The motorcycle roared as it crossed the red bridge spanning the canyon, then followed the road into Rosehaven Town.
The motorcycle began to slow down, and the scene inside gradually unfolded before the three of them.
As Sophie had said, this was a city with a population of one million, where buildings were neatly arranged according to the terrain, looking organized and picturesque.
In the distance, the high-rise buildings of the town center spread out across the flattest, most bustling area by the sea, while pedestrians and vehicles flowed endlessly along the streets in the surrounding areas.
Although the roads were not particularly wide, the surfaces were exceptionally clean and tidy, with shops and residential complexes compactly arranged on both sides, giving it a retro feel.
Ellyse’s motorcycle followed the flow of traffic, then stopped at an intersection.
Ding, ding, ding—
A crisp and rhythmic warning sound came from ahead.
The red and white striped barrier slowly descended, cutting off the not-so-busy flow of traffic and pedestrians.
A vintage tram with only two carriages was slowly clattering along the tracks in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Students who had just finished school passed by, laughing and joking on the roadside; couples walked together; housewives carrying grocery baskets chatted.
The setting sun bathed everything in a layer of warm amber, making it appear serene and peaceful.
The black motorcycle continued on its way, heading toward the city center.
Finally, it came to a slow stop in front of a seven-story apartment building in the bustling downtown area.
Ellyse parked and turned off the engine, her beautiful long legs under her jeans lifting cleanly and efficiently as she dismounted in a dashing manner and walked toward a roadside vending machine.
She took a few silver coins stamped with tree patterns from her pocket, inserted them into the machine, and turned back to ask:
“What would you two like to drink?”
Sophie raised her hand, full of Origin Qi: “I want strawberry milk!”
“Momoka-senpai, what about you?”
Then, she saw the Pink-haired girl behind her intently studying the various patterns on the vending machine, but she was slow to give any response.
Just as Sophie was about to ask again, she suddenly realized why she wasn’t answering.
—She probably didn’t recognize any of these drinks.
She pursed her lips, then suddenly smiled brightly at the girl: “Then let’s both have strawberry milk!”
Alex Morgan glanced at her without saying a word.
Beep, dong.
Two cans of pink-packaged strawberry milk fell down.
Ellyse deftly tossed the milk to the two of them, while she opened a can of black coffee for herself.
Sophie took the lead, twisting off the cap and gulping it down, then happily wiped her mouth with the corner of her shirt: “This brand of strawberry milk is su—per delicious! I’ve been drinking it since I was a kid!” The source of this chapter is NovelPing.
On the other side, Alex Morgan grabbed the bottle, unscrewed the cap with two slender fingers, and took a tentative sip of the pinkish-white liquid.
Without any intention of judging the taste, she immediately drank it all in one go.
It was very sweet and somewhat thick; surely, a lot of sugar had been added.
It was just right for her body, which was currently lacking energy.
After replenishing her fluids, Sophie looked at Alex Morgan, then at Ellyse, and suddenly asked with some concern:
“Um… Senior Ellyse.”
“Since Momoka-senpai has lost her memory and her phone is gone, doesn’t that mean she doesn’t even know where she lives? What should we do?”
“Should we go ask at the Association?”
“I’ll just look it up.”
Ellyse, whose physique was closer to that of an adult woman than a young girl, put down her black coffee, took out a black smartphone, and with long, slender fingers, swiped quickly across the screen, explaining unhurriedly.
“Boundary Investigators can investigate the identity records of everyone in the city, except for Magical Girls.”
“However, since both she and I are Investigators, we have the authority to view each other’s records.”
A few seconds later, Ellyse looked at the information on the screen and paused slightly.
She then looked up, her face showing a hint of regret and apology: “There’s some bad news.”
She turned the phone screen toward the two of them.
The screen displayed a brief file:
[Name: Momoka]
[Magic Name: Momoka]
[Age: 16]
[Address: 12, 3-chome, Rosehaven Town (Living Alone)]
[Occupation: Student (First-year at Private St. Paul’s High School)]
[Guardian: None (Parents deceased)]
“The file shows that your parents have passed away, and you currently live alone.”
Sophie’s expression froze, and the smile slowly faded from her face.
She looked cautiously at the Senior beside her, who was quietly holding the milk bottle.
The girl was gazing quietly at the information on the screen with her cherry-red eyes.
That slightly childish, sweet face showed no reaction—perhaps she had absolutely no memory of it, or perhaps she simply didn’t know how to express emotions like a normal person.
“Boundary Investigator…”
Parents deceased, and yet she became a Boundary Investigator all on her own.
Senior, what exactly was it for…
Ellyse sighed softly:
“Although it’s regrettable, if you were hoping to recover your memories through your family, that’s probably no longer possible.
“However, the things in your home might be of some help to you.”
“Your magic power and mental state are relatively stable now, so you can spend the night at your own home and rest. Tomorrow, when I take Sophie to the Association, I’ll pick you up too and ask if they have any way to help, whether it’s medical treatment or something else.”
Ellyse pointed at the address and said, “So, I’ll take you over now…”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Before Ellyse could finish, Sophie excitedly interrupted her.
Her face flushed red as she grabbed Alex Morgan’s soft, slender hand: “Momoka-senpai just went through such a dangerous battle, and now that she doesn’t remember anything, how can we let her go back and live alone? What if… what if she encounters danger again?”
She turned to look at Ellyse, her eyes resolute: “Senior Ellyse, I want to invite Momoka-senpai to stay at my house for the night!”
“My mom definitely won’t mind!”
Ellyse looked at Sophie’s protective demeanor, seemingly quite surprised, and then looked at the Pink-haired girl.
“What do you think?”
Momoka looked at the girl beside her, who was full of concern, and at the gemstone pinned to her chest, shimmering with a sky-blue radiance.
Her eyes flickered.
—Free accommodation, and to be staying with a Magical Girl who had no defenses against her—for someone like her, who currently had zero intelligence on the background of this dungeon, this was undoubtedly the best choice.
She lowered her eyes slightly and spoke her first words since returning inside the light screen.
“…If you don’t mind the trouble.”
In an instant, Sophie’s eyes widened in surprise and delight.
“Absolutely not!!”
She puffed out her small chest, tapping it with her right hand: “Momoka-senpai can stay as long as she wants! My mom will be very welcoming too!!”
“Mm.”
Alex Morgan nodded gently, accepting the proposal.
“Thank you.”
“Then it’s settled!”
Sophie excitedly grabbed Alex Morgan’s hand: “Don’t mention it! We’re both Magical Girls, helping each other is only right!”