Published at 17th of August 2019 9:09 am

Volume 18, Chapter 1: The Girls' Evening

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

Wednesday, September 8

With the school restarting, all club activities began preparing for the culture festival. That included the knitting society that Koutarou was part of. Together with the other two members, Harumi and Yurika, they were currently gathered in the club room, discussing what to put out for display. They could have done it in room 106 as well, but this was a matter of feeling.

“I will put out this muffler as it is”

“Well, you just started so that sounds about right”

The knitting society would be displaying the knittings they've created at the club. Having started just a short while ago, Yurika had been working on her basics and did the same thing Koutarou did last year, which was simply knitting. Yurika would adjust her work a little and display it as a muffler.

“What will you do, Sakuraba-senpai?”

“...Which should I pick?”

This was Harumi's third year. She had already completed standard things such as sweaters and gloves to more complex things such as stuffed animals and a handbag. So picking one to display was a vexing problem.

“Why not just display all of them?”

However, it wasn't as vexing of a problem to Koutarou. He believed that since she had made so many, she should just show them all off.

“But... then it will just be an exhibition of my stuff...”

Harumi furrowed her brows. Her worries was about the numbers of items on display. Yurika only had her muffler and Koutarou only had a couple of works of his own. So if she displayed all of her own work, it would be a one-man show. Being serious and modest, Harumi felt like that was going too far.

“It's fine that way. You'll have to retire from the society soon anyways, so why not show off?”

“Yeah, he's right. It would be a boring exhibit with only a few things, so we should fill it up with Sakuraba-senpai's work or we won't get any display space for next year's culture festival”

Koutarou and Yurika backed up Harumi's display for different reasons. After thinking for a while, Harumi nodded with a bit of reservation left within her.

“Okay, then I'll display a couple...”

Harumi was attached to several of her works. Through her experience with the plays, she also knew the joys of having others recognize her work. Being a show off wasn't good, but not showing anything wasn't good either.

“Alright, then this year is Sakuraba-senpai's one-man show!”

“Satomi-san and I will put our exhibits in the corner!”

Koutarou and Yurika decided that the focus of the exhibit should be Harumi's work. That would improve the image of the exhibition and they could have hope that it would lure new members to them for next year.

“W-Wait a minute, you two!”

Harumi had matured and was able to express herself, but when they were being this obvious even Harumi instinctively blushed.

Part 2

Having decided roughly on how to proceed, the three headed back to room 106. From there, Harumi was going to travel through Clan's Hazy Moon to her own room. Using teleportation was faster than taking a bus and she could also talk to her friends on her way home. There was nothing but good things.

“For the time being. I will prepare stands and panels, so can I leave the decorations to you two?”

Koutarou wrote the rough arrangement of their exhibition on a piece of scrap paper and proposed that Yurika and Harumi took care of the decorations. He believed the girls' delicate senses would be of more use than his when it came to decorating, and he could focus on the physical labor.

“I understand”

“I will try... “

Harumi's firm nod felt reliable, but Yurika seemed less so as she slurped down her instant noodles. However, Yurika wasn't someone who would intentionally break her promises so Koutarou didn't think much of it.

“But I'm sorry for making you do all the physical labor, Satomi-kun...”

The exhibition stands and panels were heavy and Harumi felt bad for sort of pushing all of the heavy labor onto Koutarou. However, Koutarou responded by shaking his head as he thought nothing of it.

“It's fine. The right person for the right job, you know”

Koutarou was aware that his sense of beauty was lacking. In comparison, he was confident in his physical strength.

“That's right, Sakuraba-senpai. If we didn't do it this way, Satomi-san and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on... slurp slurp slurp...”

“Eat or speak, pick one”

“...Slurp, slurp, slurp...”

“Your right job is eating ramen, huh...”

“Fufu”

Koutarou and the others enclosed the tea table and continued discussing. After some time had passed and details were determined, the other girls who had kept quiet to not get in the way began speaking.

“By the way, Theia-chan, what will the drama club be doing?”

The first one to open her mouth was the chattering enthusiast Shizuka. Her interest was directed towards Theia and the drama club. With Koutarou and the others discussing about the cultural festival, she recalled the drama club. Theia who received the question paused her game and turned to Shizuka.

“Since the reception of last year's play was so good, they're supposedly going to do 'The Silver Princess and the Blue Knight' again”

“So you'll be getting busy then?”

Maki, sitting next to Shizuka joined in. While she could care freely play games now, once the preparations for the play began she wouldn't be able to play around like that”

“No, I won't be getting involved this time”

However, Theia shook her head and her beautiful golden hair shook left and right.

“Is that so?”

Maki's eyes opened wide from Theia's unexpected answer. The others who heard her reacted the same way and were all thoroughly surprised.

“Indeed. The other day, the president passed the flame on to the next generation, and while they were at it they decided to replace all of the staff and cast and start from scratch. And so I won't be intervening. At most I'll answer questions”

“Ah, I heard about that”

Listening to Theia, Koutarou stopped his own work and interrupted.

“Supposedly Mackenzie will be playing the Blue Knight. It feels kinda strange...”

Koutarou flashed a wry smile. Last year, Koutarou had ended up stealing that role from Kenji, but with the hero and heroine being replaced, Kenji returned to the Blue Knight role. Since Kenji looked better than Koutarou do, he believed that he would be able to perform the Blue Knight better than him.

“I'm sorry to hear about that, Theia-dono”

Kiriha smiled slightly as she poured tea into her own cup. She knew that Theia was very invested in the Blue Knight and figured that Theia would feel a bit sad. That's because Theia's Blue Knight was Koutarou, and Koutarou alone.

“Certainly, it's not like those feelings aren't present... techniques are succeeded, having each generation do things their own way is a forward and brave way of thinking. It's the correct decision and it will lead to the club becoming more active”

However, Theia wasn't as disappointed as Kiriha had imagined. She believed it was good for multiple interpretations of a scenario to exist. In the past she hadn't felt that way, but the current her had begun to believe in that. The reason for that was because the boy named Koutarou had been given an interpretation of that of the Blue Knight by the Blue Knight's legend.

There was also another reason for Theia's line of thinking. She smiled wryly as she spoke it.

“Besides... since Koutarou is acting out his own legend, there's no need for a play. Knowing the truth, there's no need for me to interfere”

Koutarou was the Blue Knight himself. At least that was how Theia perceived it, even though Koutarou didn't recognize it himself. Having Koutarou act as the Blue Knight was the only correct interpretation. But that wasn't art, but something more like a documentary. It was nothing but a reproduction showing what the Blue Knight was like.

Last year it was still possible to call it art, but the current Koutarou and the others couldn't be called art anymore. That was the reason why Theia didn't mind the generational change.

“That may be what Her Highness is saying, but her true feelings are that she doesn't want to show Master to the public”

“H-Hey! Ruth!”

But when Ruth exposed what Theia wanted to keep hidden, Theia completely changed as she blushed and panicked. However, that just served to prove that what Ruth was saying was the truth.

“I'm only doing this for the sake of art! I definitely wasn't thinking of monopolizing Koutarou's true appearance for ourselves!”

“Theia-dono, Ruth didn't say that much”

“Uh...”

As Kiriha pointed that out Theia stumbled for words. Seeing that, Kiriha smiled happily. However, that wasn't because she was making fun of Theia, but because she sympathized with her.

“But... I agree in wanting to monopolize him. If we were to do take part in the Blue Knight play then we would need to openly expose what is precious to us”

“...W-Well, something like that”

Theia had been shaken up, but with Kiriha showing some understanding, she was able to recover a little. While she was embarrassed, she didn't mind her friends knowing her real intentions. Many girls should be feeling the same thing after all.

“That's right, knights! I forgot!”

That was when Sanae who was clinging onto Koutarou's back quickly got off. She then moved around Koutarou to face him.

“What now, all of a sudden?”

“Employ me, you bastard!”

Sanae leaned forward and vigorously complained to Koutarou. But since she had omitted subject and description, Koutarou simply looked at her in confusion.

“What are you talking about? Explain it to me properly”

“You promised me before! Once the mess around Kiriha was cleaned up, you would let me into your band of knights!”

“Ah! Now that you mention it”

With Sanae's explanation Koutarou finally remembered. Sanae wanted to joined the Satomi band of knights, but her admission had been put off until later in order to not stimulate the radical faction. This was because the radical faction might sense danger if the powers targeting room 106 began to unify.

However, the radical faction was disbanded after the incident a while back. There was no longer anyone left that would sense danger if the residents of room 106 joined the band of knights. Now that the summer vacation was over and room 106 was back to normal operation, Sanae finally remembered.

“So there you have it, hurry up and employ me you bastard! As the housework help!”

“Is that the kind of attitude you have when asking someone for something!?”

“Employ me you bastard! As the secretary!”

“Y-You too, senpai!?”

Harumi who was next to Sanae jumped into the discussion as well. She mimicked Sanae's tone and demanded the same thing. Seeing her act like that, Koutarou remembered that he had made a similar promise to her as well.

Well, things have taken a strange turn... but now that they mention it, there are no problems...

After thinking for a moment, Koutarou began feeling like fulfilling Sanae's and Harumi's request. He did promised them, and the problems with the underground people was solved. There should no longer be anyone objecting to the two joining.

“W-Wait! Sanae, Harumi! I ask that you wait with joining for a while!”

However, there was someone in room 106 who objected to the two joining the Satomi band of knights. It was none other than the princess who the band of knights were supposed to protect, princess Theiamillis.

“Your Highness, why are you in such a hurry? Is there a problem?”

Ruth who was next to Theia looked at her with confusion. She couldn't imagine there being any problems with Sanae and Harumi joining.

“There's a major problem! At this rate my band of knights will temporarily become a non-combatant band of knights! I don't want that!”

Theia had a problem with the official positions within the band of knights. Currently, the Satomi band of knights had three people. The knight leader Koutarou, the vice-captain Ruth, and the treasurer Maki. Out of these three, two were knights with only Maki being the only non-combatant. With the ratio being 2:1 at the present, they could uphold the appearance of being a battle group. But if Sanae and Harumi were to join as housework help and secretary, the ratio would reverse with a 2:3 ratio. If the ratio shifted towards the non-combatants, the band of knights would in effect become more non-combat directed.

“You're surprisingly picky about details you know”

“Koutarou! You're too indifferent yourself!”

To Theia, who held an ideal, regardless of the fact that the ideal was just for show, the band of knights should be a combat group. She didn't want to leave any records of it ever having been non-combat directed. Even more so with it being Koutarou's band of knights.

“I understand the circumstances, but... what are you going to do, Your Highness?”

Ruth smiled as she figured what was on Theia's mind and pushed the stagnating discussion forward. Normally, the knight leader, Koutarou, was in charge of personnel. Theia couldn't go on refusing Sanae and Harumi from joining out of personal emotions. A countermeasure had to be found right away.

“We'll increase our combatants by two first! If we do that the band of knights will never have been non-combat directed!”

By adding an additional two combatants and having Sanae and Harumi join after that, the ratio would be 4:3, and they could keep up their appearances as a combat group. They would be able to protect Theia's ideal of the Satomi band of knights being an organization for combat and nothing else.

“That's surprisingly makeshift for you, Theiamillis-san”

Clan smiled wryly as she read a book as she lied down on the ceiling after manipulating gravity. The operation Theia was about to do was something the past Clan would do. It didn't suit the optimistic Theia.

“Say whatever you like! This is a problem with the band of knights' identity!”

“Well, it's not like I don't understand how you feel”

Clan shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little. Truth be told, since Koutarou wasn't someone who fighting suited, the band of knights would inevitably become peaceful. That said, regardless of the truth, it was the ideal of any person from Forthorthe to keep the Blue Knight's band of knights as a combat group. Clan also understood that.

“So, please, Shizuka! Kiriha! Join my band of knights as a martial artist and general!”

“Eh? Me?”

Shizuka who was happily listening in on the discussion opened her eyes wide. She had joked about joining before but she had never anticipated that she would be brought up with this timing.

“Asking you is the least problematic! I don't mind if you only lend us your name!”

Theia humbly requested to the two. Theia didn't want to create an actual combat group, so in that sense asking a real warrior to join would be anything but good. She didn't want to lose the warmth the group had, but at the same time she wanted to have the pretext to call it a combat group. For that sake, the best method was to ask those related to room 106 to join.

“Fufu... I understand the circumstances. I also owe you for your help with the radical faction. I will gladly join”

Kiriha understood how Theia felt and so she easily agreed to the request. She also had the pretext of not wanting to refuse Theia who had so earnestly fought for the sake of the underground people. But for Theia, the number one reason was that it seemed like fun.

“Then I'll join too”

Since Kiriha hadn't hesitated to join, Shizuka decided to join as well without really thinking much about it. Since the intelligent Kiriha had joined without hesitation, she figured that there were no problems. It was an awfully sloppy reason for joining.

“Thank you, Kiriha, Shizuka!”

Theia shook their hands with tears in her eyes.

“Theia-dono, there's no need to cry is there”

Seeing her like that, Kiriha instinctively leaked a wry smile.

“Even if you say that! A maiden of Forthorthe could never yield on this!”

It was an ideal that Theia wanted to protect no matter what. She was charmed by the beauty of the band of knights, despite it being a means to kill.

“...What about my opinion?”

Koutarou felt perplexed as the discussion continued without including him, the leader. That was when Shizuka called out to him.

“Don't worry about it. Ah, Satomi-kun, I don't mind if my salary is just your rent”

“Thanks, landlord-san”

However, because Shizuka's smile was so bright and refreshing, he decided not to think too much about it.

It's not like we'll be acting like a real band of knights anyways...

The important part was whether or not everyone could have fun. This band of knights was similar to a school club in that sense.

“So Theia, what about me and Harumi joining!”

Sanae wasn't quite able to keep up with the discussion and leaned forward over the tea table as she asked Theia about the conclusion.

“Don't worry. All the problems have been resolved. You may join in triumph”

“Alright!”

“Isn't that great, Higashihongan-san”

“Yeah!”

Having finally gotten permission, Sanae showed a large, bright smile, and Harumi who was watching over her seemed very happy. The two smiled at each other for a while.

“Harumi! Harumi!”

“Yes”

After smiling towards one another for a while, they lined up in front of Koutarou as they had before and spoke in perfect harmony without having practiced at all.

“Employ us you bastard!”

“...Okay”

Since the two seemed so happy, Koutarou forgot to object and simply nodded his head.

Part 3

Thus Satomi's band of knights received another four members but the ones that rejoiced the most were Sanae and Harumi. They had been strangely excited ever since Koutarou had accepted them.

“Koutarou, Koutarou, let's decide my salary!”

“Okay, okay”

“I'll give all of it back when I get it, so make it a million yen! I want to become a well paid woman!”

“As a housework helper?”

“Yeah!”

Sanae had no intention of actually receiving any salary from Koutarou, but she wanted the truth of being paid a high salary. It was a strange operation where she would then give her salary back.

“No way”

“Why not!? I said I'll give everything back!”

“You'll need to at least keep enough for some pocket money”

Ever since she had been a ghost, Sanae had been getting an allowance from Koutarou. Her anime goods and candy had been bought with that money. Koutarou would feel bad if even that allowance ended up being returned. Honestly speaking, Koutarou wished to continue giving Sanae an allowance.

“Pocket money is different!”

“Is that so?”

“Pocket money is a test a love! It's different from a laborer's wage!”

“I don't really get it, but if you're fine with that”

“Alright, then it's decided!”

With her working arrangements determined, Sanae showed a bright smile. Nothing in particular would change from Sanae joining the band of knights. Her everyday life would continue on like it always had. However, feelings wise it was a different story. She cheerfully clung onto Koutarou's back as if saying that this would always be her place.

“So what kind of mission do I get, Satomi-kun!?”

Harumi looked just as happy as Sanae. Unlike Sanae, she had always been mentally mature, but she had purposely gone along with Sanae. As of late, Harumi had been rapidly learning how to display her feelings.

“Since I'll belong to a band of knights, it'll be something like information gathering, right!?”

Harumi made theatrical gestures as she waved her hands around and her eyes sparkled. A cheerfulness that rivalled Sanae's sparkled in her eyes.

“Of course not. I don't need any information”

Koutarou could of course see through the fact that Harumi was saying that on purpose. He could tell right away just by looking at these eyes sparkling like a child's. His answer inadvertently became more snappish as he was somewhat embarrassed about playing with Harumi. Maybe it was because she was behaving more childishly, but she gave off a cuter impression than normal.

“So... Something like going to buy melon bread and milk?”

“What kind of a mission is that!”

“Ah, I'll have some!”

“So Satomi-kun, Higashihongan-san and me for a set of three. Would anyone else like some?”

“...Theia, Sakuraba-senpai is going on about stuff like that. What about the status for the band of knights”

Even though she might be a non-combatant member, having her first mission be to go buy melon bread and milk would surely not sit well with Theia who valued the status of the band of knights. That's what Koutarou thought as he asked Theia for help.

“Grrr... Harumi!”

Just as Koutarou had hoped, Theia showed a stern expression.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“I desire anpan!”

“As you wish, my princess”

“Very good!”

“...I should never have relied on Theia...”

It was a common mission for band of knights to provide support and supplies to civilians. While Theia was picky when it came to the organization's structure, she wasn't the kind of lord to refuse missions the members voluntarily chose.

“Master, isn't it a good thing that there are only peaceful missions to be had?”

“That's right, Koutarou. Do you know how happy a thing it is for a combat squad to only be playing around?”

But as Ruth and Kiriha pointed out, he gradually shifted towards acceptance. The fact that Harumi was teasing Koutarou was a proof of peaceful times. Since he didn't want his band of knights to do something fitting for a combat oriented band of knights, he felt like he should be more happy just having Harumi act like she was.

“...This is all thanks to the underground problems being resolved”

Koutarou exhaled before muttering. Because the state of room 106 might stimulate the radical faction, they couldn't allow people to enter the band of knights or accept missions. However, with the radical faction now disbanded and the problems underground resolved, there was no longer anything to fear. Even if they played around as a band of knights there wouldn't be anyone that would question it. That was something that should be rejoiced.

“...Thanks to the underground problems being resolved...”

Yurika reacted to the words Koutarou muttered.

I see... I might be able to ask for that now...

There had been something Yurika had been wanting to ask the girls of room 106. But in order not to stimulate any of the powers, the radical faction especially, she hadn't been able to bring it up. However as she heard what Koutarou said, she realized that her request might be possible now.

“What's the matter, Yurika-san?”

Clan who had been lying down on the ceiling slowly descended next to Yurika when she noticed that she was unusually lost in thought.

“Uhm... there is actually something I would like to consult with everyone”

“Consult... that's unusually serious for you”

Slightly surprised by Yurika's rarely seen serious side, Clan adjusted her glasses. While she might be surprised she would intently listen.

“What is it, Yurika?”

Koutarou turned towards Yurika to listen in as well. The other girls felt the change in atmosphere and stopped talking between each other to focus on Yurika.

“You don't have to hold back. Just say it”

”Yes, thank you. What I want to consult with everyone is about Nana-san”

Yurika brought up her friend and teacher of magic. Her predecessor magical girl, Rainbow Nana.

“Nana?”

Maki's expression stiffened and distorted into a sad one. In the past, Nana had fought against Maki, or more precisely Darkness Rainbow, and sustained serious, forcing her to retire. The current Maki regretted that, and Yurika wasn't blaming her either, but when Nana was brought up she inevitably felt sadness.

“Uhm, Satomi-san, Darkness Rainbow's Maya-san that you fought against had a body made from machines from underground right?”

“Yeah. It was made from the underground's spiritual energy technology, and most likely also the advanced science of Forthorthe”

Koutarou nodded and affirmed Yurika's words. He had previously confirmed that it was made using the underground's spiritual energy technology. And after Elexis' involvement was revealed in the decisive battle against the radical faction, he figured that it was very likely that the advanced scientific technology from Forthorthe might have been introduced to her body as well.

“So with that... seeing as Maya-san could move around so well after being seriously injured, I figured that maybe Nana-san could be cured the same way”

After a battle with Nana, Maya had suffered serious injuries and been forced to retire. Later on, Maki and the others defeated Nana. Nana too suffered serious injuries and Yurika ended up taking over her role. They had both been seriously injured. In that case, now that she could boldly borrow the power of both Forthorthe and the underground, Nana might be able to recover like Maya had. That was what Yurika was hoping for.

“Nana was... your savior and teacher in magic, right, Yurika?”

“Yes”

In the past Yurika had been attacked by a demon because she had an aptitude for magic. Nana saved Yurika and became her friend. And after many incidents, she was taught magic and succeeded Nana. To Yurika, Nana was someone incredibly important.

“Kiriha-san, Theia, Clan. Could you do as Yurika says?”

Koutarou made up his mind right away. Just her being Yurika's friend was reason enough to help her. But with her also being Yurika's savior, there was no reason for him to even hesitate.

“I know. A friend of Yurika's is a friend of mine. I will gladly help”

Theia was the first to respond. Theia thought of Yurika as a precious friend and she had no reason to refuse her request. She had also heard about Nana saving Yurika in the past so she wanted to help for that reason as well.

“I don't mind either. I was interested in the underground's technology anyways. And besides, I can't refuse a request directly from Bertorion”

Clan agreed as well. She also simply wanted to be of help to Yurika, but with her twisted personality, her expression was more roundabout.

“What about you, Kiriha-san?”

“I agree, of course. I'm sure it would be beneficial for everyone”

Lastly, Kiriha also wanted to live up to Yurika's wishes. The girls of room 106 considered each other irreplaceable. It could be said that anyone's problem was all of their problem. If anyone was unhappy they would all suffer. That was something they wanted to avoid at all costs.

“But I want you to wait a little. Since we will be offering the underground's technology to the outside, I can't decide on my own. I have to consult with the chief first”

While Kiriha was the commander of the surface invasion forces, she was not in control of the People of the Earth. Compared to Theia and Clan, she had less authority. As a result it would be difficult for her to supply them with something as confidential as spiritual energy technology at her own discretion.

“Please do”

Yurika bowed to Kiriha in a serious fashion. Considering her normal carefree attitude, just seeing her do that conveyed how strongly she felt for Nana.

“Don't worry. I don't think anyone will object”

While she didn't have the authority, Kiriha was optimistic. Since Yurika had contributed a lot to the showdown with the radical faction, the People of the Earth had no reason to refuse. Moreover, reviving Nana would also help with specifying the spiritual energy technology that had been given to Maya.

“Isn't that great, Yurika”

“Yes. Thank you very much everyone”

Thus, Koutarou and the others decided to cooperate to treat Nana.

Part 4

The country that magicians live in, the magical kingdom of Folsaria, was impossible to reach by walking, car, plane or boat. Folsaria existed in a different plane from this world, and magic was necessary to travel there. Similar to how Theia used a teleportation gate to travel between room 106 and the Blue Knight, people used magic to travel to Folsaria. The travel time was roughly the same as well.

The complex geometrical pattern drawn on the concrete floor shined. The pattern glowed particularly strong in the center portion. From that light a single girl appeared. It was as if she was appearing from the surface of the water.

“...I'm glad you're with us, Blue”

It was a powerful voice belonging to Dark Crimson. The crimson magician who specialized in offensive magic belonged to Darkness Rainbow, a secret society of evil that was plotting to overthrow the country of Folsaria. After she fully appeared, she walked out of the geometrical pattern, the magic circle. And just as she had appeared, another girl appeared from the center of the magic circle. It was a short cut girl wearing dark blue clothes.

“I just succeeded the previous generation so I wanted to get a good feel for it”

The girl's voice was calm and her tone polite. Her expression was indifferent as well. Compared to the dynamic Crimson, she felt a lot less animated. She was Dark Blue, one of the leaders of Darkness Rainbow alongside Crimson. She specialized in blue magic, good for summoning and healing.

Travelling from Folsaria to Kitsushouharukaze city required you to travel through a passage made with magic, since it consumed a lot of energy, one typically travelled through a permanent passage, though those were few in numbers. However, the girls weren't using one of those. Dark Blue had used her own magic to temporarily create a passage. This kind of special means of transportation was one of the things summoning magic could be used for. While she was somewhat inferior when it came to direct combat capabilities, when it came to support she held great power.

“We're counting on you. This time you're the star”

Following Dark Blue, another girl appeared. She had a calm voice like her, but rather than sounding indifferent, she had a more intellectual impression. Her favorite glasses only strengthened that impression. She was Dark Green. She was the magical girl who had attacked the girls of room 106 alongside Crimson.

She specialized in illusions and fortune telling, in other words information manipulation, and when it came to intelligence she was far above the others. The plan this time was something Green had designed and she would be the one leading it.

“I'll do my best”

Blue nodded at Green's words and answered indifferently. Blue would play a major part in the plan that Green had devised. She hadn't been brought along just for transportation. However, Blue's reaction was lacking considering the expectation put into her. While she had said that she would give it her all, it was difficult to tell if she actually felt that way or not, leaving Green a little uneasy.

“Don't worry. In the case something happens, I'll do something about it”

Sensing that Green felt uneasy, Crimson showed a fearless smile. Even if Blue failed, as long as Crimson defeated the enemies there was no problem. Unlike Blue, Crimson was filled to the brim with confidence and motivation. Seeing that, Green sighed for some reason.

“Haah... even if you've obtained powerful magic, you're underestimating the enemy too much”

Blue didn't have enough motivation while Crimson had too much of it. Green's ideal was somewhere in the middle, but neither of them seemed close to that.

“I've waited this long because I'm not underestimating them. I've even developed and mastered new magic, I think I've endured for quite a while. That's why there's no way I'd lose”

Using the knowledge of science and magic that Crimson had obtained through Maya and Elexis as her basis, she went through the magic she'd been using up until now and adjusted it to be more scientific and logical. As a result, Crimson gave birth to the third generation following ancient magic and modern magic. She had given this the name of scientific magic. She honestly believed that she had developed a new type of magic, that was just how much scientific magic surpassed conventional magic.

The mechanisms of scientific magic wasn't all that different from modern magic. However, the built in scientific theories greatly improved upon their effect. An example of such would be the Ray of Sunshine spell.

Like the name Ray of Sunshine suggested, the spell vaguely recreated the sun's light and the heat from that light burnt the enemy. However, with her obtained scientific knowledge, Crimson learned that there were many different wavelengths of light and having them overlap created white light. She also learned that when they overlapped there was a waste of energy. Therefore, Crimson reduced the wavelengths to a single one. There was no reason to create light with overlapping wavelengths. She only needed to create light with a single wavelength from the start. Because of this the power of the ray greatly improved, and the loss of energy was decreased, reducing the consumption of magical power, and adding the conserved magical power into the spell would cause the power to sky-rocket.

That's why Crimson was so confident. There was no way she would lose to Koutarou or Yurika the way she was now. The straight-forward Crimson had something to back up her confidence.

“The problem is that woman... Kurano Kiriha”

Green on the other hand was cautious of Kiriha; whose talent was her brain. Her knowledge and intelligence was something to look out for. The reason Crimson and the others sought out scientific magic was because they had completely lost to Kiriha who couldn't use magic at all.

Magic was but another facet of power. What mattered was how it was used. That was the lesson they had been taught by Kiriha, and even if they obtained scientific magic, there was still a chance that Kiriha's brain could surpass them. Who knows what kind of terrifying fate awaited them if Kiriha made good use of Yurika.

“That's why we came up with this plan, right, Green?”

“That's... true, but...”

Since Green's future forecast had been defeated by Kiriha in the past, the trick was to make Kiriha unable to use her own power. If they made Kiriha unable to act, there were ways to fight the others. However, Green couldn't get rid of the anxiety she felt as the plan to incapacitate Kiriha was about to begin. The scar she had gotten after being defeated despite reading the future still remained.

“Don't worry. We've gotten stronger and we already know that woman is dangerous. Besides, Blue is with us, and this is a plan you've come up with, Green. There's no way it'd end up the same way as before”

“You're right, I'm sorry. I guess I was being a little too pessimistic”

Green showed a faint smile as she was being cheered up. Crimson's positive way of thinking was a blessing when she was feeling insecure.

Maybe because the enemy is too strong, but... thing's have taken a strange turn...

Looking at Crimson and Green, Blue felt puzzled.

The members in organization known as Darkness Rainbow originally had shallow bonds with one another. Others were to be used, you weren't meant to worry for them or support them. In fact, the decisive battle against Rainbow Nana was used to get rid of potential rivals.

“Like Maki, you overthink things from time to time”

“I'll try not to think. Just like you”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Yes”

“Geez...”

However, the behavior Crimson and Green were showing right now had begun to deviate from that. Because their enemy was far too powerful, they had to cooperate in the true meaning of the word. If they tried using one another they wouldn't be able to defeat their foe.

But yeah, there's no reason to use Crimson or Green right now. We can make deals later, but we can only fight now...

Cooperation and alliances was originally their opposing organization, Rainbow Heart's field of expertise. While Blue found it mysterious that they would need it as well, she understood it was necessary. She also began thinking that she would need to cooperate as well if they wanted a chance of winning.

Part 5

The center portion of Green's plan was to perform a large-scale ritual to unleash a powerful spell. That spell would serve as a preemptive strike to incapacitate Koutarou and the others. After that they would defeat them all one at a time. If they were all incapacitated Green's calculations told her that they should be able to defeat all of them with scientific magic.

“Green, what are the chances of success?”

Blue asked Green as she drew the magic circle. They were currently in a deserted house. It was wide enough for the spell, the roof was far up and the ground was sturdy. It was somewhat old and dirty, but it was more than stable enough for the ritual. Blue's voice reverberated somewhat as it was absorbed into the wide space.

“If it's a simple matter of victory and defeat than the chances of success is more than 80%”

Green conveyed the future she had foreseen to Blue.

Her future forecast allowed her to see all possible outcomes, including scenarios where they never fight or there was no conclusion to the fight. Adding all of those futures up, their chances of victory in a fight was somewhere around 25%, but that number wasn't what Blue was after. Their chances of losing the fight was 5% and subtracting that from the total, there was roughly around an 80% chance of success.

“If it's 80% then we've pretty much won already. As long as we don't cut any corners that is”

Crimson said as she stood up with her cane in hand. She had been helping out with the preparations of the magic circle, but she had a different job to do now.

“Alright, then I'm off. I'll leave this side to you”

“Are you fine going alone, Crimson?”

“Green, you help Blue. You're the only one that uses those weird machines that the underground people handed over”

“Alright, then leave this to us. Okay, Blue-san?”

“Yes”

“Right, then I'll see you later”

Crimson waved her hand and headed outside on her own. She had a job to do on the outside while the other two would create the magic circle. Being so active, Crimson much preferred to work outside over drawing a magic circle indoors. As she walked outside her steps naturally became lighter.

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