Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Interlude 2: Behind-the-scenes Deal

Interlude 2: Behind-the-scenes Deal

—“I’ve fully understood the situation. You’ve worked hard, and the Investigation Bureau appreciates your efforts.”

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, a girl’s voice echoed from the mirror on the desk. A girl in a golden robe, smiling gently, gave a small nod toward her reflection. “I’ll dispatch a Magical Girl from the Countermeasure Bureau to assist Black Cinders Dawn in the pursuit mission as soon as possible. You’ll also be appropriately compensated, Miss Veronica.”

“You know that’s not what I want to hear.”

On the other side of the mirror, the girl in a blue dress remained expressionless. “If you’re just here to feed me empty pleasantries, then let’s end this here, Madam Director.”

This conversation took place after the Moon Festival night incident. Veronica had made contact with the Investigation Bureau. Because the case was linked to the true upper ranks of Black Cinders Dawn, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye agreed to speak with her.

But after Veronica laid out the entire chain of events, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye responded as usual—official, formulaic, and completely useless.

Which was why Veronica was so frustrated—and why the conversation had taken this turn.

“Empty pleasantries... Are you trying to say there’s something else I should know?” Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye showed a hint of confusion.

At some point, a porcelain teacup had appeared in her hand. She seemed ready to end the conversation, but now she paused mid-sip. “Very well. If you’re willing, perhaps we can fill in a few blanks.”

“I’m not here to go around in circles. You lied to me, Madam Director.” Veronica was blunt.

“...I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Veronica.” Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye blinked.

“There’s no way you didn’t know the full background of this incident.”

Veronica’s gaze dropped slightly. “You know what happened in Donghua Province. You know what Black Cinders Dawn did. You’ve been watching them the entire time. Over the past two years, more than a dozen Magical Girls have gone missing, countless civilians were sacrificed. You sent in multiple investigation squads—even apprehended quite a few criminals and brought them back to The Kingdom. Are you really going to tell me you knew nothing?”

“It seems you have some serious misunderstandings about me, Miss Veronica.”

The hand holding the teacup stilled for a moment. Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye shook her head slightly. “The Jewel Scepters and the Investigation Bureau are not as omnipotent as you imagine. We only knew that Black Cinders Dawn had plans in Donghua Province. We didn’t know exactly what they were doing in every city.”

“Madam Director.”

Veronica stared at her through the mirror. “Do you think I’m stupid? Or do you think your investigators are?”

“No one’s stupid. You’re all outstanding members of the Investigation Bureau. And you were instrumental in this case, Miss Veronica.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye spoke sincerely. “You know we’ve been trying to uncover the serial disappearances in Donghua Province, but the ringleaders of Black Cinders Dawn have remained well-hidden. Especially this time—the true culprit, The Moth, held a high position in the Countermeasure Bureau. With the Bureau’s limited personnel, we couldn’t dig into such a deeply rooted organization. If it weren’t for you, we might still be in the dark.”

Strangely, despite her polite tone, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye irritated Veronica. It was one of the main reasons she disliked this woman—she always managed to stay just outside the fray, her responses ever smooth and vague, leaving her true thoughts unreadable.

Veronica had come here with accusations, but it felt like punching cotton—no conclusion, no catharsis. Just helplessness.

Still, she knew better than to show emotion in front of this woman. Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye excelled at hiding her own thoughts—and at reading others. Showing her anything would only be giving her leverage.

Even if she was dissatisfied, she needed to keep herself in check.

“Flattering me won’t cover your lies, Madam Director.”

So she suppressed the urge to snap back and spoke flatly: “I want an explanation.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye set her teacup down.

“The Investigation Bureau did not perform its duties adequately in this case. As the director, I deeply regret and reflect upon this, and I sincerely thank you for your contributions. I also extend my heartfelt sympathies to the affected civilians of Fangting City.”

Her eyes lowered, her expression tinged with sorrow. “From now on, the Bureau will commit itself to tracking down the remnants of Black Cinders Dawn. And if there’s anything you need, we’ll do our best to provide materials for post-disaster rebuilding—to compensate both the Countermeasure Bureau’s staff and the public.”

“Is that the explanation you want?”

“That’s not it, Madam Director.”

Veronica remained cool. “You know exactly what I want.”

“...If you were just here to call me out, you wouldn’t have gone to such detail reporting what happened in Fangting City, would you?”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye raised her gaze, her slit-pupil eyes staring at Veronica like a cat’s:

“Then—what is it you want me to do for you... my prospective colleague?”

Finally, the real topic.

Veronica sighed inwardly.

She knew she’d get no truth from Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, so she had to go after something else—something tangible. And with that shift in tone, it was clear the director had picked up on her implication: truth or compensation—choose one.

If she had been an ordinary Magical Girl, she wouldn’t have had the right to bargain.

But she wasn’t. She had once been a Jewel Scepter candidate.

Now, she wasn’t speaking as an Inspector, but as someone once tapped to wield the Sapphire Scepter—maybe even more than a candidate—issuing her dissatisfaction and pushing for terms.

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye chose the latter.

“I have two requests.”

Veronica, prepared, spoke calmly: “First, related to magical operations. I want the authority over the assignments and transfers of three Magical Girls—White Rose, Little Viola, and Bosetsu—to be transferred to me.”

“What do you mean?” The slit pupils never left Veronica, as if peering into her soul.

“Transfer them under Cornflower’s command,” Veronica replied seriously.

“You want to be their direct superior—answerable to no one but the Queen herself?”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye asked, “Why? You don’t trust the Court of Magic?”

“Honestly? I don’t trust the Royal Court as a whole.”

Veronica’s face was emotionless. “After everything that’s happened, there’s no way I’m leaving the fate of my daughter and my protégés in the hands of the Court of Magic. So give them to me.”

“...It seems you’ve misunderstood the Investigation Bureau’s role, Veronica.”

Now that her request was clear, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye resumed her gentler demeanor, tapping the teacup with her fingers in mild exasperation. “We and the Court of Magic are equals—we can’t interfere with their affairs.”

“On paper, they answer to the Royal Court, but let’s not pretend all the Magical Girls there don’t have ties to the other four Courts. You’ve already split the power pie among yourselves—do I need to remind you of that?”

Veronica also tapped her desk in return. “Me turning down the Sapphire Scepter actually helped preserve your slice. Now that it concerns the Court of Magic, I don’t think you have any grounds to refuse me.”

“I don’t think I need to remind you—rumors can’t always be trusted. The Jewel Scepters aren’t that powerful.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye shook her head with a smile. “Still, if you insist, I do have friends in the Court of Magic who could help push this through. I can ask them to make it happen.”

“Second.”

Having secured the first promise, Veronica didn’t waste another word. “You’ve been investigating Sakura’s death for two years. What have you found? Tell me now.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye smiled at her in silence.

“Madam Director?” Veronica prompted calmly.

“...I didn’t expect such a humble request.” Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’m not the type who enjoys making things difficult,” Veronica replied coolly.

“You’re making me feel guilty, Miss Veronica.”

Still tapping her cup, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye said, “Because I don’t have much to offer.”

“You’ve had two years.”

“Don’t tell me you found nothing.”

“No, we did. But it might not be what you’re expecting.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye explained, “Because the truth is something you already know—the killer was from Black Cinders Dawn.”

“Who?” Veronica pressed.

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye shook her head.

“You know it was Black Cinders Dawn, but not the exact person?”

Veronica’s voice was icy. “How am I supposed to believe you, Madam Director?”

“It’s not that we don’t know. It’s that the result... is strange.”

Her eyes locked onto Veronica’s. “According to recent investigations and eyewitness accounts, shortly after Sakura’s death, a group from Black Cinders Dawn left Fangting City, and they were suspected to be carrying Sakura’s Heartstone.”

“And?”

Veronica clenched her fists.

“A week later, their bodies were found in the wilderness outside the city,” Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye said quietly. “All dead. No survivors.”

“What about Sakura’s Heartstone?”

“Stolen again.”

The room fell silent.

“You mean...” Veronica opened her mouth, trying to maintain composure, but unable to say what she feared.

“Yes. If this report is accurate, the person who truly killed Sakura... may already be dead.”

Veronica said nothing for a long time.

“...I don’t believe that.”

She finally spoke. “If Sakura’s Heartstone was taken, then the person who did it is still tied to her death.”

“I won’t deny that,” Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye nodded faintly.

“Then the investigation should shift focus—onto whoever stole Sakura’s Heartstone.”

“We’ll pursue that lead.”

“...Then I have no further requests.”

Veronica exhaled deeply. “I’ve taken enough of your time. Thank you for listening, Madam Director.”

She reached out to touch the mirror, ready to end the conversation—

—“One more thing, Miss Veronica.”

But Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye’s voice echoed from the mirror once more. “I said earlier, I didn’t really do anything for that second request.”

Veronica paused, looking back.

Seeing her face reappear in the mirror, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye spoke calmly: “The Countermeasure Bureau in Fangting City has been devastated by this incident. It’s no longer functioning properly, is it?”

“Yes, Madam Director.”

“Then have you considered restoring it... yourself?”

“...Personally?”

Veronica raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like a job for a Magical Girl. Shouldn’t that be the Investigation Bureau or the city government’s responsibility?”

“No, I’m not asking you to assist the government in rebuilding the Bureau.”

Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye folded her hands, smiling slightly.

“I mean... the Director position of the Fangting City Countermeasure Bureau is currently vacant.”

—“So... are you interested in the job?”