My heart rose to my throat, and I stared silently at the door. I was so caught up in the process of checking notifications that I forgot that I was going to be talking to people soon. Help, I'm the Guardians of Magic.

I took a deep breath and adjusted my posture to soften the expression on my face. My chest tightened, and I focused on building my inner wall from it. When I felt ready, I stood up and walked towards the door with my IV syringe.

With each step, I could feel my nerves getting more and more tense. I was about to talk to a magical girl who is one of the protectors of humanity and I owe her life. Of course, when I was with E

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Machi

I've managed to overcome anxiety when talking, but it's not face-to-face like this. Also, I didn't really have a choice at the time, and events forced me to move on without really thinking about the implications.

But now that I'm going to sit with a magical girl, I don't know how I'm supposed to behave, especially since they probably think they know me. It's not that I have too many options, I don't have many options if I want the right answers and advice, but when I'm trying to figure out the best way to present myself, I feel nervous and my mind racing.

When I turned the doorknob, I realized that I was still in my pajamas. Wen Qing blushed, but before I could stop it, the door was already ajar.

An elf stood across from me, her long blonde hair scattered over her rustic countenance. It's hard to tell her exact age, but she doesn't look like she's in her late teens or early twenties. She was dressed in the same clothes as I remembered, with tight leather armor and a green cloak that set off her slender figure with deathly grace. Pine-colored eyes, pupils shaped like a sharp flower, looked down at me, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips as her gaze swept over my figure.

"Hello," she said, her voice calm and steady, like a calm pond. "It's nice to get to know you well. My name is Eve

glaive，Fa

Captain of tasy Fatale. ”

She lowered her head slightly, and I found myself stammering trying to respond to her greeting.

"Hello. I'm—well......"

"I don't need a name just yet." She interjected smoothly. "You barely have time to think about aliases. If you wish, we can discuss finding the right person for you as soon as possible. But first..."

She held out her hand to me, palm up, and I looked at her in confusion.

"Please put your hand on mine," she pleaded gently. "There is one thing we need to address before we go any further."

My gaze shifted from her hand to hers, hesitating. I don't know why she wants my hand, and I'm not the one who likes physical contact the most. In fact, I really prefer to avoid it as much as possible, even if Lily loves cuddling......

[Say," Serena whispered to me. [She's not malicious, I promise it's good for you.] ]

Almost reluctantly, I raised my hand and placed it in hers. She nodded shallowly and slowly moved her other hand and placed it on top of it so that my hand was gently between hers.

"With my power as the guardian of magic, I hereby release the Black Light Protocol imposed on you. Liberate. ”

A warmth seemed to flow from her hand to mine, and then throughout my body, and the tingling sensation made me shiver.

[Congratulations!] You can now use Astral Transformation! Please allow an appropriate amount of time to make the costume with your entourage. ]

When Eve

Glaive's eyes widened in surprise as she let go of my hand and nodded calmly.

"Okay. Now that you are free from any restrictions, I ask us to discuss. If you don't want to talk to me and my team, then I've written all the relevant information for you as well. I do believe that talking directly will lead to better results, but the decision is entirely up to you. ”

I stared at her, completely out of balance. I thought I would at least talk to them before they gave me astral transformations, rather than just hand them over. In a way, I didn't actually choose whether to talk to them or not. Now, I'm free to walk away now. I realized it was an attempt by her to build trust, but I couldn't tell if it was because she was really considerate or if it was something else.

It took me a while to shake off the shock, and I quickly bowed my head gratefully to her.

"Thank you," I said quickly. "Hmm...... Come in. ”

The hallway to the door wasn't big enough for two people, so I hurried inside. She followed, and I heard the door close behind her. Selina moved to the same couch I had sat on, and I stood next to her and turned to face Hengnuma. She took a seat across the coffee table, nodded politely to Selena, and turned her attention back to me.

I moved nervously because I found myself not knowing what to do next. Usually I would offer refreshments or otherwise try to be a good host, but I didn't have anything in my hotel room to really give her. I don't know what kind of social dynamics we have. We are both Guardians, but she is my senior, clearly stronger than me. These factors alone made a mess of things, but the fact that she risked her life to save me made things complicated.

"Hmm......" I muttered, my mind blank. As time went on, embarrassment struck, and I looked down at the floor in embarrassment. My pulse started to quicken, and my anxiety made me realize how idiot I was.

"Why don't we sit down?" Eve

Glaive gave me a gentle smile. "You've been through a lot, and I'd find it rude for you to stand. I have something for you, if you don't mind? ”

Hengjian effortlessly dispelled my hesitation, my face turned even redder, and I nodded violently as I sat down. She reached for the coffee table, brushed aside some decorative knick-knacks, and hovered her hand over the table. Emerald green particles of light began to flicker under her hands, rapidly multiplying and forming an "L" shape, then disappearing in a bright flash, all in about a second.

The place where there used to be light is now my umbra, and my eyes are wide open. Eve

Glaive moved her hands and began to repeat the process, and the table was filled with more and more of my belongings. The process looks exactly the same as buying something from the gate, but these are obviously mine, and you can't be mistakenly black with the rabbit head logo.

"What...?" I sent it to Selene in amazement.

[Dimensional storage magic," Selene thought. [It allows her to store items in the Pocket Dimension and re-summon them.] She is either using enchanted items or has purchased a spellbook to use spells directly. Due to the amount of utility it offers, it is a rather important tool for Guardians. ]

It only took her a few minutes to finish, and I looked at the row of items. In total, there are my umbras, ripples, two judgments, my backpack, and fifteen magazines, twelve of which are my umbra and three are ripples. She also arranged three different folders in front of me.

"I'm sorry," Evergrave said, walking over to the couch across from me and sitting down. "I know you have more items than this, but I'm afraid they're either damaged or destroyed. As the battle continues, we are forced to use some less elaborate magic to defend the area. ”

"No," I shook my head quickly and lowered my head deeply, seizing the opportunity she had given me. "Thank you. Thank you for saving me. This was beyond my requirements. ”

"It's our pleasure," Eve

Glaive replied. "I'm just sorry we couldn't have arrived sooner."

She seemed to hesitate for a second, and I looked up from the table to see her sitting on the couch with her hands crossed on her knees. Her poise exudes an effortless elegance, as if it were second nature to her. She pursed her lips, tilted her head slightly, and nodded, as if she had just decided something.

"The rest of my team should arrive soon," she told me, "but I'm sure we can start explaining while we wait." Before we get into all of that, though, I'd like to ask you how your situation is. I...... Well, I've introduced other magical girls before, but never one of them was thrown straight into the fire on the first day. I guess things are a bit chaotic right now, huh? ”

I nodded to her, and she smiled back gently.

"It's just to be expected. Hopefully, at the end of our conversation we will be able to resolve this issue. Speaking of which......"

She pointed across the table to a folder in front of me.

"This folder contains a copy of the amazing Geas signed by my team, as well as E

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a and a copy of the officer you interacted with. The language is a bit complicated, but feel free to take a look or ask your family for details. I hope that reading these carefully will alleviate your concerns about the leakage of personal information. ”

[I checked the database information and everything was in order. All personal information will be kept confidential, and it is important to note that you can also allow them to share certain information with other people if you wish. ]

I put down the folder and bit my lip. Maybe I'm a little paranoid, but a little worried about the extent to which the Swamp seems to have eliminated all of my underlying concerns. This makes me feel more comfortable and nervous at the same time. It's like...... Well, it was as if she had spent a whole week planning this encounter when I first woke up. She's obviously good at socializing too, and I'm obviously not. It took me a few months to get used to talking to Lily, and even then, it was only her easy-going attitude that helped me ease the occasional silence or awkwardness.

"Are you happy with everything?" She asked, and after a moment I nodded.

"Okay. So, let's see what happens after that—"

A knock on the door interrupted her.

"Hello? It's the magical girl Nayat."

I felt frozen and didn't know what to say. Thankfully, the Swamp sensed my hesitation almost immediately.

"Can I let my teammates join?"

I nodded hurriedly, and Heng Jian smiled softly.

"Please come in," Elvergrave shouted. My eyes swept to the door, only to feel my muscles tighten, and the electronic lock on the door made a slight "beep" sound and opened.

The magical girl Nayat looks to be only in her teens, with pale blue skin and a slender and delicate figure. A white toga dress is subtly draped over her, and aqua embroidery adorns the dress with pastel patterns reminiscent of waves. The short skirt of the skirt showed her legs a lot, and the leather sandals wrapped her legs all the way to her thighs. Finally, the long water-colored hair falls down to the shoulders, flowing and soft, as if underwater.

She smiled at me when she came in, and as I recalled, I felt struggling to breathe. She was the one who treated me at the shielded station, which probably meant that she was the one who took care of me while I was asleep. This means......

"Always, what are you doing?" Nayad gasped and walked briskly over to the two of us. "Do you want my patient to get sick?"

Avegrave and I both blinked as Nayd held out a hand, and a blue light condensed into a thick blue Sherpa blanket with a logo on it. It consists of two F's, under which there is a "4", while the 4 consists of the silhouette of a knife, an arrow, a trident, and a hammer. She unfolded the blanket as Naiyad approached me, and I held my breath, my muscles tense as she approached.

Her pace slowed, and when she walked up to me, something swept across her face. She slowly put the blanket over me and smiled at me.

"Here we go," her gaze met me. "Is that more comfortable?"

The blanket was soft, like a cloud falling on me. It must have been made by Zenith because I have never felt so comfortable in my life. It didn't stop my heart from beating when I wondered how this conversation was going to go, but the warmth was welcome.

I nodded briefly at Nayad and cursed myself, but my movements froze.

"I'm happy," she told me, hesitated for a moment, then walked away and stood next to Hengnuma. "Oh, by the way, I'm Naiad. I am a magical girl who heals you and takes care of you while you are asleep. I have some medical issues that I would like to discuss with you, but can wait. Unless there's anything uncomfortable about your previous injury? ”

I quickly shook my head, and a sense of fear welled up in my heart. She's a therapist, so she knows. That means she wants to have a conversation with me......

"That's good," she quickly smiled at me. "My recovery should be enough to get you back in shape, but I always like to double-check what I've done and any potential complications for my patients, no matter how unlikely they may be. However, I am bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, so it is best for us to have a private conversation. ”

I nodded, full of doubt. Was she trying to hide what she really wanted to talk to me about, or was she really just trying to recount my injuries? How invasive is magic healing for that matter? Maybe she didn't notice anything at all? But if my clothes change...... No, she must have a doubt.

"Oh!" Nayad blinked, looked around the room, and her eyes fell on the fancy coffee machine in the corner. "Anyone want something to drink? Coffee, tea, or something else? ”

"Tea sounds great, thank you." Naganuma smiled at Nayard, and the girl fidgeted slightly, her smile deepened, and then she turned to me curiously.

"Hmm......" I hesitated. Warm stuff does sound good, but I can't just ask for a magical girl-

[Hot chocolate is great for helping my Guardian keep warm," Celine interrupted, and I glanced at her.

"Oh, hot chocolate sounds good," Nayad nodded, and walked over to the table with a coffee machine. "Wait a minute, I'll have everything ready."

She waved her hand on the table, and the items began to flash. The whole kettle appeared, and she opened it and put her fingers inside. She whispered a word, and the sound of water droplets briefly filled the room, and steam began to rise from the top of the kettle. Nayad seemed completely unaffected by the heat, her expression unchanged and continued to fill it.

Eve

Glaive moved, the gesture redrawing my attention to her, and she nodded to me.

"Well," Evergrave continued. "First what happened after you fell asleep, and then we could properly introduce you as a magical girl. First of all, my team is currently working for Guardian Command, as a commando team, a group of elite magical girls working together to defeat some of the toughest usurpers. For reference, the members of the commando team are generally above level 200. ”

I tried not to show surprise, but thankfully the blanket allowed me to move my hands nervously. While I don't quite know exactly how powerful it is, I know what I can accomplish at a low level and without astral transformation. If compared to the power of the cursed god I've faced, she's at least ten times stronger than a spider.

"During the attack," Swamp continued, "my team was ordered to deal with a usurped area. Because it's the top, we can't communicate to protect ourselves. You see, higher-level curses can sense the mana that our communicators use to break through usurpers, so it wasn't until we were dealing with our area that the Bug Machine contacted us and briefed us on your situation. ”

As Nayad approached, Evergrave stopped, two steaming cups in his hands. She handed one to Hengnuma, put the other one in front of me, then went back and got the third one for herself, and sat next to Hengnuma.

"Thank you. Now we've received a message that you're in trouble and decided to try the rescue. That's where things get ...... Interesting place. ”

She raised the cup to her lips and took a sip, and Nayad jumped in.

"You have to understand that no one knows that you or the Vault is in trouble, except for a few people in Command. The commanders are silent because...... Well, they know that if word gets out that a Vault needs rescue and a new magical girl is trying to save them, then some other Guardian may leave their mission, even if they don't have a chance to get help. Delivered safely to you. ”

"It would be a strategic mistake." Iver Grave said calmly. "But I believe in E

o

Already explained all this to you? ”

"Yes......" I said slowly. This would take too much manpower and time. Other usurpations will get worse. ”

"Exactly true, but just because it's right on a strategic level, doesn't mean it's right on a personal level as well. A new magical girl goes to face the wish of death on the first day, which is unbearable for many of us. That's why our team decided to accept E

o

and try to rescue. The idea that a Guardian is given the burden of sacrificing his own life on the first day is too much. We have to at least give it a try. ”

She paused, took a long sip of tea, and continued. I took a moment to try my own drink, the rich flavor made me shiver and the warmth filled my body. It tasted even better than what I had eaten in the shelter, and I pondered her words as I savored it.

It doesn't exactly make sense to me. From a digital point of view, Guardian Command is right. It's not wise to let a high-level Guardian risk saving a low-level Guardian, especially when the potential for their contributions always exceeds mine. Even if you count everyone in the Vault, you still can't count the potential help that four Guardians might provide in the future.

I only partially understand why they did it. It's more about emotions than anything else, but that doesn't explain why my death wish upsets them so much. They don't know me, so why risk it if the chances of survival are not in their favor?

Of course, I risked my life to save Brian, but I had no way of knowing that the shield would fall and put me in such a dangerous situation. Yes, I went to the mana generator and shielding station, but that was to save Lily and the others in the vault. I didn't know a lot of the other classmates, but I knew from the conversation that most of them were decent people. I can't sit idly by and do nothing, especially when I'm risking my life to save hundreds of people.

There are many selfish reasons for what I do, but for them...... I don't understand.

"After we accepted the request, E

o

Something was done," Eve did

Glaive continued. "You see, when a death wish is issued, a notification is usually sent to all the guardians in the area. It's more or less a last-ditch effort, reminding the Guardians of what's going on in case someone can actually help. The Bug Machine gave a speech, and after the speech, all the Guardians fired flares in tribute. I don't think you happened to see it through the glass dome of the shielding station, did you? ”

I nodded, and Nayad's smile turned bitter.

"It was the Swamp that started," she said, smiling at the other girl. "I've seen her so excited more than once."

Evergrave sighed slowly and closed his eyes. The silence lasted only a few seconds, but as she continued, her words were full of weight.

"The day I became a magical girl was the best day of my life," she said in a calm voice. "It makes everything better. It gave me freedom, and a destiny that I could be proud of. When I heard that your first day was about to become your last...... I'm not in a good mood. ”

She was silent for a moment, and Nayad looked at her with shining eyes. She hesitantly reached out a hand that seemed to pat her on the shoulder, but aborted the movement and turned into a scratch on her neck.

"It's the same for me," Naiyad said quickly, "and I think most of the other Guardians who heard this notice went through the same thing. The contrast between our first day and your first day is too great. I guess that's why Arcadia has so many other Guardians to help us. ”

I winked at this, tilting my head in confusion, and Evergrave nodded.

"No one will be able to come to your rescue or shelter, in part because of how many Anasema there are in the area and how strong their positions are. As you know, when you start a shielding station, it's like a lighthouse. Most of the cursed people in the area immediately charge at you, exposing themselves in droves through the open streets. The Guardians seized the opportunity to attack the Cursed's back and wipe them all out. Less than half an hour after we arrived at your location, the usurpation zone fell. It takes longer to properly clean up all the hidden places, but the vast majority are wiped out. ”

"It's a big deal." Naiad nodded excitedly. "The reason why the entire Arcadia offensive is so dangerous is because your usurpation zone is too big, but because of your bravery, the whole thing is turned around in an instant. Hundreds of Guardians have seen these lights, heard your story, and been inspired to take action. Never before in human history have so many Guardians worked together at the same time. And it's all because of you. ”

I stammered, my face was hot, and I quickly shook my head in denial.

"I didn't do this—that wasn't what I did," I quickly protested. "I just want to save the people in the vault! My friends and classmates are inside! ”

"It's this selflessness that motivates us to take action." Evergrave shrugged.

"It's not—" I bit my lip as Naid's smile began to turn into a confused frown. Avegrave's calm expression never changed, but I somehow felt that my opposition also worried her.

I looked down at my hot chocolate as the Swamp leaned towards me.

"I understand that it might not be appropriate to take credit for everything that happened," she said slowly, carefully worded. But whatever your reasons or intentions, your chosen wish to die becomes a bigger event than usual. After the notification about what you are doing, hundreds of Guardians were tasked with changing the mission to attack the usurped zone. The largest magical girl guild in the city has teamed up to develop a new strategy, and even the Guardian Command has been forced to turn to support the attack. I'm not telling you all this to embarrass you, but to help you recognize that you are at the center of it all. This has generated a lot of attention and interest that we have to deal with. ”

I jerked my head up, my eyes wide open, but Evergrave raised a calm hand.

"So far, we have managed to hide the exact identity of this mysterious 'Death Wish Newbie'. That's why we take you to this hotel instead of the Guardian Hospital. In addition to my team, E

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a No one knows that you did it, except for the police officers you came into contact with in the shelter. Still, many Guardians and most of the public are curious. Once you've assumed the status of a magical girl, it's your choice whether or not anyone finds out you're responsible, but I suggest you keep silent for now. What kind of attention it will bring you can be problematic, especially since you are the dark one. ”

I froze, looked carefully at the swamp and took a sip of tea. She said it as if it was a normal thing, as if she was completely unaffected, but so far I couldn't read her at all. She always maintains an elegant and calm mask, which suits her elven appearance. Nayad, however, frowned, moved uncomfortably, and clenched his hands almost nervously.

"Celine told me there was...... Rumors about a dark magical girl?" I asked cautiously, hoping to ask something more.

"Unfortunately, yes," Naganuma shrugged. "I think a lot of it has to do with the rarity of dark colors. That alone sparked rumors, and while some events didn't help, I believe the main source of the rumors was a combination of jealousy and MCS. ”

I tilted my head in confusion, and Evergrave giggled.

"Protagonist syndrome. It refers to highlighting your life like the protagonist in the story and framing the phenomenon through this lens of your experience to an unhealthy degree. Most of the time, it devalues others and puts them on the back burner compared to you. While I'm sure everyone will do this to some extent, MCS refers to doing it in a harsher way. ”

"It's akin to a lack of empathy," Nayad added. "But I think MCS is a more willing point of view than an accidental thing, convincing yourself that you're the most important person in the room and being positive about others worse because of it."

"We were the ones who were chosen, but it didn't help," Evergrave noted, her voice filled with fun. "After all, we were 'chosen by the zenith to defend all mankind'. You can see how it can affect the minds of some people. In any case, I think these rumors are mostly caused by the ego and jealousy of the unique starting bonus at the beginning of the darkness. This is similar to the wishes of the yellow race and their powerful signature magic, but the fact that black people are very rare and often amazing duelists adds to the fire. ”

I nodded slowly, carefully keeping my face expressionless, and Nayard sighed and sat down further back on the couch.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure it's a bit bad to be a magical girl only to find out that you have the type that everyone is nervous and suspicious about. If it helps, the public is largely unaware of the stigma. In fact, the rarity of dark colors tends to make them very popular. ”

I chose to shrug my shoulders, didn't answer, and took another sip of my drink. I'm used to dealing with rumors now, but popularity can be an issue. However, it would be nice if I kept my magical girl's life separate from my personal life......

"In terms of popularity," Evergrave said. "Your achievements have really raised eyebrows, but I suggest you keep silent for the time being. You've had a bumpy start as a magical girl, and I'm sure getting yourself noticed at this stage will only make things harder. Guardian Command has made the same request and recommends that you wait until the magical girl awards ceremony at the end of the year to reveal your role in Death's Wish. However, the choice is entirely up to you. ”

Chaos swept through my body. If Guardian Command thinks I should do something, why did I choose to do it in the first place? Aren't they commanding the Guardians? Then again, E

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aDid you get into trouble for disobeying orders?

"I don't understand," I admitted, nervously moving under the blanket. "I thought Guardian Command was in charge, why did I decide? And also...... E

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Machi

Did you get in trouble because you helped me? ”

Evergrave paused, tilted his head for a moment, as if listening to something, before he began to speak.

"Apologies. I forgot that your understanding of the intricacies of magical girls is still in its infancy. Technically, Guardian Command is the name of the physical location where the Guardians Guild makes decisions, but the name is often used interchangeably. At its core, GA is the coordination of humans against A

Athema's war and an international organization that directly commands the magic soldiers. While they work with and provide assistance to our Guardians, we are not under their direct jurisdiction. However, it is often in our best interest to utilize their resources, so we usually work together. Very few Guardians actually work completely independently without any form of external support, and that's not something I'd recommend doing. ”

"The Guardian Command is also mostly made up of ordinary people, not Guardians," Nayad added. "Generals, analysts, strategists, and others with years of experience make more sense than magical guardians who only gain power in their teens. Even the oldest Guardian has only twenty-one years of experience at this point. Plus, fighting on the front lines is often a better way to make better use of the power of the Guardians. However, like E

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Some of these Guardians can operate better in Guardian Command and choose to work directly for them. ”

"If you're worried about penalties for bad machinery, don't worry," Eve

Glaive shook his head. "By disobeying the order, he is partly responsible for the massive counterattack that helped clear the curse so quickly. They weren't happy with him at the time, but it was hard for them to dispute the results. In addition, his job as an operator was not threatened. They could barely fire him and deprive humanity of its talents. No, according to me, all he received was a harsh reprimand and reprimand, nothing more. ”

My shoulders relaxed a little as a result. I was only a freshman in high school at the time, so I didn't really take any detailed lessons other than the basics of Guardian Command. I find it strange that they are not directly responsible for the Guardians, but the explanation makes sense. Between the tasks provided by the system and the resources that the GA can provide, I am sure that most Guardians will eventually follow the leadership of the command to a greater or lesser extent.

“E

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It also helps that the notification of a so quickly turned the tide of the Acadia attack," Naiad added. "We haven't lost a single Guardian here, and we've cleared the city faster than any other sanctuary city. Except, of course, the Garden of Eden, but the Garden of Eden is always a little special. ”

I blinked, turned to look at Naiad, and a chill swept through me.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Other sanctuary cities have been attacked?"

Eve

glaive sighed, his gaze swept over to Naiad, who was visibly languishing.

"That's true," Evergrave said after a moment. "Arcadia, Eden, Avalon, Atlantis, Elysium, Shangri-La, and Nirvana were all attacked by the curse at the same time. I am sorry to tell you that the attack on this city was not just an isolated incident, but a worldwide invasion. ”