Noah calmed his boiling insides.
He was angry. At the attitude of someone treating him and the Demon King like stray dogs.
For some reason, perhaps, the challenger’s provocation was rather welcomed.
[Tomorrow I will open the door. You’d better hurry if you want to retrieve the Destroyer. The spell I’ve cast grows stronger with time.]
“Got it, so wash your neck and wait.”
[Looking forward to it, failure.]
“Got it, trash.”
[Then.]
The conversation ended, and the doll disintegrated into ash and disappeared.
“…”
Had it been over a year now?
To support his fallen father, he became a magical girl and eventually one of the greatest heroes.
Well, in the end, it turned out that he had to use that power to bring down his own father, but there was no reason to hesitate now—not anymore.
Indeed, not at all.
Noah steeled his resolve and gently patted Yoo Yul on the head.
She spoke.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back.”
Yoo Yul looked at Noah while feeling the caress of the hand upon her.
Noah met her gaze and added softly.
“You’re hurt badly. Uncle and I are fine, as is Taehwa. Leave this matter to the three of us.”
“…”
“Don’t push yourself unnecessarily—”
“I don’t want to.”
Yoo Yul brushed Noah’s hand away and said.
“I’ll handle that old man.”
“That body of yours can’t manage it.”
“…I know. But…”
“But?”
“It feels like if I run away here, I might never fight again.”
For some inexplicable reason, she felt she understood.
It was a kind of inertia. Until now, without ever suffering major defeats, even when defeated, she always got back up, and she never faced life-threatening situations.
The Kraken didn’t seem intent on killing either.
But this time was different.
Getting injured was normal; they might even die in what they were about to do.
If one fled from such a battle and turned their back, there would be no returning to that place again.
Because fear would have taken root.
Thus, Yoo Yul seemed to have made her decision.
“I don’t want to run! If I run and… something happens to my sister or uncle…”
“Yul-ah…”
“I’d rather try my best than live a lifetime of regret and despair.”
So she wouldn’t turn her back.
“…Understood.”
“Uncle.”
“If it’s Yul’s wish, there’s nothing to do but support her.”
Shin Hyun acknowledged Yoo Yul’s determination but warned clearly.
“But this isn’t a game. There’s a real chance you could die.”
“…I’m prepared.”
Yoo Yul’s unwavering gaze.
With that, Shin Hyun and Noah gave in.
“…Don’t die.”
“You too, uncle and sister.”
“…Haa…”
Noah’s sigh marked the moment the atmosphere grew heavy.
“Well, we should go prepare now.”
“Hm. Yul-ah, take care of Jin-ah. We’ll prepare our way. We’ll come pick you up at dawn tomorrow, so get ready.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow morning.”
With those words, Shin Hyun and Noah left the hospital room, deeply resolved to ensure success.
+++++
Alone, Yoo Yul closed her eyes quietly.
Ever since earlier, the voice echoing in her mind had been unbearable.
She let out a deep sigh.
‘What do you want?’
In response to her question aimed at unraveling the mystery, the voice answered.
“Your strength and your body.”
“And what do I get out of it?”
“The experience to defeat that old man, isn’t that what you wanted?”
In short.
“A monkey’s paw, huh.”
“You’re talking nonsense.”
She could hear the sound of a tongue clicking in her mind.
Whatever it was, it seemed worth engaging in dialogue, so Yoo Yul lay down quietly on the bed.
The conversation wasn’t long.
At most, it lasted about ten minutes.
“…I’ll think about it.”
“Think? Do you really think you can win?”
“…Let me try first.”
And if it doesn’t work…
“Guess it suits you.”
“In that case, I’ll honor your contract.”
“Expect a positive answer.”
After that, the voice stopped coming.
Fortunately.
“…Now I can finally focus.”
She rose from the bed and closed her eyes.
The starlight faintly twinkled, and she transformed into her magical girl form.
Though still bandaged, nothing was broken. It was unfortunate that her right eye wasn’t fully functional, but compared to others, she was less injured.
“…This time, I won’t lose.”
Watching her sister who took her place and got hurt, Black Heart deeply vowed.
No matter what sacrifices it takes, she would definitely exact revenge.
+++++
“Here we are again.”
At my heartfelt statement, Iris agreed.
“My point being… Nonetheless, this must be the last time, right?”
“That’s right.”
Win or lose, this would be the final battle.
It would conclude today.
“…Is everyone ready?”
At that, the magical girls nodded.
Iris.
Stella.
Black Heart.
It was unfortunate that Natalia couldn’t join us due to her unconscious state.
Upon arriving at the location written in the letter, there was a portal, and we stepped inside.
The place we arrived at resembled a deep cave.
There was a small rabbit doll there.
Small enough to fit in one hand.
The doll politely greeted us and pointed to several doors.
“The first door. Those who wish to fight a cluster of demons, please proceed this way.”
“The second door. Those who wish to fight the sword prodigy, please proceed this way.”
“The third door. Those who wish to fight the embodiment of destruction, please proceed this way.”
In short, it was about choosing an opponent.
I looked around at the magical girls.
Of course, it was Black Heart who chose first.
Without hesitation, she picked a door.
“I’ll go this way.”
The farthest right door.
Black Heart chose the path to fight the Sword Saint.
“Figures you’d choose that side.”
“I’ve made my preparations accordingly.”
Was her calm demeanor unsettling?
Stella approached and placed her hand on Black Heart’s shoulder.
“Let’s go together.”
“No, sister. Please go somewhere else.”
“Planning to fight alone?”
“Yes, uncle.”
“…Will you be alright?”
Yul nodded.
Normally, I should have dissuaded her here, but…
“You have your reasons.”
I decided to trust Yul.
After all, someone has to fight alone.
That leaves the Demon King and the demons.
The Demon King’s door would likely be the toughest route, so…
“I’ll handle the Demon King.”
“Then I’ll-”
“Taehwa, go with Noah and handle it.”
Noah questioned my statement.
“Shouldn’t Taehwa go against the Demon King?”
I shook my head.
“No, ultimately, you’re the protagonist. As the final boss is that guy, you need to defeat him. Preserve your strength as much as possible.”
“Then…”
“The Demon King, we’ll handle.”
Ggumul.
A Kkomkmu crawled onto my shoulder.
“Leave it to us. You should personally finish off that unpleasant fellow.”
“Kkomkmu…”
“Kkomkmu’s right. You go with Stella and eliminate that monster. I’ll somehow deal with the Demon King.”
“How will you handle it?”
After pondering for a moment, I stated firmly.
“I’ll aim to suppress him as much as possible.”
I didn’t continue further.
These kids aren’t naive enough not to understand.
Everyone’s expression darkened.
I tried to keep my voice as bright as possible.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got something from the witch.”
“Something from the witch?”
“Yeah.”
I showed the kids a potion. A peculiar potion, black at the top but white at the bottom.
An extreme remedy born from the combination of the witch’s magic and Magical Girl Natalia’s healing magic.
“I’ll somehow make him drink this. If his body holds out, he might survive.”
“…Uncle, please take care of the Demon King.”
“Um.”
Taking my nod as a signal, everyone stood before their respective doors.
Iris and Stella heading to face the demons.
Black Heart heading to face the Sword Saint.
The Demon King waiting for me and Kkomkmu.
“Kids!”
“Yes!”
“Four!”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t die. Let’s meet alive.”
Everyone nodded.
They looked anxious yet resolute. Their expressions hinted at unknown thoughts as they opened their chosen doors.
Creeeak—
A chilling door sound echoed.
“…A passage?”
“Disgusting.”
A long corridor stretched before us.
I recognized this place.
The lab. This was the corridor of the lab we visited before.
The very lab where Noah and the Demon King were born.
What poor taste.
To choose as a stage the cursed place where a child’s doomed life began, possibly leading to its end.
“…No, pull yourself together, Shin Hyun.”
The Demon King’s life won’t end here.
That child deserves to grow up loved by everyone and quietly close their eyes in a comfortable bed, not in this damp, moldy place.
“…Let’s go.”
Step, step.
Footsteps echoed.
Passing through the long, unpleasant corridor, we reached a plaza filled with broken test tubes.
In the center stood a familiar white-haired figure, similar to Noah’s but messier.
The eyes too were alike.
Both purple, but the Demon King’s had degraded to a murkier hue.
A smaller child resembling Noah but far tinier.
“…Demon King.”
There stood the Demon King.
“…What exactly…”
Just a day.
Only a single day had passed.
What could have happened during that day?
How did a perfectly fine child deteriorate to this state?
“Hey… sorry.”
“…”
“I… should have protected you.”
No response, just silence like a soulless person.
Suddenly, the Demon King turned his gaze toward me.
“Ah! Big brother! Hi?”
“…”
“Dad told me to kill anyone who comes here! Sorry! Even though I really like big brother, I have no choice!”
“…”
He started forcing a broken smile.
“So, can you die for me?”
“…Demon King.”
“Uh? Big brother?”
“It’s time to take your medicine.”
“Eek!! Medicine is scary!”
“Don’t worry.”
Of course, I have no intention of dying easily.
“Strawberry flavored!”
