The evil machinations of a wicked magical girl and the schemes of a demon.
The sound of pages being turned was the only thing echoing in the room, while a faint aroma of tea spread around.
Rinne was spending an afternoon in her usual room.
She suddenly remembered something she had asked Lockwert to do.
As long as no ranker showed up, it was a task that Lockwert wouldn’t mess up.
After all, a novice magical girl was nothing more than a mere pawn.
While Rinne was thinking this, the space in the room began to distort.
Since Rinne already knew what was about to happen, she waited for the person who was about to appear.
First, feet appeared, then blood splattered onto the floor.
At this moment, Rinne realized that Lockwert must have lost.
When the entire body became visible, there was a large cross-shaped wound. Lockwert’s ability had distorted the space around the wound.
The space at the location of the wound was forcibly sealed to suppress the bleeding.
“…Lockwert… did you fail?”
“Yes… please help me recover first.”
Rinne transformed as she had done last time and helped Lockwert recover.
Because the wounds were quite severe, Rinne ended up consuming a significant amount of magic power.
Once recovered, Lockwert drank all of Rinne’s half-finished tea and sat on the vacant sofa.
“Hmm. So, what happened?”
“Before that, I have a question. Can a magical girl transform into another magical girl with completely different abilities?”
“…What do you mean?”
Lockwert recounted the events of the battle against Inie.
How Inie performed miracle-level healing magic, and how despite sustaining fatal injuries, she didn’t even let out a groan due to her unique mental fortitude.
And then how her appearance changed from white robes to black attire, her hair and eye color also transforming.
She wielded a sword instead of magic, and seemed to possess some other abilities as well.
Lockwert recounted everything she had witnessed in meticulous detail.
“That phenomenon is different from awakening. Awakening merely enhances an individual’s abilities.”
“That girl was practically a different person. Her appearance, her abilities… Above all, her eyes were definitely those of someone capable of killing.”
“At 11 years old… Possessing such destructive magic and healing magic, and sword skills that could overwhelm you…”
Rinne dismissed the thought that it was impossible and started considering the possibilities.
Fantasy elements like magic can’t be proven by science, and thinking they’re implausible only gets in the way.
Magic itself is inherently improbable.
For instance, what if it were a case of dissociative identity disorder? That could explain having entirely different abilities, but it still doesn’t account for the murderous mindset.
Then, could another person reside within the girl’s body? No, the separation of soul and body would likely destroy her.
“It seems we won’t find an answer.”
Lockwert brewed tea for both of them and was nibbling on snacks to restore her strength.
Considering the amount of blood she had lost during the previous and current encounters, she decided to leave the matter to Rinne and stop overthinking it.
Thinking hard with a clouded mind wouldn’t yield good answers anyway.
To begin with, Lockwert wasn’t a strategic thinker or a fighter—she was responsible for supply and rear support.
During her free time, she chased after Jeanne, and otherwise completed whatever requests came her way.
“Yeah. Though it’s quite a mysterious phenomenon, compared to the rankers, it’s not exactly unprecedented, right?”
“But didn’t she destroy the M·D·W and withstand the explosion? Even among our members, there are hardly any who could destroy it and survive the blast. I think that alone makes her quite threatening.”
“Still, we don’t have spare personnel available now. With the plan progressing, there’s no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.”
“Hmm. Well, since I’ve reported it, that’s all for now, right?”
“I’ll handle the mission-related matters. I never expected it to end in failure…”
Rinne muttered to herself and sipped the tea brewed by Lockwert.
Lockwert had almost finished eating the snacks in Rinne’s room and disappeared without notice.
Inny Flowering, a new unstable factor that had emerged.
The failure to eliminate Thalagong and the unsuccessful assassination of Take Mikadzuchi as per the request.
Something was beginning to shift, troubling Rinne, so she contacted a witch to obtain permission to use a certain monster…
1
“I’m back!”
Take Mikadzuchi, who successfully defeated a C-class monster on his own as a newcomer.
Afterward, he was attacked by Lockwert but managed to return alive thanks to Inie.
Though slightly injured, for a magical girl, this extent of damage was normal.
“Are you alright, Mika? I was worried when your image suddenly disappeared…”
As Mika stepped out of the teleporter, Saint Hour, the strongest magical girl of the Tohoku Branch ranked 14th, rushed toward her anxiously.
“Various things happened, but thanks to Inie, I was saved.”
“Ah? What happened to that Inie girl?”
Only Mika emerged from the teleporter, with no sign of Inie anywhere.
Saint Hour tilted her head in wonder at this unusual occurrence.
“Inie used too much magic… She said she’d go home first.”
For a brief moment, Mika recalled the bloodied figure of Inie, whose legs had been severed.
At that time, Mika regretted her own powerlessness and the rashness of relying on Inie.
Suddenly shoved aside from the side, Mika looked at Inie in surprise to see her hood flipped back, revealing those murky eyes.
And yet, despite the pain and suffering, Inie barely groaned and didn’t scream.
If only Mika had dodged Lockwert’s magic instead of taking it…
After that, Mika could only watch as Inie’s form changed.
Those murky eyes carried a distinct hatred, causing Mika’s body to tremble just looking at them.
There was something wrong with that magical girl.
Although Mika thought this, she also knew Inie’s kindness and greatness.
Ideally, it should have been her fighting. She should have resisted.
Is it okay because she’s a newcomer? Then what about her?
What about the younger, less experienced magical girl?
While talking with Saint Hour, Mika gradually clenched her fists tightly.
“So, go ahead and report. Don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”
“I understand… Saint Hour-san.”
“Hmm? Is something the matter?”
Mika deeply felt her own weakness and superficiality during this battle.
She regretted underestimating the death of magical girls, which she had learned about.
Had she chosen anyone other than Inie for help during the battle, what would have happened?
Without a doubt, they would have all been killed together.
“I want to grow stronger… I want to become stronger so that I don’t lose anyone… I don’t want to lose Inie.”
Tears streamed down Mika’s face.
Seeking power to fight as a true magical girl rather than just a newcomer.
Coincidentally, Mika’s desire was shaped by Inie, just like Marin’s.
Marin and Mika, both magical girls who might have died without Inie.
Shiro, saved by the demon, was gradually, but surely, becoming helpful to others.
Marin had already reached the Enhanced Form and was considered a potential future ranker.
With determination, Mika resolved to seek strength.
What will these young and innocent magical girls bring to the world in the future?
The demon laughed again today, and Haruna was the one being laughed at.
2
It had been about a week since the battle with Lockwert, and today was Saturday.
Inie was once again slacking off in her room.
Though better than after the M·D·W incident, she was still feeling unwell due to massive blood loss.
She brewed her favorite brand of coffee, took the blood replenishing agent given by the demon, and read a novel to pass the time.
Everything except the blood replenishing agent was how Inie, formerly Shiro, used to spend holidays.
Nearby, the demon was operating a computer, browsing a site different from the usual bulletin board he frequented.
It was…
“Alright, I’ve decided on Haruna’s punishment game!”
The demon, who had been operating the computer, floated over to Inie with a wide grin.
“What is it? Even though it was my mistake, impossible things remain impossible.”
“Don’t worry. There’ll be no damage to either Haruna or Inie.”
Inie tilted her head curiously, trying to decipher the demon’s intentions.
However, no matter how much she thought about it, Inie couldn’t guess what the demon had planned.
“Let’s go shopping in second form!”
“…Excuse me?”
The demon gave a casual explanation.
Since the order failed while in second form—not Inie’s form—it was only fair that the punishment be received in that state.
Recently, she’d been wearing sweatsuits all the time, so why not take the opportunity to wear cute clothes?
Moreover, since she had money but hadn’t spent any, this was a good chance to splurge, the demon tried persuading her.
For Haruna, who was currently in Inie’s form and thinking of returning to her original body, fashion and girlish actions were embarrassing.
The demon, however, thought that since she had lost her original body, it was about time she accepted her situation.
Even if she somehow returned to being male, she’d have no home or official records anymore.
After about thirty minutes of arguing, Inie relented.
“Fine. Is this afternoon okay?”
“Can’t help it. I also have plans with Kaede tomorrow, and I don’t want to wait until next week.”
After the battle where Lockwert suddenly intruded, the demon contacted Kaede via social media to arrange a meeting due to some business.
Kaede responded later that night, confirming that the following Sunday would be fine.
Incidentally, at this time, Kaede had made a victory pose upon receiving a message from Inie wanting to meet.
Due to her busy schedule as a magical girl, Kaede rarely met anyone on her days off.
Regardless of the purpose of Inie’s visit, Kaede found joy simply in the idea of someone coming to see her amidst her current workload.
“I’m going to sleep until noon, so please wake me up when it’s time.”
“Got it.”
Inie drank her coffee, brushed her teeth, and got into bed.
While outwardly calling her bothersome, deep inside, she was somewhat looking forward to the shopping trip.
It had been a long time since Inie went shopping with someone else.
However, Inie failed to uncover the demon’s real plan.
It was inconceivable that the demon would be satisfied with just shopping.
Inie had forgotten this obvious fact.
Once again, Inie would dance to the demon’s tune.
