Chapter 52

The battle of the magical girl has ended.

After parting ways with Mr. Prizes, and following the Demon’s instructions, I headed towards Mika who was closest to me.

I never would have thought that neither Arongante nor Mr. Prizes would be of any use…

After defeating Shengxi and going to rescue Arongante, the battle between Arongante and their Doppelgänger had ended in a draw.

With all those sparks flying and white smoke everywhere, I couldn’t possibly expect them to keep fighting at that point.

I wasn’t sure if recovery magic could fix machinery.

Given how little mana I already had, I couldn’t afford to waste it on something that might not even work.

It felt more like repairing rather than healing anyway. Next time, I’ll try fixing the appliances in the dorm.

Even if it does work, probably only Glint and Arongante would use it…

(Did Mr. Prizes’ magic perhaps come from a degraded version of Kaede’s?)

“Technically, it’s slightly different, but yeah, kind of. It seems more limited compared to Kaede’s.”

I didn’t expect him to be wielding a railgun…

When the Demon suddenly urged me into action, I thought something was wrong—Mr. Prizes was near death.

If I couldn’t finish off Mr. Prizes’ Doppelgänger with magic, I figured the railgun would surely fire, so I decided to take the surefire method.

The tip of my staff is fairly sharp, and with some effort, even I can thrust it.

Diving down from above the Doppelgänger while flapping my wings, I pierced it with my staff.

As the Doppelgänger opened its mouth to retaliate, I scorched it and pinned it to the ground.

It became quite a grotesque scene, but despite looking like Mr. Prizes, it was ultimately just a monster.

Kill or be killed—that’s the reality.

(Why is Mika only defending herself?)

I spotted Mika quickly while flying overhead, but she didn’t seem to be initiating any attacks.

“Probably because she doesn’t have enough firepower to take it down?”

Is such nonsense really possible?

During training, I did think she was better suited for defense than offense, but this… it makes sense somehow.

(Fine, let’s help her and move on.)

I can’t distinguish between the Doppelgänger and the real person, but the Demon can identify them, which is helpful.

I can tell by their expressions if I get close, but it’s difficult from a distance.

Mika-level Doppelgängers should be manageable with sheer numbers.

“Ice, descend and pierce!”

Together with the rain, I summoned icicles and rained them down on Mika’s Doppelgänger.

Since Doppelgängers generally attack the person they’re mimicking, as seen with Mr. Prizes, surprise attacks tend to succeed easily.

The first icicle was blocked by a Chakram, but the second one gouged through the arm holding the Chakram.

The third one pinned the leg, and the remaining icicles pierced various parts of the Doppelgänger, turning it to dust in an instant.

Landing beside Mika, she looked pale and seemed about to throw up.

Even though it was a monster, seeing someone with her own face die must have been tough.

She’ll need some time to recover.

“Ugh… Yes, thank you… Ugh…”

Though covered in mud, she didn’t appear to have any serious injuries otherwise.

Next, I should…

“Get down!”

Following the Demon’s warning, I crouched just as a bullet whizzed past my head.

Ah, Alice’s weapon is a rifle, isn’t it?

I see, the other students’ varied reactions are likely due to concerns about stray bullets.

(Should I go help Alice first?)

“That seems like the better option. The direction the bullet came from should be fine.”

(Acknowledged.)

“I’m going ahead; please rest, Mika.”

“Sorry, but I’ll rest briefly then head out to help others.”

Ideally, it’d be safer if she stayed put, but I won’t say anything unnecessary.

Taking flight again, I wonder if there’s a faster way to move…

With my current low mana state, I shouldn’t complain too much.

At higher altitudes, I can also spot other students.

My remaining mana is about 30%… Even keeping this thing on my back drains my power.

(Since it’s troublesome, let’s finish them all at once. Demon, which Doppelgänger should I target?)

“Sure thing.”

Following the Demon’s guidance, I lock onto my target.

While fire magic is most effective for taking them down, its potency diminishes in this rain.

Lightning carries the risk of electric shock, and earth magic isn’t very practical in these conditions.

There’s plenty of water, but using it to increase lethality would consume too much mana.

Ultimately, ice magic remains the safest option.

“Far-reaching breath of ice. Manifest my will and seal away in the icy prison.”

Casting spells haphazardly would suffice, but to conserve mana, I’ll perform a longer incantation.

No one’s dying right now, so I’ve got some breathing room.

“Let myself serve as the gravestone and receive judgment.”

A cold wind blows, lowering the temperature.

Three icicles shoot out from beneath the Doppelgängers’ feet, pinning them in place.

From where the icicles struck, freezing spreads until finally shattering into pieces.

Considering the gore from when I defeated Mika’s Doppelgänger, I opted for a spell that accounted for that this time.

Ice begins freezing upon contact, so there’s no blood or flesh flying around.

It may look a bit odd, but I hope that can be forgiven.

This should’ve taken care of most of the Doppelgängers.

—Upon closer consideration, haven’t I racked up quite a number of kills? So far, aside from Arongante, I’ve taken down all the other Doppelgängers.

(Remaining ones?)

“There’s only one left, pretty far away. It’s probably Marin. Better hurry.”

—Considering the distance and my remaining mana, this is going to be tight.

Arongante should arrive in a few minutes, but…

(Let’s go.)

Fighting under such strained conditions… splendid, isn’t it?

Without waiting for the Demon’s response, I head toward Marin.

I thought I heard Mika’s voice, but time is precious.

“This feeling suggests you’re in Enhanced Form, but it probably won’t last two minutes.”

(Fight order was discussed before, but it’s impossible… To beat S Rank Doppelgängers, I’ll either need to transform into my second form or make a suicidal charge.)

An S Rank Doppelgänger might as well be called a “Magical Girl Killer.”

Indeed, Arongante barely survived, and Mr. Prizes was losing.

“This time Haruna was lucky in that regard, although she was attacked by Shengxi.”

They were initially targeting me… Could I be the root cause of all this?

—In some cases, it might be best for me to leave the academy…

Even Jeanne has been attacked three times by Lockwert.

There’s a chance they’ll return targeting me.

Well, I’ll think about that later.

After flying for a few dozen seconds, I caught sight of light cutting through the rain.

Most likely Marin’s sword… floating mid-air.

(Which one is which?)

“The original’s sword… Will we make it in time?”

Why does misfortune always find us at the worst moments? We’ll manage somehow.

Marin tries to create distance after her sword is thrown, but slips and falls.

On such slippery footing, it can’t be helped.

“Fire, erupt!”

Causing an explosion behind me, I accelerate instantly.

Thanks to the rain, burns should be minimal, but the impact hits my body hard.

The Doppelgänger approaches Marin, readying its sword… Damn it.

Magic won’t reach in time, and charging straight in against a sword-wielding Doppelgänger is dangerous.

Marin manages to stand up, but she has no way to block the Doppelgänger’s blade.

As I soar through the air, I extend my left arm.

Just as the Doppelgänger swings its sword, I push Marin out of the way.

Come to think of it, I did something similar with Mika earlier…

“Inie! Inie!”

My left arm flies through the air and lands on the ground.

Pain wants to make me scream, but I need to create distance from the Doppelgänger first…

“Fire!”

Before the Doppelgänger can swing its sword, I blast it away with magic.

Blood gushes from my left arm, but I can’t spare the mana to heal it now.

“Senior, please retrieve your sword immediately. Hurry!”

“But, Inie’s…”

“If Senior doesn’t pull it together, we’ll both die. Focus on defeating the Doppelgänger first.”

Marin turns pale and clings to me, so I raise my voice to reprimand her.

Unfortunately, the Doppelgänger starts targeting Marin instead of me. While I can buy some time by interfering, unless Marin steps up, defeating the Doppelgänger will be difficult.

With no mana left and the rain preventing my blood from clotting, things are dire.

As Marin runs to retrieve her sword, the Doppelgänger regains its composure. I use magic to keep it at bay.

That said, my mana is practically nonexistent.

I need to save enough for the finishing blow… Will it be enough?

Worst case scenario…

While using magic to restrict the Doppelgänger’s movement, Marin returns with her sword.

Her hair color has returned, meaning her Enhanced Form has worn off.

However, the Doppelgänger remains in Enhanced Form.

Still, as long as there’s an opening, I can kill it.

“Senior, listen carefully. Do exactly as we practiced during training. You go forward, and I’ll provide support. Just remember to focus on restraining it since I’ll handle the final blow.”

“Okay… Inie, what about your arm?”

“I’m fine… Go!”

My vision blurs slightly, and my thoughts slow… But if I can just defeat the Doppelgänger, I should be able to stop the bleeding.

As Marin moves to intercept the Doppelgänger’s attack, I lean on my staff planted in the ground.

Time for the final strike.

“Hmm… Flowing blood creates nations, congealed blood defines territories. What is given is life, what is taken is solitude. The world reflected in the eyes flips, pitiful demons shed tears. Hope turns to despair, prayers unanswered become rain.”

I chant according to the staff’s will.

It won’t drain my soul, but it will consume almost all my remaining mana.

But if I can defeat the Doppelgänger, Marin should be able to help afterward.

“Move back!”

Despite sustaining some injuries, Marin manages to restrain the Enhanced Form Doppelgänger and heeds my warning to retreat.

“Tears of the Fearing Demon”

Several pitch-black ice spears appear, and three are launched toward the Doppelgänger, but two are shattered by it.

However, the remaining spear pierces its leg and pins it to the ground.

The remaining ice spears surround the Doppelgänger in a hexagram pattern, embedding themselves in the ground, and a rift appears in the air.

An eye-like entity emerges from the rift, and black droplets fall.

When these droplets hit the Doppelgänger, a large chunk of black ice forms within the hexagram.

A few seconds later, the ice shatters, leaving nothing behind.

It’s over…

As I pull out my staff, lacking an arm throws off my balance, and I nearly collapse.

I’m about to lose consciousness, but I can’t fall here until the barrier dissipates.

“Inie! Hold on! No… You’re so cold…”

Marin’s cries echo in my mind.

Compared to the previous A Rank mission, this feels no different from battling the spider-type monster.

“Ugh. You won’t die, but it’s pretty bad. Recovery is needed as soon as your mana replenishes.”

Aside from depleted mana and blood loss, I’m fine, but losing an arm is problematic…

Between the rain and cold, maintaining consciousness is tough.

I hope the barrier lifts soon…