Chapter 23

[Chik- Alpha Squad, is there a problem? Chichik- Alpha Squad, respond!]

Uuuung-

‘Seems like things got a bit more chaotic than expected.’

Taking a slow breath amidst the overwhelming despair felt from all directions.

Well, this is just straight-up Apocalypse now.

“Ugh, ughhh…”

“Uwaaah, ughhh…”

Why did you have to mess with that underground monster, tsk.

Sure, I only broke its limbs, but it seems like the problem goes beyond just its limbs.

‘This is useless.’

Thinking of checking its face, I removed the helmet only to find a completely deranged expression.

No focus in its eyes, drool dripping from its mouth.

No, no. Maybe it’s better off this way.

“Huaaaang…”

“Yes, we’ll head back soon, so don’t worry. Did I make you too anxious?”

Hearing the child’s cry, I felt it was time to head back.

Tsk, what a shame. I really wanted to see how far the underground world extends.

Honestly, right? An underground lab unknown to the city’s people, filled with monstrous hybrids and a military presence to hide the truth?

“Come on, let’s go back. Let’s go.”

Patting the child’s back, I slowly started retracing our steps.

Still, feeling a bit unsatisfied, I decided to memorize the path.

Despite appearances, my memory is pretty good, so I thought it’d be good to keep this as a starting point for next time.

Think of it as a save point.

‘Next time, I’ll come alone.’

If I don’t head back soon, Emerald will start nagging about where I’ve been again.

Can’t keep dragging the child along forever.

“See, there’s nothing here. Really, look.”

“Ugh, ughh…”

Gently peeling the child’s face from my chest, I showed them the surroundings.

The broken test tubes were a bit unsightly, but it’s fine to think of it as an educational tour.

Like, ‘You could get in big trouble coming to places like this~’

“Ta-da, what’s this~?”

“Ugh… I don’t know.”

“This is a DNA model. You might learn about it in school someday?”

The model’s notes were filled with incomprehensible stuff about human DNA and monster DNA, so I just skimmed over it.

I’m more of a humanities person, not a science person.

Ah, is that why the Doctor abandoned me? ‘A humanities baby born to me, what a disgrace to the family!’ kind of vibe.

‘But isn’t feeding on despair more of a humanities thing?’

Stimulating human emotions to more efficiently suck out despair, right?

In that sense, as a monstrous hybrid feeding on despair, I might just be an excellent humanities student.

“Here, a souvenir from our visit.”

“Thanks, sis.”

“Thanks? You should thank the scientists who made this place.”

But at least the crying has stopped, right?

Seeing the child smile while holding the DNA model, I smiled back.

Even if my emotions have turned monstrous, a child’s laughter is still a beautiful sight.

‘By the way…’

While the child played with the DNA model, I noticed something in a corner of the lab.

Reaching out, I picked up a keycard and recognized the face on it.

This person, surely…

“Sis? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

I quickly pocketed the keycard.

I thought I’d seen it somewhere, but what a coincidence.

Feels like something interesting is about to happen.

.

.

.

“It’s so bright…”

“It’s okay, you’ll get used to it soon.”

Gently lowering the child, who was shielding their eyes, I held their hand.

Now… where should we go to find it?

The mart was already half-destroyed, so staying here would only lead to trouble.

‘By the way, did we take care of the monster?’

Well, Emerald probably handled it.

Though I can’t say I’m fond of magical girls spreading hope, her skills are the real deal.

Even if I only saw them in anime.

“The city’s in complete ruins.”

“…Will mom be okay?”

“She’ll be fine.”

If she’s not, it wouldn’t be much fun, right?

Not sure what’s going to happen next, but if things keep going this way, it’s going to get interesting.

Just imagining it gets my heart racing.

“Uh, over there…”

“Are you here?”

“Yes… Thank you for taking care of my child again…”

They say the culprit returns to the scene of the crime.

Handing the child over to their neatly dressed mother, I gave a knowing smile.

I’m really curious, what’s going to happen next?

A small goal, but I suddenly wanted to taste this woman’s despair.

***

Kiiiiik-

‘Is no one here…?’

After being guided back to the hospital by the child’s mother, I finally returned.

Luckily, it seems the monster didn’t cause any trouble here.

Peeking into the hospital room, I saw only Tamako and no one else, so I slipped in.

No, just as I was about to enter.

“Akari.”

“Eh, Emerald?”

“Not Emerald, Midori, Midori.”

“Yes, Midori… By the way, are you hurt?”

Turning around at the voice behind me, I saw none other than Emerald.

Even bandaged up here and there, as if she’d been beaten up somewhere.

‘Where did she get hurt like this?’

She can heal herself, so how did she get this badly hurt?

Whatever monster it was, it’s definitely not ordinary.

“Magical girls get hurt sometimes. Were you worried?”

“Of course I was worried!”

As a magical girl, she’s my backup despair supply.

And among those backups, I particularly like Emerald, so yeah.

Having tasted Emerald’s despair once, it’s only natural to worry about her safety.

“So don’t get hurt, Midori.”

“Yes…”

Got it!

Using concern for Emerald to create a touching moment, I thought I could quietly slip past the fact that I snuck out—

“…Let’s talk about something else.”

“Huh?”

“Akari, you didn’t sneak out without telling me, did you?”

“Hahaha…”

She clearly knows everything.

If I deny it, I’ll just get interrogated more, so I nodded.

Yes, I went out. So what are you going to do about it?

I’m the Apocalypse. I can end the world in the blink of an eye!

“…I’m sorry.”

“Good that you know you should be sorry. With the monster alert going off, you went outside… People might think you’re suicidal, you know?”

“…Ugh.”

“And what’s this? Did you get hurt? Do you even know your own condition?”

I’m perfectly fine.

Got shot a few times by the underground humans, but it felt like mosquito bites.

Though my clothes, not being my body, got a few holes…

‘Ah, couldn’t you have bought me bulletproof clothes while you were at it?’

Blaming Emerald for no reason.

“I was…!”

“…”

“I was so worried… I thought something had happened…”

Huh? Why’s she suddenly like this?

Thinking she was angry, she buried her face in my chest and started crying.

Oh, right. She’s been through a lot lately. Should I comfort her?

Wondering what it’d be like for a monster to comfort a magical girl, but since I’m a monster who reads the mood well, I decided to offer some comfort.

“It’s okay, Midori. I’m really fine. Look, you’re in worse shape than me, aren’t you?”

“…Ugh.”

“And, I can’t die that easily. I survived that lab, remember?”

“…”

Looking up at Midori, I spoke gently.

This won’t do. I need to change my approach.

Originally, I planned to tease her occasionally to feed on her despair, but seeing her so vulnerable takes the fun out of it.

“Come on in. I’ll redo your bandages.”

“Ah, I can do it myse—”

“Look, they’re all messy. These things are better done by someone else, right?”

Pulling Emerald into the room, I pointed at the blood-stained areas.

Tsk tsk, a girl with healing powers getting hurt like this.

‘Was this her plan? To make me worry?’

Though in fan works, she’s often portrayed as a masochist who enjoys getting hurt—

Nah, can’t be. Fan works are just fan works.

…Or are they? When you think about it, isn’t the Apocalypse doing this kind of thing already like a fan work?

‘Focus on changing the bandages first.’

Forcing down the swirling thoughts.

For now, focus on the task at hand.