“Hmm? What’s this button from?”
On the way to the Association, Clara, transformed into a Magic Girl, fished out an ornate golden button from her pocket. It sparkled under the light, with intricate patterns blooming across its surface.
Even though it wasn’t from her own clothes, she felt like she had seen it somewhere before…
[That’s Kamui’s button.]
In the end, Nyx, with her exceptional memory, provided the answer.
[The button you pulled off when you were tugging at her mask in the air earlier.]
Walking into the subway car amidst the muttering of passersby, Clara toyed with the button in her hands.
As a fairly well-known new Magic Girl, it would be strange if she didn’t draw attention while appearing on the morning rush hour subway…
However, no one was foolish enough to come up and ask for autographs or anything.
Clara, wearing her gas mask, seemed to exude an aura that kept people at a distance.
“Will it disappear?” she asked. “Doesn’t a Magic Girl’s outfit turn back into magic when the transformation is reversed?”
[Normally, yes.]
[But you and Kamui are truly of the same origin, or rather, that includes her button.]
[She is your prototype, so you unconsciously supply her with magic power.]
‘So I’m Kamui’s power bank?’
Clara thought for a moment, then tucked the golden button back into her pocket.
She silently asked again, “Miss Kamui is an Independent Hero, right?”
[Yes, currently. But according to information found online… she used to be directly affiliated with the Magical Girl Society, and was a core member of that organization. However, she withdrew from the Society for some reason, and then became an Independent Hero.]
The Magical Girl Society again.
It was a guild-like organization made up of Magic Girls. As the name suggests, all members of this organization are Magic Girls.
Its purpose is to maintain the overall image of Magic Girls and fight for their social status and benefits.
Normally, the organization would actively contact any newly emerged Magic Girl and try to recruit them into the Society. But Clara had been a Magic Girl for so long, yet they had never come to see her even once.
‘Could it be that they saw through her as a fake?’
[Actually, there have been interview reports about this.]
[The magic crystal Nyx prepared for you is black.]
[In the tradition of Magic Girls, there has never been a black crystal. It is considered the color of a Witch’s filth.]
[Therefore, in an interview, the Magical Girl Society claimed that you are not a real Magic Girl, and might even be a Witch from the Dark Domain.]
“Huh? I’m a Witch? Seriously?!”
Of course, Clara was not a Witch. She had even directly fought a Witch.
But Clara’s magic crystal was mistaken for the core of a Witch by the Magical Girl Society.
Tch, isn’t that just slandering her for no reason?
Fortunately, Clara was currently very popular, so the Magical Girl Society’s defamation didn’t attract much attention. Instead, they were seen as clowns trying to get attention.
[We’ve arrived.]
“Oh, oh!”
Clara, who almost missed her stop, hurriedly squeezed off the subway.
***
After exiting the station, looking up, she could see the Hero Association building located in the northwest corner of the city.
The building itself looked unremarkable, not even taller than the surrounding structures. It appeared very ordinary.
However, this was the hardest hero stronghold to breach in the entire city.
It was permanently defended by over a dozen Top-tier Heroes, including Alice the Mechanical Angel.
That said, the Supreme Leader of Naitemel, known as the “True Dream Demon,” also became famous overnight by defeating over a dozen Top-tier Heroes in a single night…
So there are gaps even among Top-tier Heroes.
“Ugh, so nervous.”
After all, Clara’s former identity was a Mutant, and a bottom-tier Lower-class Monster at that.
Even though she was now a Magic Girl, standing before the gates of the Hero Association, a core institution of the side of justice, her heart still unconsciously pounded. This was the survival instinct of small fry.
To steal the “God’s Relic” in this place?
Impossible. No matter how I think about it, it’s impossible, right?
If a dozen Top-tier Heroes chase me, do I really have the ability to escape?
“Yo, Clara~”
Clara’s back was struck hard.
“Ugh—”
Turning around, Kamui stood behind her with hands on her hips. Clara hadn’t noticed her approach at all. So stealthy…
If the Magical Girl Society doesn’t take her, maybe she should check out the Assassin Brotherhood.
Like Clara, Kamui was also wearing a gold and red dress-style combat outfit, with a ruby bow at the collar.
Though petite, she carried a formidable Spiked Mace in her right hand.
Clara noticed the collar of the dress. A new golden button had already regenerated there.
“Um, why did you take out your weapon?”
“The Hero Association prohibits ordinary people who aren’t staff from entering. Whether it’s a dress or a Magic Bracelet, they could all be cosplay. So what can you use to prove you’re a Magic Girl?”
Kamui waved her golden Spiked Mace with one hand.
“For me, this magic wand is proof of identity. Ordinary people can’t swing it, right?”
‘Ha, you call that thing a magic wand?!’
Clara really wanted to retort, but ultimately held back and didn’t dare say it out loud.
As she spoke, Kamui pointed her thumb at the Association gate.
“Alright! Let’s go in!”
Kamui put her hand on Clara’s shoulder, trying to close the distance between them.
“Kamui… miss?”
Clara awkwardly scratched her cheek, trying to adjust to Kamui’s friendliness.
“Don’t be so formal. Just call me Kamui.”
Kamui reached out her hand and dragged Clara through the security gate of the Association.
Entering the lobby, Clara was stunned by the scene before her.
The lobby’s decoration formed a stark contrast to the plain exterior. The bright finish was dignified, and golden light streamed down from the dome, adding a sacred and grand atmosphere to the hall.
“Come, this way.”
Kamui still held Clara’s small hand and, following the lobby signs, led her toward the Hero Network registration counter.
Although she herself didn’t plan to register, she was still more familiar with the process than Clara. It felt similar to registering at a hospital.
After registering, Clara needed to undergo an interview and physical examination by the Association, register her personal real information, and finally officially register as an Association-recognized hero.
The entire process was exceptionally rigorous, but understandable.
These were all necessary measures to prevent criminal organizations from sending in spies, right?
However, Clara’s true identity was exactly the kind of spy that needed to be kept out…
Whether she could get away with it became the key to this mission.
“I told you I’m not registering myself! The people at this Association are so annoying! Just like gym salesmen!”
Kamui complained, holding the process sheet. She felt like a parent taking a child to see a doctor.
But in the eyes of the Association staff, they were at most a pair of cute sisters.
“Alright, let’s go to the medical department on the third floor for the physical exam.”
“Oh, oh!”
Clara responded with a guilty conscience.
After all, she was a popular hero who had recently become a topic of conversation.
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