Give children a little self-destruction shock to their worldview.

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Her eyes lit up instantly, so much so that they almost illuminated the entire room.

Hitomi Tono never imagined that she could see such undisguised and passionate affection in Mayumi Haga's eyes.

Mayumi Haga has an introverted and overly quiet personality. Most of the time, her affection is gentle and lingering, like a calm lake.

But now, stripping away Mayumi Haga's emotional side and letting her rationality not get in the way, I realize that the Guardian really loves everyone.

Especially that pink-haired guy, who charged at the other party like a cannonball when he saw them.

Unsurprisingly, Hitomi Tono was so startled that she almost fell over. She instinctively hugged Yumiya, who had snuggled into her arms. When she saw Yumiya's obvious smile, she felt a surge of heat and almost had her brain shut down.

Meanwhile, Mayumi, the white-haired bespectacled woman representing rationality, stood by and watched coldly: "...I knew it."

Main text: Chapter 223 Dual Personality?

The young Mayumi Haga immediately captured everyone's attention.

Mayumi Haga was usually overly serious, and it was impossible to tell that she treated people differently. Even Urzana, who had known her the first, had never seen her express her emotions so directly.

And with the added appeal of a child's appearance, it's undeniably adorable.

Terasaki Ayasa joined in the fun for a while, but she still had important things on her mind.

She turned to speak with Mayumi, who was standing beside her observing coldly: "So, what about [Power]?"

"..." Rational Mayumi gave her a look that said, "Finally someone is getting to the point," and then said, "They've been controlled by the enemy, so they're probably temporarily sealed away and prepared to be used as weapons."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked: "You're only saying something this important now?"

Yuga Mayumi's abilities are undeniable. Even without the special skill of transforming into a dragon, her self-destruction and infinite regeneration are enough to give everyone a headache.

An opponent whose mobility cannot be taken away will stand up again the next second, even if you defeat them time and time again. This is not something that can be dealt with in an ordinary way.

Terasaki Ayasa pondered, "Then we must strengthen the defense of our magical artifacts."

“In the Otherworld, the power of magic is suppressed to the minimum, so this method won’t work.” The rational Mayumi calmly pointed out the flaw, “The magical costume will be easily shattered.”

Sugiyama Rika also realized the seriousness of the problem. With magic suppressed, the advantage of Haga Mayumi, who had been turned into an enemy, would increase. She gritted her teeth: "Then I'm afraid the only option is to remove the physical limitations on the magic cannon fire and increase its power."

"It's no use. Without the suppression of reason, my regenerative ability will once again exceed its limit, and magical bombardment will be of no use to me. Moreover, my magic resistance will be further enhanced after transforming into a dragon."

"Then what if we use mental magic to control it as well?"

Rational Mayumi adjusted her glasses and still gave a negative answer: "No. My mental resistance is also very high, and I cannot be easily controlled."

"What exactly is this enemy like...?"

"It was done during the period of weakness after the power was separated, but it wasn't exactly mind control; it was just freezing and sealing the [power] with magic." Rational remained calm and composed, not even trying to ease the atmosphere despite the increasingly serious expressions on the faces of the group of magic users in front of him.

"Then, what should we do now?" asked Hitomi Tono, looking somewhat lost.

It seems like none of the solutions are working...?

The rational Mayumi said, "Do nothing."

……ah?

“Without the restraint of reason, Mayumi Haga would only be a monster.” The white-haired, indifferent girl sat on the sofa, her tone flat. “The moment she is released, she will begin to devour everything around her with all her might.”

Whether enemy or ally, life or death, nothing can exist safely around that monster.

Therefore, the first thing that will happen when that guy is released is that things will get out of control.

This means that...

"The topic I'm here to discuss with you all isn't how to save [me], but rather how to preserve the enemy's life as safely as possible." Rational Mayumi said, turning her gaze to Sugiyama Rika, "After all, there seems to be a more than 95% chance that that young lady is related to Miss Sugiyama by blood."

Sugiyama Rikka: "..."

Sugiyama Rikka: "…………"

Sugiyama Rika: "Huh?!"

She was suddenly struck by the rationality of Mayumi, and then received such an explosive amount of information, leaving her mind blank.

.................................................. ..................

Meanwhile, Yoko Sugiyama suddenly sneezed.

The sound of her sneezing tugged at her muscles, making the pain in her ribs even more pronounced. What had been a dull ache now aggravated her wound, causing her to gasp involuntarily.

This was an injury sustained accidentally while capturing a live weapon.

When using the dividing needle to divide the Yuga Mayum into three parts, knowing that there would be a period of weakness after the different sides were separated, Sugiyama Yoko did not act as if she was facing a great enemy as before.

Even so, she remained at least 90% vigilant.

However, when the separated [power] suddenly struck, her body didn't react in time and she was pushed several meters away.

Her magic shield was shattered, and although it was somewhat cushioned, the heavy force that landed on her nearly crushed her ribs.

What's going on...?

Thinking this, the phantom thief felt her mind was in complete chaos.

There's another voice speaking in my head.

Oh, right.

It was that guy...

She suddenly covered her head, her usually well-disguised face suddenly contorted with rage. Her eyes flickered between clarity and the chilling darkness shrouded in black mist, as she struggled to suppress the "self" that had been dormant for so long.

Just like Mayumi Haga, Yoko Sugiyama was also someone who was pierced by the dividing needle.

When she first fell into this world, she was unfamiliar with her suddenly weakened magic and nearly lost her life after falling from a great height after exhausting her magic.

But she was incredibly lucky; she landed right where the dividing needle was.

Sensing the immense magical power emanating from this artifact, the girl, facing such a life-or-death crisis for the first time and feeling her life slipping away, unleashed a powerful survival instinct.

She crawled toward the needle that had "pinned" the other world to the ground and placed her hand on it.

A blinding light enveloped the dying magical girl.

Originally, according to the procedure, she should have been split into something like Mayumi Haga.

Whether it's two or three individuals, or even more... it all depends on the randomness of the situation.

But she was so badly injured that if they were separated rashly, one of them would surely die.

Yoko Sugiyama was separated, and the side bearing the heavy injuries should have been the "dark side".

But even in such a world, Yoko Sugiyama did not want to just watch a life pass away before her eyes.

Even though it was herself.

Of course, after the dark side was split off, the complete individual was left with only pure kindness and optimism. The kind side, seeing the dark side struggling on the verge of death, couldn't bear it and took the initiative to stop the splitting.

The incomplete ritual had a side effect: although her injuries improved, her personality was split into two.

Moreover, after the dark side took control of the body and the dividing needle to suppress the weak personality that was causing trouble, the original Yoko Sugiyama never appeared again.

That's how it should be.

However, when she used the dividing needle to pierce Yuga Mayumi, she may have loosened her control over that guy, and now the troublesome personality is starting to fight her for control of the body again.

...Absolutely not allowed to get in the way at this time...Damn it.

With a gloomy face, Yoko Sugiyama didn't notice that behind her, the "weapon" that should have been dormant within the huge amber seal had opened its empty, lifeless eyes.

Chapter 224 Remembering Mom

Despite Mayumi's rational advice to ignore the power dynamics, Sugiyama Rika's anxiety only intensified after hearing her explanation.

She was told that the villain causing trouble was her relative.

Although the traces of that relative's existence have disappeared from this world, Sugiyama Rika still subconsciously feels that that person must have a very close blood relationship with her.

If we're talking about close relatives... could it be my grandmother or grandfather? Or perhaps an aunt I've never met?

But that's not right. According to Mayumi, the rational one, the enemy doesn't look very old.

Could it be my older or younger sister...?

Sugiyama Rika thought about it more and more and felt it was possible, and she was even absent-minded when she brought her lover and two children home for dinner.

Yes, she finally went back to the Sugiyama family home.

After learning from Mayumi that the enemy might be her younger sister, she decided to go home to look for clues.

Previously, due to her health and matters on the magic side, Sugiyama Rika rarely went home.

As soon as the thought of going home arose, she shook her head violently, subconsciously trying to banish the idea from her mind.

Even when Sugiyama Arata came to her door last time, she didn't immediately agree to go back. She only said that she would find time to go back and see her mother, whose health was deteriorating, and also to go back for her parents' wedding anniversary...

Why go back now if there's nothing to do?

Sugiyama Rika has always felt indebted to and wanted to avoid her parents.

Feeling guilty for having run away for too long, she couldn't face her parents' anger and disappointment. Even knowing that her parents weren't like that, she felt ashamed at the prospect of receiving their forgiveness.

So she chose to delay as much as possible. She had promised to take Mayumi to the Viya cruise ship to celebrate together, but the time had not yet come, so there was no reason for her to go back.

But what if that enemy really is his own sister...?

Just as Sugiyama Rika was hesitating, a phone call came in as if it knew what she was thinking.

It was Shinta Sugiyama's deep, low voice. The middle-aged man on the other end of the phone tried hard to remain calm, but Rika Sugiyama could still hear the tremor in his voice: "Rika, come home when you have time. Your mother wants to see you."

Sugiyama Rika, the rebellious daughter who hadn't been home for a long time, panicked on the spot.

After all, her father had never spoken to her in such a tone before!

Could something have happened to Mom?

With so many major events happening lately, my mother might actually be affected by unforeseen factors, which could worsen her condition. After all, her health has always been quite weak…

Sugiyama Rika thought about how she was still the doctor's lover, and since her father had been saying that her mother wanted to see Mayumi, she brought both Mayumi with her.

However, upon returning to the Sugiyama residence, the butler stopped Sugiyama Rika, who was rushing to check on the situation: "Miss, please go to the dining room. Madam is waiting for you there."

Sugiyama Rika: "?"

Isn't Mom sick? Why is she in a restaurant now?

Sugiyama Rika was a little confused and anxious to go over, but she was repeatedly stopped and finally had to go to the restaurant first.

Behind her, Mayumi, who was rational, and Ayasa Terasaki, who was holding the young archer's hand, exchanged a glance.

From the moment they entered the villa, the two sensed something was wrong.

It's not that there's anything wrong with hiding enemies or danger, but rather that there's absolutely no indication that the lady of the house is seriously ill.

Logically speaking, with Sugiyama Rika's daughter not at home, and only the Sugiyama couple living there, and one of them being ill, neither Sugiyama Shinta nor the maid would have the inclination or the time to make the house so messy...

When Mayumi entered, she saw the well-maintained but manicured garden plants, looking like they'd been chewed by a dog. In the living room, she saw several boldly colored paintings, all dated from the previous month. The sofa was covered in soft cushions, and even the bookshelf in the corner contained many recently popular manga volumes.

Game cartridges, discs, and controllers were scattered on the coffee table. A yoga mat was rolled up and placed next to the sofa. The TV looked clean and dust-free.

This home is full of life and doesn't look quiet at all like a place where a patient has fallen ill.

Terasaki Ayasa was originally brought over by Sugiyama Rika, partly to introduce her to her family as a girlfriend, and partly to ask Terasaki Ayasa to help treat her mother and see if it was a magical problem.

Now, she feels that all she needs to do this time is introduce her relationship with their eldest daughter to the two lively parents of the Sugiyama family.

That is, coming out of the closet.

However, in this world, even same-sex relationships don't face much resistance, and people don't discriminate against such relationships, so Terasaki Ayasa has nothing to worry about.

A huge weight was lifted from her heart, and she felt much more relaxed.

Looking at Sugiyama Rika, who was still flustered and nervous, clearly unaware that she had been tricked, she felt both helpless and amused.

In fact, the old couple's prank was full of flaws and clumsy. Anyone else would not have been fooled, but Sugiyama Rika always fell for it.

Terasaki Ayasa had already visited Sugiyama Rika's house when she and Sugiyama Rika had just become acquainted through magical girls.

She had also stayed here before as a friend of Sugiyama Rika, so this place was not unfamiliar to her.

She had also met Sugiyama Rika's mother and knew the woman's personality.

If it were that lady... she wouldn't be surprised at all.

Both Mayumi and Ayasa Terasaki, who were both rational, saw through the family's trick, while Rika Sugiyama was still completely unaware and in a state of panic.

And the young bow?