Chapter 2

Inside the shelter, several people had gathered.

Among them was a child who told me I was wearing strange clothes.

“I thought your mom was next to you, but did you get separated?”

While inhaling the faint scent of despair rising from the people, an inexplicable sense of pride filled my chest at the thought of having become a proper monster girl.

Does this mean I’m disqualified as a human? No, let’s think positively.

Monster pass~!

Thud! Thud! Thud!!

“Eek…”

“It’s really noisy outside…”

“But the monsters can’t get in here, right? Relax~”

People were trying to calm each other down, but no matter what they said, the scent of despair only grew thicker.

“By the way, how do I get out of here?”

I was dragged in here without thinking, but now leaving was the problem.

I wanted to go back before the magical girls arrived.

I didn’t want to be mistaken for a monster and get hit by an energy blast or something.

…Of course, I *am* a monster.

“Hey, it’s the weird older sister in the weird clothes.”

“I *am* wearing weird clothes, but I’m not a weird person.”

I reflexively responded like that, but I *was* a weird person.

“Where’s your mom?”

“Hmm, I don’t know!”

“Is that so?”

Even though she’s separated from her mom, she’s so brave.

I stared blankly at the child who was walking toward me with small steps, then plopped down on the spot.

I was so hungry that even standing was exhausting.

“But why are you wearing such weird clothes, older sister?”

“Hmm, my mom dressed me in them.”

“Now that I look at them, they seem cool!”

“…Is that so?”

Even this little kid knows about Tarutula. She must have been raised well.

But honestly, the clothes *are* weird.

And the doctor who dressed me in these weird clothes must be a weird person too.

No, not just weird—she’s definitely a lunatic.

A normal mom wouldn’t order a newborn baby to kill someone.

“Is the doctor also disqualified as a human…? Well, she’s a monster to begin with.”

We weren’t related by blood, but since we were both monsters disqualified as humans, it was somewhat accurate to call us mother and daughter.

Anyway.

“Aren’t you scared? Monsters have appeared, and you’re separated from your mom.”

“It’s okay! I have you, older sister!”

I felt hope in the child’s bright smile.

The world is still worth living in, I thought.

If I were a magical girl, I would have drawn strength from this hope, but as a monster girl, hope felt like a really tasteless cucumber salad.

“Older sister, are you okay? Your face looks weird.”

“…I was just imagining eating something tasteless.”

First my clothes, now my face—everything about me is weird.

Anyway, I turned my gaze from the child’s smile to the people wallowing in despair.

Despair is the best.

Was that too villainous of a thought? Well, I *am* technically a villain, so it didn’t bother me.

“From a pig’s perspective, humans eating pork would seem like villains too.”

In that sense, Apocalypse, who feeds on the despair of humans—especially magical girls—is quite a gentlemanly monster, isn’t it?

Monsters literally eat people, after all.

“Will everything really be okay? Lately, there have been more monsters appearing, and more magical girls getting hurt…”

“It’ll be fine. Have you ever seen a magical girl lose to a monster? Once things calm down a bit, they’ll broadcast the situation outside, so let’s wait a little longer.”

They’ll even broadcast it?

Well, without something like that, people would probably tremble in fear every day.

Seeing magical girls defeat monsters that could pop up anywhere at any time would at least give some peace of mind.

“Oh, the screen’s on.”

[Currently, magical girl Peridot is facing off against a monster. Citizens, please remain calm and watch the magical girls’ heroic efforts.]

The screen filling one wall of the shelter lit up, and soon the situation outside began to be broadcast.

A grotesque-looking monster was rampaging, destroying buildings, and a green light was flying through the sky.

It was clearly a battle between a monster and a magical girl.

“Seeing it like this feels like an anime brought to life.”

This must be what they wanted to achieve with live-action anime adaptations in Japan.

The ones I saw back then were just poorly CG-ed messes, but this, being real, felt incredibly natural.

Do people here see this kind of thing almost every day?

That’s kind of enviable.

“Wow, it’s Peridot!”

“Do you know who that magical girl is?”

“Yeah! She’s my favorite magical girl!”

Even with a grotesque monster right there, her eyes sparkled.

I once again realized this kid was something else as I focused on the screen.

“She’s fighting so spectacularly.”

Is this why people are so obsessed with magical girls?

Since I hadn’t seen this magical girl in the original work, I didn’t know what kind of magic she used, but even without knowing, there were a few things I could guess.

Like the unique photon bullets or magic cannons magical girls shoot.

[Go! Peridot Splash!]

“Ugh, that naming is so cringe…”

Well, she *is* a magical “girl,” so I guess it’s unavoidable.

Recalling the days when I cringed at those childish technique names, I rubbed my arms.

Ugh, I just got goosebumps. In more ways than one.

“Huh? Older sister, are you cold? Here, you can borrow my clothes!”

“…It’s okay. And your clothes are too small for me anyway.”

“Then I’ll lend them to you when I grow bigger!”

“Yeah, sure.”

She’s such a kind-hearted kid, rare in this world.

[Magical girl Peridot has defeated the monster! She’s showing off a triumphant smile!]

After the green light filling the screen disappeared, what remained was the monster with a huge hole in its head.

It was almost the size of a building, and she took it down in one shot.

If I’m not careful, I could end up like that in an instant.

“Come to think of it, when Apocalypse first appeared, it was filled with despair energy…”

Right now, I have almost no despair energy.

Oh no, if I’m not careful, I might really end up crossing the River Styx.

Realizing that the shelter I was dragged into could very well become my grave, I started to feel uneasy.

“Older sister, where are you going?”

“…I’m just going to the restroom for a bit.”

“Okay!”

Is there any way to sneak out of here?

The entrance is probably guarded by soldiers—no, wait.

Do I even need to sneak out? The monster’s been defeated, and the magical girl has appeared, so outside should be safe, right?

“Older sister, that’s not the way to the restroom.”

“Ah.”

I’ve been caught.

…This kid’s too sharp.

“Older sister, are you trying to leave me behind? Huh?”

“I wasn’t planning to leave you behind. I just didn’t know where the restroom was since it’s my first time in a shelter.”

“Eh, you’re lying! Who hasn’t been in a shelter before?”

Me, right here.

She was looking at me with an expression that seemed to say I was pathetic, and being stared at like that by a child made me feel all sorts of mixed emotions.

Honestly, maybe I should go through some evacuation training or something.

“Alright, when I get back, I’ll ask the doctor to give me evacuation training.”

At the very least, if I don’t reach the level of a normal, sensible person in this world…!

Ah, as long as I’m with the doctor, that might be impossible.

That human—no, that monster, her sense of ethics is completely shattered.

“Fine, I’ll go with you!”

“…Thank you so much.”

Honestly, I didn’t really need it.

I’m the type who prefers to forge my own path rather than being guided or followed.

As proof, the doctor’s lab is in urgent need of remodeling because the walls are full of holes I made.

“While we’re at it, it’d be nice to make the lab bigger.”

Of course, the doctor’s opinion wasn’t reflected at all.

Anyway, remodeling the lab isn’t important right now.

The most important thing right now is figuring out how to detach this kid clinging to me.

“Shouldn’t you go look for your mom?”

“My mom said to always help people in trouble!”

“…Is that so?”

I *am* in trouble, but not the kind of trouble the kid is thinking of.

Maybe I should ask her to guide me to the exit instead of the restroom.

Even if a magical girl rushes at me, having a kid next to me would make it harder for her to act.

“Hmm, that might have been too villainous of a thought.”

That thought was no different from taking the kid hostage.

Even if the chance of a magical girl appearing in front of me is low, having that thought in the first place makes me disqualified as a human.

Even though I’m a monster.

Anyway, as I was pondering how to detach the kid clinging to me, it happened.

Boom!!!!!

“Eek?!”

“…Huh?”

With a loud noise, the door—no, the door exploded open.

From the space where the door used to be, something let out a low, growling cry.

It seemed a monster had broken through the shelter’s main entrance.