29-141

EP.141 Magical Sapphire’s True Face 

The air that had settled down onto the academy rooftop was cold as a blade. 

A place that was usually noisy and full of warmth with four people now, due to the absence of just one, felt as desolate as a barren winter field. 

Even the small flowerbed Hikari always tended drooped its gray heads like it had wilted overnight. 

“Damn it...” 

Akane was clenching her smartphone so hard it was about to break, chewing over the anonymous malice displayed on the screen. 

[But isn’t she actually enjoying it from getting defeated by the enemy? Her expression is way too lewd.] 

[Watching the video, I swear you can even hear her moaning, it’s obvious.] 

[So where exactly did Topaz fight? Gotta go drink some holy maiden’s holy water now.] 

The aftermath of yesterday’s turmoil consumed the internet overnight. 

The video of Hikari’s helpless defeat by the monster, her humiliating climax and subsequent abduction, spread like a virus. 

There were plenty of worried responses, but the cruel mockery hidden behind anonymous masks seemed to sink into her bare skin. 

[Serves the Saint right lol] 

[Was she always this weak? She’s totally useless.] 

[A bitch like that’s supposed to be a hero of justice, LOL] 

“Kgh!?” 

There was a crunching sound from the smartphone being crushed in Akane’s fist. 

She leapt to her feet and snarled. 

The anger rising up to the top of her head seemed to shimmer in the air around her. 

“Talking whatever you want, when you don’t know a damn thing...!” 

It didn’t take very long to realize that the previous day’s chaos had all been a giant feint an operation designed just to isolate Hikari. 

The knowledge that they’d been played by dying villains, and the comments of trolls grinding away at her pride, had kept Akane in this state since the day before. 

“Don’t get so worked up over what those idiots say. It only hurts you.” 

At that moment, Mizuki’s cold tone threw cold water on Akane’s rage. 

In stark contrast to Akane, Mizuki was calmly clinging to Haruto’s side, arms folded, acting like everything was no big deal. 

“Haruto, give me one of those egg rolls, too.” 

“Ah, oh… sure…” 

Haruto, flustered, picked up an egg roll with his chopsticks and placed it in her mouth. 

That carefree attitude only poured oil on the already raging fire of Akane’s anger. 

“Hurt? Mizuki, you really don’t care?! Even though Hikari, our teammate, is being treated like this!” 

“I’m just as mad as you are. But crap like that is an everyday thing in my live streams. Not even worth bothering with.” 

Mizuki spoke with bored indifference. Her nonchalance made Akane’s temper flare all over again. 

“How is this the same as your stream?! First Lady Lumina was taken, and now even Hikari’s been dragged away! And you !” 

“That’s exactly my point. The fact that Hikari lost means the enemy was giving it everything they had. It would be the worst move possible to start raging emotionally, like you’re doing now.” 

“And you think now’s the time to praise the enemy?!” 

“I’m saying, this is exactly when we need to stay calm and thoroughly prepared ” 

“I’m always ready! We don’t even know what the two of them could be going through while we’re just standing around!” 

Akane’s angry shout made Mizuki rub her forehead in tired exasperation. 

“...So how are you planning to find them? You’re going to run wild out in the streets and shout for Dark Redemption to come out?” 

“At least I’d probably be faster than a laid-back slug like you!” 

“What was that?” 

Immediately, a chill like frost rose around Mizuki. 

The voice was so cold it stifled the air; even Haruto unconsciously held his breath, but Akane refused to back down. 

“Tell me I’m wrong. If you think about it, the reason we’re even in this mess is because you’ve been so slow at finding the villains’ hideout.” 

After the chaos the day before, Mizuki had tried to detect the unique evil magic of Dark Redemption to uncover their stronghold. 

But maybe because they anticipated that, the villains scattered their magic all over the city through various channels, making it impossible to pinpoint their real location. 

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really Mizuki’s fault, but the anxiety of losing a beloved comrade had turned into barbed words aimed at each other. 

“Both of you, calm down!” 

At that, Haruto, unable to take any more, stepped in between them to mediate. 

“This isn’t the time for us to be fighting amongst ourselves.” 

At his words, the fire in both girls’ eyes died down just a little. 

Mizuki was first to relax her face and back off, and Akane unwillingly unclenched her fist as well. 

“...Ha. Anyway, I’m sure Lady Lumina and Hikari will be fine.” 

“How can you be so sure?” 

Akane sniped back at Mizuki’s sigh-laced words. 

“Think about it: Dark Redemption has their hands on two of the city’s heroes. If their intention was to harm them, the most effective thing would be to make a huge public display and fill us with despair. But they’re being quiet.” 

“......” 

“That means they have no intention of killing them. It probably means they have some other purpose maybe for ransom, or maybe… something even worse.” 

At Mizuki’s logical analysis, Haruto’s face went pale. 

“That just means we need to hurry even more, doesn’t it?!” 

As Akane became emotional again, Mizuki calmly shook her head. 

“There’s a difference between hurrying and being reckless.” 

Her voice was utterly emotionless, gazing back into Akane’s fiery red eyes. 

“If we lose our composure and the public sees it, people will become anxious, and that chaos is exactly what the enemy wants.” 

Mizuki lifted up her smartphone. 

On its screen was her SNS page. 

“Times like this, we need to show people that we’re okay, so they can feel safe and support us. Only when that support builds up do we stand a chance at getting real information or a shot to strike back.” 

“...Yeah, sure.” 

As Mizuki’s arguments piled up, Akane’s eyes gradually turned cold. 

Logically, Mizuki wasn’t necessarily wrong. 

But with their comrade possibly suffering unspeakable things, it was hard for Akane to just accept Mizuki’s attitude of focusing on public perception and efficiency. 

“So what you’re saying is: manage your fans well so we can get information, right?” 

Akane’s scorn-filled tone didn’t even faze Mizuki. 

“I’m only suggesting what’s best for all of us. It’s a million times better than rushing in on emotion and getting yourself hurt.” 

Mizuki replied as if the conversation wasn’t even worth continuing; Akane just snorted and turned away as if done talking. 

“Fine. You do that all you want. I’ll do things my way.” 

With that, Akane coldly turned her back, disregarding any further reply. 

“Wait, Akane!” 

Ignoring Haruto’s call, Akane strode off the rooftop without a second’s hesitation. 

The thud of the door slamming behind her sounded like a symbol of the divide between the three. 

“...You okay, Mizuki?” 

“I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve butted heads with that idiot.” 

Haruto, staring at the door, turned to ask; Mizuki answered as she continued to stare at her phone. 

The screen, however, was pitch-black. 

Watching her, Haruto spoke up gently. 

“Akane actually does understand how you feel, Mizuki.” 

“...What are you talking about?” 

“Even if she acts cold on the outside, it’s because she’s worried about you running into trouble.” 

At Haruto’s kind words, Mizuki’s frosty face wavered just slightly. 

She had always been surrounded by people who couldn’t understand her true feelings. 

But this man, at least, always saw the real person behind the mask. 

“Ha. When have I ever worried about someone like that? And anyway, that idiot probably wouldn’t get it in a hundred years.” 

Mizuki’s curt reply made Haruto smile faintly. 

“There’s not much I can do for you... But I hate seeing you two fight.” 

Saying so, Haruto gently took Mizuki’s hand. 

With his earnest expression, she could only sigh in resignation. 

“...Fine. We can make up later, assuming she’s willing to actually listen to me for once...” 

Reluctant as it was, her answer made Haruto’s face light up brightly. 

“Thanks, Mizuki! I knew you’d understand. I’ll talk to Akane too!” 

Leaving only a look of apology behind, Haruto hurried off after Akane. 

Once the door thudded shut again, Mizuki was the only one left on the rooftop. 

‘It’s always like this. Why is it always me who’s left having to deal with an idiot like her...’ 

“At least at a time like this, she could stay by my side.” 

Biting her lip, she leaned her arms on the railing and let out a deep sigh. 

The cold wind made her already empty heart feel even colder. 

As she stood there lost in thought for a while  

“Um…” 

A faint voice, hardly more than a gust of wind, sounded behind her. 

At the same time, Mizuki instinctively picked up on the presence. 

She turned and, in the same motion, dove in, grabbing the intruder’s arm and sweeping his legs from under him. 

It was a perfect move there wasn’t even time for a scream before the attacker was slammed to the rooftop floor. 

“Guh!” 

Only after the person hit the ground and let out a pained groan did Mizuki see who it was. 

The transfer student, Kai. 

“You...” 

Mizuki clicked her tongue and slowly stepped away. 

Kai coughed and tried to struggle to his feet, but his face twisted in pain from his wrenched arm and he rolled on the ground. 

“Whoa, you’re intense. Did you take martial arts or something? I really thought I was going to die…” 

Even at Kai’s whining, Mizuki’s voice was icy cold. 

“Sneaking up on me without a sound, that’s your fault. What do you want?” 

“Uh, well… I didn’t see Hikari around today, do you know if something happened?” 

Hikari again. 

“Why are you so curious about Hikari?” 

Already troubled enough by that issue, Mizuki responded in a prickly voice. 

“She was helping me with club stuff lately. Was wondering if she was sick or something.” 

“Maybe she’s feeling under the weather. If you’re done, I’ll be going.” 

As if she didn’t even consider him worth responding to, Mizuki turned away, but Kai suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm. 

“...Don’t touch me.” 

Kai let go immediately at the chilling tone in her voice. 

“Sorry if I upset you. I was just hoping to talk for a minute...” 

“If you’re trying to pick me up, find someone else. I’m busy today. Maybe that idiot will humor you.” 

Brushing at her arm as if to remove something filthy, Mizuki strode off the rooftop without looking back. 

Watching her go, Kai stared down at his fingertips with a sly, lecherous smile. 

That night. In a high-end officetel overlooking Sky City’s night skyline. 

Mizuki sat at her vanity, fixing her smartphone to a ring-light stand. 

On the screen, ‘Magical Sapphire’ in a blue-tinged costume was shown, not a hair out of place. 

She smiled with satisfaction and hit the stream start button. 

“Hi everyone~ Sorry for the late stream, did you wait for me?” 

Maybe because it was the only place she, a Savior, could communicate freely. 

As soon as the stream started, viewer numbers exploded, and the chat room instantly erupted with a flood of activity. 

[Sapphire!! You’re finally here!!] 

[I was worried after what happened yesterday ㅠㅠ] 

[Is Topaz okay?] 

“As expected, everyone’s chattering about that…” 

She made a sad face, skillfully steering the mood. 

To the fans worrying about Hikari, she provided her carefully prepared standard response. 

“Thank you for your concern, but right now we need your help more than ever. Is there anyone watching who actually saw Hikari being taken yesterday?” 

To this request, masses of tips and support poured in with the information. 

‘Tiring as it is, sometimes this does help.’ 

Mizuki laughed inwardly, but called out the highest donor’s username in a sweet tone. 

“Really, thank you. It’s your hearts that… (disgust me) …give us our greatest strength.” 

For a moment, the chat slowed down. 

[?? What did you just say?] 

[Was it just me, or did I hear something weird?] 

Mizuki felt a vague discomfort at the chatroom’s suddenly chilly atmosphere. 

“What’s wrong with you all?” 

Thinking some troll was just trying to cause trouble with claims of hearing weird things, she swallowed her annoyance. 

‘Maybe it’s because of yesterday, but they’re really getting on my nerves. Haa, I should just get the info and end the stream soon.’ 

But this time, her inner thoughts or rather, thoughts she hadn’t even intended were clearly broadcast out loud. 

The chat froze. 

A few seconds of silence. Then, simultaneously, messages filled with shock, anger, and betrayal began bombarding the screen at berserk speed. 

[Is this an insult stream today or what?] 

[Seriously, talking like that to people who worry and help out what’s wrong with you?] 

[Pig? Did you just call us pigs?] 

Only then did Mizuki realize just how serious things were, and tried frantically to cover, but in her panic, the worst possible excuse came out of her mouth. 

“N-no! That, um, it was a meme that’s popular these days! Didn’t you know?” 

[Wow... people are scary. So fake behind the scenes.] 

[She put on an act of being perfect and pure, but it was all a mask. So disappointing.] 

Staring blankly at the chat going up in flames, Mizuki’s face hardened in horror.