Chapter 12: The Ever-Positive Angel Is in Charge of the Magical Girl's Mental Care

The Angel and the Magical Girl

This was the first time I’d returned to the scene of the attack since becoming a magical girl.

After every battle, I had always fled the site, like I was running away.

But this time, when I arrived, the place was bustling with people moving around.

“Keep pressure on the wound there to stop the bleeding!”

“We found another survivor!!”

“Is there anyone else injured?!”

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, even civilians too… Everyone was working together, clearing the rubble, helping with the rescue.

Because I hadn’t done what I was supposed to do, they were all helping each other in my place.

I was standing there and silently taking it all in when someone shouted in front of the collapsed building.

“Someone help over here!! There’s a person trapped under this debris!”

It was a pile of debris that was obviously impossible for anyone to lift with human strength.

Even with multiple people, it wouldn’t budge.

Waiting for heavy machinery could cost the trapped person their life.

Even if they tried to move it, the structure was so unstable it would probably collapse further.

But for a magical girl, debris like that was nothing.

After all, the monsters that caused that kind of damage—magical girls could tear through them like paper.

“Damn it… It won’t budge, not even a little—?”

Rumble—

I held the rubble in place with both hands, preventing it from falling, and glanced at the man who had gone speechless.

As soon as he saw my face, he flinched and turned his eyes away.

“…Please help the person who is bleeding first.”

That’s all I said.

The man just nodded and didn't say anything.

I didn't hear any words of thanks, praise, or cheers.

It was only natural that I didn't.

After all, I was a magical girl who didn’t save people. I just killed monsters, then disappeared.

No…

If I had only disappeared, maybe I would’ve at least heard a quiet “thank you.”

But instead—

— Everyone, have a great day today!

Covered in monster blood, standing in the middle of carnage, surrounded by the injured—

And I had the gall to smile and say “have a great day.”

‘To them, it must’ve looked like I was mocking their pain.’

Putting it nicely, I was an oblivious crazy bitch, and putting it badly…

Well, there's no need to say it.

“…”

The moment I reappeared at the scene, people's reactions turned cold.

There was no hatred or contempt, but instead, there was fear.

What crazy thing will that lunatic do next?

You could see it in their faces.

Still, I didn’t run away or back down.

Because I couldn’t run anymore.

Just that one thought kept me moving.

“Let me help.”

I didn’t say I was sorry.

I didn’t say I was wrong.

Because I didn’t deserve to say that yet.

‘It’s okay. I’ll fix it little by little, starting now.’

I won’t give up just because it’s too late.

I won’t let go just because I messed up.

— Seo-ah! Let’s go! To protect the people!

Because there’s an angel who believes in me.

All I have to do is follow her words—

“Does anyone need help?!”

—with conviction and faith to reach for the stars.

***

Watching what Seo-ah was doing on TV, I shuddered with an indescribable feeling.

It was like an ice shard sliding down my neck all the way to my lower back.

It wasn't an unpleasant feeling at all.

How should I describe this…? I don’t know.

But one thing was certain: this feeling definitely lay within the realm of pleasure.

“Ugh… Hnnn…!”

Even as a magical girl, she refused to collapse under the despair and disillusionment of having been deceived.

Even with a heart torn to shreds and covered in scars, she stood up again.

Look at her.

How noble… how sublime is that?

“Aahh…! Nghhh…!”

I covered my face with both hands, trembling.

Even through my hands, the radiant light bursting out was blinding.

“Hahh… Hnnn…”

Damn it, Yoo Seo-ah…! What is that nobility of yours…!!

My halo… My halo won’t stop glowing…!!

“Haaah…”

I trembled like that for quite a while, only managing to get up after the news cut to another scene.

“Ugh… my body’s limp…”

Maybe it was all the spasming—my body had gone totally numb.

If I didn’t have the ability to float midair, I’d have collapsed to the floor like that Yamcha guy from that one manga.

Becoming an angel was great and all, but I really wish someone would do something about this glowing halo reflex.

Especially the part where it suddenly shines brightly and plunges me into a half-paralyzed state during moments like just now.

“It's going to be a problem if this keeps happening…”

I have to support other magical girls too, and I can’t have this sparkling, knock-out effect mid-battle.

It’s not exactly elegant for an angel to start trembling and making strange noises like that either.

“Whew… I’ll just have to get used to it.”

This was the first time I’d ever experienced something like this.

But considering that similar things will happen in the future, I have to get used to it little by little.

…Honestly, I don't think it's possible, but I still have to endure it.

I can't show such a vulgar appearance in front of the magical girls.

“First things first, let’s calm down and tidy up a bit.”

Once some strength had returned to my limbs, I began getting the house ready so that Seo-ah can rest comfortably when she comes back.

There wasn’t much to it: cleaning the house, preparing a meal she’d like.

Simple things—but I did them with care and sincerity, putting my heart into it.

I wanted her to feel like she’d truly come home.

And while I was cooking, with the house now spotless, I heard a strange segment playing from the TV I’d forgotten to turn off.

[Recently in City C, there was a large-scale monster incident. It was resolved by magical girl Blue. However, some citizens have been speaking out negatively about Blue. Doctor, what’s your take on this?]

Blue? Not Black?

The topic caught my attention. I turned off the gas stove and walked over to the TV.

[Yes, that’s true. There are definitely rumors circulating. Here, take a look at this… “Magical Girl Blue is trying to privatize City C. She's using safety as an excuse to infringe upon citizens’ rights…” Yes, we’re seeing this kind of rhetoric.]

[The privatization of a city… infringing on rights under the guise of safety… These are all heavy topics. From what I know, City C is considered the safest of all cities, so why are such claims being made?]

[Perhaps it's due to a surveillance system unlike any other city.]

The doctor said this as he brought up a data screen.

The data screen showed a picture of a staggering number of drones almost covering the sky.

Had there not been buildings below for context, one could have mistaken the city for a piece of paper dotted with black ink.

The anchor, upon seeing the image, gasped and covered her mouth.

[That’s a massive number. Just how many are up there?]

[Over 400 drones in that photo alone. Given how many of them cover a single city block, I’d estimate there are at least hundreds of thousands.]

[Hundreds of thousands… That's a really concerning number. Weren’t old cities’ CCTV networks about that scale?]

[Indeed. But unlike CCTV, these drones have no blind spots, and more importantly, they can be converted into weapons with minor modifications. Frankly speaking, I think citizens’ unease is justified.]

[Certainly, if that many drones are constantly flying above your head, it's not just about safety anymore, you’d feel like your every move is being watched. But wouldn't maintaining all those drones cost a fortune?]

[Weren’t those drones created by Magical Girl Blue herself? Since she’s never shown doing any maintenance, I assume her magical powers are sustaining them.]

[So you’re not entirely sure either, Doctor.]

[Haha, yes—well, I’m not a magical girl myself.]

The doctor chuckled, trying to lighten the mood before the conversation continued.

The rest of the discussion followed similar lines:

Even magical girls are still people.

Is it really acceptable for a single person to privatize an entire city?

Magical girls are extrajudicial entities.

In a world with monsters and monsters-in-disguise, sometimes one person’s authority must transcend the law.

The extrajudicial existence and the controversy among the citizens were not really my business.

There was only one thing—

No, one person—occupying my thoughts right now.

“Magical Girl Blue…”

It was about the girl who covered her own sky in cold, mechanical eyes.

I hadn’t even resolved everything with Yoo Seo-ah yet…

Was it okay to get involved now?

What about the other magical girls? Where were they? What state were they in?

All sorts of worries swirled inside me when I heard the sound of the door opening.

Clack.

I instinctively turn off the TV.

As expected, it was Yoo Seo-ah who opened the door and came in.

Unlike usual, when she’d return after merely killing another monster, she looked a little tired.

But her complexion had improved a lot.

She must’ve set down a great weight from her heart.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah. I’m home.”

She answered with a soft smile, as if relieved.

That sight alone left me speechless for a while.

If I were to tell her now that I intended to leave—even briefly—for another magical girl…

What would Yoo Seo-ah say?

“…Would you like to have dinner first? Or a bath first?”

“Bath first, please.”

For now, let's wait a little longer.

This isn’t a decision I need to make just yet.

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