Protecting Neff (5)
Broadcasting was the last thing on my mind. Hell, I'd checked out the moment that crazy gold loli and I started throwing down. Ah! If we'd had just a little more time, I would've won. Lucky break for her.
'A-rank monsters, huh?'
Not just one, but multiple? On the level of that Kraken from Busan or Ulbr Ulvia?
The second I heard that, the gold loli in front of me became irrelevant.
"...Um, Bella-unnie?"
I turned, and her expression was unfamiliar. Gone was her usual bright, crinkly-eyed smile—replaced by a gaze so cold it sent chills down my spine.
If she was this serious, the situation must be really bad.
"Neff, go with Manager Kim and help evacuate everyone. You can do that, right?"
"Sh-Shouldn't I help too? I'm a magical girl, after all..."
"No."
Bella shook her head firmly.
"They're A-rank. Three of them. With your experience, you'd just be in the way."
"Th-Three?!"
"Does that mean three A-rank monsters have infiltrated our company building right now?!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
But to me, "in the way" hit harder than the murmurs.
'I've beaten a C-rank before.'
Sure, Sword delivered the finishing blow, but couldn't I at least provide covering fire from behind?
Those words stayed locked in my throat. Bella's eyes were too resolute.
'Am I still that weak?'
A heavy weight settled in my chest, helplessness creeping in.
One of the staff asked, "Um... so, what exactly is an A-rank monster?"
Most people didn't know much about monster ranks. Magical girl power levels were hush-hush too, after all.
The best civilians had were wild YouXber theories, like "strongest monster World Cup" rankings based on damage estimates.
Bella urged the crowd onward while citing an example.
"Remember the 'Bell of Nightmares' incident?"
"Ah!"
"Yeah... how could we forget."
The Bell of Nightmares. I knew it too—it was in the textbooks.
Seven years ago, a massive eyeball monster appeared in downtown Daejeon.
Every time it rang, everyone within a 1km radius plunged into forced nightmares.
It wasn't overwhelmingly strong up close, but its barrier was so tough that top magical girls of the day spent half a day just breaking it.
They took it down eventually, but hundreds suffered PTSD afterward. Some elderly and infirm even died from shock.
The whole city was a no-go zone for a while. The bakery's nightmare.
"That's bottom-tier A-rank."
No way. News to me.
"Huh? No way..."
"That's impossible. So we're all dead here?"
The perfect analogy sent everyone into instant panic.
I hadn't known either. The Bell of Nightmares was A-rank? I'd pegged it as S-rank.
Come to think of it, Kraken would've wrecked all of Haeundae if Sword hadn't stopped it.
As fear spread like a virus, Bella punched the air.
"Calm down!!"
A fierce gust whipped over their heads, freezing the frantic crowd in place.
"Everything's fine. We've got magical girls here."
"..."
"Just trust us. Pluto and the others are already positioned around the perimeter, like you saw earlier. You all just focus on evacuating safely."
Relief flickered in their eyes at the sight of this veteran commanding the battlefield.
Bella turned to me, gently squeezing my slumped shoulders.
"Neff. Remember this: a magical girl's job isn't just beating monsters. Protecting people safely—that's our top priority."
"...You're right."
Yeah. Why else did I idolize magical girls?
'That day.'
If the one who saved me back then had prioritized the monster over grabbing my hand...
I wouldn't be standing here alive.
Don't forget: a monster's death doesn't save lives on its own.
I took a deep breath, steadying my rattled nerves, and met Bella's gaze head-on.
"Got it. I'll handle evacuation perfectly!"
"Good. Unnie's counting on you alone."
She finally flashed a big grin.
"But once everyone's safely out and it's confirmed secure... if the seniors' fight isn't over by then... can I come help?"
"After confirming everyone's safe."
"Yes! Understood!"
I instantly cloaked my school uniform in mana.
"Magical Girl Neff, reporting in! Everyone, follow me! Emergency exit this way!"
I bolted to the front. Huh, first time personally leading an evacuation since debuting.
Then.
"Hmph."
A familiar sniff joined me—Gold Luli.
Tissue plugs stuffed her nostrils firmly. Remnants of my double nosebleed victory.
Admit my technical win yet?
"Magical girl."
"What."
"I'll watch your real combat skills with my own eyes."
"...Fine. Keep 'em wide open. I'll turn you, monster bug, into my fan."
"Looking forward to it."
I shoved open the emergency door, ignoring her sneer.
Beeeep!
Disaster alert chimed perfectly timed. Phones whipped out in unison.
Monster sighting near Rexon Games HQ in Seoul. Nearby residents, evacuate to safety immediately.
The building lurched like an earthquake.
Intense mana waves pulsed from below. Combat fallout reaching us up here.
"Kyaaah!"
"I-It won't collapse, right?!"
"It's fine! No running—move steadily!"
I soothed them into the stairwell.
"Eek! Wh-What's that?!"
"Something's on the walls?!"
They freaked, pointing at the walls.
Sticky black arrows writhed across the stairwell and walls.
'Pluto's mana.'
Glowing like neon, visible in the dark, they bypassed collapse risks.
Did she set all this up solo? That shady, timid otaku who tried to kidnap me?
Come to think of it, she'd muffled her voice with mana when briefing Bella—inaudible to civilians. And maintaining a barrier over the whole building.
My face burned. My past trash-talk replayed in my head.
'If you're a magical girl, you can't do that.'
'Crap! So embarrassing!'
Rat hole. Need one now. If I had a blanket, I'd kick it to the sky.
Right—Pluto's a 6-year vet. Battle-hardened pro!
Of course she'd have basics covered. And I, a newbie, lectured her!
'Just do my part! Just me!'
No worries for the seniors. Pros among pros, fossils among fossils.
The hole's me! I just need to pull my weight!
"These are safety guides from a magical girl! Follow the arrows—you'll be safe! Trust me and come on!"
I shouted louder to hide my blush, dashing down the stairs.
Had to rescue everyone still inside.
As I turned to gather more via the connecting hall—
Rumble! Boom!
The building shook violently again.
"Kyaaah!"
"U-Up! Look up!"
A scream made me glance up—the ceiling cracking.
'Gotta block it.'
Can't let it shatter. If I can't handle debris, brace it. Luckily, I had the perfect power from recently.
Dress Code! Type: Flora!
Flora, the magical girl from Busan.
My costume redesigned into hers, her mana techniques imprinting in my mind.
Thick vines erupted from the floor at my gesture.
Shoosh!
They intertwined into a massive net, catching the falling concrete chunks.
Thud!
Despite the weight, the vine net bent toughly without snapping.
"...Whoa."
"What are you gawking at?! Sightsee later—run now!"
They snapped to and bolted. I wiped cold sweat, sighing in relief.
Gold Luli, trailing silently, glanced over and muttered.
"Hmph. So that's the vibe."
"...Yeah. That's the vibe."
I smirked at her nose plugs. See? Real magical girl class.
Anyway.
'...Huh?'
Withdrawing my hand, I felt an odd sensation. A good one.
Dress Code had always been a downgraded copy. I'd expected just slowing debris briefly.
'But the power's stronger than expected?'
Vine thickness and mana output matched Flora's—no, felt optimized to my taste?
'Am I... getting stronger?'
Maybe.
Back in the parking lot—or rather, the snowy expanse.
Robert's summoned bandage beast relentlessly hounded Frost.
"Ice Mirror Wall!"
Dozens of transparent ice mirrors materialized, trapping the beast in subspace.
But it scattered mockingly, lunging from a blind spot at Frost.
"Haa... haa..."
Rough breaths escaped Frost.
'Mana... running low.'
She was multitasking at her limit.
Facing an A-rank while using her Mental Theme as a brace to hold up the entire building.
Release it now? The structure might crumble instantly.
Civilians might still be inside.
'Until evacuation's confirmed... I have to hold.'
Frost gritted her teeth, glancing sideways.
"Argh! Damn it! Why won't my body move?!"
"Why turn left there?! I said right!"
Ignis and Aqua were struggling too.
They'd fought the Devil Twins plenty in their prime—break strategies in their heads.
Problem: over five years idle. No practice syncing, so bodies lagged behind minds.
"Tsk tsk. Mind wandering's dangerous."
Shrieeek!
The bandage beast exploited Frost's gap, charging.
She yanked up mana desperately, but its fangs were already at her nose.
'Ugh!'
As Frost squeezed her eyes shut—
Her shadow writhed.
"...?"
Robert's brow twitched.
Bam!
A pale hand burst from the shadow, smacking the beast's jaws aside.
"Who...?"
Bella. She'd ridden Pluto's Shadow Corridor for a shortcut into the fray.
"Sorry I'm late, seniors."
Robert narrowed his eyes at her quick bow.
'That's the Bella?'
First time facing her.
Ace of the new gen by rumor. Top of the Association's watchlist.
'Wonder what modern magical girls can do.'
"Oh ho. New actor on stage. But extras won't change the ending—"
"Shut it."
"...Pardon?"
Bella skipped his monologue.
Frost straining to hold the building. Ignis and Aqua rusty. Bandage gent running his mouth.
She summoned her magic wand.
'Magic wand?'
Robert's eyes sparkled with interest. Modern kids use those too?
He'd enjoyed clashing with Frost—proper magical girl vibes. Newbies wielded swords, guns, bombs... even sewing machines. But Bella with a wand? Nice.
"Proper roots. I like it."
His fighting spirit reignited.
"But needs training. Rip her apart!"
At his gesture, the bandage beast doubled in size, lunging at Bella.
Bella murmured low.
"Signature move."
'Straight to sig?'
Robert scoffed. But it faded fast.
Vrrrrm!
Air boiled around her, thick orange mana cloaking her body.
Robert summoned two more beasts for layered defense.
'...Huh?'
A weird dissonance hit him.
Bella's localized mana felt heavier than Frost's vast tundra.
Then her lips parted.
"Marea Ignea"
Fwoosh!
No blast—just ultra-compressed mana violence erasing sound, an orange flash streaking out.
Three bandage beasts in its path. The ice wall behind. Parking lot pillars beyond. Even the top of Robert's bowler hat.
Sizzle.
Straight-line annihilation.
Hooo...
Red afterheat shimmered like haze in the beam's wake.
In the scorched tunnel punched through the tundra's heart, Robert blinked blankly—top of his head cleanly gone.
"?"
What just passed by?
