Chapter 75: Break

"We had a successful harvest yesterday. However, it came at a great cost. Thankfully, there were no Guardian deaths. For now, all C-ranked and below Guardians are to fortify the fort and Agneya. Blue Guardians are to prioritize the recovery of other Guardians." Gwen briefed us. The mood was solemn. Through Felicia, I learned that ten soldiers had died yesterday.

Should I mourn that ten people had died, or should I be relieved that only ten had died in an Anathema attack? Such a dilemma haunted me as I wandered aimlessly around the fort.

With nothing to do, I lounged near the wall, gazing out at the Darklands. The empty expanse seemed to call me into its embrace. I wanted to go there again.

"Lily? Where are you? Let's eat! Your lunch is getting cold!" Shining called. I turned my head toward the sun. It was still morning, probably around ten.

"Isn't it a bit early for lunch?" I asked.

"We have snacks in Agneya's cafeteria! Hop on board!"

"Did you buy it from the vault?" I asked accusingly. Guardians shouldn't waste their points like that. It wasn't really my place to scold her since I had opened the same vault before. But seeing her use it for snacks irritated me.

"Eh? No! This was made by the chef. It's just pancakes and soda. I'm not that spendthrift! Even a Pink MG knows not to be that reckless! Well, most of them didn't…" Shining looked away, feeling guilty. That settles it. She had bought snacks from the vault before.

Pink Magical Girls received more points than others, giving them more room to spend outside of combat. Seeing that it was just a light snack and not something bought with points lifted my sullen mood. I hopped down from the ten-meter wall and made my way to Agneya's cafeteria.

Agneya was a massive carrier given to us by The Zenith. They had taken the arcoplasma gun inside, but they gave us the ship. I knew where the cafeteria and dormitory were, but they took up less than twenty percent of the ship's total area. There are still more areas I didn't get to explore. I would be lost if Felicia did not guide the way. When I arrived at the cafeteria, Shining waved at me. She had already taken my portion and set it on the plate beside her.

She sure was too accommodating.

"Yuri! We finally have a break today! Here, I've taken your portion—you don't have to queue. Let's eat!" Shining Arrow called out.

I blushed as I walked in her direction. An introvert like me didn't like being the center of attention. Even though I was supposed to be resistant to stares due to my status, it still felt embarrassing. Yuri might be okay with it, But black Lily isn't.

"Don't shout, Shining! That's bad manners!" Sapphire, who was sitting beside her, whispered.

Shining quickly covered her mouth with her hand and bowed apologetically toward the other Guardians in the cafeteria.

"They're still staring…" I said to Felicia telepathically.

"They're curious about a Black MG suddenly dining with others. Black MGs are known to be reclusive or introverted. Should I message their familiars to advise their MGs not to stare at you?"

"Felicia. I thought we knew each other!" I glared at her.

"Figures. But it is in my directives to help my Guardians if they are in distress." Felicia yawned and stretched her feline body.

I sliced my pancakes and took a bite. They were fluffy and smooth, but the taste was a bit mellow—not due to the lack of the chef's skill, but because of the limited ingredients. I savored each bite while scanning the lounge. Something felt off.

"Where are all the normal soldiers?" I muttered to myself before realizing the answer.

Guardians were prioritized. If there were leftovers, they would be distributed to the remaining soldiers.

"That's a bit unfair, isn't it? We worked together." I muttered.

"Wan-Nyan said it was to help with our recovery and mental well-being. It's also fair if we look at how much we contribute. It's not like the soldiers won't get any; I checked, and we still have enough for everyone. We just get it first." Shining said.

There had been no such discrimination before because MGs had never cooperated directly with soldiers. The roles had always been clear—MGs would fight the Anathema while soldiers escorted civilians to safety. Militarily speaking, MGs were considered higher-ranking than common soldiers, about the same level as captains or lieutenants. They were the ones calling the shots on the field.

But now that we were in this together, I started to feel a strange sense of incongruity.

"I don't like it either. We should just dine together. But Phoenix said this was human rules. We're considered officers, and officers get to eat before common soldiers." Red Flame Darkness said as he stuffed his mouth with pancakes.

I glanced at the place where his left arm was supposed to be.

Red Flame was one of the casualties during yesterday's assault. Sapphire and the other Blue Guardians had managed to heal him, but to regrow his arm, he would need a more experienced MG and an empty healing gauge.

"My healing gauge is not empty yet. Moreover, the B-ranked Blue MGs need more time to regenerate their mana." Red Flame complained. "Yesterday was a close call. I thought bringing a blue would guarantee my safety. Yesterday was certainly a close call. I would have died from blood loss if Lini didn't heal me."

"Being Blue sucks! We're useless in combat, and even our healing is limited!" Sapphire whined.

"That's not true! Blue has an increased buff. Once you open a grimoire, your available tactics increase greatly." Blue, Sapphire's snake, consoled her.

"Are we going to talk about our build again?" I asked.

"Let's not talk about that. Today is a rest day. We should enjoy ourselves." Shining said.

After we finished snacking, the group walked along the wall. I realized I wasn't the only one taking a stroll. Several other Guardians were outside, lounging in the sun.

"Hm? What's that group doing outside?" I asked Felicia telepathically as I noticed figures in the distance.

"I messaged them. Their familiars replied that they were scouting around, looking for stray Anathema to earn more points. Apparently, they weren't satisfied with yesterday's raid."

"Isn't that dangerous?" I muttered. "Should we report them? They're disobeying protocol, right?"

"Guardians are free. As long as their actions aren't endangering others or causing trouble, they can do as they please." Felicia explained. "I already messaged them, and they promised to ask for support and not to venture too far from base camp. Unlike a certain someone who ignored the last rescue boat and wandered half a continent before getting rescued."

"You don't have to say it like that." I pouted.

"Say, how about we go adventuring as well?" Shining said.

"Ehhh?"

"It's not every day we get to see the Darklands. Moreover, it's not against the rules. Today is a break—we can do whatever we want!" Shining insisted.

"If you put it that way… but it's dangerous outside. We should ask another MG to come with us, like Serene Night, for example. Moreover, Red Flame Darkness is still wounded."

"I'm going to sit this one out. I'm not afraid, but I know when to call it quits. I can't help you guys in the Darklands with only one hand anyway." Red Flame volunteered to stay behind in the fort.

"Hm… should we borrow a jeep from the barracks?"

"No need. I have my own personal jeep." I replied, summoning my vehicle. Then, I poured gasoline into it.

"Huh? Did Shirayuki buy it for you?" Sapphire asked, eyeing the jeep. Then she suddenly widened her eyes as she looked at her shoulder. "What? From the vehicle vault? There was such a thing?"

"I didn't know there was a vault like that." Shining pondered. "You can buy gasoline from there, too? That's amazing."

"It was necessary when I was stranded." I looked away. It was rare for Guardians to use a vehicle vault. Sanctuary cities had all the facilities to transport their Guardians anywhere they needed. In the Darklands, they often borrowed vehicles from the local garrison.

"Shall we go?"

"Let's wait for Serene. I just messaged her, and she said she wants to come."

"Eh? Should I stay behind, too? There are only four or five seats inside…" Sapphire hesitated.

"No, I'll be coming alone. My teammates are a little shaken after experiencing their first shield break." Serene barged into our conversation. "Yesterday was quite an experience. Glad there weren't any casualties among MGs."

"Alright, I'm going to sleep. I need to recover my healing gauge as soon as possible. See ya. Don't forget to message me, okay? Send me videos of your adventure!" Red Flame said goodbye as we all boarded the jeep.

"Let's go!" Shining cheered.

The jeep roared through the Darklands. Sapphire seemed to enjoy sitting in the passenger seat while Shining and Serene lounged in the back. We ventured into an abandoned village, filled with various low-level Anathema. Wooden shacks mixed with concrete buildings lined the streets, none more than two stories high—a sight impossible in a Sanctuary City.

Moreover, iron fences jutted out from properties, claiming more land than necessary. Not even General Armstrong had such luxury. While my house and General Armstrong's were considered luxurious, all we had was a single floor in a high-rise apartment.

"First time seeing a flying Anathema," Sapphire remarked, gazing at the rooftops.

Several three-meter vultures perched on the abandoned houses, their glowing eyes fixed on us.

"Should I shoot it?" Shining muttered, summoning her bow. The rifle I gave her packed more power, but her bow used mana as ammunition, making it the better choice against low-level Anathema.

The jeep was anything but stealthy. As we drew closer, the vultures took flight and swooped down upon us. Shining and Serene didn't hesitate—lightning crackled from Serene's staff while Shining's magical arrows shot through the air. The five vultures perished in seconds under the onslaught.

"Lily, hold on for a bit," Sapphire said before jumping out of the jeep to collect their essence.

"So diligent," Shining remarked, watching Sapphire at work.

Sapphire didn't seem to mind Shining's remark. "Yes! I leveled up!" she cheered, pumping her fist. Skipping back to the jeep, she grinned. "I finally found my calling! I might suck at combat, but with this, I can finally become a worthy Guardian!"

"Glad you're happy. But remember, being an extractor and enchanter still carries some risk, okay?" I smiled, cheering her on.

"We have a dedicated enchanter now!" Shining laughed, high-fiving Sapphire.

"Lily! Watch out! Strong Anathema nearby! Summon a clone now!"

A warning window suddenly flashed before my eyes. Trusting Felicia's instincts, I summoned a clone without question. Felicia was my mana construct, an extension of myself. Through my unique skill as a Dark Magical Girl, I could see what she saw. Usually, I left such things to her discretion, but if she was actively showing me something, it meant it was important.

An Anathema lurked inside one of the houses. Through the dimly lit room, I could vaguely make out its shape—a massive bat with its maw wide open. Inside its humongous maw, a dark lance made by condensed magic aimed directly at us.

My clone swung the Darkeater Naginata, intercepting the incoming projectile. The clash sent shockwaves through the air, and in the next instant, an explosion erupted beside the jeep as my clone slammed into the vehicle from the force of impact. It soon dissipated into motes of white light.

The bat burst out from the building, its presence now fully revealed.

"Lily, step on the pedal! That thing might be at the higher end of D-rank. It's too tough for us right now—we need to regroup," Serene ordered, her voice tense.

I didn't argue. Slamming my foot on the gas, the jeep roared forward, kicking up clouds of dust as we sped down the dirt road.

"Felicia?" I called out telepathically.

"We don't have any records on this Anathema. That thing wasn't in my dictionary," Felicia admitted. "However, judging by how it repelled your Naginata, I agree with Serene's assessment. This isn't just a normal enemy. If Serene and Shining had their full team, we might stand a chance. But right now, it's just the three of you against something that specializes in stealth and powerful magic. The risk is too high."

"Understood," I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter.

Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over us.

I glanced up, dread coiling in my stomach as the massive bat overtook us in a blur, landing squarely in our path. The road ahead was blocked. There was no escape.