LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 80
“Actually, I don’t really know much about the Magical Girl of [Revelation]. All I could figure out is her battle style that uses [Revelation], blessed by some transcendent being.”
Yuki, after finishing her bath, changed out of the Magical Girl outfit she had worn for four days and into her pink bunny pajamas. She sat on the bed with a serious expression and began to recount her experience with the [Revelation] Magical Girl.
“Shirogane-san, it’s late, so you can stay over if you want.”
After seeing his daughter regain her spirits after meeting me, Ryota suggested that I stay the night.
“I didn’t think I’d end up having dinner with the Shikishima family and spending a night in the protagonist’s room.”
I was somewhat used to staying over at Sato Hana’s place, but unlike my usual experience of sleeping in the guest room, this time, I would be staying in Yuki’s room.
Yuki’s clothes didn’t fit me at all, making me look ridiculous, and it felt strange to be lying on the floor where I had spread a blanket while still in my casual outfit. As a fan of the original work, I guess it felt like I had achieved everything I wanted.
“No way. This is an important conversation, so let’s focus.”
I pushed those thoughts aside and listened intently to Yuki’s words.
“I’ve never really communicated properly with [Revelation]. Out of the three Born 3-Star, she was particularly indifferent to those around her. I didn’t even know if there were any Magical Girls under her domain.”
The proclamation of [War].
The domain of [Death].
Bombardments and battles.
I left Japan, crossed over to Russia, and reached the North Pole. It was on the way back to Japan that the third trial out of the six began.
Trials always came accompanied by an endless torrent of monsters. Each trial monster was a colossal beast, hundreds of meters tall.
Due to the lion monster from the first trial, Japan was completely paralyzed.
The second trial, involving the viper monster, poisoned the coastlines of Europe.
And then came the third trial.
The relentlessly charging wild boars swept across the land of Russia, destroying everything in their path. People began to flee toward the outside.
Finally, right before they abandoned the land and set sail to the sea, the [Revelation] Magical Girl appeared.
With the blessing of the gods, she swiftly cleared out the small monsters that had converged on the coastline along with a downpour of arrows that multiplied infinitely. Yuki urgently called for her help.
But the [Revelation] Magical Girl firmly refused and turned away.
[Why aren’t you helping the people?!]
[Because that’s not our role.]
Wearing a hood pulled low, the [Revelation] Magical Girl continued on her way toward some part of the sea, exiting the scene.
In the end, Yuki had to form a temporary alliance with pillaging Magical Girls who were exploiting ordinary citizens to fend off the wild boar that had come close. Then, the Lightning Magical Girl, Lee Hua, entered the mouth of the boar, causing a self-explosion, resulting in dozens of Magical Girl casualties while still achieving victory.
It was a battle with no gains; no one expressed gratitude, and only the dead remained.
Carrying hope that I could resurrect my father, we fell into despair as we were about to return to Japan.
“…”
“Hmm? Hikari, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just relieved that Yuki is still kind…”
“D-Don’t say that!”
Upon hearing my words, Yuki suddenly pulled the blanket over her face and hid inside her bed. Peeking at me through the blanket, she fidgeted nervously.
‘She looks like a blushing pink bunny hiding in a hole.’
I felt proud of Yuki, who, after experiencing all that, hadn’t lost hope in humanity and wasn’t completely despondent.
“Yuki.”
“Y-Yes?”
“I’m glad you’re you.”
“What?!”
Yuki’s eyes widened enough to be seen between the blanket folds as she sank deeper into her cover like a bug, trembling and pleading.
“Hikari, wait!! I… I’m not ready yet!!”
“Yuki.”
“Wait a moment!! I really apologize! I’m not ready in my heart!!”
“Do you know what the term ‘Apostle’ means?”
“…Huh?”
“[War], [Death], [Plague], and [Revelation] seem to call each other Apostles. I started to think I might also be one of those Apostles.”
“U-Um, I don’t really know either. I’m sorry.”
“No, I just found out about it not long ago.”
Even I, having read the original work which includes narration and explanations, found it hard to comprehend these details.
A scavenger presumed to be influenced by the [War] Magical Girl.
The key term ‘Apostle of the Goddess’ mentioned by the [Puppet] Magical Girl Doctor had lingered in my mind.
In the background of all this, Emily Hawkins, a likely messenger of [War], continued to maintain her everyday life nonchalantly.
‘Should I deal with Emily now?’
But for some reason, a voice from beyond the colorless stars strongly advised against attacking her.
Could this also be the will of the Goddess?
The Goddess’s Apostle.
‘What does the Goddess want from me?’
Why did she make me the Magical Girl of [Deception]?
[Please think about the meaning of deception for everyone.]
[I’m glad you’ve come out of a journey prepared by the Goddess with a desire for salvation.]
The path I started to save my surroundings gradually expanded into one for humanity in this world. And now the Goddess herself began to step into that path.
A great path.
Am I moving toward a great path that can embrace the Goddess who gave me strength and all my precious people?
“Mother…”
As the path grew larger, I always thought of my mother.
“Yuki said her father was the only one left.”
Thinking it over, Yuki and I had so much in common.
We try to distance ourselves from people, yet long for them.
Both of us lost our parents.
We press on, relying on vague hopes, knowing it’s a foolish path.
That’s probably why I can’t forget the [Magical Girl HAZARD] I read in middle school.
“Yuki.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever thought about missing your mother?”
“Mom?”
“Yeah… actually, I can’t meet my parents anymore either.”
“W-What?! You too, Hikari?”
It was my first time revealing this circumstance to Yuki, aside from the fact that I wasn’t from this world and I knew all about her battles. Yuki abruptly got up from her seat, looking at me in disbelief.
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
“Yeah. My father had already passed away before I came to this world, and as for my mother… um.”
Just as I tried to explain to her calmly, something welled up in my throat, causing me to stop speaking momentarily.
Yuki watched me for a moment before cautiously getting off the bed and warmly holding my hand, which lay on the blanket.
“Yeah. I think I understand.”
“…I’m sorry. I can’t find the right words.”
“Yeah. I understand.”
Yuki gently grabbed my right hand with both of hers and spoke softly.
Her voice was serene and warm, like a quietly flickering candle, yet it also held a distinct kindness.
“I always missed you. It’s okay, but sometimes I wonder how it would have been if you had been by my side.”
“…”
“And I wanted to be someone my mom wouldn’t be embarrassed of.”
“…”
“I’ve mostly failed to do that…”
“No, that’s not true.”
“…Thank you.”
Finishing her words, Yuki pressed my hand to her forehead as if in prayer, murmuring something.
Her warm body temperature transmitted through my fingertips.
[I hope you find happiness.]
It felt like that was what she was trying to say.
‘I hope you find happiness too.’
I silently responded to her with that thought.
After a brief moment of praying, she brought a blanket from the bed, lay down beside me, and took my hand again, smiling brightly.
I grasped Yuki’s hand in turn and began to drift off to sleep.
With the relief and warmth of discovering a candle in a vague, dark corridor filling my heart.
I couldn’t illuminate the entire dark corridor, but at least I wouldn’t feel anxious.
Maybe I didn’t come here to find the answer from Yuki.
“Good night, Yuki.”
“Good night, Hikari.”
*
January 25
“Is that Ichika?!”
“Oh, Leader. I knew you’d be safe. I believed in you.”
Heh.
Returning to my apartment, I found Ichika enveloped in a gentle green aura, seated cross-legged in mid-air with her eyes closed.
“I learned a thing or two from this battle as well.”
In her familiar casual outfit, the green aura behind her seemed to knot together, resembling a giant with a thousand arms, while below her, green lotus flowers began to float up gracefully.
Unlike the threatening green storm that had analyzed the space before, the gently rising green lotus flowers were completely dominating the area.
And what I saw with my eyes linked to the world…
‘A giant? A giant with a thousand arms?’
It seemed Ichika had invisibly concealed herself, but in my view, a green giant the size of several dozen meters was mimicking Ichika’s position in the air above the empty lot.
“You… bloomed all by yourself?”
“Yup.”
“That’s incredible…”
“Hmm.”
Ichika scoffed quietly and relaxed her posture, striding over to me.
“Hmmm…”
Ichika observed me silently.
As she drew on her power, her hair and eyes glimmered green.
“Wow, this is just monstrous, isn’t it? Even having ten of me wouldn’t be enough right now.”
“Seriously, that’s awful.”
Ichika shook her head repeatedly and crossed her arms.
“Leader, there’s something bigger than that.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Since I returned from China, the water and electricity in our apartment are cut off.”
“………”
That really is a big deal.