Living with a magical girl, but a weirdo cadre

　Cong Yu was a regular customer here, and even before the uncle's brother died, she often came to buy flowers.

　That is, Cong Yu was already a regular customer here when the original florist was still alive.

　"This time, it's a friend with whom I have a fairly good relationship. His family has been doctors and scientists for generations, and he currently works for a pharmaceutical company."

　As Cong Yu spoke, she described to the shopkeeper who she was going to give the flowers to: "She's the one who likes to tease people, and I always end up scolding her."

　Hearing Cong Yu say this, the florist, who had a beard and stared with dead fish eyes and looked like a melancholy and artistic uncle, fell into thought.

　Because Cong Yu's needs were surprisingly normal this time...

　Previously...

　What kind of people does Cong Yu want to send flowers to? [Girls who are quiet and reserved, like ninjas] and...

　[I treat her like a younger sister, even though the house is very big. But she's a girl who stays in her room all day and never comes out.]

　I buy flowers ten times, and seven of those times it's for girls.

　Even the descriptions of the girls were different each time, and there may have been thirty or forty different girls in total.

　As a shopkeeper who is still unmarried... Cong Yu, this customer, is a jerk who lives an enviable life.

　Of course, there is also a rather impolite guess.

　This regular customer needs to send flowers in large quantities, possibly to a "client"... after all, the other party has an exceptionally handsome appearance.

　"My friend in the pharmaceutical company... but even so, it's difficult to choose the right flower. Let me ask you this: is it male or female?"

　When asked about his boss's question, Cong Yu gave the answer he expected: "She is a woman...you can assume that for now, but gender doesn't really matter."

　Although I don't quite understand what "it's okay to assume that" means, since it's said that gender doesn't matter much... we can just treat each other as ordinary friends, right?

　While considering this, the shop owner casually picked up the colored paper and ribbons used to wrap the bouquet: "My suggestion is to intersperse gourd flowers with hyacinths, how about 55 stems?"

　Five? What an auspicious number.

　Thinking this, Cong Yu nodded and suggested to the shop owner, "Sure, since I don't know much about flowers... but could you pack forty-four stems?"

　Just like in Cong Yu's previous life, in this world of neon lights, the number 4 is a number that must be avoided at all costs.

　boss:"……"

　The boss remained silent.

　"..." The boss hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

　Finally, the man stopped what he was doing and looked at him with a face full of questions: "Are you and your friend really on good terms?"

　"Just kidding, fifty-five will do... How much?"

　Cong Yu then added, counting the banknotes one by one from her wallet...

　Boss: You better really be joking.

　Although he had some reservations, as a business transaction, he still tied the bouquet and handed it to Cong Yu, tapping on the calculator and saying, "It's 303 yuan in total, I'll give you 300... a discount for loyal customers."

　Cong Yu's only comment on this was—

　"Really expensive."

　-

　Flowers... are not a necessity in any world. But if there were no flowers, many situations would feel inconvenient.

　Bringing flowers when visiting a patient is fine... but you can bring a fruit basket.

　You don't have to spend money to express your love... you can just present a wedding ring.

　However, in normal social activities without a specific relationship or purpose, if you don't send flowers, you need to rack your brains to think of what to send.

　Cong Yu didn't want to rack her brains, so she simply sent a greeting card and flowers.

　All you need to do is send your heartfelt wishes.

　As Cong Yu was thinking this, his phone rang with a message notification...

　【ding dong——】

　[Doctor: Today is my birthday... I bet you're fiddling with your lousy flowers again, trying to write some perfunctory birthday wish.]

　Cong Yu glanced silently at the flowers on the table and the greeting card that already had a beginning written on it, and responded...

　[Cong Yu: Actually, no, I didn't even know it was your birthday today.]

　After a while, the message was marked as "(read)".

　[Doctor: Stop acting. Throw away the flowers you've already bought, or the flowers you haven't bought yet. I have absolutely no interest in your birthday wishes.]

　[Doctor: If you have time today, please come to the company office. I have something to give you.]

　[Cong Yu: Today is your birthday... and you're the one giving me a gift?]

　[Doctor: It's your broken sword. I've completed the miniaturization technique you asked me to perform.]

　[Cong Yu: You're not allowed to say that about it! It's the Seven Emperors' Sword!]

　[Doctor: Stop talking nonsense, I don't understand a word you're saying. Just come here quickly, that's all.]

　"..." What kind of situation is this...?

　Cong Yu looked at the bouquet and greeting card with a sigh, thinking that she might have wasted her money buying flowers today.

　With this in mind, Cong Yu simply threw the flowers and greeting card on the ground, watching the flowers disappear into the ground.

　As if there were no solid ground beneath their feet, the flowers and greeting cards passed right through them and then disappeared.

　This is one way the Jormungandr train is used.

　The interior of the Jormungandr train is insulated to keep food fresh. So there won't be any problems throwing food or flowers inside.

　With this in mind, Cong Yu slowly walked into a nearly deserted alleyway, and then...

　He walked straight into the giant snake head phantom that appeared on the wall.

　Fortunately, the name wasn't written on the greeting card prepared for the "doctor" yet, so I could just write someone else's name on it and give it as a gift to the next person whose birthday it was.

　Although I feel somewhat sorry for the doctor and also for the person who will take care of the flower in the future, there's nothing I can do about it.

　Yes, today is April 9th.

　Next up... May 1st is the Rabbit Man's birthday.

　Okay, I'll give it to him!

　(Rabbit Man:???)

　Chapter 74 Weak, yet capable of destroying a city with a flick of the finger

　Now, what stands before Cong Yu is a tall building.

　Yes, it's a very standard commercial building, giving off a very business-like corporate vibe... It's considered one of the taller buildings in the entire area.

　The exterior of the building bears the words "Ryo Ryo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."

　At first glance, the name doesn't seem special, but any eccentric member of Group 22 will realize its interesting aspect.

　However, for most people, this place is just a research and development center for potions and pills... they are not for sale, only for research and development.

　Therefore, people usually don't wander around this place, and passersby don't have any curiosity about what's inside.

　Cong Yu was certainly not one to just stroll around. He walked through the building's entrance and greeted the receptionist, "Good morning, Jing Nu."

　Upon hearing Cong Yu's words, the receptionist, referred to as Mirror Girl, looked up and paused, then said, "Eh? Well, good morning, Cong Yu-sama."

　The woman who looks like a receptionist is Mirror Girl... She looks to be in her early twenties, with long black hair cascading down her shoulders.

　She was wearing a simple black suit... seemingly the standard attire for professional women, but actually only she could wear it.

　This is considered a limited-edition outfit for Mirror Girl.

　Like Cong Yu, she was an oddball with no particularly strange characteristics.

　Mirror Girl's job is to stay on the first floor of "Liangliang Pharmacy" and pretend to be a receptionist at a normal company.

　Then, for guests who genuinely wanted to discuss business, she would use her abilities to make those who had strayed into the place leave in a daze.

　"But why is Lady Congyu here...?"

　Looking at Cong Yu waiting in front of the elevator, Jing Nu asked curiously, "Didn't Lord Hong say you went to school?"

　Why does Hong say everything?

　Cong Yu was somewhat speechless, but still explained to the woman in the mirror, "The 'doctor' said that the miniature spell on my sword has been completed."

　The woman in the mirror pondered this for a moment.

　Lord Congyu's sword?

　The Mirror Woman seemed to have realized something and said, "Oh, it's that super, super big sword that looks rusty. So it's Lord Murasame's weapon?"

　If that's the case, then the woman in the mirror does remember.

　I had noticed before that the 17th basement level of the group building was expanded to be super large... As soon as you get off the elevator, you can see a huge and terrifying sword placed there.

　The entire floor was dedicated to storing that one sword.

　The "doctor" had set up many spells and chains, and used various mechanical arms to hold the sword for research.

　It was a sword that looked rusty and broken... but many people said that the sword had a terrifying aura about it.

　Although the Mirror Girl can't sense it.

　"You're not allowed to say that about it! That's the Seven Emperors' Sword!"

　Upon hearing Cong Yu's rebuttal, Jing Nu, who didn't quite understand, nodded, then thought for a moment: "The Seven Emperors' Sword? What's that?"

　The woman in the mirror looked confused and said, "I remember the 'Doctor' called that weapon... it was Orochi: Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, right?"

　Indeed, that is the true name of the Seven Emperors' Sword.

　"The name is too long, making it troublesome to address."

　After once again pleading for justice for his weapon, Cong Yu reached into the wall, rummaged around, and found a bag of spicy chicken wings.

　"You've been sitting here for so long, it must be tiring. Here, have some chicken wings."

　Afterwards, Cong Yu stepped into the elevator and pressed the "-22" button after hearing the other party's words, "Thank you, Cong Yu-sama!"

　That is, the 22nd basement level, where the group's headquarters are located.

　What? You mean other buttons?

　The buttons for other floors are also usable, but once you get there, you probably won't see anyone. Thanks to the doctor, those areas have basically become warehouses.

　If you take the elevator there, you'll probably find all sorts of materials and the like displayed densely in those areas.

　The 22nd floor, where the official group headquarters is located, is naturally much larger than it appears from the outside...

　This is the power of the space folding technique.

　It's similar to the Magical Girl Headquarters Building.

　"Lord Cong Yu."

　"Lord Cong Yu..."

　"Good morning, Lord Congyu."

　"..." As soon as Cong Yu stepped out of the elevator, he was greeted by many people. He walked into the high-tech lobby and nodded in response to them.

　Cong Yu is very popular within the group, and even the boldest and most eccentric people will take the initiative to greet him.

　However, most eccentric people will still choose to avoid him.

　On the one hand, they didn't really want to talk to the cadres, and on the other hand, it might be because of the magical aura emanating from Cong Yu.

　For example, a strange person with a keen sense of aura can easily sense the predator-like feeling emanating from Cong Yu.

　It's also possible that the existence of Murasame is not very friendly to certain prototype monsters, for example...

　These are monsters based on chickens, frogs, rabbits, rats, lizards, and the like—monsters on the "snake" menu.

　After Cong Yu stepped out of the elevator, she arrived at the group's lobby, which was surrounded by many corridors and airlocks, connecting to the huge 22 Group headquarters.

　All the eccentric characters here have their own rooms. And those of higher rank enjoy their own small area.

　Just like in visual novels, you decide who you want to increase your affection for, and then go to a specific area at a specific time to perform an event.