In response to Homura's question, Mami shook her head.
"Actually, Doctor Lancer didn't tell us much directly. Even the fact that 'Witches' and 'Magical Girls' can transform into each other was a conclusion we reached based on the 'facts.' After all, Mr. Lancer personally showed us the process of purifying a Grief Seed. We actually met a 'Magical Girl' who had been restored to normal from a 'Witch'..."
"That's impossible."
Before Mami could finish, a familiar voice interrupted her. Kyoko Sakura, who had been sitting cross-legged, snapped to her feet and leveled her weapon at the source.
"Kyubey?! Weren't you captured by Lancer?!"
Everyone had seen Kyubey sealed inside that ice barrier with their own eyes. For him to appear before them now, completely unharmed, was simply unbelievable.
But Kyubey just flicked his tail, looking entirely unmoved.
"A Witch's Grief Seed is composed of negative emotions. Their souls have long since fallen into a slumber from which they can never wake. The only result of trying to wake them is the resurrection of the Witch. You've been lied to."
Mami and Kyoko had once suffered a series of tragedies because they blindly trusted Kyubey words. Lancer had specifically warned them—you can never fully believe what Kyubey says. Every sentence he speaks is ambiguous and full of loopholes.
Because she had never considered it before, Mami hadn't doubted Kyubey words in the past, but hearing his denial now made her realize something.
"Kyubey—you aren't denying the connection between 'Witches' and 'Magical Girls'?"
"Correct. Because a relationship does indeed exist between the two. In that case, why would I deny it?"
His innocent, matter-of-fact expression made everyone's skin crawl. Sayaka Miki, in particular, shrank back instinctively. She had been the first of the three to be tempted by him, and lately, she had been close to being swayed—not for a "wish," but out of a pure desire to become a magical girl to protect everyone and be a "hero of justice."
But Kyubey words now left her stunned.
A connection between Witches and Magical Girls? Why?!
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because you never asked."
Usually, Kyubey tone sounded cute, but saying it like this made it feel entitled and arrogant. Kyoko veins were throbbing in her forehead; if Mami hadn't put a hand out to stop her, she would have skewered the creature then and there.
Facing the furious Kyoko and the dark-faced Mami, Kyubey simply tilted its head.
"Why are you angry? Humans truly are strange creatures. I told you from the start that to fulfill your 'wish,' a corresponding price must be paid. All of this is the price you paid. Did you really not realize that?"
Kyubey targets were girls who could be classified as teenagers or even children. Even adults often overlook details in a rush; let alone children who know nothing of the world's dark side. Simply put, it was contract fraud. But while regular fraud can be taken to court, where do you go to sue over a contract signed with Kyubey?
Even though Mami was trying her best to restrain her emotions, the fury in her eyes was nearly uncontrollable.
She forced back her rage only because there were still things she needed to clarify.
"Since, according to you, there is a connection between 'Witches' and 'Magical Girls,' or rather, they can transform into each other, what is your purpose in all this?"
"Mami, let me remind you again: there is a connection, but they cannot 'transform' back. Your Soul Gem is literally your soul. As the price for performing a 'miracle,' your soul is materialized and becomes the Soul Gem in your hand. Your positive emotions are the source of your magic, but as the price for using that magic, 'negative emotions' accumulate. When these negative emotions reach a certain limit, the Soul Gem's protective layer cracks, and the negative emotions drifting in this world fill the gem, turning it into a Grief Seed. The soul then falls into a total slumber. Therefore, it is impossible for them to transform back and forth. After all, how can a being in total slumber produce 'hope'? That is why I say you were tricked by that man."
Kyubey didn't seem to care that his actions were being exposed. To make Mami and Kyoko realize that "Lancer is a liar," he didn't hesitate to reveal the secret of the Soul Gems. In his view, there was nothing that couldn't be said; the only reason he hadn't told them was indeed because they hadn't asked.
Unfortunately, neither Mami nor Kyoko allowed themselves to be distracted. They just looked at their own Soul Gems with grim expressions.
Though they had each had their own suspicions before, they couldn't help but feel shock and rage now that the answer was officially revealed.
Perhaps because her anger had peaked, Mami actually became eerily calm. She crossed her arms and looked down at Kyubey with an expressionless face.
"Your denial is meaningless. We saw the girl named 'Nagisa Momoe' with our own eyes. Her 'Grief Seed' was purified, and she woke up completely and spoke with us. Even our own Soul Gems have been purified by Doctor Lancer. Kyubey... is there anything else you want to say?"
What is the biggest difference between a detective and a policeman?
A detective finds clues and uses their intellect to connect them into a perfect deduction. A policeman's job is often more brute-force; relying on numbers and information superiority, they can often skip stages and have the answer presented directly to them.
Mami and the others had skipped the deduction phase and put the answer directly in front of Kyubey. Kyubey, who had intended to argue point by point, froze.
"Turning a 'Grief Seed' back into a 'Soul Gem'? How is that possible?! How did that man do it? And what has that guy done... does he want to destroy the world?!"
For the first time, Mami and Kyoko heard an emotion called "anger" in Kyubey voice.