Chapter 9

I’m not the type to read the room.

I subtly shifted my gaze to Emerald, who was staring down at me with icy eyes.

“Hey, since you saved me, can you do something about that magical girl? She seems like she came to save you.”

“You.”

“…”

“Are you ignoring me?”

“…Are you talking to me?”

It was clearly polite speech, but it felt even ruder than casual speech.

I don’t remember Emerald being like this in the original.

Maybe she was like this before the original timeline?

No, no way. Even before the original timeline, she was called the Green Saint. There’s no way someone like that would have such a jaded face and cold voice.

‘Besides, she called me Apocalypse…’

Maybe she’s like me too.

I wanted to greet her warmly, but with that kind of look, I couldn’t even pretend to be happy.

Her eyes are way too cold.

It felt like if I said anything, I’d be killed on the spot.

“What’s your name?”

“My name? Ah—”

Should I really say Apocalypse here?

I felt like if I blurted out what I was about to say, it might end badly.

I almost got hit with a hope energy-filled magic blast.

“—Call me Kari.”

“…”

Honestly, even the name “Ah-Kari” felt a bit off, but whatever.

Emerald’s aggressive stance, which seemed ready to attack at any moment, gradually softened.

Though her Hope Circuit was still running at full speed.

“*Sigh*…”

“Follow me.”

“Okay.”

Emerald, who had picked up the fallen magical girl in a princess carry, glanced at me and spoke.

So cold, so cold.

That kind of coolness was originally Sapphire’s thing.

‘Well, walking isn’t really a problem…’

But this is clearly discrimination.

Isn’t it normal to carry both in situations like this?

Maybe she didn’t want to touch the monster (presumed) body.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“…”

Guess I should get insurance just in case.

With a face that said, “I really don’t know anything~,” I thanked Emerald, and her expression twisted.

Clearly, she was annoyed.

At least she didn’t shoot a magic blast at me.

“…”

“…”

The road to the city was filled with silence.

This silence is heavy.

I wish she’d at least curse at me while walking; it would’ve been somewhat entertaining. But she kept her mouth shut like a child who’d been pranked, and it was so uncomfortable.

‘It’s not like I’m the sociable type either.’

I wanted to tease her by mimicking Apocalypse, but I knew better than to play pranks in this situation.

If I teased her, I might end up losing a limb.

Or worse, I could die.

“Is she going to be okay?”

“…”

Silence again.

I tried to start a conversation, but with this kind of response, I should’ve just stayed quiet.

Ah, this is why you shouldn’t pair quiet people together.

‘Can’t she just fly ahead with her first?’

Seeing the magical girl walking felt weird.

If you look closely, it seems like she’s adjusting her speed to match mine.

…Well, overthinking it probably won’t help.

The original story has already changed so much.

***

I had a dream. A terribly bad dream.

I woke up screaming, curling up from the sensation of something choking my neck.

‘Why are you doing this…’

People disappeared like flies, and magical girls were brutally killed.

How many times did I despair while watching that scene?

Monster Girl.

Monster Girl, Apocalypse.

That name would soon become the end of magical girls.

‘Emerald, snap out of it! There are still people we can save!’

‘But I…!’

There was no way to stand against the monster in front of me.

It was literally a natural disaster.

A calamity that turned entire areas into hell.

That was the true nature of Apocalypse.

‘I’ll leave the rest to you, Emerald. You, who have a kinder heart than me—’

“Ugh…”

I felt nauseous.

The vivid memories reminded me that all of this wasn’t a dream.

[Emerald, are you okay?]

“…Ah.”

[Did you have a nightmare? Here, I’ll sing you a song to cheer you up!]

“…Thanks, May.”

After despairing for a while.

The familiar voice piercing through the darkness made my vision blur for a moment.

It should’ve been destroyed by Apocalypse’s hands.

I hugged May with trembling hands, and her fresh, grassy scent filled my lungs.

[Hehe, Emerald’s hugs always feel so good~]

As my heart gradually calmed, I began to carefully recall the final moments.

What exactly happened to me—to this world?

I tried to find answers in the gaps of my memories, but the more I tried to remember, the more my mind clouded.

But even in that state, there was one thing I knew for sure.

‘I have to find the Doctor and Apocalypse before the world becomes like in my memories.’

And then, I’ll—

[Emerald, your expression looks bad again. Are you feeling sick?]

“…I’m fine, May. Really. I must still be half-asleep.”

I smiled at May, who was looking at me with concern.

There was no time to despair.

Literally, it was a race against time now.

‘July 2201…’

Unconsciously, I glanced at the calendar, which read the year 2201.

Apocalypse first appeared in November 2206.

I had to find one of them within five years.

No matter what, I had to.

.

.

.

[Emerald, there’s a Gamma-level monster ahead!]

“I know.”

From then on, it was a continuous battle.

During the day, I dealt with monsters invading the center, and at night, I roamed the outskirts of the city, searching for traces of the Doctor and Apocalypse.

I first went to the place where the Doctor had set up his base in the past, but it was still just a barren wasteland.

“Miss Emerald, something about your vibe has changed.”

“If before you had a soft feel, now you seem so much colder.”

“I like the changed Miss Emerald too. Everyone loves a cool beauty, right?”

With no time to rest while awake, I couldn’t find any peace.

My interactions with people decreased, and my tired body and mind showed less emotion.

The only time I could smile was when talking to my partner, May.

‘It’s okay. I can still hold on. Once I find the Doctor, I can rest as much as I want.’

I exhaled while washing my face.

Where could he be?

Where can I find him?

The more time passed, the more anxious I became.

‘If I don’t find him like this, surely—’

Surely, the events from my memories will happen again.

I clutched my head, recalling the image of a magical girl being torn in half, her legs held apart.

No. That can’t happen.

I need more time.

[Emerald, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately… Wouldn’t it be okay to take a full day off?]

“…There’s no time to rest.”

I have to find them, no matter what.

I slept for only about three hours a day, spending the rest of the time either exterminating monsters or searching for the Doctor’s lab.

I chased the traces of despair from my memories, roaming everywhere.

And as if my efforts weren’t in vain, I finally found a clue.

[Emerald, the despair levels are too high. Shouldn’t we call for backup?]

“I can handle this. I’ll take care of it quietly, May.”

A lab deep underground.

The despair filling the air made my lungs burn from the inside.

“*Sigh*…”

There were no traces of Apocalypse.

But if I could understand the pattern of the despair energy spreading through the lab, I could eventually reach the lab where Apocalypse was.

[Hope energy fully charged. Ready, Emerald?]

“Yeah, I’m ready, May.”

Perhaps because I had more experience than my past self, I was much stronger now.

I gathered the hope energy filling my body and moved it to the tip of my staff.

‘No, maybe it’s not just experience.’

Magical girls grow stronger the more hope they have.

Then, having returned from a ruined world with the hope of saving everyone, just how strong have I become?

I slowly opened my mouth, looking at the compressed hope energy at the tip of my staff.

‘…This time, I will save everyone.’

“Emerald Splash.”

And in that moment, the space was filled with green light.

Along with a hope so intense it evaporated all the despair in the area.

[Despair energy completely eliminated! Purification complete, Emerald!]

In the bleached landscape, I looked up at the sky, hearing May’s voice.

The black sky, with a tiny star faintly shining within it.