180 – A New Phase (10)
“Magical Girls are proud and beautiful warriors who fight against evil, armed with dreams and hope for justice. I believe you all fit that definition perfectly.”
[That’s nonsense! Demon King! Are you telling me that person is the magical girl and is scheming in that place called Earth?!]
“…That’s right. She’s actively serving as a truly remarkable and unparalleled magical girl in history.”
Seeing the excited angels, Yggdrasil narrowed her eyes and smiled. However, her eyes didn’t smile; only the corners of her mouth lifted, giving off an eerie sensation.
[This is a guarantee from me. All of you, calm down and reclaim your reason. Do you really think I have changed my mind?]
[Well, that’s not… but…]
As Asmael confirmed that she was feeling displeased, the angels, who were struggling to respond, began to quiet down.
Satisfied with their behavior, Yggdrasil smiled again and continued speaking.
“I am also well aware of the relationship you all have with that person, the [Demon King]. Thus, I dare to propose this: How about the glorious messengers of the celestial realm personally facing off against the Demon King…?”
[That’s a rather confusing proposal. The reason we cannot defeat the Demon King is that we cannot intervene directly in the affairs of the lower realm. If we were to intervene directly, the Demon King could be torn apart without a trace.]
The angels shook their heads at Yggdrasil’s words. Indeed, the only reason that the balance between the Demon Realm and the Celestial Realm was maintained was due to the restrictions placed on the angels.
Having to wage proxy battles without descending to the earth meant that the balance was kept. If all the Seraphs, composed entirely of transcendents, were to be deployed, the Demon King alone would be no match against them.
“I am aware of how strong you all are. But regrettably, due to the limits of my abilities, it’s impossible to fully harness your strength. The same goes for the Demon King. Therefore, I believe it would be better for you to determine the outcome not through sheer force, but through ‘other factors.'”
[Other factors… What are they?]
“Indeed, who can be more magical girl-like!”
Yggdrasil chuckled, her eyes gleaming as she spread her hands. In truth, Yggdrasil had hit the jackpot unexpectedly; from the moment she received news from Asmael, she had been in a good mood.
“As I mentioned, a magical girl is someone who punishes evil and seeks justice. Do you think the glorious messengers of the celestial realm couldn’t achieve better results than the Demon King?”
[That’s impossible! Are you insulting us?]
[It’s absurd. The Demon King as a symbol of justice? It’s hypocrisy and insincerity!]
With every word from Yggdrasil, the angels became agitated once more. This time, she had intended for this reaction, so she silently endured their fury.
“You just need to prove it. Show the transcendent beings of this world and its inhabitants who represents true justice.”
[There’s no reason not to comply. It’s the perfect chance to eliminate the Demon King directly!]
As she spoke leisurely, the angels started to murmur among themselves. Their focus had already shifted from the ‘magical girl’ to a ‘showdown with the Demon King’ long ago.
“If you agree to this proposal, please select three representatives among yourselves. I will do my utmost to transform those three into magical girls.”
Yggdrasil, following her predetermined plan, requested that the faction of angels eager for war select three representatives.
Surprisingly, the angels swiftly chose three representatives and presented them to Yggdrasil.
“Now you will become magical girls and I will explain the detailed rules necessary to face the Demon King, not as angels, but as ‘magical girls.'”
Yggdrasil moved her branch towards the three angels, who had bizarre, giant, and mystical appearances.
“Turning you three into magical girls will be done shortly.”
[Thank you. I will inform the Demon King about the duel.]
“I’m glad to secure three outstanding magical girls, but is it alright to decide a contest like this without the consensus of that person?”
[…Takilas will surely agree. After all, it’s the only way to protect everything she wants to keep safe.]
As everything progressed, Yggdrasil had a separate conversation with Asmael. The truth was that all these plans were Asmael’s unilateral ideas. However, he asserted he had found a solution.
[Rather than a grand war where all lives are wagered, it would be better for everyone to compete by becoming magical girls.]
“If you insist on that, I have nothing further to say. By the way, have my proposed conditions been reviewed?”
[An answer should come soon.]
Asmael shook his head in response to Yggdrasil’s words.
In fact, Yggdrasil did not make the angels into magical girls for free. While setting aside what benefits she might gain, she had requested something else from Asmael in exchange for helping his plan.
“Please take your time to discuss it. I will always wait.”
She nodded with a smile. After all, it was merely a profitable deal for her.
*
“…What on earth am I doing this for?”
In the city, where all had evacuated and monsters were subdued, only remnants remained.
Here was Shia. Getting hit by a few drops of rain from the cloudy sky, she looked up and ultimately collapsed to her knees on the ground.
She had already heard everything. She understood what had happened in Seoul, who had appeared and wreaked havoc, and more.
Thanks to that, she realized that Takilas, the one she knew as the true Demon King, was indeed the Demon King. The fact that she hadn’t noticed that was a significant shock to her, especially since they had fought together.
‘Is it the duty of a saint to associate with a being like the Demon King?!’
Putting her hands on the ground, she pressed down hard enough to crack the asphalt. Not opposing the Demon King and fighting alongside one that shared the same objective were entirely different matters.
Right now, Shia was caught in an extreme conflict between her identity as a saint and the self she had shaped while living as a magical girl.
[You are not wrong.]
“Ah…ahhh…”
The oracle that echoed in her mind made her eyes widen in surprise, shaking the confusion she felt.
[You must have known the existence of the Demon King. And realized that a covenant was breaking, triggering a grand war due to the Demon King’s actions.]
“Please let me go back. I will lead the holy war!”
[If that happens, your beliefs will be shattered. Is that acceptable?]
“My, my belief is only to serve the lords of the sky!”
Panicking, Shia quickly shook her head. The thoughts and actions she had adopted since coming to Earth, along with Asmael seizing her Sacred Sword, all of it weighed heavily on her, leading her to feel fully targeted.
[I have already said that you are not wrong. Growth… you truly have grown. I cannot be certain, but I believe that is correct. The reason I took the Sacred Sword from you is so that you would not suppress your thoughts. Create a new sword with your own faith.]
“Asmael…”
[Go and tell the Demon King at once. There is only one answer to prevent the grand war. Tell her to accept our proposal.]
To the disoriented Shia, Asmael gave clear instructions.
Now Shia no longer hesitated.
“I will go right now.”
With her wings unfurled, Shia soared into the sky in an instant. Her destination was Seoul, where Takilas was gathering her forces.
With the divine power radiating openly, Takilas was already watching in this direction.
“What’s going on? So openly…”
Eventually, Shia encountered Takilas just before entering the Korean Peninsula, over the vast ocean.
“Demon King. Demon King Takilas.”
“Yes. It’s not strange to not know me.”
Takilas snorted. She had already resigned herself to this.
“A-Asmael, the administrative officer and overseer of the celestial realm, has sent you a message…”
Shia, treating Takilas like a mere younger girl, found it hard to connect her to Demon King.
Of course, Takilas, who didn’t care about such things, widened her eyes in surprise at the unexpected message.
“What on earth is going on?”
“Soon, two seraphs and one archangel from the celestial realm will arrive here. On this Earth.”
“…What?”
“They will come in the form of magical girls…!”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
Both Shia, stating the fact, and Takilas, listening, yelled in disbelief. It was a story so hard to accept.
“I swear it’s true. Right now, Asmael is proposing something to you. To prevent a grand war that would lead only to destruction and sacrifice, instead let’s wage another type of war.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Takilas, who finally grasped what was happening, muttered with a bewildered expression. Even she, the Demon King, had not anticipated that the grand war she had prepared for would take such a turn.
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