Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

”I’m truly very sorry...”

Tsuruno hung her head, looking dejected.

”I never imagined Meidong would use me as a hostage...”

”Don’t blame yourself. Honestly, even I didn’t expect her to do something like that.”

Miss Yachiyo sighed and waved her hand, then looked at the nearby Red Ponytail.

”Honestly, I thought you’d intervene at that moment.”

In fact, when Meidong took Tsuruno as a hostage, everyone present was stunned, and Miss Yachiyo glanced at Red Ponytail in concern. Knowing Red Ponytail, she might have just rushed up and struck with her sword. But to Miss Yachiyo’s surprise, Red Ponytail acted as if she hadn’t seen anything, and thus, Miss Yachiyo agreed to Meidong’s terms for exchange, returning the twins to Mi Huyou and watching them leave with their eyes wide open.

”No need to, as my magic power was running low at that time.”

Red Ponytail shook her head, and listening to this, Miss Yachiyo immediately understood why she hadn’t spoken. After all, facing so many witches was entirely reliant on Red Ponytail and Felicia, along with the twins. Although it seemed like a complete victory for Red Ponytail, she definitely expended a lot of power.

Not just Red Ponytail, but Miss Yachiyo and the others also used a considerable amount of magic power in the battle with the Owl Luck Water Rumor Witch. Fighting in such a situation was clearly unwise.

”But what do we do next...?”

Kohin asked worriedly, but Red Ponytail was quite relaxed.

”There’s nothing to worry about. Why do you think I let them go? Because we already know their weakness.”

”Weakness?”

”Exactly. We can clearly see now—they need to achieve their goals through the rumors they spread. This time, not finding the base isn’t a concern. Next, we just need to hit the streets every day and take down all the Rumor Witches we encounter, and they’ll have no choice but to come out themselves. If they don’t, we’ll eliminate all these rumors because keeping them around is a social hazard. Not spreading rumors is the foundational requirement for a harmonious society. They can’t keep playing around like this!”

”Uh...”

Hearing Red Ponytail, Miss Yachiyo was left dumbfounded, even Tsuruno seemed somewhat surprised. Previously, Red Ponytail’s silence made her seem very calm, but unexpectedly, when she spoke, she became so aggressive. However, it’s undeniable that Red Ponytail’s logic was quite clear, somewhat lifting the group from their recent confusion and giving them a new target.

Indeed, as Red Ponytail said, whatever this Margis organization intends and how they’ll go about it is unknown, and they haven’t found a base. But all that isn’t important. What’s crucial is that they already know these peculiar Rumor Witches are created by the Margis organization for some purpose, so as long as they continue eliminating these rumors, the enemy will eventually make a move.

Though there’s still much left unexplained, after a whole day of struggles, the girls were exhausted. Felicia fell into a deep sleep after this, impossible to rouse, and the others were equally worn out. Miss Yachiyo opened her phone and checked the time.

”Alright then... since it’s already late, you all can stay at my place tonight.”

”Eh?”

Upon hearing this, Kohin quickly waved her hands.

”I appreciate the gesture, but...”

”Ring, ring...”

Just then, Kohin’s phone suddenly rang, she picked it up.

”Hello... Mom? Yes, yes... What? They found an apartment for me already? Yes, I see... Okay.”

After a brief conversation, Kohin hung up the phone.

”What happened? They found your apartment?”

Being a close associate, Red Ponytail was aware of Kohin’s situation. Her parents worked overseas, leaving Kohin alone here. Initially, her parents wanted Kohin to leave with them, but as a Magical Girl, Kohin refused to leave, staying behind alone. Her parents mentioned finding an apartment for her, worried about her living alone pose a risk, but an apartment meant the possibility of living together made things much better.

It seems they found it now.

”Yes, my parents contacted me saying they found one, called Sangatsu Manor...”

At this, Kohin bowed once again to Miss Yachiyo.

”Thank you very much, but...”

”You said Sangatsu Manor?”

”Yes... um...”

”Then it’s no problem.”

”Eh?”

Faced with Miss Yachiyo’s response, Kohin was slightly confused, but when Miss Yachiyo took her to her own home, Kohin finally understood why Miss Yachiyo had said ”it’s no problem” earlier.

”This is what it’s like to have a house and car, earning money while doing nothing.”

Staring at the apartment bearing the name ”Sangatsu Manor,” Red Ponytail couldn’t help but marvel, truly unexpected to find Miss Yachiyo so young and already acting as a landlord. Originally hearing she was a model, Red Ponytail thought she might be short on money, but now looking... she’s completely a wealthy lady.

”Sangatsu Manor is yours, Miss Yachiyo...?”

”Yes.”

In response to Kohin’s startled inquiry, Miss Yachiyo smiled warmly, nodding slightly.

”Isn’t it lucky?”

”It’s definitely fortunate... could it be the effect of Owl Luck Water?”

In any case, for Kohin, it undoubtedly was good news. Afterwards, the group entered Sangatsu Manor, Miss Yachiyo and Tsuruno carried the unconscious Felicia to the guest room, then Miss Yachiyo cooked dinner as a celebration for Kohin moving in, which Tsuruno envied. Unfortunately, as a local and still living with her father, she couldn’t move in.

Even so, everyone enjoyed an exhilarating dinner together.

”Phew...”

Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Kohin sighed. Truth be told, today was a tumultuous day, riddled with Rumor Witches, Luck Water, Felicia, and Margis... What’s the fate of Magical Girls that the latter spoke of?

Besides that, Yuu was still nowhere to be seen. Before the magical girl named Meidong left, Kohin had asked her, but still found no clues.

Yuu———Where are you?

Thinking of this, Kohin washed her hands, picked up a handkerchief to wipe them, then opened the bathroom door———only to see Red Ponytail slip inside as agilely as a cat.

”Oh, Little Hong? Are you in such a rush? Sorry......”

Seeing Red Ponytail slip inside startled Kohin, but before she could finish speaking, Red Ponytail reached out and turned the bathroom door lock.

”Click.”

”Eh?”

Seeing the door now tightly locked, Kohin was stunned.

”Little Hong?”

”We agreed on this before, right?”

”Ah......this...”

Hearing Red Ponytail speak, Kohin’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly bowed her head.

”Um......I know, but......this isn’t a good place, and Miss Yachiyo is still outside......”

”What’s the big deal? It makes it more exciting...”

As she spoke, Red Ponytail edged closer and reached out towards Kohin’s skirt.

”Besides, just don’t get caught, right?”

”Wait, this is too......uh......”

Soon, the bathroom became quiet, with only the sound of heavy breathing and clothes rustling and slipping off echoing......

When Yachiyo finished her chores and walked out of the living room, the surroundings were already silent.

”Thud!”

As Yachiyo prepared to go upstairs to her room, she suddenly heard a muffled sound from the bathroom not far away, causing her to stop and walk to the bathroom door.

”Who’s in there?”

”Uh......ah......Miss Yachiyo......”

From the crack in the door, Kohin’s voice could be faintly heard.

”Kohin? What are you doing in there?”

”Sorry, I just accidentally knocked over a bottle......uh......”

”I see, it’s nothing, just be careful.”

Hearing Kohin’s reply, Yachiyo nodded, then frowned.

”Your voice sounds a bit strained, is everything okay?”

”It’s nothing, just slightly......uncomfortable......um......”

”Got it, take care of yourself.”

Hearing Kohin’s response, Yachiyo seemed to understand something, nodded, then turned and left.

”Uh......uh......mm...!”

Listening to the footsteps fade away at the end of the staircase, Kohin’s body suddenly trembled, then she collapsed limply.

”Huff huff huff......Kohin, you really know how to endure, so cute.”

Holding the girl in front of her, feeling the intense beating from her chest, Red Ponytail stretched out her tongue, gently licking the girl’s slender, fair neck.

”Come......Kohin......?”

”......”

As Red Ponytail spoke, Kohin seemed hypnotized, gazing at Red Ponytail lying in her lap, slightly opening her mouth, a small crimson tongue slipping out between her lips, and then entwining together.

”Uh......mm......”

”Want to do it again?”

While lightly moving her fingers, Red Ponytail squinted her eyes, asking with a mischievous smile.

Kohin, on the other hand, blushed deeply, lowered her head, and nodded slightly.

”As expected, Kohin, you’re really adorable.”

Speaking, Red Ponytail lowered her head, revealing her teeth, softly biting down on the tempting, luscious fruit.

”Uh......!”

Soon, faint yet rapid sounds echoed once more in the confined space.

The air gradually became scorching hot......