Magical Girl Hero - CH 25

A “Wanderer” suddenly appeared. And the entrance of a magical girl who challenged it.

People’s eyes widened at the sight as if they were something out of a hero show, but some of them must have witnessed the moment when the girl, who was supposed to be just an ordinary person, transformed into the form before their eyes. The eyes of the people, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, fell on a single girl, as if they did not want to miss this moment when a part of the magical girl who had been shrouded in mystery was revealed, and to burn the image of the girl who would save them.

Quartz, whose secret of being a magical girl has been exposed, is under a great deal of pressure from the stares of people containing all kinds of emotions, but she remains strong and does not stop walking toward “Wanderer”. She will overcome these expectations, these stares, and transform them into power, because that is what her ideal hero will do.

The skirmish between the “Wanderer’”, who spreads malice every time it moves, and the girl, who erased malice with every step she takes, turned into a full-blown war with the girl’s powerful words.

“Shield of purification! Holy Crystal!”

The girl swung the cane in her hand and casts the spells, then the decorations and part of the walls to be chipped off and replaced by a floor of crystal around the girl and across the rooftop. The crystal is so transparent that most of the turbidity can’t be seen, and every time the girl wields her cane, it changes shape from square to circle.

Quartz’s greatest skill is the construction and manipulation of crystals. Her main skill is to transform any ore or mineral into crystals and manipulate it as her shield and spear.

She uses purification magic, the basic magic of magical girls. As a result of combining the purification magic with her own aptitude, the crystal that Quartz manipulates is reborn as a new, one-of-a-kind magic. It is always purifying, and becomes a shield when defending, and a spear when attacking. While purifying malice, it becomes a move that annihilates the “Wanderer”. This magic, a combination of offense and defense that no other magical girl can perform, is the quintessence and trump card of the magical girl Quartz.

When Quartz takes aim and swings her wand at the “wanderer”, one side of the crystal on the floor changes into a sharp glass-like shape, becoming a blade that destroys malice and pierces the “wanderer”. Although the crystal embedded in the “wanderer” does not annihilate it, it’s effective as a means of reducing its malice.

The “Wanderer”, who had not yet fully awakened, let out a cry of anguish every time the crystal entered his body, and in return, it let out an angry roar that would send an ordinary human into panic just by hearing it.

At the moment it roared, Quartz swung her wand, and the crystal on the floor shone, removing all the malice that was scattered about and the harm it brings, banishing it. Piercing the malice and defending against it. Quartz’s tactics seemed to be working well enough against Wanderer.

However, when “Wanderer” finally started to move its body in a big way, the atmosphere changed drastically.

An unusual amount of malice, fear, and anger. While bearing various negative emotions, the “Wanderer” begins to grow multiple tentacles.

Recognizing the magical girl as a threat to it, the “Wanderer” swings it’s tentacles out to pierce her.

Although she is afraid of the attack that looms before her, Quartz maneuvers the crystal to move in front of her as a shield. The crystal cracked and broke just like glass, and pierced the tentacle causing damage to the “Wonderer”.

(First, purification magic. Then attack magic. Don’t let the tentacle come into contact with your body. Regularly erase the malice.)

Remembering what she had learned at the Magical Girl School and from her senpai, she carefully deals with their attacks, while repeating what she has learned in her head.

The body of “Wanderer” is a collection of malice, and of course, its tentacle is no exception. The moment a person is touched by its tentacle, he or she is consumed by various kinds of madness, and in the worst case, even loses consciousness. Magical girls, whose bodies are stronger than those of ordinary people, are no exception, and even if they are superhuman in physical terms, their mental attacks are only as strong as human beings. Although they are resistant to malice and it’s already weakened by purification magic, you still must be careful with it’s attack.

She must be able to deflect the tentacles, prevent the malice from being scattered, and attack the “Wanderer”.

Only when these three actions are done well can the word “apprentice” be removed from the term magical girl.

And magical girl Quartz is an “apprentice”.

She is an apprentice magical girl who has experienced defeat once.

The reason is very simple.

(There is no, chance to attack…!)

Quartz can manipulate offensive and defensive magic with her aptitude, but her magical power is a little less than other magical girls. And while this magic, which can attack, purify, and defend against tentacles, is convenient in terms of both operation and performance, it is less powerful than the magic that just focuses on one of them. In particular, it is very good in terms of defense, but its best use in attack is as a check. This style of magic, which can manipulate crystals at will, defend against tentacles, and counterattack, is not originally suited for one-person battles, it shows its true potential only when used in partnership with someone else.

But that is not the only reason.

Tentacles can be prevented, and malice is always purified. Then all you have to do is move on to the offensive. Temporarily cancels the operation of purification magic and uses attack magic to inflict damage on the opponent. It is also a basic movement of a magical girl, and even Quartz can use attack magic that is effective on the opponent.

Quartz is the only one who believes that there is no opening, every time the tentacles get hurt, the “Wanderer” falters and begins to act cautiously. There are plenty of chances to switch magic, and even if the “Wanderer” counterattacks, she can block it.

But Quartz does not, and cannot, take that action.

Because the fear of defeat is burned into Quartz’s mind.

(I’m afraid, I’m afraid, I’m afraid…! What if I fail again? At that time, it was like this too…!)

‘When I accompanied my senpai on my first subjugation of the “Wanderer”, I was terrified and paralyzed. And just when I was trying to conquering my fear, thinking that staying like this was not good enough, I suddenly encountered “Wanderer”. Just like now.’

‘Using what I had learned, I defended against the tentacle and switched to attack magic, and I made a mistake. I failed to notice the tentacle that was hiding behind the “Wanderer”‘s back. Unable to stop my momentum, I was caught by the tentacle, and what attacked me was my other self, the one who denied and despised me.’

‘Why didn’t you help them?’ ‘Why can’t you save anyone even though you’re a magical girl?’ ‘If you can’t help people, just quit.’

‘The other me blamed me every day from that day on. I want to return to being a magical girl, but “I” deny and trample on those first steps to move forward. “I” can not accept me for not being a hero.’

‘And even now, “I” whispers to me.’

‘Am “I” going to make the same mistake again?’ ‘ “I” can’t become a hero.’

‘I believe in the power of magic. But I can’t believe in myself who use that magic.’

‘If I break the balance I might be caught by those tentacles again, Just by imagining that, I can no longer go on the offensive.’

The offensive and defense between Quartz and “Wanderer” became more and more out of balance as time went on. Quartz’s magical power, unable to seize the opportunity to go on the offensive, was gradually approaching its limit.

Although she moved the crystal, defended against the tentacles, and attacked with the crystal’s fragments, the monster won’t be defeated by that alone, and the Quartz movement was also becoming lackluster.

And there comes the moment when the scales tilted to one side.

The “Wanderer” grew larger and began indiscriminately slamming its tentacles down. This seemingly deranged behavior produced a completely different result from its previous actions.

The crystals on the floor shattered, and with each smack, a tremendous amount of malice was scattered, distorting the air around them as if a dark cloud was gathering. Despite the fact that the Wanderer’s body is supposed to be able to pass through buildings and other obstacles, the concrete floors and walls where it strikes crack, and the violent shockwave was felt by all the people there.

The physical embodiment of “Wanderer”. It is said that this state, known as “elvolved1” occurs when the purity of malice is heightened as a result of the continued incorporation of negative emotions from those around it. Considering that only a very small number of reports have been found in this state and that it’s still in the process of confirming if the report is true or not, that it happened here is nothing short of the worst kind of misfortune.

The “Wanderer,” which has taken in an extraordinary amount of malice and increased its purity, has grown to the point where it can cause physical damage, and its ferocity is now unparalleled.

Wanderer” appears out of nowhere and then goes away. The fact that this wanderer had continued to gather malice without being vanquished, and that it would eventually transform into the being before them, was more than enough to plunge the people here into the depths of despair.

Quartz poured her magical power with all her might to stop the “Wanderer” from continuing to hit the floor, but it was clear to see that the situation will only get worse.

However, she could not unravel the crystal shield on the floor.

The tentacles of “Wanderer,” now that it has a physical means of attack, are powerful enough to crack buildings. If she were late in reapplying the crystal shield, at worst the building could collapse.

(I have to protect the floor!? But at this rate, it’s no good…!)

Quartz activates her magic and restores the crystal to prevent the floor from collapsing. However, perhaps seeing through her actions, the “Wanderer” dealt a merciless blow.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The tentacles, which had been moving to break the floor until now, aimed at that moment and charged toward Quartz all at once.

Quartz reflexively moved the crystal shield to the front, but the force of the attack was incomparably more powerful than the impact she had received until now, and even though she was able to defend with the crystal shield in time, she was sent flying with terrible force, her body scraping against the floor. The attack, which had gathered an extraordinary amount of malice, had become so powerful that the crystal shield could not defend against it. The fact that she could no longer go on the offensive or even defend against the “Wanderer” attack is enough to settle the winner of this battle.

The “Wanderer” starts moving slowly in order to make sure that the obstacle has been eliminated.

Her arms, and legs are covered with wounds, and even her heart is about to break. She can no longer defend against the “Wanderer” attacks. She can’t even stall for time until the other magical girls arrive.

’Why did it become like this?’

‘I wonder, am I really disqualified as a magical girl after all.’

‘I can’t put any strength into my legs. And the strength in my hand that holds the wand is gradually weakening.’

’The courage that I should have received is slipping out.’

‘ “I” don’t have to try anymore.’, ‘ “I” can’t help anyone anyway.’, ‘Because “I’m” disqualified as a magical girl.’

’I couldn’t even muster up words of denial.’

As the darkness deepened and the malice consumed me, my feet, my first step for me to move forward.

“Onee-chan, do your best!!”

I could not stop it.

When I came to, there was a little girl beside me.

I wanted to tell her, ‘It’s dangerous here, get out of here’. I wanted to say that, but nothing came out of my mouth.

The girl was crying and scared, but she said to me

“Onee-chan! Please, do your best! Don’t lose!!”

Her loud, all-out cheering echoed through the air reaching everyone on the rooftop. And starting with those words, which were as loud as the roar of the “Wanderer”, the people shout out words of supports from their mouths.

Do your best, do your best, do your best. Many people are directing their words at me.

I am doing my best. I have already given it my all. Isn’t that enough?

I hear the voice eating away at my heart. I, the twisted me, am cursing me.

But, but, no. This is courage. These are the magic words a hero needed to win.

My arms hurt, my legs hurt. My body is in tatters, it hurts, I want to cry, and it’s all I can do to stand up.

But my heart is not broken. I can still move forward.

I put strength into my hands and grab the cane.

I put strength into my legs and stand up.

I get courage from everyone and head toward the enemy.

Seeing Quartz standing up, the “Wanderer” showed it’s anger. Why did you get up, why did you get in the way, why don’t you disappear?

Although there is no way to express it’s feeling clearly in words, such feelings can be felt from the “Wanderer,” whose hostility has grown stronger.

This time, it will use all its power to eliminate the obstacle.

Just like when the “wanderer” hit Quartz before, it swung up its tentacles, and it intended to crush her body whole. Its whole body moves with great momentum and instantly closes the distance to Quartz, and at the moment of collision, the tentacles are swung down.

The one it targeted, Quartz gathered all the crystals on the floor making a shield and positioned it from the base of the tentacles interrupting the transfer of momentum.

The crystal shattered, and a high-pitched, glass-shattering sound echoes through the air as the shards pierce the “Wanderer” and Quartz, who can’t fully control her magic.

The “Wanderer”‘s momentum is lost by the thick layers of the crystal shields. However, it won’t be a “Wanderer” is something like that stops it.

If it doesn’t work once, it will work twice. Its attacks are just annoying.

Pulling back the tentacles arm that had been swung down, now it lifts the tentacles higher and higher to strike once more.

The number of crystal shields was no longer enough, and with the cracks and chips in the crystal shields, there was no way to defend against the attack.

The moment the”Wanderer” was about to conclude the battle, Quartz also made up her mind.

Even if they ended up finishing each other, she is determined to finish it off.

‘If I was hit by “Wanderer”‘s tentacle, I would not be able to come out fine. Not only will Ibe consumed by malice, but I might even shatter like a crystal.’

‘But it is better than doing nothing here. I’m not afraid, because I have someone to protect and someone to give me courage. I will do whatever it takes to save everyone.’

That’s my obstinacy.

“Pierce it all! Crystal Lance!”

The surrounding crystals gather on the wand in his hand, transforming into a single sharp spear. The spear, which is taller than Quartz herself, is pointed at the enemy with a radiance that seeks only sharpness. It is an attack magic that abandons the shield she has relied on up to now, and bets all its strength on piercing a single point. This magic, which ignored all means of defense, is the embodiment of Quartz’s Obstinacy.

Quartz readied the crystal spear, which became one with the staff, and aimed it at the “Wanderer”‘s body.

(No matter how inexperienced I am, at this distance I won’t miss!)

The raised tentacle isn’t reflected in her eyes. Pierce the enemy, until its destroyed, she won’t stop.

The “Wanderer” swung down its tentacles. Quartz takes a big step forward and thrusts the spear in her hand forward.

When the two exchanged their full strength, the first thing that reached was a shining crystal spear.

“Uoooooooooooo!!!!”

“| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |”

A blow with all her might while raising her voice. The spear of light, which became brighter and brighter, was the first to strike. It strikes into the “Wanderer”‘s bode and pierced deep, deep into it.

The monster’s loud wailing must be proof of its power.

However the monster does not stop.

It swings its tentacle down as hard as it can at the girl who has stepped into its bosom with all her might.

The instinct within the girl strongly warns her of the danger that is about to be come down upon her.

But she does not stop. She cannot let go of this chance that will never come again.

(I am, a hero!)

At the moment when the price of exchanging her own body for the fall of her enemy, falls on the girl who is unwavering in her resolution, a powerful flash of light gushed out.

A light sound of something popping.

In the blinding light, the tentacles, which should have been swung down exploded, and the monster flinched due to some kind of impact.

She doesn’t know what happened. But it is clear that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has come her way.

Quartz, in order to pull the final trigger, lets out a magic word toward the wand that has become one with the crystal spear.

“Crush! Break!”

As soon as the words are uttered, the spear in her hand exploded. A large number of scattered crystal shards become sharp blades that drift around inside the “Wanderer’s” body.

“Wanderer”, who suddenly had a crystal spear burst inside his body, let out a voice of agony and writhed as if to move away from pain. However, what is hurting it, is the crystal fragment that keeps tearing its body apart the more it moves. The fragments that scrape away all the malice from the inside showed no mercy to the “Wanderer”, whose movements are becoming slower and slower. Realizing its own peril, the “Wanderer” ignored all the pain transmitted through its body and forcibly moved its body to eliminate the enemy in front of it. However, the tentacles which have been blown away, and are now only a few had been torn apart by the crystal fragments floating inside it, and its entire body are deeply wounded as if it had been by a tornado.

Trapped in the gradually narrowing crystal vortex, the “Wanderer” eas trapped in the shining world.

The moment the fragments gathered and turned into a single crystal mass, the nightmare that threatened people disappeared, and only the figure of a genuine hero remained.

1 : It’s a play on words

it’s written 真化(shin ka) = true transformation; 真 = truth, reality; 化= …-fication

another word same pronunciation is 進化 (shin ka) = elvolve