White Night, Salvation (1)
‘White Night’ Yujina.
The magical girl who dyed the battlefield in light using nothing but prayer.
And the only magical girl among the great subjugation heroes to retire.
“It's been a while here too.”
I rang the bell in front of Yujina's house.
Ding-dong.
Sounds of crashing and banging came from beyond the door.
Should've called ahead.
It was pretty sudden.
Soon footsteps approached, and the door swung open.
“You this time?”
Blonde hair cascading to her waist. A height just a bit taller than mine.
Yujina stood there, looking exactly the same as ever.
“Huh? Who else came by?”
I'd just come to check if she was doing okay after so long.
Someone must've beaten me to it.
“Han Seoyeon first. Then Kim Doa.”
Yujina said curtly.
Everyone's thinking the same thing, huh.
“I'm just a civilian now. I kept the contract with Hod out of necessity, that's all.”
“I know. I'm just here to hang out.”
Yujina eyed me suspiciously at my words.
“No, really. Friends can visit each other, right?”
“Friends...? At your age?”
“Sorry, make that comrades.”
Surprisingly, Yujina was the second oldest in the great subjugation party after me.
She looked so youthful that Hod hadn't even realized she was an adult when they contracted.
Because of that, she's pretty sensitive about age compared to the others.
“Whatever. You still look like a kid anyway.”
Yujina clutched her left arm and let out a sigh.
Her complexion had gotten a lot worse.
She'd always looked a bit languid, but not like this.
“You okay? Not feeling sick or anything?”
“I'm fine.”
Maybe it's just my imagination.
“So, who's the secretary next to you?”
Yujina turned her gaze to Keter.
“This is Keter?”
Come to think of it, we hadn't met since she retired.
She doesn't know Keter humanized.
“...Keter?”
“It's been a while, Yujina.”
Keter bowed politely.
Yujina's eyes wavered for a moment at the sight.
“Mascots can turn human?”
“It worked out somehow. Ask Keter for the details.”
I was pretty shocked too when Keter humanized.
One day, there he was doing housework in human form like some ogre wife from folklore.
“Does that mean Hod can too?”
“Yes. But it requires great sacrifice.”
“Like what?”
“No return to the otherworld, and loss of most mascot abilities.”
Keter answered calmly.
“I see. Well... come on in anyway.”
Yujina's house was surprisingly tidy, despite the earlier commotion.
On par with our place, where Keter cleans every day.
The furniture even had a mature, antique vibe.
Anyone could tell a successful woman lived here.
“Hey, what's with that outfit?”
Yujina suddenly turned and asked.
“Oh... guild meeting today, so I dressed up a bit.”
“You picked it?”
“Yeah.”
I could see Yujina swallow a sigh at my words.
What? Seoyeon said it looked good earlier.
“Never wear stuff like that again.”
“Huh, why? ...It makes you look like a kid pretending to be an adult.”
So that's why Seoyeon was laughing too.
“For real?”
I glanced at Keter.
“Personally, I think it suits you well.”
“Not that. Do I really look like a kid playing grown-up?”
“...Yes.”
No changing this impression with my build, no matter what I wear.
Mature magical girl arc: over.
“Use that pretty face of yours better. It'd be a waste not to, now that you're even cuter.”
I don't wear it usually, but I do make good use of it.
Mainly on Esostar.
It's embarrassing to go out in cute clothes.
“Ugh, I can tell you're gonna dress all weird. I've got some spare clothes at home—take a few.”
“I would appreciate that. My knowledge of women's fashion is still lacking.”
Keter nodded abruptly.
“I'll pack some later.”
“...?”
What about my opinion?
With that, Yujina sat us on the sofa and headed to the kitchen, saying she'd get drinks.
“What do you want?”
Her voice came from the kitchen.
“Whatcha got?”
Rustling sounds followed.
“Hmm... black coffee, mix coffee, oh this is coffee too. Coffee?”
Coffee's a bit much.
Even with milk, it doesn't suit my taste.
“Got anything else?”
“Picky eater. Ah, cocoa. Here, have this.”
“That'll do.”
Then the sound of water boiling.
Moments later, Yujina returned with cups in both hands.
“Keter can have coffee, right?”
“Thank you.”
She handed me the cocoa and sat on the sofa.
“What've you been up to lately?”
I blew on the cocoa.
Took a sip and answered.
“Helping out at the Management Bureau here and there.”
Puppet subjugations too.
Chasing petty criminals.
All sorts.
“Manageable? We used to handle everything back then.”
Yujina shrugged.
“Way easier now. Lots more Awakeners these days.”
The workload's dropped a ton.
No more rescues, fewer puppet subjugations.
Not just because of more Awakeners, though.
The world's stabilized somewhat.
Still, big incidents fall to us.
“If you were swamped, Kim Doa and Seoyeon wouldn't drop by.”
“True enough. I thought they were here to drag me back when they showed up out of nowhere.”
“I'd love it if you came back.”
One of Yujina's Magical Beams would outdo most Awakeners fighting for their lives.
“No way.”
Of course, she's been like this since the great subjugation—no chance of a comeback.
I get it, though.
We're the weird ones still doing this after all that puppet-slaying.
“So what about you lately?”
Yujina doesn't keep in touch, so who knows.
“Just... living normally. Doing what I want with the money from the great subjugation.”
“That fun?”
“Dunno. Had a ton of stuff I wanted to do after it ended. But when it actually did... no clue.”
Same here.
Magical girl hobbies? Gone with this body.
Now it's just scrolling my phone.
“Not seeing Erosion Zones again is nice, at least.”
“Erosion Zones are pretty nasty.”
Especially for weak-stomached Yujina—they'd turn her stomach often.
She'd freak at gruesome puppets too.
Thinking back, it's all memories now.
“How is Hod faring?”
Keter asked what I should've.
Forgot.
“Hod? Napping in the room after lunch.”
“Relieved to hear it.”
“Why, something up?”
“There was an unfortunate incident involving elder mascots.”
“Management Bureau's tracking all elders because of it, so I stopped by.”
I supplemented Keter's words.
“Oh? Nothing here.”
Yujina tilted her head.
No issues, then.
“Still, be careful. You'd handle it fine, but...”
Contract's still active.
Worst case, she fights herself.
“Not going near Erosion Zones anyway. Don't worry about me.”
True.
No major erosion in her body, no big deal.
I finished the cocoa and stood.
“Gotta head out. Thanks for hosting on short notice.”
“No biggie. Nice seeing your face after so long.”
Yujina smiled faintly.
“But call ahead next time. Gave me a scare.”
“Got it.”
She saw us to the door.
Handed Keter a shopping bag stuffed with clothes.
We exchanged light goodbyes and stepped out.
Night had already fallen.
Streetlights lit our walk to Keter's car.
“Glad Yujina's fine.”
I fell silent at Keter's words.
Yujina was doing well.
Retired from magical girl life, pursuing her interests.
A bit less energetic than before, but living on.
I wish that were true.
“...To Gwangwon.”
“Pardon?”
Something's been off since we met.
That left arm she was hiding.
Smelled just like the impersonator's erosion.
“Keter, Hod's unique ability is purification, right?”
“Y-yes, miss.”
Keter started to say more but held back.
“Can't fully purify erosion with it.”
“Yes. It can suppress, but not cure at the root.”
“Exactly.”
Mascot powers aren't omnipotent.
Just buys time.
Confirmed it with senior's secondary erosion.
Secondary erosion.
Unlike primary, when humans can't overcome it.
Damages the body while slowly corrupting the mind.
And when it worsens...
Tertiary erosion. A magical girl's end: becoming a witch.
“Yujina's arm. Secondary erosion's underway.”
No idea when it started.
She never said.
Maybe that day I ended senior myself.
She saw me drowning in despair.
Doesn't want to burden me.
“...What will you do?”
“Dunno.”
Once secondary starts, no going back.
Like with senior.
I know rationally there's no fix.
But I can't let go of that thread of hope.
“We'll depart at once. Please rest a moment.”
“Yeah.”
I don't want to lose anyone else precious.
I no longer have the strength to endure it.