The Accelerating Despair
It was a Saturday morning.
After a long time, Yoo Seoyeon and Kim Min-ah met each other in the quiet public park. They were chatting peacefully, two bright high-school girls discussing in a way that once would have warmed the heart and filled it with a cozy feeling.
Even though both of these girls were magical girls, they looked like ordinary high-school students. That was exactly why the atmosphere should have been soothing, like the usual pleasant moments between friends.
"Min-ah, are you okay?"
But Yoo Seoyeon could not pull it off.
Kim Min-ah sitting across from her looked drained, as if all her energy had leaked out.
The eyes that had always sparkled with life were now clouded over, the glossy hair dull and listless. Most of all, the lively, exaggerated personality that never held back with anyone was nowhere to be seen.
She was acting a little subdued, and Yoo Seoyeon could no longer hide the worry rising in her chest.
Everyone had bad days, and especially girls experienced that once a month. But this was different. Kim Min-ah's appearance was clearly off.
"Ah, yeah. I'm fine."
She answered carefully with a smile, but Yoo Seoyeon could sense the despair hidden beneath it.
The smile itself had been bitter.
Was this the effect of Nightmare's influence that Harin had warned about?
Yoo Seoyeon carefully recalled the conversation she had shared with Lee Harin.
"Min-ah, are you tired lately or something...?"
"Huh? No, no! I'm totally fine! Why, did I look that tired?"
Kim Min-ah suddenly perked up, pointing at her chest with her thumb and shouting.
"I just didn't sleep much last night! No need to worry!"
She jumped up from the bench, spread both arms wide, and spun once right in front of Yoo Seoyeon.
Then, in a boastful pose, she lifted her arms like showing off her muscles.
"See? Not a single bruise!"
"But... I'm still worried about Dark Blue from last time."
"Aw, you still care about something like that?"
She hopped over and landed right beside Yoo Seoyeon again.
Yoo Seoyeon watched her, still concerned, and stared at Kim Min-ah intently.
"I was just a little careless. When I see you next time... I'll make sure to blast those fake copies away!"
She swung her fist forward with a decisive wham and gave a cocky smile.
Seeing Kim Min-ah back to her usual self, Yoo Seoyeon finally relaxed and asked carefully.
"Min-ah, what do you think about that Dark Blue?"
"Um..."
Kim Min-ah leaned back against the bench and let her strength drain away, thinking it over.
When they first met, she had been so startled by how similar she looked.
Then the idea that she was a clone made from her own mana had terrified her.
And she had been fine even after taking Innocent Heart's ultimate move and even used her mana to counterattack.
At that time, she had felt a pure, unfiltered fear that no magical girl should ever experience.
Kim Min-ah carefully recalled those emotions from back then and spoke honestly to Yoo Seoyeon.
"Well, if I say I'm not scared at all, that's a lie. I keep wondering why it was my mana... and why it was my clone... why she looks exactly like me."
"M-Min-ah's clone... but even if someone sees you, they can tell the difference between her and you! Don't worry!"
Kim Min-ah was quick as always. She had nailed exactly what the nightmare from the night before was about.
"Hehe, right? Even if that fake copy looks similar, people won't confuse us."
"Of course not. We're friends and magical-girl comrades. Even without me, Siwoo would notice immediately!"
"Um... haha, thank you!"
Yes, that kind of nightmare could never become reality.
At the very beginning, her hair color and hairstyle had been different.
And no clone could possibly copy the infinite possibilities and emotions of a human heart.
"But, Min-ah."
"Huh? Why?"
Just as Kim Min-ah was trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare in her head while Yoo Seoyeon sat beside her and asked carefully.
"Then, what do you fear most about Dark Blue?"
"Um..."
Kim Min-ah thought for a short moment, then answered immediately as if there was no need to think further.
"That she harms the citizens and friends I have to protect... Even if nothing else, I can never forgive that."
"I see."
Yoo Seoyeon nodded.
"That's the one you fear the most?"
"Wha..."
Hearing the voice laced with cold emotion, Yoo Seoyeon turned.
"Thank you for telling me?"
Kim Min-ah stared back at a Yoo Seoyeon whose eyes were pitch black and hollow, mouth twisted in a grotesque smile.
CLANK!
"Haa... haa..."
Kim Min-ah jolted awake, feeling as if she had fallen from a cliff.
Looking around, she saw the empty classroom and the bright red sky outside.
"H-School...?"
She clutched her throbbing head and recalled everything.
Yes, she had properly come to school in the morning... greeted her friends...
And then napped for a moment at dismissal time.
More precisely, she had closed her eyes near the end of class and fallen asleep.
"It was... just a dream..."
She barely calmed her pounding heart and carefully stood from the chair.
By now, it was long past dismissal and club time. The school gate she glanced at was already locked with iron bars.
She had no choice but to use her magical-girl powers to leap over the wall or the gate.
"Heh heh... nice. Let's go!"
She stretched her stiff body after doing a warm-up, walked briskly, and let the breeze from the open hallway window wash over her face.
When she had gone to middle school, during this exact time she would have been kicking a ball with the boys.
She still had overflowing energy, but now she used it for different things.
After walking for a while, she noticed a tall iron fence ahead.
"Being a magical girl is so hard..."
She muttered to herself and casually leaped over the fence.
What lay beyond was a small hill dotted with grass.
Cross that path and the usual way home would appear. Just follow it and she would be fine.
Yes, she had spent such an ordinary day.
There was no reason to dwell on a nightmare or get upset.
Dreams were just dreams.
She should not let meaningless, inauspicious simple nightmares drag her down.
But...
"Haa... haaa..."
Why couldn't the nightmare scenes keep disappearing from her mind?
It was such an unreal, impossible, and forbidden story.
Moreover, unless she showed it, a nightmare like this would have no effect on reality.
"...This won't do."
Today she would finally go to a cake shop alone and eat a huge slice of cake.
Then she could forget the nightmare cleanly and fall asleep in a good mood!
Kim Min-ah decided and turned her steps toward the cake shop instead of home.
"Hmm~"
She hummed a tune cheerfully while walking forward.
The street she had walked with Siwoo and Seoyeon last time came into view, and the cake shop sign grew clearer.
SWISH.
Someone blocked her path right in front.
A version of herself that was too similar.
"You...!"
"Nice to meet you, original."
Dark Blue stood with the same emotionless expression, one side of her bangs tucked behind her ear, staring at her.
The greeting she had just said felt completely flat, with no variation in tone.
"Why... right in front of me again...!"
"As expected. I told you I would meet again, so I am simply keeping my word."
"Stop with the nonsense!"
Kim Min-ah shouted.
"A villain like you wouldn't have come here for such a simple reason...!"
"That is also a natural conclusion. Did you really think I had come just to say hello?"
"So why did you come...?"
Dark Blue, without moving a muscle, blinked and answered.
"I have only two commands. First, to execute you. And second..."
Dark Blue glanced around briefly and paused.
Nearby, many people were watching the recent argument with mixed emotions.
She could not transform right now.
Alone with the Demon King's Army...
"...This street is so peaceful. Unlike where I was. It smells sweet."
"What are you suddenly saying...?"
Kim Min-ah muttered.
"The second command is..."
Dark Blue continued.
"To slaughter the citizens in front of you, using your appearance."
And for the first time, a mad smile appeared on the corner of Dark Blue's mouth.
"That is the fastest way to make you despair."