Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku - Volume 7 - Chapter 2.5

INTERLUDE

  Pythie Frederica

“Has the other guest left?”

“Yes, she has.”

“Was she satisfied?”

“I do believe she was.”

“Oh, good, good.” The old woman smiled, showing her front teeth. A number of those large teeth were missing. “It’s good to be friendly with the folks in Magical Girl Resources. They even said that back when I was in active service. They’re more than just arrogant bigheads, you know.”

“Aren’t you still in active service?”

“You’re not going to get anything from buttering me up, deary.” The old woman laughed for a while, then, laughing too much, choked and coughed, and Frederica stroked her back. Wiping her tears with her apron, the old woman innocently said, “You never do want to get older,” but she didn’t sound as sad as the words would imply, which had to mean she was still active as a magical girl, after all.

Carrying a tray with their teacups and bowls on it, the old woman disappeared beyond a screen, leaving Frederica alone in the room.

Outside the window were two crows that seemed to be mates resting on a telephone wire. Though this place wasn’t famous for its scenic beauty or anything, it wouldn’t have hurt for them to have taken a little bit more care with the view.

Frederica hadn’t seen 7753 in a long time, and having met her now, she was still the exact same as always. Never having withered, fallen, been cut or burst open, she was the same old 7753. Frederica had heard she was living with Tepsekemei. Perhaps they were positively influencing each other. Frederica thought this was quite nice, though she also knew they wouldn’t like her. She doubted either of them would listen to her, if she were to try to draw them to her.

Pfle, at least, would pretend to listen. She was superior to Frederica, as a schemer. Frederica thought this was quite impressive, at her age, but she also knew they would probably never like each other.

She could understand what Pfle wanted. Some of it, she would even nod her head to. But Pfle should not be standing at the lead—because she was not a righteous magical girl.

Frederica had managed to build favorable relationships with her students, other than Snow White. And with that magical girl called Keek, who Snow White had eliminated; though she reminisced or buried the memories as she saw fit, they had gotten along well.

Frederica had the right to access Keek’s old digital territory, so she could load up the records of the killing game for magical girls Keek had held.

Frederica knew what Pfle had done, and what she’d had others do, in order to escape that crisis. Pfle would rarely misjudge anyone. Beyond what her unique magic granted her—a high-powered wheelchair that raced at high speed—the central weapon that Pfle had at her disposal was her ability to acquire and manage information.

And this had only become more true once she had the information-gathering expert, 7753, in her pocket. She would make accurate predictions of who would do what, then meddle personally to create the desired outcome. Even a wildcard like Frederica, who would cause most in positions of power to scowl, she would take control over, too. With Weddin’s magic as her security, Frederica couldn’t do anything to harm her, and the bait of the backing that Frederica needed most in her current situation would make Frederica pretend to gladly wag her tail, at least.

What would happen if Pfle were to clash with Snow White? Just thinking about it made Frederica’s cheeks relax in a smile. Pfle would become a trial for Snow White, an experience, a foundational stone on her path as a righteous magical girl.

If Pfle were to ever misjudge someone, what sort of person would they be?

A machine with no feelings at all. A selfless saint. A religious fanatic with logic that was difficult to understand. A madman who hid nothing.

No. The more different someone was from Pfle, the more incompatible the two were, the more Pfle would lay caution upon caution in her observation of them. If Pfle were to judge someone governed by unpredictable behavior, she would manage as suited the occasion. She would not misjudge them.

If Pfle were to misjudge someone, it would be someone she saw as okay to misjudge, wouldn’t it?

Outside the window, the crows were grooming each other. Scenery aside, perhaps this was a pleasant enough sight. Feeling her heart slightly warmed, Frederica pulled the manila envelope out from her sleeve.

The orders contained within were concise and easily understood.

This “artificial magical-girl plan” based on new technology that could turn humans into magical girls, regardless of whether they had the potential or not, was deeply intriguing. It was based on the methods used by Toko, the S City mascot, and then had been developed further. The plan had been perfected by ensuring its long-term prospects rather than doing it as a temporary means of buying time, making good use of the time and money available. Perhaps this could create the ideal magical girl that Frederica had always sought.

But she doubted the Magical Kingdom would just sit back and allow this. They would never turn a blind eye to an increase in magical girls’ numbers without ever going through the Magical Kingdom’s exams in an attempt to build a private army. The Magical Kingdom as a whole aside, certain leaders would stake their reputations on putting a stop to it.

“Hmm.”

Pfle’s residence had been attacked. Currently, the principal magical girls of Magical Girl Resources as well as Pfle herself had their hands tied. That had to be why she was trying to use Frederica. She was suited to this sort of maneuvering. Pfle was not mistaken in her choice of personnel.

Why was she trying to do something like this? What had forced her into doing something like this? Who was it who had attacked Pfle’s house and to what end?

Some force was trying to crush the artificial magical-girl project. Pfle wasn’t so careless or so kind as to sit there and let it be destroyed. She would neither obediently let this plan be crushed nor put up a crude resistance. The magical girl Pfle’s way was to launch a sneak attack from an avenue her opponent would not expect.

Her goal was likely to spread the fact of artificial magical girls around as open technology, as fait accompli. If things got to that point, even the conservative, hard-line factions within the Magical Kingdom wouldn’t be able to hush things up. Whether they would forbid the technology or permit it, there would be a discussion about it. And once there was, the decision would be made in parliamentary fashion among the highest authorities, the Three Sages. Frederica didn’t know what sort of lobbying Pfle was engaging in, but she should have a fair chance of victory.

Had that been her intention all along, or had she been pushed into a corner, forced into this? Pfle wasn’t trying to monopolize this technology for herself. She was aiming to scatter, spread, and share it. What for? In order to gain the power to oppose the Magical Kingdom.

The young lady is actually engaged in quite vulgar activity.

Frederica couldn’t just sit around doing nothing but think, either. Weddin’s magic still bound her with its compulsion. She could not oppose 7753, which meant she couldn’t defy Pfle, either. That was part of why she had sought the patronage of the Magical Girl Resources Department. They had a commendable patron who would take Frederica on and also a means to control Frederica. To Pfle, that was what 7753 was.

Frederica slid open the screen and looked to the other side.

A magical girl was standing there. There was nothing below the elbow of her left arm, and a blade scar ran over the left side of her face, closing her left eye. Her costume was ninja-themed, overall. “I’m back,” she said.

“Thank you for your efforts. For now, please rest. I’ll pour you some nice tea.”