Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Corrupting the Magical Girl (19)
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Was I wrong? Was I not a good girl?
I tried so hard for justice, just like Mom said... I put people's safety and lives before my own, exactly as my fans wanted... Was that a mistake?
Was I... a bad girl?
I don't know... I don't know, Siwoo... What should I do? If I can't be a magical girl anymore... What am I going to do? I was so happy when I became a magical girl like Mom... I was so thrilled to meet you and share the same dream... If it all turns out to be a lie, what will I do?
I'm scared... Even now, I can feel the Love Stone weakening bit by bit... I can feel the people who used to cheer me on... now cursing and insulting me...
Did I not deserve to be a magical girl?
Siwoo... Tell me...
-Creak
-Clank
"The schedule's changed. We're broadcasting instead of resting today. Get ready and come out quick."
This can't be... He wants me to show myself like this? My head's already a mess from yesterday...
Ugh, I resented the villain who stole away even my one day of rest. Does he want to expose me like this? Show the world the girl they've abandoned... and mock me?
No... No! I hate that! I really hate that!
-Hug
"Sera, don't worry."
"...Jinhee?"
As I writhed in agony at the mere thought of that horrific future, Jinhee, who had been watching me with sad eyes, pulled me into a tight embrace. Jinhee... I'm sorry. I should be the one protecting you... but here I am, needing comfort...
"Don't worry. It's gotta be a misunderstanding. There's no way people would betray you. You're Saint Rose. You can't crumble over something like this. You have to show the fans who still believe in you what a true magical girl looks like!"
"...You think so?"
Is it true? Am I not a bad girl? Do lots of people still love me? Am I... really okay?
"Yeah! If you'd really been abandoned, it wouldn't stop at this. Trust me, I know."
"...J-Jinhee... Sniff, waaah..."
"Don't cry. A magical girl can't show a sad face. Go clear up the misunderstanding. There'll be way more people who listen to you. Got it?"
"...Y-Yeah! Got it!"
That's right... Yeah, I'm a magical girl...! I can't fall apart over something unconfirmed! Siwoo told me too—always show a smiling face. That's how people get hope from seeing me!
Yeah, that's it! Thank you, Jinhee!
I'll convince them and come back. If I speak from the heart, they'll understand my situation! And cheer for me again! They're all righteous people!
Thanks to Jinhee, I straightened my resolve and headed out with hope in my heart.
......Huh?
"No! It's true! I was being blackmailed and had no choice... If I didn't do it, my friend would suffer terribly! Please believe me!"
"W-What are you saying? 'Just' that? No, it's not! How could I just watch my friend die..."
"Why... Sniff, why won't you believe me... Why...! Waaah!"
Jinhee, you were wrong... No one will listen to me... I only told the truth... I spoke nothing but facts... But they all call me a liar... Why?
Siwoo, help me... Please convince these people... I can't do it alone... They've already branded me a bad girl...
"...Wha?! W-What do you mean... Sob, the Association ditched me?!"
"Lies! It's lies! The Association wouldn't abandon me!"
"No, no... There must be some mistake... It has to be lies... Ah, aaaah!"
No way, no way, no way, no way, no way
The Association... Mom abandoned me...?
Lies... Lies!!!
She wouldn't... Mom wouldn't abandon me?
Because I...
Because I'm a naughty girl?
Because I'm a bad girl?
Do I really... not deserve...
"That's enough. This is why I didn't want to let you talk to them. Get it now? Your situation? Honestly, you're not even a bargaining chip anymore. You're just dead weight."
"...Sniff, waaah... No... I was wrong... I was wrong, Mom... Waaaah. Don't abandon me... Don't abandon me... I'll be a good girl... Sniff."
In the end, just like Mom said, I'm... useless without her help. That's why the fans abandoned me, and now Mom has too. And soon, even the villain will abandon me...
I only got this far thanks to Mom... This is punishment for taking a position I didn't deserve... Punishment...
"Waaah! Nooo... Please, just this once, forgive me... Sniff, waaaah!"
In the end, unable to change a single mind, I learned the harsh reality... and broke down sobbing uncontrollably. Siwoo said a magical girl should always smile... but the overwhelming sadness was too much, and I collapsed.
But... I tried so hard... From the day Siwoo gave me that immense power, I did my absolute best to be a true, just magical girl... Is this how I get abandoned? Really...?
Please... Sob, don't abandon me...
Sniff, I don't want to be abandoned...
-Grip
"...Hic?"
"Who said anything about abandoning you? Honestly, I kinda like you."
"...Sniff, wha? What... do you mean... *sniff*..."
"I said I have no intention of ditching you."
I'm... not being abandoned...? Can I... stay like this...? As I drowned in despair and poured out tears, the villain holding me whispered softly in my ear.
"And you're not a bad girl. You're a good girl. You sacrificed for your friend. Is there a purer, kinder magical girl in this world? I don't think so."
"L-Lies... Why... why say that to me... You're... a villain. So why..."
"Because you're such a good girl, this broadcast means something. A bad villain toying with a good magical girl—that's the point. But they're trying to paint you as bad? Those fuckers are ruining it."
"...What... do you mean..."
"Whatever. Just remember this: You think all the people you protected—and tried to protect—are righteous like you? Not even close. Look at this chat right now. They're trying every trick to tear you down and have their fun. Those are the real bad guys. Not you."
"The bad ones... are them? Then I... I'm..."
"I told you. You're a good girl. All those things they're yapping about? They had reasons. You didn't want to do them."
Th-That's... right...? Really...?
I'm not bad?
I'm... still a good girl?
A-Ahh...!!
"Waaaah... Villain!"
His hand stroking my head consoled my sadness... praised me as a good girl... and it put me at ease.
That's right. I'm not bad. Feeling happy from kissing the villain, finding fulfillment in serving him... since I had no choice, it was all good deeds!
I... am a good girl!
The ones who were wrong... weren't me—they were those people!