The Bald Uncle pushed his glasses, which were thicker than the bottom of a beer bottle, and asked:
“You didn’t sneak a peek at what’s inside, did you?!”
“We never opened it,” Clara replied.
“That’s good. At least we won’t have to perform a memory wipe.”
The uncle nodded, this time without further suspicion. He carried the heavy white cloth package and walked out of the still-disheveled Association building with Clara and Kamui.
Shadow soldiers dissipated after death, but the traces of destruction they caused still awaited repair.
The Bald Uncle from the Administration Bureau then said, “We’ll now escort the relic back to the Bureau for containment. We won’t see you off.”
The Association’s escort convoy was already waiting at the entrance.
“I’m really sorry about today.”
Standing next to the sturdy-looking escort vehicle, the Bald Uncle said apologetically as he packed the white cloth package into a square carrying container:
“Next time you use the Abyss, I’ll set up a green channel for you, and I can even give you a discount on the fee. I still have that authority.”
“Who wants that? Besides, are you wishing for our deaths?! A discount coupon like a cemetery voucher isn’t something to be happy about!”
Kamui retorted discontentedly.
“Then see you another time.”
“It’d be best if we never meet again. If I see you, I’ll probably end up in jail again!”
Kamui vented her emotions, while Clara just politely said, “Goodbye.”
Only then did the uncle, carrying the suitcase with the relic, turn around, bend down, and get into the floating escort vehicle. The vehicle, shielded by several armored cars, drove away from the Association’s main entrance.
“Come to think of it, we don’t even know his name,” Clara muttered at that point.
“Hmph, his name isn’t important anyway.”
Having retrieved her phone, Kamui frowned as she looked at dozens of missed calls and text messages.
She sighed and casually rubbed Clara’s incredibly soft cheeks.
“I have urgent business, so I’ll be off now.”
“Huh? Oh… How about we grab a meal together to celebrate first?”
Clara suggested, but the latter still shook her head.
“No, I actually had appointments today, but all those Administration Bureau bastards ruined them… Come to think of it, this is all your fault, you little girl.”
Remembering the button incident, Kamui’s rubbing turned into pulling, pinching, and kneading.
Clara’s face instantly resembled that cat Tom, constantly squeezed into various shapes, and she apologized in a distorted voice.
“Sorwy…”
“Hehe, anyway, I’ve already received your apology kiss.”
Kamui left this teasing remark and turned to leave.
But just as she was about to take off, her ears caught a piercing screech.
Whoosh—
“Huh?”
Clara also looked up at the sky, catching a glimpse of a high-speed black afterimage in the corner of her eye, like a missile streaking across the sky. It flew over the building and accurately slammed into the Administration Bureau convoy that had just driven away not far off.
Boom—
Boom—
Explosions, black flames, shockwaves, shattered building glass, destroyed shops, and…
The screams of pedestrians.
The busy intersection that had been calm just moments ago was now a living hell.
The disaster centered on that demon affected many passing civilians.
That sturdy escort vehicle was now burning in flames, its rear door torn open by a monstrous force comparable to a hydraulic press.
“Looks like you can’t leave just yet.”
Clara said as she put on her gas mask.
The culprit behind this tragedy stood in the center of the explosion, and from a distance, that pitch-black humanoid could still be seen.
Androgynous, with a pair of burning flame wings.
Stylistically, it was clearly a more fantastical faction; it looked like a demon from hell.
“This time it shouldn’t be someone from the Fourth Calamity or World Tree Technology.”
But timing the convoy’s departure, it was obvious the opponent was also after that relic.
“That uncle… looks like he went straight through the green channel back to the organization.”
Kamui said this, and Clara glanced at her.
“So, what exactly is this relic? So many organizations and strong people are fighting over it.”
“Please don’t make such hell jokes.”
Clara asked:
“They look strong. Do we still have to go?”
“Times like this call for going all in. If you waste time thinking about unnecessary questions, you’re no hero!”
Kamui summoned her staff—the Wolf Fang golden staff.
The tiny loli shouldered the huge staff, slightly bent her knees to gather strength, then used explosive jumping power to charge toward the explosion site that had just occurred not long ago.
“Hey, at least let’s discuss tactics?!”
As soon as Clara finished speaking, she saw Kamui, whose combat suit was already tattered, get knocked flying back from the explosion center by a single blow from the mysterious enemy.
Even the Wolf Fang staff in her hand was knocked away.
She landed with flames still on her. Clara had no choice but to use the Inkstained Staff to shoot a blob of ink, extinguishing the evil flames.
Then she wiped her mouth, crouched beside Kamui, who was black from head to toe, and poked her with a small twig.
“Still alive?”
But no response.
“You’re dead just like that? You got defeated faster than a combatant!!”
“Looks like Kamui’s green channel came in handy. I’m heading back, okay? I’ll contact you when you revive. Leave this to the Top-tier Heroes.”
“Wah?!”
Her wrist was grabbed.
“I’m not dead yet! Don’t give up on me so fast!”
On her pitch-black face, only the whites of her eyes were visible.
Clara was taken aback, remembering the “idea” Kamui had mentioned on the way to the underground computer room—the little wish that Magical Girl Kamui wanted to fulfill, built on Clara’s sacrifice.
“Clara, use that move.”
“…Are you serious? Right now, in public?”
Clara’s expression immediately turned awkward.
“Trust me, that move will definitely be powerful!”
“It’s not about whether it’s powerful or not!”
Clara was very resistant.
“As they say, first come, first served. We’re the first group of heroes to arrive on the scene. If we can take down that Fire Demon, it’s not impossible for us to be promoted directly to A-Class Heroes!”
Kamui’s eyes showed fanaticism, but Clara had no interest in this.
Striving for advancement is a good thing, but one shouldn’t do something like a moth flying into a flame, right?
“Do you have that little confidence in yourself… no, in my power?”
Kamui asked.
Clara’s power as a Magical Girl was copied from her.
“Actually, I’m a bit stronger than you think. So, if it’s you, who can perform Mana Emission…”
If Kamui weren’t lying on the ground, speaking to her half-dead, maybe Clara would try to believe.
“No.”
Clara refused flatly; she had reasons not to take the risk.
She also pressed Kamui’s shoulders down, making her lie flat on the ground.
“You should rest too. You barely got your life back, no need to throw it away so quickly. That kind of opponent is not something we can handle.”
Kamui said:
“People who don’t go because they’re afraid of losing can’t be called heroes!”
If she could become an A-Class Hero, then perhaps she could achieve true financial freedom.
She didn’t want to give up this opportunity to earn merit.
In comparison, the cost of failure was merely death.
The Fire Demon retrieved the relic suitcase from the escort vehicle.
It was about to leave.
“I’m willing to join the dream witch!”
Seeing that time was running out, Kamui grabbed Clara’s shoulders and tried to sit up.
“As long as I become A-Class… no… as long as you’re willing to cooperate with me this time…”
“That’s not the issue.”
Seeing Clara still hesitating, Kamui added another sentence.
“I’ll convince Nangong to become the Publicity Minister. That’s fine, right?”
“Fine, I’ll listen to you.”
Clara finally gave in.
“Yeah, you’re right to listen to me!”