After making the scouting offer, we quickly left the fan meeting and headed to a nearby café. It wasn't that she had abandoned her fans out of greed for money; there simply weren’t any left after us. It truly felt like the kind of turnout you’d expect for a small-time magical girl who could book a fan meeting on the same day.

As we arrived at the café and ordered drinks, I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw that White Fang had no intention of taking off her mask or magical girl costume, even inside the café.

“You don’t have to keep that on, you know,” I said.
“It’s fine,” she replied.
“And what if someone figures out you're a magical girl?”

At my words, White Fang shrugged and gestured around the café. I followed her gaze, noticing several customers seated here and there, all dressed as magical girls. I let out a wry laugh.

Seeing my surprise, White Fang explained why she had brought us here.

“This is a cosplay café. Both the customers and staff can dress however they like. Naturally, the chance of anyone realizing I’m a real magical girl is quite low. Besides, I’m a low-tier magical girl with little recognition, so there’s even less risk.”

“Um, Scientist? Can I use the restroom for a moment…?”
“Aile, sit.”

I gestured for Aile to stay seated, and then I turned back to White Fang.

“So, what you’re saying is, you want to keep your face and name hidden, correct?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. I don’t need your name or face; I only need a magical girl. But…”

“If you need proof that I’m a magical girl, I’ll show you my license.”

With that, White Fang pulled out an ID card—an official magical girl license issued by the Magical Girl Association. Created by the spirits’ mystical powers, the license instantly conveyed the truth of its bearer’s identity. It wasn’t mind control or hypnosis; it was a form of perception magic. Satisfied, I nodded.

“Very well. Let’s get straight to the point. What I want from you is assistance with research into spirits.”

“Research into spirits?”

“Yes. Specifically, how spirits interact with this world and, more importantly, what other realms they’re connected to.”

White Fang frowned slightly, tilting her head as if listening to something. Then, after nodding a few times to the empty air, she turned back to me. Was her spirit speaking to her? I couldn’t see anything, but it seemed like it.

“My spirit says… it cannot cooperate with your research.”

“That’s fine. I only need your cooperation, not the spirit’s.”

“My spirit also asks if you’re aware that there have been numerous attempts to research spirits, all of which have failed.”

“Of course, I’m aware.”

Magical girls possess power comparable to A-tier or S-tier heroes. It’s only natural that some would covet such strength, especially since it resides in the hands of adolescent girls. However, despite countless efforts, no one has ever succeeded in stealing a magical girl’s powers, nor has an adult or a man ever obtained them. All those research attempts ended in failure.

“And despite knowing this, you still want to hire me?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“You’re just going to waste your money.”

Just because others had failed didn’t mean I would give up. It wasn’t about confidence or arrogance—it was simply that not attempting would go against the principles of science. Besides, there was nothing else left for me to try.

“—It’s something that must be done,” I said firmly.
“Very well. Then let’s draft the contract… Ow—!”

White Fang suddenly yelped and began waving her hand in the air, as if she were tussling with something invisible. I couldn’t help but smile, realizing her spirit was likely causing the commotion.

When she noticed my amusement, White Fang blushed slightly, lowering her head.

“Sorry… My spirit wants to ask one more question.”
“Go ahead.”
“It wants to know what you plan to do with the research. Will it be used for good… or for evil?”

I smiled wryly. There’s no such thing as good or evil in research. Just as dynamite and machine guns, invented to protect lives, ended up causing countless deaths, science has no inherent morality. But I understood what she was asking—she wanted to know if I intended to use it for something noble or criminal.

Even though I was a villain, that didn’t mean every aspect of my research would be used for evil.

“It’s to save a person’s life.”
“…I see.”

White Fang glanced at the air again, seemingly receiving approval this time. She quickly signed the contract I had prepared, only afterward raising an important issue.

“By the way, how do you plan to conduct this spirit research? Without the potential to become a magical girl, you won’t be able to see or touch them.”

“Don’t worry about that. Aile?”

“Can I finally change…!?”

Delighted, Aile stood up with a grin and rushed to the restroom.

Magical girls are supposed to be pure, innocent, and virtuous. Aile, too, possessed these qualities—at least to some extent. Although she had become known as an “evil magical girl,” it was clear that she had the potential. With her qualifications, even if she wore a fake magical girl outfit, she could interact with spirits.

“—Hehe, nice to meet you, White Fang~”
“…The evil magical girl?”
“Oh my, why so shocked?”

White Fang’s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Aile returning in her evil magical girl attire. She then turned to me, her voice trembling slightly.

“Didn’t you say this was all to save someone…?”
“A villain is still a person.”

“Ah… It’s too late. Is there any way to cancel the contract?”

I simply pointed to the bottom of the contract, which stated that a breach would result in a penalty ten times the agreed-upon payment.

There was no way a magical girl, no matter how hard she worked, could afford that kind of money. White Fang’s expression twisted in realization. But once a contract is signed, it’s binding.

Society is cold.
Even for magical girls.

Eblis Corporation Laboratory.
In the lab prepared for spirit research, Aile was playing with a small, animal-shaped spirit, treating it like a cute mascot.

“Aww, it’s adorable.”
—Mew, mew! L-Let me go!
“I wish I had a mascot like this…”

Aile said this as she glanced at me, busy tinkering with something in the lab. I didn’t even spare her a glance, focused entirely on my work. Pouting, Aile continued teasing the poor spirit.

—Mew! Stop it! White Fang, save me!
“White Fang is currently trapped in a cozy little purgatory~”
—You vile villains! Let go of me and White Fang!
“Do you really think she wants that?”

—Our bond will never be broken!

Aile smirked and stood up, walking over to the window.

Outside, White Fang’s entire body was strapped into a large machine. The spirit let out a pained wail at the sight.

[A-Ah, ugh…]
—M-Mew… White Fang…!

The spirit’s voice trembled as it watched White Fang, strapped to the machine like a magical girl captured by the enemy.

“See? No one has ever escaped from that demonic machine on their own.”
—You wicked, wicked people…!
“Our evil organization’s massage chair is unbeatable! Whether it’s one hour or two, all you’ll do is moan as it massages you!”

—Mew?

As Aile laughed mischievously, the lab’s speaker crackled, and my voice came through.

[Aile? I can see it now. Hold onto it tight so it doesn’t escape.]
“Yes, Scientist~”

Hugging the spirit tightly to her chest to prevent its escape, Aile waited for me.

A moment later, I entered the room, wearing a pair of goggles. I walked up to Aile, adjusting the goggles as I studied the spirit.

“There we go. I can see it clearly now.”
“Can I go now? I’ve got homework to do.”
“I’ll excuse you from homework today. Just stay a bit longer. You can’t touch it yet.”
“Yay!”

As Aile cheered, the spirit looked utterly confused, tilting its head in disbelief. This man, who wasn’t pure or innocent, could see it? How?

I met the spirit’s gaze, smiling warmly.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Eight, a scientist for the evil organization.”

—Mew… A man can’t see a spirit…

“—【A man can’t see a spirit?】”
—Mew!?

The spirit was startled as I repeated its words back to it. How was this possible? According to the strict laws of the Grand Spirit Realm, a man should be incapable of perceiving them.

Yet here I was, staring directly at it.

—H-How…?
“It’s a long story… Let’s just say I found a way.”

I grinned, ready to dive into the reason I’d gone through so much trouble to hire White Fang and bring this spirit here.

“Do you know anything about Earth?”
—E-Earth…?
“Yes, Earth.”

I was asking about my home planet.