“Man, that was dangerous.”
“In the end, you helped her huh kyu~. Just as I thought kyu~.”
“There’s no problem if it isn’t found out. Besides, I can’t just abandon her like that.”
On top of a castle built in an amusement park with a great view of the large department store roof, while holding the magic gun, I chatted with Mokyu.
As per our conversation, I was a bit out of my depth. I used my magic gun to obliterate the tentacle of the Wanderer as it swung down on Quartz. I was not worried where the bullet will hit since I used purification magic on the bullet that is encahnced with the magic instantly hit only the target, but I was worried whether I will be found out.
Still, I was surprised. I had only seen “Wanderers” that pass through buildings and spread malice, but the “Wanderer” that Quartz was fighting clearly had physical means of attack from the middle of the fight. It shattered the magic crystals and even cracked the floor. If Quartz had not prevented it, the area around the building that we’re seeing now would have been reduced to rubble. And if she had been hit by a tentacle with that kind of force, even if she was a magical girl, it won’t just be a scratch.
“Mokyu. Have there ever been ‘Wanderers’ like that?”
“I have heard of them from other fairies, but there have been so few reports of them that I thought they were just the usual pranks kyu~. A ‘Wanderer’ that could even destroys buildings is far too dangerous campared to the normal one kyu~.”
“Quartz should have just run away when it gets dangerous. I don’t like self-sacrificing heroes.”
“Mokyu too, if magical girl had to sacrifice themselves, it would be better for them to run away kyu~. But there are some childs who can’t forgive themself for that kyu~. It can’t be helped kyu~.”
“Ah, I hate it, it’s like the other side is trying to pick a fight with the hero inside of me.”
In a story, self-sacrifice can be a beautiful thing. Doing something for someone else without regard for oneself. It would be a perfect ending. It will surely remain in the hearts of those who were saved and will become a person to be honored. It is so beautiful, it makes me want to vomit.
Surely there are many such heroes. I also have seen many of such heroes. But that’s only allowed on the premise that it’s a story.
Of course, when I was a kid, I admired such heroes too. I thought it was cool to be a hero who could sacrifice for someone else. But that is just a child’s fantasy. We naively demanded too much from heroes. The really cool heroes are the ones who can protect themselves and others. Of course, it is impossible to save everything, so it is only an ideal while putting oneself first. A hero who sacrifices himself is, in my opinion, nothing more than the lowest of the low.
“I feel like I’m being shown my own worthlessness when I compare myself who is me first with someone so pure. Do you know? There was a time when I was that pure too?”
“I know kyu~. I also know that you were troubled when you realized that your ideals could not be fulfilled, and were fed up with the hero image you had inside of you kyu~.”
“Mokyu sure knows a lot. Well, that’s why it’s no like I don’t understand her feelings, and justice is different for each person, so it’s up to her if she stick to it. But as expected, it doesn’t feel good to have someone do it in front of your eyes.”
“A lot of magical girls are innocent (pure) girls kyu~. While Mokyu and the others did give priority to such children, many of the children with aptitude for magic has that kind of nature kyu~. That’s why the other magical girls will surely make the same choices when faced with similar situations. Besides, Heroes who turn their backs on the cheering of children are uncool. Roze also thinks so right.”
“I know. I know. That’s why I don’t like it.”
I don’t want a self-sacrificing hero. On the other hand, I want a hero who responds to the children’s cheers. Is this what they call self-contradiction? The cheers for the heroes can be a burden instead of a source of strength and courage. A hero who continues to respond to the cheers is destined to be forced to sacrifice themself someday.
If Quartz had run away, the children, the people would have been dissapointed. So, she was not a hero.
Of course, if I were in the same position, I would put myself first, if I realized that I could not win against a mutated and powerful “Wanderer”. Even if I became an uncool hero and shed tears of frustration, I can choose it without hesitation. I don’t want to be like that, but I am an adult. I am prepared to make such a choice.
But Quartz did not run away. She wanted to help the people who supported her, even if it meant sacrificing herself. It is easy to say that it was her choice and responsibility.
But I had a vision when Quartz asked me to support her.
I saw her standing up to the monster as a hero. I saw her standing up as the people cheering her on. I saw her shining brightly as everyone’s ideal hero.
So I gave her the support she wanted.
At that point, I had no right to criticize her. Because it was me that had cut off her way out.
“I feel like I’m becoming more and more of an adult I don’t like. Though I understand that there are no heroes like in the stories…”
“If you ask me, Roze is a child kyu~. Deep down, Roze is a child, unable to give up on your childhood ideal hero, a true, genuine child kyu~.”
“You sure said it. Well, I won’t deny it. After all, heroes like those in stories are cool. Putting aside the self-sacrifice. However, if all the magical girls lose the option of running away, I’m sure there will be sacrifices someday. I don’t like bad endings.”
“Same kyu~. Mokyu also prefers a happy ending kyu~. But Mokyu also know that the reality is not so sweet kyu~.”
Yeah, reality is not that sweet. No matter how much strength or courage everyone’s cheers (support) give you, you can never defeat an opponent you can’t beat. Even if you lose, as long as you are alive, you can start over again as many times as you want, but if you die, there is nothing you can do.
With “Wanderer” so far, those who were touched by the tentacles suffered coma, insanity, loss of memory, and other serious consequences, but these were somewhat better than the worst possible outcome, death. Of course, there were times when death occurred as a result of malice, combined with various diseases, but it was extremely rare for it to be the direct cause of death. Moreover, even if a magical girl were to be caught by the tentacles and be consumed by malice, she would have a somewhat higher tolerance, so it was said that the symptoms would be milder than for ordinary people. Of course, it was only relatively mild, but it was not likely to lead to death.
However, that “Wanderer” is different. Compared to the previous ones, it is clearly different.
If that “Wanderer” continues to appear, there will surely be a clear sacrifice in the form of death someday. I don’t like that. That’s all.
“Heroes becoming sacrifice, I don’t like it…”
“If that’s how you think, then Blackrose just need to save them kyu~. You saved a magical girl today kyu~. It would be fine if you just save the others in the same way kyu~. Even if you can’t save everything, I’m sure you won’t be troubled like now kyu~.”
“Me saving them, huh?”
The reason I help someone is because it benefits me. Being praised, being appreciated, being cool. It’s just for selfish reasons. Still, rather than worrying about it here, I wonder if it’s fine to do what Mokyu said and move to save them.
“Well, when I feel like it. I think it’s cool to be a hero in the shadows, but it’s no fun if you don’t get any thanks.”
“Even if you use a tablet and pochi pochi erasing the bad reputation of magical girls, no one will say thankyou kyu~. If it’s Blackrose, who still continue to do it, it’ll be fine kyu~.”
“I mean that’s because, as expected, I would feel bad just leaving it alone. Also Mokyu asked me to do it.”
“Roze is unexpectedly kind kyu~. That kind of thing is called tsundere kyu~.”
“Ahh, shut up. I quit, I quit, let’s stop talking about it. I’ll just think about it when the problem is in front of me.”
I have no intention of picking up all the fruit anyway, I am not omniscient or omnipotent. There are an infinite number of people who got hurt without my knowledge, so thinking about it now would is useless.
Rather than that, there’s someone who’s been secretly watching me for a while now. I’m sure she mean to hid, but sorry. That kind of trick doesn’t work for me. I don’t know how many times this has happened, but I’m getting more and more sensitive to being watched.
“Why don’t you come out instead of sneaking a peek? That’s not a praiseworthy act you know.”
“I’m sorry. It seems that you were mumbling to yourself, so I lost the timing to call out. Nice to meet you again, Blackrose.”
“Hello, Sapphire. Is this the first time we’ve met outside of night? You sure are a hard worker.”
On the other side, there was a blue girl who wasn’t hiding in particular, and she was glaring at me with sullen eyes and furrowed eyebrows today. Pretty sure I didn’t do anything that would make her angry, in fact, I should be praised, but why does she always glared at me?
“I’m not only active late at night. And if you think so, why don’t you join the committee and work for us? My work would be a little easier if you would just obediently join the committee.”
She entered nagging mode. Whenever I make a slight remark, she would immediately comes up with a sharp and correct argument, and this is why I have a hard time with serious girls. The compability is just too bad.
Well, I’ve done what I had to do, and I have no more need here. Also I’ve been found by a scary child, and Takanashi-chan might be worried if I don’t show my face as Roze, so Let’s leave as soon as possible. Bye-bye.
I take out a blue card to activate Accel. I’ve shown it to her before, so Sapphire must have realized what I’m trying to do, and she stops me, raising her voice as if in a panic.
“Wait a minute! I didn’t come to see you today to say that. Don’t run away, please give me a moment of your time.”
It’s not like I’m running away. I just have something to do.
“Un. Be quick please.”
“Thank you very much. Now, let me ask you, when I was searching the area around here based on the “Wanderer’s” signal, I saw Quartz and the “Wanderer” engaged in combat. When Quartz was about to be attacked by the tentacle, a strong flash of light made that tentacles disappear. It was you who caused that phenomenon, wasn’t it?”
“Oh, my. It can’t be helped if you found out.. But I wasn’t trying to snatch the prey, okay? As expected I thought it would be better to help there. I’m sorry if it’s none of my business.”
“No, I’m not trying to blame you. Rather, let me thank you. I had strictly ordered Quartz not to fight alone even if she met ‘Wanderer’. A lot of kids that age push themselves too hard. If it hadn’t been for your help, Quartz wouldn’t have been free. On behalf of the committee, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you very much”
Somehow, Sapphire thanked me. I’m a stray, but is it fine for you to say thank you on behalf of the committee? Also, it would be a problem if you were too formal.
“I will accept your thanks. Well, I just do it on my own, so don’t worry too much. Also, I want you to keep it a secret from that girl. It would be embarrassing if she found out that I helped.”
“Okay. I’ll leave it at that. Blackrose, do you know the mutated state like the ‘Wanderer’ earlier?”
“No, I’ve never seen it before. I didn’t know ‘Wanderer’ could become like that.”
“Is that so? That is a phenomenon that has only recently been confirmed, and is said to be shinka (true transformation). Would you like to visit the Magical Girl Committee in the Special Zone? I won’t force you to enter the comittee anymore, so how about just an exchange of information?”
Shinka, a new kind of “Wanderer”. Since all the fairies other than Mokyu are gone, I really want some information, but I feel awkward going to the committee. Though Sapphire says that, there’s a rule that magical girls must be on the committee, and even if I visited, it seems like it would not be much fun.
“Well, if I feel like it.”
“Yes, I will be waiting for you. If you do visits, all you have to do is to identify yourself to the receptionist at the special zone with my name and the fact that you are a magical girl and there will be no problem. Thank you for listening to me.”
It looks like the talk is over, so let’s say goodbye here.
This time, I activate the magic Accel contained in the blue card and move to a place where Sapphire could not see.
Now them, let’s go see everyone’s hero.
RECENTLY UPDATES
