Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: First Stage
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Clink.
The cold sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the air.
Click, clack.
Unusually sharp, the sound of boot heels striking the ground rang out around them as well.
"What's wrong, Magical Girl? Your hand's stopped."
And what could possibly be so amusing? The enemy facing me was grinning like a child full of eager anticipation, pointing her sword right at me.
"How... Boundary Inversion..."
Arti—the Magical Girl in a dress, her fiery red hair flames fluttering wildly—could only back away slowly, her face a mask of utter bewilderment.
"Oh—that?"
It must have been quite the shock to have her magic itself sliced apart. Well, of course it would be. Robelia flashed a bright smile at the flustered Magical Girl, who had quickly pulled herself together and was ready to fight again.
"Simple. When magic collides with magic, only the more tightly woven one remains. Spells are the same. If you wanted to shove me beyond the boundary, you should've learned to handle your magic more delicately."
No way she could know. A Magical Girl's magic power was off the charts, both in quantity and quality. Unless she ever had to fight another Magical Girl, nothing in the world could even touch it.
"No matter how long you fight from beyond the boundary, no one will ever recognize you."
That was why the girl with the purple-tinged black hair—Robelia—said it once more.
"Come on—let's show them. Those monkeys who still think they're safe, let's teach them what a Magical Girl's fight really is—!"
Her voice rose in fervor as an ominous purple magic power surged high, shaking the ground.
Shrrriiiip—!!
A beat later, the trajectory of the swung purple sword followed.
Rumble...!
Everything around them—except for Arti, who desperately ducked—split in half and began to crumble.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"S-save me!"
Only after seeing the buildings neatly bisected and sliding down did the onlookers finally realize it. They weren't safe anymore.
"Haaah—!!"
But a Magical Girl was still here.
Shhhrrrk...!
With a full-throated shout from one girl, tens of thousands of red ribbons erupted from sky and earth, weaving together like a net to shield the people from the collapsing debris.
Drip...
Robelia watched. Even with her enemy right in front of her eyes, the Magical Girl threw herself into saving those foolish onlookers without hesitation. Nose bleeding from overexerting her magic power, she gripped the source of the ribbons spread all around her with both hands, straining to hold on. It was the picture of a beautiful Magical Girl.
"......"
Completely ignored. She'd tried to put on a flashy show for once, but the Magical Girl acted like Robelia didn't exist at all, prioritizing the people instead. And yet... a disarmingly gentle smile crept across Robelia's lips.
"Yes. That's right."
This was the 'real' Magical Girl she'd always loved so much.
"Hoo, ha...!"
And the Magical Girl—Arti—who had poured every ounce of strength into keeping the ribbons tied to her hands from unraveling...
"You...! What...! What do you even want...!"
She couldn't comprehend it. Robelia had been screaming like she was about to slaughter the fleeing civilians, but now she was whistling casually beside her, gazing at Arti with utter adoration.
"Me? I wish there were no Magical Girls in this world."
Arti stared at Robelia, who leaned back against the nearby ribbon and spoke in a calm voice.
"But I really... yeah, really like you all. So, if at all possible, I don't want to hurt you myself. Well, if it's necessary, no choice."
Even squeezing out her last reserves of strength to bind her somehow, it was hopeless. Robelia couldn't even be restrained at full power, let alone now.
Pluck. Plip.
Robelia casually flicked away the red ribbons trying to wrap around her feet with her fingers.
"Pii—!"
Flutter, flutter. A tiny bird with adorable wings flew right up to her, trembling as it positioned itself in front of Arti—who was still clutching the ribbons—as if to protect her. Robelia looked at it.
"You're Arti's Mascot?"
"Y-yes! I'll protect Arti-pi!"
Pfft. Robelia let out an incredulous laugh.
Crunch...!
Then she simply snatched the Mascot out of the air with her hand, crushing it before it could say another word.
"Protect? You shouldn't have let her get in danger in the first place."
"La-pi—!"
Was the shock of her precious partner being pulverized in an instant too much? Arti screamed the name of her already-dead Mascot but couldn't let go of the ribbons in her hands.
"You... you...! I will never, ever forgive you...! Never...!"
Tears welled up in her blazing red eyes as she vowed—with pure rage—that once the people were safe, she'd take Robelia down no matter what.
"Good. Don't forgive me. I never planned on being forgiven by anyone from the start."
Robelia's reply came with a chillingly composed gaze fixed on her.
"Ah..."
That was the moment Arti sensed her own death.
Stab...!
Robelia's purple sword pierced her chest, but strangely, there was no pain.
"Don't worry. There's no sign of life around here anymore. You saved them."
And with that warm voice came... the omnipotent feeling that she could do anything, her magic power, slowly fading away.
"No... nooo...!"
She knew instinctively. The sword hadn't pierced her body—it had struck at the source of her Magical Girl power.
"Not like this... I can't end like this...!"
She desperately tried to pull out the ominous purple blade from her chest, but it was impossible.
"No, Magical Girl Arti is done. Go live your life now."
Only after her body's magic power vanished completely did the sword slip out like mist from her chest... As her transformation unraveled and exhaustion flooded in, her vision began to blacken.
"I'm sorry for killing your partner like that. But I was really angry."
Arti, cradled gently in those small arms to keep her from collapsing, tried one last time to etch the face of her unforgettable enemy into her eyes.
"......"
Why? The moment she took in the face of her enemy—who held her so tenderly—Robelia's utterly cold, expressionless visage... the hatred burning deep in her chest vanished completely. Instead, she carefully hugged back and whispered.
"...It's okay. I forgive you. So, don't cry."
After all, unlike Robelia... she had wanted to remain a Magical Girl until the very end.
That night.
"Ha... I'm beat."
I sprawled out on the sofa in the living room of my new place... listlessly picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and said.
"Water."
"Yes, ma'am."
Was it because he'd sworn to be my loyal servant today? The annoying old man—Bell—who'd been snarky all morning jumped to it, bringing me a clear glass filled to the brim with ice water.
—Today at noon, the traitor Robelia—whose whereabouts had been unknown—made an appearance.
As I sipped the cool water refreshing my tired body, watching the perfectly timed news... the anchor's grave expression gave way to footage of today's finale. Captured by the camera Bell had set up in advance: me, holding the hem of my skirt on both sides, bowing in a formal stage curtsey to signal the end.
"Heh, not bad at all."
"Whew, like a picture come to life."
I had to smile quietly at the sight of Robelia gracefully bowing amid the ruins.
—Robelia's terrorist act left one civilian seriously injured and the entire city block devastated... but fortunately, thanks to one Magical Girl's quick actions, there were no fatalities.
Magical Girl Arti. Those spirited red eyes that fulfilled her duty to the end... I'd never forget them.
Beep.
I changed the channel on the now-useless TV.
"Miss Ha-yul. Here, I peeled another apple all pretty-like. Care to try?"
"You're creepy."
"Hey now, that's harsh."
Watching Bell fawn over me so sweetly—unlike his usual self...
-It's okay. I forgive you. So, don't cry.
Suddenly, Arti's whisper to me in her final moments came to mind.
"By the way, I've got a question."
"Yes? Ask away."
"Did I look like I was about to cry at the end?"
I asked Bell—who must've watched the whole thing from every angle—while crunching into the sweet apple.
"Hmm... hard to say? You wavered a bit when Arti whispered something, but your facial acting was spot-on."
His answer just confirmed it: Magical Girls really are something else.
"Man, Magical Girls are the best..."
A ticklish warmth bubbled up, drawing out a light laugh as I savored the afterglow of my first stage... with Bell.