The entrusted Magical Girl
The two, who thought the battle was over, immediately rushed to Blue Colette’s side.
“Colette…”
“I told you not to run… Inie… I won’t forgive you.”
While Star Nail and Marin were rushing to Blue Colette’s side, Inie had disappeared.
There were many things they wanted to ask: about the dark figure Inie had shown, and where they had been all this time. But all that remained was Blue Colette, who was nearly dead.
“How disgraceful… in the end, I couldn’t even defeat them…”
“I’ll help you now, so let’s get to the hospital immediately…”
“It’s fine. I can’t be saved anymore…”
Blue Colette knew she wouldn’t survive. She could feel something important being lost from within her body. And it wasn’t because of Inie—it was because of the medicine she drank.
She had gained such immense power.
It wasn’t strange that there were side effects.
Now that she was calm, Blue Colette realized how monstrous she had been just moments ago.
Marin looked at Blue Colette with a severe gaze.
“What happened to that power?”
“…A witch. She said if I took the drug, I would become stronger… so I did.”
“Is that… so?”
Marin pondered why Blue Colette had been chosen. Marin knew that Rinne, an associate of the witch, was targeting Inie. Though Inie eventually appeared here by coincidence.
Star Nail hadn’t even met any nihilists.
Their purpose was completely unclear…
“Hey, Nail.”
“—What is it? Colette.”
“Please… take care of Inie for me…”
With those words, Blue Colette’s body went limp.
Her transformation dissolved, and Blue Colette reverted to an ordinary girl.
—Blue Colette had died.
“Colette? Colette!”
As a result, Star Nail and Blue Colette became adversaries and ended up killing each other.
But no matter how it turned out, to Star Nail, Blue Colette was a dear friend.
There was no way it wasn’t painful.
Whether or not Blue Colette entrusted Inie’s matter to Star Nail was unclear to the latter, but it didn’t matter now.
Star Nail held Blue Colette and sobbed quietly. Then, as the barrier dissipated, a snowy landscape spread out. The snow that had stopped began to fall again.
With the barrier gone, the terminals of Star Nail and Marin rang.
Marin answered the call first, thinking it was impossible to talk to Star Nail in her current state.
“This is the operator. It seemed like your reactions disappeared for a moment. Is everything alright?”
“…Sort of. Is the Director there? If so, please put them on.”
“Please wait a moment.”
During the wait, Marin confirmed through Star Nail’s terminal that everything was fine. Then, Amakaze’s voice came through the terminal.
“This is Amakaze. What happened?”
Marin took a deep breath and considered how to explain.
Blue Colette had been an enemy they needed to defeat.
That said, Marin wasn’t heartless enough not to mourn the death of someone they knew.
Besides, they had essentially let Inie do what they themselves should have done.
While shadows may not form in Marin’s heart anymore, regret and guilt weighed heavily on her chest.
“—We found Blue Colette.”
“Really!? So… then, why isn’t her signal showing up? There’s nothing on my screen…”
Amakaze swallowed hard, realizing the worst-case scenario might have come true. On the monitor he was checking, only the signals of the two remaining were visible—Blue Colette’s was absent.
“Blue Colette is dead.”
Marin recounted the previous battle.
How she had transformed into a sinister figure and attacked them.
That it was the witch’s doing.
And how Inie, who had come to their rescue, ended up killing Blue Colette.
Amakaze barely managed to keep himself from collapsing.
He had indeed authorized the possibility of killing her in the worst-case scenario. Still…
“…Wasn’t there any way to save her?”
He wondered if it was really necessary to kill her, considering the witch’s involvement. He doubted whether Inie might have been able to handle the situation without resorting to murder.
“That figure was no longer human. Besides, we would have died if things continued as they were.”
“—I see… No, sorry. Anyway, please return once. We’ll discuss things after that.”
“…Understood.”
Amakaze understood what he wanted to say, but internally grumbled that voicing it now wasn’t appropriate for an adult.
“Star Nail”
“…Yeah. I’m okay, Marin-chan.”
Star Nail’s eyes were red and swollen, but the uncertainty in her gaze had vanished.
She fought and lost a dear friend.
Accepting that it was unavoidable would be difficult.
Yet after crying her fill, Star Nail stood straight.
“I will fight.”
“—Against the witch?”
“Yeah.”
Star Nail also knew about the witch and the nihilists. She decided to keep moving forward until she defeated those who had reduced Blue Colette to such a state.
Star Nail herself was well aware of how weak she was.
Still, she couldn’t forgive those who had put Blue Colette through this.
“That’s right. But for now, let’s go back. Leaving Nana—Blue Colette—as she is wouldn’t be right.”
Star Nail picked up Nana, who had been Blue Colette, and teleported back to the North Kanto Branch with Marin.
They handed Blue Colette’s remains to the staff waiting in the teleportation room and headed to the director’s office.
At that moment, Star Nail recalled Blue Colette’s final words.
“That person… please take care of Inie…”
Blue Colette and Inie only intersected during the M·D·W incident.
So why had she entrusted Inie to her? Star Nail couldn’t understand.
Between Star Nail and Blue Colette, there weren’t many mutual acquaintances.
If there were, it would only be that civilian who became a turning point for both of them.
However, that civilian was male.
Star Nail tried to decipher Blue Colette’s intentions but found no answers.
—By the way, why was Fūru collapsed in that park?
Perhaps Fūru…
Just as such absurd thoughts began to surface, the two arrived at the director’s office.
“You’re back. The staff from the teleportation room already contacted me. I’m sorry about what happened with Blue Colette.”
Upon entering the director’s office, Amakaze and Shirokigawa were present, their expressions filled with sorrow.
Realizing they hadn’t accomplished anything and had simply pushed the responsibility onto Inie and the two of them, Amakaze apologized.
“I know it’s painful, but could you tell me more details? After teleporting, we lost track of the signal. What exactly happened?”
“Understood. After teleporting…”
Marin recounted in greater detail what she had already told Amakaze over the call. Specifically, the fatal wound Star Nail sustained and the drastic change in Blue Colette’s appearance.
She mentioned that without Inie, they might have lost.
However, she omitted the part about Inie’s transformation.
After hearing everything, Amakaze felt like he wanted to bury his head in his hands.
If he reported everything as it happened, he would inevitably be held accountable. Doing so would likely lead to him losing his position as director—a fact that Shirokigawa, who had been listening nearby, also understood.
Truthfully, Shirokigawa believed the Magic Bureau had become irreparably corrupt. After discussing various matters with her sister Arongante, they had concluded there was nothing left to be done.
Amakaze’s efforts were clear to her.
However, seeing the Magic Bureau’s response to witches made her consider dismantling the organization entirely and establishing a new one. She had shared this idea with Arongante, who agreed with her sister.
Thus, Shirokigawa wouldn’t particularly mind if Amakaze stepped down.
She still harbored some affection for him after working together for so long. If Amakaze ever faced difficulties in the future, she intended to help.
“Alright. Regarding Bridge Nana’s parents, I’ll speak with them. Also, it’s fine to take the day off tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll take my leave then.”
“Please take care of Nana-chan for us.”
Amakaze managed to smile as he saw the two off.
“So… it’s over.”
“You’ve done your best. But the timing was unfortunate.”
Amakaze sipped his lukewarm coffee.
“What are you planning to do next?”
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll assist my younger sister. Things are starting to smell fishy anyway.”
The scheming witches and suspicious activities of the Magic Bureau.
The abnormal increase in monsters and the rising mortality rate among magical girls.
If things continue as they are, the world might truly perish.
The situation was dire enough to bring about such concerns.
Some countermeasures must be implemented.
“Alright. I’ll draft the report before heading home. Sorry about today.”
“Got it. I’ll check on Nana and then visit the Fairy Realm. See you later.”
Shirokigawa also exited the director’s office, leaving Amakaze alone as he started drafting the report on his computer.
(Will this be my last task…)
There was no way this would end without repercussions.
Last time, it resulted in a stern warning, but this time, a life had been lost.
Amakaze hadn’t done anything wrong per se.
It was just bad timing.
Amakaze continued writing the report diligently…
Unaware of the magical circle appearing behind him…
“Good evening.”
The witch grinned wickedly as she addressed Amakaze.
1
“This is…”
The witch showed Amakaze a single video clip.
It was footage of the moment Inie killed Blue Colette.
If Amakaze reported the incident according to Star Nail and Marin’s testimonies, it would raise questions about his responsibility, possibly leading to his removal as director.
However, using this video, he could claim that Blue Colette was merely killed by Inie, thereby shifting all responsibility onto Inie.
Though he might still face some accountability, it wouldn’t necessitate his resignation.
“How do you like it? Does the video meet your approval?”
“—What is your purpose?”
With this video, Amakaze’s position would undoubtedly be secured. By obscuring the source and keeping Marin in the dark, there would be little risk of discovery.
In exchange, Inie would be branded as the villain in public opinion and designated for extermination.
“My concerns should be secondary to yours. With this, you’ll be safe.”
“…You’re right.”
To Amakaze, Inie was an old benefactor.
But there were things Amakaze had to do.
Weighing these options, Amakaze…
“Fufufu. This world is truly amusing, isn’t it?”
Amakaze couldn’t escape the witch’s grasp.
Adults always choose practicality and prioritize themselves.
