Chapter 32

Maybe it was the thought of returning to a safe space.

It didn’t take long for the humans to relax and become active again.

They started grabbing food from the room, lying on the beds as they pleased.

It’s chaos, absolute chaos.

“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.

If they come to a safe place, the despair that comes to me will decrease.

“With this, we 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 annoying enough to drive me crazy, and now they’re chattering away next to me, which is really irritating.

Despair is at rock bottom, hope is overflowing.

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

“I hope the door doesn’t get broken like last time…”

Grumbling to myself, I sat down leaning against the wall.

I hate humans. I hate hope even more.

I missed Tamako.

Thud thud thud—!!

“What the…?!”

“A m-monster?”

Time passed again like that.

The humans started murmuring at the sound of knocking on the door.

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

A monster wouldn’t knock on the door so weakly in the first place.

“It’s Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

Of course.

I got up from my seat at the familiar voice.

The landlord came to pick me up, so I couldn’t just not go out.

Thinking about it, it was quite late.

A monster appeared at the hotel I was staying at, and she came this late?

“Wait, is that really Emerald?”

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

Would the humans naively believe that and open the door?

Creak—

‘Idiots.’

“Finally getting out—”

Kick kick, kikikik, kick, kick kick

Despair grows in size.

A creature that looks like a human but is entirely like a black shadow has a long line drawn from its belly.

Then what you see are sharp blades.

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

Chomp— chomp chomp— chomp— chomp chomp—

“It’s Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

“Eek…”

“It’s Magical Girl Emerald! Please open the door!”

Can it mimic voices?

I was briefly impressed by the creature that, after eating a human, mimicked Emerald’s voice in a pleased manner.

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

“Close the door, now!”

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

Chomp chomp— chomp— chomp chomp—

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

The monster, like me who came to the despair buffet, started looking around.

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

I covered my ears at the screams of the humans and let out a sigh.

‘Some are half-starved, and some are having the time of their lives.’

“…Haah.”

Squeak? Squeak?

The monster looked at me as I sighed.

It tilted its head and smacked its lips, seeming to like the humans it had just eaten.

Squeak, squeak, squeak squeak

“…? What is it?”

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

On it was a human head.

It seemed to be explaining that this part was the most delicious, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I guess the monster thought I looked hungry.

“It’s okay, I don’t eat that kind of thing.”

Squeak…

Munch munch—

When I shook my head and refused, the monster pulled down the corner of its mouth on its belly and started munching on the human head in its hand.

Certainly, a normal human would find this scene horrifying.

I subtly moved aside to avoid getting blood or brain matter on my clothes from the monster’s mouth.

‘Now, what should I do next?’

Outside is a mess with monsters, and the humans who came to my room for refuge stupidly opened the door and became monster food.

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

I came here to sleep, so how did I end up in this predicament?

I glared at the scattered remains of what used to be humans and pressed my temples with my hand.

Squeak?

“…I have a headache.”

Emerald will probably arrive here soon.

I wondered if I should send this guy away or pretend to be kidnapped like last time.

Although it’s the same old cliché, it’s the safest option for now.

“Do you know about the Doctor?”

Squeak?

“…You don’t know?”

It seems this guy isn’t a monster made by the Doctor.

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

Like that creepy squint-eyed doctor.

I wasn’t entirely sure, but the only person who would program such a gloomy behavior into a monster they made was that guy.

Although it was just a hunch that he was making monsters.

“Ah, now that I think about it…”

I did bring something with me.

I reached into my pocket and fished out the keycard 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 squeak…

“I need to go pick up Aya.”

The monster started mimicking the voice of Aya’s mother upon seeing the photo on the keycard.

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

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

Well, anyway.

“Can you guide me?”

Squeak, squeak squeak…

“Yes… I will… I will…”

If I walk out on my own, it’ll be like advertising ‘I’m a monster~’, so I’ll have to use some tricks.

I smeared some human remains on myself and positioned myself in front of the monster.

Squeak?

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

Squeak, squeak squeak

The monster tilted its head at my actions but nodded when I explained my intention.

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

Are all artificially made monsters like this?

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

“Alright, let’s go.”

Squeak squeak—

I patted the monster’s hand, and it started bouncing happily.

Really, if I feel more comfortable being held by a monster than being among humans, I can’t sympathize with those remains.

I guess I was born to fit in with monsters.

***

“Welcome, Ruby.”

“It’s been a day, Emerald.”

What kind of person is someone who 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.

We were comrades who fought back-to-back, protecting each other’s lives, so it’s impossible not to be happy to see her again.

“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 I clearly remember her often making such jokes.

Even Sapphire, who never jokes, once said in jest, ‘There’s no one in this world who would take her away.’

“Come on in. I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Excuse me.”

Ruby, who entered the house, pushed back the hood she had pulled down.

Her red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and I reflexively widened my eyes.

When we first met, it was a short bob around her neck.

“Ruby had long hair around this time.”

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

Ruby, seemingly embarrassed, 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 realized how happy this time 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 corpses of monsters, 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 that you couldn’t come in?”

“Something like that.”

Ruby asked while looking at Tamako quietly sleeping 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, shall we get to the main point?”

“…Yes.”

It’s about the Apocalypse.

I couldn’t bring myself to speak first as Ruby spoke with a serious expression.

The Apocalypse you knew no longer exists.

Even though it’s just one sentence, the fact that I can’t tell her is clearly—

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee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