Meanwhile…
Tatara and his trio returned to the Aogiri Tree base with the intelligence, and Tatara went alone to meet Takatsuki Sen, who was at home.
Unlike her appearance at the base, where she wore bandages and a cloak, Takatsuki Sen’s image at home was that of a frail, literary girl.
Her identity in human society was that of a novelist, famous for her work, The Black Goat’s Egg.
“Magical Girl…”
Hearing the intelligence brought by Tatara, Takatsuki Sen rarely asked for clarification: “Is the intelligence true?”
“It is absolutely true.
Touka obtained the ability through a wish, allowing Ghouls to eat human food.”
“I only just learned how delicious human food truly is.”
“It seems it is true.
You may go.”
Seeing Tatara being so talkative, Takatsuki Sen knew the matter was true.
After dismissing Tatara, Takatsuki Sen looked out at the night sky from the balcony.
Stars twinkled in the sky, but Takatsuki Sen had no heart to admire the moon or stars, instead murmuring to herself:
“Just by making a wish, one can become a Magical Girl?
That is truly laughable.”
Takatsuki Sen did not find the Magical Girl laughable, but rather found herself laughable.
Having worked so hard for the future of Ghouls for so long, in the end, it was not as fast as a Ghoul making a wish.
Moreover, in terms of quantity and quality, the advantage of Magical Girls made her despair of her own plans.
The cultivation and cost of an S-Rank Ghoul were completely disproportionate to the cost of a Magical Girl.
The latter could kick a Ghoul below S-Rank to death the moment they were born, and with a little training to become familiar with their abilities, they could easily kick an S-Rank Ghoul to death—just like Touka, who confirmed the kill of Kamishiro Rize.
Under these circumstances, could her plan to create a One-Eyed Ghoul and forge a King of Ghouls proceed smoothly?
Could the One-Eyed King she created really compare to these Magical Girls who possessed magical abilities?
“Do I still have a chance to become a Magical Girl?”
Takatsuki Sen uncontrollably had this thought, but upon further reflection, she found it ridiculous.
She was no longer a little girl; she was an adult woman nearly 25 years old.
Could someone of this age still be called a Magical Girl?
“I must meet and confirm it in person!”
…
One day later, at five o’clock in the afternoon, Kyubey followed Touka back to Anteiku Cafe after school.
Fortunately, they did not run into Matsuzaka Satou; that girl named after sugar was likely searching for him everywhere like a madwoman.
“Big Sister Touka, I want to eat the food you make!”
Seeing Touka return, Fueguchi Hinami, who was temporarily staying inside Anteiku Cafe, hugged Touka.
“Alright, alright, I’ll go cook now, but I have to serve the customers first.
Can you wait until I’m done?” Touka doted on Fueguchi Hinami and patted her head before heading to the kitchen.
This is what a normal 18-year-old girl should be like, right?
That Arisu is nothing like an 18-year-old girl!
Touka still held some prejudice against Arisu.
After Touka transitioned to a full-time chef, business at Anteiku Cafe became booming.
Old customers and nearby Ghouls all knew there was a chef here with excellent culinary skills.
Kaya and Koma Enji were almost never idle.
It was mainly fast food and desserts, though occasionally people would come to order dishes.
Near six o’clock, Arisu entered the main hall from the front door of the cafe.
Looking at Touka, who was still busy in the kitchen, Arisu praised:
“The strawberry cake made by my senior tastes quite good; I can give it an eight.”
“Hinami, this is the sushi I specifically ordered for you.
It has all kinds of flavors; let’s eat together.”
Arisu had specifically ordered sushi at the front to bring in and share.
“Thank you, Miss Sakayanagi, I will work hard to make money to repay you!”
Fueguchi Hinami knew she had nothing to repay her with now and could only express her gratitude verbally.
Arisu joked: “Isn’t all the money you earn in the future mine?
If you want to repay me, just study hard and become a Magical Girl to assist me.”
“I understand, Miss Sakayanagi, I will study hard and strive to become a Magical Girl!” Fueguchi Hinami was indeed very good at learning; less than a day had passed, and she already knew how to please Arisu.
“Then I look forward to your performance,” Arisu said, slowly stuffing a piece of sushi into her mouth.
“So delicious~”
Arisu understood why a cafe like Anteiku Cafe had such good business.
She was used to delicacies and still found a piece of sushi to be very delicious, let alone those ordinary people and Ghouls.
In fact, Arisu could have taken the Fueguchi mother and daughter away now, but Fueguchi Hinami wanted to say goodbye to Touka before leaving, so it dragged on until seven o’clock when Touka finally finished cooking and came out of the kitchen.
“Big Sister Touka, thank you for your hard work!”
Fueguchi Hinami was very close to Touka and hugged her, not caring about the latter’s soaked clothes.
“Wait, Hinami, I’m covered in sweat right now, don’t hug me!” Touka held Fueguchi Hinami’s forehead with one hand, not letting her get close.
“Big Sister Touka must be very tired from making so many dishes alone, right?” Fueguchi Hinami asked, seeing Touka like this.
“It’s alright, because I’m a Magical Girl, my stamina is much stronger than when I was a Ghoul.”
Touka showed no signs of fatigue, only sweat dripping due to the heat in the kitchen.
“Thank you for taking Hinami and Mrs.
Fueguchi to dine first.” Touka thanked Arisu.
“I’m just doing what I should do.
This food was made by you.
Before Hinami becomes a Magical Girl, she still needs to eat the food you make; I won’t come here less often in the future.”
Arisu explained the reason to Touka.
“This time I will take Mrs.
Fueguchi and Hinami away; please tell your manager.”
“Miss Sakayanagi, can I come back to see Big Sister Touka often in the future?” Fueguchi Hinami was a bit reluctant.
“Not in the near future; your identity is very sensitive, and those Investigators have noses as sharp as dogs.” Arisu replied truthfully.
“Hmm, she is right.
Just study hard in the near future; you must seize this opportunity,” Touka patted Fueguchi Hinami’s head and waved goodbye to her with a bright smile.
“Are you not going to say goodbye to me?” Kyubey’s voice sounded.
“Say goodbye to you?
It’s much easier for you to come back than her.” Touka gave Kyubey a glare and turned to go upstairs.
Stopping on the second floor, she shouted to Kyubey, who was about to leave: “If you encounter something she can’t solve on her own, you can come find me at any time.”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Senior Touka.”
Arisu heard Touka’s words.
Standing at the back door, she specifically left a sentence before leaving.
Touka was very unhappy with Arisu’s extremely arrogant manner.
After seeing the other party leave, she went upstairs to get a change of clothes.
…
“I have already called for a private car.
Mrs.
Fueguchi, Hinami, please stay close to me.”
Arisu was quite polite to the mother and daughter, specifically having them stay with her.
This mother and daughter were Ghouls, after all, but the only ones who could wander outside at this hour were Ghouls, the recently appeared Parasytes, and Investigators.
As for Jujutsu Sorcerers, they had not been seen so far.
After walking out from the back, Fueguchi Hinami suddenly seemed to smell something, sniffing with her nose:
“This smell?
Mom, Miss Sakayanagi, it’s Dad’s smell!”
“An innate talent?” Arisu’s assessment of Fueguchi Hinami’s value increased by a point.
“Over there!
There’s Dad’s smell!” Fueguchi Hinami pointed to a corner opposite.
“Go, don’t look back!”
“But, Miss Sakayanagi, Dad’s…
is over there…”
Arisu grabbed her hand and walked in the opposite direction: “Your father’s kakuhou has been made into a Quinque!”
Hearing this, Mrs.
Fueguchi felt her heart ache so much she could barely breathe, grabbing Fueguchi Hinami’s shoulder and pushing her forward:
“Don’t look back!
Run!”
“Stop!”
From the corner of the street ahead, ten Investigators in suits holding pistols appeared and blocked their way.
Looking back, two more men in suits appeared.
“Investigators!!!” Fueguchi Ryoko recognized these Investigators at a glance.
Because her husband was killed by these Investigators.
“Mrs.
Fueguchi, surely you didn’t think you could be safe just by finding a backer, did you?”
A stooped, white-haired Investigator who looked abnormal spoke.
He was wearing a pair of gloves, and his right hand was carrying a case.
“Dad’s smell is in there!” Fueguchi Hinami pointed at the case in his hand.
“CCG, I remember I said I don’t allow you to interfere in my affairs, right?” Arisu’s face was cold and stern as she confronted Mado Kureo.
“You misunderstood, Miss Arisu, we have no intention of being your enemy.
Our goal is only these two Ghouls.
Please keep your distance from them and let us exterminate them.”
Looking insane, yet what he said sounded quite like a normal person.
“Miss Sakayanagi?” Fueguchi Ryoko hugged Fueguchi Hinami nervously.
Their only reliance now was this young lady who determined their lives.
“And if I say no?”
Arisu stood in front of the Fueguchi mother and daughter, although her height couldn’t really block them.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”