LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 53
Even with the announcement of the friendship event, the Japanese Born 1-Star Magical Girls were hesitating to participate.
“E-eh, fighting is a bit…”
“Just working with the Cheerleading Team is enough.”
“Do we really need to do this when [Start] is protecting us?”
“I don’t like violence!”
But curiosity got the better of the girls, and they decided to visit the arena.
The various arenas set up in the Garden were spaces made of marble flooring atop a rose garden. A dense flow of magical power shimmered on the outer walls surrounding the open space of about 100 meters, and as soon as they entered, the Glass Star trembled.
Vwoom!
“Whoa?! W-what’s going on?”
“Is this the Illusion Barrier?”
“Well… can we go a bit wild then?”
Crack!
Boom!
Whoosh!
The girls who entered the arena as a test began to unleash their summoned creatures and cast area spells, having fun.
Bang!
Thud!
“Haha! This feels so freeing!”
“Yeah! We can’t play like this outside!”
“Go break it all!!”
“Hahaha!”
After letting loose their abilities, the beautiful marble floor was shattered, and the roses were all burnt or flipped over.
With a mix of guilt and relief, the girls quickly escaped, causing the Glass Star to tremble again as the arena was restored.
Vwoom!
Everything changed back, and the girls returned to the same state as before entering the arena.
“This is more fun than I thought…”
“Should we do it again?”
The Magical Girls, seeing this, spent several days not training as ordered but instead using it as a place to relieve their stress by playing around.
It was merely a matter of squeezing their magical power to the limit and causing chaos, but most Magical Girls were satisfied with that much.
The perceptions began to change gradually when foreign Magical Girls also started to enter.
“White Wing Unit 1st Squad, Shooting Preparation Complete!”
“Fire!”
“Yikes!”
Drrrrrrr!
Bang bang bang!
The squad leader of the 1st Squad, a Magical Girl of [Shooting], aimed at Park Saebyeok with her assault rifle and instructed her squad members.
“Cease fire!”
“Cease fire!”
Without deploying her psychic ability, Park Saebyeok was hit directly by the 1st Squad’s gunfire, pink energy bursting from her entire body as she trembled.
“Grrgh… Uwaaaah…!”
She forced her flailing wrist to aim and, unable to cope with the blood gushing from her carotid artery even with her unique skill’s natural recovery, cast a heal while clutching it.
“Aaaah! Cough…!”
That day, during the emergency response training, Park Saebyeok managed to treat her critical injury without fainting from blood loss after the fifth drill.
Though not as strong as Park Saebyeok, the 1st Squad members conducted their emergency drills daily in the arena.
Standing in a line, each squad member took hits from their designated partner without psychic protection on their shoulders or thighs.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
“Kyahhh!”
“Ugh… Uwaaaah…!”
“Believe it! The pain is real, but you won’t die! Get a grip! Use your healing ability to survive!”
At Park Saebyeok’s encouragement, the White Wing unit members, tears streaming down their faces, cast their healing abilities towards the places where they felt burning pain. They confirmed the bullets that had protruded without fully piercing through.
Clatter!
“Ughhhh… Hoo, hoo!”
Some members couldn’t withstand the pain and vomited, while others had small fractures from shock, but before dread could overwhelm them, they found a sliver of pride and confidence in their repeated training.
“If this continues, we can [Bombard] and fight again…!”
Though [Bombard] had already been “defeated,” the memories of being powerless against the terrorists that had attacked South Korea urged the 1st Squad to train even harder.
Like real combat.
Every day, they shot at each other and stabbed with swords to adapt.
Sometimes they fought against overwhelming odds.
Sometimes they targeted each other’s weaknesses, attacking with telekinesis in hand-to-hand situations.
At times, they became bloodied from self-inflicted fatal wounds as they charged at each other.
Sometimes they fought blindfolded, and at other times, with their hands tied…
To protect and heal people in any combat situation and pain.
Since a single mistake in a real fight is unacceptable, they pushed the pain threshold to the maximum.
Bang bang bang!
“Uwaaaaaah! I’ve been hit so many times by this gun!!”
Whoosh!
“I won’t die from just this!!”
Under the pull of fate that led by Park Saebyeok’s pink star, the girls became warriors.
If their families or friends had seen this brutal training, they would have fainted, but that day’s battle made them realize they could no longer be mere children.
The star that resonated with their will whispered softly.
The threat was far from over.
Clang!
Clack!
A Born 1-Star [Piercing] Magical Girl from France, with a cold expression, glared at her opponent, holding her rapier.
The Born 2-Star [Heavy Armor] Magical Girl from Germany also readied herself to respond at any moment.
“…”
“…”
There was no need for words between the two girls from the same cheerleading squad.
Ding!
For days, they kept grasping their unique weapons they hadn’t touched since their friends were still alive.
No one could protect them.
Not soldiers, not police, not politicians, not clergymen.
All were powerless against the terrorists.
Boom!
The [Heavy Armor] wrapped her shield in psychic power, deflecting the rapier and charging in like a living tank.
Crack!
The [Piercing] was smashed by that charge, crushing her into the rose garden.
Vwoom!
With the tremor of the star, everything returned to normal, and they resumed their standoff.
“27 fights, 25 losses…”
“The attacks are getting sharper. I can barely respond when they target my neck and shoulders.”
“For 2 wins, I was only given a free pass.”
Snap!
“It’s still impossible for me to beat you even a little bit.”
The eyes of the [Piercing] Magical Girl, gripping her rapier tight, still burned coldly.
Seeing the look in her friend’s eyes, the [Heavy Armor] raised her shield again to take her stance.
“Bring it on!!”
Ding!
The two Chinese Magical Girls prepared themselves as they noticed their weapons entangled.
Swish!
“…!”
Clang clang clang!
Reacting to the flying throwing knives from somewhere, the two girls deployed their psychic barriers like curtains.
“Lina…!”
From the shadows under the garden, a Born 1-Star [Shadows] Magical Girl from China appeared and addressed the two battling girls.
“Wasn’t it you who said it was okay to ambush? You’re not changing your mind yet, are you?”
“No, it was appropriate.”
“Then it’s three of us now? Lina, are you planning on saying you can’t do it unless it’s an ambush?”
“No. I’ll fight directly now.”
Lina threw a handful of sharp needles at both girls, and the three girls fiercely fought, launching their most lethal attacks at each other.
Slash!
Clang!
As they watched people pierced and killed by the black blades flying through the air, the girls chose to burn their hearts with rage rather than despair.
Clang!
Clang!
Quietly igniting the anger in their hearts regarding [Sword], they honed themselves. Even if their blades were weak now, they aspired to become daggers that would pierce the heart of [Sword] someday.
“…”
The Japanese Magical Girls watched those girls in silence, pondering the questions that had arisen in their minds.
Why?
What for?
Haven’t you all already entered the safe embrace of [Start]?
While most ordinary girls could only shiver at their desperate training, the Magical Girls who had awakened their powers began to seriously question their strength.
“What have we become strong for?”
Why did [Start], who seemed overwhelmed by adults and the state, provide us with this space? What sights did those fiercely training girls witness?
“…”
If we train as hard as they do, will we come to realize something?
The next day, among the Japanese Magical Girls who came to the arena, there were those who entered with serious expressions instead of playful smiles.
Several days passed like this.
On the day of the tournament, a girl wearing a white dress with a red ribbon entered the arena with a determined expression.
Bloomed Born 1-Star [Flame] Magical Girl
Yuki Shikishima
“This is… the realm of [Start]…”
The realm of [War] was always filled with endless rage and fighting, and the sounds and sights felt similar in this space.
“No, it’s different.”
Although the girls had just begun to approach fighting seriously and were inexperienced, what shone in their eyes wasn’t madness but will. They were determined not to be mere playthings to start the fight between the alliance and the FLAG next year.
“[Start] is different from [War].”
Yuki felt a sense of protection and cultivation for the Magical Girls in the realm of [Start]. She sensed their kindness.
Thump!
Thump!
Yuki’s heart raced as she felt it.
“I’m not alone anymore.”
The Magical Girl wanting to lead everyone from this despair towards the path of hope was no longer alone.
The unfamiliar girl from a changed past was guiding the world that ought to fall into despair toward goodness.
Though they had never met, Yuki felt her new beginning was supported by someone with the kindest hands.
Her allies from the future, wanting to protect what they desired, had ultimately fought against destruction.
Perhaps truly understanding and helping Yuki…
“I want to meet the Magical Girls of [Start].”
Yuki gazed into her red Glass Star.
[The 1st Magical Girl Friendship Mock Battle Tournament]
Only the Blooming Magical Girls showed significant participation. Therefore, in the name of fairness, they separated the 1-Star and 2-Star participants among the Blooming Magical Girls.
The tournament held over three days progressed rapidly with a 10-minute time limit per match, concluding with the 2-Star girls’ competition on the last day.
The number of participants from the Blooming 1-Star category was 64, including Yuki.
The number of participants from the Blooming 2-Star category was seven.
Originally, one would advance automatically in the 2-Star tournament, but…
“I need to catch [Start]’s eye.”
Yuki shyly smiled as she envisioned turning the tournament upside down in her mind.
“…Come watch me, [Start]’s Magical Girls.”
Whoosh!
Even if what remained in her hand was merely a spark of dust.
Her flame was a fire that had returned alive from the end of the world.