Chapter 62

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 62

Chapter Title: Magical Conclusion

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My head hurt.

It wasn't because of my wounds.

My mind was a mess, and that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was why my head hurt so damn much.

Or, to be a little more precise...

"Senior! No!"

Sora was wailing her heart out right next to me, and that was why my mind was a mess and my head hurt so damn much.

Here's how it had gone down, roughly speaking.

It wasn't long before the Magical Girls showed up at the building where I'd fought the White Devil.

And the moment they saw us, they all froze solid.

As if time itself had stopped for a second.

But that didn't last long.

"Oh... is it all over...?"

At my barely whispered words, the Magical Girls paled and started moving one by one.

Some frantically made calls somewhere.

Others rushed over with first-aid kits for emergency treatment.

In the process, the White Devil got some basic first aid before being loaded onto a stretcher. The Magical handcuffs had completely neutralized her, leaving her unconscious.

Not that I was too worried.

She was a Magical Girl, after all.

She'd probably recover from just about anything in no time. Her body was that of a Magical Girl, and I hadn't inflicted any truly life-threatening wounds anyway.

Mentally, who knows, but physically, she should be fine.

The problem was me.

I'd long passed the point where first aid would make a difference. And it wasn't the kind of injury that called for it in the first place.

I wasn't carted off on a stretcher like the White Devil either. Or rather, they couldn't.

They said my body was so wrecked that touching it carelessly might make things worse.

The explanation dragged on, and I tuned out halfway.

Truth be told, I was too dizzy to hear it properly anyway.

"So, for those reasons, we recommend waiting for the Magical ambulance. It should be here soon."

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, the Magical Girls didn't give me any special treatment.

"Not sure if it'll help, but at least...

The best they could do was stop the bleeding and give me a shot. Probably painkillers.

Not that it made any real difference.

My senses had been shot long ago.

Anyway.

Not long after the Magical Girls carted off the White Devil, Sora showed up. Her hair was a bit messy, like she'd just woken up from a nap.

"Senior! No!"

The moment she saw me, Sora let out a scream.

And that was the current situation.

"No, no, no..."

Sora clutched my hand desperately, half out of her mind, gripping it tight as if it were my lifeline.

I hadn't said a word, but she started mumbling darkly while holding my hand.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Guilt, sorrow, self-loathing—thick, sticky emotions oozed from her words.

"Because I asked you for something stupid... because of me..."

She seemed to think I'd gotten hurt because of her request to go easy on the White Devil.

"You can't die... please..."

We hadn't spent that much time together, but her worry touched me—and left me pretty flustered. Honestly, it was starting to feel a bit burdensome.

Well, from her perspective, it was understandable.

My condition wasn't something you could call "fine" even as a white lie.

Hell, it was a miracle I was still breathing. Even in that other world, I'd never been hurt this bad.

So, yeah, she had to consider the worst-case scenario.

"Sora..."

"Senior!"

She reacted almost convulsively to my faint voice.

"Please hold on just a little longer! You'll be okay! The Magical Capital Hospital can fix everything!"

As if that wasn't enough, she gripped my hand even tighter, pleading desperately.

"We caught the Monster like you said! We can do even harder things! So please don't die, Senior!"

Watching her, I gave a bitter smile.

It had been a tough, annoying request, but she'd done it for me willingly. I was grateful.

And at the same time, I felt bad because I had to ask for one more favor.

"If I happen to die..."

"Please don't say that!!!"

No sooner had I started than Sora let out a scream that was practically a plea.

"Senior, please... don't..."

Her words trailed off into sobs by the end, muffled like they were drowning.

"Sniff, sob... don't do this, please..."

Tears finally spilled from the corners of her eyes. Seeing her so heartbroken tugged at something deep inside me.

But I had no choice.

"Sora..."

I had to say it.

Especially now, with my life hanging by a thread.

"I need a favor..."

"...Okay. Tell me."

Sora nodded through her sniffles.

I started slowly.

"If I die... the stuff saved on my phone..."

I didn't even finish, but she caught on quick and gripped my hand tighter.

"O-Okay! I'll take responsibility and delete everyth—"

"No."

"...Huh?"

Wrong.

That wasn't what I meant. This is why you always have to listen to the end in Korean.

"Senior, what do you...?"

Sora let out a dazed question.

I mustered every ounce of strength to glare at her.

"Let everyone see it."

Even if I coughed up blood right then, even if I died doing it—I had to tell her this.

"Set it all free."

No matter what.

"Wh-what the hell is on there?!"

"Stuff I shouldn't see alone..."

True enough.

The "important" collection I'd gathered while doing armband side gigs to "activate" the quiet gallery.

Should I be the only one seeing it?

No.

Better if we all enjoy it together.

This wasn't just my selfish thought. Even the sword saint and philosopher from the Heian era, Miyamoto Musashi, left behind words like that.

Keep the good stuff for yourself, share the shit.

"Sora... got it...?"

"Uh... yeah, okay."

Sora looked a little reluctant but nodded twice firmly in the end.

"...Thanks."

That eased my mind a bit. Even if I died now, I wouldn't have any regrets.

But it wasn't fully satisfying.

Something was still missing.

A tiny lingering attachment.

Was it blood loss? Exhaustion? I still didn't know what it was.

Just that something kept poking at my heart.

It itched so bad I couldn't rest easy.

"Hm?"

Then I spotted something in my field of view. Right next to my right hand.

A smartphone.

Probably left by the Magical Girl who'd bandaged me and given the shot earlier.

Makes sense. Her rank wasn't low—definitely not a private.

Right then, Sora suddenly stood up.

"Senior, hang on a sec. I'll go check why the Magical ambulance is taking so long."

She called it "checking," but her expression was murderous, like she was ready for insubordination or worse.

As Sora stormed off toward the Magical Girls, I reached for the abandoned phone.

I don't know why.

I just felt like I had to.

My body was in such bad shape that even moving my hand was agony, but after a long struggle, I finally gripped the phone.

I know.

It was pointless.

The screen was probably locked anyway—what was I doing suffering like this? Just shortening my life for nothing—

"Huh...?"

—or so I thought, but the screen just... opened.

I stared blankly at the suddenly unlocked phone screen.

And then it hit me.

I knew what my remaining regret was.

I hadn't thanked the Battalion Commander yet.

What a gracious Magical Girl. She'd taught my jaded heart the power of pure love.

But in return, I'd burdened her with a Magical complaint.

That was my lingering regret.

Of course, what happened to her life wasn't my business. Still, at the end like this, I felt oddly sorry.

So, time to make it up to her.

I couldn't withdraw the complaint, but I could do something equally good for her.

Like making her a Magical Girl etched forever in everyone's memory.

The decision was quick.

I moved my fingers right away.

I'd lost sensation in them ages ago, and blood kept pouring from my mouth, but I couldn't just stop.

I had to repay her at least this much.

She'd been truly kind.

How long did I fumble with those fingers?

Finally, I tapped the screen one last time, and after an eternity, the completion screen appeared.

Now my heart felt at peace.

I'd shaken off even that last regret.

Maybe that's why. I couldn't hold onto consciousness anymore. My eyes drooped, the world flickered.

Yeah. The end was near.

Right then, Sora's frantic voice echoed in my ears. The volume swelling meant she was rushing back to me.

"Senior, are you okay?! No! Stay with me!"

But even hearing her, there was nothing I could do. My eyes wouldn't open, thoughts snapping like broken film.

My awareness flickered on and off for a bit.

"It's okay..."

My world went completely dark.

"I've done... everything I could."

With those relieved final words.