Chapter 21

‘The timing is weird.’

Of all times, a monster appears, and it’s a Delta-level monster?

Suppressing the doubt rising from deep within, I started flying at full speed.

[Emerald, despair energy detected ahead! It’s Delta level!]

“…Got it!”

It was easy to find where the monster was.

Well, it was indiscriminately catching and killing people trying to escape, so of course, it was obvious.

Its face, lacking eyes and a nose, was the same, but unlike the usual quadrupedal monsters, this one walked on two legs, which was its unique feature.

“Sa, save me! Aaaahhh!!!”

Crunch, munch, munch—

It picked people up and started chewing them like snacks.

It wasn’t even being tidy, and seeing it wipe the bloodstains off its body made me feel nauseous.

‘Why do monsters…’

Act so cruelly?

It was something I couldn’t understand, nor did I want to.

Especially when I see such scenes, the nightmares of the past—the Apocalypse—come to mind, making me feel even more disgusted.

“Emerald Spla— Kgh…?!”

“Sa, save, save me…!”

Kikikikikiki—

Just as I was about to fire a magic cannon at the monster.

As if sensing hope energy, the monster twitched the long mass connected to the back of its head and lifted a person towards me.

It looked like it was holding a hostage.

It seemed to be threatening that if I attacked it, it would kill the person in its hand.

[Emerald, that’s…!]

“It seems like we’ve encountered an unusual monster.”

This was the first time I’d seen this type of monster.

It takes hostages to prevent itself from being attacked.

It was a pure manifestation of evil, exploiting the fact that magical girls must save others.

Kigik, kigik, kigik—

[It’s running away! Emerald!]

“I’ll chase it!”

With a laugh full of mockery, the monster started to flee, and I hurriedly began to chase it.

What, what should I do?

If a person is taken hostage, how—

‘You can’t save everyone, Emerald.’

‘But…’

‘Your kindness is truly precious, but in this situation, you must focus solely on defeating the Apocalypse.’

It was just like back then.

The cold words directed at me.

I can’t save everyone.

The best course of action is to stop the Apocalypse, which is mercilessly slaughtering people.

“…Drive, set.”

[Emerald, surely…!]

I can’t save everyone. That’s why, at the very last moment, I could only watch as the Apocalypse killed people—my comrades.

The past me and the present me are different.

Surely, I can’t go back to being the naive, foolish Emerald who was told by those around her that she was kind.

‘But…’

“I won’t give up!”

I’ve returned to the past.

So, wouldn’t it be okay to regain the same heart I had back then?

Moreover, the current me is much better than the past me.

There’s no way I can’t do what the past me couldn’t.

‘All I have to do is save the person in the monster’s hand before it harms them.’

Uuung—

I amplify the hope energy.

Only internally, so it doesn’t show outwardly.

I keep spinning the Hope Circuit, spreading compressed hope energy so densely that every nerve in my body is on edge.

‘It’s the first time I’m using this, but I can do it.’

The physical enhancement using hope energy that Ruby, a comrade who fought alongside me in the past Apocalypse battle, often showed.

Although I wasn’t a close-combat specialist and never had the chance to use it, I roughly knew how to use it just by watching.

‘I believe in you, Emerald. I know you can do it.’

I’m not alone. I’ve always had comrades.

Remembering the face that patted my shoulder and spoke, I released the hope energy like letting go of a tightly drawn bowstring.

Pwooong!!!

Kiiiiik?!?!!

A speed that could be called teleportation.

In an instant, the hope energy tore off the monster’s arm, creating a massive roar that spread its momentum in all directions.

The monster, with its arm severed, screamed in agony, but that wasn’t important right now.

“Ugh, aaaahhh!!!!”

[Emerald!]

“I know!”

The person held by the monster was plummeting towards the ground.

I have to save them.

This height is too dangerous for an ordinary person.

But—

“Kgh…”

‘My body, it’s not moving properly…!’

The recoil from using the technique for the first time has stiffened my body.

No. If this continues, I won’t be able to save them.

Move, move, move!

If I can’t even move after this much recoil, what kind of magical girl am I?!

I force the creaking Hope Circuit to move, recovering hope energy.

Uuung—

“Kgh, haaaahhh!!!!”

[Hope Circuit reactivated! You should be able to move now!]

I turn all the Hope Circuits into propulsion and shoot towards the person falling to the ground.

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!

As I see the citizen getting closer, I start to think I can save them.

Kigik, kik, kik

“…!!”

The monster, with its mouth torn wide in a grin, and the car it threw at me come into view.

And inside that car is surely—

‘I have to give up one of them.’

Seeing the child unconscious inside the car, I bite my lip.

Who should I save?

The falling person? The child in the car?

If I keep hesitating, I won’t be able to save either.

Chwarak—

“This is…!”

[Measuring despair energy! Gamma level! But something’s off!]

As I grab the tentacle mass holding the citizen just before they hit the ground, I lock eyes with glowing red eyes.

A person—no, a monster?

Its upper body is human, but its lower body is that of a monster.

But the humanity in those eyes proves it’s human.

“I’ve got you…!!”

Grabbing the flying car was quite a task, but I felt relieved to have saved it somehow.

But this isn’t the end.

As long as the monster is alive, I can’t let my guard down.

Kigik, kigik, kik—

“You’re not getting away! Emerald Splash—!!”

I fired a magic cannon at the fleeing monster, but the weakened output couldn’t reach the swiftly moving monster.

If this continues, others will be in danger.

Move, move! If you can’t take it down, at least hold it until another magical girl arrives!

Move now, Emerald!

Uuung—

“You’re not getting away…!!!!”

Kiiik?!?!

Overloading the Hope Circuit again, I pour all my power into propulsion.

And then I charge straight at it.

If the magic cannon can’t stop it, I have no choice but to use this brute method to catch it.

[Emerald, are you okay?!]

“I’m, fine!”

I crash into the monster at full speed, tumbling around, but only wounds remain on the magical girl’s body.

If I hadn’t enveloped my entire body with hope energy, surely something would have broken.

Forcing my creaking body up, I stare at where the monster should be.

Kik, kiik, kik

“Do you think I’ll let you go?”

Hope energy is like a natural enemy to the monster.

Even a brute body slam can deal some damage if it connects.

Close combat isn’t my specialty, but fine.

“Let’s see who wins, monster.”

Whether I die or you die.

Kigik, kigik, kigik…!!

The monster starts laughing as if amused by my declaration.

It’s laughing grotesquely, its mouth torn wide like a shark’s, as if amused by a magical girl choosing close combat.

Like a cat toying with a cornered mouse.

“Hoo…”

[Emerald, are you sure? Close combat isn’t your fighting style!]

“…It’s fine, May. I had a good teacher. Even if they never directly taught me—”

Uuung—

A blade made of hope energy rises from the tip of my staff.

Though faint, as if it could shatter any moment, it’s enough to harm the monster.

I never thought I’d use this method.

‘Emerald, didn’t you choose the wrong fighting style?’

‘Wrong choice?’

Following the stance of a former comrade, I slowly steady my breath.

Just watching doesn’t give you anything, but there are things you can gain just by watching.

Like how to fight, for example.

Kigik, kik—!!

“Kgh…?!”

[Emerald!!]

But close combat—especially with a monster—isn’t something you can learn just by watching.

Even though I blocked the monster’s lightly swung arm, I was sent flying and crashed into a nearby wall.

Close combat is like that. Even a small mistake can be fatal.

That’s probably why most magical girls choose ranged attacks.

[…Your vital signs are dropping. Your left arm is fractured, and your right leg’s muscles are torn. You need to retreat now.]

“It’s fine, May. I can do it.”

[But, Emerald!]

Despite May’s desperate cries, I didn’t run away.

No, there was no reason to run.

“…Hope Critical.”

‘A magical girl who can self-heal? Isn’t that practically invincible in close combat?’

Magical Girl Emerald.

The hope in her hand is ‘the will to rise again, even if broken.’