*
Some were dead, some magical girls even went missing, presumably on their own journeys for revenge. Whether their journeys succeed or not was up to fate. One of my classmates, Shentoff Gune who had long golden blond locks was dead.
It seems a conflict in an emergency shelter had escalated beyond control, witnesses didn't bother giving their accounts and a blind eye was turned to preserve the peace. If it was something that escaped the eye of the Order Maidens, a government related executive organisation that reinforces common laws such as the right to sufficient food and the right to live. There were other common laws such as the forbidding of taking another's life and stealing but that was the gist of their function.
Their structure was not that well known and it was said that they operated in incredibly small numbers under the indirect command of the Eye God. There was a chain of command, but they weren't too far off from the supreme ruler of this region, Eye God. In any case, a common rumour was that they received a portion of the Eye God's power. As such, they have magically enhanced vision that could apparently see through lies and schemes.
It was one of those popular rumours blown out of proportion at schools, so its credibility wasn't really that high. In any case, people still have faith in their actions, entrusting justice into their discretion. A 3 weeks break was given for the repairs of the labyrinth base to be carried out. In the meantime, we could do whatever we want and hang out.
It was only a day after, I had grown unusually close to Myuu. Relaxing in her apartment room, it was in the opposite direction of mine from the institution that we attend. It was situated in a grey squarish building like every other in this labyrinth, it was amazing in its own way that we were able to tell each building apart. Her furniture were in a different layout, and it had far my room like than mine, like a small house. Surprisingly, she cooks her own food.
Compared to myself ordering takeout everyday, her girl power is too dazzling! ... All I can boast off of was doing my own laundry and cleaning the floor, but anyone could easily do that. Maybe I should buy new clothes and experiment with those...
I had knocked and entered earlier, so it seemed I was interrupting her morning routine. Burning some joss powder, Myuu prayed to a small altar and portrait while putting her palms together. Turning to face the visitor, she gave a slight smile before asking.
"Shall we have breakfast?" (Myuu)
"Mhmm."
Oddly enough, some basic level of farm ingredients, such as eggs and vegetables were able to survive from the Great Disaster underground. Though, some animals had to apparently be created from scratch by magic, they had better enhanced immunity systems and other boring stuff, and we're quite scarce in supply. Stuff like eggs and meat are incredibly rare ingredients, the Eye God must really prioritise the magical girl population in her territory, to supply to the labyrinths first...
"Ah~ This is bliss, eating a hearty breakfast like this while waiting at the table, it's as if we're an old married couple."
Her cheeks blushed a cherry blossom hue, eyes swimming like fish before settling down into the calm demeanour she had before.
"... You're not suppose to say that stuff out loud..." (Myuu)
Compared to other times, we were relaxing in her apartment, so she didn't bother to put up her twintails. Her hair was let down, her small face painting a new rather elegant picture. She wore a slightly baggy white shirt that alternates between black and white by splitting the shirt into 4 regions diagonally. The left and right sides were black while the top and bottom were white. She wore Denim pants that were rather high up her thigh.
"... Hmm... Myuu, did we have visitors today?" (?)
A woman with brown hair and facial features similar to Mio exited the room further away from us. Their bedrooms were furthest from the entrance, with the dining table and kitchen next to the entrance, while a living room was set at the very back in between the 2 bedrooms. She was a head taller than me, who barely held a couple cm over Myuu. Though there were slight wrinkles between her cheeks and under eyes, it looked to be ultimately from stress and other conditions not known to me. She was still very much a beautiful person who looked to be in her early 30s.
"... Thank you! For bringing Myuu into this world!"
It was an odd remark, nevertheless it got a few chuckles out of her so I think it was probably a success.
"Fufu, what are you? Her suitor? No need to be so formal~
Then again you could be, and I wouldn't be able to tell... You seem unable to draw your eyes away from her legs or stop fidgeting. Have you perhaps been charmed by the both of us?" (Myuu's mother)
".. Please don't tease me~... I came here to relax and maybe play with Myuu.... Ah... I guess that makes us sound like kids... "
Turning away for a split second, she sneakily muttered something under her breath. Clueless as I was, Myuu had deduced what she said as she gave off a strange reaction.
'... Rather,.. the opposite..." (Myuu's mother)
I decided based on Myuu's expression, maybe it was better not to dig too deep into this. Also Myuu's glaring is really scary...
" Anyway, I've been thinking a lot, but what should we do during this break? "
Shifting her pupils to stare at the ceiling, her pondering face was also quite cute. Nodding a bit to the left and right, it felt like I saw a light bulb lit up just as her expression morphed into a lighter, more cheerful smile. With her mouth gaping open, it felt like time stopped as I waited for the answer the come out of her throa, while staring at the insides of her mouth.
"Come on! Out with it~"
Raising a finger to point upwards, she gave off a sheepish smile as said it out loud.
" Erm... Maybe we should go shopping? You wanted to expand your wardrobe choices right? And there'll probably be aquatic training in the future, getting a swimsuit would be nice." (Myuu)
Was it a facade? She remembers that I'm a guy on the inside right? Maybe it's to trick her mother? Well, at this point thinking so much would be counterproductive. Maybe I should just go shopping and relax with her. If we can't think of anything else in the meantime, it should be fine to just spend it like this.
After a little more lazing around, a couple of pairs of foot steps creak over the reinforced wooden flooring, their sounds muffled abruptly by a soft material as preparations were maid. We were putting on our shoes... Well, Myuu was putting her shoes on while I wore slippers. It was still in the afternoon, so wearing fancy heels didn't exactly suit the atmosphere enough to warrant wearing them.
Steping outside the rather large apartment, the clip copping of my slippers rang under my feat like echoes. Walking together like this, I felt a surprising amount of warmth in my chest, and it totally wasn't because of my clothing. The air in the labyrinth used to be ventilated and cooled to a comfortable temperature, though it got even colder at night, so I had a sweater stashed away in my wardrobe. I met up with Myuu quite early in the morning, thinking it would be cold outside.
I forgot there was a big hole in the centre of the labyrinth's ceiling, and the shockwaves from the battles destroyed the magic circuitry of the air conditioners. This is why we can't have nice things. Modern time, magical girl vikings coming to plunder our homes. 'sigh', what a disappointment. I thought that all magical girls were this righteous stereotype and mainly fought monsters to defend humanity.
Maybe it was because I was also a magical girl that they didn't hesitate showing their true personalities. I got horribly disillusioned. This reason was probably why I could continue finding my dream. If no one wanted to act the part, I'll try my best to do it. To be The Magical Girl of all that is good. It sounds very embarrassing, so I'm glad I'm not saying it out loud. But that's it, that is my dream. Perhaps I want to be a protagonist of sorts, but I would undoubtedly get slaughtered at this point. So I should relax and stay in this side of the world, this magical side.
At least until I get my license to murder. It's been phrased as a license for defending the nation and independant judgement on what exactly is 'attacking' the nation in the first place. In other words, we can seem a foreigner as trespassing and execute them. It's attained by finishing the one year course at the magic institution, the one I am currently studying at.
"And... We're here, surprisingly the shopping mall is completely unharmed..."
She was a few centimetres shorter, so Myuu had to slightly tilt her head up as she spoke. I found it really adorable, it was like looking at a small animal. If anyone could read my thoughts right now, please don't tell her...
" Well, as a mall, they would naturally have more funding than the residential buildings. Just based on selling things alone, you could say the power of capitalism does not wane under the heat of the sun. " (Myuu)
".... Pftt, what's that? Saying it so cool with a pose... Anyway, which shop are we headed? Their wares seemed to be sorted by floors, so clothes would be one the 5th floor... 4 whole floors for magic related items... I don't even understand these subdivisions of magic items... They all look the same... "
With a slight blush to her cheeks, she quickly wipes it off as if they were stains on her face before continuing to explain.
" I think we'll be learning about these subdivisions in a month. I've read ahead since the normal syllabus was quite simple to manage. The first floor seemed to be consumables, they serve many purposes but are categorised based on their limited uses.
The second floor seems to be catalysts, they boost other magic items or spells.
The third floor is materials, they are for magic research or magic development and are mainly the base or raw building blocks.
The forth is the products section, you could say it is the culmination of the first 3, forged into refined, usable tools. "(Myuu)
Finishing her sentences, a woman with a mature expression and white button shirt and gold buttons on her cuffs stared menacingly at us. Her black miniskirt ostentatiously wrapped fittingly to her body, emphasising curves in some places and blurring the edge at others.
"... Would you like to work here instead?" (Sales assistant)
Her lips were smiling but it didn't reach her eyes. She must have been practicing to explain those floors for a long time, if missing this one opportunity could make her that angry.
".... Haha.. Hahaha"
"fufu.. Fufufu... Fufufufu" (Sales assistant)
Oh, No... There's no laughing a way out of this... For now, a way to appease her... Perhaps using her services...
"Uhm..."
"Yes?" (Sales assistant)
Her eyes finally open to reveal 2 glistening teal jewels underneath. Since they were rather relaxed, her eyelids didn't fully lift up and her eyes narrowed like a snake's. My body shivered uncontrollably for a second when she opened them, I'm sure Myuu can feel that pressure too, especially at this distance. If we were normal humans, we would have fainted on the spot. Wait! I need to focus on calming her right now, I need to stop thinking about other things...
"Could you please show us to the clothing section? We didn't come to buy magical materials..."
"Ah~ So that's how it is. I'm glad, I thought someone was going to steal my job and guide you to what magic material you were looking for...
Come this way! The elevator is here. The clothing section is on the 5th floor, would you like me to guide you? "(Sales assistant)
This person must be under a lot of stress. The way she said it, it doesn't sound like a question at all. Turning to Myuu, she nodded at me before I turned back to face the sales assistant.
"... Y...y...yes, that would be very hel... Helpful... Thank you."
Ah! How embarrassing, I stuttered under the pressure. I wonder if she knows I'm scared now, she seems to be more elated at the fact I accepted her help.