Chapter 32

Returning to a safe space, perhaps that’s why.

It didn’t take long for the relaxed humans to become active.

They freely ate the food in the room, lay down on the beds as they pleased.

It’s a mess, it’s a complete mess.

‘If you’re going to take over someone else’s room, at least give them some despair.’

This is why I didn’t want to let them in.

Coming to a safe place means less despair for me.

“This should be safe until the Magical Girl deals with the monster.”

“There’s no screen here to see what’s happening outside, so it’s a bit boring.”

They sure have a lot of wishes.

Even without that, it’s nerve-wracking, and with them chattering beside me, it’s really annoying.

Despair is at its lowest, hope is overflowing.

It feels like I’m submerged in a barrel full of maggots.

‘Will the door break like last time…?’

Grumbling to myself, I sat down against the wall.

I hate humans. I hate hope even more.

I missed Tamako.

Thud thud thud—!!

“What…?!”

“A, a monster?”

Time passed again.

At the sound of knocking on the door, the humans started to murmur.

I wish it were, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a monster outside.

Monsters wouldn’t knock so weakly.

“I’m Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

Of course.

At the familiar voice, I quietly got up.

The landlord has come to pick me up, so I can’t just stay.

Thinking about it, it’s quite late.

A monster appeared at the hotel I was staying at, and she’s only coming now?

‘Wait, is that really Emerald?’

The voice was Emerald’s, but I didn’t feel the unique hope that comes from a Magical Girl.

Would the humans naively believe that and open the door?

Creak—

‘Idiots.’

“Finally leaving—”

Kick kick, kikikik, kick, kick kick

Despair grows larger.

A creature resembling a human but looking like a black shadow had a long line drawn from its belly.

Then, sharp blades appeared.

The monster’s mouth opened wide in front of the stupidly staring humans.

Chomp— chomp chomp— chomp— chomp chomp—

“I’m Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

“Gasp…”

“I’m Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

Can it mimic voices?

I was briefly impressed by the creature mimicking Emerald’s voice after eating a human.

Well, if it mindlessly ate humans, it would have been dealt with by the Magical Girls long ago.

“Shut the door now!”

“Shut it? There’s no way— Aaaah!?!!?!”

Chomp chomp— chomp— chomp chomp—

It didn’t take long for the safe place to turn into a slaughterhouse.

Like me arriving at a despair buffet, the monster started looking around.

It ate the despair it liked immediately and waited for the less ripe despair to mature before eating.

Covering my ears from the humans’ screams, I sighed.

‘Some are half-starved, but they’re really enjoying it.’

“…Ha.”

Squeak? Squeak?

The monster looked at me as I sighed.

It tilted its head, smacking its lips, seemingly satisfied with the humans it just ate.

Squeak, squeak, squeak

“…? What is it?”

The monster approached with a bouncing motion and reached out to me.

On its hand was a human head.

It seemed to be explaining that this part was the most delicious, making me laugh involuntarily.

I guess the monster thought I looked hungry.

“It’s okay, I don’t eat that.”

Squeak…

Munch munch—

Shaking my head to refuse, the monster lowered the corners of its mouth and started munching on the human head it held.

Certainly, a normal human would find this scene horrifying.

I quietly moved aside to avoid getting blood or brain matter on my clothes.

‘Now, what should I do next?’

Outside was chaos with monsters, and the humans who took refuge in my room stupidly opened the door and became monster food.

If I go out now, I might be questioned about how I survived alone.

I came here to sleep, but somehow ended up in a tight spot.

I glared at the scattered remains of the humans and pressed my temples.

Squeak?

“…I have a headache.”

Soon, Emerald will arrive here.

Should I send this creature away, or pretend to be kidnapped like last time?

Although it’s a cliché method, it’s the safest for now.

“Do you know about the Doctor?”

Squeak?

“…You don’t know?”

It seems this creature wasn’t made by the Doctor.

Its actions were similar, so I thought it was from the same maker, but it seems to be from a different manufacturer with similar specs.

Like that creepy squint-eyed doctor.

I wasn’t sure, but that guy was the only one who would implant such gloomy behavior in a monster.

It was half a guess that he made monsters.

“Ah, by the way…”

I had something with me.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a card key I had around my neck.

“Do you know what this is? I want to go to a place where I can use this.”

Squeak… squeak…

“I need to pick up Aya.”

The monster started mimicking the voice of Aya’s mother after seeing the photo on the card key.

It’s good at mimicking, not like a parrot.

Wait, does that mean it’s heard Emerald’s voice before?

Anyway.

“Can you guide me?”

Squeak, squeak…

“I will… I will…”

If I walk out on my own, it’s like advertising ‘I’m a monster~’, so I’ll use a little trick.

Covering myself with the human remains on the floor, I positioned myself in front of the monster.

Squeak?

“Carry me. If I walk, I’ll be suspected.”

Squeak, squeak

Explaining my intention, the monster nodded.

Looking at it this way, its intelligence is quite high.

Are all artificially made monsters like this?

In the original, most monsters were like giant beasts or natural disasters.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Squeak squeak—

Patting the monster’s hand, it started bouncing happily.

Really, being held by a monster feels more comfortable than being among humans, making it hard to sympathize with those remains.

I guess I was born to fit in with monsters.

***

“Welcome, Ruby.”

“Long time no see, Emerald.”

What kind of person makes you smile just by seeing them?

Just yesterday, I was worried about Akari being found out, but seeing her without Akari, I couldn’t help but smile.

Meeting a comrade who fought back-to-back to protect each other’s lives, how could I not be happy?

“Is it okay to go inside today?”

“Yes, the house was a mess back then.”

“Why, did you have a boyfriend?”

“Ah, no!!”

She really hasn’t changed at all.

She’s never been in a relationship in her life, but she often teased others with such remarks.

Even Sapphire, who never jokes, once said, ‘No one in this world would take her away.’

“Come in. I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Excuse me.”

Entering the house, Ruby pushed back her hood.

Her red hair cascading down her shoulders made my eyes widen.

When we first met, she had short hair around her neck.

“Ruby had long hair at this time.”

“…Yeah, I was young then. I wanted to look cool.”

Embarrassed, Ruby twirled her hair and averted her gaze.

A sight I would never have seen in the previous world.

Remembering the time when even a short rest was almost impossible, I truly felt how happy this moment was.

‘That’s why we can’t lose it.’

How much we struggled, struggled, and struggled again to reclaim this moment.

Beyond the dying Magical Girls, trampling over the monsters’ corpses, carrying the screams and groans of people in our ears, imprinting the scenes of destruction in our minds.

It was a horrific time.

A time I never want to return to.

“Was it because of that person you couldn’t let me in?”

“Something like that.”

Ruby asked, looking at Tamako sleeping quietly on the bed.

The real reason was Akari, not Tamako, but I managed to gloss over it.

…It’s a good thing I’ve gotten better at lying compared to before.

“Then, let’s get to the point.”

“…Yes.”

It’s about the Apocalypse.

I couldn’t bring myself to speak first with Ruby’s serious expression.

The Apocalypse you knew no longer exists.

Just one sentence, but I couldn’t say it to her.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeng—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Emerald…!”

“Yes…!”

The piercing siren made us both jump up.

A sound we never want to hear but can’t separate ourselves from.

A scream announcing that despair is devouring people.

Until the day Magical Girls are no longer needed, we are fated to be bound to the monsters and the Apocalypse.