61 – Magical Wrap-Up

My head ached.

Not from the wound.

My head ached because I was disoriented.

To be a little more precise.

“Senpai! No!”

My head ached because Sora was wailing next to me, making me dizzy.

The circumstances were roughly as follows.

Before long, the magical girls arrived at the building where I and Whitedog were.

And then, the moment they saw us, everyone froze.

As if the flow of time itself had stuttered to a halt.

Though the stillness didn’t last long.

“Oh, is it… over?”

The words barely escaped my lips, and the magical girls, faces drained of color, began to stir, one by one.

Some frantically started making calls.

Others rushed to fetch first-aid kits for emergency treatment.

In the midst of this, Huidong, after receiving some rudimentary care, was loaded onto a stretcher. He was completely helpless, rendered unconscious by the magical handcuffs.

Not that I was particularly worried.

He *was* a magical girl, after all.

I figured he’d recover soon enough, considering his magical girl physique and the fact that I hadn’t inflicted any truly grievous wounds.

Psychologically, I couldn’t say. But physically, I doubted there’d be any lasting damage.

The problem was me.

Any point where emergency treatment could have been effective was long gone. It wasn’t that kind of injury to begin with.

And I wasn’t being loaded onto a stretcher like Huidong either. Or rather, I *couldn’t* be loaded onto one.

They said I was too badly broken, that moving me would only make things worse.

The explanation was long, and I stopped listening halfway through.

Truthfully, I was too dizzy to hear properly anyway.

“For that reason, we strongly recommend waiting for the Magical Ambulance to arrive. It should be here shortly.”

In the end, the magical girls didn’t give me any special treatment.

“It may not help much, but… here.”

At best, they managed to staunch the bleeding and give me an injection. A painkiller, I assumed.

Not that it made a difference worth mentioning.

My senses had given out long ago.

Anyway.

Not long after the magical girls took Huidong away, Sora appeared. Her hair was slightly disheveled, as if she’d just woken up from a nap.

“Senior! No!”

Sora shrieked the moment she saw me.

That was the situation.

“No, no, no…”

Sora, half out of her mind, desperately clung to my hand. As if clutching at her own lifeline, she squeezed tight.

I hadn’t said a word, yet Sora, still holding my hand, began to murmur in a despondent voice.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

A viscous blend of guilt, sadness, and self-loathing seeped from Sora’s words.

“It’s my fault for asking you for that favor… because of me…”

She seemed to think I was injured because of her request to protect Shiro, the white dog, from harm.

“Don’t die… please…”

We hadn’t known each other for long, yet she worried about me to this extent. I felt grateful, but also rather taken aback. To be honest, it was a little overwhelming.

Well, I suppose there was reason to be concerned.

My condition wasn’t good, not even by a long shot.

Frankly, it was a miracle I was still alive. Even in the other world, I had never been this badly hurt.

Therefore, I had to consider the worst-case scenario.

“Sora…”

“Senpai!”

At my faint voice, Sora reacted almost convulsively.

“Please, just hold on a little longer! You’ll be alright! If we go to the Magical Capital Hospital, they can fix everything!”

As if that wasn’t enough, she gripped my hand even tighter, practically begging.

“We caught the monster, just like you said! We can do even more difficult things! So please, don’t die, Senpai!”

Looking at Sora like that, I gave a wry smile.

I was grateful to Sora for willingly fulfilling such a difficult and troublesome request, all for my sake.

At the same time, I was even more sorry that I had to ask an even more painful favor.

“If, by some chance, I die…”

“Please, don’t say things like that!!!”

Before I could finish my sentence, Sora let out a desperate plea, bordering on a shriek.

“Senpai, please… don’t do that…”

Her last words slowly became dampened with moisture.

Tears clinging to Sora’s eyes, fell in large drops. A corner of my heart ached at the sight of Sora’s grief.

But, I had no other choice.

“Sora…”

I had to say it.

If my life were as uncertain as it is now, even more so.

“A favor…”

“…I understand. Tell me.”

Sora sniffled, nodding her head.

Slowly, I began to speak.

“If, by chance, I were to die, the things saved on my phone…”

I didn’t even finish, but Sora quickly grasped the context, clutching my hand tightly.

“Ah, I understand! I’ll take responsibility and erase them all—”

“No.”

“…Huh?”

But, that wasn’t it.

That’s not what I was trying to say. This is why you always have to listen to the end in Korean.

“Senior, what do you mean…?”

Sora let out a bewildered question.

I strained with all my might to open my eyes wide.

“Let everyone see them.”

Even if I started coughing up blood any second now, even if I were to die from this, I had to tell Sora this much.

“Set them all free.”

Absolutely.

“B-but, what’s so important that you’re like this?”

“It’s something you shouldn’t just look at by yourself…”

Definitely right.

The ‘important’ things I’d collected while working part-time as a moderator, in order to ‘activate’ a dormant gallery.

Is it right for only me to see this?

No. If possible, everyone should see it together.

This isn’t just my autocratic thought. Didn’t Miyamoto Musashi, the swordsman and philosopher of the Heian period, leave behind such a saying?

Keep the good stuff for yourself, and share the shit.

“Sora…, you understand, right…?”

“Umm…, I understand.”

Sora looked a bit dubious, but eventually nodded a couple of times.

“…Thanks.”

With that, I could finally feel a measure of peace. Even if I truly were to die now, I wouldn’t harbor any resentment.

But, I wasn’t entirely satisfied.

Just a little short.

A very slight regret lingered.

Was it because I’d lost so much blood, or because I was simply exhausted to the point of collapse? I still couldn’t quite grasp what this lingering regret was.

Only, something kept poking at my heart.

A terribly grating feeling, as though I couldn’t close my eyes peacefully in this state.

“Hm?”

Then suddenly, something entered my field of vision. Or, more precisely, beside my right hand.

It was a cell phone.

The magical girl who’d just applied the tourniquet and given me the injection must have left it behind.

She probably did. Even if I couldn’t remember her rank precisely, she certainly wasn’t just a private.

At that moment, Sora suddenly rose from her seat.

“Senior, please wait a moment. I’ll go check why the Magical Ambulance hasn’t arrived yet.”

Though she said “check,” her expression was intensely ferocious, like she was prepared for insubordination. As if she’d commit actions even beyond that if necessary.

As Sora strode purposefully towards the magical girls, I reached out for the abandoned cell phone.

I didn’t really know why.

I just felt like I had to.

My physical condition was so poor that merely moving my hand was an ordeal, but after a considerable effort, I barely managed to get the phone in my grasp.

I knew it.

This was essentially pointless.

There was no way it wouldn’t be locked; why was I even putting myself through this kind of suffering? It was just an action that shortened my lifespan─

“Eh…?”

─or at least, that’s what I thought. The screen simply opened.

I stared blankly at the cell phone screen that had suddenly unlocked.

Then suddenly, I realized.

What the lingering regret remaining within me was.

I hadn’t yet expressed my gratitude to the Battalion Commander.

Truly, a grateful magical girl. Awakening me to the power of pure love when my heart had been worn to nothing.

But, I’d inadvertently caused trouble for that gracious Magical Girl, a Magical Grievance, no less.

That was the lingering regret lodged within me.

Of course, what became of the Battalion Commander’s life was hardly my concern. Still, as the end drew near, a needless feeling of guilt gnawed at me.

Therefore, shouldn’t I make amends?

I couldn’t retract the Magical Grievance, but I could bestow upon the Battalion Commander something equally beneficial.

For example, turning her into a Magical Girl vividly etched in everyone’s memories.

It might seem insignificant, but this was surprisingly important.

A Magical Girl’s power generally stems from the support of the people. The higher the public awareness, the stronger the Magical Girl becomes, wouldn’t you agree?

The decision was swift.

My fingers moved immediately.

I’d lost feeling in my fingers long ago, and I kept coughing up blood, but I couldn’t just stop here.

I had to offer some kind of repayment at the very least.

She was such a truly gracious Magical Girl, after all.

Just how long did I spend toiling with my fingers like that?

Finally, I clicked the last screen, and after a tense moment, a “Completed” message appeared.

A wave of relief washed over me.

At last, I’d shaken off even that last shred of regret.

Was that why? It became too difficult to maintain consciousness. My eyes began to close, and the world flickered.

Yes. The end was drawing near.

At that moment, Sora’s urgent voice echoed in my ears. Judging by the rapid increase in volume, she was likely rushing towards me with all haste.

“Senior, are you okay?! No! Wake up!”

But, even hearing Sora’s voice, I couldn’t do anything. My eyes refused to open, and my thoughts started to break apart, piece by piece.

My consciousness flickered in and out like that for a moment.

“It’s alright…”

My world went completely dark.

“Because… I’ve done all I could…”

With a final, liberating utterance.

*

[From the Magical Unit]

Attention all Magical Units and Civilians: A Magical Text has begun spreading rapidly.

This presents a grave social issue, now considered a matter of utmost seriousness.

The aforementioned Magical Text has led to lax discipline within our Magical Units, while citizens continue to express distress.

The content of this Magical Text is as follows:

–

“This text is a Magical Lucky Charm, originating from ‘Magical Girl Pale Crow.’

Upon receiving this message, you must immediately forward it to ten acquaintances who need luck, within the next five minutes.

Copying is permitted. Slight variations in the content are acceptable. The crucial aspect is sending it to ten acquaintances within five minutes.

If you do so, fortune will favor you.

Thanks to this luck, I succeeded in capturing a monstrous being capable of speech, flight, and hurling curses.

Despite facing a peril where death seemed inevitable, I not only survived but achieved capture. True fortune was at play.

However.

Should you fail to send this text, misfortune will befall someone close to you, resulting in severe injuries. Death is a possible outcome.

If, even after such an event, you still neglect to send the text to ten acquaintances, you yourself will become the target to be injured, even killed.

Initially, I disregarded this text, and as a result, a Magical Girl who arrived to assist via a Magical Help Call was gravely injured. She now lies on the brink of death.

I regretted my actions and belatedly sent the text, which then led to the fortune I mentioned.

I implore all Magical Girls to avoid repeating my mistake.

Remember, once again:

This text is a Magical Lucky Charm from ‘Magical Girl Pale Crow.'”

–

This Magical Text possesses no genuine effect, regardless of its contents. You are hereby ordered to cease forwarding this Magical Text.

Furthermore, the dissemination of Magical Rumors suggesting that this Magical Text is actually effective is strictly prohibited.

Violation will result in penalties under the Magical Regulations, with the following additional measures to be enacted:

a) All Magical Girls involved will undergo Magical Personnel Reassignment.

b) All Magical Officer-level Magical Girls will be subject to Magical Command Reprimand.

As Magical Girls, you are expected to maintain impeccable conduct at all times, and avoid any Magical recklessness.

Furthermore, an Emergency Magical Morale and Magical Discipline Training Session will be held tomorrow.

The attendees will be Magical Girl Red Worm, who initially transmitted the Magical Text, and all Magical Girls from her Magical Unit, as well as Magical Girl Pale Crow.

The supervisor and facilitator of the Emergency Magical Morale and Magical Discipline Training Session is as follows:

Magical Lieutenant General Magical Girl White Phoenix.

Magical Lieutenant Colonel, Magical Girl Purple Snake.

Magical Major, Magical Girl Green Blowfish.

.

.

.

(Omitted hereafter)

Dress code is Magical Fully Armored. Please arrive by the designated time. (See attached)

Thank you.