[Clang-clang, the Magical Girl Detective is on the move.]
[Keep doubting.]
[Taking the long way—that’s the shortcut to the truth.]
Leaving the Hero Network Control Center, Nyx, inexplicably excited, spouted weird lines and changed Clara into a “detective outfit” professional suit.
A turned-up deerstalker hat, a long trench coat with a cape, accented with Scottish-style plaid patterns, and an empty pipe clenched between her teeth—the old London vibe was spot on. But on a little girl, it looked like cosplay.
[See, a detective absolutely needs to be in this outfit!]
“You really are bored, Watson.”
Clara muttered that as she followed the bald uncle back into the Interrogation Room. As soon as she entered, she met Kamui’s glare.
“…What kind of getup is that?”
“It’s a magic transformation.”
Clara gave a non-explanation and sat back down next to Kamui, arms crossed.
“Did you find evidence to prove my innocence?”
“I thought I found a clue, but now it looks like it was a trap left by the other side.”
“……So you went out for a spin and just changed clothes?”
Clara looked at the bald uncle from the Administration Bureau and said, “At least it proves the other party has sophisticated technical means, and Kamui doesn’t have that kind of background. I think it basically proves she’s not the one.”
“Probably, but maybe she has an accomplice?”
This uncle was still suspicious; it seemed suspicion was all he could do. Kamui laughed in anger at that and said, “Huh? Finally confessing?”
“Oh, right, right, I have an accomplice!”
The bald uncle immediately looked at her, and she continued, “I already said I was on the phone with her during that time! If you had just asked her, you wouldn’t think I’m the thief.”
“Huh?”
“That Blue Cavalier—call her over!”
Clara could tell that was just her angry outburst, but she hadn’t expected Kamui to still be in contact with Blue Cavalier.
Since Kamui was investigating the case from back then, it made sense for her to contact Blue Cavalier—in fact, it should have been the first option considered. After all, Kamui seemed to need a brain.
Perhaps her phone call with her yesterday was about how to probe into my identity? Hmm, that would be dangerous.
‘I haven’t shown any revealing clues, have I?’
[They’ve basically figured out ten out of ten—how is that not a revealing clue?]
The unhelpful little assistant Nyx always poured cold water at times like this.
[Or maybe Blue Cavalier commissioned Kamui to conduct an investigation.]
That’s not impossible… Maybe it was the contact at the Resort that made her suspect my identity? ‘When did I show a revealing clue?’ ‘Keeping it hidden forever—is it really impossible?’
What a pain. A false identity can’t withstand scrutiny forever, but I have to keep hiding it.
Kamui wanting to summon Blue Cavalier wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Maybe it could solve the case faster—in this situation, she’d be a good ally. Not only could she testify for Kamui, but with that Strategist present, they might find the real thief.
“I’ll go ask.”
The bald uncle left that sentence and left the Interrogation Room alone.
Between the two left behind, the atmosphere turned a bit awkward. Clara couldn’t meet Kamui’s eyes; after all, she had ended up in this situation because Clara carelessly left a button at the scene. That damn button.
“Hey, why do you have my button?” Kamui asked.
“It didn’t disappear. I wanted to find a chance to give it back to you…”
“You weren’t thinking of sewing it back on for me, were you?!”
“It fell off by accident earlier, and somehow it ended up in my hand.”
“Just collecting?”
“Mm!”
“Why collect someone else’s button…” Kamui sighed and said, “Even if it looks like gold, it’s a magical construct. It won’t get you money.”
“It’s not for money.” Clara replied pitifully, “It’s just because it belongs to Miss Kamui, so I wanted to keep it as a souvenir.”
Although she knew the child meant no harm, Kamui was still annoyed. She reached out and pinched Clara’s soft cheeks, kneading them.
As she did, the latter’s little tentacles would pop out from her hair and subconsciously wrap around Kamui’s hand. This little thing was so cute it was hard to let go, but also infuriating.
Kamui let go, and Clara touched her own reddened cheeks.
“The lead is dead. What’s your plan next?”
“I don’t think the Administration Bureau is really sure you’re the criminal. They’re just keeping it as a hypothesis. Other agents are investigating other suspects.”
“Of course I know that. But keeping me locked up here wastes my precious time and doesn’t help solve the case. It’s just causing me trouble.”
“You can’t say that.” Clara said mysteriously, “A case as major as the theft of the ‘god’s relic’—if you can find the real thief, maybe you can cancel the punishment of your demotion, and even have a chance to be promoted to A-Class ahead of schedule.”
Clara was painting a rosy picture for Kamui, but she wasn’t buying it.
Kamui sighed mournfully, “I’m a suspect right now. I can’t even leave the Interrogation Room, and my phone has been confiscated. Do you think I can solve the case? Am I supposed to solve it with my head?”
Even if she were free to move, she didn’t think she had what it takes to be a detective. She was better at solving problems with her fists.
At that moment, agents from the Administration Bureau were still conducting a carpet search inside the building. But no matter where they looked, they couldn’t find the thief, nor could they find the stolen relic.
Although Clara hadn’t seen it, that “god’s relic” was only the size of a water cooler jug. You could carry it in a plastic shopping bag and stuff it anywhere, making it hard to find.
“Once Blue Cavalier comes, I’ll go with her to convince that bald uncle to let you out to work with us? At this point, we can’t have too many hands.”
“That bald—”
“Hmph, since when are Administration Bureau agents so easy to talk to? Look at that bald—”
Just as Kamui said that, the bald uncle pushed the door open and came in. Kamui’s words got stuck halfway. The scene was a bit awkward, until the uncle spoke.
“Something came up—he can’t come today.”
“Can someone refuse a summons from the Administration Bureau?”
“We contacted the Sigma Heroes side. They said—however, he did have a phone call with you at that time yesterday.”
Kamui kicked the table aside and asked, “So can I get out now?”
The suspicious bald uncle continued, “No, there are still some questions. Since he can’t provide call records as evidence either, I’m not sure if he’s committing perjury to cover for you…”
“Will you ever stop?” Kamui practically shouted.
If everything the bald uncle said was true, then Blue Cavalier’s communication records were also deleted by that thief? Can that be done?
[Of course. Physical contact or a remote backdoor—easy for Nyx.]
That’s too strong for a thief, isn’t it? So, does Blue Cavalier’s phone have some kind of trojan backdoor?
Poor kamui