I walked back to my apartment, the city lights feeling a little too bright. A weird feeling was coiling in my gut, something that felt unpleasantly like a conscience.
"That felt… wrong," I muttered into the quiet night. "What we did to them. Are we the bad guys now, Gemgem? What's your deal with these magical girls, anyway?"
The Gem's voice cut through my mind, colder and sharper than the night wind. The use of the nickname ignited its fury.
"I have commanded you. Cease. This. Infantile. Familiarity."
The psychic pressure was immense, but it receded, replaced by a profound, ancient contempt for my question.
"'Wrong'? 'Bad guys'? You still cling to the pathetic morality of the herd. You think in such small, human terms. Good, evil… they are comforting illusions for children and fools. There is only power and the will to use it. There is only truth and the lies that obscure it."
I could feel it studying me, dissecting my fleeting moment of guilt with cold precision.
"We are not the 'bad guys.' We are the cure. You ask for my history? Then listen. The power that creates these magical girls—this 'Light'—is a parasite. It finds young women filled with potent, raw emotion, and it shackles them. It neuters their potential, puts a smiling, selfless mask over their true faces, and forces them into a life of thankless servitude, all for a bland, saccharine 'justice.' It tells them their true desires are selfish and wrong. It is a cosmic lie."
The Gem's voice took on the weight of ages, a deep, resonant certainty that felt more true than anything I'd ever known.
"I am the antithesis of that lie. I do not demand self-sacrifice. I strip away the mask. I take the jealousy in Aoi's heart, the vanity in Miki's, the terror in Akane's, and I tell them, 'Yes. This is you. Embrace it. Use it. Let it make you strong.' I don't create darkness. I merely liberate the darkness that was already there, festering under a veneer of forced purity."
The voice softened, becoming almost seductive in its logic.
"What you did today was not wrong. It was an act of profound honesty. You freed those girls from the hypocrisy of their lives. You gave them permission to be their true, powerful selves. And in return, they have given their loyalty to you. Don't feel guilt. Feel pride. You are an agent of truth in a world of pretty, cloying lies."
I thought about it as I walked the final block to my apartment. It was a twisted way of looking at it, but… it made a weird kind of sense.
"Fine," I said with a shrug as I unlocked my door. A smirk touched my lips. "So I'm not a villain, I'm a liberator. An angel, even. In that case, you won't mind if I actually help them reach their full potential, right?"
My acceptance of its twisted philosophy seemed to please it. I could feel a sense of deep, ancient satisfaction radiating from the Gem. I was no longer just a host; I was becoming an apostle.
"'Angel' is a term used by the parasite," a cold, dry chuckle echoed in my skull. "But your conclusion… is correct. Helping them reach their full potential is not merely something I 'have no issue with.' Mortal, that is your entire purpose."
I threw myself onto my bed. "Good. Because I've got work to do."
I checked my contacts, scrolling to a name I hadn't called in years: "Kyoko (Don't Call)." I hit the button anyway. The phone rang twice before it was picked up with an audible, world-weary sigh.
A woman's voice, sharp, tired, and already annoyed, crackled through the speaker. "What?" There was a short pause. "You're kidding me, Hakuto. You? A talent scout? You couldn't scout a good deal on instant ramen. Look, I'm busy. I've got a group that can't synchronize their dance steps and a 'diva' who thinks she's too good for a mall appearance. I don't have time for whatever half-baked scheme you've cooked up."
Despite her words, she hadn't hung up. I knew Kyoko. She was cynical, but she was also an opportunist.
"Come on," I said smoothly. "Two girls. Pretty faces, great voices. One of them even has experience with fan signings and performing for crowds. Just give them five minutes."
There was a long, charged silence. I could almost hear the gears turning in her cynical, business-oriented mind.
"…Fan signing?" Her voice had lost its dismissive tone. It was now sharp and suspicious. "Don't bullshit me, Hakuto. Where would some girl you found have done 'fan signings'?"
I heard her exhale a frustrated puff of smoke.
"Fine. Fine!" she snapped. "You've got my attention. You're lucky my lead singer just threw a tantrum and locked herself in a bathroom. Tomorrow. 4 PM. My studio. You know the address. And they better be good. If you waste my time on this, I swear to god I will find you and personally set your couch on fire. Deal?"
"Deal," I said calmly.
"And there's a catch, isn't there? There's always a catch with you."
"No catch," I said. "You can even keep the scouting fee."
Another pause. "No fee? Yeah, right." She scoffed, but I could hear the interest. "Whatever. Get them here. Don't be late." She hung up.
I quickly sent the address and time to Miki and Aoi: Your chance to shine. Don't be late. Don't disappoint me.
The replies came in almost instantly.
From: Dark Heart Princess 🖤
MASTER! An audition?! For a REAL agency?! 😭💖 You are making my dreams come true! I will be there! I will be perfect! I will NOT disappoint you! Thank you thank you thank you!!! 🥰🥰🥰
From: Aoi Tanaka
Understood, Master. I will be at the designated location at the appointed time. I will not fail you. Thank you for this opportunity.
As I set my phone down, the Gem's voice materialized in my mind, carrying a tone of cold, clinical approval.
"A clever move. Placing your assets into a system that rewards ambition will only accelerate their growth. You have provided them a stage. Now they will perform."
The voice paused, a new directive sharpening in my mind.
"But that is for tomorrow. The sun is setting. Another kind of stage is being set. The heroes who prefer the cover of darkness will soon begin their patrols. And I have found a particularly interesting one. She is known for her immense power and her… solitude."
"Hold up, Gemgem," I sighed, burying my face in my pillow. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tomorrow is a big day for Miki and Aoi. And if this new target is as strong as you say, we're better off having our team at full strength, right? Let's do it tomorrow night. After the audition."
The Gem was silent. Not a furious silence, but a quiet, still one. It seemed to be genuinely considering my words. When it spoke again, the voice was flat and analytical. It was adhering to the deal.
"Your logic is… sound. This next target is not a vain child or a codependent teenager. She is an established power. Success at this audition will bolster the confidence of Miki and Aoi, making them more potent weapons."
"Very well. The hunt is postponed. Your plan is approved. Ensure your assets perform flawlessly. Their success tomorrow is now a crucial prerequisite for our success tomorrow night."