Chapter 129 – The Essence of a Magical Girl (9)
“Who are you?”
“Well, um…”
Fluffy, the Mascot, fidgeted nervously as Rene furrowed her brow, realizing she was not an ordinary Magical Girl.
“She is Gartan, a member of the Fairy Council. Currently, she belongs to the moderate faction.”
Another voice answered. Rene turned to see Rana approaching her. Rana had come to find Rene after her meeting with Takilas.
“I need to know more details. Why does such a being want to meet me secretly?”
“Of course, this way.”
Rana, already aware of the rough circumstances, guided Rene to a room.
“Has she arrived?”
“Yes. I think she’s avoiding annoying matters and enjoying herself alone.”
Rene brought up Takilas first, and Rana chuckled while nodding. Soon, they were able to talk quietly in a secretive space, just as Rana did when speaking with Takilas.
“The council is divided into hard-liners and moderates, opposed to each other. The target is the Magical Girls who are engaging in collective actions on the largest scale. And their backing.”
“I know where it is.”
Rene nodded at Rana’s straightforward words. Having planned to spread Casilena across the world, Rene had long made it a habit to keep up with the Earth’s political situation through news.
The main purpose of attending the banquet was to meet the world’s Magical Girls and persuade them to join Casilena. As the Empire’s princess, such social gatherings and covert diplomacy were all too familiar and natural.
“What the hard-liners intend to do is to officially label them as traitors and enemies through the Fairy Company. Of course, they have justification, considering they’ve even involved Monsters.”
“Then why doesn’t the moderate faction oppose it?”
“Because it is closely related to local powers.”
Rana, who was also considered a moderate herself, slightly frowned at the reasoning.
“The fundamental principle is that Magical Girls do not involve themselves in worldly affairs, especially political matters. Once they start getting involved, they cannot stop the domino effect. To be fair, the major reason is the opposition from the companies that hold those Magical Girls.”
“…They won’t follow orders anyway.”
Rene smiled bitterly. Because of her, the Magical Girls no longer had to follow the Fairies’ control forcefully; they could now pursue their beliefs and principles.
Even if Fairies tried to manipulate the Magical Girls, they wouldn’t move easily anymore.
“But they can provide justification. If their belief is loyalty to the homeland or justice, they might willingly go to war against those posing threats to their justice or homeland, even if that foe is not a Monster or a criminal but a nation.”
“…”
As Rene fell silent, Rana mentioned that hard-line members were busily meeting several Magical Girls.
Those Magical Girls were all from nations in tense or hostile relations with China. It meant there was no need for the Fairies to intervene.
The Magical Girls moving ‘according to their beliefs’ were merely attempting to stop those moving ‘according to their beliefs.’
“Then why is the moderate faction trying to meet me?”
“Before this situation escalates into an all-out war… that’s what it is. After all, you are leading a force that advocates for proper order.”
Rana, smiling wryly, tilted her cup and sipped the beverage that had been taken away from Takilas before she could ever taste it.
“We have to stop them? That’s a given.”
“Really?”
“I still believe there are remnants in the country.”
At that point, when Rene was secretly discussing with Rana, others had already approached the gathered Magical Girls. And Aria was among them.
She nodded without hesitation in response to the question of whether she should stop the Magical Girls who have allied with Monsters.
After all, she had fought directly before. The deep hatred and anger built up from that process would not vanish until the One Road and its minions were completely expelled.
“Whew, that’s a relief.”
The hard-line member who came to see her nodded in a daze, surprised by Aria’s firm attitude.
“However, their main base is in China. What do you expect us to do? Should we just invade and start a war?”
However, Karin, standing nearby, seemed to have little admiration for the Fairies themselves.
Furthermore, Karin was already in her 30s. She understood well that international politics and the powers driving it do not run solely on justice or morality.
“Still, if we do not respond firmly, they will keep conducting experiments. Sacrificing Magical Girls to enhance themselves and creating modified humans by granting magical power to civilians.”
“And why should that concern us? Decisions about war are made by those in power, not us. Why should we bear the burden?”
Karin honestly believed the likelihood of an all-out war between countries was low.
Just like a nuclear bomb, even if developed madly, it would likely exist only as a threat without ever being used.
Even in such cases, there would be those who suffered, but Karin herself didn’t care about that.
“Don’t you worry at all?”
“Well, our side specifically? As you know, they probably won’t mess with us either.”
“Ugh.”
The member, frowning at Karin’s behavior, widened his eyes in disbelief at her nonchalant remark.
After all, someone even they wouldn’t dare to touch was currently in this castle.
“It seems like she’s in a certain room.”
After the member hurriedly left, Aria continued searching for someone. Karin watched her with a slightly worried gaze.
“What do you plan to do when you find her? Haven’t you given up on that?”
“I have to greet her. She’s my benefactor.”
Aria was firm and resolute. Having accepted Takilas as a concept, even without embracing the essence of her being, she desperately wanted to meet Takilas.
Above all, there was something Aria wanted to say to Takilas, who had awakened her as a true Magical Girl during her rampage.
“Takilas! Where are you?”
However, Aria wasn’t the only one searching for Takilas.
“Magical Girl Takilas of Korea! SS-class Jeanne from France is looking for you! Fight me just once!”
A short white girl in a pale pink outfit was shouting.
Karin clicked her tongue in disbelief upon seeing her.
“Has she lost her mind now that she’s grown older?”
“Jeanne… how is it that one of the few notable Magical Girls is seeking Takilas?”
Aria muttered, looking back and forth between the pint-sized Jeanne and Karin.
Though Jeanne appeared to be in her early teenage years, she was a first-generation Magical Girl who had been active around the same time as Karin.
Unlike Karin, who had returned to work during the day while quietly handling Frontier at night, Jeanne had remained a strong Magical Girl, continuing to act as a national hero for France.
“What should we do? Should we stop her from getting herself killed?”
Karin laughed at her old colleague’s apparent suicidal attempt. Even the Fairies tried to step in to stop her, but Jeanne politely declined their help.
“Takilas said she would accept challenges at any time. It was just too far away from Earth to reach, but I absolutely want to test her.”
“Indeed. She always had that insane fighting spirit.”
Seeing Jeanne’s fierce resolve, Karin nodded, finally dropping her sneer.
“…”
At the same time, Aria slightly furrowed her brows.
A strange feeling began to stir within her. Why, for some reason, did her heart ache at the sight of Jeanne boldly challenging Takilas?
Aria couldn’t help but see her past self reflected in Jeanne.
Back when she had no more than half her current abilities yet stubbornly stood in front of Takilas.
It was a glimpse of herself she desperately wanted to reclaim. But seeing someone else attempt to seize that self was something she couldn’t bear.
“…Huh? Hey, where are you going?!”
Unbeknownst to herself, Aria approached Jeanne. Karin’s attempts to stop her went unheard.
“Who are you?”
Noticing Aria approaching her, Jeanne’s eyes widened slightly, realizing Aria was clearly coming with combat intent.
Without answering, Aria summoned her newly wielded claws, each with three blades sprouting from her forearms.
“Takilas is mine.”
“??!”
Slightly tense, Aria didn’t even realize she had said something oddly nuanced, while Jeanne’s face distinctly showed her confusion.
“So settle this with me first.”
“Aha. Hahaha!”
Fortunately, Jeanne, who enjoyed a challenge, wasn’t one to refuse an oncoming duel.
Thus, the battle between the two Magical Girls was suddenly set to take place.
“Don’t regret it, nameless Magical Girl!”
Before the bewildered Karin could finish her warning, a grin appeared on Jeanne’s face as she aimed her summoned weapon, accompanied by a flash of lightning, at Aria.
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