“I can understand inviting her to be the image ambassador. Clara has popularity and is registered on the Hero Network, so you…”
Kamui raised an eyebrow skeptically, then placed a hand on her chest.
“But I’m just an unknown third-rate hero who hasn’t even registered on the Hero Network. You’re inviting me to be the image ambassador… Can I take it that I’m just riding on her coattails?”
“Unknown?”
Alice shook her head.
“Maybe before, but not from now on.”
Kamui didn’t understand Alice’s words, so Lucia, standing beside her, explained.
“That shot you took with Senior has become a hot topic online, you know? People are saying they’ve never seen a Magical Girl with such a combined skill!”
Alice affirmed:
“Yes, just as this young lady said, you’re famous now. As long as you keep working with Clara, you can become a well-known hero.”
Being able to get this close to a Top-tier Hero made Lucia quite excited.
“Hehe~”
Lucia smiled shyly. But Clara didn’t know about that, and her mouth naturally curled down in displeasure.
“Wait? I’m famous again?!”
“Why is it that every time I embarrass myself, it gets spread all over the internet?!”
Kamui’s Mana Emission was indeed cool. However, Clara, wearing a plushie suit and being held up, looked like a comedian no matter how you looked at it.
It was a good thing to continue the popularity of Magical Girl Clara; maintaining popularity before the comic promotion could boost readership…
But Clara was always the one getting embarrassed, and she felt there was some malicious force messing with her.
“You don’t have to give me an answer right away.”
Alice, who had barely sat down, stood up again and looked at Kamui.
“Taking this position will require registering on the Hero Network, so you can go back and think it over. If you’re willing, that’s best, but if not, I won’t force you.”
Clearly, this was a ticket to A-Class promotion.
Although it sounded like excellent conditions, Kamui indeed needed some time to think.
“One more thing.”
Alice suddenly changed the subject and asked:
“Do you know where the relic is?”
Clara and Kamui both shook their heads. Kamui asked in return:
“Wasn’t it taken by that demon with the flame wings?”
Alice examined their expressions with an uncomfortable gaze, her eyes faintly glimmering as if analyzing something…
“That’s true.”
As if reaching a conclusion, she closed her eyes and nodded.
“Sorry for disturbing your meal. See you another day.”
Coming and leaving in a flash, Alice turned and left the cafeteria.
Kamui frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Clara, Clara, did that person suspect us of hiding the relic?”
Clara simply said:
“Uh, yeah~”
“You’re suspected all the time, and you don’t even get angry?”
“Hmm~”
Clara’s reaction looked quite suspicious. After dinner, the three left the Association Building and boarded the subway back to the Blue Court Area.
Fortunately, since the rush hour was over, they managed to grab two adjacent seats. Sitting three abreast would be tight, but if Lucia held Clara on her lap, they could fit.
Clara initially refused this proposal, of course.
But after hesitating a bit, she didn’t outright refuse in the end.
As an “older brother,” sitting on his sister’s lap was hardly appropriate no matter how you looked at it. But at this point, clinging to his “older brother” identity and resisting too much would not only seem suspicious but also hurt Lucia’s feelings.
It wasn’t the first time, anyway. Clara easily convinced herself.
However, Lucia’s arms were comfortable and reassuring. Soon, Clara, already exhausted, grew drowsy, her eyelids heavy, and she tilted her head and fell asleep, her bangs gently swaying with the movement of the train.
Kamui glanced at Clara and yawned as well.
“Sigh, let him rest.”
“Mm.”
Lucia thought the same. She gently wrapped her arms around Clara, buried her face in Clara’s hair, sniffed the familiar yet unfamiliar scent that was warm like the sun.
“You don’t have a crush on Clara, do you?”
Kamui couldn’t help asking, seeing Lucia’s clinging behavior.
“I do love him.”
Lucia answered quite frankly, without any hesitation.
“To me, Senior is like my most important family.”
“Like family?”
Kamui murmured Lucia’s words.
“When I’m with this girl, I feel that way too.”
“Oh?”
“Like I suddenly gained a daughter out of nowhere.”
To that, Lucia laughed:
“Ha, with the age difference, you’d only be sisters.”
Kamui found a small tentacle in Clara’s hair, pulled it out, and rubbed it between her fingers. But Clara was sleeping deeply and didn’t react.
“Clara invited me to join your company.”
She said.
“I know. The President agreed.”
Lucia replied.
“I see.”
Clara hadn’t said that on a whim; after confirming her own thoughts, she went to discuss it with the President the next day.
Although Kamui hadn’t met the President of Dream Witch, from Clara’s description, she seemed very wealthy.
Maybe her own worries were completely unnecessary?
“I’ve already decided to accept Clara’s invitation.”
Kamui had already made that decision when she was using Clara as a cannon.
“So Kamui-san isn’t a full-time hero? But you’re so strong.”
After witnessing Kamui tear apart those Lizard Men on the street, Lucia began to admire this small Magical Girl.
“But for now, I can only be a part-time temporary worker. I have other work, after all.”
“For a hero, the most important thing isn’t just strength.”
Feeling Lucia’s admiration, Kamui scratched her cheek sheepishly.
“Popularity, recognition, and whether the company backing you is strong—these are the keys to how far a hero can go.”
Kamui had no company and very low popularity. She was somewhat known among a small circle of Magical Girl enthusiasts, but that was it.
“That’s why you need to seize this opportunity.”
Lucia advised:
“The image of you fighting while carrying Senior Clara is already spreading online! Strike while the iron is hot—join Dream Witch, register on the Hero Network, become the image ambassador, and get Alice’s A-Class endorsement…”
“I know.”
How could Kamui not understand what Lucia was saying?
Now was the perfect chance to return as a full-time hero.
But there was the publishing house… Authors like Beast Fox Bell still needed her.