In a boundless darkness, a woman hangs from a cross. Her arms are spread wide, her palms seemingly fixed by something. She has an exceptionally rare trait—snow-white hair and equally pale eyes.
Maria, the Saintess.
She’s a lonely soul, with about four hundred years to go before her rebirth.
“Start the day with a hopeful spirit…
End it with a forgiving heart…
The beginning and end of happiness lie solely within the heart…”
Maria softly murmured these words to herself in a tranquil voice. In the desolate Spirit World where no one existed to converse with, each hour outside of her brief communications with Oscar Lucifer was spent in self-reflection.
When Maria slowly lifted her head, all she could see was pitch-black darkness. Whether she raised or lowered her head, the scenery remained unchanged.
“It’s so dark…”
To say she wasn’t afraid would be dishonest. Waiting alone in a place where even echoes didn’t return after shouting was a grueling ordeal.
At first, she passed the time reminiscing about her past life, but Maria had only lived 28 years as a human. The hundred years spent in the Spirit World had stretched endlessly, making her reflection on her life feel monotonous and tiresome.
Of course, it wasn’t just the darkness that frightened her. There was something else tormenting her tender heart.
“What time is it even…?”
Not knowing the time was what truly tortured her. Simply waiting all day was already difficult enough, but not knowing how many hours had passed or remained felt like mental torture.
Even though she’d endured this environment for a hundred years, she could only roughly guess the time based on her perception.
However, there was something else that struck fear into her heart beyond anything else.
“Master Joker… When will you contact me again?”
Worry and anxiety.
For a demon.
Her worry and anxiety were far from mild. With actions dangerous enough to risk multiple lives, Oscar always pushed boundaries, causing Maria’s heart to tighten with anxiety whenever their communication was delayed.
Furthermore…
“The fear of love fading… Did I not realize its terror…”
She dreaded, more than anything, the possibility that Oscar’s affection for her might wane.
More so than when she awaited her grim fate while trapped in Tartarus.
Yet, despite this, there was nothing Maria could do. For 23 hours and 40 minutes, she yearned for Oscar, then during the precious 20-minute grace period, she conversed with him wholeheartedly.
“Lord… If you could send down just a single sign, even a foolish one like me could wait with faith. What vision are you painting…?”
Praying to the Lord out of frustration brought her nothing but silence. Maria let out a gloomy sigh.
—
“Arf arf! Wake up! Arf!”
Barking sounds echo.
That damn brat. Should I really get his vocal cords surgically removed?
“Arf arf arf! Hey, wake up! Hurry!”
Damn it, if I actually did that, his already minuscule loyalty would vanish completely. I pulled my hand out from under the blanket, shaped it into a blade, and swiftly swung it toward the source of the noise.
Whooosh- Clang!
Wait, my blade attack should’ve hit Aru’s forehead by now. Instead, something hard and slightly pointy caught it.
A damp sensation travels up my hand. What the heck has Aru been doing? As I struggle to pry open my eyes still heavy with sleep,
“Gnaw-gnaw.”
“AAAAHHH!”
“Arf, you’re awake?”
“You piece of wolf trash! What if I lose a finger?! Are you going to treat it? Huh?”
“Treatment? Arf arf, I don’t know about that.”
“Hey, you little punk, Aru… Lately, your arrogance knows no bounds!”
My fingers throb in pain from Aru’s merciless bite. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to have bled.
Drip-drip.
Oh, here we go. My finger hurts. A tear wells up in my eye.
Other people’s wolf familiars wag their tails obediently, so why is our Aru such a problem child? Even patience has its limits, especially during adolescence. Hmm… Was that a dog? Anyway…
“Aru, what should I do with you?”
“Arf?”
“How should I raise you so they say I did a good job? It’s not just about hitting you, you know.”
Aru is fully grown now. When he was younger, I swallowed my pain and forced myself to discipline him, but beating a full-grown adult seems inappropriate, doesn’t it?
It’s a dilemma. I’m stuck. Normally, I’d spend days solving such problems, but right now, I don’t have the luxury.
Today, I’m a magician, not an educator.
“Bread! Arf arf.”
“What? Bread? After biting me and drawing blood, that’s what you ask for?”
“Arf. I’m hungry. By the way, does the young demon hurt a lot?”
“Do you think you won’t hurt? Hey, Aru, show me your hand.”
“Arf arf?”
“Your hand, dammit. Don’t you know what a hand is? Ah, what kind of upbringing did you receive at your house? Do they not teach basic things like this?”
As I mockingly extend my hand, Aru’s expression turns hostile instantly. He growls menacingly.
“Grrr… My family is smart!”
“Ho ho, smart enough to fall into traps and get wiped out? What a remarkable family you have.”
“Kiing…”
Mocking him makes Aru crumble, probably remembering his deceased family. Maybe I went too far. Even if I’m angry, bringing up his family was crossing the line. I feel a bit guilty now.
“Ah, anyway! Give me your hand! Aru!”
“Arf? Why the hand?”
Aru places his hand over mine. I bring it to my mouth and bite down hard.
“Keeeee!”
The reaction is immediate. Aru quickly pulls away the finger I bit and clutches it with the other hand. His eyes fill with tears as he demands an explanation.
“Does it hurt? That’s exactly what you did to me earlier, isn’t it?”
“Grrr! You kept hitting me when I was young!”
“You carry wolf ears but need to speak clearly. When did I ever hit you constantly? Lately, I barely do. If you’re stubborn, just follow orders.”
“Arf arf! Bad! Bad! Arf arf arf arf!”
Aru starts barking loudly. I cover my ears and look out the window.
The sun is high in the sky.
—Already this high?
Suddenly, all sleepiness vanishes. I overslept due to drinking with Beatrix yesterday. Today was supposed to be busy.
“Haa… If I’m not careful, I’ll be late. I need to hurry.”
“Arf? What for?”
“Perfect timing since you’re here. Let’s put you to work as my assistant. You mangy mutt, Aru.”
“Keeerrr? No bread? I’m hungry…”
“If you do the task I assign you well from now on, I’ll give you some. Look here.”
I shake my head vigorously to clear any remaining drowsiness and pull two sheets of paper from the broomstick. On one, I press my bitten and bleeding finger.
Fresh red paint spreads onto the white canvas. Like flower petals blooming, it looks quite beautiful. I move my hand energetically.
Circles, triangles, squares. Thick circles, thin triangles, wrinkled rectangles. The shapes become increasingly bizarre as I draw them on the paper. Individually, shapes are mundane, but when dozens combine in a pattern and follow certain rules, they form a “sigil” imbued with its own beauty.
Merely shapes, yet arrogantly claiming—
“What are you doing? Arf arf?”
“Just creating a job for you, Aru. Hmm, it’s done. Here, take a look.”
A sigil elegantly engraved in red ink. I stretch it out, inspect it a few times, then hand it to Aru with a smirk. I’m proud of myself for drawing such a grotesque summoning circle; it sends shivers down anyone’s spine. Ah, maybe I was a painter in a past life?
Aru gives me a puzzled look. In response, I explain what he needs to do, adding details.
“O Demon clad in the flames of Hell, O Great Demon who subjugates all devils, O Ruler of the Night, I summon thee here.”
“Arf? Arf arf arf?”
“Fallen Angel Lucifer, answer the summoning circle.”
“Arf arf?”
“Memorize this roughly. Summoning incantations can tolerate slight mistakes.”
“Summoning? What am I summoning?”
“Didn’t you hear just now? I’m summoning the demon Lucifer!”
“Arf? A demon? Lucifer? Why?”
“That’s none of your concern. Later, go outside to the backyard and chant this. Place the summoning circle on the ground. And…”
Trailing off, I pull out another sheet of paper, pristine white.
This isn’t for summoning a demon, so I can’t use a medium filled with ominous blood. I ponder briefly. What can I use instead of blood?
Ah, this will do.
I clench my fist tightly, then rapidly wave my arms back and forth as fast as I can. Residual images of my arm movements leave streaks in the air. A gust of wind swirls around the room. After about three minutes of this,
Drip-drip.
Sweat beads form on my arms and fall like Leonard plummeting off a cliff.
Sweat. A glorious symbol of effort. Without the dedication of farmers, even the emperor’s bread wouldn’t exist. Sweat, those beautiful droplets of toil. All life exists to sweat.
One of the Seven Deadly Sins is Sloth, which stands in stark contrast to the position of angels. This liquid perfectly suits beings like the Archangel Uriel.
It’s the perfect pigment for summoning Uriel. Though the color will inevitably be faint, angels who value labor won’t mind.
The pen glides across the paper’s surface, sprinkling sweat as it moves. Again, there’s a pattern, but different from Lucifer’s summoning circle. Straight lines, straight lines, straight lines. Sharp angles decorate the paper.
Angels prefer strict discipline and orderly systems, unlike demons who revere wild savagery. Clearly, my tendencies lean toward the latter. Demon blood runs deep.
Swish-. Drip.
“Arf… Young demon, you’re weird.”
“Alright, Aru, take this.”
“What is this?”
“The summoning circle for the Archangel Uriel. Listen carefully and memorize this properly. Cough cough!”
After clearing my throat, I utter in the highest possible tone.
“O most holy recipient of divine grace. O noble flame serving the Lord of all creation. O faithful servant of Goodness and the Divine, I summon thee here.”
“Complicated. Difficult. Arf arf arf.”
“Sword-wielding Archangel Uriel, respond to the summoning circle. You must memorize this well. Angels are sensitive to the completion of rituals like these; it shows sincerity.”
Lucifer is both my ancestor and Beatrix Constantinople’s contractor. Uriel once fought against Lucifer in the War of God and Devil and remains his nemesis to this day. I plan to use both of them.
“Kiing… Is doing these two enough?”
Aru holds the two papers I made and asks.
“Afterward, go outside. First, take this.”
I hand Aru a vial from the broomstick. Its opening is tightly sealed.
“Arf? What’s this?”
“Black Wyvern blood. The smell is absolutely atrocious.”
“Keer, keer? Why are you giving me this? My nose hurts!”
“For the simple reason that you’re going to spread its scent around the surrounding forest. Once the smell fades a bit, sprinkle some drops of the blood too.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Hmm… Because I said so? Missing your magic staff already?”
“Kiing… Alright…”
No matter the teenage rebellion, the magic staff trumps everything. I should’ve started with this.
The reason I gave Aru the vial of Black Wyvern blood is straightforward. I intend to lure monsters from the southern part of the Demon Forest to this house.
A Black Wyvern is a formidable monster in its own right. Normally, even the monsters of the Demon Forest wouldn’t easily defeat it. To the Demon Kings, it’s as insignificant as a bug, unworthy of their attention.
But if the scent of Black Wyvern blood is scattered throughout the forest? Most monsters will deduce that a wounded Black Wyvern is hiding nearby, severely injured enough to saturate the entire forest with its blood.
Naturally, their mouths will water. By killing and absorbing its essence, average Demon Forest monsters could double their strength. In the world of survival of the fittest within the Demon Forest, gaining power means expanding territory.
Born purely out of desire, the monsters will follow the blood scent exactly as I planned, gathering here at Beatrix’s house.
This is also the first act of today’s magical show—to awaken Beatrix’s desires.
“Run around as fast as you can and come back here. Bring the monsters along. Hmm… About an hour from now should suffice.”
“Arf arf, is that all?”
“You also need to use the papers I gave you. After returning, don’t enter the house. Quietly go to the outdoor shed. Summon Lucifer and Uriel there. Just chant the incantation I taught you. Summoning takes quite a while, so you just need to wait patiently. Make sure to summon Lucifer first. Don’t forget that.”
After delivering all the instructions, Aru nodded as if acknowledging receipt. Despite being involved in various hunts following my commands before, this is the first time using him as an assistant for a magical performance.
As an encouragement, I reached out and gently stroked Aru’s forehead. His navy blue hair, grown long, covers his head messily. His pointed wolf ears brush against my fingertips.
“Can you do it, Aru?”
“Arf.”
“Good, then go ahead.”
With the two sheets of paper and the vial I handed him, Aru stood up. Until he bit my hand, I wanted to punch him, but seeing him faithfully executing my orders fills me with pride.
After patting Aru’s butt a couple of times to send him off, I also stood up.
I grabbed a few items prepared from the broomstick and immediately headed to Beatrix. Beatrix was in the yard, cleaning her Greatsword resting on her knees with a towel under the warm sunlight.
I waved my hand and approached Beatrix.
“Hello there, Sir Beatrix.”
“You woke up late.”
“Haha, laziness is one of the virtues of demons.”
“…”
“Heh heh, I know you dislike laziness, but at least respond. The atmosphere is getting awkward! Ah! How do I shift this mood?”
I deliberately raised my voice. Beatrix stared at me with a cold expression.
There’s nothing I can do. After all, Beatrix doesn’t harbor any fondness for me. To the extent that she casually leaves messages asking me to kill her if needed.
The reason Beatrix gave me a chance last night was because I boldly claimed I would help her rediscover the meaning of life. Since our relationship began with lies, enduring this level of coldness is necessary.
“Right! There was this! Sir Beatrix, do you know how to play chess?”
Mentioning chess unexpectedly, Beatrix’s brown eyebrows twitched. I smiled innocently and whispered joyfully.
“Originally, the best way to break the ice between strangers is through a few games! In that sense, let’s play a game of chess together!”
“I know how to play… But I’m not very skilled. I’m not the type to waste time on games. I prefer to spend that time practicing.”
“Haha! That’s fine! I’ll adjust for you! Actually, I’m not very good at chess either! Beginners playing together is always more fun!”
Simultaneously, I pulled out the chessboard hidden behind my back and the chess pieces concealed in my sleeve. Their sudden appearance made Beatrix’s pupils dilate slightly.
This Holy Knight, magicians originally excel at tricks like these. If you don’t know basic sleight of hand, how can you call yourself a magician?
“Alright! Let’s go inside first! I’ll set up the board for you!”
<The curtain rises on the stage.
The show begins to awaken the deep-seated desires buried within Beatrix's true heart.>
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
