Chapter 87

Ding dong~

“No one’s here~ No one~”

Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong~

The next day.

From morning till evening, the relentless doorbell ringing made me frown.

It seemed like some spectacle had drawn humans to ring the doorbell all day.

Considering some even kicked the front door, this was relatively mild.

‘Tamako was taken by Garnet…’

Tamako had offered to help, but the best help she could give was staying as far away from me as possible.

If she stayed by my side, she might get hurt.

I didn’t want to see my newfound despair fountain get ruined.

“Please open the door! We’re on your side! Please!”

“You don’t belong here!”

Why should a monster like me leave human society?

I didn’t want to take it the wrong way, but their noisy behavior made even kind words hard to swallow.

For now, I’ll pretend no one’s home.

“Humans really have nothing better to do…”

[Currently, doomsday cultists are believed to be gathering at the residence of a suspected entity…]

“…Sigh.”

Instead of chasing me, why don’t you humans handle your own affairs?

I sighed deeply and mashed the TV remote.

Every channel was the same, only showing my house.

“…Even if you’re bored, there’s a limit—”

[Currently, magical girls are hovering above the house of the person in question…]

Just as I was about to slump on the couch, a chilling discomfort ran down my spine, making me jump up.

If humans are making such a fuss over me, why are others staying quiet…?

BANG!!!

This is too much, isn’t it?

“Excuse me, do you know this is trespassing?”

“…”

“…”

Behind the barrage of magic, magical girls had broken through the window.

Their faces were tense, their hands trembling as they gripped their wands, but their eyes burned with hatred.

It felt like they were ready to kill someone.

Well, maybe they were.

“Apoca… lypse!!”

“Apocalypse!!”

“…Sigh.”

I sighed at the magical girls shouting “Apocalypse.”

Every time they see me, it’s “Apocalypse, Apocalypse.” It’s not like I’m some Apocalypse ghost.

The hope boiling inside me was more red than white, like Emerald’s.

Honestly, even hope feels tainted with hatred.

‘Did I really gather this much resentment?’

Even if I shouted that I’m harmless now, nothing would change.

From the moment I was hurt by hope energy, I became the Apocalypse in their memories.

Maybe I should confuse them by talking like usual.

Ah, I just tried that, and it didn’t work. Scratch that.

“I still have 10 years left on my mortgage, and you’re wrecking the place like this—”

“Stop your tricks!”

“…Ugh.”

What should I even say?

And for magical girls, their tone is way too harsh.

It reminds me of a certain red-haired magical girl— no, two of them.

But that’s not important now.

“So, what are you planning to do? Attack me?”

“…Yes.”

“Whoa—”

Too decisive.

I twisted my body to dodge the beam of hope shot at me.

It wouldn’t hurt much, but just touching it feels disgusting…

Anyway, since I dodged, the magical girls’ intensity sharpened.

It’s not just a ‘How dare you?’ vibe— it’s something else.

“Seems like the intel about Apocalypse being weak now is correct.”

“…Normally, you wouldn’t even notice such attacks.”

“We can kill you like this…!!”

You guys, just by your words, you’re disqualified as magical girls.

Talking about killing and all, that’s not what standard magical girls do.

They started moving, encircling me.

Planning to attack all at once, huh?

“Hey, if you leave now, I won’t retaliate. How about it?”

“…”

“…”

Even when a monster— no, a being like me tries to resolve things peacefully…

I wanted to activate the Despair Circuit, but I held back.

If Apocalypse took over, it’d be a headache.

The news would probably headline ‘Shock! Multiple Magical Girls Dead!’

“Sigh… I really tried to talk it out. Don’t complain later, okay?”

I sighed again, straightened my slumped shoulders, and tilted my posture slightly.

Using despair makes me feel oddly arrogant.

Maybe that’s why Apocalypse is so cocky.

“I won’t kill you, I won’t.”

Unless it’s the main trio, I don’t need to activate the Despair Circuit to handle them.

If they resist too much, a limb or two might break— but magical girls have healing abilities, so it’s fine.

“Light, form an arrow to strike down the enemy—!”

“Too slow.”

“Ugh?!”

Even if the magical girls were strengthened by their hatred for Apocalypse, they were still too clumsy to be a threat.

If it were Emerald, the attack would’ve come instantly.

Preparing and firing the light arrow was so slow, I couldn’t get hit even if I wanted to.

You’re weak, huh.

Looking at them with that meaning, their gritted teeth were almost comical.

“Kyaa?!”

“Ugh?!”

I grabbed one by the collar and slammed her to the floor, then kicked another into the wall.

For all their confidence in breaking into the house, their skills were pathetic.

If they were in their right minds, they wouldn’t have charged in so recklessly.

‘Their age… around Peridot’s, maybe.’

Well, whatever.

They only took one hit each, but they were already in bad shape.

Not used to pain, they groaned and eyed each other nervously.

“You guys.”

“Ugh, retreat for now!”

“Next time, for sure…!!”

“…Tch.”

I wanted to tell them to clean up before leaving.

I could’ve chased and caught them, but I didn’t want to draw more human attention, so I let it go.

…Now, when am I supposed to clean all this up?

From the glass shards to the shattered walls and floors.

It’s not just cleaning— it’s a complete mess.

“Maybe I should’ve pulled out a limb or two…”

Regretting non-regretfully, I started sweeping up the concrete pieces scattered on the floor.

What a pitiful sight.

After shoving everything into the shadows, the house looked somewhat presentable.

‘Except for the missing room and the destroyed living room floor.’

“Ah, this might work.”

I dragged the carpet from the room and laid it over the broken floor.

Hmm, hmm… hmm?

Stepping on it, there was a slight height difference, but it should be livable.

At least it’s covered, so good enough!

[Why didn’t you kill them? Why?]

“…That again. Aren’t you tired of it?”

I used despair, so why didn’t it come out?

I sighed deeply at the voice echoing in my head.

If you’re going to give me a body, just give me the body— why leave the mind behind?

[Weren’t those three the magical girls you’d die for?]

“Not really to that extent.”

Who said I’d die for magical girls?

You love their despair so much, yet you don’t know why I’m with those three?

I suddenly felt resentful toward the Doctor for not giving Apocalypse basic education.

[If killing magical girls is too much for you, give me the body. I can kill them without a second thought.]

“Such generosity. You just want to come out, don’t you?”

And since when do monsters act out of kindness?

Anyone can see you’d just destroy the world if you got the body.

Thinking everyone’s as simple as you are is just… something else.

“You’re childish, so childish. I’d love to teach you a thing or two if you were by my side.”

[…I have nothing to learn from the likes of you.]

“I don’t want to teach a rude student like you either.”

Hmph, I snorted and lay down on the couch.

Ah, when I’m feeling down like this, I should’ve eaten Tamako’s despair.

I dangled my legs over the armrest and stretched my arms toward the ceiling.

It wasn’t a meaningful gesture— just a reflex out of boredom.

‘If I knew it’d be like this, I should’ve played with those magical girls a bit more…’

But regret comes too late.

The toys— no, the magical girls who left probably won’t return today.

What a shame.