The atmosphere at Brussels Airport, where Park Saebyeok arrived, was calm.
Since we were entering directly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the advisors of the ambassadors from Korea and Japan, who came running without any procedures, guided us.
‘…It’s quiet.’
Having only been to Narita and Incheon airports in both my previous and current lives, I remembered airports being much louder than this.
Brussels Airport felt like it had a regulated buzz of noise and energy.
Armed police were guarding every corridor and soldiers patrolled the airport’s interior.
“Since the terror incident, the atmosphere in Europe hasn’t been good.”
“This has improved a lot with the gradual return to normalcy.”
As we walked to where the car was waiting, the Korean and Japanese advisors continued explaining the current atmosphere in Europe, each in their own language.
“After supernatural ability users started appearing in various countries, the respect and attention that the magical girls received from the European Union has turned into significant loss for the citizens.”
“People who received help from various places are gathering here, hearing rumors that the joint memorial service will be held in Brussels.”
Since Park Saebyeok was wearing the translator made by Kang Dorim, she could understand all the explanations given in different languages.
“Yamada-san, which gate did the European Union prepare for us?”
“It was Gate 4, Mr. Kim.”
The advisors from Korea and Japan often spoke to each other in English since they frequently saw each other.
“I requested that the area-related matters be carried out at the location specified by the EU Parliament as per what we sent to the [Start] Magical Girl in advance.”
“Yes, we can’t disturb the memorial service, so I’ll just prepare and take action to complete it by tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Regarding me, who was treated as a kind of supernatural phenomenon totem, it seemed that the Japanese ambassador’s side decided to keep their curiosity and unnecessary confirmations aside and just focus on guiding me.
In the first place, the European Union side, including Brussels, had already thoroughly reviewed facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, and France that fall within the area and informed me of the optimal location, taking into account the intentions of the 42 surviving magical girls, so there was nothing to negotiate.
‘They’re more straightforward than I expected.’
I thought the Japanese government would be hesitant because of matters related to Fujimoto or the Corporate Alliance, but they were rapidly addressing things with an attitude of handling the work first.
‘Is it because I’m an existence that’s too detached to be categorized as a nation, or is it something Sumire dealt with separately?’
The attitude in Europe seemed to stem from a sense of crisis, as they hoped the protection issues of magical girls would be resolved immediately after the memorial service.
Even China, where half of the state-recognized magical girls survived, rushed into the area without placing any conditions other than establishing a self-governing organization.
Given the situation in Europe, where supernatural ability users were virtually in a state of annihilation, it was basically a choice with no options.
‘Such dry totem treatment isn’t that bad after all.’
Park Saebyeok and I were essentially treated as a set from Korea and had boarded the van prepared by the advisors of both nations alongside those from the European Union to accompany us to the EU Parliament.
“We’ve arrived.”
“There are a lot of people.”
“We’ll be entering through the back there.”
Entering discreetly through the back door of the parliamentary building, a tall girl with brown hair walked into the room we were waiting in.
It was Laura Müller, the 2-Star [Harmony] Magical Girl who was to lead the memorial service as the representative survivor of the European Union’s magical girls.
Laura, adjusting her black dress for the memorial service, looked tired as she raised her hands, radiating a bright brown glow reminiscent of a wheat field, and exchanged greetings with us.
As if she cast a sort of translation and communication magic, I could understand her words even without the translator.
“……..”
“……..”
We had already shared detailed discussions with the supernatural ability response team and the working-level officials from Japan and Korea.
Now, we were just there to greet each other before the memorial service, sharing an awkward silence among the three of us.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes, thank you for taking the time.”
“……..”
Before Laura left with a weary step, she suddenly looked at me and asked.
“If the area unfolds, will the remaining magical girls be safe…?”
“If a dangerous situation arises, as long as you envision the area in your mind, you can escape to a place where no one in this world can touch.”
“I see, thank you.”
“I’ll discuss the details once everyone has calmed down after the domain declaration and through the self-governing organization you’ll be setting up.”
“…Yes.”
With a blank expression, Laura walked away somewhere.
“It seems like she’s still very much in shock.”
“Losing a comrade right in front of you is a sad thing, so it’s unavoidable.”
The magical girls from Europe had formed a multinational community within the European Union, and thus had endured a significant impact in this terror incident.
“……..”
Park Saebyeok seemed unable to say anything as she absorbed the calm atmosphere spreading in Brussels, feeling something about the situation of losing comrades.
＊
“That’s why we must remain resolute and not be beaten by those hostile to our daily lives…”
Laura was reading the prepared statement calmly in the Grand Place, the central square of Brussels.
The mourners placed candles and bouquets on chairs inscribed with the names of the 200 deceased.
Since she read it drawing upon the magic of the [Harmony] Magical Girl, the thousands gathered in the beautiful square filled with 15th-century European architecture listened intently to Laura’s reading.
“As darkness grows stronger in an attempt to engulf us, we unite as light…”
As Laura read the statement, carefully crafted with literary language, reflecting on the unshakable strength of Europeans, she felt ill at ease.
‘Laura! Come visit our hometown this winter! Uncle said he would treat you to pizza baked with special oak firewood!’
‘Laura, this year is so busy that we can’t even have a proper vacation; let’s journey south together next summer!’
‘Haha, my sister’s husband is American, so we can rent a car. How about a trip to America?’
‘Shh! Shhh! Wait a moment! I think I hear the footsteps of the nun! Turn off the lights!’
‘How old are we that we still have to go through light inspections?’
‘No choice while we’re indebted to the convent, even if we grumble.’
‘Ah! Mari, don’t push so suddenly!’
“Unite…”
The dreamy memories of the girls who traveled through Europe on hot summer days surely remained in her heart.
Although their homes, races, and languages differed, they had become friends by sharing their hearts based on Laura’s ability.
Vivid memories of holding friends who were saving a dying person in intensive care and crying with overwhelming pride flooded back.
“Unite…”
Laura recalled the terrible day when she once spilled bad fries in England and got surrounded by seagulls.
Sophie, who got scolded by her guide for secretly staying overnight in her hometown when they stopped in the Netherlands.
Elena, who bragged about her hometown in a convent in Italy.
And Parisian Marie, who said she would study abroad in America when she became an adult.
And…
“……..”
As Laura fell completely silent, people in the audience began to murmur in confusion.
“…Still.”
As Laura quietly folded the reading material she was holding, the officials from the European Parliament watching from behind began to rise, wondering what was wrong.
“…Nevertheless.”
Laura opened her mouth, reminiscing about the 11 members of the Group D rescue team, all of whom had died due to the terrorist attack, excluding herself.
“The girls who gathered on that verdant summer day.”
“The ones who gave miraculous memories as the wheat fields turned into golden hues.”
“The friends who disappeared with the onset of a lonely winter.”
Finally, Laura felt the reality of her friends’ deaths.
In the dark night, she remembered the friends who had laughed together, expecting the next year under the moonlight.
“Please remember, just for today.”
Bang
A spark leapt from a candle held by someone in the crowd, rising into the sky.
Bang
Flames flickered one by one from candles placed atop chairs inscribed with the girls’ names.
“This is…”
“Isn’t it fascinating…”
The crowd murmured as they watched the tiny lights rising above their heads.
However, when it became more and more, and finally tens of thousands of lights rose to form a small galaxy in the square where the memorial service was held, they quietly watched or prayed, captivated by its beauty.
Remembering the salvation received from a single candle.
Remembering the girls who had disappeared far too quickly…
Under the galaxy of memories, the people prayed and remembered.
＊
After the memorial service ended and the crowd was dispersing, a girl with glasses and brown hair was placing a flower on each of the 200 chairs.
Pulling white flowers from a large basket and placing them one by one on the chairs, the girl seemed both reverent and mechanical at a glance.
“Did you owe a great deal to the girls who were here? Were your father or mother unwell?”
An old man, astonished by the girl’s diligent actions, asked.
“Excuse me? No.”
“Then why are you putting in so much effort?”
“Because a story’s conclusion should honor both defeat and victory.”
“What?”
“I respected them.”
“…I don’t quite understand.”
The old man left, frightened by the girl’s face illuminated by the flickering candlelight.
“Hehe, I didn’t say that to be understood.”
The glasses girl gently watched the old man flee and began placing flowers back onto the chairs.
“Don’t say it like that.”
“Hmm?”
When the glasses girl looked back.
A silver-haired girl in a black female suit was coldly staring at her.
“Don’t speak of victory or defeat regarding these children.”
“But without victory or defeat, there’s nothing in this world worth distinguishing.”
“You simply fail to understand other values beyond victory and defeat.”
“Huh? How beautiful victory and defeat are!”
The glasses girl tilted her head in curiosity as she spoke.
“Because of these children’s noble defeat, humanity began to realize the worth of victory.”
“I don’t know how highly you think of yourself to casually judge people.”
“Hehe, I wonder how highly you think of yourself to offer arrogant words that everyone is positive.”
The two girls, bathed in the flickering candlelight, watched each other for a moment.
The glasses-wearing girl felt a sense of kinship from the silver-haired girl.
The silver-haired girl felt disgust towards the glasses-wearing girl.
“…Emily.”
“What?”
“My name.”
“……..”
“Are you not going to tell me your name?”
“…Hikari.”
“Ah! That means ‘light’ in Japanese! It suits you!”
Hehe
With a bright smile, Emily turned her back and started placing flowers on the chairs again.
Hikari watched it for a moment before shaking her head and disappearing somewhere.
While Emily hummed, thinking of the pesky girls who had run off to Russia after abandoning the magical girls coming for refuge in America, someone deep in her soul whispered.
“I will watch over you.”
“O Apostle resembling the First Goddess.”
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