, Kamui herself hadn’t decided yet.

But to Clara’s ears, that explanation sounded a bit ambiguous.

“Is this Miss Nangong’s intention?”

“Mm-hmm, we had plans in advance. Don’t ask too many questions.”

‘She really didn’t make an appointment, so being rejected was to be expected.’

“Can’t you spare just a little time for me?”

Kamui just shrugged, shaking her head with a toothpick in her mouth.

“Personally, I don’t think so, but you could text her and ask.”

Hearing that, Clara reached for her phone.

“Huh?”

Something had fallen out of her pocket. The button from Kamui’s outfit that should have been there was gone, she didn’t know where it had fallen.

[Perhaps in the control center of the hero network, or perhaps in the storage room.]

[But no matter where it fell, without magic to sustain it, it would soon dissipate.]

‘I wanted to keep it as a nice souvenir. Losing it like this is a bit regrettable…’

[You could just take another button from her combat suit.]

Better not to make that kind of joke.

Clara composed a message.

[Miss Nangong, can I come to your place tonight to discuss the comic launch?]

She sent it and waited.

But no reply for a while.

“M-Miss Nangong seems busy.”

Clara looked up awkwardly, offering an unnecessary explanation.

Without realizing it, her address had changed from “Miss Nangong” to “Sensei Nangong.”

Having lost her sense of security, Clara put herself in a low position.

Seeing Clara’s posture become increasingly humble, Kamui instead felt a bit sorry…

‘How did it end up looking like I’m bullying her?’

She scratched her head and helped explain:

“She has a habit of taking naps. She might be napping right now and didn’t hear your message. She’ll probably contact you when she sees it later. Don’t worry.”

Relieved by the comfort, Clara sighed.

“Oh, I see.”

“Hurry up and eat. After we finish, I’ll take you somewhere first.”

Clara nodded and shoveled two mouthfuls of rice.

“May I ask, where are you taking me?”

Clara asked while chewing.

“The sewer.”

“Pfft—!”