(...this world is the same today, isn't it?)


　Shelly is in her hospital room, looking through the window at a world dominated by twilight. Shelly's memory is interrupted in the middle of her fight with Silas. Then she wakes up and finds herself in bed. Of course, she was appalled by this, but next to her was Belle.


'Sir, I.........'
'Shelly. Hold on ... tightly ... as a matter of fact ...



　And she knew. How this all came about. And moreover, her own roots.


"I have demon blood in my veins?
''Yes....the details are called the Twilight Factor...''
''I see.......and so does Eira-senpai, and Yulia is a complete individual.......''
''Well that's what I remember seeing from Lady Liane, but I think I'm right. Shelly-chan's growth rate was........................tremendous.
Well, I see. I understand, doctor.
Well I guess so. But I think Shelly, no matter what she was ... born ... she's still Shelly, right?
Thank you very much.


　He bowed his head begrudgingly. I see, I wasn't human... I was shocked the moment I heard that, but I slowly came to accept it. Indeed, my rate of growth improved significantly after a certain day. In recent times, especially after meeting Yulia, the speed was extraordinary. Shelly pretended not to see it. This was the result of hard work. There would be talent, but her own previous efforts had blossomed. She decided to believe that, but she felt herself getting stronger with each deepening of the eroding Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》.


　And now........there was no more traces of the Twilight Syndrome 《Twilight Syndrome》. She was just sad, even though she wondered if she had finished her true awakening in a sense.


　She couldn't help but feel sad that her origins were from human malice.... Suddenly, she remembered her father. His father who had died. He may not be related by blood now, but that doesn't change the fact that he was my father. And the sadness he felt at that time was real. Yes ... that grief is overflowing in this twilight world. Every day someone important to someone else is dying. It has accumulated, and a person's vengeance has gone beyond ethics to create something that is not human.


　 There was no change in that will. I'm sure Julia will also know this fact and will go further on that basis. He would surely do so. Then there is no reason 《excuse me》 why I should be the only one to stop.



Are you sure?
'Yeah I'm recommending it too ... didn't you like it?'
'No, it's not. But is it okay with me?
Don't worry.
I understand. I'll be a special grade anti-magician.


　Sherry, who was aiming to become a special class anti-magician. It's a very different path from the one I had in mind, and I've arrived at that point. But that's fine with me. I'm not afraid of the fact that I'll be able to wield the blade again for the sake of humanity. Even if it is in any environment.


　She, too, will proceed. With a sure will, she will face this twilight.



　◇



　Then a few days. Shelly was at work when the call came up. To be honest, she was nervous. Although she was acquainted with the people of the Special Class Counter-Magician, the position was still too heavy.


　As she was soaking up the tension, she was spoken to from behind.


''Shelly, good morning.''
'Julia, it's been a while, hasn't it?　And, you know... that's... much clearer.
'Shelly, I haven't seen you since then. Well, yeah I saw a good opportunity and I snapped it off.
'Yes, I do. I think your short hair looks very good on you. But still, I'm a bit nervous about it...
Ha ha, well I was nervous the first time, too.


　It was a casual conversation, but as a matter of fact........Shelly remained calm. Yes, her inner heart was in a state of panic.


(Ha!　You're cutting your hair!　Huh?　What do you mean?　(Huh?!)


　At the top, the upper portion only lightly touches Yulia's hair. Still, I'm inwardly impatient. I don't understand. When I met her the other day she had long hair, but now she has short hair. And there are many parts of it that are mussed up, whether they were cut by themselves or not. Still, the current Yulia........


(.........eh?　(It's so cool!)


　Yeah. Shelly was a short-haired handsome guy who was very striking. Until now, Yulia has a neutral face and long hair. To be honest, there wasn't much that I was particularly aware of, since I hadn't tried to see her as a man for all intents and purposes. But now it's different. Short-haired Yulia has a definite masculinity to her. And perhaps because she's awakened as a witch, she seems to have grown a bit taller, and her body is quite stocky.


　Yulia, with her simple masculinity, seemed to shine for Shelly.


(Oh, calm down.......this is just palpitations......there's nothing unusual about it.......)


　So she calmed herself down and went straight to the meeting.



　◇



Hmmm, so you cut Julia's hair. I want to see it.
You're going to freak me out because you're really cool.
Well is it so much to ask of Shelly?


　After the meeting since then, Shelly had come to the cafeteria after her training with Belle. Just then, she met Sophia for the first time in a long time. Sofia seemed to be participating in this mission as well, and Sherry was somewhat relieved to see a familiar face.


　The two of them sat down at the same table and conversed with each other while taking their meals as usual.


''No, yeah. Maybe it's a little seriously bad...''
Did you notice that?
For what?
I'm in love with Julia.
What?
No, anyone can see it from the side. Everyone knows that the only people who aren't aware of it are the ones in charge.
Wait a minute... who is everybody?
Squad. And it's a famous rumor in the army. You can't help but fall in love with a special class anti-magician or something...
...Really?
'Yeah. But now that Shelly is a new special-grade anti-magician, I think it's balanced. It's just....
It's just... what?
You're senior Eira, right, your rival.
'What?　Eira-senpai, is that right?
'Oh, you don't even notice that?　This is why brainiacs....
'Don't cuss now, tell me about it!
'No, Eira-senpai likes Yulia too. I mean, Yulia is the only one who hasn't noticed it yet.
Really?
Seriously.


　Shelly put the spoon she was scooping up the curry on the spot and became lost in contemplation. It never occurred to her that the situation was going on in a way that she was completely unaware of. But then Sofia told me and I realized. It's true that I am attracted to Julia.


'What do you think I should do?'
Well it's normal to admit that I like Julia.
Well, well...I had a vague feeling that it was....
'Well yeah yeah, no, I think it's good. I think it's very good to fall in love, yes.
'Who's to say who's to blame but I've got an important mission ahead of me and I'll be able to get it done when it's over...'
Sweet!　That's sweet!　Senior Eira may already be on the move!　And there's no chance that the operation will cost us our lives. That's why we have to make the approach now!
Oh, really?
I'm sure of it!
Okay, okay I'll try and do my best...


　Thus, Shelley also becomes aware of her own feelings and begins to move on... but that's another story.