Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Making the Magical Girl Fall (5)
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Could anyone truly choose nearly 200 lives over their own without a moment's hesitation? I doubt it—even the most righteous magical girl with a heart of gold wouldn't sacrifice herself without a second thought. Throw away your life for a complete stranger? Easier said than done.
Yet, astonishingly, the public believed the magical girl should have sacrificed herself.
This is the story of the 'White Mocha' incident, which demoted Aqua Marine—once a B-rank magical girl—back to C-rank.
The 'White Mocha' incident, where 187 civilians and B-rank magical girl White Mocha lost their lives, plunged the public into shock. In their frenzy, they turned their arrows of blame on the sole survivor: Aqua Marine.
It started with an interview from an expert claiming that if she'd quickly sacrificed herself, this tragedy could've been avoided.
Absurd, right? You're saying Aqua Marine should've died? Believe it or not, that's exactly what people thought.
White Mocha had nationwide popularity, was on the verge of jumping from A-rank to S-rank, always topped the popularity polls. The public couldn't accept her death. She was too precious to lose overnight.
And so, they made Aqua Marine the scapegoat. The public forced blame onto her, pouring out their grief, rage, and anguish over losing White Mocha.
But... they didn't know the truth.
On the day White Mocha died, the one who tried to sacrifice herself to save the civilians wasn't White Mocha—it was Aqua Marine.
"I'll do it. It's for the best, actually. I've been wanting to disappear somewhere anyway."
"What are you saying?! This isn't something you just brush off! What about your boyfriend? You said you'd make one! You said you liked someone! Then you have to live and go back!"
"...That? I got rejected. Happy now? Besides, it should be me dying. Not you dying here. I can't accept that. You're a real righteous magical girl, unlike that fake bitch."
"Ahaha... Me? A nobody like me...? Even now, as I'm hesitating...?"
"You're way more righteous than that pretentious bitch who's fake to the end. Hehe... Guess facing the end makes me spill everything."
"Marin... No, this can't be right. Let's find a way for everyone to survive."
"If we hesitate and that bomb goes off, we're all dead. Remember what the instructor said? Make it certain. Then... I'll go."
"Wait, hold on! Marin! Ah... No...!"
Aqua Marine had learned that Siwoo had a girlfriend—Saint Rose—and that there was no room for her between them. She'd spend her life watching them together. With no will to live left after losing Siwoo, her everything, she had resolved to sacrifice herself for White Mocha, whom she admired.
"Sorry, Marin... No, Jinhee. It was so much fun teaming up with you. So... forget that idiot guy who rejected you, cheer up! Keep protecting people as a magical girl. That's my final request... You'll listen to your big sis, right?"
But in the final moment, White Mocha couldn't let her cherished little sister go like this and sacrificed herself instead, shattering Aqua Marine's resolve. Just before the bomb detonated, White Mocha broke the protective barrier shielding the civilians and hurled her out of the building.
-Zzzzaeng!
-Kwaaang! Kwooom!
"S-Sis! No, Sis!"
An act no righteous magical girl should have done... But thanks to it, Aqua Marine survived a new life she never wanted. That was the truth behind the 'White Mocha' incident.
Yet, contrary to White Mocha's wishes, her death became a label that haunted Aqua Marine's new life mercilessly.
"Ah, fuck... Of all people, it's her. She's gonna bail on us like last time and save only herself, right?"
"Tell me about it... Is NS discriminating against our company? Heard only good-personality magical girls go to GG."
'Again. Saved their asses, and they shit-talk me. ...Fucking annoying.'
Aqua Marine arrived at the scene on dispatch and felt sour from the start. The civilians she'd rescued and who had cheered her on soured the moment they recognized her, grimacing and gossiping.
This wasn't why she'd come back... She'd mustered the will to protect people per White Mocha's dying words, but the daily barrage of vitriol wounded her again today.
"You bastards think that's how you talk? Can't even say thanks—instead you sneer? Is that human?!"
"You should be ashamed to be my subordinates, you fucks!"
"M-M-Ma-Ma-Manger! Sorry!"
"Apologize to her, not me! The magical girl over there!"
"Ah... S-S-Sorry! Th-Thank you for... saving us..."
For the first time since returning, someone stood up for her. Thanks to him, she got a thank-you like other magical girls. A kowtow, but... It was her first gratitude since coming back, choking her up.
"You're Aqua Marine, right? I've admired you forever. Returning to protect citizens despite the baseless slander... You're amazing."
"N-No. It's my job as a magical girl... What I should do... Of course."
"'Of course'? I'd sue every troll and send cease-and-desists to the press. If I had the power, I'd help... But seeing you back and pushing on motivates me to cheer you. Here's to more!"
"Ah... Y-Yes!"
And it didn't end there. The man who helped her knew the 'White Mocha' incident yet believed and supported her... Her first-ever 'fan'.
'People besides Siwoo... believe in me too...!'
She'd never imagined having a cheering fan. Overwhelmed, tears welled up. For her, emotionally parched since those two events, it was huge.
"Ha! Manager! A fan of her? That bitch... that magical girl? Just be a Saint Rose fan like me. If it'd been Saint Rose, this terror would've ended already."
"He's right. Manager, why not join Rose Marie like us? Way more fun than cheering C-rank trash. Honestly, Saint Rose is hotter too. Haha."
But the good vibe shattered thanks to clueless subordinates. They compared her to Saint Rose—the magical girl Aqua Marine hated most.
"NS demanding S-rank from NS? Real?"
"Pathetic. Working at traitorous NS and acting superior."
"Yeah. That's why villains send C-ranks here. GG gets at least A."
"Hahaha! Spot on. Our company's so embarrassing. No wonder the new hire's like this."
Her pissed-off colleagues sniped back at the man's subordinates. Shockingly, the NS manager agreed with them. Even as tensions rose, he defended Aqua Marine over NS.
"But folks, no time for this. We need to rescue the president ASAP!"
"Ah... Right! Wait here safely. We'll handle it quick."
"Might not be quick, though."
"Huh?"
"See, this building's a maze from all the rushed renovations. To smash villains fast... I need to guide you. Give me the chance to help."
"No... It's dangerous!"
"Hold on, Marin! Guiding shouldn't be bad? If it's really a labyrinth, we need it."
"Choco's right. Time's critical. Can't dawdle. Take the shortcut."
"......Fine. Please do."
"Haha! My pleasure!"
Moreover, he volunteered to guide despite the risk. A man as righteous as any magical girl. From his warm first impression to his character, everything was perfect. Trusting him, they rushed to the president's office.
"Kyaaack!"
"A-Aaaah!"
But the path he led to was a dead end. By the time she realized, her comrades were already corpses.
"Welcome to despair deeper than darkness. Darkbae of the Darkest Chain."